With that he gave her one last fleeting kiss and headed on his way.
*
Zander pushed the newspaper across the kitchen table towards him. Matt looked up from his own paper and glanced at it. Staring back at him was a large photo of Ella underneath the headline 'Business magnate's dirty secret.' Matt made a disgusted sound and pushed the paper away.
'Got anything to say?'
'No.'
Clearly he had! Matt was only ever tight lipped when he felt deeply and, apart from their parents' death, there was precious little else he cared that much about - other than the numerous occasions the girls had pulled the wool over their eyes as to what they were up to and stayed out all night! Matt may be extrovert and confident and behave as if he took little seriously but there was a depth to him that he didn't let people see. Even Zander, who was his other half and his best friend was shut out of that place until Matt was ready to share. Of the two, Zander was the one who generally kept his feelings to himself and yet he was far easier to read than Matt could be.
'It says there that Daniel Lewis raped her mother and abandoned her.'
'What!' Matt grabbed the paper and read what was written. 'That is all a complete pack of lies. Whoever fed this rubbish to the newspaper will be sorry.'
Zander didn't think Matt was aware he'd spoken out loud. He stared across at him, realising just how much Ella must mean to him. He felt a fleeting pang of envy - did he ever want to find the one person that he would care that much about?
'That's where you took off to last night isn't it? Abandoning me to the vagaries of the public transport system.'
Matt looked up ready to glower at him when he realised Zander was pulling his leg.
'Thought you needed a reminder sometimes of how other people live baby brother.'
'I get that reminder every day old man, as you well know. It's you, who travels everywhere by car or taxi, that needs the reminder. Your attempt at changing the subject is pathetic by the way.'
'Didn't realise there was a subject to change.'
Zander shook his head and picked up another paper. 'You know where to find me if you want to talk, or need any help.'
Zander was the best brother a man could have. 'Thanks bro.'
'What's the goss then? How was the concert last night?'
Matt and Zander both looked up as their youngest sister joined them for breakfast.
'The concert was great Ronnie, you should have been there. You'd have loved it. Ella had a few guests with her and one of them was that new string quartet which came third in that talent show you watch.'
'Mmm, I don't know what was better - the sound they made or the four sets of very long legs disappearing into miniscule skirts we were forced to endure!'
'Matthew! That's a really sexist thing to say.'
Matt grinned at her. She felt so strongly about how women were still treated that she was easy to wind up.
'Oh, you beast!' She threw the nail file she'd been using at him.
'Hey, that's a dangerous weapon you've got there. Zander, protect me!'
Zander laughed to himself at their antics and carried on reading.
'Oh my god! That's Ella.' Ronnie grabbed the paper and quickly read the article. 'Oh no, that's awful for her. Fancy finding out who your dad is like that. I'm going to see what I can do to help.'
And as quickly as she'd arrived in the kitchen, Ronnie was gone.
'You didn't tell her it was a pack of lies.'
Matt looked up from his paper. 'No.'
Zander continued to look at him in silence.
Matt sighed. 'Look, you know Ronnie will go rushing over there and be whatever Ella needs. That's good enough for me.'
Zander continued to stare.
'There's nothing much going on between us. I told you last night. I met her a few weeks ago and helped her out. Until last night I hadn't seen her since.'
Matt was clearly in denial. Zander knew better than to say another word otherwise he would be getting something a lot bigger than a nail file thrown at him!
Chapter 7
She flopped down on the bed and sunk into the most gloriously, luxurious mattress. She sighed out loud. Divine! It was so soft, she felt like she was floating on a cloud. Coming out to Quinaard was worth it just to have this divine bed and sumptuous suite.
She couldn't believe the grandeur of her surroundings. She was sure her mouth had dropped open when she'd first set eyes on the vast palace and stayed open for the duration of the walk to her suite. She only hoped she hadn't drooled. She was on the fourth floor and there were another two floors above. Modern touches like the lift her escort had used mingled beautifully with paintings and furniture that looked to be hundreds of years old. She felt dazzled by all the gold on display in the ornaments, statues and wall inlays. The doors to the lift merged seamlessly with the surrounding wall, each door padded with a rich, oriental tapestry.
