Dangerous Alliance. HELEN BIANCHIN

can make a suitable selection for myself as mother of the bride.’

      Dear God. What had begun as a harmless conspiracy was now raging out of control. The question was, why?

      She had to remain calm. No matter how angry she felt, she couldn’t allow Paige to suspect that things were not as they seemed.

      ‘Has Dimitri been in to see you this morning?’ she queried gently, and her mother gave a slight nod.

      ‘Early, darling. On his way into the office.’

      Dimitri was incapable of being manipulated, not even by the circumstances of Paige’s illness. Which meant he had to be a willing participant.

      It killed her to smile, but she managed a credible facsimile. ‘I shall take him to task for breaking the news.’ The chiding amusement in her voice masked the threat of intent. She planned to slay him. She also had to get out of Paige’s suite before her animosity became visible.

      ‘I’ll leave you to rest for a while,’ she said in a light voice. ‘I have to ring Vivienne, and begin some serious shopping. I’ll be back after lunch.’ Leaning forward, she touched her lips against her mother’s cheek, then swallowed quickly against the lump that rose in her throat as she glimpsed the faint misting of tears which was evident.

      The moment she left the suite a cold, hard anger rose from within her, and by the time she reached the car she was so maddened it was a minor miracle that she reached the city without incident.

      The Kostakidas corporation had offices on a high floor in an ultra-modern steel and glass tower that held the ultimate in executive furnishings.

      It was years since Leanne had visited its revered portals, and she moved with calculated calm towards Reception, unnerved by the stylishly attired young woman whose hair, make-up and clothes would have done credit to a model straight out of Vogue magazine.

      ‘Dimitri Kostakidas,’ Leanne stated with quiet authority.

      ‘Mr Kostakidas is in conference,’ the receptionist relayed with polite regret. ‘Do you have an appointment?’

      Leanne’s expression was equally polite. ‘Perhaps you could inform Dimitri’s secretary that his fiancée is waiting to see him?’ She even took the faint sting from her words by proffering a slight smile. ‘I’m sure he won’t object to the interruption.’