the present. Her big moment had come and she was here to celebrate. She repeated that to herself again and again, hoping that it would become real. Or would, at least, start to matter.
The dress she finally chose was dark red, dramatic and magnificent, hugging her waist and hips, and low-cut- just the right side of decency. To go with it she chose a pair of golden sandals with suicidally high heels. The whole outfit was unlike anything she’d worn before, and that was fine. This was her flag of triumph.
On her return to the office she was besieged by her secretary and two others, demanding a display, so she dressed up and paraded before them. For this she’d sacrificed everything, and she was going to enjoy it. Their cries of delight attracted the others in the office. Brian appeared, adding his admiration, and soon everyone was applauding as she paraded up and down. They all knew that she was the victor about to come into her kingdom.
‘Make way for the queen!’ one of them cried.
‘Is this vision the lady I’m to have the honour of escorting?’ Brian asked.
Laughing, she turned to him and curtseyed, which made everyone cheer.
But the cheering died abruptly into silence. And Alysa turned to find Drago standing there, watching her, tension in every line of his body.
He looked as if he hadn’t slept for a week. His eyes were haggard and desperate, and he reminded her of the man she’d first seen months ago at the waterfall. He carried the same aura that he’d had then, as though he was being devoured inside.
‘I must speak with you,’ he said harshly. ‘Now.’
He looked around at the others, silently ordering them away. They were inclined to protest at this high- handedness, but Alysa said, ‘Please leave us.’
They trickled away. Brian regarded her with raised eyebrows, but at last he too departed. As soon as they were alone she went to Drago.
‘What’s happened? Whatever is the matter?’
‘I’ve come because I must take you back with me. It’s vital.’
‘But why? I can’t leave now-’
‘You
‘What’s happened?’
‘I was going to call you,’ he said distractedly. ‘But when I picked the phone up I knew I couldn’t say it like that.’
‘Drago, was that you on the phone this morning?’
‘Yes, I called, then lost my nerve and hung up. Then I did it again.’
‘But I thought it was you, and I called you back. It was engaged.’
‘I was sitting there with the receiver in my hand, trying to make up my mind. Just an indecisive idiot. You’d have laughed if you’d seen me.’
‘No, I wouldn’t,’ she said gently. ‘Drago, please try to tell me what’s happened. I’ve never seen you in such a state.’
He closed his eyes.
‘Tina knows,’ he said simply.
‘She knows that Carlotta had left for good. She knows her mother abandoned her.’
‘But how?’
‘She found out at school. One of the teachers is a client of Carlotta’s law firm, and of course the people there know the truth and talk about it. Tina overheard the teachers saying how Carlotta had just walked out on her, without caring if she never saw her again.’
He broke into a stream of curses. Alysa listened in horror, not following the words, but understanding the meaning, which perfectly expressed the violence of her own feelings.
‘Oh God!’ she whispered. ‘What happened?’
‘Tina came home sobbing her heart out. I’ve tried to comfort her, told her it’s a misunderstanding, that her mother would never leave her.’
‘Good, you stick to that,’ Alysa said robustly. ‘Is Elena any help?’
‘She’s denying it too, which helps a little, but she blames me for everything.’
‘But how can it be your fault if people gossip in the law firm?’
‘It can’t, but Elena’s seen her chance to get Tina away from me. She says I must have told her. I’ve denied it over and over, but she just calls me a liar. She says I’m a wicked influence, and she’s going to “save” Tina from me. She wants to take her for good.’
‘You mustn’t let her,’ Alysa said at once.
‘I don’t mean to, but I can’t fight her alone. I told you about her family with its grand connections. It also contains two lawyers and a politician, and their influence is immense. They might just manage it.’
‘But don’t you have a lot of influence too?’
‘Yes, I can afford good lawyers. But Elena can present herself so well, and I present badly, especially if I lose my temper. You’re the only one who can help me,’ he said. ‘Tina likes you, and you can talk to her-explain, comfort her.’
‘But explain what? What do you want me to say?’
‘That’s up to you. Whatever it is you’ll manage better than me. I love that little girl, but I don’t know what to say. I’ve tried and tried, but my words don’t comfort her. She needs something more. You can give her that something, and make all those people see that they mustn’t take her away from me.
‘Please, Alysa, come back with me now. Tina and I need you more than you’ll ever know.’
‘Come back?’ she echoed.
‘There’s a flight in three hours. We can just catch it if we hurry. I promised Tina I’d be home tonight.’
‘You’ve left her alone?’
‘No, of course not. She’s with a friend of mine and his wife. She knows them, and they can be trusted, but I have to return when I promised. Please, Alysa.’
She looked down at herself. Drago did the same, and for the first time he seemed to become aware of what she was wearing.
‘What did I interrupt?’ he asked.
‘I just bought this for a dinner party.’
‘And wore it in the office to show off to your escort. He’s the guy I saw you with before, isn’t he?’
‘Yes,’ came Brian’s voice from the door. ‘And the party is to celebrate her partnership.’
‘Congratulations,’ Drago said heavily. ‘You got what you wanted.’
‘Drago-’
‘All I ask is that you help me out in this matter, and then I’ll never trouble you again.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Please, Alysa, just come with me tonight.’
‘Come where?’ Brian asked.
‘ Florence,’ Alysa said.
‘ Florence, Italy?’ Brian sounded aghast.
‘It would only be for a day,’ Alysa pleaded. ‘I’d rush back.’
‘Alysa, this is Wednesday. The dinner is on Friday. You can’t be sure you’ll be back in time, and if you’re not there when I’ve laid it all on…’ He left the implication hanging in the air.
‘I will be, I promise.’
‘And what about tomorrow? Don’t you have appointments?’
‘My secretary will reschedule them. It’ll be all right, but I have to go.’
‘I’m surprised at you, Alysa,’ Brian said. ‘You’ve worked hard for this. I watched you with admiration, and I can’t believe that you’d risk everything at the last minute.’
‘You mean you’d take it all away from her because she missed one dinner party?’ Drago demanded.
‘We prefer our partners to be reliable,’ Brian explained. ‘And,’ he added with a significant glance at Alysa, ‘I’d rather not be made to look foolish. Don’t disappoint me at this late date.’
‘I won’t. I’ll be back, I swear it. But I must go, Brian.’
