He sat down on a chair opposite her. ‘Who else had access to your bag?’
‘My bag was in my dressing room and everyone knows that my room is off limits.’ She grimaced as she felt forced to explain, ‘I’ve always made that demand because of my scars.’
‘Someone must’ve entered while you were busy posing for photos. Maybe there’s some CCTV footage.’
‘From where he stood, the security guard would’ve seen anyone enter or leave my room, but then he’s already proved himself to be a liar. For all I know, he could’ve done it.’
‘But what motive would he have?’
‘None I can think of.’ Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
‘Is there anyone you can think of who had a personal vendetta against you?’
‘No.’
Nick regarded her thoughtfully before he stood again and paced away from her, spearing his hand through his hair. Without looking at her he said, ‘I need to work out how to handle this.’
Sarah prayed her legs would support her as she got to her feet. Nick looked so devastated—so thoroughly gutted—she wanted to reach out to him. But how could she offer him comfort when she was the one who’d caused his angst?
A powerful surge jolted through her urging her to fight for this man and for her reputation. ‘If this is being talked about now, I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m prepared to fight it.’
He turned back and sent her a terse nod. ‘You have to fight it. We need to prove your innocence.’
Sarah’s heart pushed against her breastbone as it swelled with hope. ‘We?’
She hardly dared to believe she had Nick’s support.
‘I’m not a fairweather friend or lover, Sarah. I’m not turning my back on you when you need me most—especially when this reeks of a set up.’
The conviction in his words caused tears to sting her eyes and she swayed a little.
‘I’m going to use every resource I have to prove your innocence to Eduardo and the world.’
He was one in a million.
She wanted to throw herself into his arms—ached to be held against the comforting security of his broad chest—but she couldn’t bring herself to take the steps towards him and he made no attempt to offer her any physical comfort. She’d hurt him by not having enough confidence in their relationship to trust him with the truth.
The tears spilt over her eyelids and she scrubbed at them as they began to track down her cheeks.
Her telephone rang again from her bag on the floor. ‘I’m switching it off.’ She saw she’d missed ten calls from Rose since she’d begun shooting the last piece of the documentary this morning. ‘It was Rose.’
Maybe Jocelyn wasn’t the only one who’d heard the ugly rumours. Ten missed calls must mean the whole Kolevski brooch episode was blowing up back home which meant she’d have to tell Ryan and Helen as soon as possible too.
Ignoring her announcement, Nick pinned her with his eyes. ‘Is Maeve Simpson the only person who would benefit from you losing the contract with Eduardo?’
‘Yes. Rose and I spoke about her having had the opportunity and the motive, but she would’ve had to pay off the security guard as well and I really don’t believe she’d be so spiteful.’
‘Never underestimate what your competition is prepared to do, Sarah.’ Nick walked over to the window that afforded a fabulous view of the coastline.
‘Nick?’ She took a few steps towards him. ‘Where does this leave us?’
Looking at his face reflected in the window, she saw him close his eyes briefly before he swung back slowly to face her.
‘I need some time to process what’s happened, Sarah. I’ll help you prove your innocence, but I’m cut you didn’t open up to me sooner. I thought our emotional connection was deeper than that.’
Sarah gripped the back of a chair, outwardly composed while inside she shattered into tiny fragments of despair.
‘Now, I’m going to make some calls,’ he told her decisively. ‘I’ll see you later.’
The second he left the room, she walked to the sofa, slumped down on it and drew her knees up under her chin. She didn’t even feel sick anymore, she just felt hollow.
How on earth did she and Nick come back from this and capture the magic they’d shared?
Did he even want to?
Chapter 18
For Nick, the eleven hour flight from Dar es Salaam to London had been sheer torture and it was a huge relief when the wheels of the jet finally hit the tarmac at Heathrow.
One day, he and Sarah had been lovers, on the brink of engagement. Last night in the suite they shared, Sarah had told him that Rose had contacted her to let her know reporters had started phoning to ask whether it was true Sarah had been dumped from the House of Eduardo. After delivering that news, Sarah had moved into the spare bedroom and he was so torn up, he’d let her go. This morning they’d skirted around each other like polite strangers and she’d chosen to sit in the back cabin with the film crew. Everyone probably assumed that Nick and Sarah had only intended to share a holiday fling and it was now over.
Sadness and loss had clogged the atmosphere between Nick and Sarah like a heavy fog ever since Jocelyn’s call.
Nick wanted to breach the gap. He wanted to take her in his arms, but he was still broken. How could he not be when he’d been contemplating spending the rest of his life with her and she hadn’t trusted him with the truth?
It’d been naive of her to have hoped that the incident in St Petersburg would’ve blown over. It’d been downright bloody selfish of her to accept a contract with Jocelyn’s fashion house and with NOCO.
Nick still had to face the eruption that was likely to ensue when Max and Luca found out, and that was ironic given that it was those two who’d insisted Sarah accept the contract.
But Katie was the one he worried most about. He wouldn’t have introduced Sarah to Katie with all this hanging over her head. His daughter had already been starry-eyed about Sarah before she met her but they’d formed a close bond and Sarah had quickly become Katie’s idol.
