‘It can’t be true.’ But his mind flashed back to a conversation he’d had with Sarah when he’d asked her about her existing contracts.
Hadn’t he pushed away the fleeting thought that something was slightly off?
‘Nick, I know you don’t want it to be true. I was hoping it’d prove to be a baseless rumour too, but it isn’t. She conned us both. She’s not the person we thought she was.’
She’s not the person we thought she was.
The truth was, she was nothing like he first thought. As he’d got to know her he’d found a woman with a deep empathy for others—a woman who carried some pretty hefty emotional scars from her childhood trauma but who’d looked out for her brother and soldiered on through life.
Like Nick, Sarah had known the pain of loss. Like him, she shared a close and loving bond with her sibling and a deep commitment to the preservation of the world’s oceans.
But what more did he really know about her?
She was a virgin. She gave herself to you and you know damned well she’s a woman who’s capable of deep feeling and great passion.
Yes, all those things were true. She’d won his admiration and his love, but he hadn’t known her very long.
You’ve known her long enough that you were about to propose to her.
But, what if he was wrong?
Damn it all! He couldn’t only think of himself here. He had Katie to consider.
Had he got too caught up in the whole concept of finding someone special to love and lost his objectivity? In the midst of the happy family lives his closest friends enjoyed, had it been too convenient to think that Sarah might be the one to fill the void that’d been part of his life for so many years?
‘Nick, are you still there?’
He realised Jocelyn had asked him the same question twice now but he’d been so deeply entrenched in his own thoughts, his sister’s voice had barely registered.
Speaking quietly he asked, ‘Is this baseless rumour likely to hit the press?’
‘It’s not a baseless rumour. I made sure I checked the facts before I called you.’ Her words were accompanied by a sound of frustration. ‘It’s bound to come out that she’s no longer the face of the fashion house or Manuel’s perfumes.’
‘Okay.’ He could accept that she wasn’t working for the brothers anymore. ‘But what about the allegations?’
‘I’m not sure. These things have a way of leaking. People who supply the press with this type of information often benefit financially.’ Her concern echoed right through the phone. ‘I’m worried, Nick. If this story gets out, it could hurt Henderson Haute Couture and NOCO. I’ve decided to start reshooting my catalogue using a different model.’
‘Don’t do anything rash, Joss.’
‘That’s a business decision I have to make. We’ll be able to disassociate ourselves from Sarah professionally but I gather from what Katie’s come home and told us, that Sarah’s become your latest fling.’ Far more than a fling. ‘Katie even confided that she was hoping this time you were in a serious relationship. Please tell me Katie was wrong.’
Bloody hell. This news was going to hit Katie hard.
‘There’ll be no need for disassociation. The reports are wrong.’
‘Oh God, Nick,’ Jocelyn groaned. ‘Surely you haven’t fallen for her?’
He had. He’d fallen hard and right now his heart and his gut feelings were warring with everything Jocelyn had told him. ‘I don’t believe Sarah would be involved in theft.’
Jocelyn’s short laugh was a burst of dismissive cynicism. ‘What was it you said to me that day—A word of brotherly advice? I hate to admit it, but it looks like you were right to be cautious about Sarah.’
Yes, Nick had doubts back then and even when Sarah had come to his office to offer a truce, he’d determined to watch her closely. But, after their dinner had gone so well, she’d gained his trust and he’d let his guard down. ‘Careful, Jocelyn. You’re making judgements based on hearsay.’
‘Where there’s smoke there’s fire. Besides, you were making judgements based only on a gut feeling and you turned out to be right.’
‘And now my gut feeling tells me you’re wrong.’
‘If I’d been smart I would’ve followed your advice and built a cooling-off period into the contract.’ Every word was heavily laced with regret. ‘I let my eagerness blind me to what now seems an obvious connect-the-dots scenario. You told me her sudden appearances on the catwalk and public involvement in charity reeked of a PR exercise. Hell! You even asked me if there was any hint she might be on the way out.’
