As his driver headed towards his home, Leila’s head too was spinning. Her mother had got into her head again and simply would not leave. Those seeds of doubt that James had had when he had dined at his parents that night were in Leila’s head now. They hadn’t just been given a decent soaking though—noxious weeds were flourishing and Leila would not wait till the master returned to find out what it was that he cared to discuss with her.
Instead it was time to be brave.
She did what she hadn’t had the courage to on the first night she had arrived in New York.
When the car pulled up at James’s home, instead of getting out she remained seated and spoke to the driver.
‘Take me to The Chatsfield.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MANU WAS THERE when James returned. She was waiting for him in reception, and speaking with some of the staff that she knew.
‘I’m just waiting on a call from the Dubai hotel,’ Manu said, and James nodded.
Spencer was passing through and came over and asked James if he’d made any plans for the wedding.
‘I’ll let you know,’ James said, while privately deciding he’d perhaps tell his family well after the event.
Once Manu was ready they took the elevator in silence up to the suite. James had no issue with letting her go but, given how he might want to keep her onside, he was working out how best to tell her that her services were, for now, not required.
He might need her to speak with Zayn after all.
‘I’m going to go home now and talk with Leila,’ James said.
‘I thought you wanted to work on this,’ Manu said. ‘I have to go back to Dubai tonight.’
‘I know that,’ James said, ‘and while I do appreciate all your help, I need to discuss things with Leila.’
‘You need my help, James. How is your Arabic going?’
‘Absolutely terrible.’ James told her a few of the phrases that he had learned and Manu laughed at his attempts to speak from the back of his throat, just as James expected her to, just as his father would too.
‘Well, I’m glad it amuses you so much,’ James said.
‘You’ve got a very long way to go.’ Manu could not stop laughing but James did not feel smacked upside the head this time. He was sick of the lot of them. ‘Oh, James, thank you for the laugh. I needed it.’