Wanted: A Baby by the Sheikh(55)

The woman glanced at the man beside her and quickly re-covered the necklace with her scarf. Taina’s heart thudded sickeningly as her gaze switched to the man who had his back to her as he turned to speak to the person behind him. She swallowed. The thick, sun-burned neck, the closely-cropped blond hair. It couldn’t be. He hadn’t been on the guest list. She’d checked over and over. Daidan had said that Mark couldn’t make it. Then he turned and looked straight at her, a slow smile spreading over his full lips. She felt the cold chill of horror seep through her body. She stumbled away from the auditorium and fell back against the cold stone wall, its flints digging into the bare flesh of her shoulders. All her instinct told her to run but instead she staggered out of sight of her guests and tried to recover herself. She swiped the tears away from her eyes and gripped the stone walls with determination. She wouldn’t run this time.

Slowly and deliberately she made her way to the end of the row where Mark and his girlfriend had been seated. She joined in the applause at the end of the song and waited for people to rise. A brief interval had been planned to accommodate people’s drinking and gossiping requirements, as well as to have their models move around, continually showcasing their collection. And their guests loved it. Cameras flashed, spontaneous applause broke out as new pieces were spotted. By the time Taina was able to move toward the late arriving couple, Mark had disappeared, but his girlfriend was there, looking lost, the silk scarf securely wrapped around her neck once more, covering the priceless necklace. Taina’s necklace.

“Hello,” Taina said, holding out a hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met?”

The girl smiled, a bright trusting smile and Taina instantly knew she hadn’t the first idea what she was wearing around her beautiful neck. “I’m Natalya,” the girl said with a heavy Russian accent. “I’m here with Mark.”

“Ah, that would explain it.”

Natalya frowned. “What?”

“Why you’re wearing that necklace. May I see?”

Natalya looked around and smiled nervously. “Mark didn’t want me to show anyone just yet.”

“Then come with me and show me somewhere more private.” Taina smiled encouragingly at the young girl. She couldn’t hate her. She was simply a beautiful young woman who’d been sucked into a world beyond her experience. Mark was her lifeline, her passport for a future out of Russia. “Come.”

Taina led the girl behind the castle walls. “May I see?”

Natalya nodded uncertainly and loosened her scarf and revealed the necklace.

Taina bit her lip. It was hers all right. “It’s a shame to hide its beauty under a scarf.”

“It’s only for a while. Mark said I should take the scarf off when we were on the boat, leaving the island.”

“Ah.” Taina nodded. She suddenly saw exactly what Mark was up to. Mark must know that Taina hadn’t told Daidan she’d been raped. Mark had told her exactly what would happen if she did. And she’d accepted the threats, backed up as they were by her own fears over Daidan’s reaction. But he did want Daidan to believe she’d had a relationship with Mark, and that she’d given him the necklace. That’s the only reason she could think of why Natalya had been told to reveal it only when they were safely back on the boat. A last-minute revelation to hit Daidan where it hurt. “Thank you for showing me. You’d better cover it up now.” She watched Natalya cover up the necklace as a plan formed in her mind. She glanced at Daidan who was busy talking to a group of American diamond merchants. “I wonder if you’d do me a favor?”

Natalya smiled. “Of course.”

“During the next interlude would you mind letting my husband know that I’m feeling a little faint and had to return to the house? I’ll be back in around half an hour.”

“Sure. No problem.”

“Good. And don’t forget to keep your necklace covered. I think it best that you do as Mark suggests.”

Taina watched Natalya return to her seat. As Taina suspected, Mark wasn’t there. She looked around and saw him standing in an arch of the castle, waiting for her. She wouldn’t run this time, she repeated. It was time to rid herself of the fear that had been haunting her once and for all. She glanced at the time and then walked over to Mark. The presentation would be beginning shortly—a video followed by Daidan and her on center stage. She had to get this over with as quickly as possible.

She walked past Mark and he followed her up some stone steps to a private upper walkway, close to the projectionist and light operator, but private nonetheless. She knew he was up to something—something which would no doubt to deprive Daidan and her of the victory they wanted from the launch. And she had to find out what. But just being in his company made her feel sick. Each time she looked at him, the memories flooded back—of the last time she’d seen him, in a rambling villa on the island of Antigua, where there’d been no escape from him. He’d taken what he’d wanted from her and had shown no mercy. But she was going to stand her ground this time. She couldn’t risk Daidan confronting Mark.