Demanding His Secret Son. Louise Fuller

incriminating about George, and even more desperate to ensure that he would be out of her life for good.

      Stifling a yawn, she picked up her phone and gazed gloomily down at the time on the screen. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed, pull the duvet over her head and forget about the mess she’d made of her life.

      Unfortunately Elliot was dropping round to discuss the Claiborne meeting.

      For a moment she considered calling him to cancel. But being on her own with a head full of regrets and recriminations was not a great idea.

      Anticipating Elliot’s partisan comments as she relayed an edited version of the day’s events, she felt her mood lighten a fraction and, standing up, she walked into the tiny kitchen that led off from the living room.

      She was just pulling a bottle of wine from the rack when she heard the entryphone.

      Thank goodness! Elliot was early. Buzzing him up, she picked up a bottle of wine and two glasses.

      ‘Don’t be thinking we’re going to finish this—’ she began as she yanked open the door.

      But her words trailed off into silence. It wasn’t Elliot standing there, with that familiar affectionate grin on his face. Instead it was Aristo, and he wasn’t smiling affectionately. In fact, he wasn’t smiling at all.