The Mistress Purchase

The Mistress Purchase by Penny Jordan Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: The Mistress Purchase by Penny Jordan Read Free Book Online
Authors: Penny Jordan
charming, enticing…It would be a scent her grandmother would have been proud for her to create!
    To her surprise, Sadie discovered that she was on her feet and halfway towards the kitchen door.
    â€˜I must go, Pierre,’ she told him dizzily.
    She would need to make sure that Leon knew she was not to be messed with, of course. And she’d make it clear that she must be given carte blanche where the creationof her scent was concerned. There was no way that Leon was going to overrule her or dictate to her, and she fully intended to make that plain to him. The scent would be her creation and would bear the Francine name. It would, Sadie decided, her heart singing, restore to the house of Francine its old status and glory. It would be her abiding gift of love to her grandmother!

CHAPTER THREE
    S ADIE picked up the telephone message Raoul had left, asking her to come back to Grasse so that they could talk, as she got into her car.
    Still under the heady influence of listening to Pierre, she sent Raoul a text message informing him that she was on her way.
    This time Raoul himself opened the door to her, hugging her warmly and apologising to her for their earlier quarrel before she could so much as say a single word.
    â€˜You promised me that we would be able to talk about selling the business before we met with Leon,’ Sadie reminded him warily.
    â€˜I know, I know…’ Raoul was all but wringing his hands as he ushered her solicitously into the salon.
    It was such a shame that the house was so run-down and neglected, Sadie reflected for the second time that day. It had so much potential, and could in the right hands be turned into the most wonderful family home. Emotionally she looked out into the courtyard, trying to imagine her grandmother playing there as a little girl. But bemusingly, as the sunlight glittered on the droplets of water from the fountain, the child she suddenly visualised toddling across the ancient paved stones was not a miniature version of her grandmother but instead a sturdy, dark-haired green-eyed little boy, who looked shockingly like…
    Her whole body heating in the sudden surge of recognition that burned through her, Sadie dragged hertrapped gaze away from the courtyard. Why on earth had she imagined Leon’s baby boy there? And, even more disturbing, why had she felt that unmistakable sharp maternal tug on her own heartstrings as she did so?
    She did not want Leon’s child. Why, the very thought was—
    â€˜Sadie? Come back! You aren’t listening to me.’
    There was a note of distinct peevishness in Raoul’s voice. Guiltily Sadie turned round to look at him.
    â€˜I’m sorry. What were you saying?’
    â€˜I was just trying to tell you that after you left I had a long talk with Leon and explained to him that if he was serious about wanting to buy Francine and having you on board as well, then he was going to have to compromise on a few things.’
    Sadie blinked as she listened to him.
    â€˜You did?’ she exclaimed, unable to hide her astonishment. She had been expecting to hear Raoul verbally persuading her, if not actually bullying her into changing her mind.
    â€˜I did,’ Raoul confirmed. ‘I know you and I haven’t always seen eye to eye over Francine, Sadie, but I have to say that, listening to you today, I began to realise that you were making some very valid points. And I have said as much to Leon.’
    Her cousin’s unexpected support was leaving Sadie momentarily lost for words.
    â€˜I…see…’ she managed to say. ‘And how did Leon react to that?’
    â€˜Well, at first, of course, he was reluctant to agree with me—and I’ll be honest with you, Sadie, it took me a hell of a long time to bring him round to seeing my side of the argument. In the end I had to remind him that unlesshe wanted to alienate you completely he was just going to have to

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