‘No problem. I’ve emailed that footage to you now as well.’
‘Great, Louise. Thank you so much.’
I wait on the call as she attempts to connect me to Angela’s suite. At least she hasn’t checked out because Louise would have known if that was the case.
The shrill ringing continues before Louise’s chirpy voice infiltrates the line again.
‘Either she’s not there, or she’s comatose in the biggest jetlag-induced slumber known to man. Do you want me to send one of the porters up to check on her?’
‘No, that won’t be necessary thanks.’ It won’t be necessary because I already know she’s not there. She’s wherever Ryan and his security are.
I don’t bother trying Jayden’s suite. It’s futile. Even if he was there, which I instinctively know he isn’t, he wouldn’t tell me a thing anyway. Placing the receiver in its slot, I head to the bedroom in search of my mobile again.
Thank god Victoria is on school holidays, and is blessed with the usual teenage habit of sleeping until midday, because there’s no way I could put a brave face on this situation over breakfast.
The phone vibrates on the bed and in my hurried anxious state, I practically trip over my own feet to reach it.
I needn’t have rushed. It’s only Megan.
‘Hello?’ The irritation in my tone has nothing to do with Megan and everything to do with the likely possibility of Ryan Cooper leaving me for a second time, which every fibre of my being assures me he has.
‘What’s up with you? Only get three orgasms last night, instead of the usual four?’ Megan snorts at her own joke.
‘The missing orgasm isn’t the problem. The missing boyfriend is.’ My voice cracks on the last note.
A hiss seethes into my ear and when she speaks, her voice is dangerously low. ‘What do you mean missing, exactly?’
‘You know, absent, not here. Neither is his PR manager or any of his security detail. Gone. Vanished in the middle of the night. Sounds oddly fucking familiar, doesn’t it?’ A great big fat sob racks my chest. ‘Louise sent me the security footage, but I can’t bring myself to watch it.’
‘I’m on my way up.’ Megan ends the call.
Sixty seconds later the penthouse door opens. Her pale complexion looks almost as shaken as I feel. ‘What the fuck, Sash?’
‘He wasn’t here when I woke up. Nobody was. And he’s not answering my calls. Louise sent me the footage. I need to watch it, but equally I can’t bear to.’ Every cell of my body shrieks that it’s the same as the last time. ‘How could he do this to me, again?’
Dramatic trembling hands rake through her unruly curls. ‘It’s not just you, either. The castle’s entire reputation is riding on tonight’s ball. We have not one, but four, of the glossy magazines covering the event andThe Irish Independent. No pressure or anything.’
She curses again. ‘Maybe there’s an explanation? Maybe they went out somewhere and they’ll be back.’
‘Well, why not mention it, or better yet, answer his phone when I call?’
‘Try him again.’
‘I can, but it’s futile.’ I throw her my phone and allow her to try. Again, it’s directed straight to voicemail.
‘The absolute bastard. Whatever about the ball, if he’s left you again, I will never ever forgive him.’ Megan strides towards the terrace, glaring at the newly assembled marquee blowing mockingly in the winter wind as if it might hold the answer.
‘After all we’ve been through, and then Vegas and everything, I can’t quite believe it.’ Yet I know in the bottom of my heart that it’s true. ‘Why else would all of his security be gone too, and his PR?’
‘There has to be another explanation.’ Megan fretfully gnaws at her bottom lip. Turning to me, she pats my arm. ‘Let’s not jump to the worst conclusions. It’s barely nine in the morning. There’s plenty of time for him to turn up.’
The penthouse door bursts open, smacking the wall behind us with a bang that has me leaping a foot in the air. Chloe barges in, arctic irises blazing fire.
‘Is it true?’ Her voice is a low, menacing growl.
‘Is what true? What have you heard?’ My hands fly to the outside of my rapidly dehydrating throat.
Incensed pupils scrutinise the room, ruthlessly arbitrating the situation in under three seconds.
