With her first words, she revealed the flaw in Gina’s secrecy arrangements.

‘Did I see you having lunch with Carson Page in Bob’s Café?’ she asked.

‘Oh, heavens! You didn’t tell anyone, did you?’

‘Not a soul. If Philip Hale thinks you’re trying to pinch his newest acquisition, there’ll be hell to pay.’

‘I know. Look, Dulcie, this is for your ears alone-’

‘Silent as the grave.’

Gina briefly described what had happened, and Dulcie gave a snort of laughter that she hastily smothered.

‘You bashed Carson Page’s car and lived to tell the tale?’ she asked. ‘And he’s paying for all the repairs? What’s your secret?’

‘Nothing. He’s just a very nice, reasonable man.’

‘He isn’t,’ Dulcie said at once. ‘I’ve got a friend who works for the last firm of lawyers he employed and he’s the client from hell. He owns Page Engineering, and I suppose if he wasn’t aggressive he couldn’t have made it what it is today.’

‘Goodness!’ Gina exclaimed. ‘That Carson Page? I never dreamed-I mean, I’ve heard of him.’

He’d created Page Engineering from nothing, fighting off competition ruthlessly, buying up smaller firms, and carving a large share of the market for himself. He was unstoppable. Whatever he touched turned to gold, or so the financial pages insisted.

He was also a bad enemy, driving opponents into the ground. And she’d dented his Rolls.

‘You’ve got to hand it to him as a businessman,’ Dulcie conceded. ‘But talk about difficult and demanding!’ She eyed her young boss significantly. ‘But not with you, eh?’

‘Oh, stop it!’ Gina said, reddening slightly. ‘He was just-I don’t know-he was a grouch, but a nice grouch. At least, he was trying to be nice, but he was awkward about it, as though he was using muscles that were a bit stiff.’

‘That sounds about right. He’s not known for overwhelming people with charm. Obviously you made an impression. Play your cards right and you’ll be travelling in that Rolls yourself.’