‘I know, but think, Jocelyn. What would motivate Sarah to steal a brooch?’
‘I don’t know, but you need to take your blinkers off and follow your own advice. Ditch her, Nick, before you get burned. I intend to and I’ve already demanded Rose Harris meet with me this afternoon.’
‘Cancel the meeting. Don’t do anything until we get back tomorrow,’ he warned. Before Jocelyn could deliver any further sisterly advice, he disconnected the call and walked over to the head of his security team. ‘There’s been a change of plan. We’ll be returning immediately to the hotel.’
* * *
Sarah was so drowsy when Nick awakened her that she started to wonder whether in fact she had been infected with the sleeping sickness. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt so bone-weary. Then again, she’d never been made love to so thoroughly night after night and she’d never completely recovered her energy after her bout of food poisoning.
Rubbing her eyes, she straightened in the seat and shoved the towel she’d used as a pillow back in her bag. Then, her thoughts jarred as she took in her surroundings and realised they were back at the hotel. ‘Did you forget something?’
‘Change of plans.’
‘Oh.’ Something wasn’t right. Nick looked grim. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘Let’s go inside. We’ll talk there.’
Trepidation scratched up her spine.
Nick wasn’t in a good mood. In fact, she’d never seen him look so remote.
What had happened between the fish markets and the hotel?
Remembering Jocelyn’s call, her breath caught. ‘Is everything alright at home, Nick? Is Katie okay?’
‘As far as I’m aware everyone is well.’
The words did nothing to reassure her because he delivered them crisply and his expression was shuttered. Everyone was well didn’t mean everything was okay.
Sarah had to quicken her stride to walk beside him as they made their way up to their suite. Unease made her clutch tightly to her handbag and the fine hairs at the nape of her neck rose in alarm.
‘Sit down,’ he instructed when the door had closed behind them.
Tension prickled across her chest at his commanding tone. ‘Whatever it is, just tell me.’
‘Are you or are you not still working for Eduardo and Manuel?’
There it was.
Her legs almost buckled underneath her and she was grateful for the nearby chair as she sat, dropped her handbag to the floor and sucked a great breath into her lungs.
Months ago the pin had been pulled on the grenade but now the trigger had been released and the anguish of the events at St Petersburg exploded with such force she rocked back in the chair.
How had he found out?
Jocelyn must’ve told him, which meant Jocelyn knew. And if Jocelyn knew … Her heart sank. The gossip mongers in all the fashion houses would be having a field day at her expense.
Her phone started ringing from her bag and Sarah automatically went to check the caller ID.
‘Leave it,’ Nick grated.
His tone stopped her hand midway to her bag and she was shocked to see the tension around his lips and the pallor of his skin.
‘Answer me, Sarah.’
Hopelessness coursed through her. ‘I no longer work for either of them.’
‘Why?’
Did he already know the answer? ‘Edua
rdo cancelled my contract and Manuel did too.’
There was no surprise registering on his face. ‘This happened before you signed with Jocelyn?’
‘Yes.’
His lips pressed together in a tight line. ‘Tell me why your contract was cancelled.’
She hung her head and her hair fell around her face. She’d known she should’ve spoken to him about this earlier. This was the scenario she’d wanted to avoid and now it was too late to break the news to him on her terms.
You have nothing to be ashamed of.
You did nothing wrong.
Despite the strong sense that she’d already been judged and found guilty, Sarah raised her head and met Nick’s cool gaze. ‘I was doing a modelling assignment for Eduardo in St Petersburg. I wore a brooch that once belonged to Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia who was aunt of the Russian tsar Nicholas the second,’ she rambled and realised she was stalling.
‘And?’ The word was bitten out impatiently.
Nick knew about the ugly allegations. It was there in the disappointment in his eyes.
