The laughter died on Marina’s lips, a look almost of fear creeping into her eyes. ‘. . . Who is this client?’

‘His name is Mateo Mendoza. You know his father, Carlos.’

Marina recoiled, shaking her head. ‘No.’

‘Yes,’ Charlotte insisted, firm now. ‘We know everything, Marina. We know about your relationship with him.’

‘My r—?’

‘Señor Mendoza understands you are . . . special to his father. That is why he is prepared to be so generous. It is why he sent me to see you rather than one of his lawyers. He wants to make sure you will be well supported and guided in this – as I told you before, wealth can be a burden, particularly if it comes suddenly.’ She looked down at her coffee and then up again. ‘He wants the best for you and asks only one thing in return.’

Marina was staring at her with a confounded expression. ‘. . . And what is that?’

‘That you make no further contact with his father. At all. Carlos Mendoza is a very sick man; these are his final weeks and the family wish to spend together what time he has left. They should not be worrying about legacies and legalities at such a moment. I’m sure you can appreciate that, Marina. I’ve met you enough times now to see you’re a good person.’

Marina didn’t reply. She didn’t look like she could. The colour had drained from her face and she looked even more tired than she had before.

‘Señor Mendoza has taken a great deal of time and effort trying to put together an offer that he believes both fairly rewards the happiness you have brought his father in his final years, and also allows you to live your life without any financial concerns whatsoever. And I have been authorized to work closely with you to help you transition to your next phase, for, believe me, your world is about to change in ways you couldn’t possibly imagine. You will never have to bring a basket of wet clothes home from the laundry ever again. You won’t have to save up for a new washing machine. You won’t even have to see your new washing machine because you can have staff who do the laundry for you.

‘And that’s not even a fraction of it. Everything is going to change, Marina, for the better. Life is going to become so much easier now. I know how hard you work. I know it’s a struggle.’ She stared across the coffee table, seeing how Marina’s eyes were still, that she was barely blinking. She was in shock. ‘Marina?’

Slowly, Marina slid her gaze up to her. ‘Carlos Mendoza is an old man.’

‘. . . Yes.’

Her voice was quiet. Charlotte wasn’t surprised. Being told you were being given ten million euros would do that to most people. ‘Why are you so certain . . . ?’

‘That you’re involved with him?’ Charlotte paused, knowing she had to choose her next words carefully, judiciously. ‘Because before he fell ill last week, he was instructing his lawyers to make financial provisions for you.’ She could not lie, but neither could she admit the whole truth; no one yet knew whether Marina was aware of the full scope of Carlos Mendoza’s intentions and Charlotte couldn’t afford to let it slip here. ‘His wishes were very specific: Marina Quincy, Apartment 8, 94 Calle del General Garcia de la Herran, Cara-banchel, Madrid.’ She looked up at her. ‘That is you, right? You are Marina Quincy? This is your address?’