But it wasn’t going to stay unfinished for long.
Watching the door close, he leaned back in his chair, his face expressionless.
* * *
Finally she was done!
Resting her forehead against the palms of her hands, Nola stifled a yawn. It might only be four o’clock in the afternoon, but it felt as if she’d worked an all-nighter. If only she could go back to bed. Really, though, what would be the point? The fact she was sleeping badly was nothing to do with jet lag.
It was nerves.
She scowled. Not that she had any real reason to be nervous. Anna had been right—Ram was in New York on business. But that hadn’t stopped the prickling sensation in the back of her neck as she’d walked into the RWI foyer, for even if the man himself wasn’t in the building his presence was everywhere, making it impossible to shake off the feeling that there was still some link between them—an invisible bond that just wouldn’t break.
Lowering her hands, she laid her fingers protectively over her stomach.
Not so invisible now.
For the last few weeks she’d been wearing her usual clothes, but today, for the first time, she’d struggled to get into her jeans. Fortunately she’d packed a pair of stretchy trousers that, although close-fitting, were more forgiving. She glanced down at her bump and smiled. It wasn’t large, but she definitely looked pregnant now, and several people—mostly women—had noticed and congratulated her.
It was lovely, seeing their faces light up and finally being able to share this new phase of her life. But she would still be glad when it was all over and she could walk out through the huge RWI doors for the last time. And not just because of Ram’s ghostly presence in the building. It felt wrong that people she barely knew—people who worked for Ram—knew that she was pregnant when he didn’t.
And somehow, being here in his building, telling herself that he wouldn’t want to know about the baby or be a father, didn’t seem to be working anymore. He was the father. And being here had made that fact unavoidable.
Thankfully her train of thought was interrupted as her phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she frowned, her stomach clenching involuntarily.
It was Ram’s secretary, Jenny.
‘Hi, Jenny. Is everything okay?
‘Yes, everything’s fine, Ms Mason. I was just ringing to ask if you’d mind popping up to the office? Mr Walker would like to see you.’
Mr Walker.
She opened her mouth to say some words, but no sound came from her lips.
‘I thought he was away,’ she managed finally. ‘On business.’
‘He was.’ To her shell-shocked ears Jenny’s voice sounded painfully bright and happy. ‘But he flew back in this afternoon. And he particularly asked to see you. Apparently you have unfinished business?’
Nola nodded, too stunned by Jenny’s words even to register the fact that the other woman couldn’t see her.
‘Okay, well, he said to come up whenever it’s convenient, so I’ll see you in a bit.’
‘Okay, see you then,’ Nola lied.
As she hung up her heart began leaping like a salmon going upstream. For a moment she couldn’t move, then slowly she closed her laptop and picked up her jacket.
Where could she go? Not her hotel. He might track her down. Nor the airport—at least not yet. No, probably it would be safest just to hide in some random café until it was time to check in.
On legs that felt like blancmange, she walked across the office and out into the corridor.
* * *
‘Mr Walker? I’m just making some coffee. Can I get you anything?’
Ram looked up at Jenny.
‘No, thank you, Jenny. I’m good.’