He shook his head as he remembered how Katie confided in Sarah about her unease at visiting Hertherington. And, Sarah had reacted with great diplomacy—not accepting the role of intermediary but encouraging Katie to come and talk to him herself. Goddamn it, he’d been thrilled that Katie had opened up to Sarah. She would’ve been a perfect stepmother and if he and Sarah couldn’t work this out, Katie would be devastated.
Why hadn’t Sarah trusted him to believe in her?
She’d trusted him enough to tell him about her PTSD.
She’d trusted him enough to reveal her scars and to let him be her first lover.
Oh hell. He didn’t know what to think.
They were both in pain.
He could see she was sorry and that she was feeling this gaping chasm between them just as traumatically as he was. Although he couldn’t ask her to marry him at this point, he wasn’t going to feed her to the wolves either.
He had every intention of paying Eduardo a visit and asking him a few very pointed questions. He would hire as many investigators as necessary to dig up any CCTV footage and ferret out the truth so he could prove Sarah’s innocence. The least he could do was make sure she emerged from this with her reputation intact. That was also important to achieve for Katie, for Jocelyn and for NOCO.
After they touched down, Sarah made her way to Nick in the front cabin.
‘Rose is waiting at the airport for me.’ Her words were hushed. ‘I’m afraid she was followed from her office. Now there’s a press pack demanding to know whether I’m inward bound. She rang me from the bathroom but is certain the reporters will hang around the arrival’s hall until I appear.’
Just great.
‘I’m … I’m sorry things turned out this way between us, Nick.’ Her throat worked up and down as she swallowed. ‘I’ll go ahead … It’ll be better if you wait until I’m through customs so they have no idea we’ve been … involved.’
/> She turned away sharply and walked quickly to the exit.
Nick sat still, every muscle tensed. That was it? He couldn’t believe she could walk away so easily. Couldn’t credit she was saying goodbye with such finality.
Yes, things between them had been strained but he’d told her he’d work to clear her name. Didn’t she want his help?
Don’t be a bloody idiot. She’s doing this for you. She’s trying to protect you.
And wasn’t that better?
Wasn’t it better for Katie and Jocelyn—for NOCO—that the press didn’t find out about their affair?
Affair?
What had been between them had been so much more than a convenient affair.
For God’s sake! You were planning on marrying her.
His heart cramped as he looked out through the aircraft window and saw her crossing the tarmac, her blonde hair shining in the sunlight. Every step she took away from him increased the tightness across his chest.
Her frame jerked and pain speared through him. She wasn’t walking away easily.
God damn it! It looked like she was trying to control a sob.
What the hell was he doing sitting here while she was out there alone trying to hold herself together?
‘Sir.’ Steve stood in the aisle. ‘I’ve just had word from airport security.’
Nick was only half listening to the security guard as he looked back through the window and saw Sarah’s spine straighten as she pulled her shoulders back. He could imagine that she’d lifted her chin too, steeling herself against an interrogation with whatever members of the press pack were waiting for her.
‘There’s a massive press contingent in the arrival hall, Mr Henderson,’ Steve continued. ‘Apparently, they’re waiting for Miss Bryant to arrive.’
A massive contingent?
Shit!
The words sunk in and galvanised Nick into action. ‘Arrange extra security personnel to be waiting at the custom’s exit for us. Have them surround us so the paparazzi don’t get near us.’
The image of a massive contingent of reporters and photographers hemming Sarah in—making it impossible for her to move forward—made the adrenaline flow thick and fast through his veins. If they pressed in on her it could trigger a panic attack. The thought drove him to bolt to the front of the aircraft. He was just in time to see her entering the terminal building, too far away to hear him if he called.
God, no. She’d be surrounded by people as soon as she left the custom’s hall.
Crushed in the crowd as they jostled to try to get close enough to shove a microphone in her face.
She’d feel trapped.
Suffocated.
All the traumatic memories would surface and her PTSD would flare.
Panic pounded through him as he sprinted across the tarmac after her. Of course he felt panicked. He loved Sarah. What the hell had he been thinking letting her walk away from him? What a bloody ass!
Running hard, he caught up with her inside the private VIP lounge. ‘Sarah!’
‘Nick?’
He turned to Steve who’d sprinted out of the aircraft after him. ‘Give us some space.’
‘Nick, you shouldn’t be here with me.’
‘Sarah …’ Oh shit. ‘I told you I’ll stand by you.’
She lowered her head so her hair shielded her face, but not before he saw the sheen of tears in her eyes.
‘Damn it all, Sarah!’ he almost growled out as he closed the distance between them and steered her straight to a secluded corner of the lounge. He didn’t care if the film crew saw them as they disembarked through the private lounge. He didn’t care that there may be airport workers who’d witness his actions, he reached for her and pulled her hard up against him. ‘I can’t let you go.’
‘Oh, Nick. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,’ she told him tremulously as she hugged him back. ‘I’m so sorry I screwed up.’
‘It was a mistake not to tell me about this but I know you were anxious about it. I still admire you. That hasn’t changed.’ He couldn’t quite bring himself to tell her he loved her even though it was still true.
