She’d emerged from the Orient gym and spa an hour ago. There had been an urgent message asking her to phone her fiancé. Now they were in his office. Elisabeth wished she could get in the shower–this afternoon had been non-stop.
Robert leaned back on his desk. ‘Darling, she needs our help.’
‘I should say so,’ said Elisabeth, pacing the room. She turned to him. ‘I asked if you two had history and you said you’d never met. You lied, Robert.’
‘I know I did. I’m sorry.’
‘Why the big secret?’ She lifted her chin.
He swallowed hard. ‘There isn’t a big secret.’
‘So, what, you used to be friends when you were kids—’
‘Yes.’
‘And then you fell out of touch.’
‘Yes.’
‘And now she’s here, asking for your help.’
‘That’s right.’
‘You’ve taken me for a fool once, Robert, don’t do it again. There’s more to it than that.’
‘Why should there be?’ He stood up and poured himself a drink.
Elisabeth narrowed her eyes. ‘I knew there was something between you,’ she said, not unkindly. ‘You made it so obvious. You couldn’t even handle hearing her name.’
‘That’s not true.’
‘Then tell me what is.’
Robert went to her. ‘OK. We dated for a while,’ he said. ‘It ended. She moved away. That’s it.’
A flicker of hurt. ‘Why did you split?’
He hesitated, grappling for the edited story he’d told so many times when Lana had first walked out on him. ‘We grew apart,’ he said, which was the truth. ‘Things changed. We changed.’
She looked up at him. ‘It sounds serious.’
‘It was, for a while.’
‘Who did it?’
‘What?’
‘The break-up. Who did it?’
Robert tried a laugh. ‘Does it matter?’
‘Yes.’
‘She did. She left me.’
Elisabeth nodded. ‘Did you love her?’
‘What’s that got to do with anything?’
‘Don’t be stupid.’
‘Yes.’
Her expression slipped. ‘Do you still love her?’
‘No.’
She let out a breath. ‘Fine.’ A pause. ‘I get that you still care for each other, I get that you want to help.’
‘Thank you.’ He kissed her forehead, which tasted salty.
‘And I won’t tell anyone about the pregnancy.’
‘I appreciate it.’ Robert embraced her. Over her shoulder his eyes hardened. ‘And the thing about Lana and I growing up together … no one needs to know about that, OK? It just complicates things.’
Elisabeth smiled tightly. ‘Makes no difference to me.’
‘Oh.’ He put a hand to his head, remembering. ‘Bellini said you wanted me.’
She balled her fists. ‘He did?’
‘Just something he mentioned. I know I’ve been difficult to catch. What is it?’
‘Nothing.’ She looked away. What the hell was Alberto playing at? Did he think he could force her into a confession?
Oh, Robert, darling, before you go, I’ve been having mind-blowing sex with another man. Who? Well, you’ll never guess …
‘Are you sure?’
She laughed it off. ‘Of course. I don’t even know what he’s talking about.’
Robert frowned. ‘OK.’
‘You’d better get back to Lana,’ she said, turning the tables. She grabbed her things and headed for the door.
‘Elisabeth?’ he called.
She turned.
‘Thank you.’
With a brief nod she stepped out and closed it behind her. She had to find Alberto, straighten out whatever game he was playing. It worried her more, she realised, than any revelation concerning Lana’s arrival.
As she summoned the elevator, Elisabeth knew that she was delivering Robert into the arms of another woman. What’s more, she was walking in the opposite direction.
Rita Clay arrived at the Orient in a gust of efficiency. She wasn’t happy about making the journey and even less happy at the position Lana had put them in. However, now wasn’t the time. They had a contract to unpick.
A staggeringly handsome man met her in the foyer, delivered a firm, no-nonsense handshake and asked about her flight from LA in a warm, straightforward manner. When Lana had told her where she was, Rita hadn’t been surprised. She had mentioned Robert St Louis before and it was clear a past was brewing between them. There had been more to this than a brief fling.
‘It’s kind of you to let her stay,’ said Rita as they walked through the lobby. ‘Has she been frank with you about her situation?’
‘Yes,’ said Robert. ‘I know about the baby, and my fiancée Elisabeth does, too.’ At Rita’s alarmed expression, he clarified, ‘Lana explained the nature of her marriage but that I’ve kept to myself. You can be assured that nothing we discussed, or will discuss, will go any further.’
Rita knew she could do business with this man.
Upstairs was spectacular. When Lana found a hide-out, she sure found a good one: the Pagoda Suite was one of the most opulent she had ever laid eyes on.
The women embraced. Rita rested a hand on her client’s stomach and they both smiled at the wonder of it. Despite everything, Lana was still carrying a baby.
Immediately they got down to discussions, which pleased Rita–there would be time for pleasantries later. Robert, who had cancelled the following morning’s meetings,
