Chapter 2 The future

standing in the road waiting to be run over. ‘Absolutely.’ His voice was as hard as his gaze was unsympathetic. ‘In your position I’d be quaking in my boots and I’d be using every trick in the book to try and save myself, even down to the high heels, the innocent smile and the shiny hair. Go for it, I say.’ ‘I don’t understand what you’re implying.’ Did he realise how uncomfortable she was in the shoes and the heels? Did he know that she’d been trying to impress him? ‘I’m saying that your business is in serious trouble, Miss Thacker, and I’m the only one who can save it so I don’t blame you for using every trick at your disposal to try and turn the tide. But I ought to warn you that it won’t make any difference. I won’t extend my investment and as far as I’m concerned you deserve everything that’s coming to you.’ His callous lack of sentiment was like a vicious punch in the stomach. ‘How can you say that? How can you be so uncaring?’ She forgot her resolution not to get emotional. ‘This isn’t just about me. If Café Brazil goes under then lots of people are going to lose their jobs.’ ‘And you’re terribly concerned about other people’s welfare, are you not?’ There was something in his tone that increased her feeling of unease. Why did she have the sense that there were two conversations going on here? One above the surface and one below. ‘Yes, actually. I think being an employer is a big responsibility. You can’t just hire and fire people. I’ve been very careful about not recruiting more staff until we were sure that the business could support them.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Very laudable, I’m sure. So what went wrong, Miss Thacker? If you’re so careful, then why are you here? Why isn’t your little business raking in the cash as we speak?’ ‘Our operating costs were higher than we’d estimated,’ she said honestly, frowning slightly as she caught the cynical gleam in his eyes. ‘Among other things, refurbishing ten of the coffee shops cost more than we planned. But we’ve addressed that and I have lots of ideas for the future.’ He watched her for a moment and the atmosphere thickened between them. ‘You’re very determined,’ he said softly. ‘Just how desperate are you?’ Grace stared at him, her mouth dry. What did he mean by that? ‘I care, Mr Cordeiro, if that’s what you mean.’ Refusing to be daunted, she took a deep breath and gave a shaky smile. ‘I still have five minutes left to persuade you.’ She reached for her briefcase and removed the papers that she’d stowed carefully inside. Rafael Cordeiro was a man incapable of emotion so she had to appeal to a different part of him. He was a figures man so she’d give him figures. ‘You won’t continue your investment because, so far, you haven’t seen a profit. But the cafés are doing well. Speculate to accumulate, isn’t that what they say?’ ‘Do they?’ She flushed and forced herself to carry on and not be put off by his bored tone or the dangerous glint in his eyes. ‘We’re breaking even now and we’ll soon be making money.’ ‘Is that right?’ Something in the way he was looking at her caused her feeling of unease to rocket. ‘Once we start making money you’ll also start making money …’ Her voice tailed off as she saw the grim set of his mouth. What did it take to make the man smile? ‘I’m going to be completely honest here. It’s taken longer than I thought it would and the figures aren’t what they should be. The cafés are all so busy that I can’t understand why we’re not already in profit.’ ‘Can you not?’ Faintly encouraged by his smooth tone, she decided to be completely open. ‘I probably made a few mistakes at the beginning. Our operating costs were too high. Much higher than I planned. I paid more for things than I should have done. Now that we’re expanding, it’s easier to negotiate good deals. Give me a bit longer. You won’t regret it.’ ‘I already regret it. I don’t like the way you do business, Miss Thacker.’ Shocked, she stared at him. ‘You mean, because the business has been slow to take off? All right, I accept that, but give me a little longer. I have loads of ideas that I want to talk to you about. I know that I can make Café Brazil profitable.’ ‘But at whose expense, Miss Thacker?’ His softly spoken question made her frown. He was a billionaire. Surely the fact that she hadn’t yet given him a financial return on his investment couldn’t be that much of a problem? ‘I realise that you’ve given us an enormous sum of money but we will pay it back with interest as the business grows. I’d really appreciate an opportunity to go through the figures with you and show you our plans. I really hope that when I’ve given you a full picture of where we’re going with Café Brazil, you’ll agree to extend your investment.’ ‘Why would I do that?’ ‘Because you’ll see that it’s worth it for you.’ She lifted her briefcase onto the table. ‘If you withdraw your investment then the company goes under, it’s as simple as that. And if the company goes under—’ ‘You lose your enviable lifestyle.’ She frowned slightly, thinking of the fourteen-hour days she’d been putting into the business. Was that what he meant? ‘I’m certainly lucky to have a business that I love,’ she said, venturing a smile and then withdrawing it instantly as she saw the chill in his eyes. He held out a hand. ‘Show me the accounts.’ Her heart lifted. There was hope, after all. Why would he want to see the accounts if he wasn’t considering extending the loan? She hastily opened the case, hating the fact that her hands were shaking slightly. She was on the spot and he was trying to catch her out. It was like being back at school again. Back in that hideous torture chamber where everyone was just waiting for her to fail. You’re stupid, Grace Thacker. Thick. Concentrate, you brainless girl. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself that she wasn’t in school now and that she’d come a long way since those awful days. And she wasn’t going to fail. Reaching into the case, she pulled out the neat pile of papers that her father had carefully collated and handed them to him. He flicked through the pages with lean, bronzed fingers. ‘This is still your five minutes, Miss Thacker. Keep talking.’ Didn’t he need a moment to concentrate? Envying the ease with which his eyes skimmed the figures, taking them all in at a glance, she looked away and tried to forget he was there as she outlined her plans for the future. She told him about the new sites she’d found, about her plans to extend each café. Revealed her dream. And received no reaction from him. He picked up a pen, made a few notes, flicked over the page and then finally lifted his gaze. ‘I admire you, Miss Thacker.’ From the ashes of disappointment she felt a warm glow of hope. ‘You do?’ ‘Yes. I always admire people with nerve.’ He fingered the papers in front of him and she could see the strength in his hands. ‘In the