Bound by Their Love (25 page)

Heather waved away her concerns. ‘Your belly is cute. The dress is going to look dynamite on you. And don't worry about your father. Luciano and Jeffrey have the situation under control. This night is going to be a huge success. If anyone should be there to celebrate, it should be you.'

‘My father won't mind?'

‘Doesn't matter what he thinks. I don't know all the details. But I was asked to remove your father's name was from the guest list I just dropped off at the hotel.'

So many emotions rushed through her, each vying for her immediate attention. The daughter in her wanted to find out what happened with her father. Why his name was off the list. The advertising executive in her was yelling in excitement, telling her this was her opportunity to see her ideas come to life, while the broken-hearted woman didn't want to be in the same room as Jeff. What if he was there with the girl she'd seen in his hotel suite?

‘I can't do it.' Greta whispered out.

Heather walked toward her and touched her arm. ‘I know this is a bit of a shock. But Greta, you can do this. Besides, I know that if I don't bring you, Luciano is going to fire my arse. And I really like working for him. I think you need to do this. You need to see your ideas come to life. You deserve this. You really do. I saw the ads on the television. They were amazing. Everyone is talking about the collection. We've had to engage more security because everyone wants to get a glimpse of the jewellery.'

Tears pooled in Greta's eyes. Hearing that she'd created the sort of buzz Jeffrey and his jewellery deserved warmed her soul.

‘You have to be there when The Angel Collection makes its appearance out in the world. You need to be involved. Wearing the stunning pieces Jeffrey has created.' Heather's argument was convincing. She wanted to see the collection on the models. She only hoped the piece of jewellery she had to wear wasn't the ankle cuff. Greta didn't think she could wear that piece. Not without remembering her time with Jeff at his house.

The need to see Jeff, even from afar, pushed away her doubts. God, how she missed him. Missed his touch. Missed his smile. The special smile she knew he only had for her. Whatever happened tonight, she had to try and see if she could mend their broken relationship. To get it back on even ground where they could talk about what was going to happen with their baby. She didn't want to lose her child and she didn't want her child to be pushed from pillar to post between them.

She had to go tonight, she had no other option.

Taking a deep breath, she reached out and took the garment bag from Heather. ‘Fine, you win. I'll do it.'

Heather clapped in excitement. ‘Brilliant, just put the dress on, and once we get to the hotel we'll have hair and make-up get you fixed up. It's going to be so exciting. Just you wait.'

Greta hoped Heather was right.

Jeffrey paced the foyer of the penthouse suite, waiting for Luc to arrive. He wondered if Heather had managed to talk Greta into coming to the event. He'd lost count of the number of times he'd wanted to pick up the phone and call her. To see if she and the baby were doing okay. To find out how she was feeling. Was she starting to show? Had she had another doctor's appointment? He should've been there. He only had himself to blame for not being there. God, he was such a fool sometimes.

Jeffrey closed his eyes as he imagined their child growing inside of Greta. He had no doubt she would look beautiful.

The door opened and Jeffrey turned. Luc and Jasmine walked into the room.

‘Well?' he asked.

‘It's done,' replied Luc. ‘She'll be there.'

The weight Jeffrey had been carrying around for the last few weeks lifted. He couldn't wait to see he pieces he'd created especially for Greta to wear this evening. He'd started on them the moment he'd returned to Broome after their fight.

Anticipation fired his soul. Tonight he was going to win back the woman he loved and he was never going to let her go again.

Chapter 26

Looking in the mirror, Greta didn't recognise the woman looking back at her. Her black hair was down, flowing in soft curls around her shoulders. She'd expected it to be put in an up-do so that the pieces she'd be wearing would be shown to the best advantage. When she'd asked the hair stylist, she'd been told her hair was to be down. Her dress was a bright purple. The fabric silky and smooth. The low neckline was perfect for a pendant and she assumed that would be the piece from the collection she'd be wearing.

‘You look gorgeous, Greta.' Heather smiled at her as she walked up to where Greta was sitting in the make-up artist's chair.

