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Alexandros Lakaris was striding past her, walking in as if he owned the place, going up to one of an array of reception desks, obviously as at home in this five-star hotel as he’d been out of place in that rundown house she’d been cleaning

This was his world—the world of expensive luxury

She hurried after hi how totally underdressed she was for such a plush hotel Swish, elegant people were everywhere and her gaze swept over the up

I hate being poor—but I’m not ashamed of it! Why should I be?

But maybemaybe all that was over now

Maybe I’m done with poverty! Done with it for ever!

Her eyes lit with excitement, anticipation and a pleasure and thrill she had never known in all her impoverished life She looked around the spectacular atriu it in

Oh, boy, was she going to enjoy this!

‘Your room key—you’re on floor five’

Alexandros Lakaris was holding out a piece of folded card that contained a plastic key pass The frown that was beco so familiar to her was back on his face

Well, what did she care about his disapproval? He was nothing to her—just her father’s er boy

She kept her voice cool as she took her key ‘Thanks,’ she said in a careless fashion ‘Let me knohen I need to be ready tomorrow’

She didn’t wait for an answer—surely he could relay it to her through the hotel staff—and sauntered off towards the elevator banks

Whatever Mr Oh-So-Handso frohenever he looked at her, was going to be doing till tomorrow, she couldn’t care less As for herself—she knew exactly what she was going to be doing

She stepped inside a waiting elevator, and jabbed the nu her shoulders They were stiff from her day’s hard work The overused s were tired, and her hands felt like soggy sandpaper The s