by Jane Corrie
As there were two flights down to The ground floor, she did not attempt to carry the case, but placing it on the top stair, gradually slid it down from stair to stair, and this was how Janus found her in the middle of the first flight, the heavy thumps of her case enabling him to locate her.
He relieved her of the case and asked, 'Is that the lot?'
Rebecca, turning to go back up the stairs, replied, 'I can manage the rest,' and went back to collect her coats and the overnight case.
When she joined him a short time later, he had stowed her case in the back with the rest of her luggage and sat waiting in the car for her.
There was still the letter of resignation to be
written, she thought, as she climbed into the car, but that could wait until later, when she was able to produce a plausible sounding excuse for her abrupt departure.
`I had a word with James Dudley,' Janus told her as he started up the car. 'I more or less explained what had happened.' He shot Rebecca a quick assessing look as he sensed her stiffen at his words. 'Only that I'd offered you a job,' he added softly, 'and that you'd accepted. As long as you do what you're told, that's as much as anyone will know. You keep your side of the bargain, and I'll keep mine '
Rebecca stared ahead of her. She would never have admitted it, but those quietly said words set the seal on their association, and she felt more at ease with him than she had felt since the beginning of their strange arrangement.
They stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. The speciality of the house was a buffet style lunch set out on long trestles from which you helped yourself, and there was no shortage of choice.
Rebecca was not at all hungry. The events of the last forty-eight hours had momentarily removed what had normally been a healthy appetite, and she was grateful to be allowed to choose the amount of food she required and did not let Janus bully her into taking more than she felt she could cope with, ignoring his casual, 'No wonder you're so slim!' comment, as she walked back to their table with her selection.
She also refused a second glass of the potent red wine Janus had ordered, meaning to keep a clear
head for whatever was in store for her. She still did not know where they would be spending the night, and in spite of her earlier relaxation concerning Janus's motives where she was concerned, this worried her, since she was aware that his suite in the London hotel had only one bedroom. The other, as she well knew, had been turned into a study. For all she knew she might be expected to doss down under the desk! It was these thoughts that made her firmly refuse to have her glass filled, and brought a pithy comment from Janus.
`I'm not trying to seduce you,' he said harshly. 'I meant what I said about not being interested in your physical attractions. You're a paid employee of mine, and I never mix business with pleasure—got that?' he demanded sarcastically.
Rebecca's wide eyes left his furious blue ones, and she stared down at the white damask tablecloth. 'Yes, sir,' she said, with a touch of humility in her voice that did not fool Janus for a moment. She raised her lovely eyes to his. 'Would you please tell me what arrangements you're making for me? I presume we are going back to the hotel?' she asked, still keeping that humble note in her voice.
Janus studied her through hooded lids. 'So that's what's worrying you, is it?' he said silkily. 'Yes, we're going back to the hotel. I shall book you a room. In time, Miss Lindsey, you'll learn to trust me. Now, are you finished, or would you like some coffee?' he demanded, and at Rebecca's shake of the head, he stood up abruptly and left her to gather her bag and coat while he settled the bill.
During the drive to London, Janus outlined
Rebecca's duties, that were not so very different from 'what she had been doing, only that she had to keep a diary of engagements for him. He would tell her what arrangements he had already made, and what functions he would attend and the ones he would not. He also mentioned the salary she would get: and it was much higher than she had anticipated.
Her only response to this was a slight raising of the eyebrows, and this, was noted by Janus, who remarked pithily, 'You'll find you'll earn it. I'm not a slave driver, but I do expect loyalty and hard work from you. You'll have no need to purloin any other trinkets to bolster up your dress account,' he added harshly. 'Any relapses of yours in that line, and I'll hand you over to the authorities, understood?' he added brusquely.
Rebecca's eyes flashed sparks at this very unfair accusation. He simply refused to believe that she was not a thief, and if he ever brought up the subject again she would walk out on him, no matter what the circumstances were.
