The A-List Collection. Victoria Fox
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waved the young man away. ‘I haven’t anything scheduled, they’ll have to wait.’
His assistant leaned in. ‘It’s Lana Falcon, boss.’
Robert stopped. He kept his face perfectly still. ‘Fine. I’ll be out.’
She was sitting in the foyer on a green silk couch the colour of her eyes. Her face was turned away from him, the delicate line of her profile, the alabaster skin framed by the warmth of her hair. For a moment he watched and remembered her. If this was the last time, he would not forget this picture.
‘Lana.’ He greeted her formally, an acquaintance. Part of him wanted to yell at her. Part of him wanted to kiss her and never stop.
‘Hi.’ She stood, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear in a self-conscious gesture he knew well. ‘I’m sorry to come here unannounced.’
Robert shook his head, the apology unnecessary. ‘It’s fine.’ Perhaps she was in town on business, wanted to drop by on an old friend. Her audacity galled him. She might be able to play make-believe but it gave her no right to assume the same of him.
‘I was wondering if I could talk to you for a few minutes,’ she said, knotting her hands. ‘You see, I …’ She shook her head. ‘God, how do I say this …?’
He waited.
‘I need your help,’ she said finally, meeting his dark eyes. ‘I didn’t know where else to come. It’s silly, I’m sure–you’re busy.’ Her voice cracked.
Robert knew how he was meant to feel. He was meant to hate her, wish her gone, tell her to leave and never come back and stop crashing into his life just when he thought he had his head together. But he couldn’t.
‘Hey.’ He touched her elbow. Then, aware they were attracting attention, ‘Come on, let’s get some privacy.’
They walked in silence. Lana couldn’t tell if he was angry, disappointed, or what. He carried himself with such control, such power–part of it so familiar and part she didn’t know at all. She wanted desperately to rediscover him.
It was an uncomfortable ride to the thirtieth floor. Robert didn’t speak. The fact of her next to him was so unprecedented that it was as if time and place had dislocated, swapping them over, picking them up ten years ago and putting them down here, now, telling them to make fate from whatever was left.
In his office he poured them two large mugs of steaming coffee, while she walked the room and marvelled at its grandeur. She was in awe: she’d known how rich he was, but seeing him again at the heart of his empire, the full force of his efforts made real, words escaped her.
When he passed her coffee their hands met briefly. He went to sit at his desk but then realised how absurd that was-it wasn’t one of his business meetings, it was Lana.
They perched uncomfortably on either end of a low-backed couch.
‘It’s been a long time,’ he said, sipping his coffee too quickly and scalding his top lip. It seemed such a formal thing to say. Language was useless, a distraction.
‘Three months,’ she smiled. She considered adding ‘And eight days’ but thought that might sound creepy.
‘You know what I mean.’
A silence passed, but they were both happy to let it stand.
‘Are you hungry?’ he asked.
‘Actually, I ate already.’
He nodded.
Then she said impulsively, like a confession, ‘I had a burger.’
Robert laughed. She loved that she had made him laugh. ‘Did they offer you a job?’
It was too close. He knew it as soon as he’d said it. Her past waiting tables was too bound up in the pain and the guilt, in her walking out on him. Too near to her brother’s death.
‘Pleased you haven’t lost your appetite, anyway,’ he said, smoothing it over.
‘Thanks!’ She pretended to take offence, relieved he didn’t consider her to be on some Hollywood starvation campaign: she didn’t want to have changed.
There was another silence before he asked, ‘Where’d you go?’ It sounded loaded.
If she noticed, she didn’t let on. ‘I can’t remember. Theo’s Diner, maybe, I think.’
‘There’s better.’
‘There is?’
‘You should’ve asked me first.’ He grinned, wondering where the line was between friendly banter and flirtation. Why was he treading it anyway?
He sipped his coffee again. It was cooler.
‘Lana, tell me why you’re here.’ He said it gently.
She put down her drink. It was a long time before she spoke, trying to put into words the terrible mess she’d made without making him think ill of her.
‘I didn’t know who else to come to,’ she began, rubbing the back of one hand with the fingers of the other. ‘My life is …’ She cleared her head, started again. ‘Sometimes it’s hard to trust people. When something happens, something bad, you need a friend. Right?’
They looked at each other.
‘But these days, with my marriage and everything, it’s not always possible.’ Lana pushed back her hair and gave a nervous laugh. ‘I’m not explaining myself very well, am I?’
‘Go on,’ he said patiently.
She took a deep breath. ‘The thing is, Robbie—Sorry, I mean—’
‘Don’t,’ he said. ‘You don’t have to.’
‘The thing is that I’m … I’ve got myself into trouble.’ She breathed out and closed her eyes. ‘And it’s wildly inappropriate to come to you, don’t think I don’t know that. It’s just …’
Her voice dropped and he could tell she was holding back tears. With a sick feeling he knew what was coming next.
‘I’m pregnant,’ she said simply, finally looking at him. ‘Nearly nine weeks. And the baby’s not Cole’s.’
Words didn’t come. Robert was stunned. All he could think was, stupidly, selfishly, Lana’s having a baby and it’s not mine. He stared back at her, dumb.
‘I’m frightened,’ she went on. ‘I need to be able to trust somebody. It’s not your problem, you’re probably the worst person I could ask, and I’m sorry for that, I’m sorry for—’
Robert held up a hand. ‘Stop apologising,’ he said. ‘Don’t apologise again.’ It was all he could say. This was too much to take in.
‘I was foolish, I got carried away–it was my fault. You see, the marriage with Cole isn’t normal. He doesn’t have normal …’ She shook her hands out, uncomfortable with the explanation. ‘Desires.’ She picked up her coffee, thought about it then put it down again. ‘It’s going to sound crazy, because it is crazy, but the marriage is …’ Lana steadied herself. ‘Robert, it’s for business. Do you understand? We’re not in love.’ It felt necessary to clarify it. ‘I don’t love him and he doesn’t love me.’
Her words were like sunlight breaking through clouds. It was madness: she’d just told him she was pregnant by another man, but still his heart rejoiced.
‘I’m frightened,’ she said again. ‘For me and the baby. I’m frightened of Cole.’
Robert let out a long breath. It felt like he’d been holding it for years. Instinctively, like it