Total pages in book: 214
Estimated words: 202638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1013(@200wpm)___ 811(@250wpm)___ 675(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 202638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1013(@200wpm)___ 811(@250wpm)___ 675(@300wpm)
I roll my eyes. ‘You’re my lover, who happens to be a client.’
‘I am more than your lover!’
Yes, okay. That was a little bit of an understatement. He is most certainly more than my lover. I look at the panicked face close to mine and curse myself for wanting to head straight to the hotel bar and down a large glass of wine. No, actually, make that a bottle.
I exhale in complete despair. ‘I need to get back to work.’ I turn away, but feel his hand clamp around my wrist, the usual heat his touch instigates ever present.
He walks around me so he is in front of me. He keeps hold of my wrist. ‘You did that on purpose.’ he says accusingly.
Yes, I did! Just like he rocked up to The Royal Park on purpose to hijack my meeting and for what purpose? I look up at him through the fog of tears glazing my eyes. ‘Why?’ I ask. It’s a simple question.
He looks down at the floor. ‘Because I love you.’ he says quietly.
‘That’s not a reason.’ My tone suggests I’m completely defeated. I am.
His head snaps up in shock, and he pins me in place with his appalled glare. ‘Yes, it is. And anyway, he’s a known womaniser.’
Okay, now he’s just making up excuses to justify his unreasonable behaviour. If he loves me, then he should support me in my work, not try to sabotage it. I know I’m being a bit dramatic, but this whole situation could have a massive impact on my flourishing career and all because he thinks Mikael is a womaniser? What grounds does he base this opinion on, anyway?
‘You can’t hijack every meeting I have with a male client.’ I say tiredly. I have absolutely no faith in my attempt to reason with him.
‘I won’t, just him. And any other man who may be a threat.’ he says candidly.
I want to throw my head back and scream at the heavens. Does that mean I should expect him at The Life Building on Monday? Jesse sees every man as a threat. ‘I have to go.’ I try and regain possession of my body, but he refuses to release me.
‘I’ll take you,’ he informs me, releasing my wrist. ‘Collect your things.’ He walks over to the table and starts scooping up my mood boards. ‘These are really very good.’ he says zealously.
I can’t join him in his enthusiasm. I feel despondent and flat. I can see my dream career flushing down the pan before my very eyes and worst of all, there is the little niggling fear that I will push him to get steaming drunk if I don’t comply with his unreasonableness. I feel helpless and hopeless. How can I go from being so immensely elated to so incredibly defeated, all in such a short space of time?
Jesse drops me at the corner of Berkeley Square under my request so I’m not spotted by Patrick getting out of Mr Ward’s car nearly four hours after I went for a breakfast meeting with him. I have no doubt that my days are numbered with regards to Patrick’s enlightenment on mine and Jesse’s involvement. I would like to delay it for as long as possible, though. I need to think about how I’m going to break this to Patrick, and I pray on all things holy that Mikael doesn’t bombard him first. This needs to be handled with care.
I give Jesse a chaste kiss on the cheek and leave him watching me, his bottom lip getting a grueling chew as I drag myself from his car. I say nothing, and neither does he.
‘You’ve been a while, flower.’ Patrick says, as I settle at my desk.
‘Mikael and I had a lot to go through. It’s looking good. ’ I offer by way of an explanation.
It seems to do the trick. He smiles instantly. ‘Ah! He is still happy?’
‘Very.’ I confirm, and that broadens Patrick’s smile by a few more inches.
‘Wonderful!’ he exclaims, retreating to his office looking delighted.
I open my email and hear the office door open. Looking up, I see a massive bunch of calla lilies floating towards me. Really? I left him five minutes ago.
They land on my desk, and the young girl sighs. ‘I don’t know why he doesn’t just buy you the shop. Sign here, please.’ She thrusts the clipboard under my nose, and I scribble my name.
‘Thanks.’ I hand her back the clipboard and find the card.
I’m sorry-ish
Jx
I fall back in my chair. What he means is…he’s sorry because he knows that he has upset me, but he is not at all sorry for trampling Mikael or my day. Maybe I should stay at Kate’s tonight. I could do with some time, a big bottle of wine, my own thoughts and no distractions.