1977 - I Hold the Four Aces by James Hadley Chase

feebly, “This should be on me, Helga,” but apparently, she didn’t hear.
    Driven back to the hotel, they went together to her suite. She walked out onto the balcony and looked at the sea, the crowds, the palm trees and the lights.
    “I love Cannes,” she said, as Grenville joined her.
    “Yes: it is special.”
    He stood by her side, uneasy and worried.
    “Now let’s talk business.” She dropped into a chair.
    Grenville wished Archer was here. This woman was demoralizing him. He had never met a woman with her strength of character; never before heard such sudden steel in her voice, or had to meet such a direct stare.
    “Business? Of course.” He sat beside her. “You mean the Patterson thing.”
    She smiled at him.
    “Chris, you have many splendid talents, but property promotion is not for you.”
    Grenville crossed his long legs and opened his gold cigarette case, which he offered. Helga took a cigarette and he did. He lit the cigarettes before saying, “You could be right.”
    She threw back her head and laughed. Looking at her, Grenville suddenly realized she was really a beautiful woman. Her throat line was superb.
    “When you told me about this Blue Sky promotion and that you had become involved,” Helga said, “I decided to check. Yesterday, I instructed my people to investigate Joe Patterson. This morning I inspected the site at Vallauris. Now, let me tell you what I have discovered. First, Joe Patterson: he has spent five years in a U.S. jail for fraud. He has very little money: just enough to keep up appearances. The Blue Sky promotion is yet another of his many swindles. I went this morning to the cadastre at Vallauris. They told me that there are two footpaths through this piece of land, so it would be impossible to build. Leger, the agent, is a crook. You now have to face the fact, Chris, that you have got yourself involved in a swindle.”
    Taking out his handkerchief, Grenville wiped his damp hands.
    “I did say, didn’t I, Helga, no one in their right minds?”
    “Yes,” she broke in. It irked him that she kept cutting him short. “We can forget Patterson. I’m sorry, because you won’t get the two per cent on this so-called deal.”
    Grenville shrugged.
    “Life is like that, isn’t it? I never really thought I would.” He stared down at the crowd, moving on the promenade. “Maybe I had better see this farce to the end. If Patterson really wants me to go to Saudi Arabia, it could pay me to do so.”
    He thought this was a smart move, and looked at Helga. But her searching stare made him immediately uncomfortable. He forced himself to smile at her.
    “Forget Saudi Arabia,” Helga said curtly. “I have a suggestion to make.”
    “You have? What is it, Helga?”
    “My corporation can use your talents. I want you to become a member of my executive staff.”
    With an effort, Grenville kept his face expressionless.
    “But I know nothing about electronics.”
    “You won’t need to. I want you as my personal assistant.” Helga put her hand on his. “You can’t imagine how many things I have to deal with, and with you at my side, my work would be halved. What do you think?”
    Here it is, Grenville thought and suddenly gained confidence. His fingers caressed Helga’s wrist.
    “I would love that, but tell me first: your personal assistant?” He looked at her with that sensual look he could produce for middle-aged or elderly women that had never failed. “How personal?”
    “Very, very personal, Chris, darling,” Helga said and got to her feet.
    As he went with her into the bedroom, Grenville thought that this time he hadn’t fluffed it. He could almost hear Archer applauding on the sidelines.
     
    * * *
     
    The warm sun, coming through the slats of the shutters, woke Helga. She moved voluptuously, sighing, then opened her eyes. Looking at the bedside clock, she saw it was 10.00.
    She had never slept so well. Turning on her side, she looked at the pillow beside her and