‘Wha-?’ Layla froze.
‘You were out shopping with one of the girls this afternoon. For fuck’s sake, Layla. Will you be told?’
Layla felt her heart sink. All the fun of the day was gone in an instant.
‘I had Dad’s people with me,’ she said, instinctively folding an arm protectively across her middle, then catching herself. Was it any wonder her deportment was defensive?
‘They shouldn’t have let you go out like that, it was stupid. I’ll be having a word.’
Layla said nothing. She stared at the floor.
‘Layla?’ said Annie.
‘What?’
‘We’ve been talking about it, and we think it’s time for you to come home. Your dad’s here, Alberto’s here. This is the safest place for you to be now. Where we can keep a closer eye on you.’
Come home? Layla stared at the phone. She’d been having the time of her life here at the club with the girls. She’d never known what it was to have friends until now. The last thing she wanted to do was leave.
But Dad was in Holland Park, and she loved spending time with him.
And Alberto was there too. Which sent a shiver through her. She wanted to see him, of course she did. But she was anxious about it, too. She was always hyper-aware of her own mortal failings around the godlike presence of Alberto. Despite Precious’s tutelage, she was afraid of making a spectacular prat of herself.
‘I don’t know…’ she said, angry at herself, aware that she’d fucked up. Going back to work, shopping with Precious – she’d brought this sudden recall down on her own head.
‘Tone’s going to come and get you tomorrow morning at ten. OK?’
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, Mum. What if it’s not OK?’ she asked irritably.
‘Tough. Be ready, and don’t arse about in the meantime. No more trips out. I don’t want to hear that you’ve been seen out on the town tonight. Because if I do, there’ll be trouble.’
Layla heard the click as her mother hung up the phone.
‘Bollocks!’ she shouted, and tossed the receiver back on the cradle.
Ellie was staring at her. ‘Bad news?’ she asked.
Layla took a breath. ‘I’m going back to Holland Park tomorrow morning at ten. Orders from my mother – otherwise known as She Who Must Be Obeyed.’
‘Well, that’ll be nice, won’t it?’ said Ellie, adopting a cheery tone in the hope of wiping that unhappy expression off Layla’s face.
‘Oh yeah, fucking fantastic,’ said Layla, and stormed off to her room.