Protecting the Desert Princess(33)

                She would happily hold on, she thought—her show was back on and the couples were lying together and smiling.

                ‘I really do have to go, Layla.’

                ‘Just one more question…’ She didn’t get to ask it.

                ‘Layla, the jury’s returning.’

                ‘So soon? But—’

                Mikael had already hung up.

                He met with his client, who was sweating. ‘It’s not good that they’re back so soon, is it?’

                ‘No,’ he said.

                ‘A little bit of hope would be nice.’

                He did not respond. He had done his very best for the filth that now sat next to him. What hope had he given his victim that night?

                Mikael sat, his face impassive, waiting.

                ‘All rise.’

                Mikael did.

                * * *

                Layla hopped on one leg as she watched the court reporter on the court’s steps and Terrence stood beside her, navigating social media and giving her updates.

                ‘The verdict’s coming.’

                ‘Oh,’ Layla said. ‘Do you think he’ll be upset if he loses?’

                ‘He rarely loses,’ Terrence said. ‘Probably…’ Terrence paused. ‘Okay, here it is…’ He paused for a moment and then read out the verdict. ‘Guilty.’

                Layla gasped as pandemonium hit the courtroom.

                ‘They’re shouting abuse from the public gallery,’ Terrence said, reading from a laptop as Layla watched the news. ‘The judge is thanking the jury.’

                ‘What are they saying about Mikael?’ Layla demanded.

                Nothing the court reporter or Terrence could find gave her a clue as to how he was feeling.

                Mikael Romanov, the court reporter said, was, as always, a closed book.

                Not even later, as he walked down the court steps and ignored the reporters, did his expression give Layla an inkling as to his thoughts.

                ‘Send someone to tidy the room,’ Layla said, ‘and I want more fruit and chocolate sauce and champagne…’ Rapid were her orders.

                ‘Champagne?’ Terrence checked. ‘I don’t think he’ll be in the mood for celebrating.’

                ‘Now, Terrence, please!’

                * * *

                Mikael’s expression was unreadable as he walked back to chambers—just as it would have been had his client been found not guilty.

                No one could ever guess what went on in his mind.

                He de-robed and took a long drink of sparkling water. Then, a short while later, his car gunned from the car park and Mikael left in a puff of smoke, driving straight to the hotel, where he threw his keys at the valet and this time told him to park it. He took the elevator to her door.