His Perfect Partner. Laura Martin

by his superior tone and embarrassed by her previous inability to concentrate.

      ‘I want you to run the hotel,’ he informed her. ‘That will be one of the conditions that I will insist upon.’

      ‘What?’ Rachel stared at him, her blue eyes wide with shock. ‘Me?’

      ‘I don’t see anyone else in the near vicinity.’ Jean-Luc’s tone was dry. ‘You are the obvious choice. You have been in the hotel business for the last few years, have you not?’

      Rachel frowned. ‘You know about that?’

      ‘I know all the relevant details which might have some bearing on this investment.’ His gaze was direct. ‘You imagined that you would be able to lounge around in glamorous idleness while I wasted unnecessary money employing someone to—’

      ‘I do not lounge around! I have never lounged around!’ Rachel stormed. ‘I work.’

      ‘You are currently managing a small hotel in the Cotswolds, I believe? It will be easy enough for you to work through your notice while the Grange is being refurbished. I do not know why you are looking at me like that,’ he commented smoothly. ‘It seems an eminently suitable arrangement. The Grange will still be your home, after all, and as you already have suitable experience in the hotel profession this will give you something worthwhile to direct your energies to.

      ‘You will have help of course,’ he added. ‘I already have in mind an employee who will suit the position of assistant manager. He is efficient, reliable, English…’ a flicker of a smile ‘…but I try not to hold that against him.’

      ‘You’re pleased that this has happened, aren’t you?’ Rachel declared shakily. ‘You’re not really interested in turning this into a profitable business. You just want to…to humiliate me!’

      ‘I’m saving your family home and offering you a job into the bargain—I don’t see where humiliation comes into it!’ he replied crisply. ‘Now, I suggest you drop the pathetic accusations and stop wasting time! I will have my solicitor draw up an agreement, which you will find fair—not to mention generous. Tomorrow afternoon you can sign and then everything will be able to proceed without delay.’

      ‘I don’t actually recall hearing myself agreeing to any of this!’ Rachel snapped.

      ‘But you will.’ Jean-Luc’s gaze was compelling as he turned to look at her. ‘Won’t you?’