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“Alex, how are you?”

She ignored the pleasantries. “Why are you here?”

“I wanted to see you.” Laurel smiled up at her before noticing the man hovering. “Who’s your friend?”

“None of your business,” Alex said firmly. “I told you on the phone that I don’t have anything more to say to you.”

“I know, but you didn’t really give me the chance to say what I wanted to say, and I was going to wait until you got back, but then you started flaunting this woman and I figured, ‘act now Laurel, or you’ll lose your chance.’” She chuckled. “Please, sit down, let’s talk this through.”

“Do you need assistance, Ms Montgomery?” the suit asked.

Alex turned to face him. “No, thank you, I can deal with this.” Before she had the chance to speak again, the barmen arrived carrying a tray with a pot of tea, one China cup, a matching saucer and the accompanying sugar bowl and milk jug.

“I’ll just set it down there,” he said, assuming that Laurel must have been someone she was planning to sit with.

She barely had time to thank him before Laurel was pouring a cup. “Still no sugar?” she asked brightly, looking up at Alex. Her focus then moved over to a point in the room just behind Alex, the smile on her face changing to a scowl. “She doesn’t need to be here.”

Confused, Alex turned to find Morgan moving quickly towards them, wide-eyed concern across her features.

“Morgan, it’s not what you—”

“That’s her.” Morgan pointed. “From St Andrews, that’s the woman I saw.”

Laurel held her hands up. “I confess, yes, I did sneak in. I was hoping to speak to you, but this one got in the way.”

Alex rubbed her face. “Do you even hear how barmy that sounds?” Laurel was about to answer when Alex shushed her. “I don’t care what you want to speak to me about. We are finished. We were finished the day you ended it and walked away. I’mokay with that. I don’t want to hear from you again, Laurel, and I certainly don’t want to see you. So, please, before you embarrass yourself further, leave.” This time when she turned to the suit, she said, “Could you escort her out of the building?”

“You can’t make me leave. I have a room. I’m a guest here.” Laurel laughed.

“Just stay away from me, and if I find out you had anything to do with that prank with the firecrackers, so help me I’ll—”

Morgan pulled her away. “Let’s go, before you become a firecracker,” she said, smiling and leaning in. “People are watching.”

Alex glanced around quickly. Several pairs of eyes were staring in her direction.

“You’ve got a show to prepare for. Let’s go,” Morgan repeated, and this time, Alex allowed herself to be led away.

“I didn’t get my tea,” she moaned.

Morgan turned to the guy in the suit. “Can you bring the tea? Thank you so much.”

Francine uncrossed her leg and stood up.

“I’ve talked with Philip, and he’s adamant that unless she does something that can be construed as stalking or is found to be the guilty party in any act of aggression towards you, then there isn’t much we can do. She’s entitled to stay in any hotel. The fact you’re staying there could be argued as merely a coincidence.”

“So, she gets to follow me around and there’s nothing I can do?”

“Isn’t that what fans do?” Francine stopped mid-pour and smiled. “I didn’t say there wasnothingwe could do.” She topped the glass up and added an extra cube of ice. “Mack can put a couple of guys on her tail. Where she goes, they go, as discreet or not as you want it to be.”

“Is that legal?”

“Technically…” Francine shrugged. “But her argument becomes theirs. They just happen to be where she is, just a coincidence.”

“Hm, I don’t like it but needs must, I suppose.” She sighed. “It’s all so bloody frustrating. Everything was going great, we’re over halfway through, Goran loves me. And this is like a spanner in the works.”

Francine sat down again. “I’m sure she’ll get bored.”

“Who the hell is she?” Morgan asked when it seemed as though everything else had been discussed.