Gabriel was sure she’d expected him to find this amusing, but he couldn’t imagine why. His heart pounded and he realised he’d clenched his teeth together in fury. He took a deep breath to calm down, not wishing to add fuel to their furnace and said. ‘Fi, firstly, I think you need to remember that you work here, for my family and I’d therefore like to suggest that you stop and think before commenting to any of us about the things you might overhear.’ Fi had the grace to blush. ‘Secondly, if Daisy gets to hear of this she’s going to be upset. I want you to tell me who’s set up this bet so I can go and put a stop to it.’
Her eyes widened and she shook her head. ‘Hell no, I’m not a grass.’
He thought she’d say that. ‘Fine, then you go and speak to whoever is behind this and stop it, right now. Tell them I’ve discovered what’s going on and I’m bloody furious.’ He calmed down a little realising she was beginning to look upset. ‘Look, I’m not having a go at you. You’re young and still learning how things work here.’ He sighed, feeling tired of the whole situation. ‘You’re also only the messenger, but Daisy’s your friendtoo. Surely you don’t want her to be hurt?’
‘Of course I don’t,’ she said, tears welling in her eyes.
‘Then you need to help me stop this. OK?’
‘Yes.’
‘Thank you.’
He walked away from her, seething with irritation. Sometimes working closely with others could be a hindrance on your life. He hoped Daisy didn’t think he’d been discussing their business with others. He knew she’d hate something like that. The divorce might take two years but he needed to make an appointment to see a lawyer and set the divorce in progress. He was sure Bella would agree to sign the paperwork.
The following morning he was sitting in his father’s office ready to call his lawyer as soon as nine o’clock rolled around. He dialled the number of his father’s close friend and legal advisor but could only get hold of his secretary. Gabriel explained the situation to her about Bella and their failed marriage. The secretary claimed it should only be a matter of weeks to draw up the papers, and an elated Gabriel hung up, happier than he had been in weeks.
Later, he walked passed Daisy and Fi at reception and opened his mouth to wish them a good morning when a piercing scream made them all turn sharply towards the swimming pool.
‘Damn,’ Gabriel said, recognising the panic in the voice calling for help. He ran out of the entrance, across the driveway and down to the nearby pool area where he saw a small boy floundering and the mother shouting at him to swim.
The panic on the child’s face as he disappeared down under the water shot through Gabriel. He kicked off his trainers and dived into the pool, surfacing under the child, grabbing him under his arms and lifting him up out of the water. Then swimming to the side of the pool where Daisy bent down to reach the child, he held him up to her,helping her pull the spluttering boy onto the side to his crying mother.
The child coughed, crying noisily, reassuring Gabriel that he was perfectly fine, if a little shocked by his accident. He checked that the little boy wasn’t cut anywhere and looked up at the mother. ‘He’s fine,’ he soothed. ‘I’ll get him a towel and maybe he should sit quietly with you for a few minutes until the shock has worn off.’
There was a commotion behind him.
‘You stupid bloody woman,’ Gabriel heard a man say. He was about to look and see what was going on when he noticed Daisy gasp. The colour faded instantly from her face and Gabriel stood up and walked over to check if she was all right.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asked quietly.
She shivered despite the heat of the day, but didn’t say anything. Staring in the same direction her large eyes widened. Gabriel turned to see what was upsetting her so much. There was an older man, his face puce with rage, arguing with the mother of the boy he’d just rescued.
‘He’ll calm down,’ he said, assuming the man’s reaction must be what was bothering her so much. ‘He’s just had a fright, that’s all.’
Daisy didn’t speak. She stared past Gabriel towards the pool, silently focusing her attention on the man and woman, who was blowing her nose on a tissue while her son settled down on the sun lounger next to her.
‘Daisy?’ Gabriel asked, trying to take her attention from the scene that was disturbing her so much. ‘What’s the matter?’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t believe it,’ she murmured. ‘I never saw them arrive. Fi must have checked them in.’
He had no idea what she was going on about. He stood in front of her to block her view. ‘Daisy,’ he whispered.
She sighed heavily. ‘Sorry, Gabe.’
‘Tell me, maybe I can help.’
She shook her head slowly. ‘No one can help me with this,’ she said quietly, almost under her breath.
He looked over his shoulder at the arguing couple. ‘Why are they bothering you so much?’ He wanted to put an arm around her to comfort her but didn’t dare overstep the boundary she’d put up between them. ‘Do you know them?’
She nodded slowly. ‘Yes,’ she said, after a moment’s hesitation.
‘Who are they?’ They looked perfectly ordinary to him. The man was a few years older than the woman. In fact, she looked a bit like the classic trophy wife, very blonde, and sexy in an obvious way. Their rowing wasn’t noisy enough to bother other guests and the boy didn’t seem at all fazed by their exchange, so he didn’t feel like he should be asking them to quieten down. ‘Do you want to come to my dad’s office and talk about this?’ he offered, wanting to help her.
‘No, that’s not necessary,’ she said, staring blatantly at them.
Gabe moved so that his back was towards the couple and they couldn’t see Daisy staring at them. ‘Daisy, come along. You can’t keep watching them so openly, it looks odd.’
