Chapter 17
That night, Nicholas and Freya went into the pandemonium that was central Hollywood. Nicholas had lived there before they’d moved to Mayleaf. It was like being in an all-action entertainment park. Great for a night out but not so pleasant to live in.
They’d visited three bars already and had been tailed by paparazzi the whole time. Now, they’d decided on a members-only casino, just to get a break from being photographed.
‘So are we agreed? We gamble a hundred thousand dollars and that’s it. And whatever we make, we split between my charity and yours,’ Nicholas said.
‘Make it a hundred thousand dollars each. I feel lucky.’ She smiled.
‘OK.’ He put his arm around her and they headed to the cashier.
‘Mr Kaden, Miss Johnson, it’s nice to see you again,’ Sammy, the middle-aged croupier at the roulette table greeted as they sat down.
‘Hi, Sammy. How’s the wheel going tonight? Anyone win big?’ Freya asked.
‘As you know, I’m not allowed to provide you with that information. Let’s just say I think Lady Luck is wearing red tonight.’
‘Our chips are just being brought down from upstairs. We’ll eat the nuts while we wait,’ Freya told him, scooping up a handful.
‘So, how did your lunch with Jonny go?’
‘Fine. He’s having some plans drawn up for me to look at. Then his architect can get together with mine and fight it out.’
‘He wasn’t what I expected,’ Nicholas admitted.
‘No? Well, what were you expecting?’
‘I didn’t think he would be so confident.’
‘Oh he’s always been like that.’
‘I’m not sure I liked it.’
‘He’s a talker, that’s all, and he’s developed a plummy accent. Sometimes, that comes across as arrogance. I don’t think it’s really that.’
‘Well, you’re the one who knows him.’
‘I really think he means well with the charity and I can’t turn down that sort of help.’ Her phone rang and she took it out and checked the screen. ‘It’s Emma, I’d better answer it. Look, I won’t be a minute. Stick twenty thousand dollars on red number twenty.’
She got off her seat and headed out of the room towards the toilets.
‘Hi, Em.’
‘Hi. I just thought I’d give you a Melly update.’
‘Oh how is she? You sound better. Has she perked up a bit?’
‘She’s almost fully recovered. She’s keeping down her milk and she’s been really happy so far today. We got a good night’s sleep last night.’
‘That’s great news. I’m so pleased.’
‘So, how are things with you?’
‘Oh you know, hovering between chaotic and terrifying. I’m putting a brave face on things.’
The whole of the sentence sounded less than convincing.
‘What’s happened?’
Freya explained about the newspaper article.
‘I don’t know what to say. This is the last thing you need when you’re planning to get married next month,’ Emma told her.
‘I know and we’ve thought about it and we’d really like to get married on Corfu. But after all this, I don’t know whether it’s going to be possible.’
She could almost feel the perfect wedding dream evaporating.
‘I don’t think you should let this newspaper article dictate where you get married.’
‘It isn’t that. It’s what my father might decide to do about it.’
‘What does Nick say?’
‘He tells me not to worry about it. He says my father won’t be concerned and everything will be happy ever after and roses around the door. But I keep telling him he doesn’t know my father like I do. And… there’s something I haven’t told Nick yet.’ She dropped her voice to a whisper.
‘What?’
‘I got a letter this morning, in the post. It had the word “bitch” on it. It was like one of those ransom notes you get in movies. All the letters were cut up out of a newspaper.’
‘Oh my God!’
‘It’s my father and that’s just the start.’
‘Freya, why haven’t you told Nick?’
‘Because I want to try and handle this myself.’
‘I really think you should tell Nick.’
‘I will tell him, just not yet.’
‘Well, if you’re sure you know what you’re doing.’
‘Yeah, I do. Listen, I’m going to have to go because I’ve left Nick at the roulette wheel with two hundred thousand dollars in chips coming and I’ve told you what he’s like at gambling.’
‘You said he couldn’t back a winner in a one-horse race.’
‘Exactly. I’ll ring you tomorrow.’
‘Oh, hang on, while you’re on the phone… just tell Nick someone came round today to check the alarm system. It’s all working fine.’
‘Oh that’s good. Yes, he said it was due to be checked. I’ll tell him.’
Hearing that news made her slightly calmer about the situation. Emma, Yiannis and now Melly were her family. They meant more to her than anything.
‘OK, bye,’ Emma ended.
Freya put her mobile back into her handbag and took the chance to look at herself in the mirror. Seeing herself with brown hair surprised her for a second. She’d almost forgotten she’d dyed it. She pushed her hair behind her ears and adjusted her glasses. It was a different look and that was the main thing.
She left the ladies room and made her way back into the main room of the casino. Nicholas wasn’t sat where she’d left him.
There were two new players, a man and a woman, and Sammy was taking bets for the next spin.
‘Hey, Sammy. Where did Nick go? Please don’t tell me he lost everything already. I was only gone ten minutes.’ She took a swig from her bottle of beer.
‘He got a call from your driver and left. I think he tried to call you.’
‘Oh.’ She got back off her chair and walked towards the exit.
As she reached the door, Nicholas came back into the room. He had a serious expression on his face and straight away took Freya by the arm.
‘We’ve got to go.’ He urged her towards the door.
‘What? What’s going on?’
He led her into the lobby. ‘We’ve got to wait for the cops to get here.’ He pressed a button for the elevator.
‘Police? What for? What’s happened? Why did Mikey call you?’
‘The manager wants us to wait in his office.’ He ran a hand through his hair.
‘Nick, what’s going on? For God’s sake, tell me.’
The lift bell rang and the doors opened.
‘Mikey’s been taken to hospital. He was attacked.’
‘What?! Oh my God! Is he going to be OK?’ She put her hand to her mouth trying to take in what was being said.
‘Freya, let’s just get in the lift and get up to the manager’s office.’ He grabbed her hand.
‘Is there more? Is there something you’re not telling me?’
She wasn’t sure she wanted to know. She felt sick.
‘Let’s get in the elevator. Please.’ There was real concern in his tone.
‘Nick, you’re scaring me. Please tell me.’
Whatever it was, she needed to hear it. She followed him into the lift and the doors closed.
‘I don’t exactly know what happened, but Mikey’s been beat up pretty bad and the car is a mess. I mean a real mess. It looks like someone took an iron bar to it and just smashed it to pieces.’
Freya put her hands to her face and felt a surge of fear run through her. She began to feel like her chest was going to burst and the grip of terror rose up into her throat. Before she knew it, she was struggling to breathe.
‘Freya, come on, calm down. Take a deep breath. Slow breaths and look at me.’ He took both of her hands and tried to turn her towards him.
‘I… need to get… out of here.’
Her breathing was rapid now and she wasn’t inhaling properly. Short, shallow bursts were all she could manage.
‘It’s three more floors, OK? Just keep taking deep breaths and look at me. Everything is going to be fine.’
Her chest was burning and she still couldn’t get her breath. She felt out of control and dizzy.
The lift bell rang and the doors opened.
‘We’re here, OK? Come on, let’s get you sat down with a glass of water.’
‘It’s… my father… he’s going to…’ Freya tried to speak as Nicholas hurried them both along the corridor. Why was talking difficult? It came so naturally to her. Now it was exhausting.
‘Don’t try to speak, just breathe.’
She leaned into him for support.
‘I…’ she began.
She felt really lightheaded now. As if she’d sucked in the gas from a helium balloon. Walking wasn’t so easy. In fact, lying down seemed really appealing. She slumped to the floor.
‘Freya? Oh God! Martin! Call an ambulance!’ Nicholas yelled.