Free Being Elizabeth by Barbara Taylor Bradford Page A

transfer,’ Elizabeth said, after they had stepped apart. Turning, walking over to her desk, she explained, ‘He thinks it might have been taken from Mary’s personal account.’
    â€˜Damnation!’ Robert exclaimed. ‘If that’s the case, Philip Alvarez will say it was a wedding gift, or some such thing, and it will be harder for us to get it back. I hope it’s company money.’
    â€˜Actually, it’s my money,’ Elizabeth pointed out in the same businesslike tone she had used with Cecil Williams. ‘And I promise you I’m going to get it back from that terrible man, no matter what.’
    Robert stood in the middle of the office staring at her. The set of her mouth, the tough glint in her grey-black eyes telegraphed to him her determination to get her own way, and he remembered how, over the years, he had detected a hint of ruthlessness in her. But perhaps there was more than a hint.
    She asked, ‘Why are you staring at me like that, Robin? Do you think I’m sounding too tough? Is that it?’
    â€˜No, not at all,’ he replied, truthfully. ‘I believe you should be tough, and, if necessary, ruthless, in this particular situation. I’ve been thinking about Philip Alvarez, and I’m going to find out exactly what’s happening with that real estate company of his. I want to know how the development in Marbella has proceeded. I must find out everything I can about it.’
    â€˜That’s a good idea, yes. And if necessary, you must go to Spain and be my “two eyes”, Robin.’
    â€˜Let me do the research first.’
    â€˜What exactly was his company building in Marbella?’ Elizabeth gave him a sharp look.
    â€˜Villas, a golf club, polo grounds. It was to be a gated community, like those in America,’ he explained. ‘Philip wanted me and Ambrose to go, to look over the polo grounds, the plans for the stables, and all of the things pertaining to horses, in fact.’
    â€˜I see. If he won’t give the money back we’ll just have to go after the development. Perhaps we could make it a viable entity, especially if we added a spa. They are big moneymakers these days, and they are growing in popularity.’
    â€˜It could be up and running, and doing very well,’ Robert said, ‘but I think not. I remember reading something about it quite recently … I got the impression Alvarez had stopped building. And rather abruptly. Perhaps there is trouble.’
    â€˜I wasn’t a bit surprised when he didn’t come to the funeral,’ Elizabeth remarked. ‘But it’s possible he stayed away because he didn’t want to answer awkward questions. About the Marbella project,’ Elizabeth shook her head. ‘That makes sense, don’t you think, Robin?’
    â€˜It does. And I aim to find out.’ He strode to the door and turned around. ‘I’ll see you at the meeting in an hour.’
    Elizabeth nodded and went back to studying the papers on her desk. But only for a moment. Her thoughts turned to Robert. She was extremely conscious of him, of his looks, his warmth, and, if she were honest, of his sexual potency. She bent her head, sniffed her jacket: his cologne clung to it, tantalizingly. A small shiver ran through her. Why was she suddenly having such strange thoughts about Robert Dunley, her childhood friend? Dropping her eyes, she stared at the page she had been reading. She smiled to herself then, knowing full well why.

S EVEN
    T he three young men sitting in his office with him were the nucleus of his management team. They had each been in Cecil Williams’s line of vision for years, as well as in Elizabeth’s. This was because they were talented, shrewd, trustworthy and diligent, not to mention absolutely loyal to Elizabeth. And to himself.
    They were sitting together at the other end of the room, chatting amongst themselves, and as Cecil studied them for a