The Devils Price

Cynara flushed. ‘I wouldn’t know.’ This was the first time she had ever been cross-examined by a ten-year-old—even if that ten-year-old were bordering on thirty!

‘You mean you haven’t spoken to him yet?’ Michael scorned disbelievingly.

‘No,’ her reply was sharp.

His expression was sceptical. ‘I find that hard to believe.’

‘Michael—–’

‘Are you and my father having an affair?’

Cynara gasped her surprise at such a question being asked by this young boy. ‘No,’ she answered tautly.

‘Why not?’ he frowned. ‘You had an affair with him before, didn’t you?’

‘Michael—–’

‘I know you did, because he asked my mother for a divorce because of you.’

‘Michael, no! That isn’t—’

‘Grandfather told me all about you.’ The green eyes were as glacial as his father’s could be.

Cynara frowned. ‘And just exactly what did he tell you?’ she asked tightly, shocked and dismayed that Nicholas Buchanan had disliked her so much he had relayed his resentment to this young boy.

‘Does it matter?’ Michael dismissed. ‘The fact that you’re here now is enough.’

‘What do you mean?’ Dark brows met over puzzled velvet brown eyes.

‘Don’t tell me you didn’t know of Grandfather’s death,’ he scorned. ‘Or the fact that the whole Buchanan empire is now my father’s.’

Cynara had gone very pale. Once she realised Michael was well aware of who she was she hadn’t expected politeness, but this—–! Just exactly what had Nicholas Buchanan told his grandson about her?

‘Your father was always a rich man,’ she dismissed with a casualness she was far from feeling.

‘Not rich enough for you then apparently,’ Michael said contemptuously. ‘But he has it all now.’

‘Not all, Michael.’ She looked at him glacially. ‘He obviously has a son who possesses no manners whatsoever, a stupid little boy who has no idea what he’s talking about!’ She spoke to wound because she had been hurt herself, and she knew she had succeeded in humiliating him when she saw the pained colour stain the young boy’s cheeks.

He stood up noisily. ‘I know exactly what you are,’ he told her insultingly, his voice raised. ‘You’re no good, and—and if you ever come near my father again I’ll kill you!’ He turned and almost ran from the room, hoping she wouldn’t see the tears in his eyes.

Cynara swallowed hard, uncomfortably aware that she was the cynosure of all eyes, looking up with a shrug that seemed to say ‘kids!’ Michael was frightened, she realised that, knew that he was warning her off his father because he feared her past involvement with him. He needn’t have worried, Zack would probably cut her dead if they did happen to meet while he was staying here, had no reason to want to ever see her again, a fact he had made more than plain the last time they had spoken.

She didn’t leave the coffee-shop straight away, refused to look guilty, ordering herself another coffee when she explained to the waitress that Michael had changed his mind about the hamburger. She didn’t usually take so much caffeine into her system in the morning, and liked to rest in the afternoon for the evening’s show, but after meeting Michael, knowing that Zack was staying at the hotel, she doubted she would be able to rest anyway.

When she finally did get up to leave she knew it was with the intention of not letting Diane James think she could make a fool out of her just because her boyfriend had a roving eye!

She marched over to the reception. ‘You lied to me about Zack Buchanan,’ she snapped.

Blonde brows arched haughtily. ‘I did no such thing,’ Diane drawled.

‘You told me he wasn’t staying here,’ she reminded accusingly.

‘I said he wasn’t registered,’ the other woman said coldly. ‘And he isn’t. Neither Mr Buchanan nor his children ever register,’ she announced triumphantly.

Cynara felt the colour drain from her face. ‘Ch-children?’ she repeated dazedly; Michael had been an only child when she knew Zack five years ago!

‘His son and daughter,’ Diane nodded coldly.

‘Er—–’ She moistened suddenly dry lips. ‘How old is his daughter?’

‘How would I know?’ Diane dismissed uninterestedly. ‘All young children look the same to me.’

‘Kelly is about three,’ Josie rushed over to tell her, frowning at how pale Cynara was. ‘Is there anything wrong?’ she asked anxiously.

‘Er—no,’ she recovered with an effort from the shock of knowing Zack had another child. ‘I didn’t realise Zack—Mr Buchanan, had—had remarried.’ God, she had to pull herself together, she was making an idiot of herself. Why shouldn’t Zack have remarried after his divorce from Joanne, have had other children. She had made it plain she wanted no part of his life.

‘He hasn’t,’ Josie still frowned.

She moistened her lips again. ‘Kelly is Joanne’s child?’ she croaked, wondering if the shock could be making her voice fade in this way.

‘If that was his wife’s name, yes,’ Josie looked puzzled. ‘Look, are you sure you’re okay?’

‘Can’t you see she isn’t,’ Diane scorned. ‘Mr Buchanan is probably another one of those men that belong to another woman who Cynara’s been involved with.’

‘Shut up,’ Josie turned on her angrily.

‘But can’t you see it’s true,’ Diane derided with contempt. ‘Well his wife is dead now, Cynara, so why don’t you have another shot at him?’ she added insultingly.

‘Diane, if you don’t shut up I’ll find a way to make you,’ Josie warned softly.

Diane flushed. ‘I was only assuring her that Mr Buchanan is a free man now.’

It was true that Zack had still been married to Joanne when they had met and fallen in love five years ago, but she had been sure they were divorcing each other, that their marriage had broken down completely. But if Kelly were three that meant Zack must have returned to Joanne shortly after their own heated separation. And they had another child to cement their love.

‘It’s all right, Josie,’ she told the other woman dully as she would once again have defended her.

‘Diane is a bitch—–’

‘Just who do you think you’re calling a bitch?’ Diane snapped indignantly.

‘You!’ Josie told her without remorse. ‘Can’t you see how upset Cynara is?’

‘I can see that one of her past indiscretions has caught up with her,’ the other woman said contemptuously. ‘And about time too. She can’t go around chasing other women’s men—–’

‘If you’re talking about Daniel,’ Josie cut in insultingly, ‘then let me tell you he’s the one who does the chasing! I was black and blue my first week here from trying to avoid his advances!’

‘How dare you! You—–’