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)
The office door swings open and I look up to see Ruth Quinn beaming at me. Why is she here? I only spoke to her this morning. Her blonde hair is shining and bouncing as she struts to my desk, waving excitedly.
‘Ava!’ she sings.
‘Ruth,’ I frown, but she doesn’t seem to notice my confusion.
‘I was just in the area and I thought I’d drop by.’ She places her neat, slender body on a chair in front of my desk.
‘Oh?’ I say, looking at her to continue.
‘Yes,’ she smiles, but doesn’t elaborate.
I glance at the clock. It’s not even three o’clock. I’ve got another three hours to get her designs over by email. ‘Was there something that you wanted to add to the specification?’ I ask.
‘No. Not at all. I’m sure I’ll love the designs.’
I’m not sure what to say. She’s dropped by for nothing? No reason?
‘Are you okay, Ava?’ Her smile fades a little.
I shake myself up. ‘Yes, I’m fine.’ I force a happy face. I’m not fine, but I want to mood over it in peace, not make pointless conversation with a client. ‘I’ve prepped everything, Ruth. I’ll get it across to you before that day’s out.’ I know I’ve already told her this on the telephone, but what else can I say. Should I offer her a coffee?
‘Lovely.’ She strokes her hair, and then flicks it over her shoulder. ‘Are you doing anything nice this weekend?’
Now I really am frowning. She’s not a clinger on, is she? ‘I’m not sure.’ I’m really not. I don’t know what I’m doing, where I’m going, not in any element of my life at the moment.
‘We should have drinks!’
I inwardly groan. She wants to be friends. Never mix business with pleasure – my new rule applies to female clients too. What should I say? ‘Sure.’ The word slips past my lips and stuns me. I don’t want to have drinks with Ruth. I want to crawl into my bed and sulk.
‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ she presses.
‘Yes, fine.’ I try to smile. I’m struggling.
‘Man trouble?’ Her fair, precisely plucked eyebrow rises.
‘No.’ I shake my head. Oh God, she’s getting personal.
‘Ava, I know a woman in turmoil when I see one.’ She laughs. ‘Been there, done that.’
‘Honestly, Ruth. There is no man.’ I can’t believe I just said that. No man? There most certainly is a man, and he most certainly is causing me turmoil. But I need Kate for this line of conversation, not a client. Wine and Kate.
She gives me a knowing smile and stands. ‘They’re not worth the trouble.’
I return her smile, but only because I’m pleased that she appears to be leaving. ‘I’ll get your designs over soon, Ruth.’ I’m repeating again.
‘Can’t wait! We’ll talk soon…about drinks.’ She breezes out of the office, leaving me sat in the turmoil she knows I’m in.
I immediately email her. I don’t want her returning and offering more drinks. My head’s going to explode. I need Kate, and I need wine.
I don’t go to Kate’s, though. I leave the office and I’m pulled towards St Katherine Docks by the magnet that is The Lord of the Sex Manor. I said I wouldn’t leave him, and I need these mounting questions answered, like this mystery woman.
‘Evening, Ava.’
‘Hello, Clive. Can I speak to security, please?’
‘They are all off site at the moment.’ He diverts his attention to his computer, his way of halting this conversation from going any further – his way of dodging me.
‘Right.’ I sigh, leaving Clive and carrying on my way to the elevator. I board and lean back against the mirrored wall after I’ve punched in the code that Jesse still hasn’t got changed.
I let myself in with my pink key and head straight for the kitchen, kicking my shoes off and looking for wine that I know won’t be there before finding a vase to put my flowers in. I remember the bunch upstairs that I hastily dumped on the chest in favour of prepping myself to deliver one truth fuck, so I take the stairs tiredly and enter the master-suite to retrieve them.
Oh…dear.
My new diamante embellished vibrator is in a million pieces all over the far end of the bedroom floor and there’s a hole in the wall opposite the bed. The bedroom is vast, so he must have lobbed it with some force. I’m suddenly thinking that leaving before he got free was a decision well made.
I look across the room to the bed and see the handcuffs still dangling from the headboard, mental images of Jesse flying into a rage instantly starting to assault my brain. This man has issues – big, unreasonable, bloody issues…with control…with me.
I kneel and collect up all of the pieces, taking them to the bathroom and depositing them in the bin before I start running a bath. Picking up the calla lilies that are in desperate need of some water, I make my way back downstairs.