He shot a quick look at her before he turned his attention to the road again. They were now on the outskirts of London, and his attention, would soon be centred on the busy traffic they would encounter. 'Sore spot, is it?' he said softly. 'Okay, we won't dwell on it. Just as long as you know where you stand.'
Rebecca hardly needed to be reminded of this. She knew only too well where she stood, and the ground was far from firm.
On arrival at the hotel, Janus procured a room
for her that was on the same floor as his suite, explaining to the manager that Miss Lindsey was his private secretary, for which Rebecca received a special smile of welcome from the manager, who was obviously bent on pleasing his famous guest.
`Join me as soon as you've unpacked,' Janus said abruptly, as they left the lift, preceded by the porters carrying their luggage, and Rebecca wondered crossly if she was supposed to work weekends as well.
When she rejoined him fifteen minutes later, after she had unpacked a few necessities and taken a quick refreshing shower, she found Janus studying a bound volume, not unlike the manuscript covers, only this one had a bright red cover. On her arrival he had thrust it towards her, with a cryptic, 'Read that,' order.
As Rebecca received it, she caught the scent of aftershave lotion, and knew that he had also freshened up since their journey. His clothes were now more informal, grey slacks and white short-sleeved open-necked shirt.
It's the script for The Devil's Ploy,' he said. `Have you read the book?' he demanded.
Rebecca shook her head, and received a hard look from Janus. 'It was a best-seller,' he remarked dryly. 'You were a little off, weren't you?' he added silkily, as he selected a book from the shelf behind him and gave it to her. 'Read that first,' he ordered. `Otherwise you won't understand the script.'
From all accounts, all of his books were bestsellers, Rebecca thought, recalling what Barbara had told her but she said nothing, and placing the
script under her arm' and holding the book in her hand, she asked if that was all he wanted, hoping to be able to return to her zoom, but she was to be disappointed.
I've a few letters that need replies,' he said airily. `They're in the desk, right-hand drawer,' he added, and looking in his briefcase, produced the notebook that Rebecca had all but thrown at him the previous day when he had first asked her to work for him.
The sight of the notebook brought back a few memories that Rebecca would rather not think about, but she placed the book and the script down on the desk and picked up the notebook, then went in search of the letters he had mentioned, and getting a pen, sat down at the desk after giving him the letters, and prepared to take dictation.
Her docile acceptance of whatever task Janus had in store for her amused him no end. It was in his voice as he dictated the replies, and only just stopped short of smugness, Rebecca thought, as she gritted her teeth and concentrated on her work.
By the time they had finished, it was tea time, and when Janus asked her if she would like to take tea in the office or have it in the hotel's dining room, she quickly plumped for the dining room, if only to give her a change of scene and possibly get out of Janus Leon's presence that she had had to put up with for most of the day.
The sardonic look she received for this choice, told her that he was well aware of her reasoning. "That's fine,' he said dryly. 'I've an appointment at five, and won't be back until late. Y
ou've plenty to keep you. busy. We'll go over the script tomorrow
around ten,' he added casually.
Rebecca bridled at this autocratic order. It was obvious that he expected her to spend the evening reading his book, and the script too, unless she was very much mistaken. She was beginning to understand why he paid such a high salary. Her life, it seemed, was to be geared entirely to suit his life style. Her eyes spoke her feelings more than words could have done, and as she had no intention of entering into an argument with him, one that she was bound to lose, she said nothing, but picked up the script and the book and walked to the door.
`Had you something else in mind?' he asked silkily, as she got to the door, making her turn to face him.
`As a matter of fact I had,' she said coldly. 'I would have liked to visit a friend of mine.'
`Who?' he asked harshly.
Rebecca's brows shot up. So she wasn't expected to have a private life! Her soft lips firmed; she would have to disabuse him of that idea, and the earlier the better. 'I don't see that that's any business of yours,' she replied coldly. 'I've agreed to become your secretary, but surely even private secretaries have some time off,' she added pithily.
