Page 72 of In Love and Revenge

Her next message comes before I can reply.

Dove: He’s back from Singapore for a long visit!

I hit ‘call’. This conversation requires more than a text.

‘Are you okay?’ I ask in a rush the moment it connects.

‘I’m ...’ Her voice wavers. Dove never sounds unsure about anything. ‘I don’t know what to do.’

‘Has he seen you?’

‘No,’ she whispers.

‘Okay. Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to get the valet to call you a cab right now, you’re not going to look back, okay? I can find your clients. Tell them you got ill. No one needs to know why you left.’

‘It’s okay, I ... I was with them when I saw him and ... and I told them I needed air. I don’t think they’d find it strange if I don’t return.’

‘Good.’ My voice softens. ‘You’ll be okay. I’m in the bathroom; I’ll be right out. I’ll come with you.’

‘No,’ she fires out, her usual strength returning to her voice. ‘No, Rory. I saw Dominic. He’s here. You need to speak to him. See if he knows anything that can help your father.’

‘What?’ I stutter, my heart leaping into my throat. Dominic Ainsworth, the one man I have wanted to speak to for months, is here?

‘Talk to him. Dad’s known him for years. And he’s Rafe’s friend. I’m sure he’ll listen once you explain who you are and what you’ve found out.’

I love her optimism, but suddenly I’m flooded with doubts. What if, once he knows I’m the daughter of the man who supposedly stole millions from the company he works for, he doesn’t want to help at all? While I’m slowly uncovering more scraps of information that suggest my father’s conviction has no evidence to support it, what if Dominic doesn’t want to hear it? A sudden, painful realisation drops into my mind. If my father’s innocent, then that means whoever stole the money could still be working there ...

‘But I want to come with you and—’

‘I’m fine, I promise. I’ll call you tomorrow. Now go,’ Dove urges.

‘Thank you,’ I choke back, wanting to hug her more than ever in this moment. I can hear in her voice that she’s anxious, yet here she is, thinking about me and my dad.

Sliding my phone away, I reapply my lipstick, then smooth down my dress and take a deep breath.

Here we go.

The moment I exit the bathroom, strong male cologne hits me.

‘Oh, excuse me,’ a man’s voice purrs, as he almost walks straight into me. He takes hold of my bare upper arms to steady me. ‘I was looking for the bathroom. The queue up there was too long after five champagnes.’ He chuckles.

My gut twists as I look into cool grey eyes.

‘Are you okay, young lady?’

‘I’m ...’ I swallow, staring back at Dominic Ainsworth as his hands stay curled around my arms. ‘I’m fine. Just a little hot.’

His attention drops down my body. I’m wearing a tightly fitted evening gown in deep pink charmeuse silk that a brand sent me to film. It’s a stroke of luck they did, because I wouldn’t have anything suitable to wear tonight otherwise. Even with the money Fairfax Guardian is paying me, I’ll still need to sell it to pay for Dad’s solicitor.

‘So you are.’ His mouth lifts into a wolfish smile, and he runs his hands down my arms before he lets me go, leaving prickling goosebumps behind. ‘Why don’t I accompany you to the terrace? You can get some air.’

Before I can protest, his hand is on my lower back and he’s steering me to the end of the hallway and through a set of double doors that open out on to a small seating area. It must join up to the main garden area where I’ve seen people mingling, but here, around a darkened corner, and separated by a giant hedge, it feels miles away from everyone else.

He gives me a concerned-looking smile, and I force myself to pull it together. He’s just being friendly, and I wanted to seek him out anyway. This is the perfect opportunity to talk to him, just like I wanted.

‘These parties are always full of people yapping on about business. Gets a bit much, doesn’t it?’

‘It does,’ I agree, raking my eyes over him. He looks exactly like photos I’ve seen of him. Only in those he isn’t half as intimidating as he is in the flesh.