Raising her chin she was determined she wouldn’t assume a mantle of guilt when she was innocent. And, despite what he’d heard, Nick was giving her a chance to tell him what really happened. He hadn’t made an outright judgement and was prepared to hear her testimony. ‘When I changed, I took the brooch off and left it on the velvet tray exactly where I was told to leave it. There was even a security guard close by and I know he saw me place it there, but it seems he conveniently forgot.’
‘What happened then?’
‘I went back to the dressing room and got into the next outfit before I posed for more photos. Those shots lasted for about another hour or so before I got into my own clothes. I was about to ride back to the hotel with the photographer.’ Her shoulders slumped. ‘We were heading out the door when Eduardo stopped me, told me the brooch had gone missing and demanded to look inside my handbag. I was more than willing to comply and was floored when he felt around in there and pulled out the brooch.’ One hand went to her stomach. Nausea churned as the whole shocking and incriminating scene replayed in her mind. ‘I have no idea who put it there.’
‘You kept quiet about losing the contracts.’ The words were severe, his tone as accusing as the sharp regard of his eyes. Any second now she’d surely hear the judge’s gavel bang down and declare her guilty.
She extended her hands as she implored him to believe her. ‘I needed to find new contracts and I was hardly going to run around and broadcast that I’d been sacked from Eduardo’s when I didn’t steal that damned brooch in the first place.’
‘But you knew it would emerge that you’re no longer working for them.’
Her gaze focused on a vase of flowers on a nearby coffee table then flicked to a painting on the wall. She wanted to look at anything but the condemnation and disenchantment she saw in his eyes. ‘Yes. I knew that eventually everyone would know that Maeve Simpson is the new face for House of Eduardo.’
‘How were you planning on handling the press reaction?’
With deception.
Her heart was so heavy it was an effort to keep her body upright but she forced herself to look up at the man she loved because he deserved her honesty. ‘Rose and Eduardo were both going to say that my contract had come to an end and I’d decided to have a change.’
‘How convenient that I came along and offered you a documentary.’
‘Nick!’ Pain sliced through her.
He cursed. ‘You must know there’s a very real possibility that word of this alleged theft will leak to the media.’ His hand cut through the air. ‘Jocelyn’s already heard.’
Sarah swallowed down on her shame because she did feel guilty that she’d agreed to cover up the whole incident.
‘Damn it all, Sarah!’ His hands moved in short, sharp, angry gestures as he spoke. ‘You must’ve known how this ugly accusation could tarnish your reputation and impact negatively on NOCO and on Jocelyn’s label.’
‘I’m not guilty of theft,’ she said adamantly before her confidence wilted. ‘I am guilty of burying my head in the sand and hoping the entire scandal would blow away.’ She raised her hands in a gesture of helplessness. ‘I’m innocent, Nick.’
He let out a long breath and ran his fingers back through his hair. ‘I don’t doubt it.’
‘You believe me?’ She gulped.
‘Of course I do.’ He nodded but the skin still seemed to be stretched taut across his cheekbones. ‘That’s not the point. I let you into my life. I let you into my daughter’s life and I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this yourself.’
Momentary relief was swamped again by waves of nausea and her forehead pinched into a frown. ‘I’m so sorry.’ She shifted uncomfortably in the chair. ‘I couldn’t deal with it back when it happened and since then—especially being away from London and being so absorbed in the documentary and in us …’ Her voice faltered as she wondered whether there would even be an ‘us’ after this revelation. ‘I’ve deliberately tried to put the whole mess from my mind and from my life.’
‘You should’ve told me. Hell! We’ve told each other everything else, haven’t we?’
‘I almost told you that night we were on the beach together in Australia.’
‘Why didn’t you?’
‘You’d told me about Mandy. I didn’t want to take the focus off your pain.’
His lips firmed before he declared, ‘There have been countless other opportunities for you to have told me—times when I’ve asked about your modelling schedule … Times when I’ve mentioned the work you’ve done for Eduardo.’
