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

compromise…’
    â€˜I’m sure he loved that,’ Sadie could not help murmuring dryly.
    â€˜Well, he is a businessman, after all, and he is now prepared to concede that if you agree to the sale, and provided you work for Francine, then he is prepared to allow you to base any new perfume you create on natural products.’
    â€˜Base?’ Sadie queried cautiously, whilst her heart felt as though it was bouncing around inside her chest in excitement and relief.
    Unbelievably, Raoul had taken her side, her part, and had managed to convince Leon that she was right!
    â€˜Well, you will have to negotiate with him to see how much of any new perfume can be natural products and how much chemically manufactured. And, of course, he will want access to the Myrrh formula.’
    â€˜Access, maybe—but I am not prepared to hand over ownership,’ Sadie shot back immediately.
    Raoul made no response, his expression suddenly becoming almost theatrically anxious.
    â€˜Sadie, I have not wanted to mention this. I do have my pride after all.’ He looked away from her and rubbed his hand over his eyes. ‘But I’m afraid that I haven’t been entirely…honest with you about…about certain things.’
    Sadie waited.
    â€˜The fact is that…well, I have got myself in a bit of a financial mess. And if I can’t sell Francine to Leon then…’
    â€˜Then?’Sadie prompted him, dry-mouthed. They might only have met one another relatively recently, but he was still her cousin, Sadie reminded herself loyally. She might not approve of the things he did, or the way he lived hislife, but she couldn’t help but be emotionally affected by the way he had come to her support against Leon.
    â€˜Francine is virtually bankrupt—and so am I. Worse than that, I have commitments….’
    â€˜Commitments?’ Sadie repeated uneasily.
    â€˜All right, if you will have it, debts,’ Raoul admitted, flinging out one arm in a gesture of open despair. ‘I have debts, Sadie. There! I have been forced to tell you what I had hoped not to have to do. I am in your hands now, Sadie, and if you don’t help me by agreeing not just to this sale but to giving your expertise to Francine then I shall be facing financial ruin.’
    Somewhere in the back of Sadie’s mind a tiny warning bell rang. It was a small, sharp and instinctive feeling that Raoul was not being either totally honest or totally genuine. But loyally she refused to listen to it. Even so, a little hesitantly, she began, ‘I…I…’ and then stopped.
    Raoul swung round and exclaimed joyously, ‘You’ll do it? Oh, Sadie, thank you. Thank you.’ He was holding her in his arms. Hugging her, kissing her on both cheeks and then again as his pleasure and relief overwhelmed him. ‘I cannot tell you what this means to me.’
    There were actually tears in his eyes, as well as in his voice, Sadie recognised.
    â€˜You don’t know what a weight off my shoulders it will be to get this contract signed…and to get away from here,’ he added, giving the dusty room a dismissive, disparaging look.
    â€˜Get away?’ Sadie queried.
    â€˜Yes. This place is obviously part of the deal, and quite frankly I am relieved that it is. I cannot wait to buy myself a decent modern apartment. But first I have to make a short trip…a family matter…an elderly relative on my mother’s side. She lives outside Paris in…in straitenedcircumstances. She is my godmother, and I want to do a little something to help her. Your agreement to the sale of Francine means that I shall be able to do so!’
    He cleared his throat and his voice thickened. ‘I shall let Leon know what you have said. I can’t tell you how much your agreement means to me, Sadie. With the money I receive from Leon I shall be able to see that Tante Amelie receives the care she needs. It is the