Chapter 51: One month's notice

'My uncle should've told you weeks ago. You can't blame me for the fact that he couldn't face telling you that he had changed his mind,' the older man told her impatiently. 'Naturally, he would prefer to see the shop stay in the family.' Stella held her upper body very stiffly, but her legs were trembling.

The prospect of buying the shop had been like a life raft, and now she felt as if she was sinking. 'You'll receive everything due to you, of course. I'm giving you a month's notice,' he continued, 'and I'll expect you to move out of that room upstairs at the same time.

You've never had a tenancy agreement, and I require that room for other purposes.' 'I'll be out of here sooner than that,' Stella framed with bleak dignity. 'Well, I must admit that that would suit me very well!' He had the hide of a rhinoceros. Awarding her a relieved look, he closed up the books and departed, humming under his breath.

It was only six o'clock. Stella sank at the foot of the stairs. Five years of minimal holidays, low pay and all those extra hours keeping up the accounts. And at the end of it? One month's notice. What an idiot she had been, dreaming her stupid dreams! There were other businesses out there, but precious few would be within her financial reach. It was time to take stock and make fresh plans.

She splayed her fingers over her still flat tummy, thinking about her baby, trying not to think about his father. She was climbing the stairs when the bell went. With a sigh, she turned back. She looked out of the shop's window and simply did not credit the sight of the male grinning her. Joshua Clark.

'Come on, Stella...open sesame!' Maybe he would give her a laugh. Dior had been notoriously low on giving her a laugh. Stella unlocked the door. 'How did you find out where I lived?' Joshua kept on grinning, all white teeth, suntan and bold blue eyes. He exuded a buoyant conceit as powerful as an aura.

'I stole a look at your personnel file before I moved on. I've been meaning to call by for ages, but you know how it is—' 'So many women, so little time?' 'Yeah, well, I can't help being a hot property!' Joshua ran appreciative fingers through his thick blond hair and then grimaced.

'Well, to be honest, I got mixed up with this real terrifying bunny boiler for a while...' Stella found herself smiling warmly. 'Tell me more,' she encouraged. 'What did she want? A second date?' 'Could I, like...come inside out of the cold?' 'I'm not feeling that friendly, Joshua.

You made a real nuisance of yourself on level eight. I also hear you left under something of a cloud? Am I right?' 'Dead wrong!' he contradicted with another hugely self—satisfied grin. 'Good luck came my way and I rocketed up the career ladder.'

'Are you still in that new position?' she couldn't resist asking, wondering if Dior's forecast that he would be fired even faster had been accurate. 'No way! I got myself headhunted out of there again. It wasn't a safe house if you know what I mean. Fancy a spin in my company car?' 'I'm pregnant, Joshua .' His grin fell right off his handsome face.

'You're...what? My God, what happened?' 'Well...' 'Flame of' hell, who is this guy? Casanova? Where is he?' Stella shrugged.

'It figures. Yeah, well, maybe I'll look you up like...next year or something,' Joshua muttered ruefully. 'Probably never. I'm just not into children at this stage of my life.' Helplessly amused, Stella stood up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek.