LITMIR.BIZ

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is his business. But while the hotel is mine I want no part in her demise.’

      ‘Now you have given me pause for thought,’ Raul admitted.

      ‘Good.’ Alim smiled. ‘The Grande Lucia deserves the best caretaker. Please,’ Alim said, indicating that their long day of meetings had come to an end, for he needed badly to be alone, ‘take all the time you need to look around and to enjoy the rest of your stay.’

      Alim walked out of the ballroom and he was conflicted.

      So badly he wanted to seek her out. More worryingly, though, he wanted to work out a chance for them. The only place they could speak was the desert.

      He could just imagine Gabi’s reaction if he suggested that!

      He was informed that Bastiano Conti, who had flown in from Sicily, had just arrived at the hotel. They were, in fact, friends, and would often hit the casinos and clubs together. Those carefree days were gone now, yet they were not the ones Alim craved.

      It was one woman, and the hope for one more night with her that could be his undoing.

      Alim went and greeted Bastiano and was grateful to hear that he had plans for tonight and would be entertaining guests.

      ‘We will meet tomorrow?’ Bastiano checked, and Alim was about to agree.

      The hotel had to be sold after all and Raul seemed set to decline.

      Yet Alim’s problems were greater than real estate, and he watched his friend and potential buyer raise a surprised eyebrow as Alim, usually the consummate host, rearranged their plans.

      ‘Bastiano, I deeply apologise, but I am going to have to reschedule the viewing. I have to return to my country tonight.’

      There was not a hope of being in the same country, let alone the same building, as Gabi, and abiding by the rules.

      His rapid departure from the Grande Lucia was unnecessary, though, because Gabi was no longer in the building.

      By the time his private jet lifted into the sky, she was in the infirmary.

      She had closed the ballroom door loudly on Alim, and at first had thought it was the shock of seeing him and being treated so coldly that had her doubling over.

      It was then that her waters had broken.

      The staff at the Grande Lucia were more than used to slight dramas unfolding and to handling them discreetly, though Anya was clearly shocked.

      ‘You’re pregnant?’ she asked in surprise.

      ‘Is there anyone I can call for you?’ she continued as she ushered Gabi into a small room behind Reception.

      ‘Not yet.’

      Oh, she would have to let Bernadetta know but Gabi could not even think of her now.

      And, yes, she would have to tell her mother, but Carmel’s anger and resentment had hurt Gabi so much already.

      She just wanted to be alone now.

      They waited for the ambulance to arrive and as they did, need spoke for her as inadvertently she said his name.

      ‘Alim...’ Gabi gasped.

      ‘Don’t worry,’ Anya reassured her, assuming that Gabi was upset that she might have created a problem for the smooth running of the hotel, especially when he was showing potential buyers around. ‘No one saw what happened. Anyway, he has already left.’

      ‘Left?’

      ‘He flew back to his country a little while ago. Do you want me to call Marianna and let her know what is going on?’

      Gabi didn’t answer.

      She was just trying to take in the news that Alim had gone.

      A part of her had hoped that having seen her again in the ballroom he might later seek her out.

      It would appear not.

      Alim could not make it any clearer that he had no interest in her.

      The ambulance did not come to the main entrance, for that might be distressing or cause disruption to some of the guests.

      Gabi left by the trade entrance, to bear the child of both the owner of the Grande Lucia and Sultan of Zethlehan.

      ‘It’s too soon,’ she pleaded to the doctor at the hospital as she fought not to bear down, but time was no longer being kind.

      Like endless waves submerging her, there was no pause, no time to catch her breath and calm her racing mind.

      Alim.

      She wanted his presence and to be held once again in his arms.

      Yet she had chosen not to tell him, and whether it would have made a difference or not, this night she gave birth alone.

      As she screamed, her mind flashed to Fleur, who had taken this lonely journey also.

      And she would never be her, Gabi swore.

      Her daughter was born a short while later.

      She was delivered onto her stomach and, instead of being whisked away, her little girl was vigorous and Gabi was able to hold her to her chest and gaze down at her daughter.

      Oh, she was beautiful, with silky black hair and dark eyes that were almond-shaped, like her father’s.

      ‘We have to take her now to the nursery,’ the nurse informed Gabi, and it physically hurt to let her baby go.

      Soon, though, her mother arrived and it was comforting to make up.

      ‘You have me,’ Carmel said.

      ‘I know.’

      It felt good to know that, and there were other things to be grateful for.

      The baby was strong. So strong, the nurse told her when Gabi got in to see her, for she breathed with just a little oxygen for assistance.

      ‘Do you have a name for her?’ Gabi was asked.

      Gabi had thought she was having a son; she had been so sure that history was about to repeat itself, and that, like Fleur, she would bear the Sultan’s firstborn son.

      But history had not repeated itself.

      Still, she was absolutely beautiful, a little ray of light, and Gabi knew in that moment what to call her.

      ‘Lucia.’

      ‘That’s such a pretty name,’ the nurse said.

      It was the place where love had been made.

      Alim needed to know that he had a daughter, Gabi was painfully aware of that. But not now, not when she was so emotional and drained. Gabi was scared of what she might agree to. When she was stronger, she would work out how on earth to tell him.

      Her mother came into the nursery to see her granddaughter. It was close to midnight and Carmel had been running errands for Gabi—packing a case and also letting Bernadetta know that not only would her very efficient assistant wedding planner not be there tomorrow but that there had also been a lot left undone tonight.

      ‘Bernadetta is not best pleased,’ she told Gabi. ‘She wants to know if you sorted out the table plan.’

      ‘No,’ Gabi said, and she got back to gazing at her daughter.

      Bernadetta, for once, could sort it all out.

      Lucia was Gabi’s priority now.

      And always would be.

      Whatever the future held.

       CHAPTER NINE

      ‘THE CONTRACTS ARE still with Bastiano?’ Alim frowned when Violetta gave him the news. ‘This

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