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CHAPTER ONE

'I need to speak to David White now'

Katie raised an eyebrow at the phone as shethe hard male voice in a polite but firm tone 'I'm sorry, I'm afraid my father can't be disturbed at the moment Can I take—?'

'The hell he can't!' Now the voice was patently insulting with a thread of undeniable steel in its dark depths 'Put h, Miss White'

'I can't do that' She had straightened, her sliht and still and her voice cool 'I've told you, he can't be disturbed—'

'He'll be more than disturbed when I've finished with him' She flinched visibly even as she wondered what on earth her father had done to , Miss White, I'h—'

'No' There was a split second of icy silence before she followed through 'My father isn't well; the doctor is with him now'

'The doctor?' She heard him swear under his breath, a particularly explicit oath which would have been quite at place in a rugby club changing-rooested barely controlled rage 'Then when he has finished with the doctor I expect a call immediately Is that clear?'

'Now look, Mr…?'

'Reef Carlton Reef'

'Well, I'm sorry, Mr Reef,' she said stiffly, 'but I have no intention of bothering my father with mundane business matters today I presume it is business you wish to discuss with him?' she added icily

'Dead right Miss White,' he shot back tightly 'And, for your inforreat deal of money due to your father's stupidity and crass ineptitude I do not consider mundane I can be reached in oes into the hands ofany calls from that point froh for you or shall I repeat it?'