Her Italian Boss’s Agenda

CHAPTER EIGHT

FOR a long moment Olympia felt absolutely nothing. What she was seeing was so impossible that there could be no reaction.

Her hostess was explaining, ‘Primo was the son of my first husband, Jack Cayman. His mother was a Rinucci and he took the family name when he came to live here.’

Olympia barely heard the words. Her stomach was churning as the dreadful truth finally became real, sharp. This was Primo Rinucci. The man she had trusted, confided in, to whom she had revealed her whole ambitious strategy, had been keeping this secret all the time.

What a laugh she must have given him!

‘So that’s Primo,’ she said at last, surprised to find that she could speak normally. ‘No, I don’t know him.’

She fought to remain calm. Nobody must suspect that she’d received a shattering blow. That would be to pile disaster on disaster. Instead she would smile and smile, concealing the turmoil in her heart.

‘I never knew him,’ she repeated quietly.

It was true. She’d thought she knew him so well, but all the time he’d been a stranger. The affectionate friend she’d trusted had never existed, because he’d been laughing at her, encouraging her to confide in him as she’d never done with anyone before, making a fool of her. When she thought of some of the things she’d said to him she went hot and cold.

Worst of all, she’d actually begun to believe that she might fall in love with him. And all the time he’d been sitting back, enjoying the situation at her expense.

She must hurry away from here, get back to England, leave the firm and go where she need never meet him again.

‘There you two are,’ Luke said, appearing beside his mother. ‘Mamma, everyone’s looking for you. There’s some sort of crisis in the kitchen.’

When she had hurried away he glanced at Olympia, concerned. ‘Are you all right?’

‘I’m fine, fine!’ she said brightly.

‘Come and have some champagne and I’ll introduce you to everyone.’

She followed like an automaton, while behind the façade her mind seethed.

She had only herself to blame because she’d always known he was a deceiver. That first day he’d pretended to be her secretary. Just a little tease, easy to pass off as a joke. But he hadn’t told her until someone else had exposed him. It had been a warning she should have heeded.

Instead, she’d blundered on blindly, convincing herself that it was only a game. But the bitter hurt that consumed her now was shocking, terrifying, and she almost staggered under its impact.

After the first concerned question Luke hadn’t spoken again. But he’d glimpsed the photograph and seen her horror. Now things were coming together in his mind and he had a suspicion of the truth.

So brother Primo had kicked over the traces, he mused. And with a vengeance!

He took her to meet his family-Toni, his father, his brothers, Toni’s elderly parents who were paying them a visit and were guests of honour. There were also some business acquaintances.

Now Olympia seemed pervaded by a glacial calm that Luke found disturbing. He’d lived long enough in Italy to be comfortable with shouting and smashed plates. But freezing control made him uneasy.

‘Do you want to talk about it?’ he asked gently.

‘There’s nothing to talk about.’

‘Well, my family are crazy about you, especially Mamma.’

‘I think she’s wonderful. She’s been so nice to me.’

Someone called Luke’s name and he turned briefly away. Olympia’s eyes sought out Hope and found her at the exact moment Primo walked through the door.

She drew a sharp breath and turned away, hoping she’d hidden her face in time. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Why hadn’t he let her know he was coming back?

Had he noticed her? Please, no! She needed a moment to get control of herself so that she could meet him calmly. At all costs she must be the one in charge of this situation. Just a few more minutes and she would be strong enough to outface him.

Hope was eagerly hugging Primo, exclaiming over his early return.

‘You made it! I thought you were going to be trapped in England for ages.’

‘No, I got through everything at the speed of light,’ he said. ‘I just wanted to hurry back here.’

This was true. The thought of what might be happening in his absence was making him nervous.

‘You’re here in time for the excitement,’ she told him. ‘Luke brought a really nice girl tonight. She’ll make him an excellent wife.’

‘You know that already, do you?’ he asked, grinning.

‘I knew the moment I set eyes on her.’

‘So all you have to do is persuade her.’

‘I’m halfway there already. I suggested-in the mildest possible way, of course-that she would look wonderful in a long crimson dress. And tonight she turned up wearing the very thing. She wants the same thing that I want and that’s her way of telling me.’

‘And what about what Luke wants?’ Primo asked with a grin. ‘Has anyone thought of asking him, or will he just take what’s supplied as long as it’s stamped Approved by Mamma?’

‘Don’t be cheeky. He knows she’s right for him. If you could have heard the way he spoke of her tonight, the way he said, “She’s all mine.” Oh, it’ll be wonderful to see him married. And then I must set to work on you.’

