Wanted: A Baby by the Sheikh(13)
She doodled. “There’s so much to do.”
“So it’s just as well I’m leaving today to go north, to the mine.”
“You’re going away?”
He nodded and rested against the wall, watching her with eyes that saw everything. “Just for a few days. I have some pre-arranged business I can’t get out of but it’ll give you time to work with the designers. Time to go The Warehouse and mock up some potential settings and see the stones. Get to know the new design team better.”
She nodded. She might meet with the design team but there was no way on God’s earth that she’d be going to her mother’s design studio in The Warehouse. “Sure, I’ll meet with the team. We’ll be ready for your return.”
“Good.” He moved away. “Now, habibti, why don’t you work from the apartment this morning? You look tired and I’ll see you in a few days.” His eyes darkened with desire once more. “And we will make love.”
She rose and went to him. “I’d like that.”
“Because you want a child.”
“Not just that. I’ve missed you, Daidan. I’ve missed… us, together.”
He nodded slowly. “Of course. We are meant for each other. And when I return I will show you again, how good we are together.” He kissed her lightly despite the lust in his eyes. “I must go now. And don’t forget to make arrangements for getting the Kielo necklace from the vault. I’d have done it but as you own it, the bank requires your approval.”
Taina watched him leave the apartment. Then she moved to the window where, far below, his car rolled up to the entrance and the driver got out and opened the door for him. Meant for each other? Maybe once. But now? That depended on how Daidan reacted to certain facts which she simply couldn’t risk telling him but that, she knew, he would inevitably discover. He’d find out, for sure. And then would he still want her?
“The Warehouse,” Daidan instructed his driver upon returning to Helsinki.
“Your wife isn’t there, sir.”
Daidan frowned. “Where is she then?”
“In her office, in the city.”
A thought suddenly occurred to him. “Has she been to The Warehouse at all?”
Their gaze met in the rear vision window. “Not to my knowledge, sir.”
Daidan grunted. He’d given Taina instructions that she should work at The Warehouse. That was her end of the bargain. Seemed she’d not kept it. “Okay, the office, then.”
As soon as he arrived he went to his office where he’d been told she was working. She was alone. She looked up and he was pleased to see her face flush with pleasure. It was all he could do to stop himself from going to her and taking her into his arms. But first he needed to know why she hadn’t been to The Warehouse.
“Taina.” He walked up to her. She rose and they kissed.
“How were your meetings?”
“Successful. As planned.”
She grinned. “Of course they would be. You don’t leave anything to chance, do you?”
The smile on his face froze. “No, not anymore.” He didn’t elaborate. He knew she wouldn’t want to hear that he never intended to lose her again. He’d be accused of being too protective, too controlling. It was true, but there was no way he was going to change. “So, how did the past few days go?”
“Very well. I’ve done these.” She twisted the design concepts around so he could see.
“They look good.” He didn’t take his eyes off her. “And the design team? You’ve been to The Warehouse to see them, of course?” He wanted to hear the truth from her. She shifted the papers on the desk to buy time. He could read her like a book and he didn’t like what he was reading at this moment.
“No, I haven’t been to The Warehouse.” She shrugged. “There was no need.”
“But you’ve retrieved the pieces which will make up the centerpiece of the collection?”
She shook her head.
“Why not? We need them. We need the Kielo necklace especially. You wore it for our wedding and took it with you when you left me. Presumably it’s safely in your bank vault?”
She shook her head again and he tensed.
“Where is it, Taina?”
“I don’t have it.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
She looked at the desk as she gathered her papers together. “I don’t know.”
He wanted to grip her shoulders, to shake her, to kiss her, to do anything that would make her react to him. Instead he stepped away from her and clenched his fists. “What do you mean, you don’t know?”