Kat nodded dumbly and tensed against Zafir’s effect on her as he walked in and came behind her, raising his hands up and over her head so that he could tie the clasp at the back of her neck.
The necklace felt warm and heavy against her skin and Kat touched it unconsciously. Julie’s blue eyes had grown comically large and round as she took in the gem nestling against Kat’s skin.
Kat looked at her reflection in the mirror and for a moment she was mesmerised too by the glowing red heart-shaped jewel. It did look somehow alive.
And then she raised her eyes and her gaze snagged on Zafir’s. Those dark grey depths were focused solely on her. Not even looking at the gem. She swallowed. He was very close behind her, she could feel his heat, and only for the fact that Julie was still there, effectively acting as chaperone, stopped Kat from taking a step away.
He was the one finally to step back, and Kat breathed in shakily.
He went and stood beside Julie. ‘You look stunning.’
She was glad he hadn’t said perfect.
He extended his arm towards the door. ‘Shall we? My driver is waiting.’
As Kat stepped forward her friend touched her arm and mouthed good luck. And then it was just Kat and Zafir, stepping out of the suite to where the security team were waiting, looking serious and alert.
Noor got into the elevator with them, and Kat was relieved not to be alone in the small space with Zafir. When they got out on ground level they were ushered straight to Zafir’s car, and Kat instinctively arranged the long dress over her left leg, conscious of her prosthetic limb. It had been a long time since she’d felt so undressed.
Thankfully Zafir had to take a call on his mobile as they cut through the early-evening Manhattan traffic, giving Kat time to gather herself before entering back into the fray in spectacular fashion.
By the time they pulled up in front of the iconic Metropolitan Museum Zafir was off his phone, and the palms of her hands were clammy with sweat. It got worse when she saw the hordes of paparazzi and reporters and other people already lining the red carpet in their finery.
Zafir touched her bare arm and she looked at him.
‘Okay?’
Kat nodded jerkily. ‘Fine.’
She’d never been less fine in her life.
‘Just follow my lead.’
Zafir got out of the car then, and came around to Kat’s side, opening the door and helping her out. Once again she was glad of the dress disguising her leg as she stood up and wobbled for a moment. Zafir’s hand was on her arm again, holding her steady.
She stepped up onto the sidewalk and they moved forward. As people noticed who they were a hush seemed to fall over the crowd for a split-second, and then all hell broke loose as they walked onto the red carpet.
Zafir had tucked Kat’s arm over his and she wasn’t aware of how tightly she was holding on, she was being blinded by all the bright flashes going off in her face.
For a moment she was paralysed, and then Zafir’s deep voice sounded in her ear, saying calmly, ‘Start walking and smile—that’s all you have to do.’
And suddenly she was moving, propelled forward by Zafir. They stopped periodically to let photographers take pictures, and Zafir stood back to let Kat be photographed on her own.
After a few long torturous minutes Kat found herself relaxing slightly, as if a long unused muscle was coming back to life. She k
new how to do this—how to project a smiling façade. She’d done it for years. And slowly the ability returned.
And then someone shouted out, ‘Where have you been, Kat? Are you and Zafir back together?’ and all her fragile confidence shattered.
She stumbled, but Zafir was there in an instant, steadying her again. He replied to the questions smoothly and authoritatively.
‘Persuading Kat Winters out of retirement was an unexpected coup and we’re delighted she’s working with us for this diplomatic trip. As for our relationship—that’s none of anyone’s business except our own.’
Eventually they reached the end of the red carpet. Kat was ready to crawl under a rock, but the evening hadn’t even started yet. And she was angry.
She pulled away from Zafir and looked up at him, saying in a low voice, ‘You could have shut down their questions about our relationship more comprehensively.’
Zafir just looked at her explicitly. ‘I could have.’