It was hard to keep up with what he was saying. Her eyes kept scanning him over and over, watching rather than listening.

‘Well, you certainly sound supremely well qualified,’ Mateo was saying, glancing over at her and giving her a quick nod of approval.

‘Over-qualified, even,’ Milton said with a dark smile.

‘. . . Have you been briefed on our “situation”?’ Mateo asked.

‘Not fully. Dr Ferrante only passed the case on this morning.’

‘Then perhaps I should let Charlotte brief you, seeing as she is the one who has done this before. It is not a straight-forward project.’

It was her cue but for several seconds, she couldn’t find her voice; Nathan’s eyes had stolen it from her. How could she talk to him as though he was just anyone?

But Milton was watching closely too; he’d never seen her flustered before. She cleared her throat and gave it her best shot. ‘Well, it’s a delicate issue, I’m afraid. Mr Mendoza’s father was very sadly diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer a few weeks ago. At best, it is expected he has only a couple of months left.’

Nathan took his gaze off her and it was like the sun going behind a cloud. ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

Mendoza nodded his gratitude.

‘Unfortunately, Mr Mendoza’s father suffered a mini-stroke last weekend. Mr Mendoza has power of attorney for his father’s estate in such times, and it was during the course of those events that it came to light that his father had been drawing up a directive to gift the entirety of his fortune to a woman called Marina Quincy. A woman no one in the family has either met or ever heard of.’

Nathan frowned but said nothing and Charlotte knew he was being tactful, too discreet to state the obvious. Unlike Milton.

‘We have made initial contact with Ms Quincy and are currently liaising with her on the matter. It’s a delicate balancing act at the moment as we are trying to establish exactly what she knows and expects, but we are hoping in the first instance that we might be able to come to some financial agreement. It’s in her interests this doesn’t go to court – the family would most certainly contest the gift if it came to pass – and of course, it’s in their best interests to keep this out of the press. If a settlement is reached, then we wouldn’t need to go any further with you and we would pay you for your time here today.’

‘And is a pay-off looking likely?’ His gaze was so steady; she felt her heart leap like a salmon jumping upstream.

‘Well, at the moment Ms Quincy is denying even knowing Mr Mateo’s father. But I am seeing her again tonight and we are hopeful an agreement can be reached.’

Nathan clasped his hands together, sitting back in his chair and pinning her with a look that frankly left her breathless. ‘And if it can’t, that’s where I come in?’