Page 4 of The Sun Sister

‘Of course.’

‘But before that,’ he said, dipping into his jacket pocket and handing me a velvet box. ‘I saw this and thought of you.’

‘Thanks,’ I said, sitting down on the couch and tucking my irritatingly long legs underneath me as I stared at the box in my hands like an excited child. Zed often bought me presents; ironically, given his vast wealth, they were rarely flashy, but always something thoughtful and interesting. I lifted the lid and saw a ring nestling inside. The stone was oval-shaped and of a soft buttery-yellow hue.

‘It is amber,’ he said as he watched me studying the way it caught the light of the chandelier above us. ‘Try it on.’

‘Which finger should I put it on?’ I teased as I looked up at him.

‘Whichever you prefer,ma chère, but if I was going to make you my wife, I think I might do a little better than that. I am sure that you know your Greek namesake has an association with amber.’

‘Really? No, I don’t.’ I watched him as he popped the cork on the champagne. ‘Like what?’

‘Well, the Greek word for amber was “electron”, and legend has it that the sun’s rays were trapped within the stone. A Greek philosopher noticed that if two pieces were rubbed together, they created friction, which created an energy...Your name couldn’t suit you better,’ he smiled as he placed a glass of champagne in front of me.

‘Are you saying I create friction?’ I smiled back. ‘The question is, did I grow into my name, or did it grow into me?Santé.’

‘Santé.’ We clinked our glasses and he sat down next to me.

‘Um...’

‘You are thinking to yourself, did I bring another gift?’

‘Yup.’

‘Then look underneath the lining of the box.’

I did so, and sure enough, tucked underneath the slim slice of velvet that had held the ring was a small plastic packet.

‘Thanks, Zed,’ I said as I pulled the packet open, then dipped a finger into its contents like a child with a honey pot and rubbed some on my gums.

‘Good, eh?’ he asked as I tipped a little out onto the table, detached the short straw from the packet and took up a noseful.

‘Mmm, very,’ I agreed. ‘Want some?’

‘You know I don’t. So, how have you been?’

‘Oh...okay.’

‘You do not sound sure, Electra, and you look tired.’

‘It’s been busy,’ I said as I took a large gulp of my champagne. ‘I was on a shoot in Fiji last week and I’m flying to Paris next week.’

‘Maybe you need to slow down a little. Take a break.’

‘Says the guy who told me he spends more nights sleeping on his private jet than he does in his bed,’ I teased him.

‘Then maybe we should both slow down. Can I tempt you to a week on my yacht? It’s moored in St Lucia for the next couple of months before I have it sailed to the Med for the summer.’

‘I wish,’ I sighed. ‘I have a packed schedule until June.’

‘June then. We can sail around the Greek islands.’

‘Maybe,’ I shrugged, not taking him seriously. He often discussed plans when we were together that never came to anything, and more to the point, nor would I want them to. Zed was just great for a night’s company and some physical action, but any more than that and he’d begin to irritate me with his fastidiousness and unbelievable arrogance.

The concierge phone beeped again and Zed stood up to answer it. ‘Send it up immediately, thank you.’ He poured us both some more champagne. ‘We are having Chinese and I promise you, it will be the best chow mein you have ever tasted,’ he smiled. ‘So how are your sisters?’

‘I don’t know. I’ve been too busy lately to call them. Ally did have a baby, though – a little boy. She’s named him Bear, which is really cute. Come to think of it, I’m meant to be seeing them all in June back at Atlantis; we’re taking Pa’s boat out to the Greek islands to lay a wreath where Ally thinks his coffin was dropped into the sea. Your dad was found on a beach close by, wasn’t he?’