But knowing she ought to tell him and being ready to were entirely different propositions. Many days after deciding sheshouldtell Samir, Cora finally picked up her phone and called Samir’s number. Her heart was in her throat, her whole body on tenterhooks, not just because of the news she was about to deliver but because she was going to hear his voice. She was going to open a line of communication to him for the first time in six weeks. She stood in her kitchen, feet braced, heart racing, and she waited. Waited for him to answer. Waited to hear his voice. Waited to tell him that they were going to be parents.
And waited.
And waited.
Until it went to voicemail and she hung up, far too terrified to leave a message.
But he’d see the missed call, and get back to her.
So she continued to wait. And wait. And wait. All afternoon and into the night. All night and into the next day. And into the next night. And then, bracing herself once more, she picked up her phone and tried again. This time, when it went to voicemail, she knew what to say—she’d been practicing.
“Hi Samir, it’s Cora. Could you give me a call when you have a moment? It’s important.”
Surely that would give him a rough idea? Or if not, at least he wouldn’t be likely to ignore the last sentence.
The next day, an unknown number began to call her phone. Given that her own number was unlisted, she knew immediately it was Samir, but calling from a different phone, rather than his own. Perhaps the protocols were different now that he was Sheikh?
“Hello?” She answered, cursing the breathless tone to her voice.
“Cora Xenakis?”
Her heart tripped over itself. An accented voice, deep and gruff, but not belonging to Samir.
She expelled a soft sigh as disappointment and a deep sense of let down engulfed her.
“Yes. Who’s calling?”
“My name is Rami. I work for the Al Medinan Royal Family.”
Cora dug her fingernails into her palm.
“I see.”
“His Royal Highness Sheikh Samir Al Qadi requested that I contact you.”
“I see.” Her gut twisted.
“He asked me to inform you that he is very busy with meetings at the moment, but that if you have anything important to discuss, you can pass the information along through me. I will be sure he receives your message.”
Cora could hardly believe it. Her jaw dropped and her eyes filled with tears, her whole body pulsating with a mix of devastation and hurt outrage. He had delegated someone from his staff to contact her? Rather than pick up his phone and give her a quick call?
“Madam? What message should I pass on?”
Oh, that was an excellent question. She could think of a few choice phrases in that moment!
“It’s a private matter,” she said after a pause.
“I am His Highness’s head of security. I deal with all his most personal matters. I assure you, he trusts me implicitly.”
“He might, but whether or not I do is another matter,” she muttered, before she could stop herself. She realised it might have sounded insulting, but then again, so was this phone call.
“I understand, madam.”
Her laugh was a short sound, filled with a hint of derangement. “Tell Samir—,” silence filled the line as Rami waited and Cora thought. “Would you tell him—,” But what could she possibly say? “Tell him that I have something to discusswith him.”
“I will pass that on, madam, but I should let you know that he considers matters between you are at an end. He asked me to make that very clear.”
Cora could hardly breathe. It felt as though three thousand knives were flying through her veins. Pins and needles filled her fingertips and toes.