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'In a way,' she capitulated, realising he ave me an ultimatum—him or my job So we split up'

'He must be a fool,' said Cass 'What sort of ultimatum is that? What else did he expect you to do? You're well rid of him I admire your taste'

She looked blankly at him

'You can't have cared tuppence about hilared at him

'How I felt about hi to do with it! I just couldn't see why I should give up my job— for him, or any man'

Cass smiled, his mouth crooked 'That's what I meant You obviously weren't that crazy about him in the first place, or he wouldn't have needed to hand out ridiculous ultimatums'

She laughed scornfully 'Oh, I see! You believe a wo else, especially a career? How old-fashioned can you get?'

'You can't compart else in your life, even your work, whether you're aold-fashioned about that, it's as up to date as to's paper'

Sian gave a guilty start, re that she had written a colour piece about his home and family, and the aftermath of Annette's father's heart attack Only a few hours and he would be reading it—and hoould he react then?

Cass looked shrewdly into her confused green eyes, his brows going up 'What now? Why are you looking at me like that?'

Flushed, she took refuge in te to read my mind, damn you!'

'Are you afraid I can?' he asked in a lowered tone, and with a start she realised she was; she actually suspected he could tell fro

'No!' she said, far too quickly, with far too hed in a distinctly satisfied way, but then their dessert arrived and Sian was able to steer the conversation into less personal channels All the sa dinner, they had co to know hiet through her defences and understand what

Seeing Louis again had vividly re about a —they wantedhurt because of the impossible demands of both your man and your career She still had a world to conquer; she was ambitious and wanted to climb in her career She couldn't do that and tie herself to a man

Then she glanced sideways and in the yellow glare of a street light saw Cass—his hard face in profile to her, his eyes hooded and his loss of power over hiround, his wealth and influence