The Millionaire's Rebellious Mistress - By Catherine George Page 0,18
even if I had room for one dogs aren’t allowed at Medlar House.’
‘So sell your ivory tower and move to a place where you can keep a pet. In your kind of job you can take a dog with you on site.’
‘True,’ said Sarah. ‘But I don’t want to move right now. I’ve only just got my flat into shape. Talking of property,’ she added, suddenly brisk, ‘would you care for some coffee while we get down to business?’
‘Thank you.’ Alex promptly sat at the head of kitchen table, as though chairman of the board was his rightful place.
Sarah made coffee in china cups with saucers, and carried a tray to the table. ‘Only instant, I’m afraid.’
‘Fine,’ he said, waiting for her to sit down. ‘Now, then, Miss Carver. How much do you want for the entire property?’
Sarah multiplied the highest price by six and gave him the answer.
Alex stared at her in disbelief. ‘That’s totally unrealistic.’
‘It’s the price I was advised to ask,’ she assured him.
‘But any other buyer would want only one cottage,’ he reminded her sharply. ‘If I buy the entire row you’ll have to come down, Miss Carver. A long way down,’ he added.
Sarah had done her homework in so much depth and so repeatedly she knew exactly how low she could go and still make the profit necessary to make her venture a success. ‘I suppose I could come down a trifle.’
Alex snorted. ‘You’ll have to do a lot better than that!’
‘Look,’ she said reasonably, ‘if you don’t want them I’m assured I’ll have no problem finding other buyers.’
He stared at her in exasperation. ‘I do want them, but only at a reasonable figure.’
‘You mean what the Merrick Group considers a reasonable figure!’
‘Exactly. Nothing personal. It’s just business.’
‘I know all about the business done by the Merrick Group,’ she retorted, before she could stop herself.
His eyes narrowed. ‘And what, exactly, do you mean by that?’ he asked, his voice dangerously quiet.
Her chin lifted. ‘Merely that your group is big enough to submit tenders which put smaller companies out of business.’
Comprehension dawned in his eyes. ‘You said your father was a builder—’
‘He was taken over by Barclay Homes, which as you well know is a subsidiary of the Merrick Group.’ Sarah wished now she’d kept her mouth shut. ‘Shall we return to the matter in hand?’
‘By all means,’ he said curtly, and made her an offer only a little higher than the lowest possible she could accept to make a profit.
‘Now you’re being unrealistic,’ she said scathingly.
The coffee cooled in the cups while they haggled, Sarah coolly resolute and Alex growing more and more exasperated as he fought a battle he’d expected to win with barely a shot fired. In the end he slapped a hand down on the table, making the cups rattle, and named a figure which was, he said very emphatically, his top offer, and Miss Carver could take it or leave it.
‘Do you want your answer now?’ she asked.
Alex fought for control. For God’s sake, he thought furiously. He faced tougher customers than Sarah Carver every day of his working life. ‘Yes,’ he snapped.
She shook her head. ‘I need time to think about your offer, Mr Merrick. I quite understand,’ she added, sweetly reasonable, ‘if you want to back out.’
To hell with it, thought Alex. Only the prospect of unsuitable tenants on land adjoining his luxury hotel kept him from doing just that. He got to his feet and snapped his briefcase shut. ‘Ring my office at nine sharp on Monday morning with your answer, or kiss the sale goodbye, Miss Carver.’
Sarah nodded briskly. She got to her feet to see him out, and followed him down the path.
‘Thank you for coming. Goodbye.’
‘Goodbye, Miss Carver,’ he said formally, and made no further reference to the deal before driving away.
Sarah watched him go, frowning. Now she had to get through the rest of the day with nothing to do. From a practical, purely financial point of view she knew very well that she should have said yes to Alex’s offer there and then. But because his name was Merrick she was not only going to turn him down, but make him wait all weekend before she did.
Sarah decided to stay on site all day, until Ian and Josie turned up in the evening. Perhaps she could persuade her young caretakers to spend the entire day here on Sunday while she was out with Harry. The weather forecast was good, and they would probably