Angeline was pleasantly surprised by the
man’s appearance, she’d only been able to make out his
silhouette as he stood at the window, but now she slowly
drank him in. The newspaper picture didn’t do him
justice. He was far more attractive. His hair was dark
brown, almost black and he had the most vivid jade green
eyes she’d ever seen. He wore a light pink, expensive
monogrammed shirt with a grey silk tie and gold cufflinks.
Suddenly, she felt very small and insignificant.
“Mr Johnson, my P.A., explained that you were sent
last minute for the interview with me.”
Interview. Cripes. She rather hoped it would be the
other way around and it would be she who was
interviewing him with regard to his intentions towards
the old house.
“What is it you wish to know about me?” she asked in
a forward manner, something she would never do in an
ordinary interview. But this was hardly likely to be an
ordinary interview.
Sitting forward in his leather chair, he steepled his
fingers, all the while still looking through her.
“I’d like to know why you think this position might
suit you?”
She straightened. “Oh. I see. Well I think it might be
a challenge for me. I like a good challenge.” That was a
laugh, she didn’t even know what the position was in the
first place.
“Give me an example of a recent challenge you’ve
taken and overcome.”
Now what was she going to say?
“Well, let me see. I recently needed to leave my home
and look for another and also a job, too.”
“And?” he leaned further forward.
“I had to give up my home so that some stranger with
an eye for business could move in and do what the hell he
likes with it!” Angeline surprised herself with the strong,
passionate tone of her voice.
“This stranger,” Sebastian Tremaine asked, now
leaning back in his chair, “did he evict you from your own
property?”
“No.”
“Then why do you appear to dislike this person?”
Angeline felt that lump return to her throat.
“Because he’s taken away all that I have left, the
memories of my parents for his own selfish ends.” She
heard her voice tremble with emotion and regretted her
decision to come.
Mr Tremaine fell silent for a moment, as if deep in
reflection. “You are Angeline Hamilton, aren’t you?”
She nodded between sobs.
He raised his voice an octave. “Well, is that the case?”
“Yes, it is!” She stood, about to leave his horrible
office.
His face flushed and she noticed a muscle twitch at
the side of his jaw. “Look here. I bought this place and all
the contents fair and square. It was my understanding
that it needed to be sold to pay off all your father’s debts.
You can’t blame me, it’s just not cricket.”
“I know,” she said, heading for the door. She reached
out and found the door knob, comforted to know at least
that’s where it had always been. She turned it a fraction
with bitter regret, knowing she had made a big mistake in
coming here to confront the man.
Sebastian Tremaine stood, then stumbled towards
her. Was he drunk or something? She spied a crystal
decanter of whisky or some other liquor on his desk. It
was then she noticed the white stick in his hand.
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