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.Inspirational.’ Tyler rolled his eyes.She didn’t bother to tell him that Lance would be too drunk to catch the sarcasm in his voice.‘Don’t move.’ She patted his shoulder.‘We’ll be back shortly.’As soon as she turned away, Tyler caught her by the elbow and hustled her along the corridor to the main house.Melissa had a pang of anxiety.She was becoming more concerned about Lance as he got older.‘Do you think he’ll be all right left alone?’‘He’s fine,’ Tyler muttered.‘One of the staff might club him to death while we’re gone, but it’s no more than he deserves.’‘I had no idea that was what he was going to say,’ she promised Tyler.‘No idea at all.’He tutted at her and then opened a grand door, pulling her inside.It was the library; on the couch in front of the fire, a couple were entwined in a passionate embrace.‘Out, out,’ Tyler barked.‘I’m requisitioning this room for an important business meeting.’The couple jumped up, startled.‘Oh, hi, Tyler.’ Smirking, the girl straightened her clothes, patted her hair.‘How are things with you? It’s been a long time.’Tyler had the grace to look slightly discomfited.‘Fine,’ he said.‘Now skedaddle, the pair of you.Get a room.’She giggled at him.‘We should catch up sometime.’‘Yeah,’ Tyler said.‘I’ll text you.’She grinned at him in a knowing way as she scuttled out with her partner.‘Who was that?’ Melissa asked as the door closed behind them.‘Can’t remember her name,’ Tyler said.‘Works in Promotions.Very capable.’Sure she is, Melissa thought.When they’d gone, Tyler locked the door.‘At least we won’t be disturbed now.’She wondered if Tyler would want to make love.It was dangerous, but she was sure that was part of the thrill for him.Men like Tyler were always attracted by the forbidden, the risky.Strangely, for once it was the very last thing on her mind.Melissa sat down on the sofa, smoothing her emerald-green sheath over her knees.The room was warm and it made her realise how very weary she was.All this subterfuge was exhausting.Tyler didn’t sit next to her.Instead he stood by the fire, hand on the marble mantel like the lord of the manor.‘Come and sit with me, Tyler,’ she said, patting the cushion next to her.He shook his head and began pacing back and forth across the Chinese rug.‘Would you mind telling me what that was all about?’‘The first I heard about it was in the car on the way here,’ Melissa told him in measured tones.‘Lance hadn’t given me one inkling that this was coming,’ Tyler fumed.‘I’m supposed to be his right-hand man.’‘He hadn’t mentioned anything to me either, before tonight.’‘Lance talks to you about everything.’‘Not this.Bud Harman had only spoken to him today.This morning, I think.You know what it’s like at Fossil.These harebrained projects are plucked out of thin air and vanish again just as quickly.If I’d had any information, of course I would have told you instantly.’Tyler tutted his displeasure again.She was normally so eager to please him.The thread that bound them together was as insubstantial as gossamer, she knew that, and she never wanted to do anything to risk severing their tenuous connection.Tonight, she couldn’t care less.She’d done her very best for Tyler and it was never enough.She just felt old and drained.‘I’ll have this out with him,’ Tyler said.‘In the morning.When he’s sober.I’ve seen him bad before, but I’ve never seen him so far gone.’‘Me neither.’ She was worn out by Lance’s drinking too.All the signs were that it was simply getting worse and worse as the years went by.Where would it all end?‘So, what was it that you did want to tell me?’Melissa took a deep, shuddering breath.‘We’re going back to the States,’ she said.It was only voicing it out loud that actually made it seem real.‘To Washington DC.On Christmas Day.’‘Christ,’ Tyler spat.‘Why don’t I know about this either?’‘Lance is going to be heading up the SACKED project from there.It doesn’t just affect the UK; Lance is going to be in charge of the global roll-out.’‘God help us.’‘What can I do?’ Melissa asked.‘I’m leaving, Tyler.This … us … it will all be over.’‘What’s my role in the project going to be?’ He paced some more.It was clear that he hadn’t fully understood what she’d said.‘Who’s going to be running Fossil in Lance’s absence? Will it be me? It better bloody had be.Has he said anything about that?’‘No.He hasn’t.But I can tell you that’s there’s going to be a new international director.’Tyler’s head snapped up.‘Where does he fit in? I’m assuming he’ll be working for me, so why haven’t I been consulted on this?’‘I don’t know.’ She fiddled with one of her manicured nails.‘But I do know he’s supposed to be here tonight.’‘Here?’ Tyler looked perplexed.‘So why haven’t I met him?’‘Perhaps the snow has delayed him.’‘Bloody hell.’ Tyler snatched up the poker and stabbed angrily at the coals in the fireplace.Sparks flew up the chimney.One spat on to the Chinese rug and smouldered.Neither of them moved, and eventually it burned itself out.‘This is all I need.I’m being kept out of the loop on everything.Why? Lance normally leans on me.’‘He must have his reasons.’‘Well I wish I knew what they were.’He was in danger of wearing a track in the rug.‘I’m leaving, Tyler,’ Melissa stressed.‘I’m going back to America the day after tomorrow.Can we talk about this? What am I to do?’He switched his attention back to her.Then he shrugged.‘What can we do? This has been great, Melissa.While it lasted.But we both knew it had to end sometime.’The words almost wouldn’t come, but she knew she had to say this.‘I don’t have to go.’ Melissa searched her lover’s face.‘I could stay here.’‘And do what?’ He jammed his hands in the pockets of his dinner jacket, his handsome face dark in the firelight.‘You need Lance.He needs you.’‘I could leave him,’ she ventured.It was time to put her cards on the table.‘I could leave him and stay here with you.’Tyler recoiled, which told her all she needed to know.‘Don’t be ridiculous.’‘Is it?’ She didn’t want to beg, but she had to state her case.Had she really been nothing more than a fling for Tyler Benson? Did he have any feelings for her other than lust? She had to know once and for all.‘I’m good for you, Tyler.I know what it takes to be the partner of a man who lives for the company.Together we’d make a great team.’He stared at her agog, which made her feel unsure of her footing.‘I was happy to continue as we were, but this announcement of Lance’s has changed things.It’s made me realise how much you mean to me.’ Her mouth was going dry.There was a drink on the table next to her.She didn’t know whose it was or what it was, but she downed it nevertheless.It was whisky and it burned her throat as she swallowed it.Now there was no going back.Tyler had to know how she felt.There may not be another chance.‘We’re good together.You said yourself that Kirsten doesn’t understand the oil business.I do.I know what it takes to stay at your level.With me behind you, the sky’s the limit.Leave her.Break free, Tyler.You don’t love your wife any more.’‘I do love her,’ he protested.‘You don’t know what I had to do to win Kirsten.I can’t let her go.’‘Then why do we spend afternoons in hotels together?’ She glanced at the door, towards where the couple had just left.The girl had made it clear that she was well acquainted with Tyler, and Melissa wondered how far that went too [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]