In her suite, the lounge was twice the size of hers at home. She even had a baby grand piano to practice on! She was almost too frightened to touch any of the ornaments in case she broke something that turned out to be a priceless heirloom. She'd never seen anything on this scale of opulence.
The bedroom had a four poster bed covered in pillows and what felt like a silk throw, right in the middle of the room. The bed itself was big enough to sleep a family of four! Ottomans were placed along the top and bottom ends of the bed, each covered in a padded silk seat. The main colour scheme of the suite was a deep, rich burgundy. She'd glimpsed the opulence of the bathroom when she'd been shown to her suite, but didn't have the energy right now to inspect it more closely.
Even though she'd travelled in first class luxury right from the moment the limousine had picked her up at her apartment, courtesy of Prince Azzam, she felt bone weary. She'd been up since three a.m. and it was now four in the afternoon Quinaard time. She'd been hounded by the paparazzi morning, noon and night for the last three days. As Matt had predicted, they'd been there when she'd woken after he'd left and some of them had still been there, chasing the limo down the street when she'd left for the airport. A couple of them had managed to get into her building. Even though her agent had issued a statement saying she was delighted to have the chance to get to know her father, the press had relentlessly pursued her. She'd gone out as little as possible, kept her curtains closed and her phone unplugged. She'd felt like a prisoner in her own home. When she had had to go out they'd jostled her in the street. She didn't know how high profile celebrities coped with it on a regular basis.
As the bed embraced her, her mind began to shut down and for what felt like the first time in three days her eyes drifted shut.
*
When his knocking received no response Matt tried the handle. The door was unlocked. He'd have to tell her that it didn't lock automatically. He stepped inside.
'Ella?' He was met with silence. He knew she hadn't left her suite so he went through to check she was okay.
He stopped at the bed and looked down at her sleeping form. He felt a slight jolt in his heart. He hadn't seen her since Sunday, although he knew through Ronnie's updates that she'd coped with the unwanted publicity. The jolt must just be relief to be able to see for himself that she was alright.
She looked beautiful lying there with her hand tucked under her head. Her now naturally coloured strawberry blond hair formed a shroud around her head. As he noticed her hair colour for the first time, he gave a little smile and wondered how many washes she'd had to endure to get the purple out! She had on a long floaty dress with a square neckline that just exposed the swell of her breasts. At that moment the need to have her had never felt stronger but given her reaction when she was awake, he didn't think she'd appreciate sleep sex. For the sake of his sanity he really hoped their time here would result in a more intimate relationship. He didn't know where this would go, he just knew he wanted her more than any other woman he'd ever spent time with.
'Ella,' he gently shook her shoulder, 'w
ake up sleepyhead.'
'Ella!' He shook her a little harder. All she did was turn over and sigh. Matt didn't know what she was dreaming about but he sincerely hoped it was him.
He reached down and kissed her on the lips. Her eyes opened. 'So, it isn't just in fairy tales that a kiss will wake the sleeping princess.'
'Matt,' Ella smiled sleepily. 'I missed you on the flight.' She took his hand in hers and closed her eyes again. Matt was glad she'd missed him, but he was running out of time here.
'Ella, Prince Azzam wishes to meet with you in thirty minutes.'
'Mmm hmm,' was her only response.
'Ella, I'm going to strip you just now and put you in the bath.' He went to take the hem of her dress.
'No!' Ella shot up.
Matt grinned at her. 'I guess that's you awake now then.'
Ella coloured. She blinked at him. 'What are you doing here?'
'That's a popular question with you,' he observed, remembering the only time she'd stayed at his apartment.
Ella just looked at him in a daze which caused him to laugh.
'Hmm, eyes are open but there's no-one home. Stay there. I'll get you a drink of water.'
