‘I know him better than I ever knew Colin.’
‘You love him, don’t you?’
‘Yes, Mum. I do.’
‘Does he love you back?’
‘I’m not sure.’
‘You do realise that with his father dying he’ll be a very rich man.’
‘Yes, Mum. I’m not stupid.’
‘But…’
‘We’ll talk more when I get home, Mum,’ she said as Ben walked back into the room. ‘Gotta go.’
‘Well?’ she asked Ben straight away.
‘Our flight leaves first thing in the morning. We’ll have to leave here around four to be there on time. But we can sleep on the plane. We’re flying first class.’
First class, Jess thought with less enthusiasm than most girls would have had. She’d never flown first class before. But that was what Ben probably did every time.
‘What clothes will I need?’ she asked, trying to be practical in the face of her mounting concern.
‘Something black for the funeral, I guess. It’s cool in New York so make sure you have a jacket. Other than that, just trousers and tops and a dress for going out at night. I can buy you anything else you might need.’
Jess conceded that he could certainly afford to buy her anything she needed, now that he was a billionaire. But she didn’t want him to do that. She didn’t like him thinking he could buy her as well if he wanted to.
Just what was she supposed to be by his side? Girlfriend or mistress?
She doubted he had fiancée in mind. But who knew? Love did make one hope.
‘How long will you want me to stay?’ she asked, doing her best to sound nonchalant.
For ever, Ben thought. But he knew it was too soon to say that. Too soon to tell her that he loved her. He wished now he hadn’t said as much to Amber. She was sure to be at the wake and she might say something.
Well, too bad if she did. It was the truth.
‘As long as you like,’ he answered. ‘It’s up to you.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
THEY BOTH MANAGED to sleep on the very long flight to New York, which was just as well, because as soon as they landed and were allowed to use their mobile phones again it was all systems go. Ben didn’t stop making phone calls during the rather long, slow drive from the airport to wherever his apartment was located. Jess did send her mother a text saying they had arrived safely but her attention was more on her surrounds. She had never seen so many tall buildings, so many people or such thick traffic. Sydney was small compared to New York. She stopped herself just in time from gushing when she spotted the Empire State Building. She wasn’t there as a goggle-eyed tourist but as Ben’s support system during this very difficult time for him.#p#分页标题#e#
Jess remained discreetly silent in the taxi. Though, they weren’t called taxis here, were they? They were called cabs. When they finally pulled up outside a swish looking apartment building, she did her best not to do or say anything gauche which would embarrass Ben. But she was seriously impressed, both by the uniformed porter who took care of their luggage, and the doorman who said hello to Ben in a very deferential manner. Inside, the lobby was just as impressive, with marble floors and a huge, fresh flower arrangement sitting on a circular table underneath a massive chandelier. The security guard behind the desk in the corner nodded to Ben as he steered Jess over to the bank of lifts against a side wall.
‘Everything’s arranged,’ Ben said briskly once the lifts doors closed and they were alone. ‘The funeral will be at two tomorrow afternoon with the wake afterwards at Dad’s apartment. My apartment’s not large enough to cater for so many people.’
Not large enough? Jess thought in amazement when she walked into his apartment. The main living room was ginormous with ten-foot ceilings and tall French doors which opened out onto a very large balcony. All the walls were white, which only added to the feeling of space. On them hung some of the loveliest paintings Jess had ever seen. She hardly knew which one to look at first. Or where to look at all. The furniture was obviously very expensive, an eclectic mix of modern and antique.
‘Goodness, Ben,’ she said. ‘How many people are you expecting at the wake if this place isn’t big enough to house them?’
‘Two hundred, at least,’ he replied. ‘Dad had a lot of business colleagues.’
‘What about friends and relatives?’
‘Not too many of those. Dad was an only child and his parents are long gone. So are his aunts and uncles. He possibly has a few cousins somewhere but he never kept in touch with them.’ Ben gave a crooked smile. ‘There might be the odd mistress or two attending, wondering if he’s left them anything. But I fear they’ll be disappointed. Dad told me not long ago that he left everything to me.’