‘Mamma, you set to work on me twenty years ago,’ he said with a laugh.

‘I want you to find a woman as perfect for you as this one is for Luke.’

‘Well, that may have already happened.’

She gave a little shriek of joy. ‘Is this the mystery woman, the one you’ve been dropping hints about and won’t bring to meet your family?’

‘How could I? We’ve been in England. But I’ll bring her to meet you soon, I promise.’

‘You’ve made up your mind?’

‘Yes, definitely.’

She shrieked again and threw her arms around him.

‘What’s all the fuss?’ Toni asked, appearing and clapping Primo on the shoulder.

‘Primo’s going to be married, and so’s Luke,’ Hope said ecstatically.

‘I thought Luke only met her today,’ Toni said. ‘Isn’t it a bit soon-?’

‘What does time matter when two people are made for each other?’ his wife reproved him. ‘Perhaps we’ll end up having a double wedding-Primo and his mystery woman, and Luke and his fiancée.’

‘Mamma, will you calm down?’ Primo begged. ‘I can’t even think of a wedding yet. There are-practical difficulties.’

‘Well, if you’re not careful, your brother will steal a march on you. Come and meet her.’

He followed her, happy to be home in the place he loved and wishing he could have brought Olympia with him. He had thought of her all the time he’d been away and every moment on the plane back. He’d even worked out how he would arrive without warning, take her by surprise and then tell her the truth.

But he’d reached her hotel to find that she’d gone out for the evening, nobody knew where. Resigned, he’d come to the party to please his mother, yet now he found his thoughts fixed on Olympia again. How he longed to bring her here openly to meet his family. He was smiling as he let his mother lead him across the room.

There was Luke in animated conversation with a young woman who stood with her back to Primo, her black hair elegantly dressed and streaming down her back in glossy waves.

That sight caused a nervous flinching inside him. Even from this angle there was something dreadfully familiar about her, but it couldn’t be-it surely couldn’t be-

Then she turned and the nightmare became real.

He was still some feet away from her and now that little distance seemed like a mile, going on for ever. He approached slowly, like a sleepwalker, transfixed, watching the ironic smile on her face until at last, after a long, long time, he stood before her.

‘Olympia,’ he murmured.

‘Signore!’ she murmured in return.

She was cool and composed, but her eyes warned him of trouble to come.

Hope embraced her.

‘My dear, I want to introduce you to Primo, whom I was just telling you about. I can’t believe you two haven’t run across each other before.’

‘Oh, no,’ Olympia said silkily. ‘I’ve never met Signor Rinucci before.’

She extended her hand and when he took it her fingers tightened in a grip that was painful, warning him to say nothing about the real situation. She needn’t have worried. Nothing on earth would have persuaded him to tell anyone about this disaster.

‘Never mind,’ Hope exclaimed. ‘The two of you have met now, and that’s all that matters. Yes, Toni, I’m coming! I must see to my guests, but I’ll be back.’

She hurried away, leaving the other two gazing steadily at each other.

‘So you’re Primo Rinucci,’ Olympia mused, still smiling. ‘I kept thinking I’d probably meet him before this, but somehow it never quite worked out. I’m not sure why.’

She gazed charmingly into his face, as though inviting him to speculate.

‘Some things-are hard to explain,’ he said vaguely.

‘Oh, I don’t think it’s as hard as all that,’ she said. ‘Several reasons come to mind. I’m even a little surprised to meet him now, but it has all the charm of the unexpected, don’t you think? Or perhaps charm is the wrong word.’

‘Indeed,’ he said vaguely.

He was trying to pull himself together, alarmed to notice that she seemed perfectly in command of the situation while he was floundering.

‘Is that the best you can manage?’ she asked. ‘You don’t have a lot to say for yourself, do you? Strange, I remember you as such a clever talker.’

‘Olympia,’ he whispered, ‘please don’t jump to conclusions.’

‘I didn’t jump to this conclusion. It bounded out and socked me on the jaw. Inside I’m still reeling, but some things become clear even when you’re in a state of shock. Don’t you find that?’ Her tone expressed merely interest.

‘I’m in a state of shock right now,’ he said wryly. ‘But your powers of recovery seem remarkable.’

‘Yes, but I knew first. Your mother showed me your photograph and gave me your name.’

And then he realised her sharp wits had told her all she needed to know. Now she had him at a hopeless disadvantage.

He pulled himself together and tried to match her amused tone, saying, ‘Personally I enjoy dealing with the unexpected. You can get some pleasant surprises that way.’

‘And some nasty shocks,’ she said coolly. ‘Not to mention severe disappointments.’