He came back with a glass in his hand. 'Here, drink this, it might wake you up a bit.'
Ella obediently drank, realised just how thirsty she was and downed the glassful.
'Thank you.' She put her hand up to her head. 'I feel groggy. How long have I been asleep? What time is it?'
'It's just gone six. Azzam has a time slot to meet with you at half past.'
Ella jumped off the bed. 'Oh lord Matt, why didn't you wake me!'
Matt inwardly laughed and rolled his eyes. 'I've been trying to! You, Miss Sleepyhead didn't even wake fully when I kissed you. I must be losing my touch.'
Ella felt her face grow warmer. 'Sorry. The bed's too comfy and I haven't slept much in the last few days.'
Matt took her into his arms and tucked her hair behind her ear. 'It's okay Ella. I was kidding. And I'm sorry you haven't been sleeping.' He kissed her on the lips, keeping it light.
'We will have plenty time to catch up but just now, you cannot keep a prince waiting!' He turned her round and pushed her in the direction of the bathroom. 'Go! Do whatever you need to do to make yourself presentable. I'll be back in fifteen minutes to take you to his quarters.'
*
'Ella, I am delighted that you are here at last. How was your trip? Are you settled in alright? Is your suite to your liking? Do you like the piano?'
Prince Azzam took her hand in his and swept it up to his lips.
She wondered whether Azzam had learnt that multi-question thing from Matt, or if Matt had learnt it from him, as she gave a slight curtsy. 'Your Highness. Thank you for inviting me. The journey was very good and the suite sheer luxury. I settled in so well I fell asleep. It's all far more than I expected Your Highness.'
Keeping hold of her hand, he brushed away her comments. 'You are my guest, where else would I put you? Now, enough of the curtsying and 'Your Highness' when we are in private. I am just Azzam to my friends and I think we will become very good friends, will we not? Come, tell me what musical pieces you think my guests would enjoy.' With that, he placed his arm around her shoulder and drew her towards a sofa.
Ella felt slightly overwhelmed by the prince's behaviour as she hesitated to walk with him.
'Ahem.' Azzam and Ella turned to where Matt was still standing, clearly amused by his friend's behaviour.
He pointed towards Azzam's arm and indicated that he remove it.
'You object, my friend?'
Matt gave him a confirmatory look. 'I think I'll stay in case Ella needs a hand fighting you off.' He clapped Azzam on the shoulders as he walked past him, took Ella's hand in his and walked her himself over to the sofa.
Azzam laughed out loud. 'I get the message my friend!'
Ella looked from one to the other, clearly bemused by their antics. 'Is there some kind of chest beating going on here?'
Matt grinned at her. 'No sweetheart. Just making sure he remembers his place.'
'Matt! You're his guest!'
'No, I'm his slave for the next few days. One he tries to bury under his whims and fancies as he tries to change the menu every five minutes. I'm just crawling back up the social ladder for a while and getting Azzam to come off the top for a bit.'
Azzam was loving this. 'You love the challenges I present to you my friend. That is why you so eagerly come out here to take over my kitchen.'
'No, I come over here for the great wad of money you pay me Azzam.'
'You wound me deeply!' Azzam placed his right hand across his heart. 'And here was I believing that we were close friends.'
'Yeah? What gave you that idea? Was it the time I gave up my bed for you and slept on a sofa too short for me? Or was it the time I hauled your sorry ass out of the strip club before the press caught up with you? Or was it the endless times I've bowed and scraped to your last minute menu requests and the faces you pull when you try my food?' If Matt hadn't got a big smile on his face Ella would have thought he was serious.
'All those times, and many more, my friend. You and Zander are two of the most genuine and honest people I have the honour of calling a friend.' He turned to Ella. 'You have a good man here, look after him.'
'Oh, no, we're not….' Ella was flustered. Azzam was reading far more into Matt's reaction than was really there.
'Stop embarrassing her Azzam and get to the point of this meeting!'
