Under the Same Sun (Stone Trilogy) by Mariam Kobras Read Free Book Online Page A

wouldn’t even notice until you read it in the tabloids the next day. You have to trust me. I’ve been there! Don’t think I learned this overnight. It was a bitter lesson, and I want to spare you that. Baby, please?”
    “Okay.” Delivered in a soft monotone, it was quite clear that she wasn’t really okay with it at all but was giving in for his sake.
    “I promise, Naomi,” Jon said. “I promise, I won’t make this hard on you. I know you want to go out and enjoy the towns we go to, and I will take you out. We will have fun on this tour.”
    At last she smiled. It was a small and rather sad smile, but it was a start.
    Jon held out his hand. “Eggs? Bacon? I’m sure there will be some mushrooms for you, and an omelette.”
    “How do you know?”
    Her fingers were cool, and he closed his own around them firmly to warm them up. “Because, my love, I asked them to cook some every morning just in case you would be there for breakfast.”
                     
    S he could see, from where she was sitting with Art and Sean, how Jon had cornered Sal, a napkin and a spoon in his hand. His shoulders were tense as he stood in front of his manager, his back to her as he talked to him, not at all loud, but his voice carried well enough.
    “…and not leave her there by herself,” he was saying, “Those weren’t my orders, you idiot. She is not to be left alone, ever.”
    Mortified, Naomi pushed the mushrooms around on her plate. Art, beside her, said nothing, and Sean listened with narrowed eyes.
    “What were you thinking? Did you dump your brains in the gutter somewhere?” There was more venom in Jon’s tone than she had heard in a long time.
    They couldn’t hear Sal’s reply.
    “Yeah, I don’t care.” Jon dropped the spoon back on the buffet table, where it landed on a pile of used cups with a ringing sound. Art raised his eyebrows. “I don’t care what you thought. Don’t think, Sal, it’s useless anyway. Just do as you’re told.”
    Without waiting for an answer, Jon came over to her table, fury painted on his face, and sat down beside her. He was still clutching the napkin, and he had not brought any food with him.
    Sal, still standing where Jon had left him, gave her a resigned glance. One corner of his mouth tried to twitch into a smile, but instead it turned into a smirk of resignation. With a shrug he turned away and left the room, everyone in it staring after him, their expressions a mirror of Naomi’s feelings.
    Carefully she laid down her fork, appetite gone, the joy of being back with Jon lost.
    “That was harsh.” Art stole one of the cooling mushrooms from her plate. “Jon, that was really harsh. Did you have a bad night?” And then, realizing what he had said, grinned at Naomi. “Yeah, I guess not, but why attack Sal, and in public?”
    “Don’t talk to me, Art.” Jon poured himself some coffee. “Just don’t talk to me, okay? The stupid bastard…” He broke off and took a deep breath.
    Art waited patiently.
    “Okay, yeah, it was a bit harsh. Sorry you had to hear that, but I’m so angry with him. He left Naomi all by herself in the bloody VIP lounge when I told him to look after her. And promptly someone jumps on her and tries for an interview. We need to discuss security, Art. We need to tighten it considerably.” His breathing calmed after a sip of coffee. Gradually his body relaxed; he leaned back in his chair, eyeing Naomi’s discarded food with regret. “I’m sorry, babe. Didn’t mean to yell at Sal right here, but when I saw him it just broke out of me. God, I’m so angry I could strangle him.”
“He left you alone up there?” Art asked incredulously. “Was he out of his mind? With only one guard?”
    Jon’s fist hit the table, shaking the coffee pot dangerously. “Just my words! There you go, Art, I can’t believe it.”
    “That is really hard to believe.”
    Naomi rose. “No, don’t bother,” she said when both of them began to jump up.