Wanted: A Baby by the Sheikh(53)

“Because you’re happy.”

She nodded. “I am.” She glanced once more at the colorful barges, which edged ever closer to the island. “Or I will be when this afternoon’s over.” Their visitors were leaning on the boats’ railings, their beautiful clothes lifting in the warm breeze, fingers outstretched as people pointed to the castle which stood behind them. Despite the fact that most of it was in ruins, it was still stunning. On three sides its stone walls soared up from the blue waters of the lake. It was on the fourth side that she and Daidan stood waiting for their guests to arrive. The collapse of the outer wall had proved a bonus in modern times, as events could be staged in the amphitheater of the castle ruins.

They walked down to the wharf by the castle and waited for their guests to disembark. Their staff lined up ready to hand out presents and information about the afternoon’s entertainment while Daidan and Taina prepared to greet them.

Daidan squeezed her hand. “Feeling okay?”

She smiled. “The best. The morning sickness seems to have disappeared—thank goodness—and our people have been brilliant. They’ve covered all eventualities.”

Daidan’s mouth tightened, unable to rid himself of the nagging doubt that there might be something, some detail, he’d missed. “I certainly hope so.”

She frowned. “You’re not worried about anything?”

He didn’t answer. Instead he held up his hand in greeting as the two boats came in on either side of the jetty. Taina scanned the boats, Daidan’s reaction suddenly having made her nervous. But there was no one there who shouldn’t be. No one who could threaten her happiness.

Daidan and Taina separated as they greeted their guests. Their staff mingled, handing out the programs and champagne to the guests as they drifted into the auditorium and took their seats, their necks craning as they admired the stunning backdrop to the performance—the gray stone of the medieval walls that soared into the blue of a perfect summer sky.

After a brief greeting from Daidan, the orchestra began and music filled the castle keep. Slowly the curtain rose on the stage and twelve models emerged, dressed in clinging white evening gowns, sky-high heels and dripping with diamonds from their new Northern Lights collection. The combined beauty and brilliance of the models and the jewelry in the bright sunshine was met by an audible gasp. It was almost blinding and that was exactly the impact Daidan and Taina had wanted. Daidan had only invited a few journalists he knew well. He’d arranged for his own photographers and TV cameras to support them. He had to be in control of it all. Nothing had been left to chance.

Lights flashed as the models posed and descended from the stage to walk amongst the guests before returning backstage under the watchful eye of security. The first set of models were wearing the designs the design team had put together. As each model emerged, posed for best effect, and then swept down and mingled with the guests, the style and branding became more and more obvious, more distilled. And then the final group of models emerged and the guests went wild. Taina’s designs were amongst them—edgy and sophisticated. The collection not only showcased the quality of diamonds which were being mined by the company, but also the distinctive Scandinavian design ethos—spare and stunning. They needed nothing more to add to their brilliance.

Taina watched with satisfaction and relief as even the most hardened of the jewelry mavens became excited, talking to the designers and looking over her way as the designers referenced her work.





Daidan re-checked the position of the security guards, dressed in dinner suits, who were positioned at strategic points. There were enough diamonds here to ensure the wellbeing of a small country for a year. And each guard had been designated specific models to watch over. Their build and authority were as much a part of the display as the models and the setting.

He dipped his head to Taina as a model wearing the centerpiece to the collection walked past.

“You were correct, darling. That piece—it needed the flaw to make it more beautiful, more unique.”

“Ha! I knew you’d agree eventually.” She smoothed her hand down his immaculate black dinner jacket and he took hold of it and gripped it tightly. “I have excellent taste, you have to admit.”

“True,” he grinned. “You chose me.”

“Did I? I rather thought it was the other way around.”

Although they were all still seated, waiting for the concert to begin, he kept tight hold of her hand. He wanted to know where she was at every moment of today’s events. Word had it that something was going to be attempted and he was damned sure that no one and nothing would get to Taina. Mind you, she’d be hard to miss. He glanced admiringly at her in the orange satin strapless evening dress. Her skin was tanned, making her violet eyes more intense and her blond hair even brighter. She stood out against the men in their black tuxes and the models in their all white dresses, as if all the others were only there to showcase her beauty.