Acknowledging this was perfectly reasonable, Toni nodded again. ‘I can assure you this is no whim, Mr Landry,’ she said, willing her voice not to tremble. ‘My return to work is born out of necessity financially.’
The metallic eyes narrowed. ‘And your husband would not object to your having a demanding career? And what about childcare?’
‘He—I—’ Oh, for goodness’ sake pull yourself together, Toni told herself desperately. She had expected these sort of questions, hadn’t she?
Yes, a separate part of her mind answered. But not someone like Steel Landry asking them. And this was the first time she had laid the searingly painful events of the last months bare to a stranger. Nevertheless, she couldn’t let emotion get in the way.
Taking a deep breath, she composed herself. ‘My husband died unexpectedly leaving huge debts,’ she said flatly, ‘and childcare is not an issue. We—my children and I—are staying with my parents for the time being. My mother is available for them.’
A tap at the door preceded the daily appearing with a tray of coffee and cake. Bustling over to them, she laid the tray on a low coffee table as she chirruped, ‘I’ve made you one of my fruit cakes, Mr Landry. Joy said you hadn’t eaten your lunch when she called earlier and dinner won’t be ready till eight.’
Steel sat back in his chair and the smile he gave the little woman made Toni’s heart jolt. Serious, he was drop-dead gorgeous, but when he smiled … Dynamite. It increased the smouldering sex appeal about a thousand per cent.
‘Thanks, Maggie,’ he said lazily, ‘although I doubt I’m in danger of wasting away.’
‘Be that as it may, it doesn’t do to skip meals.’ Maggie’s demeanour was one of motherly reproof; Toni had the feeling the daily and her formidable employer got on very well. This was borne out when the little woman poured them both a cup of coffee and cut Steel a massive slice of cake, clucking her tongue at Toni when she refused a piece. ‘You young girls these days.’ She shook her grey head. ‘Don’t eat enough to keep a sparrow alive. How about just a morsel to have with your coffee, eh?’
Helplessly, Toni agreed. It was simpler.
Satisfied, the daily gave them both a beaming smile and bustled out of the room, her permed curls bobbing.
Toni looked down at the plate on her lap and then raised her eyes to find Steel Landry’s gaze on her face. ‘Are you always persuaded so easily?’ he murmured, before adding, ‘You said children. How many do you have?’
She knew her face was burning with colour when she reached into her briefcase and brought out the CV she hadn’t had time to send before the interview. James had only called her the night before to say he’d mentioned her name to Steel Landry and he’d agreed to see her the next evening after checking out some of her previous work. She’d grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
‘M-my personal details are included,’ she mumbled as she held the plastic folder out to him.
He didn’t take it. ‘I prefer to hear it from you.’
Great. ‘I have twin girls.’
‘How old are they?’
‘Nearly four.’ She placed the folder on the coffee table.
She wasn’t aware how her voice had softened at the thought of Amelia and Daisy, but the silver eyes watching her so intently sharpened. ‘And you’d be happy to work evenings and weekends when necessary?’ he asked quietly. ‘This is no nine-to-five job.’
Another fair question and one that could lose her any chance of getting the job if she answered honestly. ‘Not happy, no,’ she said stiffly. ‘But I know they’d be well cared for and I have to work. It’s as simple as that.’
He considered her over the rim of his coffee cup. ‘Another personal question. You said huge debts. That means what exactly? Ballpark figure if you don’t mind.’
This was worse than she’d imagined. Knowing her hands were shaking, Toni put down the coffee cup and gripped them together in her lap. ‘Eighty thousand pounds,’ she said flatly.
She raised her head and looked at him. His face was impassive. No doubt eighty thousand was pocket change to him, but to her it was a small fortune. She swallowed hard. He might as well know it all. ‘My husband had taken loans out all over the place,’ she said tightly. ‘Most of them were wiped out with his death but he’d borrowed from friends and family too, even work colleagues. He told so many stories …’ She gulped, determined to get through without breaking down. She’d done enough crying lately to last a lifetime and employers didn’t like hysterical women.
‘What did he want the money for?’
‘Gambling.’ One word, but as stark and ugly as any profanity as far as Toni was concerned, and her tone reflected this.
‘And you didn’t know?’
He sounded faintly incredulous. Toni didn’t blame him. She found it unbelievable herself. She’d lived with Richard for over four years and she hadn’t known him at all, apparently.
It had been a textbook whirlwind marriage. They had met at the wedding of one of Toni’s old university friends, and had been wed themselves within three months. He had been charming and carefree and funny and she’d fallen for him like a ton of bricks. By the time doubts had set in she’d found she’d become pregnant with the twins on honeymoon. Fait accompli.
‘No, I didn’t know.’ Her eyes were deep pools of pain. ‘But I intend to pay back every penny he borrowed.’
‘How many people does that involve?’
She felt nauseous remembering. ‘A lot,’ she said bleakly.
‘And none of them would wipe the slate clean considering you knew nothing about your husband’s addiction?’
‘I wouldn’t let them.’ Her chin had a proud tilt to it now. ‘However long it takes, they’ll get their money.’
He surveyed her for a long moment without speaking and then drank the rest of his coffee. It was only when he replaced the cup on the saucer that he said softly, ‘Even at the cost of your children’s welfare.’
For a moment she wondered if she’d heard right.
Then, stung beyond measure, she glared at him as she got to her feet. ‘My children will always come first with me. Always. But that doesn’t mean I can’t do what’s right.’
‘You’re sure this isn’t your pride having a field day?’
Hateful man. ‘Richard stole from our friends and family,’ she bit out angrily. ‘Oh, he might have dressed it up differently, but that’s what he did. He lied and cheated and would probably be doing the same now if he hadn’t had a massive heart attack when out jogging one evening. One old aunt lent him her life savings. She’s barely got enough now to feed herself and her cats.’
‘They can’t all be elderly and destitute,’ Steel commented mildly, seemingly untouched by her anger.
‘No, but they all trusted my husband and were cruelly let down. Betrayed through no fault of their own.’
‘As you were.’
Toni blinked. She had been set to walk out a second ago, now she didn’t know what to do. The way he’d said the last words had brought the traitorous tears close to the surface again.
‘Sit down and finish your coffee and cake,’ he said very softly, and when, after a second’s hesitation, she complied he continued to observe her.
Behind the cool, unruffled exterior Steel’s mind was racing. For once he found himself at something of a loss and he