Page 51 of Cinderella and the Outback Billionaire

That was what she wanted out of all of this.

‘I’ll see you when you get here,’ said Gert. ‘Drive carefully.’

Ari dialled the next number as she paced a three-star roadside motel room. It was clean enough for the faint smell of cheap disinfectant to tease her nostrils. Good enough for her even if she had spent the past few months living from one lovely architect-designed eco lodge to the next. She didn’t need access to luxury. Not from Reid, not from the father she’d never met. She wanted honesty instead.

She had no private number for Deacon Murray, but she did have a business number.

A female voice answered. Receptionist? Personal assistant? Wife? Who knew? ‘Hi. My name is Ari Cohen and I’d like to speak with Mr Deacon Murray, if he’s in.’

‘Is he expecting your call, Ms Cohen?’

Ari could work with polite professionalism. ‘I expect not, but if you could tell him I called, that would be great. Ari Cohen, from the Barcoo. I’d like to email my contact details through to you as well.’

‘Not a problem, Ms Cohen. I can certainly let him know you called and get those details to him.’

Applause for the super-efficient woman, whoever she was.

Ari tossed her mobile on the threadbare bedspread and pushed her hair from her face. She wasn’t finished facing her fears by any means. But it was a start.

It was ten past six in the afternoon and Ari still had a hundred kilometres of dirt road to drive before she reached Gert’s when her mobile phone rang and an unfamiliar number lit up the screen. She eased her foot off the accelerator and let the vehicle ease to a stop. No need to get off the road, not out here. No need to even stop, she decided, as she picked up and said hello. It could be a potential client, and, if so, she needed to be available to them. ‘ARI Landscaping, Ari speaking.’

Nothing.

‘Hello?’ Her reception was iffy.

‘Ari Cohen?’ The man cleared his throat and Ari held the phone a little further from her ear as she brought the car to a halt. ‘This is Deacon Murray returning your call.’

Oh. Now it was her turn to get tongue-tied. ‘Right.’

‘I believe I know why you called. I’ve been waiting for it for a long time, wondering what I’d say when the moment came.’

He was going to say no.

‘The thing is, I have three sons.’

Who needed a daughter when they had three sons?

‘And a loving wife who’s stood by me for over forty years.’

He was definitely going to deny ever knowing her mother.

‘And I love them all very much.’

Why would he confess to giving Ari’s mother any money? He’d pretend it was all Lord Blake’s doing and that he knew nothing about it. She could see it coming a mile.

Deny. Deny. Deny.

Well, bring it on.

‘I’m listening, Mr Murray.’ To hell with giving him an out.

‘What is it you want?’ he asked with quiet deference and made her frown.

‘I want to know who my father is. If that person is you, I’d like to meet you in person so I can count that question answered once and for all.’

He’d never agree to her request.

He cleared his throat again.

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