fool.”
“Middle-age crisis,” Damon said. “Men don’t like to feel they’re getting old, older, whatever.”
“Would you cheat on your wife, Damon?”
He gave her a long look, before answering slowly. “I need to get myself a wife first, Carol. But I like to think I’m a man who would honour his wife and his vows.”
“And you haven’t found the right woman?” My God, what rapture for the right woman.
Was it her imagination or was there an odd stillness in the air? “Would you like to know I’ve found a possibility?” His dark gaze was quite unreadable.
“Not Amber Coleman, I hope?” That escaped her.
“Now now, Carol.” There was a sardonic glint in his brilliant eyes.
She bit her bottom lip. “Sorry. I should have backed off.”
“Amber and I are friends. Anyway, I’m in no rush to get married.”
“She is.” God, her tongue really was running away from her.
He walked to the door, an absolutely beautiful man. “I must go. I really enjoyed this evening, Carol. I hope you did, too.”
She followed him up, feeling doll-like in the presence of his height. “You know I did. Thank you so much, Damon.”
“It was my pleasure.” He dipped his dark head and very quickly kissed her cheek. “Good night now. I’ll ring you when I’ve gone through all your grandfather’s papers. He’s laid everything out on the line for you. Lew Hoffman wants to meet with you—your grandfather trusted him implicitly. He’s the new chairman and CEO, as you know. Lew’s a good man, very highly regarded. When you turn twenty-one you should take your place on the various boards. Marion Ellory is looking after the arts foundation. You will have to meet with her—no hurry. She knows what she’s about.”
“I have so much to learn.”
“Happily, you’ve got a first-class brain. You’re well informed and you have good instincts. That’s a lot, I’d say.”
Just a compliment, but it made her heart sing. “I want the Chancellor fortune used, Damon. I want to change people’s lives. I would like to add to my grandfather’s charitable foundations.”
He noted the seriousness of her expression. “I see no problem with that. You really do want to be part of it, don’t you?”
“I’m certainly not going to sit back and lead a useless life,” she told him. “My grandfather obviously expected me to shoulder responsibility. My father would have stepped into my grandfather’s shoes. Now, there’s only me. I must be like my father because I’m not in the least like my mother. She lives for the social world, the right functions, the right parties.”
He gave a slight grimace. “You’ll have to give the right parties along the way, Carol. You won’t be able to avoid it or live a normal life. You’re young, beautiful, clever, very rich. Formidable assets. Some people would say you’ve got it all.”
“Not me, ” Carol said and meant it. “I’d like to lead a normal life. Then there’s the sad fact too much money does bad things to people and their lives. You know all about my family. Their dark side. How they treated me. God knows what they have in store for me. Troy has left messages for me. I don’t answer.”
“What exactly is he up to?” Damon heard himself asking too sharply.
“ He knows. I don’t. I might not have acted that way but I was shocked when he tried to come on to me. He’s my cousin, for pity’s sake.”
“If he bothers you, you know where I am.”
“I think I can handle it, Damon. You’re doing enough already. I intend to keep my feet firmly on the ground. You have to trust me. I trust you. The giving and taking of it is important to me.”
His eyes involuntarily moved to her lovely mouth. He couldn’t look too long. His gaze shifted. “To me, too. That’s what I wanted to hear, Carol. Sleep tight. I’ll be in touch. If you have concerns about anything—any doubts, any fears—ring me. It doesn’t matter what time.”
“What if it’s
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