‘Trust me, my dear,’ Sir Charles encouraged at her totally bemused look. ‘I’ve run my company for over thirty years, I hope to do so for another thirty.’
‘Wouldn’t you be rather—old, by then?’ she frowned.
‘In my prime, my dear, in my prime.’
‘But surely Donald—’
‘Doesn’t have it in him, Caroline. Doesn’t have it in him.’
It wasn’t Sir Charles’ annoying habit of saying everything twice that annoyed her the most, it was his brutal dismissal of his son’s capabilities—even if he were probably right. Donald certainly wasn’t the cutthroat material that seemed to be needed in a successful business. Look how far Logan had been prepared to go for the sake of business.
‘I’ll think about it.’ She stood up.
‘Not too long, my dear, not too long,’ Sir Charles stood up too, dropping cigar ash all over the Persian rug. ‘Meeting’s in a few days. I need your support, Caroline.’
‘I’ll do my best.’ She gave him a noncommittal smile.
‘We’d better join the others now, it’s a few minutes to twelve,’ he opened the door for her. ‘I’ve always liked the start of a new year—like a new beginning for everyone.’ He walked away to join his wife.
A new beginning. Callie was beginning to think that was what she needed, a complete break from everything that reminded her of Logan. As the clock began to strike twelve she made that her resolution for the New Year. As soon as the meeting was over on Thursday she would go away on holiday.
‘Happy New Year, Callie.’
She looked up into the face of the man she loved, would always love. ‘Happy New Year, Logan,’ she choked, her eyes full of tears.
His lips were feather-light on hers. ‘Not exactly the way I had envisaged us celebrating the New Year,’ he said ruefully.
Her mouth tightened. ‘No—well, even the best laid plans can go wrong.’
‘Yes,’ he sighed.
‘I think Audrey is waiting for her own kiss.’ She had caught a glimpse of venomous blue eyes. ‘For the New Year, of course,’ she added tauntingly.
‘Of course,’ Logan drawled.
‘Happy New Year, Caroline.’ Donald had joined them to sweep her into his arms to plant a wet kiss on her cheek.
The next few minutes were taken up with welcoming in the New Year, everyone kissing everyone else, and by the time Callie had a chance to look round for Logan he and Audrey had gone. Oh well, perhaps it was as well. She had started to feel a weakening in her resolve to keep him at a distance.
* * *
Bill accompanied her to the meeting on Thursday, his presence giving her confidence.
‘Don’t worry,’ he assured her. ‘Your vote counts as much as anyone else’s.’
She straightened her shoulders, ready for the battle ahead. And she had no doubt there would be a battle.
They were shown into the boardroom by a rather busty-looking blonde in her early twenties, her blue eyes openly speculative as she showed them through.
Sir Charles and Logan were already seated at the long table when she and Bill walked in, and both men rose to their feet.
‘Miss Day, Sir Charles,’ the secretary told him.
‘Thank you, Lena,’ he dismissed. ‘Please sit down, Caroline,’ he pulled back a chair for her. ‘Mr Lane,’ he nodded abruptly.
‘Thanks.’ Bill sat next to Callie, putting a folder on the table in front of him.
‘I don’t think there was any need for your lawyer to be present,’ Sir Charles chided Callie.