`Not this private secretary,' he said silkily, 'or have you forgotten our little talk yesterday evening? As for agreeing to work for me, I don't see that you had much choice in the matter, do you? You're on probation, Miss Lindsey. Now for the last time, who did you want to visit?' he demanded.
Rebecca was still recovering from his earlier comment of her being on probation, and ignoring
his query, she said furiously, 'I don't intend to throw a brick through the nearest jeweller's window, if that's what you're afraid of!'
Janus's eyes glinted at this. 'Your methods are a little more subtle, aren't they?' he grated, now as angry as Rebecca was. 'No, the only time I'd worry on that account would be your attending a high-class gathering where all the sparklers would be on show. Not that you'd be so unlucky the next time, because there isn't going to be a next time. Not if you want to stay out of trouble, that is. Is this where your contact is?' he shot out at her.
Rebecca blinked. 'What contact?' she asked, her eyes wide in puzzlement.
Janus smiled grimly. 'You know, you ought to go on the stage,' he said softly. 'Someone had to turn the stuff into cash after the pieces were copied and replaced by fakes.' He blinked suddenly as a thought struck him. 'I suppose that was the real thing I took off you, was it? Or was it the fake?' Then he added half to himself, 'You knew she'd be there, and you'd probably seen it before, so you might have gone prepared for the switch.'
Rebecca stared at him disbelievingly, then took a deep breath. 'No wonder you write books,' she said scathingly. 'With an imagination like yours, you couldn't go wrong. Only in this case, you are wrong. Not that you'll believe me.' She took another deep breath. 'I thought I'd like to go and see Miss Basnett,' she added, thinking that if she told him the truth, he would let her go, unless he thought Barbara was the fence!
Janus frowned. 'Miss Basnett?' he repeated, then
his brow cleared. 'The agency woman,' he said.
Rebecca nodded. 'And a good friend of mine. If you think she's one of my contacts, then you're mad,' she added crossly. 'I presume you won't be needing the Bureau now?' she asked quickly, seeing the glint return to his eyes.
His autocratic look affirmed this, and he said abruptly, It's short notice, but you car tell her I'll settle for the month.'
That was all he said, but it told Rebecca she could visit Barbara, and she gave an inward sigh of relief as she left his suite to give Barbara a ring to tell her she was on the way to see her.
By the time she arrived at Barbara's flat, an hour later, she had rehearsed her lines well. It was not going to be an easy time for her. She had to explain why she had decided to accept the job after she had written to her and told her she had refused Janus's offer, and as soon as she had got that part of it out of the way, she would feel much more capable of managing the rest. At least she had warned Barbara about the possibility of Janus Leon taking his business away from the Bureau, so that part of her news would not come as a shock.
Barbara reacted precisely as Rebecca had thought she would. 'But why?' she had queried peevishly. 'I thought you didn't like the wretched man, now you tell me you're working for him!'
`Travel,' said Rebecca, putting the only point forward, that Barbara could understand. 'We're going to Madeira in three weeks' time. Now I couldn't pass that up, could I? You said yourself that I ought to come out of the College cocoon.
Well, I've decided to follow your advice,' she pointed out patiently.
Barbara was not yet convinced. 'You haven't fallen for him, have you?' she asked sardonically.
Rebecca's face said more than words. 'Of course I haven't!' she exclaimed. 'You were right when you said he never mixes business with pleasure. I'm a walking typewriter to him, and glad of it,' she added fervently, making Barbara give her a sharp glance that reminded her to watch her words. Barbara knew her too well to be deceived. `So all I have to worry about is taking the right clothes with me. They're making a film of The Devil's Ploy, did you know that? she asked Barbara, changing the subject quickly.
`I heard something about it,' Barbara replied, her mind still on Rebecca's earlier slip, and feeling that things were not quite right. `So he hadn't given up, had he? He kept on at you to be his secretary?' she asked, reverting to the subject that Rebecca wanted to avoid.
