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‘I’m sorry about your grandfather.’

‘Thank you.’ He nodded, and it was odd, but she knew that the slight press of his lips meant he would prefer that conversation now be closed.

Perhaps Sir Charles sensed that too, because he deftly changed the topic. ‘Gabriel tells me you can be very persuasive.’

‘Can I?’ she asked, bewildered.

She saw a smile twitch on Gabe’s beautiful mouth and then came the liquid gold of his voice. ‘Stella gave strong assurances,’ he said, ‘that I would not have to be involved. I don’t have the time or inclination to take on another project.’

Had Gabe agreed to the Palazzo Rinaldi being used for the movie?

‘We wouldn’t trouble you at all,’ Sir Charles assured. ‘We can specify it in the contract.’

‘There are a lot of heritage rules,’ Gabe warned. ‘And it is my personal residence, not that I am there often but…’

‘Of course,’ Sir Charles said ‘Filming would be a year or so away, assuming that our proposal is accepted.’

‘You know it will be accepted.’ Gabe did not do small talk when it came to business. ‘I don’t know how many approaches have been made by various companies over the years, I lost count. And when it is accepted, I would like it written into any contract that Stella is to be the location consultant for the palazzo.’

Stella’s throat constricted, and for the first time she heard a slight nervous laugh from Sir Charles. ‘Naturally, Stella would be a part of the team. However, Damon Keller demands veterans for his films, only the most experienced.’

‘Miss Harper understood my grandfather’s reservations.’ Gabe would not be swayed. ‘It wasn’t me she persuaded, Sir Charles, it was my grandfather.’

‘Of course.’ Sir Charles clearly knew there was no chance that Gabe would back down and was not about to risk losing this opportunity. He turned and smiled at Stella. ‘You must join us for some champagne.’

‘I’d rather not.’ She saw Sir Charles’s eyes bulge. Of course she should toast this wonderful news. ‘I mean, I’ll just have some water. I’ll be asleep at my desk otherwise.’

She was shaking as she took a glass of sparkling water from Sir Charles, and grateful for its cool refreshment.

They had a quick drink and Sir Charles naturally invited Gabe to dinner, but he explained that he flew back to Milan tonight.

‘Shall we head to my office then and hash out some details?’ Sir Charles wasn’t going to let him get away just yet.

‘Very well,’ Gabe said and then nodded to Stella. ‘It was nice seeing you again.’

She was effectively dismissed from the conversation then and returned to her desk bewildered and reeling.

And worried.

Was Gabe doing this because she had slept with him?

Did he feel he owed her this?

Had that been her powers of persuasion?

‘What the hell!’ Daisy returned from a long lunch. ‘You dark horse.’ Though she said it with a smile. ‘I knew you wouldn’t get those shots from a tourist helicopter.’ She halted as Jinty came over. ‘There’s a big executive meeting tomorrow at nine, Sir Charles wants you to pitch your proposal to them in the screening room.’

‘Me?’

Jinty nodded. ‘Daisy shall be there and Sir Charles of course.’

The proposal she had wanted to write all along was a breeze to write now, filling it with all the gorgeous pictures she’d taken those first days.

And that was how Gabe saw her, sitting working away at her desk, and he turned to Sir Charles, who was seeing him out.

‘I’ll just say goodbye to Miss Harper.’

He came over and saw the blush spread on her cheeks when she looked up.