'You're just like your mother,' Jonas West muttered. 'No thoughts of vindictiveness, no reprisals. You see everybody's need but your own.'
'What did you expect? When someone tells you he's getting engaged to the girl he loves, do you turn around and shout? Am I supposed to say I'll knock him down because he doesn't love me? We were only going out together, after all.'
'For a whole damned year,' her father growled. 'Now your stuck in the same company; they'll both be following you to Africa, mooning about right under your nose!'
'They don't ''moon about'', ' Natalie assured him. ' They are both hard workers, dedicated. Let it drop, Dad. I'm really not bothered.
She got the same old suspicious look and then a great bear hug.
'Just like your mother.' His eyes were slightly damp. 'Margaret had the same sweet nature. God! I miss her.' He straightened up and moved back to his seat. 'Take care out there. Madembi isn't Kensington. A dam can be a dangerous place.'
Natalie nodded, greatly relivied to be off the subject of Neil and Paula. If the rest of the team knew of her father's fiercely protective attitude towards her they would treat her differently and she would hate that. she had worked had to get her present skills, University and two years in a television studio being a good background for what she did now. She hadn't just walked into this job because her father owns the company. He might dote on her at home, want to protect her, but he demanded the highest standards at work and she was not in anywhere favoured.
I'll take care, she assured him, the words she uttered everytime he sent her out to some place to research and plan. 'Now let's get down to details.'
He was back to business at once, the subject of Neil dropped, and Natalie pulled her chair closer to his desk, ready to work and listen. Her heartache was her own business and if she had to face Neil and Paula Carlton everyday both here and in Africa then that was her business too. One thing was for sure----they would never know. It was her own private nightmare and getting on with her job was the only thing she could think of to ease the daily pain.
In any case, there was never time to sit around here. In spite of her books, she was the trouble-shooter for the whole unit. Her father planned but it was Natalie who flew off to odd places, sometimes dangerous places. It was Natalie who was expected to go in feet first and get things moving. Jonas West made no concession to her sex. In his opinion a member of his staff was either good or hopeless. It was a tribute to her skill that he trusted was nothing to do with the fact that she was Natalie West. She was good at her job, confident. They'll all knew that.
There was the usual bustle and turmoil in the building as she walked out of her father's office and into the main offices that spread across one floor of the old Victorian block that housed Westwind productions. Looking down she could see the frantic hustle of London's traffic but up here it seemed remote, the sound muted. Next week she would be in Africa, on her own, working against the clock as usual, nothing easy. It would give her a little time away from Neil, until he brought the team out. One day it would stop hurting.
'Am I fired?' Ray Hanson came into the room and she laughed, her eyes twinkling.
'Not yet. I spoke up for you.'
He held up his hands in mock-horror. 'Listen, don't do me any favours. When you and your dad start battling I don't want to be even mentioned.'
'You mean you hear our raised voices from time to time?' Natalie grinned and he nodded vigorously.
'Battle of the Titans. I expect chairs to be flying.'
'It's all words she assured him smoothly.
'And she's no Titan.' Neil Bradshaw came in too, his eyes on Natalie's amused face, and she felt her facial muscles stiffen with the effort to keep the smile there. She wanted to run to him and be swept up, to hear him say it was a bad dream and nothing else. He could hardly do that, though, when Paula wore his ring.