Trust. Trust.
‘I see. Okay.’
The butler smiled.
‘Umm, you know what, you don’t have to come with me. I know where the gallery is. I’ll be fine on my own.’
The older man frowned. ‘Are you sure?’
Suki forced a smile. ‘Yes.’
Without waiting for an answer, she picked up the clutch, which had somehow dropped to the floor, and walked out of the
suite.
Half an hour after she arrived downstairs, Ramon was still nowhere to be seen.
Trust. Trust.
But the affirmation was growing weaker because, even though the size of the gallery and the number of guests were almost three times bigger than the Havana exhibition, she refused to believe she and Ramon would’ve continually missed each other. He wasn’t here. Neither was Svetlana. Which meant they were together?
Was it true? Was he so madly in love with Svetlana he would take her back even after she’d cheated on him?
Her soul shredding, Suki continued to look for him. Eventually, she arrived at a set of doors marked Employees Only.
Biting her lip, she tried to talk herself out it. Then back into it.
She was the fiancée of the gallery owner. Surely that allowed her inner-sanctum access? The pain ravaged, hysteria-stroking demon inside her gave a mocking cackle.
Hand shaking, she pushed the door open. A wide hallway had two offices on either side, all of which were empty. Suki hated herself for the giddy relief that punched through her as she retraced her steps.
About to walk through the doors, she heard the familiar, sultry laugh. Quieter. More illicit? The sound came from the stairwell she hadn’t noticed before. She only took one step before she heard Ramon’s deep rumbling voice. Another step onto the landing and she saw them, one floor down. Face to extremely close face.
‘I’ve done what you wanted, Ramon. Now it’s your turn,’ Svetlana murmured.
‘You think it’s going to be that easy?’ There was a throb of anger in his voice, but also something else. Something spine-chilling.
‘She’s right upstairs. All you have to do is tell her—’
He caught her by the arms, the move so sudden it halted her words. The words snarled in thick Spanish were indecipherable to Suki.
‘God, I love it when you’re so bossy,’ Svetlana groaned. She swayed towards him, closing the small gap between them and sliding her arms up his chest. He didn’t push her away. Instead he walked her backward until her back touched the wall. Then he braced his hands on either side of her head.
Suki’s stomach threatened to flip.
‘Svetlana—’
‘I’ve missed the way you say my name, Ramon. So much.’
Suki stumbled back, the black carpeted floor thankfully dampening her footsteps. She had no recollection of returning to the exhibit floor, had no knowledge of how much time had passed. At some point someone must have offered her a glass of champagne because somehow she held one. When she realised it, she quickly set it down.
She couldn’t stay here. She needed to leave. Needed to—
‘What’s wrong, belleza? You look pale.’
She whirled around at the urgent demand. Stared at him, unable to believe he was in front of her. Unable to contain the pain ripping her heart apart. Unable to stand that guilty look in his eyes.
Numbly, she shook her head. Hold it together.