She swallowed to ease the constriction of her throat. ‘The truth is it’s been easier to put it off. I’ve been caught up in what’s been the happiest time of my life and I didn’t want to spoil it. I knew I had to tell you and I deeply regret you’ve found out from someone else.’ Acid bile burned her throat as remorse and anxiety swirled in her gut. ‘I understand if you think it’s a little too convenient but I was honestly going to tell you this afternoon now we have the filming out of the way. I wanted to tell you before we left for London.’
Please, Nick. Please believe me.
‘Are there any other explosive little secrets you’ve kept?’ The sharp edge of sarcasm sliced through her. ‘If there are, now is the time, Sarah.’
‘No. Absolutely nothing, I swear.’
The tic of a muscle in his cheek told her he was stewing underneath his controlled facade. She didn’t blame him. She balanced precariously on a razor’s edge as he strode away from her and out through the balcony doors. If every cell in her body shattered it surely couldn’t be more painful than seeing him leaning on the balcony railings with his back to her, staring out to sea. She wanted to go to him, but he obviously needed this space between them.
He said he believed she wasn’t a thief but he must need to process what he’d learned. All she could do was hope he’d forgive her for the way he’d learned of it.
Was she hoping for too much?
Seconds stretched into long minutes before Nick walked back into the room, rubbing his fingers along his jaw. ‘Tell me what happened after Eduardo found the brooch.’
It’d been the worst moment of her adult life and her cheeks grew hot. Initially, she’d been too shocked and embarrassed to be angry. Her fury at being set up had only hit later.
‘He told me I was fired. He said that he wouldn’t call in the Russian police because it would reflect badly on him and would sour his chances of ever doing a fashion shoot there again—not to mention having access to private homes and accessory collections elsewhere in Europe. He told me I had to accept that my contract was over and swear I’d never talk about what had happened.’
‘Someone’s talked about it.’
‘There were only a handful of people who knew.’
‘Who were they?’
‘Eduardo, Ivan—the photographer who was with me when everything unfolded, Manuel�
��who was told after the event, Rose and whoever it was who put that brooch in my bag. I don’t know whether the other models on the shoot—Maeve and Lisa—were aware of what happened that day. All I know is that the security guard must’ve been in on it because when I told Eduardo to question him, the guard lied and said he’d never seen me replace the brooch.’
‘Nobody else?’
‘I don’t believe Eduardo or Manuel would’ve told anybody else because Eduardo was too worried about the Russians finding out.’
‘Ivan?’
She frowned. ‘He was sworn to secrecy but …’
‘Go on.’
‘He’s been in a relationship with Maeve who will be billed as the new face of Eduardo’s.’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t know if he told her or not. But Maeve had nothing to gain by leaking the news. She already had my contract.’
‘Did she covet that?’
Sarah let out a long breath. ‘Rose believes Maeve has always been jealous of me but I’ve never seen it. We’re very different and we don’t socialise but she’s always been friendly enough if we’ve worked together.’
He rubbed a hand against the back of his neck as he paced away from her, then turned back again. ‘So it was all hushed up and no formal investigation was launched. No messy implications for Eduardo but you were left with no contract.’
‘I wanted to fight for unfair cancellation of the contract.’ Her hands flew to her chest and crossed there. ‘I’d worked for Eduardo for years. That he didn’t believe in my innocence was like driving a skewer through my heart.’
‘Why didn’t you fight it?’
‘Rose thought about it. Initially she even told Eduardo that if he didn’t reverse his decision about my contract, she’d let the Russian government know a theft had almost taken place with me used as an unwitting stooge and they could investigate it. It was a threat made in a heated moment and she realised it would be a lose-lose—that my reputation would suffer as much as Eduardo’s.’ Sarah willed Nick to believe her. ‘Rose and I both realised that to fight Eduardo would only draw attention to the incident and there’d always be those who thought I was a thief.’
Seduced by the Billionaire Page 22