CHAPTER EIGHT

      ‘I WILL FLY your family out for the wedding…’

      They were sitting in Raúl’s lawyer’s office, going over details that made Estelle burn, but it was all being dealt with in a cool, precise manner.

      ‘I will speak with your parents and brother.’

      ‘My parents are both deceased.’ Estelle said it in a matter-­of-fact way. She was not after sympathy from Raúl and this was not a tender conversation. ‘And my brother and his wife won’t be able to attend—Cecelia is too sick to travel.’

      ‘You should have someone there for you.’

      ‘Won’t your family believe us otherwise?’ There was a slight sneer to her voice, which she fought to check. She had chosen to be here, after all. It was just the mention of her parents, of Cecelia, that had her throat tightening—the realisation that everything in this marriage bar love would be real and she would be going through it all alone.

      ‘It has nothing to do with that,’ Raúl said. ‘It is your wedding day. You might find it overwhelming to be alone.’

      ‘Oh, please,’ Estelle responded, determined not to let him see her fear. ‘I’ll be fine.’

      ‘Very well.’ Raúl nodded. ‘It will be a small wedding, but traditional. The press will go wild—they have been waiting a long time for me to marry—but we will not let them know we are married till after.’

      They had been talking for hours; every detail from wardrobe allowance to hair and make-up had been discussed.

      Estelle had insisted she could choose her own clothes.

      ‘I have a reputation to think of,’ had been Raúl’s tart response.

      Estelle was entitled to one week every month to come back to the UK and visit her family for the duration of the contract.

      ‘I am sure we will both need the space,’ had been Raúl’s explanation. ‘I am not used to having someone permanently around.’

      There was now an extremely uncomfortable conversation—for Estelle, in any case—about the regularity of sex, and also about birth control and health checks. Raúl didn’t appear in the least bit fazed.

      ‘In the event of a pregnancy—’ the lawyer started.

      Raúl was quick to interrupt. Only now did he seem concerned by the subject matter being discussed. ‘There is to be no pregnancy.’ There was a low menace to his voice. ‘I don’t think my bride-to-be would be foolish enough to try and trap me in that way.’

      ‘It still needs to be addressed.’ The lawyer was very calm.

      ‘I have no intention of getting pregnant.’ Estelle gave a small nervous laugh, truly horrified at the prospect. She had seen the stress Cecelia had placed on Andrew and Amanda, and they were head over heels in love.

      ‘You might change your mind,’ Raúl said, for he trusted no one. ‘You might decide that you like the lifestyle and don’t want to give it up.’ He looked to his lawyer. ‘We need to make contingency plans.’

      ‘Absolutely,’ the lawyer said.

      It could not be made clearer that this was all business.

      Estelle sat as with clinical detachment he ensured that he would provide for any child they might have on the condition that the child resided in Spain.

      If she moved back to England, Estelle would have to fight against his might just to make the rent.

      ‘I think that covers it,’ the lawyer said.

      ‘Not quite.’ Estelle cleared her throat. ‘I’d like us to agree that we won’t sleep with each other till after the wedding.’

      ‘There’s no need for quaint.’

      ‘I’ve agreed to all your terms.’ She looked coolly at him. It was the only way for this to work. If he knew she was a virgin this meeting would close now. ‘You can surely agree to one of mine? I’d like some time off before I start working.’ She watched his jaw tighten slightly as she made it clear that this was work.

      ‘Very well.’ Raúl did not like to be told that sleeping with him would be a chore. ‘You may well change your mind.’

      ‘I shan’t.’

      ‘You will be flown in a couple of days before the wedding. I will be on my yacht, partying as grooms do before their marriage. You shall have the apartment to yourself.’ He had no intention of holding hands and playing coy for a week. He waited for her nod and then turned to his lawyer. ‘Draft it.’

      They waited in a sumptuous lounge as the lawyer got to work, but Estelle couldn’t relax.

      ‘You are tense.’

      ‘It’s not every day you get offered a million dollars.’ She could at least be honest about that. ‘Nor move to Marbella…’

      ‘You will love it,’ Raúl said. ‘The night-life is fantastic…’

      He just didn’t know her at all, Estelle realised yet again.

      ‘How did your parents die?’ Raúl asked, watching as her shoulders stiffened. ‘My family are bound to ask.’

      ‘In a car accident,’ Estelle said, turning to him. ‘The same as your mother.’

      He opened his mouth to speak and then changed his mind.

      ‘I just hope everyone believes us,’ Estelle said.

      ‘Why wouldn’t they? Even when we divorce we’ll maintain the lie. You understand the confidentiality clause?’ Raúl checked. ‘No one is ever to know that this is a marriage of convenience only.’

      ‘No one will ever hear it from me,’ she assured him. The prospect of being found out was abhorrent to Estelle. ‘Just a whirlwind romance and a marriage that didn’t work out.’

      ‘Good,’ Raúl said. ‘And, Estelle—even if we do get on…even if you do like—’

      ‘Don’t worry, Raúl,’ she interrupted. ‘I’m not going to be falling in love with you.’ She gave him a tight smile. ‘I’ll be out of your life, as per the contract.’