benefit, but she was more than grateful she didn’t have to take Nicole with her.
Unfortunately, Dominic was driving his Porsche, so the only alternative was to catch a cab. She could not risk using Dominic’s driver, and she prayed Nesta didn’t mention it later. In any case, she’d tell Dominic she hadn’t wanted to bother his driver just to go to the local shopping center. As for any personal risk, she’d just have to be extra cautious and keep her wits about her.
An hour later, the pawnbroker assessed the brooch and the appraisal she’d brought with her, glancing at her strangely, making her wonder if he recognized the name. “How much did you want to borrow?” he finally asked.
She held her head high, despite feeling humiliated being in a place like this. “It’s worth at least ten thousand dollars, so that’s what I’d like to borrow. Ten thousand.”
He shook his head. “No can do, I’m afraid. I don’t keep that much cash on me.” He smiled, showing a gold tooth. “There’s some unsavory types about, you know.”
Her heart sank. “But that’s how much I need. I…want to buy my husband something special for Christmas,” she said, then bit her lip, knowing she didn’t need to explain anything to this man.
He considered her. “I can loan you five thousand now or you can come back later today.” He shrugged. “Or you could try somewhere else.”
Doing this again later today was out of the question, and so was racing around town looked for someone with enough cash. Besides, she wanted to keep a low profile and going from pawnbroker to pawnbroker could easily create a stir among them.
She swallowed, feeling more humiliated by the moment. “I’ll take the five thousand now.” She could still give Penny the two thousand, and pay the nursing home the remaining three.
“Okay, we have a deal. Now, do you have any ID? We’ll need to fill out some forms.”
She nodded, though handing over her driver’s license made her nervous. It was a few years old and it still had her old address on it. “Um…you promise to hold the brooch until I repay the money, don’t you?”
“As long as it’s within the prescribed time.”
“It will be.”
She’d make sure it was.
Dominic stood at his office window and looked down at the city view of tree-lined Collins Street below. He’d been working solidly since coming to the office early this morning, trying not to think. He’d often come into work on Saturdays before, but this morning it didn’t feel right. Nothing felt right. Of course, he’d never been married before, either. And what was right about his marriage, anyway? What the hell was right about having a wife he couldn’t trust or a daughter he couldn’t acknowledge?
The phone rang, the caller ID showing the front reception desk. He answered it and heard their doorman’s voice telling him that he had someone on the line calling about Mrs. Roth. He wasn’t sure whether to put it through to him or not.
Dominic stiffened. “That’s okay. I’ll take it, Murray.”
“Very good, Mr. Roth. Putting it through now.”
There was a short silence, then, “Am I speaking to Mr. Dominic Roth?”
“Speaking.”
The guy introduced himself as a pawnbroker, then said, “I just wanted to let you know Mrs. Roth left her driver’s license behind this morning. I wasn’t sure how else to contact her. It has an address on it, but I don’t have time to take it there personally.”
Dominic scowled. “I don’t follow. Why would my wife be at a pawnbroker’s?”
“She needed a loan of some money and used an antique brooch as collateral.”
A shock wave ran through his body and he only just refrained from swearing out loud and giving too much away. His whole life had been in front of the media. He’d learned not to react. Damn Cassandra!
“What’s your address?” was all he could manage as he grabbed a pen.
Half an hour later, Dominic collected Cassandra’s driving license from the pawnbroker. “I’ll take the brooch, too,” he said, pulling out his checkbook.
The guy shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
Dominic saw what this was about. “Don’t worry. I’ll repay you the money for the loan and a thousand more for your inconvenience. How does that sound?” He started writing the check.
“I’m afraid I still can’t do that, Mr. Roth. I have a contract with Mrs. Roth. She’ll have to come and collect it herself. I could lose my dealer’s license if I hand it over to you.”
Dominic stopped writing