`Well, he found out that I worked at the College,' Rebecca said slowly. 'He said more or less the same as you did about burying myself away, and I knew he was right. I don't have to stay with him if I don't like the work,' she added, thinking in terms of a long stay, even if Janus Leon looked on it as a kind of sentence for what he considered her misdemeanours, one or two years was all he could command, especially as it was her first offence. She pulled herself up sharply at this thought. What was the matter with her? He had got her thinking she was guilty now! 'Well, anyway,' she went on, 'as
soon as he mentioned travel, I had second thoughts and decided to accept.'
There was a moment's silence after this while Barbara thought about it, and Rebecca followed up hastily with an offer of financial support for the Agency, and this time she was successful in diverting Barbara's attention from the subject she wanted dropped, for Barbara was delighted and extremely grateful for the offer, and accepted it without hesitation. 'I'll make you a partner,' she declared happily, 'and if you do want a change, you've only to come home. By that time we'll be a going concern. The new offices will guarantee more work.'
The conversation from then on centred on Barbara's plans for the future and Rebecca began to enjoy the visit, but thought she ought not to stay too late. She had to read the book Janus Leon had given her before the morning, and left shortly after nine for the hotel.
Back in her room in the hotel, Rebecca settled down to read the book, and it was past one o'clock before she had finished the story, but she had been so caught up in the plot that she had not noticed time passing. -
As she got ready for bed, she thought about the book, and could well see why it had been chosen for a film. Set in the Australian bush, it had all the hallmarks of a thriller. In fact, she thought, it contained all the necessary ingredients for success—not only adventure, but a touch of romance, not too much to detract from the story, but enough to give an added fillip to the interest.
Her thoughts roamed as she climbed into bed, and
thought that her earlier surmises on the competition to obtain the leading roles had been correct, and she wondered whether Janus Leon had had a particular actress in mind when the film rights had been sold, for the heroine, a tall willowy redhead, might just fit one of the top actresses, Susanna Dean. Then she remembered what he had said about the visit to Madeira, and interviewing several hopefuls, and shrugged as she put out her bedside light. If Janus was as critical in his choice of actress as he was of his staff, then it might be a
long session. He was not an easy man to please . . . and on this thought she fell asleep.
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE next morning Rebecca had more time on her hands. She was not due to report for work until ten o'clock, and waking at her usual time just after seven, she had ample time to study the film script before going down to breakfast at nine.
From what she could gather from the script, it kept strictly to the story. Not that she had expected anything else, not where Janus Leon was concerned. No licence would be taken with him; he was not unknown, and could afford to dictate his wishes in the matter.
Sadly, this had not been the case where other novels were concerned, for Rebecca could remember waiting to see a film of a favourite novel
of hers, and had been bitterly disappointed, actually wondering several times during the screening, whether this was the story she had read, for it bore little resemblance to the actual novel.
Arriving in the dining room shortly after nine, she looked out for Janus but could see no sign of him, and presumed that he had made a late night of it the previous evening and was probably sleeping it off. This suited her perfectly, and she enjoyed her breakfast, lingering over her coffee with the pleasant feeling that she had plenty of time in hand.
When she knocked on the door of Janus's suite at five to ten, she thought she heard voices, and at Janus's sharp, 'Come in,' she entered.
The first thing she noticed was an expensive perfume that wafted towards her as she walked into the suite, and she hesitated as she heard a woman's voice coming from the room used as an office, and saw that a coat, with a Hartnell label, had been thrown carelessly across the back of the divan in the lounge, and the remains of a breakfast for two on a table near the window.
Rebecca was not a prude, but she had to admit to a feeling of shock and disappointment where Janus Leon was concerned. She had not thought him a monk, but had not expected him to entertain his lights-of-love in his suite, and what was she doing in the office? Ought she to tiptoe quietly out and wait for him to contact her when the coast was clear?
