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He was fully dressed by now—although he looked dishevelled It was strange to see the powerful billionaire in her roo on the floor He was running his fingers through his ruffled hair and his skin gleaot to her His eyes were cold Cold as ice She saw hi in his pocket for his car keys Orthat his wallet was safe

‘That was a,’ he said, and her suddenly happy heart wanted to burst out of her chest, until his next words killed the dream for ever

‘But a mistake,’ he finished with a quick, careful smile ‘I think we both realise that Goodbye, Ellie’

And then he was gone and Ellie was left feeling like a fool He didn’t even slam the door and for some reason that only added to her humiliation As if the quiet click as he shut it behind him was all he could be bothered with

She didn’tthe rain running in rivulets over the , like giant tears Why had she cried afterwards? Because it had been so perfect? And that was theher faintly cynical self had never believed in He’d orgeous Precious Beautiful Did he do that with everyone woman he had sex with? Of course he did It was like tennis, or playing poker If you practised so it

She went straight to shower in the shared bathroo the corridor in an attempt to wash away her es of Alek seemed to have stamped the about hi the way he had touched her And although time would probably have faded those memories away she’d never had a chance to find out because her period had been late

What was she talking about? Her period hadn’t been late It just hadn’t arrived and she was norun striking her at theit off

She was going to have to tell him Not next week, nor next month—but now

Firing her ancient coanisation, which seemed to have offices all over the world She prayed he was still in London and as the distinctive blue logo flashed up on the screen, it seeiven a speech about ‘Acquisitions & Mergers’ at so before

Even if she’d known his home address—which of course she didn’t—it o to his office She re her that he always stayed late She would go there and explain that she had so of vital importance to tell him and—even if it was only curiosity—she was certain he would listen

And if he didn’t?

Then her conscience would be clear, because at least she would have tried

Wednesday was her day off and she travelled by train to London, on another of the sticky and hulish su by the tiht close to St Paul’s cathedral

She found the Sarantos building without tooup into the cloudless blue sky Lots of people were e doors and Ellie shrank into the shadows as she watched thee to look so cool in this sweltering heat, she wondered—and how could they walk so quickly on those skyscraper heels they all seemed to wear?

She walked into the reception area, where the blessed cool of the air conditioning hit her like a welco at her, but she brazened it out and walked over to one of the squidgy leather sofas which were grouped in the far corner of the lobby, sinking down onto it with a feeling of relief

A security guard she hadn’t seen until that moment walked over to her

‘Can I help you, miss?’

Ellie pushed her fringe out of her eyes and forced a s for myfriend’

‘And your friend’s name is?’

Did she dare? And yet, wasn’t the reality that in her belly was growing a son or daughter who hty corporation? She sucked in a deep breath, telling herself that she had every right to be here