‘What did he want?’ she asked when he ended the call, and when he did not answer her straight away she knew that something was wrong. ‘Is it the baby?’
‘The baby’s fine,’ Mikael said.
But just as she relaxed he took her hands, and she knew she was going to hear bad news.
‘Layla, Demyan and Alina were so curious about you that they looked you up. Your disappearance has just hit the press. The police are looking for you…’
‘No…’ she whimpered. ‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘They won’t find me here.’
‘Yes, Layla, they will,’ he said. ‘The staff at the hotel will recognise you, and the booking was under my name. This is serious now.’
He let go of her hands, turned on the television and found the news.
There she was: black eyes, black hair, and a face that was unforgettable.
The police could be there in a matter of moments.
‘We need to get you back.’
When she didn’t respond he elaborated.
‘Layla, it will be better for you if you return under your own steam than have the police find you.’
‘One more night,’ Layla begged. ‘Mikael, please, I just want one more night.’
She was not manipulating him now; instead she was pleading.
‘Just one more night and then I promise that I will go back happy. I will never interrupt your life again, Mikael, if you will please just give me one more night.’
‘One more night…’ he said. ‘We’ll take out my yacht…’
He was already loading a cool bag with supplies: champagne, fine food—anything he could think of to give Layla the very best final night.
‘Go and get dressed and sort out the clothes that you’ll return to your family in.’
‘Mikael?’ She frowned. ‘I’ll get changed here, tomorrow, after our night.’
‘We won’t be coming back here, Layla. If we’re going to leave then it has to be now.’
It was the most horrible thing she had ever heard, and she simply did not now how to respond.
‘Layla?’ He was very calm; he could see how much she was struggling. ‘Come on,’ he said, deciding to find clothes for her. Just now it had nothing to do with her being a princess that she could not dress herself.
She was simply trying not to break down.
They were heading to his car in a matter of moments.
‘Mikael…?’ She said as he opened the passenger door for her.
‘You’re not driving.’
‘No, of course not.’ She was suddenly serious. ‘Tonight, if I tell you to make love to me, if I plead with you that I don’t care, please…’
‘You’ll be fine, Layla.’