Giving himself a few minutes’ rest while gulping down some coffee, he was acutely aware of the girl sitting cross-legged on his sofa. The cold realization had already hit him that with that card, officially authenticated by UCAS immigration, in her bag, she was probably legally entitled to a straight fifty per cent of everything he had. At the time, it had seemed logical, the only thing to do. Damn it, it had been logical. It had also been the stupidest act he’d ever committed in his life. Michael didn’t like the idea of logic and stupidity going together. Now he really couldn’t think what to say to her. Burying himself in work had seemed the only thing to do.