'I'll never forget you. And your life won't change.'
'My life won't change?' She spoke slowly and deliberately, annunciating each word as if she had to be sure of his meaning. 'You're even more cut off from reality than I thought.'
'And you're overreacting,' he said impatiently, turning away. He had never felt like this, his insides churning. He had never felt so unsettled and dissatisfied before. They waited out a tense silence until the bell sounded on the intercom. 'That will be your taxi,' he said unnecessarily, walking her to the door.
'Don't bother coming down with me,' she said in a clipped voice. 'I'll be just fine.'
He didn't doubt it, but would he?
If she had slept for even a second she might have thought twice before lifting the phone when it started ringing.
'Beth?' The voice was expressionless, but unmistakeable.
'Yes, it's me … ' She held her breath and then said what had to be said. 'I haven't changed my mind, Khal, and I think it's better if we don't see each other again.'
'You took the words right out of my mouth.'
'Oh … ' Somehow she wasn't prepared for that. Biting her lip, Beth squeezed the phone until she had proper control of herself. 'Why are you calling, then?'
'I just wanted to set your mind at ease before I leave the country, and tell you that whatever happened between us will not impact on your future with Khalifa.'
She remained silent. If he'd expected enthusiasm, he was out of luck.
'Yes, in fact I have recommended you for promotion.'
'I wish you hadn't.'
'This has nothing to do with us. You're the best person for the job, and that's all there is to it.'
'Thank you.' She felt numb.
'Well, that's it … Maybe I'll see you next time?'
'Maybe … '
There was just the suggestion of a pause, and then the line went dead.
CHAPTER NINE
GRIPPING on to the cold white porcelain in her small en suite, Beth wondered if she was going to be sick again. As the moment passed, and she was capable of doing things again without worrying she was going to faint, she ran a basin full of cold water and dunked her face in it. Emerging spluttering, she felt clean, fresher, and more determined than ever. She knew what she had to do; she wasn't the type to let things hang.
She called into the chemist on her way to work, and then took refuge in the staff bathroom to carry out the simple test and wait for the result. She emerged from the bathroom a different person from the woman who had gone in; something deep inside her had just adjusted to a new orbit.
She was excited and scared and overwhelmed by the complications and consequences of carrying Khal's baby. But more than anything love was everywhere, bursting out of her, exploding in a cascade of shimmering light. If only she'd had someone to share it with. The love she felt for the baby they'd made was overwhelming, and her love for Khal was constant. Fate had played a cunning hand. Khal could never legitimise their relationship, but they were tied together now for the rest of their lives. She must do the right thing and let him know.
She tried first to contact him through the embassy, but no one would release his private telephone number, even when Beth explained in a small white lie that she was a member of his staff.
It was too late now to wonder why she hadn't asked for his number before, Beth reflected as she replaced the telephone receiver in its nest. And far too late for shame at the thought that if she had asked Khal for his number he probably wouldn't have given it to her, even though in every other way they'd been intimate. Even so, it was a miracle she had become pregnant. She wasn't on the Pill, but Khal had always been careful to use contraception.
It was no use looking back, Beth told herself firmly, and about as much use blaming the manufacturers of contraceptives as it was panicking about the future. This was her baby and her responsibility, and she would cope as she always had. She adored her baby already, and felt fiercely protective of it; she would guard it with her life.
Full of resolve she rang the embassy again, and this time left a message for His Majesty to call her back. It drew a sharp intake of breath from the person on the other end of the line, and wasn't really satisfactory for Beth-but she could hardly blurt out the fact that she was pregnant by the ruler of Q'Adar to a stranger. The only person she would give that news to was Khal. And she'd have to do that discreetly. She had seen enough in the gossip magazines to know how young women were derided for pointing the finger at wealthy men. And Khal was more than wealthy. She had nothing to lose, but what about her baby? No child of hers was going to be exposed to ridicule.
For now she would go back to work, Beth decided. It was crucial she brought in an income. There was the future to think about, a future in which her child might not grow up to know the trappings of great wealth, but they would know love. It would be safer for them to live quietly and anonymously, so that was what she would do.
Beth did everything required of her that day at work and more. If what Khal said was true and she was in line for a promotion, then she was determined to prove herself worthy of that promotion ten times over. She was dead on her feet by the time a phone call came through for her. She took it by the till in the store, expecting it to be one of her loyal customers wanting her to put something aside for them.
'Ms Torrance?'
Beth's heart stopped. The accent if not the voice was unmistakeable. 'Yes … ?'
'I am calling from the Q'Adaran embassy, Ms Torrance.'
If she could have fast-forwarded the conversation she would have done-right up to the part where the man said, 'His Majesty regrets … '
He regretted? Regretted what? Beth shrank inside. What now? She had to make herself concentrate on what the man was saying to her. 'Keys?' she said in confusion. 'I don't know about any keys.'
'To the penthouse, Ms Torrance.'
'I'm sorry?'
'His Majesty has signed over the deeds of a property, which I believe you have viewed? I'm arranging to have the keys couriered to your home address.'
Beth recoiled. 'I don't want it.'
'I'm sorry, Ms Torrance, but that's something your lawyer will have to take up with our legal department.'
'I need to speak to him-to Khal-to His Majesty, I mean. It's really important.' Beth hardly knew that she was nursing her still-flat stomach in a protective way as she spoke. 'Can you give me a number where I can reach him?'
'I'm sorry, Ms Torrance, I'm not at liberty to release that information.'
'Then can you put me through to someone who can get a message through?'
'I'm sorry, Ms Torrance,' the caller repeated patiently. 'That won't be possible.'
'If someone could just tell him that I called … '
'In the event that you called, His Majesty has already left instructions that no thanks are necessary.'
Beth had to silence the hysterical laughter bubbling up inside her. And now it was too late, because the line had cut. Khal couldn't have made it any clearer that he didn't want to talk to her, and, whether she wanted it or not, he had given her the penthouse as a pay-off. And also as a reminder, just in case she had forgotten, that the ruler of Q'Adar pulled everyone's strings.
There was nothing she could do about it, Beth realised, firming her lips. She felt angrily defensive on behalf of her baby. Khal wasn't going to pull their strings. She would bring up their child without his help, and in her own home, and not one of his choosing. She would call a lawyer now, because she needed someone to advise her on the best way to rent out the penthouse and invest the money for her child. She wouldn't touch a penny of the money it brought in, but it would provide security for her baby in the future.
'It's about time you went home, isn't it?' the elderly doorman joked as Beth smiled goodbye to him. 'You look terrible.'
'Thank you,' Beth replied wryly. Wasn't that what she needed to hear after the day she'd had? But, not being the type to cower in a corner, she came straight out with it. 'I probably look pale because I'm pregnant.'