His Lordships Daughter by Brian A de'Ville, Stewart Vaughan Page A

smiled at the consoling thought that it would be. Oh yes, it will be she whispered to herself.
    Steven straightened his tie and ran a hand through his hair. “Last night.” He repeated. “Did you enjoy my company?”
    “Of course I did!” her face glowed “Of course!”
    “Then we can do it again. Tonight?” but Phyllipa shook her head.
    “Not tonight.” She looked at the Tag Heur on her wrist. “I have an appointment, remember? So I won’t be back in the works today.” She put on a teasing smile, “But, tomorrow you will have that contract.”
    “Can I phone you?”
    “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ignoring his question as she snatched her handbag and car keys and walked to the door.
    “Good luck.” Her boss shouted . “You are going to need it.”
    A look of resignation appeared on her face as she swung around on him. “You still don’t believe me do you?”
    Steven shook his head. “I don’t know what to believe.”
    The MD watched her leave, noting the easy way her body made of walking, and he bit his lip in frustration. Every move she made was sheer poetry and he knew he was helplessly in love with her.
    Sighing, he was walking through the print floor, past the offices when he remembered the slip of paper which Phyllipa had given him last night. Taking it from his pocket he walked back and called in to see June, his secretary. “This is M s Gore’s home address. See that it goes on file.
    “Well!” June said, wryly. “Congratulations! At least we know where she lives.”
    “Yes it’s a start.” The MD chuckled, walking back to his own office, leaving June looking at the slip of paper in her hand. For the tenth time se re-read the address printed on it. It was the Knightsbridge flat of her fiancé , Clive Braseby, the banker.
    All sorts of things rushed through her head but none of them made any sense. Suddenly, conscious of her stomach turning over, she sat down heavily. Something wasn’t quite right , in all the time she had known Clive, she had never heard him mention the name of Phyllipa Gore, yet here she was living in one of his flats. “His bit on the side.” She asked herself as her stomach did something else. “I don’t think so.” Shaking her head, rising from her chair, she walked down the corridor to her boss’s office. “Are you sure this address of Ms Gore is correct.” with a slight tremble in her voice.
    Steven looked up from his work. “What’s wrong with it?”
    His secretary shook her head, not quite sure of herself. She co uldn’t voice her fears to him , Clive’s insistence for completely privacy about their relationship was paramount to her. “I just wondered if it was correct, that’s all.”
    “It’s the only one she gave me.”
    “Oh, well, I’ll check it out.” She walked back to her office.
    For a few seconds Steven stared at the closing door. Why was everything to do with their latest employee open to suspicion? Now her address was being questioned. Staring into space, he suddenly shrugged h is shoulders, dismissively, and returned to his work.
     
     
    Chapter 7
     
    Sipping a glass of soda water and ice Phyllipa looked across the table at Michael Renton, chairman of Kristex.
    “I only want the contract for twelve months.” She pleaded. They were sitting in the Blue room of the Davenport Hotel, a favourite watering hole of the Inchcape-Gores, having lunch.
    The Chairman shook his head. “ Much as I would like to help you Phyllipa, I don’t think I am going to be able to.” He took a gulp of whisky and pushed a fork full of prime Scotch beef into his mouth.
    “Why what’s the problem?”
    “I’m the Chairman of the company! I don’t poke my nose into those sorts of things. My Buying office handles all that sort of stuff.
    Phyllipa smiled, but there was just a hint of coldness about it. “You amaze me Michael, I don’t know much about business but, I would have thought that within your organisation you would be all powerful?”
    “To a