Page 21 of The Tycoon's Diamond Demand

‘I always thought that Ålesund was the perfect setting for a fairy tale, and the hotel is stunning. From what I’ve seen so far, and if it can handle the volume of guests, I’m sure your fiancé would agree it’s a suitable venue for the wedding.’

Jens looked around to see Maja and Hilda walking into the wood-panelled bar. Maja wore a soft white T-shirt tucked into steel-grey wide-legged trousers. Her hair was pulled back into a loose bun at the back of her head.

‘We’ll see,’ Maja coolly replied, her left hand holding the strap of her tote bag. Blue fire flashed from the diamond he’d placed on her finger. It looked good on her. He desperately wanted an opportunity to see her when his ring wasallshe wore.

He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable in his suddenly tighter trousers.

‘We have a meeting with the hotel manager in half an hour,’ stated Hilda—small, elegant, a little fierce. ‘I think it’s the perfect venue, elegant and upmarket, frankly magnificent. I love its grey slate roof, bright white walls and blue trim. It’s a very romantic setting.’

Maja, who still hadn’t noticed him, looked out of the huge, round bay window, taking in the amazing view of the mountains looming over the fjord. ‘Man, that view grabs me by the heart and won’t let go,’ she murmured, pulling out a chair at one of the round tables close to the window. ‘Do we have time for a coffee...Jens?’

He half smiled at the shock on her face. He lifted his beer in a mock toast, slid off his seat and walked over to them. Ignoring Hilda, he dropped a kiss on her temple, and left his lips there, enjoying her scent and smooth skin. When he eventually pulled back, he clocked the confusion in her eyes at his public display of affection.

‘My schedule opened up and I decided to join you,’ he explained, keeping his tone bland.

She narrowed her eyes at him, instantly suspicious. Smart girl. Jens sent her an enigmatic smile and turned to greet Hilda. He explained his arrival and expressed his approval of the hotel. ‘I’d like to see more before we say yes,’ he told Hilda. ‘But it looks promising.’

‘It’s a long way from Bergen,’ Maja said, reluctant, as always, to give an inch. ‘Can we expect people to go so far out of their way to attend a last-minute wedding?’

‘Dear girl, the guests at your wedding are wealthy beyond meaning, and if they don’t own a plane, they will charter one to get here. Come now, you’re a Hagen, you should know this.’

Jens didn’t have a problem crossing swords with Maja, but he was damned if he’d let anyone patronise her. He placed his hand on Maja’s back, handing Hilda his most intimidating glare. She, like many before her, instantly deflated. ‘Why don’t you meet with the hotel manager while my fiancée and I explore the hotel?’ he suggested.

It wasn’t a request and Hilda was smart enough to understand that. She nodded and with a small, apologetic smile, bustled off.

Jens pulled the chair out for Maja. ‘Do you still want coffee, or would you prefer something stronger? A glass of wine? A cocktail?’ He glanced at Hilda, glad to see the back of her. ‘A bat to whack her with?’

Maja flashed a quick smile and his stomach flipped over. ‘She’s hard work. Can you see why I don’t like spending much time with her?’

He knew she was angling for a way to get out of the wedding preparations, but he wasn’t going to give her one. ‘You’re her client, don’t let her speak to you that way. What do you want to drink?’

She ordered an Irish coffee and placed her elbow on the table, her chin in her hand, her eyes on the stunning vista outside.

‘When last were you in Ålesund?’ Jens asked, taking the seat opposite her and stretching out his long legs. He had a gorgeous view in front of him, and an even lovelier woman next to him. His phone was off, and he was, currently, unreachable. He felt the tension in his shoulder muscles ease, and his jaw loosen as he relaxed.

The world wouldn’t stop if he did nothing for a minute or two.

Maja looked at him, the butterflies in her stomach on high alert. With his broad shoulders, aviator sunglasses hooked into his shirt and wind-tousled hair, he looked like an advert for a very expensive men’s cologne. She’d been surprised to see him here, then not surprised at all. Jens was too much of a control freak to let something as important to him as their wedding be in someone else’s control. When it was important, Jens liked to get his hands dirty.

She saw the tilt of his head and remembered his question about Ålesund. ‘Oh, I was a kid. We came up here on a school trip,’ Maja answered him, thinking about the fairy-tale town she’d passed through earlier. Ålesund, a picturesque, art deco town captured the essence of Norway. The buildings’ facades ranged from pastel shades to vibrant jewel colours and perfectly complemented the deep green of the valleys, the Prussian blue fjords and the snow-capped mountains.

It was so very beautiful, a beauty that slapped you in the face and grabbed you by the heart.

And Ålesund, with the majestic Sunnmøre in the background and the dazzling waters of the fjords slapping the shore, was the prettiest stone in nature’s jewellery box. ‘I’ll never forget the view from Aksla mountain,’ Maja mused. ‘Have you been?’

‘I have,’ Jens replied.

Maja half turned to face him. ‘Sea, islands, mountains, all stretching as far as the eye can see. The day I went, it was glorious, a sunny clear day and I swear we could see for ever.’

Jens half smiled and her stomach flipped over. He was dressed in dark jeans, expensive trainers and a black loose, linen jacket over a white T-shirt. He looked fantastic, as a hot billionaire on holiday should.

With him her emotions were on a constant, unending roller-coaster ride, veering from resentment to attraction, dislike to desire. It was exhausting. Maja stared straight ahead, not wanting him to see the tumult in her eyes.

Feeling movement behind her, she watched the server place the cream-topped, whisky-flavoured coffee in front of her and thanked him. She lifted the glass and took a healthy sip, enjoying the rich combination of flavours and the hit of alcohol.

She looked over at Jens and saw his wince. ‘Are you going to tell me that it’s no way to drink good whisky?’ she asked, lifting her eyebrows.

The smallest of smiles tugged the corners of his mouth. ‘Would you listen to me if I did?’ he asked.

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