‘Thank you. I'm so nervous. I've never walked a runway before.'

‘Don't be. Just think of the runway as walking down a hallway. Once you've done that, you then walk into the crowd and show off the pieces you'll be wearing. Just like you planned. It's going to be amazing.'

Greta knew she wouldn't be wearing the ankle cuff. Her dress was long, so no one would see it when she walked. ‘What pieces will I be wearing?'

‘Oh, they're gorgeous and I have them right here.' Heather held up a bag. She placed it on the table and then pulled out the boxes, setting them down next to the bag. There were three in total. ‘Okay, let's see these on you. I know they're going to be perfect.'

As she opened the first box, Greta's ability to speak was lost. In front of her were the most exquisite pieces she'd ever seen. ‘Are these part of the collection? I wasn't shown these.'

‘Oh no, these were just added to the collection in the last couple of weeks,' Heather said as she pulled out two items. ‘Right, these are to go on your arms. The instructions are to push them up as far as they can go.' She held out the gold bands for Greta to see. The bands looked like spirals of stars. They should've been gaudy, with all the diamonds in them, but instead they were elegant and tasteful.

Greta took one band and slipped it over her wrist and pushed it up her arm until it sat midway between her shoulder and her elbow. She repeated the action for the other one. Looking closely, she could see that each individual diamond was heart-shaped. It was like she was carrying a million hearts on her arms.

‘Right, here's your next piece.' Heather held out a necklace. Greta gasped in surprise. The necklace Heather was holding was the piece Jeffrey had shown her. The piece he'd told her was an ‘apology' gift.

‘I think there's been a mistake. I know for a fact that necklace is a custom piece for a client of Jeffrey's. It's not part of the collection.'

A flash of confusion crossed Heather's face. ‘I don't think so. I was there when Jeffrey allocated all the pieces. This one was definitely included in the items allocated to be worn by the model you're replacing.'

Greta wanted to protest further, but a shout of ‘five minutes' sounded around the room. ‘Fine, put it on me then.'

Greta turned and Heather placed the necklace around her neck and fastened it.

‘Okay, here's the last piece.'

Greta swivelled back to face the mirror, seeing her reflection once again. The necklace looked even more beautiful on than it had in the box. The centre heart sat perfectly between her breasts. It was like the necklace had been made specifically for her. Greta touched the diamond heart, wishing she did live up to her name—unbreakable like a diamond.

‘It looks beautiful on you, Greta. All the pieces do. I would give anything to own a piece of Jeffrey's jewellery. Sadly, I think one piece would be the price of my yearly salary.'

Greta laughed. ‘I know what you mean.' She touched the heart again. ‘So what's my last piece?'

‘This.'

This turned out to be a beautiful diamond ring. The centre stone was large, but not so large that it looked fake. It was a marquise cut, the style she'd admired when she'd been in Jeff's studio. The colour a beautiful deep pink. Flanking the large centre stone were two bright white, round cut diamonds. The band was made up totally of baguette cut stones.

‘Oh my.'

‘Exactly.' Heather agreed.

‘Which finger do I put it on?' Greta asked.

‘Oh, Jeffrey's instructions were that it must be worn on the ring finger on the model's right hand.'

Greta slipped it on. It fit perfectly.

‘One minute. Models, I need you lined up now.' The thunderous voice of the stage manager boomed around the room.

Nerves the size of footballs tossed around her stomach. ‘I can do this,' she muttered.

‘Of course you can. And Greta, you look gorgeous. Every man's eyes are going to be on you and the beautiful jewellery you're wearing. I wish it was me.'

‘If there was time, I'd change and you could take my place.'

‘Nope,' Heather laughed. ‘Now go strut your stuff.'

Greta closed her eyes and counted to ten, calming herself. She opened her eyes and made her way to where the models stood. Another group of models lined up behind her so she was sandwiched in the middle. She stood out in her purple dress. For the first time since she'd arrived in the make-up room, she saw that every other model was wearing black.

