Master of Fortune Read Free Page A

wasn’t going to be able to resist pulling Astrid into his arms before too long and finding out how good that sassy mouth of hers tasted under his.
    His phone rang and he reached for it. “Devonshire here.”
    “Henry? This is your mum.”
    He loved how she always identified herself even though he could never mistake her for anyone else. “Hello, Mum. What’s up?”
    “I need a favor,” Tiffany Malone-Ferguson said. “Do you know anyone at Channel Four?”
    He knew a few people there. And he was afraid that this was going to be another attempt for his mother to regain the limelight. When pop stars and celebrities from the ’70s and ’80s had started turning up on game-style shows on Channel Four, his mum went mad. She’d said that she could return to the spotlight now that his half-brothers were older.
    “I have talked to everyone I know over there more than once.”
    “Will you try again? Gordon suggested I start a show like that American show The Bachelor , but for rugby players. I know the lifestyle and I could definitely help arrange suitable girls. Not those tart scrummies that always pop up in the tabloids.”
    This idea wasn’t half-bad. He made a few notes and asked her more questions about her idea. “I’ll see what I can do.”
    “You’re the best, Henry. Love you.”
    “Love you too, Mum,” he said, disconnecting the call.
    He held his mobile loosely in his hand for another minute until someone cleared their throat and he glanced up to see Astrid standing in his doorway.
    “Yes?”
    “I need your signature on these forms. The runner from talent scout Roger McMillan dropped this demo off with a note that they are playing tonight. And I’m going to need you to give me a little more information on Steph,” she said, holding a sheaf of papers out toward him.
    He gestured for her to come in.
    “Also the head of legal wants a meeting with you to discuss contract procedures. I know you said we’d be working out of your Bromley office, but the management staff have enquired about setting up meetings with you. Do you want me to direct them to your home office?”
    He leaned back in his chair. “No. I think we’d better establish a day in the office each week for meetings. I have six direct reports, right?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Have them all scheduled for tomorrow,” he said. He’d learned the hard way at rugby that if he didn’t go for his goals he’d never achieve them. And teamwork was paramount to winning.
    “Astrid, bring me the personnel files on all of the staff. After I’ve reviewed them, you can schedule the meetings. Does anyone have anything that’s pressing?”
    “Just legal and accounting. You need to be added to the signature authority card before you can sign this contract.”
    “Do you have that form?” he asked.
    “It’s at the bottom of your stack. I’ll walk it down to accounting once you sign it.”
    He pulled the paper out of the stack and signed it. There were a few other housekeeping-type forms for him to sign. Astrid had prepared them with his name and flagged the places where he was supposed to sign.
    “Thank you, Astrid,” he said, handing them back to her. “You’re a very efficient assistant. I’m sure Daniel was devastated to lose you.”
    She flushed and looked away, but didn’t respond. “You’re welcome, sir. Was there anything else before I go?”
    He stared at her mouth for a minute, knowing his obsession with her lips was going to get him into big trouble. All he really wanted was to taste them.



Two
    A strid hoped that Henry never called Daniel to find out why she left her last job. Despite how close she and Daniel had become during their affair she knew he wouldn’t give her a good reference. Hell, he’d said as much earlier.
    At the end…there’d been all those sick days…. Daniel hadn’t been very understanding. She wrapped an arm around her own waist as she struggled for a moment to keep the past where it belonged.
    Astrid