"Of course. Is there something you need?" I was back to professional Elle.
"Elle, please stop being so cold. This isn't my fault you know."
"Really? Well it never happened to me before I met you. Now, if there's no legal issues, I'm just about to jump in the shower. Let me know if there are any developments please."
"In three days, this will all be over."
"Provided you sign that company over of course," I replied. I wasn't convinced that he would.
"Do you think I'd renege on this deal and throw you to the wolves?" He sounded incredulous. I didn't answer. "Elle, how could you possibly think I'd do that to you?"
"It's five billion quid Ivan, and I'm just a girl you've known a few weeks. By your own admission, you want to own the world."
"I don't want to own a world without you in it. What's made you think I'd do the dirty on you?"
"You did. I saw you shark a client once. It doesn't matter what you say or do, I saw it, and I know you did it deliberately, so forgive me for not believing that you're always the good guy. You lied to me over this, so I now have to assume that everything you say is a lie."
"Lying to you at the start of this was a mistake, and I wish I hadn't, but I will keep you safe Elle. I look after what's mine." He sounded panicked.
"I'm not yours Ivan. I don't belong to anyone." I cut the call, reasoning that he never said goodbye anyway. He called back straight away.
"Don't you dare put the phone down on me. I will NOT let Dascha drive you away from me. Let me just deal with this, then I'll figure out a nice treat for you to say sorry for letting this happen to you."
"Keep your money Ivan, and shower it on your next girlfriend. I don't want any gifts, treats or surprises thank you. What I want is a quiet life, with my peace of mind intact, and a boyfriend who doesn't dump me on the news at ten." I clicked off the phone, and put it on silent before heading into the shower.
Oscar and I ended up having a really lovely day. The helicopter landed on the back lawn, and took us to Battersea in less than an hour, with stunning views all the way. A car, driver and bodyguard met us there, and whisked us off to Harrods, where Oscar tried to persuade me to practically buy up the whole store.
We had a gorgeous lunch at the Mandarin Oriental, before heading over to Harvey Nichols for more retail therapy. It was fun in the menswear department, where I insisted on styling a new outfit for Oscar, making him try on uber stylish Prada jeans, and skinny fitted shirts, which he agreed, looked great. I even bought one for him, which made him pout a bit. He loved a Roland Mouret dress I tried on, and insisted on buying it for me in four different colours. We even had afternoon tea in Fortnums, before heading back to Conniscliffe.
Lady Golding greeted us when we hopped out of the helicopter, her helmet of hair not even moving in the strong downdraft. Back in the sitting room, we showed her all our purchases, eliciting oos and ahs from her. I had decided to wear one of my new dresses for work on Monday. If I was going to be kidnapped, at least I'd look good. As I had clothes to wear, I didn't have to return to London Sunday night, and Oscar said he would arrange a driver, and personal protection to pick me up early Monday morning to accompany me to the Conde Nast headquarters.
Oscar excused himself to organise my security arrangements for Monday and Tuesday. While he was in his study, Lady Golding and I had a gin and tonic, and chatted about my day. She looked quite wistful when I told her about our afternoon tea in Fortnums.#p#分页标题#e#
"I love that shop," she declared, "they do the best cakes in London, and the tea is always so fresh. I miss those type of things since my husband died. I never seem to go up to London nowadays.
"I could always book an afternoon off, and meet you. I'd love to go back there again."
Her eyes lit up, "I'd really look forward to that. When you are back at work, see when you can arrange, and just let me know. Maybe we could even see a show while I'm there."
"I love theatre. Yes, we'll do that. I'll call you on Wednesday, and we'll arrange it." She looked delighted, and it struck me how lonely it must be for her in a vast castle in the middle of nowhere day in day out, with only Oscar for company at the weekend.
We had dinner in the smaller breakfast room that evening, as Oscar's mum was joining us. None of us bothered to change though, as it was only us three. She was on good form, and entertained me with funny stories about Oscar as a boy, smiling as he groaned at her tales of putting worms in his sister's dolls house, and persuading her to slide down the banisters, which resulted in a trip to hospital to have her broken arm fixed.