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that’s better,' he said at last. ‘By the way, I’ve been looking for a letter from the Weekly Review . Apparently they wrote last month asking me to do an article on the wildebeeste as a follow-up to a recent television programme. I can’t find it anywhere. You haven’t seen it?’
    It could be on her desk, thought Laura, but she had pushed all the letters together without looking to see who they were from. ‘There’s a whole pile of unanswered letters in my office. Perhaps it’s amongst those.’
    ‘You’d better bring them in, I don’t know what they’re doing there if they haven’t been answered. Bring your pad as well. We’ll go through them.’
    When all the mail was signed and sealed Brad called Laura into his study, inviting her to sit down. His chin resting on the tips of his fingers he looked keenly at her for a long minute before speaking.
    His words when he did speak took Laura very much by surprise.
    ‘I’m sorry for the way I treated you when you arrived. You’ve proved that you’re every bit as efficient as David said, despite the—er—inadequacy of your office.’
    ‘Thank you, Mr. Stuart,’ said Laura, feeling an unexpected warmth at his praise, but wondering whether he was merely buttering her up for something else.
    Abruptly he stood up. ‘Come with me. I want your opinion.’
    Surprised, Laura followed. He led her into the room next to his study. It was comfortably furnished with deep armchairs and a chaise-longue in faded green velvet.
    ‘Would this suit you?’ His voice was brusque and businesslike.'
    'I'm sorry—I don’t understand.'
    ‘For your office. I could have this stuff moved out and a door put in here between the two rooms. What do you think?’
    Laura could hardly believe him. It would be marvellous. It commanded the same breathtaking view as his own room and it was light and spacious. It would be a pleasure to work there. If she needed any incentive to stay, this was it. It would make up for all Brad Stuart’s bad moods.
    ‘It would be very nice, but—don’t you use it?'
    ‘Occasionally, if we have visitors. But that's very rare these days since my—' For a brief space his eyes shadowed. When he spoke again his voice was brisk. ‘I’ll call a man in tomorrow and you can move as soon as it’s ready.’
    Laura's thoughts were on Brad’s unfinished sentence and she hardly heard his last words. What had he been going to say? Something about himself—or his sister? This latter seemed the most likely and Laura wondered if now was the time to question him or whether she should wait until she had settled in properly.
    Perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions, Miss Templeton^ Perhaps you don’t want to stay?’
    Realising that Brad had mistaken her silence, Laura spoke hastily, ‘Oh, no, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll stay, after all.’
    ‘Good. We're in agreement for once.’ His face relaxed and Laura thought for one second that he was actually going to smile. But the next moment he left the room and she followed, not sure whether she was dismissed or not.
    ‘There is one other point,' he said over his shoulder as they re-entered his study. ‘I’ve had so many girls walk out on me that I should like to ensure it doesn’t happen again. I’ve drawn up a contract for a period of three months which I would like you to sign.'
    Laura drew in a deep breath. So she had been right— he did have an ulterior motive. It was not so much that she minded signing the contract, but the way he had gone about it. Softening her up before the crunch. Right, she said to herself grimly, two can play at that game!
    She smiled as she read through the contract, then with pen paused said:
    ‘I’ll sign on one condition.’
    His eyebrows shot up, surprised, as if wondering how she dare suggest such a thing.
    ‘And that is?’
    He had adopted his old superior attitude, which only served to encourage Laura.
    ‘That I have a new typewriter and proper filing-cabinets. I refuse to sit