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‘Yes.’
He relaxed.
‘Actually I was a model patient too—maybe it’s just girls?’ she added.
‘Maybe. They certainly know how to dent your ego. After you, Miss Hill.’
‘Thank you, Mr Goodwin.’ She led the way to the stairs.
Nicky perked up a bit at the sight of his father.
An hour later Alex joined Max in his study at his request.
Nicky was dozing and the doctor had confirmed the diagnosis.
The study was a mini oval office with tall windows overlooking the water. The oak desk was highly polished, and the wooden-framed chairs were upholstered in a striped fabric, amber on aubergine. The rug was a handmade silk Persian from Isfahan—Mrs Mills had taken her on a tour of the house and pointed out many of the treasures it contained.
‘Sit down, Alex. I’ve pulled out of the golf, which—’ he smiled a lightning smile at her ‘—as you know I wasn’t that keen on anyway. I’ve also found a replacement for you so far as interpreting goes for the rest of the negotiations.’
Alex’s eyes widened. ‘For all the other functions too?’ He nodded.
‘Simon will kill me!’ She looked bewildered and even more anxious as she stopped.
‘Simon?’ he queried with his eyebrows raised.
‘Simon Wellford of the agency I work for. My boss, in other words. He was over the moon about getting this assignment because he thought it could lead to a lot more work.’
‘It can. It will,’ Max said decisively. ‘And it could have happened anyway—it was always written into the contract he signed that you were a temporary replacement. It so happens the interpreter who got sick, whose place you took, has got better a lot sooner than was anticipated. He’s ready to come back to work. But, listen, I’ve got a proposition to make. Come and work for me, Alex.’
CHAPTER SIX
‘AS A nanny?’ Alex stared at Max, totally bemused.
‘As my PA, which may—’ he looked humorous ‘—cover mainly child-minding duties over the near future, but from then on will have a much broader scope.’
‘I don’t understand.’
He sat forward. ‘These negotiations are going to be successful, Alex—’
‘I thought you said there was some hard bargaining—and so on?’
‘There is, but I wouldn’t have undertaken them if I hadn’t done my homework and if I hadn’t thought they’d succeed.’ For a moment the tough, successful high-flier he was was very evident in the set of his face. Then he relaxed and continued, ‘Once this is over, I’ll be spending quite a bit of time going backwards and forwards to China so a permanent interpreter, as well as a quick wit, will be an asset to me.’
Alex’s eyes nearly fell out on stalks. ‘M-me?’ she hazarded raggedly.
He looked amused as he nodded. ‘What’s so surprising about that?’
She blinked a couple of times. ‘It … I … I just didn’t expect it.’
‘You’d be part of the household,’ he went on and took particular stock of her reaction to that, but he couldn’t decide if it was shock or relief he saw in her eyes. ‘Not only because of Nicky, but because I’ll be spending a lot more time down here so—it would kill two birds with one stone,’ he added.
She took a breath. ‘But Nicky will be going back to his mother. Or—won’t he?’ she asked experimentally.
Max Goodwin took his time about replying and he looked entirely inscrutable at the same time. ‘His mother rang last night, it so happens. Her mother’s operation was a success but she needs a couple more days with her. Until then negotiations have been put on hold, but Nicky will spend time with me whatever happens.’
‘How long would you want me for?’ Alex asked into the silence that had developed after his last words.
He smiled faintly. ‘For as long as you wanted to stay with me.’ He paused, then named a remuneration package that made Alex blink at its generosity.
