hadn’t finished guilt-tripping him yet. ‘It was embarrassing,’ she continued. ‘I’m surprised she didn’t leave a puddle behind her, the way she was drooling over you.’
‘Really? I can’t say I noticed.’ Daniel joined her on the sofa, his legs spread wide.
Sheridan shot him a disbelieving glare. The piece was good promo for his forthcoming spy movie, but she hated it when journalists came to their home. She had grown used to women fawning all over Daniel, but behaving in such a way right under her nose left a bitter taste in her mouth – especially when they were as attractive as the young woman from Esquire.
‘Alexa, close the curtains.’
The swish of her blinds signalled that the electronic device was doing as instructed. Sensing the dimness of the room, high-tech lights filled the space with a warm orange glow. The late morning was fresh and sunny, but a stress headache was forming a band around Sheridan’s recently Botoxed forehead and she needed some kinder light. She picked up her laptop and kicked off her designer shoes. Her calves were aching from wearing heels, but she would not be dwarfed by that flirt from the magazine.
‘Any nibbles from the site?’ Daniel asked, swinging her bare feet on to his lap in preparation for a foot rub.
Sheridan admired his attempt at changing the subject. She didn’t mind; the hunt for a child was the most exciting thing going on in her life right now. A lifetime of photoshoots and interviews paled in comparison. She opened her laptop, groaning in satisfaction as Daniel gently kneaded the soles of her feet with his thumbs. He had the magic touch, and she was only too happy to succumb to it.
‘I was waiting for that journalist to leave before I checked,’ she said, feeling the stress ebb away. ‘You can’t be too careful.’
They had already taken the utmost care with security. They owned their own internet servers, and Daniel used burner phones, changing them every month. There were only a few people in his life he needed to contact – his agent and immediate family – and they all had his email address. Privacy was everything. The journalists granted entry to their home visited designated areas only. All press and promo happened strictly under their own terms. Leo featured only in the publicity shots that Sheridan took herself. They were released at a premium, strengthening the brand she was working so hard to build. These days, she monitored her social media profiles more than she read scripts. Fifty-nine million Twitter followers. The arrival of another child would easily bring that up to sixty. She imagined the sponsorship deals, smiling as Daniel kissed the tips of her manicured toes. She must have been a saint in a former life, to deserve such a devoted husband. And now one more child to seal their success. Was her wish really going to come true?
‘Yes!’ She bounced on the sofa as the notification on her computer came into view. ‘She’s replied.’
‘Cool,’ Daniel grinned. ‘What’s she said?’
‘Only to ask if we’d like to progress.’
‘You still want her?’
Sheridan curled up next to him, tingles of excitement chasing her headache away. ‘More than anything.’ She turned the laptop to face them both. ‘She’s perfect. I have such a good feeling about this.’
‘Mother knows best,’ Daniel said, giving her a squeeze before rising to his feet. ‘I’m going to take a bath. Keep me in the loop.’
‘Your script’s in the drawer next to your side of the bed,’ Sheridan replied, unable to tear her eyes from the screen. Their bathroom was his sanctuary, and more like a hotel spa. With a monsoon shower, ambient lighting and Bluetooth speakers built into the ceiling, it was no wonder Daniel spent over an hour in there most days. Lying in the freestanding tub, he would use the time alone to memorise his lines.
Sheridan checked her watch. Leo was on a play date. She would have dropped him off herself, but she couldn’t go very far without paparazzi cameras being thrust in her face, along with the usual questions about where her husband was. It was all about Daniel these days. She touched her face, as if her wrinkles were scars. Botox could only hold them back for so long, and she couldn’t bear to end up looking like a shop-window dummy, like some of her friends. It was time for her to accept that her best days as an actress were behind her. Her heart throbbed with longing