‘Isn’t it a bit soon to judge that?’

‘I don’t think so. Some judgements are best made immediately.’

‘And some can be made too soon,’ he murmured.

In the soft light it was hard to be sure but he thought she went a little pale.

‘Yes, I discovered that years ago,’ she said. ‘I thought I was past having to learn it again, but I was wrong.’

The throb of hurt in her voice made him draw a sharp breath.

‘Don’t confuse me with David,’ he whispered. ‘I’m not like him.’

‘You’re right. David was a cheapskate but he was honest in his way. At least I knew his name.’

‘I never meant to hurt you. Please believe that.’

‘I do.’ But the brief hope this gave him was dashed when she added, ‘You never gave a second thought to whether you hurt me or not. Or even a first thought.’

‘Come into the dining room, everyone,’ Hope called. ‘Supper is served.’

He looked a question at her, but without much hope, and Luke appeared at her side. As they walked away together Primo remembered his mother describing how Luke had spoken of Olympia-‘She’s all mine.’

He’d been away in England for only a few days, yet it seemed that they were almost engaged. He tried to ignore the faint chill this thought caused him and put on a smile for the other guests.

A malign fate caused him to be seated directly opposite Olympia, where he had a grandstand view of her and Luke, laughing and talking over the meal, sometimes with their heads together. The candles on the table were reflected in her eyes and their glow seemed to pervade her whole being. How could he blame Luke for seeming entranced by her? He was entranced himself. He had never seen her look so beautiful, but it was not for him.

After the meal came dancing and every man there competed to dance with her. To Primo’s rage they generally raised an eyebrow in Luke’s direction in silent acknowledgement that she was ‘his’ woman. Grinning, Luke would give his permission, then watch her with fond, possessive eyes. Primo fully understood that feeling of possessiveness. It was the same one that made him want to knock his brother to the floor, throw Olympia over his shoulder and run away to hide in a cave, where no man’s eyes but his own would ever see her.

‘Glorious, isn’t she?’ said a voice at his elbow.

It was Luke, having made his way around the edge of the floor to join his brother.

‘How did I ever hit so lucky?’ he mused.

‘How long have you known her?’ Primo asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.

‘Only since today.’

‘Today?’ He was startled.

‘She sent me flying with her car. I haven’t picked myself up yet. Maybe I never will. That’s fine. When the moment happens, it happens.’

‘Are you telling me,’ Primo said in a carefully controlled voice, ‘that after less than a day-?’

‘Why not? Some women are so special that you know almost at once. Look at her. Isn’t that a lady who could slay you in the first moment?’

‘Don’t be melodramatic,’ Primo said harshly. His head was throbbing.

‘Sure. I forgot you’re the one man in the world who couldn’t understand love at first sight. Take my word, it’s the best.’

‘Yes,’ Primo murmured inaudibly. ‘It is.’

‘You knew her in England, didn’t you?’ Luke added. ‘What’s the story?’

‘There is no story,’ Primo said repressively.

‘Odd that. She won’t talk about you either.’

‘Then mind your own damned business,’ Primo said with soft venom.

‘Like that, is it? Why don’t you ask her to dance? It’s cool with me.’

This time the look his brother turned on him was murderous. But the music was ending and Primo marched swiftly over to Olympia and reached for her hand, saying, ‘Let’s dance.’

‘I think not,’ she said. ‘I’ve promised this one.’

She slid easily into the arms of an elderly uncle whose name she had forgotten but who beamed at his luck. Primo watched them, planning dire retribution on his innocent relative. It didn’t help when the uncle’s wife stood beside him, sighing happily. ‘Isn’t she a nice girl to be so kind to the old fool? It’s not often he has such fun.’

When the dance was over Primo took no chances.

‘The next one is with me,’ he said, taking firm hold of her hand.

‘I’d rather not, if you don’t mind,’ she said, trying to break free and failing.

The music was beginning. Primo’s arm was about her waist in an unbreakable hold and Olympia found that she had no choice but to dance with him.

Such forcefulness was new, coming from him, and it increased her anger. Yet that very anger also seemed part of the heady excitement that the drama of the situation was causing to stream through her.

‘Who the hell are you to be high-handed?’ she demanded furiously.

He gave her a wolfish grin.

‘I’m Primo Rinucci, a man I’ve heard you describe as ruthless and power-mad. A man to be hunted down by a determined woman and used for anything she can get out of him.’

‘I never said that.’

‘You said plenty that meant exactly that. So why should you be surprised if I act up to your picture of me?’

‘All right, enjoy yourself while you can. Tomorrow I’m on the first plane home.’