‘You in the purple. You're going last. Move to the back of the line.' A harried woman carrying a clipboard barked at her.

‘Okay.' As she made her way to the end of the line, the music started out front. It set her calm nerves flying off the radar again. She got to the end of the line and, once again, closed her eyes in attempt to calm her nerves.

‘Exquisite.' The word whispered against her ear.

Her eyes flew open and she whirled around, almost losing her balance. Warm, strong, unforgettable hands grabbed her arms to stop her from falling. The action reminiscent of the first time they'd met in Broome in Fierro's gift shop.

‘Jeff?'

His hand brushed her cheek. ‘Angel, I've missed you so much.'

Jeff didn't give her a chance to respond. He bent down and meshed his lips with hers. She melted against him. His arms slipped around her.

She should be mad at him for kissing her before she was about to go on stage. But she didn't care. Everything flew out of her mind. Being held in his arms was heaven and she never wanted to leave the safe haven they represented.

Reluctantly, Jeff pulled his lips away from hers and she moaned her disappointment. ‘I'm sorry, Angel. I'm sorry for hurting you. For saying things I didn't mean.' He hooked a finger under her chin, lifting it so she looked deeply into his eyes. Eyes that were not closed off but wide open, showing her his soul. ‘Please believe me when I tell you I didn't tell your father about the baby. About us. That was one promise I couldn't or wouldn't break.'

As she stood in his arms, the truth shone brightly in their depths. Why hadn't she believed him the first time he told her? Because she expected Jeff to let her down like her father had always done. It had been so easy for her to believe he'd shared their secret than to listen to what Jeff had to say.

Now she knew the man standing in front of her. The father of her child would never let her down. He wouldn't be standing here, laying himself bare, if he'd wanted to ruin her.

‘I believe you.' His smile lit up his face and he went to kiss her again. But she leaned back. ‘If it wasn't you, then who did?'

‘The one person who had the most to gain from discrediting you.'

It dawned on her like a thousand bricks falling to the ground. Why she hadn't given that possibility a thought when her father spoke to her that day, she didn't know. It was so obvious to her now. ‘Graham.'

‘Yes.'

She pulled herself out of Jeff's embrace. Needing a little space to work through what he'd told her. It was so obvious to her now. Of course, Graham would have been the one to tell her father. Her father would believe everything he had to say.

‘How did Graham know about the baby? About us.'

Jeff ran a hand down his leg. ‘He overhead me telling Luc and Nick when we were having lunch. We were seated in a corner of the restaurant. A half wall separator gave the table the privacy we all wanted. But he must have somehow heard everything.'

‘Probably hiding behind the wall. Waiting to see if he could hear something he could use against me.' She reached out and touched his cheek, mimicking the action he always did to her. ‘I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I should've trusted you more. But …' her voice trailed off.

‘But you'd been let down so many times by the most important man in your life you thought I was going to do the same.'

‘Yes.' How had he known that's exactly what she felt?

‘I won't let you down again. Ever. I also need to explain about the woman in my room when you came to the hotel.'

Greta froze. She didn't want to know. ‘What about her?'

‘That woman is Jasmine Morelli, Luc's wife. She raked me over the coals for using her to make you jealous. You can meet her later,' he said with a small smile, before continuing. ‘I was so angry. You said you had used me and wished we'd never met. All I could think about was Kelly. How she'd flung those same words to me the day she died. I wanted to lash out and hurt you. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that.'

‘Anger makes you say and do stupid things. I'm sorry for what I said to you that day too. I don't regret meeting you at all, Jeffrey Courteux. In fact, meeting you has been the best thing for me. I've done a lot of thinking over the past couple of weeks. I need to thank you.'

‘Thank me?'

‘Yes, if I hadn't met you then,' she reached out and grabbed his hand and placed it on the small swell of her belly. ‘Then I wouldn't be about to embark on the most amazing journey of my life. I've realised I don't need my father's approval to live my life. Or to believe in myself. I just had to be away from everything that influenced me to see I can do anything or be anything I want.'