He was too stubborn, too bullheaded, too damn sure his way was the right way to back down for an instant.

And what if he said all or nothing? What would she do then? Snatching up a paper clip, she began to twist it as she paced the office. If it was a matter of giving him up and losing him, or giving in and risking losing him…

God, she needed someone to talk to. Since it couldn’t be Mikhail, she was left with pitifully few choices. Once she would have taken her problems to Peter, but that was…

She stopped, snapping the mangled metal in her fingers. That was the source of the problem. And maybe, just maybe, the solution.

Without giving herself time to think, she rushed out of her office and into Janine’s. “I have to leave town for a couple of days,” she said without preamble.

Janine was already rising from behind her new desk. “But—”

“I know it’s sudden, and inconvenient, but it can’t be helped. There’s nothing vital pending at the moment, so you should be able to handle whatever comes in. If you can’t, then it has to wait.”

“Sydney, you have three appointments tomorrow.”

“You take them. You have the files, you have my viewpoint. As soon as I get to where I’m going, I’ll call in.”

“But, Sydney.” Janine scurried to the door as Sydney strode away. “Where are you going?”

“To see an old friend.”

Less than an hour after Sydney had rushed from her office, Mikhail stormed in. He’d had it. He’d given the woman two days to come to her senses, and she was out of time. They were going to have this out and have it out now.

He breezed by the new secretary with a curt nod and pushed open Sydney’s door.

“Excuse me. Sir, excuse me.”

Mikhail whirled on the hapless woman. “Where the hell is she?”

“Ms. Hayward is not in the office,” she said primly. “I’m afraid you’ll have to—”

“If not here, where?”

“I’ll handle this, Carla,” Janine murmured from the doorway.

“Yes, ma’am.” Carla made her exit quickly and with relief.

“Ms. Hayward’s not here, Mr. Stanislaski. Is there something I can do for you?”

“Tell me where she is.”

“I’m afraid I can’t.” The look in his eyes had her backing up a step. “I only know she’s out of town for a day or two. She left suddenly and didn’t tell me where she was going.”

“Out of town?” He scowled at the empty desk, then back at Janine. “She doesn’t leave her work like this.”

“I admit it’s unusual. But I got the impression it was important. I’m sure she’ll call in. I’ll be happy to give her a message for you.”