Modern Romance May 2017 Books 5 – 8. Louise Fuller
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‘It’s about to be sold.’
‘Bastiano isn’t going to be kicking out the guests...you’re to move there forthwith.’
‘No.’ He was pulling her into his world, and she would not allow it. ‘I shan’t be your lover and I shan’t be your mistress.’ She rolled onto her side and faced away from him.
‘Gabi, just think about it.’
‘No.’ She was crying because he made her weaken. ‘Haven’t you heard a word I’ve said?’
‘I heard all that you said,’ Alim told her as he spooned in from behind, his hand on her stomach and his mouth at her ear, ‘but I think we need to speak at more length.’
The only length she was certain of was the one that was nudging between her thighs and Gabi knew it would soon be the delicious experience all over again.
Not just now but for the rest of her life.
‘No, I need to get back to my baby.’
She felt lost and reckless to be in the desert with him, and her mind was made up.
‘I shan’t be your mistress.’
Gabi’s mind was almost made up but she was open to persuasion in his arms. And so she climbed out of the vast bed before she shattered again to his touch.
‘Get back into bed,’ Alim said.
He lay uncovered and beautiful and she had never fought harder not to simply give in to his demands. ‘The only way I’ll sleep with you again is as your wife.’
‘Wife?’ Alim’s tone told her how impossible that was. ‘I am offering you—’
‘I don’t want to be your mistress, Alim.’
‘Please,’ he angrily retorted. ‘You want centuries of history wiped out just for you?’
A few months ago she would have backed down, almost apologised for being so bold.
Yet what they had found together had changed her, and for the better.
She had a baby to think of too.
His love, though not on offer, made her strong.
‘I don’t just want it,’ Gabi hotly responded. ‘I insist on it.’
‘Oh, you do, do you?’
‘Yes, and now I want to leave.’
He just lay there.
‘I said—’
‘I heard.’
He rolled over and the world was invading because here in their remote haven Alim retrieved his phone.
‘The helicopter will be here within the hour.’
Gabi breathed out in relief, but her relief was short-lived.
‘Now,’ he said, ‘get back to bed.’
OH, IT SHOULD feel wonderful to be back in Rome and to step into her mother’s house and hold Lucia.
She brought her baby back to her flat and drew the drapes on the world to create her own little haven of peace.
But peace was fragile and, Gabi knew, at any moment it could be, would be shattered.
That much Gabi was certain of.
The days passed and she heard nothing from Alim, but the lack of contact did not serve as relief.
She knew he was working his way towards them.
Indefinable, indescribable.
Gabi just knew.
For seven mornings, the sun rose as promised in the east and for seven nights it slipped away into the west, but distance and time did not soothe Gabi. She knew that Alim kept his family close—his insistence at maintaining ties to his half-brother James, despite his father’s pressure to leave well alone, told Gabi that.
And Lucia was his daughter.
Always Alim seemed a step ahead of her, and Gabi, rather than trying to second-guess his next move, decided to focus on her own.
If she was going to be strong against Alim, then she needed a life. She needed to be able to take care of her daughter enough that she did not solely depend on him, and that started now.
‘I’d hoped for something more concrete!’ Bernadetta was less than impressed with the rather sparse report Gabi offered as to her time in Zethlehan.
‘When is the wedding?’
‘Sultan Alim is not sure,’ Gabi answered, and then she looked at Bernadetta. ‘I’ve been thinking, Bernadetta...’ Except that sounded unsure. ‘As you know,’ Gabi amended, ‘for a long time I’ve wanted to go out on my own...’
‘Oh, not this again.’ Bernadetta rolled her eyes. ‘Do I have to remind you of the terms—?’
‘Bernadetta,’ Gabi broke in, ‘I cannot hire any of your contacts for six months, I’m very aware of that, but they can still hire me.’
‘Hire you?’ Bernadetta gave a condescending laugh.
‘Rosa would hire me in an instant. I worked for her for ages and, to be honest, with Lucia so young the thought of more regular hours for a few months is appealing. And, of course, some of Rosa’s brides-to-be might not yet have found a wedding planner...’ She could see Bernadetta’s rapid blink but she quickly recovered.
‘You wouldn’t last five minutes in this industry without me.’
‘I think I’ll last a whole lot longer,’ Gabi said. ‘I guess we’re going to find out, but not for a while, though. I’ve just returned from maternity leave so I’m legally obliged—’
‘Gabi,’ Bernadetta broke in, ‘this is nonsense. We’ve got a royal wedding coming up—’
‘We?’ Gabi checked. It was the first time she had ever included Gabi in the business and it had taken a threat to resign to hear it. ‘Matrimoni di Bernadetta has a potential contract. I have a child to raise. Bernadetta, I think we could make a very strong partnership but obviously it has to be something that would work for you too.’
‘Gabi,’ Bernadetta said, ‘you’re getting ideas above your station.’
‘No.’ Gabi shook her head. ‘I’ve got ideas and plenty of them, and they’re exactly where they ought to be.’
It didn’t go well.
She wasn’t exactly laughed out of the office, as Gabi had predicted she would be; instead Bernadetta sulked and ignored her.
* * *
In Zethlehan it wasn’t business as usual either.
Violetta asked to see Alim and broke the news.
‘Bastiano Conti has withdrawn his offer.’
Usually Alim would hold onto a hiss of indignation when a sale fell through at this late stage. He never revealed his emotions, even to the most trusted staff or those closest in his circle.
Now, though, he let out an audible sigh.
One of relief.
He did not want the Grande Lucia to be sold.
Alim loved that building; there had been more than memories made there and he did not want that chapter of his life closed.
Lucia.
He had to see her.
‘What was his reason?’ Alim asked Violetta.
‘Apparently