THE STORY SO FAR
Charlotte Irwin is a freelance antique specialist who sources furniture and artwork for small businesses. Her current client is businessman Jack Lowman. Charlotte is staying in a Norfolk seaside town while finding pieces for Jack’s hotel The Seaview, which he is in the process of renovating, having inherited it from his parents. On her first morning, Charlotte is late for a catch-up with Jack, and Jack’s icy PA, Becky, seems to delight in making Charlotte feel bad for her tardiness. Jack takes Charlotte to lunch after giving her a tour of the hotel. While chatting about the refurbishment project, they are interrupted by the overbearing Harry Slovesome. Jack explains Harry owns several rival hotels in the area and has his eye on The Seaview. Jack obviously dislikes and distrusts the man. That evening, while out walking, Charlotte sees Jack’s PA Becky and Harry leaving a pub together arm in arm. Should she tell her boss?
Charlotte was tired when she arrived at The Seaview the next morning. She’d been awake for much of the night wondering whether she should tell Jack about having seen Becky with his business rival Harry the previous evening.
It seemed strange that the pair were out together when Jack obviously had such contempt for Harry.
By the time Charlotte reached the hotel foyer, she’d decided to keep quiet for now. She wasn’t Jack’s employee, she was a freelance consultant. Why get mixed up in work