‘I think not. You have a contract with Leonate.’

‘I never signed any contract.’

‘You signed one with Curtis that has a year to run. Leonate own Curtis, which means that I own you for the next year.’

‘The hell you do.’

‘The hell I don’t! What happens to you now is up to me. Leave now and I’ll freeze you out of the entire industry, for good. You’ll be amazed at how far my tentacles stretch. How’s that for ruthless and power-mad?’

‘About what I’d have expected.’

‘Good, then we both know where we stand.’

‘Let me go right now.’

‘Not until you see sense,’ he said harshly. ‘I admit I behaved badly but I didn’t plan it. It was mostly accident-’

‘Oh, please,’ she scoffed.

‘It got out of hand, and when you’ve calmed down I’ll explain-’

‘You will not explain because I don’t want to hear.’

‘Olympia, please-’

‘I said let me go’

Luke was watching Olympia and his brother with mixed feelings. He’d only known her a few hours, but already she affected him strongly. He’d been looking forward to knowing her better, and then better still. Even his mother’s wild hopes hadn’t seemed totally fanciful.

And now this!

For he couldn’t kid himself. Primo’s arrival had changed something drastically. If Olympia’s face hadn’t told him that, Primo’s would have done. He’d seen emotions in his brother’s face that he wouldn’t have believed possible. He fixed brooding eyes on them and watched every detail.

When he saw Olympia wrench herself from Primo’s grasp he went to her quickly.

‘Why don’t we slip away by ourselves?’ he said. ‘Mamma will forgive us.’

Hope’s face confirmed it. When Luke signalled to her that he and Olympia were leaving she beamed and blew him a kiss, evidently convinced that the romance was proceeding perfectly.

‘Olympia!’ It was Primo, dark-faced with anger. ‘You can’t leave like this.’

‘According to whom?’ she demanded in outrage. ‘Are you daring to give me orders? Just because you’ve had me dancing to your tune recently you think that’s going to go on? Think again. It’s over. Your cover’s blown. Go on to the next victim and get out of my way.’

For a moment she thought he would refuse, he seemed so firmly set in her path. But then the tension seemed to go out of him and his eyes were suddenly bleak.

‘Get out, then,’ he said.

Taking Luke’s arm, she hurried past him. She was suddenly afraid of Primo.

In half an hour they were seated in a small fish restaurant near the shore. Luke ordered spaghetti with clams and refused to let her speak until she had taken the first few mouthfuls.

She sighed with pleasure. ‘Thank you. Now I feel so much better.’

‘I had an ulterior motive,’ he admitted. ‘I expect to be rewarded with the whole story. What did the bastardo do?’

It would have been superfluous to ask who the bastardo was.

When she didn’t reply, he said gently, ‘You did know him, didn’t you?’

‘Yes, we met in England.’

‘But he didn’t tell you he was Primo Rinucci?’

‘No, he said he was Jack Cayman.’

Luke gave a soft whistle.

‘The devil he did! Well, it was his father’s name.’

‘Yes, your mother told me. She says he’s Italian on his mother’s side.’

‘We’re never too sure how much of him is English and how much Italian, and I doubt if he knows either. He sometimes uses the name Cayman in business-’

‘This wasn’t business,’ she said in a tense voice.

He didn’t press her any further, but gradually she found it easier to talk. By the time they had finished the spaghetti and had passed on to the oven-baked mullet Luke had a hazy idea of what had happened. Not that she told him many details, but he was good at interpreting the silences.

He was astounded. Primo had done this? His brother, whose name was a byword for good sense, upright behaviour and totally boring probity, had not only lived a double life, but had managed to conduct a clandestine liaison with his own lover. For how else could it be described?

In fact Primo had behaved disgracefully.

Luke was proud of him!

‘All I want to do now is go back to England and never see or hear his name again,’ she said bitterly. ‘But I’ve signed a contract and he says he’ll hold me to it.’

‘But of course you’re not going home,’ Luke said at once. ‘You’re going to stay here and make him sorry.’

She looked at him, suddenly alert.

‘You’re right,’ she said. ‘That’s a much better way. Of course it is. I just couldn’t bear the thought that he’d been having a big laugh at my expense.’

‘But you had a laugh at his expense tonight. Did you see his face when he realised it was you? He looked as if he’d swallowed a hedgehog.’

‘Yes, he did,’ she mused as the moment came back to her, the details clearer now than they’d been at the time.

‘There are going to be other moments like that, plenty of them, because you’re going to get your revenge and I’m going to help you do it.’

She smiled at him.

‘How?’ she asked.

‘I’ll tell you.’