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The woman trailed off to silence and Sophie wondered if it was because her thumping heart had drowned out the other woman’s words. Why did it matter so much? She didn’t know, but she had to ask. ‘What do you wonder?’
Millie sighed. ‘Oh, just whether whatever happened back then turned Daniel off the idea of ever getting attached to anyone else. Apparently it was quite serious.’ Then she flicked her cloth over the shelf before she replaced the photo. ‘Ah well; I best be getting you that towel.’
Sophie sat down on the side of the bed, idly picking up the richly coloured wrap the woman had left. The fabric slipped through her fingers, smooth and shimmering, a faint gold thread catching the light. Exquisite.
But then her eyes were drawn again to the picture of the smiling girl—so special to Daniel that he couldn’t bear to look at her photograph, so special that he couldn’t bear to part with it.
Had it been Daniel holding the camera all those years ago? Had the love shining in her eyes and that kiss been meant for him?
He must have loved her very much.
For some inexplicable reason she didn’t want to linger too long on that thought. It was hard imagining Daniel loving anyone; he seemed so driven and angry and unrelenting, and if he’d ever had a heart it was so deeply buried it had probably atrophied by now. Even his love for his sister seemed more of a guard-dog mentality than brotherly love.
She scooped up the bikini and headed for the en suite. A swim was definitely what she needed right now. Given Daniel was busy with his calls, she’d have the pool to herself for a while. And when he did arrive she could plead she’d had enough and cover herself with the sarong.
Besides, Millie was here. What on earth could she have to worry about?
CHAPTER SEVEN
‘WHAT have you got?’
‘She’s Fletcher’s sister all right.’ Jo’s voice sounded like gravel rattling down the line. ‘Seems her parents broke up and split the kids.’
Daniel leaned back and put his feet up on his desk. So it was as she’d said. He wasn’t sure whether he was relieved she hadn’t been lying, or disappointed she really was related to that Fletcher scum. ‘And the business?’
‘It exists. Small to middling. Seems to have a good reputation, although business has been a bit thin on the ground lately.’ There was a weighted pause. ‘Could definitely do with an injection of funds.’
Daniel’s gut churned and he dropped his feet to the floor. ‘You think she’s after a cut?’
‘What else would she be doing here? Monica’s old enough now to take herself off and get married without your permission. This Miss Turner, or whatever she calls herself, is here to make the wedding look legit—nothing surer—so you’ll panic and offer more for Fletcher to clear off.’
A growl rose in his throat. Yet she’d acted as if her brother’s affair with Moni was the romance story of the decade. But Jo’s discoveries had only confirmed what he’d first suspected as soon as she’d finally revealed who she was: she was in it for the money. Nothing more.
Which made her a superlative actress. But then, con men—and con women—usually were.
‘We’re talking to Monica tonight. Once I find out where they’re staying, I want you to get an offer to him.’
Jo was well rehearsed in the drill, all except for the one variable. ‘How much?’
Daniel had been mulling over the same thing himself. It wasn’t going to be cheap, so there was no point starting low and extending the process with bid and counterbid. ‘Let’s cut to the chase. Offer him a million. The usual deal: clear off and never get in touch with Monica again.’
‘A million? Jeez, boss, offer me a million and I’ll never talk to Monica again myself.’
‘Quit it, Jo!’ he said, not in the mood for jokes. Besides, it wasn’t as if he didn’t pay his security manager a better than decent salary. He massaged his forehead with his fingers. ‘This is serious.’
‘I am serious,’ the man protested, although this time the laughter was noticeably absent from his voice. ‘You’d offer that bastard a million dollars when you know he’s only going to ask for more? You know he’s not worth it.’
‘It’s worth whatever it takes to get him away from Moni! You understand that?’
‘Yeah. Of course, boss,’ he said grudgingly. ‘I was there, remember?’
Daniel remembered. Jo had been there through those years of high school to witness Fletcher’s futile efforts to prove himself Daniel’s equal over and over. The scholarship kid with a chip the size of a log on his shoulder versus the kid with money—not that his family had hung onto that long enough to enjoy it. But all those challenges, brawls and endless niggling irritations to prove he was as good as, if not better than, Daniel—Jo had been there. Jo had seen it all.