Matt seemed impervious to the signals his behaviour was sending out. It never occurred to him to wonder why he was so much more protective of Ella than any other woman he'd ever had a relationship with.
*
'Where are we going?'
They had just left Azzam's suite and Matt was leading her down corridors she hadn't yet been along. At least, she didn't think she had. She was sure she could be here a month and not have a clue what part of the palace she was in.
'I'm taking you to dinner.'
Before Ella could harbour any romantic notions, Matt continued. 'I'm killing two birds with one stone. We need to eat and you can give me a second opinion on some of the dishes I'm planning on serving over the weekend.' He turned back to her and gave her one of his killer smiles.
She really had to stop thinking she meant anything to him. They were both over here to work, and even though it had to be one of the most romantic places she'd ever been to, she had to remember that.
'Please sit, milady.' Matt made a sweeping motion, as he pulled a chair out for her at a small table set in an alcove slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen.
Ella looked around her as she sat. 'This kitchen is enormous! I've never thought about how big a kitchen would have to be to cater for a place this size. And you're in charge of all of this?'
Matt sat in his own chair and looked around with pride. 'Yep! For the duration of Azzam's banquet and all the entertaining he's doing around it, this is all my domain. The usual Executive Chef is away on a well-deserved holiday.'
Ella's mouth was open. 'But there seems to be such a lot going on and so many staff here. How do you have time to sit and eat just now?'
'They're all good at what they do - Azzam employs the best. Besides, many of them are just dealing with, what is for them, a normal evening service. Though, there are a few here concentrating on the dishes we'll be serving over the weekend.' Matt looked out over the kitchen to where six senior chefs were working on the menu for the forthcoming weekend and then across at the hustle and bustle of the rest of the kitchen, where two more chefs supervised staff preparing the evening meal for the royal household. With all the support staff and the frantic toing and froing taking place as service time approached Matt saw the kitchen through Ella's eyes and felt a great sense of pride in his work and achievements.
'Doesn't it ever faze you? Working somewhere like this, I mean.'
'Nope! Though if I was being honest, it did the first ti
me I came here. I didn't have a huge amount of experience in large kitchens back then but I was beginning to earn a reputation for creative dishes. Azzam had invited us all over for the summer holidays - to give the girls their first holiday in three years; and to give Zander and I a break from the stress and worry of bringing them up, keeping a roof over our heads and trying to build a stable future. Once we got here he set me to work in the kitchen!'
Ella looked as if she thought that had been unfair. Matt dismissed the notion.
'He and Zander were holed up doing business-y things and the girls were off with Azzam's sisters, so I was very happy to be kept busy with a busman's holiday. I did get time most days to chill out but to be honest, I learnt such a lot under his Executive Chef during those six weeks, I just wanted to stay in the kitchen.' Matt's voice changed as he remembered the end of that first visit.
'On our final night here, I got to run the kitchen and deliver a menu I'd designed from start to finish.' He still sounded pretty proud of that achievement even though he'd since gone on to achieve so much more. 'Since that night, Azzam has invited me here every year when he hosts his summer extravaganza.'
'That's why you know so much Arabic.'
Matt smiled. 'I'm pretty good at French and Spanish too 'cos I worked a lot in France and Spain in the early days.'
Ella shook her head in a 'is there anything you can't do' gesture.
Matt interpreted her look. 'Nah! But if there is something I can't do I just don't waste energy on it.' He got back to his early days in Quinaard. 'Anyway, early on, I mostly worked under the stewardship of Azzam's own chef, but for the last few years I've had free reign. That first summer opened a lot of doors to me amongst the echelons of high society. In my spare time I was already offering intimate dinners in the diners' own home and had started Two's Company earlier that year as a part time business. Within six months of being out here, I'd given up working for other restaurants and hired a couple of chefs myself to keep up with demand. And the rest….' Matt threw his hands out. There was no need for him to finish the sentence.
Heat in the Kitchen Page 9
