‘A couple of months.’
‘What? That’s a record! I know you’ve been trying to be discreet lately, but I haven’t seen a single picture of you with any woman in the tabloids all year.’
I mutter between gritted teeth, ‘She’s embarrassed to be seen with me.’
Laughter bursts ferociously from Gareth’s chest. Every time he thinks he’s finished, he opens his mouth to say something, then starts again.
He finally composes himself. ‘Sorry, man. That’s too funny. What is she? Fucking royalty or something?’
‘Something like that.’ I shrug and order two more drinks.
‘Don’t worry. It’ll burn itself out, behind closed doors, of course.’ He sniggers again.
‘It would want to. The interview with Lula’s been scheduled for next month. I can’t fuck it up now.’
‘Ah.’ Gareth’s expression turns serious. He’s the only person, other than Ryan, Declan and Kim, who knows what I promised I’d do for her. I’d prefer it to stay that way.
‘It’s probably a blessing in disguise that Chloe is allergic to anything serious, because I’m in no position to give it to her.’
‘Chloe? As in Chloe Sexton? The woman you hate.’
I might have mentioned as much a couple of months ago over one too many drinks. ‘The very one.’
Gareth snorts again. Tears of laughter roll down his face and his whiskey catches in his throat. He splutters, thumping his chest with a fisted palm. I hope he chokes on it.
Across the bar, the Johnsons stand to leave. The senator shoots me a look of pure disgust as he ushers his wife out of the door.
I can appreciate the sentiment.
I’m pretty disgusted with myself. It’s just for very different reasons.
ChapterTwenty-Three
CHLOE
Dubai
‘Are Sasha and Ryan staying with you?’ Ruby approaches my desk and hands me a coffee.
I’m knee deep planning the wrap party. If I can crack London, I’ll have a good shot at the British market. Who knows what opportunities that might bring. And the way I’m feeling lately, it might be safer to shack up there than LA.
In my wildest dreams, I imagine Liberty Events organising a lavish royal wedding, maybe one of Harry or William’s cousins. I’m obsessed with The Crown and Downton Abbey. Netflix and work are the only ways to pass the days apart from Jayden.
I’ve got it bad. But if his panicked tone was anything to go by last month, he doesn’t feel the same.
‘Hello? Earth to Chloe.’ Ruby’s red-tipped fingers click in front of my face.
‘Sorry. They’re staying in the Burj Al Arab, of course, along with Ryan’s security, PAs and the rest of the entourage. Not that I mind. The last thing I want is to listen to the guest room headboard banging against my wall all night.’
Ruby smiles dreamily into space. ‘What I wouldn’t do to find out what Ryan Cooper’s like in bed!’
‘Yuck. Ask my sister. She’ll tell you all about it, trust me.’ It used to be me regaling her with tales of the night before. Now I have to suffer hers. Gross.
I take a sip of coffee and wait for the caffeine to course through my blood. I’ve not been sleeping well, my mind overactive, analysing the escalating feelings I’m harbouring for a man who clearly doesn’t feel the same.
If somewhere deep down I was secretly entertaining any daft notions of extending our agreement, the astronomic horror he expressed at me working on his doorstep rapidly shattered any illusions I’d imagined about a growing intimacy between us.
And yet, I could have sworn he felt the same. The signs were all there. The way his body moulds against mine, sheltering and protecting me each time we fall into an exhausted, satiated sleep together. How he insists I look at him while he pleasures me, like he needs to feel what I’m feeling.
