Page 16 of Betrayal

“Nothing useful, and the council approval carries more weight with me.”

“So, I passed, but you refused a lift here, and the venue is very public, should you decide to scream,” he said, aware she was smarter and more vulnerable than his initial assessment.

“I rarely scream.”She toasted him with her sparkling mineral water.

“Noted.”

The waiter set their scampi before them.

“So, going back to our reason for being here ...”Talking business provided a solid footing, when she’d just tossed him overboard in a storm.Wanting to discover more about her wasn’t in his game plan."I’m supplying the premises—"

“If we do a deal.”

“You’ve just said you’re here to deal.No reflection on the organisation you were looking at, but I’ll also want to engage my own childcare provider, so that’s recruitment, staff registration, and legal protocols covered.”

“I’d want the childcare provider named in our contract.”

“And you’ll want to be on the management board,” Hunter concluded.

“You were listening.”

“I usually listen when I’m in a conversation.”His heart rate settled.He was back in control.“Instead of leasing the floor, you’ll be contracting for a set number of places in the centre.”

“With the option to negotiate increased places every six months,” she countered.

“Annual increases will work.Most mothers take some parental leave.”He’d had this conversation with Casildo’s sister when she’d been setting up her centre.

“If they can afford it or have family support.”

“Option to increase the number of places annually, with an emergency clause for special cases.”The quick-fire round of questions and answers helped relax him further.

“I can live with that.Set rate per place for five years.”

“Now, you’re trying it on, Anna.Annual review on place rates.You know that’s fair.We’re shouldering refurbishment and supply of all needs, provider costs including staff pay, benefits, insurance, plus utility costs, and the list goes on.”

“‘We’re’—have you got a silent partner I should meet?”She was another good listener.

“A manner of speaking.”Now wasn’t the time to tell her she’d have a different owner by early next year.Her plan wouldn’t suffer, so she didn’t need to know before the rest of the world.

“I’ll have to check with Antonio, but annual increases in fees, the capacity to increase or reduce places, and a minimum five-year contract might work.”

He let her pretend Antonio would disagree with anything she negotiated.“Which brings us to modifications.How do you feel about a safe play area on the roof?”

Gotcha.

She lowered the fork she’d been raising to her mouth and simply smiled.“You were saving that, weren’t you?”

“You’ve gone from ice to a puddle of warm water,” he said.And she looked good all soft and happy with him.

“Your questions the other day—does it have windows that open?Does it have balconies?The answer’s no.I’ve researched, and there are some outstanding designs in medium and high-rises, but fresh air is the cherry on top.”

“Have to check local regulations, but it should be doable.It’ll also allow more options for activities with mobility and sensory-impaired children.”Hunter liked seeing her happy, and he’d think about that later.

“You have given this some thought.”

“You might have ideas about colours.”He threw that in to schedule another meeting with her.He was crazy.He blamed her luminous smile.

“Now I know you’re playing with me.Architects consider light, colour and texture as part of their design work.”