Innocent in His Diamonds by Maya Blake

‘You
do
?’
    â€˜Hindsight is a wonderful thing—so, yes, I wish things had turned out differently. Anyway, the thing to do is look forward.’
    Ana closed her eyes. ‘Well, I can’t just yet. The past is ruining my life.’ She tried for a light-hearted tone despite the vice squeezing her heart.
    â€˜Then don’t do as I did. Take the lesson you need from it but don’t hang on to it.’
    This unexpected morsel of advice made Ana’s breath catch. ‘Are you okay?’
    â€˜Of course I am. Or I will be as soon as I find another gig. I’ve left the show,’ she added, her attempt at flippancy not quite hitting the mark.
    â€˜Why? What happened?’
    â€˜The director was a bore. His artistic vision was totally wrong.’
    â€˜The truth, Lily. What really happened?’
    Her mother sucked in a shaky breath. ‘He told me he loved me... Of course it turned out to be lies. All lies.’
    Against her will, a lump formed in Ana’s throat. ‘I see.’
    â€˜You
see
? That’s all you have to say?’
    â€˜I can’t pretend to be surprised.’
    Her mother gave a shocked gasp. ‘I don’t know what I was thinking...calling you for support—’
    â€˜Lily, listen to me. You’re worth so much more than what you let happen to you. Why don’t you take your own advice—?’
    â€˜It’s that man, isn’t it? Turning you against me!’
    â€˜Bastien has nothing to do with this.’ But his voice echoed at the back of her mind all the same...
    â€˜Well, don’t call me when Bastien kicks you to the kerb. Just remember I warned you—all men are bastards.’ The line went dead.
    Not all men... Some men could be gentle when they chose...could make you feel safe...
    A cool mist touched her face. With a start, she realised she’d reached the water jet.
    Turning around, she headed back to the hotel, the joy of her walk gone.
Had
she silently condoned her mother’s behaviour all this time? Enabled her, even, by continuing to support her just to keep the lines of communication open...the secret hope of a connection?
    Her phone rang again. She stared at the number and breathed a sigh of relief.
    â€˜Papá!’ She summoned a smile, her world brightening a little.
    â€˜I heard something on the news about you. I’m worried,’ he said after they’d exchanged pleasantries.
    She bit her lip and quickly summarised what had happened to her, knowing that her father didn’t keep up with current affairs on his dig in Colombia but not wanting to risk him finding out anyway.
    â€˜How did this happen, Ana?’ he asked in the softly modulated voice that could turn steely when needed.
    â€˜I don’t know, but I didn’t do it.’
    â€˜
Sí
, I know that,’ he said impatiently. ‘But you need to find out who wishes you such harm and deal with it.’
    His unequivocal belief in her innocence brought a lump to her throat. Taking a few seconds, she cleared it. ‘I intend to. Um...about the internship...’
    â€˜Make things right in your world. I will make things right here.’
    The lump threatened to choke her again. ‘Thank you, Papá.’
    She returned to her room, still caught in a cross-current of emotion but forcing herself to shrug it off and deal with her predicament. She might be stuck in Switzerland for the time being, but she wasn’t helpless.
    Two hours later she threw her phone down in frustration and hugged her knees. The few trusted friends she’d made in the business couldn’t shed any light on what had happened.
    Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she’d gone all day without a meal. She reached for the phone again just as a knock sounded on her door.
    Glancing down at herself, she debated whether to change. The thought of donning her suit again made her grimace. Bastien had already seen her like this.