“Are you going to tell me what the hell that was all about?”
She couldn’t speak even if she wanted to. She was scared if she opened her mouth to speak, nothing but a wail would emerge.
He sat back grimly. “You have too many secrets, Taina. Too many and I will find them out.”
Maybe some, she thought, as they pulled out into the traffic. But not all. Not if they were to have a future together.
CHAPTER FIVE
The private jet joined the stack of planes that coiled above Paris, waiting for their descent into Charles de Gaulle airport.
Daidan looked up as the door to the bedroom opened but it was only an air steward. He sighed and turned back to the computer once more. Taina hadn’t emerged from the bedroom at all on the flight and he’d stayed in the main cabin, working. Or so it would seem to everyone else, he thought as he tried to re-read an email for the tenth time.
In truth he’d been trying to figure out what the hell was going on with Taina. Part of him wanted to barge into the bedroom and force her to tell him. He grunted. Force? That was a laugh. The only time he’d ever resorted to violence was when some guy had kept pestering her before they’d married. He’d seen red and it had cost him dearly. One blow and the man had fallen back and hit his head and nearly died. Ever since then he could see that Taina was worried he’d lose his temper again and risk everything he’d worked for. But he wouldn’t. He couldn’t imagine the amount of rage that would be needed to take him over the edge. He only had one weak spot, and that was Taina. And she was here, now, safe with him.
But she was hiding something. And he would find out. He just had to keep alert. She’d give herself away sooner or later and then he’d find his bearings and get them both on track once more.
The door opened suddenly and Taina stepped out, looking like every Parisian fashion designer’s favorite muse. With her drop-dead good looks and flawless style that she’d become known for, the face of Kielo Diamonds would blast the competition out of the water.
“How are you, Taina?”
“Okay. Just a little nervous about the meetings.”
“You’ll be fine. Come, take a seat. We’ll be landing in around five minutes.”
She sat opposite him, clicking her belt into place. “We’re going to La Société first?”
He nodded. “La Société Diamant is our most important potential client.”
“Papa tried for years to work with them but they weren’t interested.”
“They wouldn’t be interested now if we were on our own, but working with the Australian mine, we’re big enough to make them pay attention. And carve a place for ourselves in the Antwerp and Mumbai markets. We couldn’t have done it without Amelia. And Mark,” he added. “Although I reckon she’d be better off without Mark from what I’ve heard.”
Taina turned away suddenly and looked out of the window. “But they won’t be at the meeting, will they?”
“No.”
“Nor at the launch?”
“No. I told you. Taina? Is anything the matter?”
She gave him a quick tense glance and shook her head. “Of course not. What could there be?”
She’d gone from relaxed and interested, to tense and wary in a single moment. What had he said to create that change in her? Not La Société Diamant— she’d brought them up herself. Amelia maybe? “Did you catch up with Amelia while you were away?”
She shook her head. Did he imagine it or did her lips tremble slightly?
He touched her cheek with his finger and turned her to face him. “What is it?”
“Just a little nervous about today. I told you.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.” The plane landed smoothly and Taina forced a smile. “So, all we have to do is show them that, while we may be small, we’re a well-established, reliable family company and can supply a different type of cachet.”
“Exactly.” But Daidan didn’t smile back. Instead he looked grimly out the window at the city that lay beneath them as he tried to figure out what in their conversation had really unnerved her because it wasn’t the meetings—he sensed her excitement about those. He’d find out, sooner or later. But he knew it wouldn’t be sooner. For now, they were both covering their true thoughts with superficial talk. He turned to her once more. “And with you on my side, I can’t lose. There’s only one thing the French love more than a beautiful woman.”
She cocked her head to one side.
“And that’s a stylish woman.”
Turned out Daidan was correct. The meeting had gone well with the press anxious for shots of the foreign prince and the stylish Finn.