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been there long before Mai Mai came in from the design room next door, quite clearly with one purpose in mind - to find out exactly what Debra meant to Vane Oliver.
    ‘I was surprised,’ she said without preamble, ‘to discover that Mr Oliver had employed a new designer. Have you known him long?’
    Debra studied the other woman for a few seconds. She was very beautiful, with that tiny trim figure of all Chinese women. Her black hair was brushed back from her face, fastened with a cluster of pearls which matched the ones round her neck. Her expressive fingers were red-tipped, echoing the colour of the dress that she wore.
    ‘I hardly know him at all,’ admitted Debra, and thought she saw a flicker of satisfaction cross Mai Mai’s face.
    ‘Why has he brought you here?’ continued the other woman. ‘I did not know he had any plans to employ a new designer.’
    Debra smiled. ‘Actually I applied for a job in London. It was his idea, not mine, to bring me out here. I believe he sometimes has trouble with some of the factories, and as I speak Cantonese fluently he thought it would be a good idea if I made this my base, helping him out in that direction as well.’
    ‘Quite an important job.’ The words were said jealously, dark eyes flashing fire.
    ‘I wouldn’t say that,’ shrugged Debra. ‘But it certainly sounded exciting when he explained it to me. Have you ever been to England?’
    Mai Mai smiled mysteriously. ‘Not yet.’
    But you’re working on it, thought Debra. The designer was not all that clever in hiding her feelings. ‘It’s not so busy as here,’ she said. ‘I love it here, I’m glad to be back.’
    Surprised, Mai Mai said, ‘You have been here before?’
    ‘Oh, yes,’ replied Debra. ‘I lived here as a child. My father was a doctor at the Queen Mary Hospital. That’s how I learned to speak your language.’
    ‘I thought that Mr Oliver seemed particularly friendly towards you.’ Mai Mai continued her third degree into their relationship.
    ‘I wouldn’t say that,’ shrugged Debra. ‘He treats me much the same as he would any other new employee. Of course, I suppose it makes a difference living with him, but I wouldn’t say we were close friends.’
    If she had dropped a bomb Debra could not have caused more shock. Mai Mai’s eyes widened and then narrowed angrily. ‘You live with him? He did not tell me.’
    ‘Why should he?’ asked Debra, and then realised it was not the sort of question she ought to have posed. If Mai Mai were his girl-friend it could cause all sorts of unpleasantness.
    ‘There is no reason why he should,’ said Mai Mai, carefully controlling her anger, ‘except that he does normally discuss things with me.’
    Debra tried to placate her. ‘It was all arranged very quickly. I don’t suppose he had time. Besides, it’s only temporary until we find somewhere else.’
    ‘This girl, this other girl you had with you yesterday, who is she?’ demanded the Cantonese woman imperiously.
    Debra did not see that it was any business of hers, but rather than cause any further unpleasantness she answered coolly, ‘She is my friend.’
    ‘Why is she here?’ snapped Mai Mai. ‘Is she going to work for Vane too?’
    ‘No,’ said Debra, and saw no reason to elucidate further. Let Mai Mai think what she liked. Suddenly she did not like the other woman.
    ‘I suppose,’ said Mai Mai, abruptly changing the subject, ‘that you and I will be working fairly closely together. Do you want to see some of the designs I am working on at the moment?’
    There was no smile on her face and Debra guessed it was the nearest she would get to being civil. She nodded. ‘Mm koi. Mr Oliver left without giving me instructions. Perhaps I could work out a few ideas and surprise him.’
    Judging by the expression on Mai Mai’s face she did not think that a good suggestion, but then Debra hadn’t supposed she would. Mai Mai would see it only as a way of gaining further favour with the