Part 12 (1/2)

aOf course I knew. It's Chinese New Year. Everyone's travelling to visit their families. I'm betting you couldn't get plane tickets back to the UK any earlier than the ones we've already got.' Nick's scowl told her she was right. aCheer up, Nick. It's not that bad. You're the one they want dead, not me. And they only might want you dead. We're not exactly sure about that yet. I'm probably not in any danger at all.'

aIf I had any sense I'd call one of your brothers to come and get you.'

aWell, you could,' she said doubtfully. aBut then you really would be a dead man.' She glanced at her watch and groaned. aWhat are we going to do about this ball? Do you still want to go? Because if you do, we're going to have to start getting ready.'

aDo you?'

Hallie shrugged. She did want to attend the ball. Badly. But not if it was going to put Nick in danger. This one was his call.

aWe're probably jumping to conclusions about someone trying to kill me,' he said at last.

aThis is true.'

aKai did say he'd arrange extra security.'

Also true.

aAnd I'll be d.a.m.ned if I'll stop living before I'm dead!'

She liked his att.i.tude, she really did. aSo we're going?'

aYeah,' said Nick. aWe're going.'

Hallie showered quickly, shrugged on a borrowed robe and slipped down to Jasmine's room to get her hair done and give her the perfume. When she returned she found Nick already dressed for the ball, a handsome heartbreaker in an elegant black dinner suit that looked tailor-made for him and probably was. She should have been more immune to his looks by now, desperately wanted to be, but there was something about the combination of dark hair, dark suit, and a snowy white s.h.i.+rt that made her breath catch in her throat. And then he spoke.

aShouldn't you be getting ready?' he said.

And the spell was broken. aKeep talking,' she ordered, scooping her gown from the closet on the way through to the bathroom. aI'll be ready before you've finished your spiel about how bad mannered it would be to be late. Which we won't be.' She left the bathroom door ajar as she slipped her robe off and slid the dress over her head-all the better to hear Nick's disgruntled mutterings by, and he didn't disappoint.

aYou've got five minutes,' he warned, but she was already up to make-up and she only needed two. Shoes next, dainty stilettos that added a good couple of inches to her height. Next a dab of the perfume Nick had given her at her pulse points and finally her wrap, amber-coloured silk a couple of shades lighter than her gown, and she was done.

One minute remaining. Time to see if Nick approved of the way the corporate wife was packaged. She entered the bedroom regally, only to find him staring out the window, trying hard to exude manly patience. aI'm ready,' she said.

He turned, studied her from head to toe, and the purely masculine appreciation in his eyes was immensely gratifying. aYou're beautiful,' he murmured. aBut you're not ready.'

aI'm not?'

aYou forgot your jewellery.'

She had her rings on, didn't she? Yep. Hard to miss them. aI really hope you're not talking about the watch you bought me today.'

Nick pointed towards a grey velvet case on the counter.

aOh. You mean that jewellery.' The jewellery she'd never seen. The jewellery he'd chosen without her. aI forgot about it.'

aYou forgot about it?' Nick appeared disbelieving.

aMaybe if I'd seen it I wouldn't have,' she told him sweetly.

aYou can see it now.'

Hallie walked over to the counter and her hands came up, seemingly of their own volition, to stroke the long velvet box, but then she hesitated.

aWhat now?' said Nick.

aI've seen the necklace Jasmine's wearing tonight and it's very simple,' she said with a frown. aI wouldn't want to go overboard in comparison.'

aMaybe this is simple too,' said Nick. aWhy don't you open it and see?'

Why didn't she? She was nearly bursting with curiosity, wondering what he'd chosen and whether she'd like it. Worried that she wouldn't. More worried that she would. There was only one way to find out. Hallie opened the box with careful hands. And gasped.

The necklace was like a pearl choker in design, but where the pearls would have been there were diamonds, big carat-sized diamonds that glittered brilliantly in the light. As far as jewellery went it was exquisite, eye-pop-ping even, because Hallie was pretty sure hers were halfway out of her head. But it wasn't simple.

aDo you like it?' he asked.

aAre you serious? It's absolutely gorgeous.' He was taking it from the box, and putting it around her neck, his fingers warm and gentle against her skin as he fastened the clasp.

aIt suits you. I knew it would.' He steered her towards the bathroom. aGo take a look in the mirror.'

Hallie went and looked, made a minute adjustment to its position. There, now it was perfect and now she was thinking Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's or Grace Kelly in anything, both of them as redheads, of course.

aWhat do you think?' said Nick from the doorway. He was leaning lazily against it, his smile indulgent and his eyes dark.

aIt probably wouldn't do to bring it all this way and not wear it,' she said, while the diamonds around her neck blazed with every movement she made. They probably wouldn't overshadow Jasmine's teardrop pearl all that much, she decided, a touch desperately. The diamonds were stunning in a different way, that was all. They might even complement Jasmine's pearl.

aThere are earrings to match.'

aOh, well...' May as well do things properly. A minute later she was wearing them too. aDo you think it's too much?'

aYou could always take the dress off,' he muttered. aThat'd work.'

aFocus,' she said sternly. aYou're losing sight of the rules.'

aYou don't say.'

aYou can look all you like,' she said generously. aYou even get to touch providing we're in a public place and have an audience. You just don't get to take at the end of the evening. It'll be character building.'

And with a final sweep of the bedroom for the silk purse that matched the wrap, she headed for the door.

The ballroom at the Four Winds hotel was where British Colonialism met Asian Affluence and a spectacle of such unbridled opulence that it left Hallie gaping. There were champagne-gla.s.s pyramids complete with nervous waiters, elaborately costumed opera singers with faces whiter than snow. There were five-tier chandeliers and peac.o.c.k feathers by the bucketful. There was a dance band over by the dance floor, and there were Hong Kong's finest-dressed in their finest-mingling graciously.

aHow on earth am I supposed to go back to selling shoes after this?' she murmured, desperately trying to commit it all to memory: the colours and textures, the scents and the sounds.

aMaybe you won't have to,' murmured Nick and Hallie felt her heart skip a beat.

aYou'll have enough money after this to get through your diploma without selling more shoes, won't you?' he added.

Oh. That was what he meant. For a minute there, she'd thought that Nick had fallen in love with her, and for a moment she'd wondered what it would be like to be Mrs Nicholas Cooper for real. For a moment there, she'd thought it would be just fine. But that was ridiculous. The whole point of agreeing to this charade in the first place was so she could focus on her real dream, the one that didn't involve Nicholas Cooper and fairy-tale endings. The one that involved hard work, independence and the satisfaction that came with achieving one's goals. aI'll make it enough,' she said firmly. aYou're right, selling shoes is over. Asian Art World, here I come. Here's to you for helping to make it happen.'

aI've watched you, Hallie.' There was a serious note in his voice. aI've seen the enthusiasm and the energy you bring to everything you do and I know without a doubt that when you do decide on a career, be it in the art world or somewhere else, you're going to be a huge success. Don't ever doubt it.'