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It was Theo Theakis

‘I would like you to join me for lunch,’ he informed her with minimal preamble, and told her the name of the restaurant and the ti up Vicky stared at the phone resentfully, wishing the man to perdition

All the sanated location at the appointed hour, and slid into her seat as Theo Theakis got to his feet at her approach Instinctively, she avoided anything but the briefest eye contact with hilances that were obviously co their way

Her lunch partner wasted little ti to the point

‘I do not wish to harass you, but a decision from you on the an, as soon as the waiter had taken their orders ‘Thecompany has just acquired another tranche of shares Other shareholders are clearly wavering Unless a very clear signal is sent to the myself with Aristides they will start to sell out in critical numbers So…’ His dark eyes rested on her without expression ‘Once again I must ask you whether you are prepared to accept the recommendation I made to you yesterday’

She could feel her hands tensing in her lap

‘There has to be another way of—’ she began tightly

‘There isn’t’ Theo Theakis’s voice was brusque ‘If there were, I would take it However, if you are still of the saain Vicky could hear the note of critical condemnation in his voice, and it raised her hackles auto that was oe then’

He paused a moment, and Vicky made herselfin the than usual She wanted to look away, but grimly she held on

He started to speak agai

n

‘Because of your upbringing in England I appreciate that the concept of a dynastic e such as your uncle hopes for is very alien to you However…’ He paused againwhether to say what he went on to say ‘There is another aspect of such arrangeht require e settleh the issue is complicated by the matter of the threat to your uncle’s company, nevertheless in simplistic terms the outcome for yourself would be a sum of money set aside—in the form, if you like, of a dowry No, do not interrupt me, if you please—I appreciate you find the term archaic, but that is irrelevant’

He broke off while the sommelier approached with the wine he had chosen for lunch, and went through the ritual of tasting it, approving it with a curt assent Then he continued There was a slightly different tone to his voice as he spoke now A smooth note had entered it, and Vicky felt it like a rich, dark es

‘It must be hard for you,’ Theo Theakis said, as he contelass on the table but never taking his eyes fro, perhaps for the first time, just how very different your life would have been had your father not been of the philanthropic disposition that he so abundantly was In the light of that, therefore, and in respect of the sum of e would rehly lie, to release this suaze rested on her ‘Additionally, I a to make you an advance on this suure I have in mind is this’

He named a sum of money that made Vicky s It was about three tirant that Jem had just failed to apply for