Read Online The Demetrios Bridal Bargain by Kim Lawrence - Free Book Online Page B

go?’
    â€˜I no longer think we can work together.’
    â€˜You’re giving me the sack?’ She was too astonished to be angry…that presumably would come later— and it had . ‘But I don’t understand. The job is only half done. Have you some complaint about my work? Is this because I spent the rest of the day in bed yesterday, because I would have worked if—’
    â€˜Your work has been adequate,’ Robert Smith conceded stiffly. ‘However, certain other matters have been brought to my attention.’
    â€˜What matters?’
    He started moving objects around his desk, not quite meeting her eyes. ‘I have given the matter some thought since yesterday.’ He gave a sigh and lifted his head. ‘And unfortunately I have concluded it would be quite unsuitable for a woman of your…’ He stopped, clearing his throat.
    â€˜A woman of my what?’
    Lips pursed, his eyes cold behind the horn-rimmed glasses as they slid from hers, he said, ‘This is a small community; there are no secrets. Your exploits, Rose, will soon be common knowledge.’
    â€˜Exploits?’ Rose echoed, still in the dark.
    â€˜The people here are old-fashioned and as an incomer I have to respect their values. I did have some concern initially about having such a young woman living here,’ he admitted, and Rose thought, God, does every man I meet think I’m out to ravish him? ‘But as you are well qualified I put my concerns to one side. Now, of course, that is out of the question given your dubious history…’
    Rose laughed. She couldn’t help herself, the idea was so ludicrous. Then it hit her in a blinding flash. Her eyes narrowing, she asked in a dangerously calm voice, ‘Have you been talking to Mathieu Demetrios?’ So much for ‘your secret is safe with me’—he hadn’t been able to wait five minutes to spread his vile lies.
    The worm! Not content with humiliating her personally, he had set out with what had to be deliberate malice to ruin her reputation, or, as it happened, Rebecca’s. What a sly, vindictive bastard. If she had ever needed confirmation on her decision not to reveal the case of mistaken identity, she had it.
    All she stood to lose was her job and she had.
    â€˜Of course, I will pay you until the end of the month.’
    She would have been the first to advise anyone who found themselves in a similar situation to maintain a dignified silence, take the money that she was due and put the entire episode down to experience.
    It was excellent advice, but Rose had found herself unable to refrain from telling her erstwhile employer that she wouldn’t touch his money with a bargepole, and he wasn’t likely to repeat the offer—not after she had been pretty frank when she had offered her opinion of him.
    Â 
    Rose asked the driver to wait, which was probably reckless considering her financial situation, but when she made her big exit she didn’t want to have it fall flat because she had to beg a lift to the station.
    It was not a uniformed flunky who opened the vast oak-studded door, but Jamie MacGregor’s sister home for the school holiday. Her look of shock when she saw Rose morphed into a wary smile.
    â€˜Oh, hi. I saw you yesterday. You might not have seen me,’ she added awkwardly.
    Rose was too preoccupied to wonder at the teenager’s odd manner. ‘No, I didn’t.’
    â€˜You work for Mr Smith.’
    â€˜Not any more.’
    â€˜Do you want Jamie?’
    â€˜I want Mathieu.’
    The young girl registered Rose’s gritted teeth, angry eyes and flushed teeth and gave a nervous giggle.
    â€˜I’m afraid…the thing is I don’t think that…’
    Rose cut across her. ‘I don’t give a damn if he’s busy or unavailable or anything else because I intend to see him whether he wants to see me or not.’
    â€˜I, really,