Her Italian Boss’s Agenda

Leonate. He was a plump elderly man with a genial manner and he welcomed her with open arms.

‘Primo has told me so much about you,’ he enthused.

‘I hope he’s explained that my Italian is very basic,’ Olympia said.

‘It will improve, and in the meantime we all speak English very well.’

‘And besides, Miss Lincoln is a quick learner,’ said a voice behind her.

‘Ah, Primo,’ Enrico cried. ‘Come in. Miss Lincoln and I were just introducing ourselves.’

‘Please call me Olympia,’ she said to the old man.

‘Then you must call me Enrico. Primo, here she is, and just as lovely as you said.’

‘I don’t think I said that exactly,’ Primo replied coolly.

‘But you-’

‘Described her as businesslike, focused, intelligent, diligent and-as I said before, a very quick learner. She’s particularly good at winning people over.’

‘That’s what we need,’ Enrico roared happily.

‘Don’t accept everything Signor Rinucci says about me,’ Olympia said lightly. ‘He’s prejudiced.’

‘Of course he’s prejudiced in your favour. He saw you at work in England.’

‘That’s very true,’ Primo murmured.

‘And you were impressed?’

‘Oh, yes, it was an impressive sight. I believe I’ve said as much to you since, signorina.’

‘You have indeed,’ she riposted. ‘But I was learning much from you, a true master in the art of manipulation.’

‘That’s his Italian side,’ Enrico said triumphantly. ‘It is our gift to see things from many angles at once. When you have been with us for a while, you too will have learned it. Primo will teach you.’

‘You do the signorina an injustice,’ Primo said. ‘She has nothing to learn from me.’

Luke had been watching this exchange from where he’d been standing quietly by the window, his eyes alight with malicious pleasure. Now, as though feeling that he’d enjoyed the entertainment long enough, he roused himself to say, ‘I’d better be going. Call me later, Olympia, and I’ll collect you.’

‘I don’t want to be a nuisance,’ she said. ‘I could get my car from the Vallini and drive home.’

‘You don’t know the way yet. It was dark when we did the journey last night.’ He gave her a warm smile. ‘And how could you ever be a nuisance?’

‘That’s a very nice thing to say, but actually it’s just a slur on my driving.’

‘I was maintaining a diplomatic silence about your driving,’ he said with a grin.

‘Goodbye!’ she told him firmly.

‘Yes, goodbye,’ Primo said without looking up.

Luke winked at Olympia and departed.

‘Primo has told me how you took him around the Curtis factories,’ Enrico said. ‘Now I think he should return the favour and show you around the Leonate empire.’

‘Actually, Enrico, that’s a bit difficult,’ Primo said. ‘I’ve got a backlog of work to get through. I suggest that Signora Pattino undertakes this task.’

‘As you say. Well, why don’t you show Olympia to her office?’

‘No, you do that. I have to get going. Signorina, I should like to welcome you to Leonate and hope that you will be happy with us.’

He said the last words like a robot and was gone instantly.

‘Well, he really does have a lot to do,’ Enrico said, sounding awkward. ‘Let’s go.’

That day was like the culmination of every ambitious dream she’d ever had. The office he showed her was modern, attractive and better than her old one. They discussed the firm and he was impressed with her knowledge.

‘You’ve been learning about Leonate,’ he said. ‘Well done! You’re everything Primo said you’d be.’

He swept her off to lunch, taking also Signora Pattino, his Personal Assistant, a comfortable, middle-aged woman who said she would enjoy being her guide in the coming days. Wherever she went she was welcomed as an asset by people who knew nothing about her except what Primo had told them.

But whatever he’d said was in the past. This morning he’d shown a cruel irony that reflected his true feelings now. Their conversation, superficially friendly, had been charged with hidden meaning that Enrico hadn’t understood.

But Luke had understood every word.

CHAPTER TEN

PRIMO, descending into Leonate’s underground car park prior to departure, saw his brother just drawing up and noticed sourly that he had a flashy new car. Which explained, he thought, why he hadn’t recognised it outside the hotel the night before.

Luke got out of the car and hailed him cheerfully. ‘Is she ready and waiting for me?’

‘Since I haven’t seen Signorina Lincoln all afternoon, I couldn’t tell you,’ Primo said frostily.

‘Very formal suddenly. I expect that was her idea, and it’s no more than you deserve. Did nobody ever explain to you that it’s customary to introduce yourself to the lady at the start? With the right name, I mean. It does wonders for putting them in a good mood.’

‘She told you?’

Luke shrugged. ‘I hardly needed telling. At the party last night, it became very obvious what you’d done.’

‘And I suppose you jumped at the chance to serve me an ill turn,’ Primo raged. ‘Something you’ve been waiting to do.’

‘Don’t blame me. I’m innocent in all this.’

‘Am I supposed to believe it was an accident that she was at the villa?’

‘Of course it was. Don’t be a damned fool! It was bound to happen sooner or later. You shouldn’t have left her alone.’

‘I only meant to be away for a day,’ Primo said through gritted teeth. ‘Things proved to be more complicated when I got there.’

‘Things always do. What happened to the man who planned everything and took no chances?’

Primo glared at him with sombre resentment. He could have said that this man had died the moment he’d set eyes on Olympia, replaced by another who would take any wild risk to claim her. But hell would freeze over before he said this to his brother and enemy.

‘You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?’ he snapped.

‘The situation has its charm. Serves you right for playing such a tomfool trick! You’re usually such a stick-in- the-mud. Not last night, though. If there’s one man I’d never have expected to pick the lady up and carry her to bed, it’s you. Pity I was there to spoil the fun.’

The last word was choked off as Luke found himself thrust back against the wall with his brother’s hand at his throat.

‘One more word and I won’t be responsible for my actions,’ Primo said murderously.

‘Hey, calm down. All right, let’s leave it.’

Primo released him, leaving Luke to rub his throat and take deep breaths.

‘Another side of you I never suspected,’ he said, slightly hoarsely. ‘Well, well.’

‘I’m warning you, Luke, she’s not for you.’

‘Isn’t that for her to decide?’

‘Stay away from her.’

‘That would be hard since we’re living together.’

‘Don’t fool yourself. She only went with you to revenge herself on me. She cares nothing for you.’