‘Her attorney’s being sketchy. I think he’s trying to feel me out. Rattle us, even, in the hope of a quick pay-off. Don’t worry. I don’t scare easily. And I don’t lose either.’
‘I know,’ Kim replied. Then she paused. ‘Does anyone else in the company know about this?’
‘You mean Antonio or the investors? No. Just you. I didn’t think you’d want anyone worrying, especially with the launch coming up. The only ones who know are the clerk who received the claim, my assistant, and me. Think it’s best to keep things quiet at this point until we fully know what we’re dealing with.’
‘I knew I hired you for a good reason, Hank,’ Kim commented. He was great at his job. She was sure she could trust him to handle this.Ifit could be handled. She sincerely hoped it could.
Her entire life could implode if it didn’t.
‘Everything OK?’ Gabriel called out gently from inside the room.
Kim turned and nodded, flashing what she hoped was a sincere smile.
He turned back to Lily, who was playing on the bed. ‘Mommy’s busy,’ she informed him, rattling off what Kim recognised as her own familiar refrain. ‘Can I have chicken for dinner?’
She spoke so well for a three-year-old that people often commented on it. It even surprised Kim how smart she could be sometimes. Gabriel said she took after her, but she wasn’t so sure. She didn’t feel that Lily got anything from her, except her blonde hair. When she looked at her child she didn’t see herself at all. Just Gabriel.
‘Kim? You still there?’
‘Sorry, Hank, what were you saying?’
‘Just that I’ve also hired someone to investigate these claims.It’ll probably be a couple of weeks before we can get better information. In the meantime, don’t you worry. I’ll make this go away – one way or another. Even if we just have to pay them off to get rid of them, but hopefully it won’t come to that.’
‘Thanks, Hank, appreciate it.’ She glanced back again at Gabriel and Lily, laughing together in the room. Barely an hour into their family reunion and already she’d abandoned them for work again. What must he think of her? ‘I need to go. Talk soon.’
She walked back into the hotel suite and set her phone down on the dresser. Lily pulled at her dress as she passed by, the bright pink colour catching her eye. Kim sat down beside them on the bed and went to cuddle her daughter.
‘Hey, honey.’
But Lily just ignored her. She was too preoccupied with her dad. Kim felt familiar rejection fill her chest, but she did her best to push it aside.
She could feel Gabriel’s eyes upon her as she rose from where she’d been perched. She walked towards the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
Why couldn’t she do this? Just be a proper mom. Why did it all feel so … unnatural to her? She could feel the usual sadness rise up and she couldn’t stop it.
Everything seemed to be falling apart just now. Just when it all should be coming together.
Tears glistened in her eyes and she shook her head to dismiss them, leaning against the sink vanity. She remained there for a couple of minutes before Gabriel’s voice called gently from the other side of the door.
‘Honey, are you OK?’
‘Sure!’ Kim replied quickly and cleared her throat. ‘Just coming.’ She flushed the toilet for effect and then moved back to the sink to splash some water on her face. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, and a tired, haggard face looked back.
Room service arrived soon after, and both Lily and Gabriel ate hungrily, though Kim barely touched hers.
When the meal tray was removed, they set about getting Lily ready for bed in the adjoining bedroom. She was fussy and difficult when Kim tried to change her into her pyjamas, so Gabriel smoothly took over, telling his wife to head back out to the living area and fix them a drink.
A few minutes later, once Lily was settled, he joined her on the terrace, where Kim again found herself standing by the rails looking out over the water. It was so easy to get lost in the dark depths and forget her troubles for a moment.
Just for a moment.
‘Hey,’ she greeted softly as she turned to look at him. His shirt was off, his feet were bare, and the only thing he wore were the light chinos he’d had on when he arrived. She smiled automatically. He was such a huge guy, tall, strong and built like a rugby player, and she remembered thinking the first time she laid eyes on him that he looked as if he could easily lift her up with one hand.
She loved that, loved how he always made her feel so protected and cherished. All man yet so tender with it. The combination was irresistible.
She really was a lucky woman. And it had been some time since they’d last had a romantic moment together. Gabriel’s body was distractingly irresistible, but right now Kim just wanted to lose herself in his strong embrace.
‘C’mere,’ he called, both arms outstretched, as if instinctively knowing it was what she needed. She moved to him, resting her head upon his firm chest, the downy hair soft beneath her cheek.