‘You do?’
‘Of course I do. I admire your dedication to ocean conservation, the strength you’ve shown in overcoming personal tragedies and most of all, I admire the way you trusted Katie and me and helped Katie by showing us your scars.’ He watched her closely, trying to gauge if his words were enough to convince her not to walk away from him. ‘Don’t push me away.’
Her teeth caught the edge of her lip. ‘The walls in my house of cards are about to come caving in and I don’t want you or NOCO or House of Henderson to come crashing down alongside me. I don’t want any of this rebounding on Katie either.’ She reached up and traced across his cheek with her fingertips. ‘I have to go out and face the consequences by myself.’
He caught her hand in his. ‘I won’t let you do that.’
He couldn’t let her do that.
‘Rose will be there to shield me and we’re going straight from the airport to see a lawyer so I can start tackling this through legal channels.’
‘No. If the press are in full flight, they’ll make mincemeat out of you and Rose. You call Rose and tell her I’ll handle this. Tell her to go to your apartment and wait for us there.’
‘Nick, I don’t expect—’
‘You’ve done nothing wrong and have nothing to be ashamed of. My security staff have already told me what we’re likely to encounter once we clear customs and reach the arrival hall. I’ve told them to form a protective barrier around us. Then, we’re going to walk through the airport together and you’re going to hold your head high. Afterwards, we’ll go to your place to freshen up and I’ll arrange to take you to see my lawyer this afternoon.’
Her lips parted as she gaped at him. The lines that creased her forehead told him she found it hard to fathom the way he’d immersed himself in her problem.
‘You can’t do this for me. I don’t want to drag you into this.’
‘The calls I made yesterday afternoon were to investigators. I’ve already taken action to learn the truth of what happened in St Petersburg.’
‘I don’t know how to thank you.’
Putting his heart right out on the chopping block he ventured, ‘Have you ever been able to picture us as having a future together, Sarah?’
‘I’d dared to hope.’ Tears streamed out of her eyes now and Nick reached into his trouser pocket to give her a handkerchief. ‘I’ve been so happy since I met you.’
He squeezed her hand and held it over his heart. ‘Let the house of cards tumble. We can re-build a better house together and make certain everything we build is on a stronger foundation.’ He wouldn’t let her walk out of here without him into the awaiting media feeding frenzy. Sarah was worthy of his protection and he intended to fight right alongside her. ‘We’ll prove your innocence.’
She placed her fingertips on his lips. ‘Let me do what I should’ve done in the first place. Let me go back to Eduardo and sort through this mess. Then, when my name is cleared, and if you still want me to, I’ll call you.’
He folded his arms across his chest to stop himself from pulling her back to him. ‘If you want me to be in your life you have to accept that I’ll be there for you through thick and thin. I’m either all in or not in at all.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s the way I am. Take it or leave it.’
Although her eyes swam in tears again she sent him a tremulous smile. ‘I’ll take it. Thank you so—’
He put his finger on her lips and only barely resisted the urge to kiss her. ‘No need to say more, Sarah.’
Chapter 19
‘Where have you been, Sarah?’
The second Nick and Sarah walked out from the customs hall and into the main arrival hall, the press pounced.
‘Put your sunglasses on and hold my hand.’ As Nick spoke and drew her more closely to his side, his security team formed a solid wall around them.
‘Sarah! Is it true you’ve had your contracts terminated with the House of Eduardo and Manuel’s Parfumerie?’
Her steps faltered and Nick tugged her along.
‘Is it true you tried to steal priceless diamonds from the Russian government?’
‘Were you sacked from the House of Eduardo?’
‘Were you caught with the Kolevski diamonds, Miss Bryant?’
‘Mr Henderson, are you two an item?’
‘Did you know about the accusations, Nick?’
Question after question pounded at Sarah and Nick in relentless rhythm. Her pulse hammered at her temples and bolts of pain drove through her skull.
‘Focus on my voice, Sarah,’ Nick urged quietly as they kept walking. ‘Remember what we talked about. My security team isn’t pressing in on you and blocking your escape. They’re protecting you. They’re leading us through the crowd to safety. Got it?’
‘Yes.’ She was grateful she was doing this surrounded by these bulky men in suits. Nick had been right. Rose would’ve been no match for this pack of wolves who could smell a story here and were circling, primed for a kill.
‘Why haven’t charges been laid, Miss Bryant?’ A microphone was shoved over the shoulder of a security guard only to be swatted away.
One step after another.
But her legs felt numb.
Breathe.
Easier said than done when her diaphragm was like a tight band in her chest that refused to work properly and each resulting breath was short and shallow.
Nick is here. He’s holding my hand.
But her head started to spin and her clothes felt way too tight.
‘Remember how the dolphins leapt out of the water on the Great Barrier Reef?’ Nick asked, clearly trying to divert her attention away from the crowded airport terminal. ‘Remember how one came up to you on the reef to check you out, then swam along beside you?’
Her stomach churned and bile began to rise up to burn her throat. ‘I think I’m going to be sick.’
‘Keep breathing, sweetheart.’
Seduced by the Billionaire Page 23