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‘My dear Miss Delaney, just as soon as you’re acquainted with the job you’ll be given free rein. Until that time I want you to remain here unless I personally send you out.’
    Infuriated by his arrogant manner, Debra said, ‘You mean, if it’s discovered that someone’s made an awful mistake and you’re out of the office I can’t go along and correct it?’
    ‘I mean nothing of the sort!’ he yelled. ‘You’d use your discretion. You know damn well what I mean, why be so awkward?’
    Because you’re being bloody-minded, she wanted to answer, but at that moment Mr Fu walked in, and no way could she offend the old gentleman by such unladylike remarks.
    The two men left the office and Debra sat down limply. Arguing with Vane took everything out of her. She did not feel she had the energy to do anything else that afternoon.
    Exactly why he had objected to her going out she could not imagine. It was not as though it was private business. Her lips tightened. If he was always going to be so unreasonable working here would be sheer purgatory.
    She was glad Mr Fu had called him away. His dominant presence filled the room until it became overpowering. She felt stifled, despite the air-conditioning, and slid open the windows.
    But Hong Kong’s heat made no impression. If anything it was warmer still, and she flopped down again at her desk, looking forward to five o’clock and the welcome journey home. Up on the Peak it was cooler, at least ten degrees, and although humid, it was certainly fresher than down here.
    She was just beginning to unwind when Vane came back, still in the same foul mood, and clearly quite prepared to do further battle.
    ‘Where are those sketches you did yesterday?’ He dropped into a chair on the other side of her desk, his hand held out in readiness.
    Debra indicated the waste paper bin. ‘In there,’ she said bluntly. ‘Would you like me to stick the pieces together for you? I’m sure there must be a reel of Sellotape around somewhere.’
    ‘Don’t be funny,’ he snapped. ‘What are they doing in there? Weren’t you satisfied with them? From what you said this morning I thought you were pleased.’ He studied her face for a few moments. ‘No, don’t tell me, I can guess. You were annoyed with me and tore them up in a fit of temper.’
    Embarrassed that he had read her so clearly, Debra said defiantly, ‘They weren't much good anyway. I’ll do some more, if that’s what you want.’
    ‘I do,’ he said peremptorily. ‘It’s a job I was going to give you in any case. I was pleased to hear that you had the initiative to begin work on them yourself.’
    Debra felt flattered and began to smile, until he continued:
    ‘Pleased with my own judgment in selecting you from the numerous candidates who applied.’ He rose and walked towards the door. ‘Don’t let me down, Debra. I’m going out now. I’ll see you back at home this evening.’
    Her thoughts immediately turned to Liz. ‘You’re going to the villa?’
    He did not have to answer for her to know that her guess had been accurate.
    ‘It’s a long day for a girl to be on her own,’ he excused himself.
    ‘Then why don’t you hurry and find that tutor you promised?’ she demanded. ‘Then she wouldn’t have time to feel bored. Or you could bring her here, of course. I’m sure there must be some work she could do.’
    He grinned derisively, ‘your green eye’s showing again, Debra. I think you need to watch yourself rather than me.’
    Before she could answer he had closed the door. Jealousy indeed! It was concern for Liz’s welfare that bothered her, and well he knew it. But how she was going to get through to him that he was doing more harm than good she had no idea.
    Vane Oliver was a law unto himself. If he wanted to do anything he did it, regardless of whose feelings he trampled in the process.
     

CHAPTER FOUR
    Debra was shattered when she arrived back at the villa to discover that Liz and Vane were out