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“I heard my name. Did you two need me?” Rami’s heart sank at the touch of Catelyn’s hand on his elbow, warm and familiar. She smiled up at him. “Sign what, by the way? I’ve got an excellent autograph,” she joked, winking at Lydia.
Her former mentor showed no such lightheartedness. “We were discussing a possible contract between Morris International and your husband’s family,” Lydia answered flatly. “I had explained to Sheikh Rami that the deal would only go forward with your participation.”
Rami couldn’t tear his eyes away from Catelyn. Her own eyebrows rose. “Lydia, that’s—that’s so flattering, but—”
Lydia turned to face Catelyn. “You’re the one I trust. And you’re the reason I’m willing to place my faith in Rami’s family. I want you to be included on every level. Only it seems that won’t be possible.”
“No, it won’t,” said Rami, and he felt Catelyn’s grip on his elbow tense. “It’s my word or nothing.”
“What?” Catelyn was flabbergasted. “You’ve already made up your mind?”
“There are lots of factors going into this decision,” he told her, even though it killed him to see the hurt in her blue eyes. “The fact is, you’re not in a position to enter a long-term contract on behalf of my family.”
Catelyn pulled away, looking from Rami to Lydia and back again. “What’s happening here? I would have been happy to sign,” she said to Lydia. “I don’t understand.”
“That’s enough,” said Rami. The situation was spinning out of control, and he was to blame. Not for the way this conversation had gone, but for pursuing Catelyn in the first place. If they hadn’t been married—
If they hadn’t been married, he wouldn’t be having this conversation at all. It didn’t work without her. And it didn’t work with her, either.
“Enough?” said Catelyn softly. “Do you really mean that?” She took another half step back, shock written on her face.
No, his heart cried. “Yes,” he said, looking at her with a level gaze. “I don’t need you involved in this anymore.”
She blinked at him. And then she turned stiffly to Lydia. “I’m sorry,” she said, a weak smile flickering across her lips. “I’m going to have to leave early.”
Lydia cut a sharp glance toward Rami. “I understand. Will I see you tomorrow?”
Catelyn stepped forward and gave Lydia a quick hug. “I don’t know. But I’ll be in touch. Okay?”
“Call me,” answered Lydia.
Catelyn walked away without another glance at Rami.
Lydia took a breath as if she were going to say something, but instead she shook her head and went in the opposite direction, leaving Rami utterly alone.
18
He could hardly think. He could hardly breathe. Without Catelyn by his side, Lydia’s estate was a horrible, empty thing, and all the natural splendor of the lawns and the gardens couldn’t distract him from the awful truth of her absence.
She hadn’t answered a single one of his texts or calls. He spent two hours looking for her on the sprawling estate after she walked away from him at the shooting range. In the end he’d gone back to the suite they shared.
All of her things were gone.
Her things. Catelyn had brought several dresses and other pieces from the dressmaker’s shop in Al-Dashalid, but those were all hanging in the closet. She’d packed her small suitcase with the things that were hers and hers alone and gone. Her tennis shoes were missing from their spot beneath the luggage rack.
It hurt him to see that empty space.
And hurting made him furious.
Rami paced the empty room for as long as he could bear it, and then he yanked his phone from his pocket and dialed a number.
The royal family’s concierge at the company that managed their private jet picked up on the first ring.
“Avi, I need the plane,” Rami barked into the phone. He was usually polite with Avi, but the ache in his heart was shooting acid anger into his veins. “I need it now. My flight plans for the weekend have been changed, and I need to get back to Al-Dashalid without delay.
“I’m so sorry, Sheikh Rami,” Avi said. “But—”
“Good,” he said automatically. “I’ll be arriving at the airport in an hour.” Too late, Avi’s words registered. “What did you say?”
