Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
She sighs and loads her fork with a minuscule bit of egg. ‘Who was that?’
‘John.’ I get up and pour some coffee. ‘I was just checking up on the club.’
‘Can I see it?’ She pops some breakfast in her mouth and chews slowly, watching me.
‘See what?’
‘The club.’
‘Sure. You eat all your breakfast and I’ll take you after your therapy session.’
The flare of exasperation in her eyes makes me smile. ‘Like a good little wife?’
Resting my elbows on the island across from her, I smile the smile I reserve only for her. ‘Exactly like that.’ I blow her a little kiss and start clearing up the kitchen. Maybe a visit to our health club will jog something in that muddled mind of hers.
Chapter 30
The car park is jam-packed. I spot Drew’s car in one of the reserved bays and pull up next to it, quickly making my way around the car to help Ava out. She’s quiet as I walk her to the modern building. It couldn’t look more different from The Manor. The club is still luxurious, but nowhere near as ostentatious. The reception area is buzzing when we enter.
‘Is that a salon?’ Ava asks, pointing to one of the four shop fronts on the ground floor. ‘And a beauty parlour?’
‘Yes, and Raya operates from that one there.’
‘What does she do?’ Ava lets me take her hand, seeming a bit overwhelmed by the place already.
‘Sports therapy.’ I nod to one of the girls on reception who quickly lets us through the turnstiles. ‘And that one over there is a health food store.’
‘It’s like health heaven,’ she says, smiling awkwardly when the girls on reception all wave hello. ‘And I work here?’
‘You sound disappointed.’ When we arrive at the juice bar, I spot Drew through the glass window that overlooks the pool area. He’s at the top of the diving board giving Georgia instructions.
‘Well, I’ve always dreamed of owning my own design company,’ Ava says.
‘You gave up work to have the twins.’ It was way before the twins came, but how Ava came to leave her employment at Rococo Union isn’t something I’m going into. I often wonder whether that prick Mikael still owns it, or if he sold it off as soon as my wife quit. ‘When the kids started school full-time, you decided you wanted to have an input here.’
A doubtful look lands on me. ‘I decided, or you made me?’
‘You decided,’ I confirm, and order her favourite power shake. ‘In your words, I’m crap at organising financial stuff and you weren’t about to let someone else do it.’
‘So you pay me?’ She accepts the shake, eyeing it suspiciously.
‘Handsomely,’ I reply, my voice suggestive and low.
She tosses me a playful filthy look. ‘Very funny.’
‘You’re a director, Ava. Like I said, we own it.’
I can tell she’s happy about that, her lovely lips taking the straw and sipping thoughtfully as she gazes around the bar, where laptops clutter tables and people chat post-workout. ‘Hmmm, this is lush.’
‘Glad your taste hasn’t changed,’ I say, motioning her to the stairs that lead to the gym floor.
Her face is suddenly bright and chirpy as she flanks me, her lips stuck to the straw. ‘That would have been a bit of a shock for you, wouldn’t it?’
‘What would?’
‘Well, if I came around and didn’t fancy you.’ She titters as we take the stairs, amused.
‘So you fancy me?’ I say, sounding casual and unaffected.
‘You’re all right, I suppose.’
The nerve. I nudge her and she chuckles, coming to a stop at the top of the stairs when the gym floor comes into view. ‘Wow.’ Turning slowly on the spot, she takes in the vast space. It could take her a while. A Bodypump class is happening on the grid across the way, a team of serious weight trainers are lifting in the corner, a group of women are speed cycling at the far back. And then the glass-fronted studios are all full, one class or another happening in each. All the endorphins bouncing around the place are sinking into my skin, and I wish I could hit the treadmill. Exercise has always been a blessing to me, a perfect way to alleviate stress. And now, when I’m the most stressed I’ve ever been, I haven’t had the opportunity to expel it.
Many people pass us, clients and staff, all saying hello, smiling, clearly pleased to see us. But Ava doesn’t recognise any of them. She just smiles awkwardly, becoming increasingly uncomfortable by the second.
‘I’m here every day?’ she asks, her tone not cluing me in on whether that pleases her or daunts her. I’m hoping it pleases her, and then maybe she’ll lose that silly idea of working elsewhere.
‘Yes, with me.’
She seizes my hand without prompt, clinging to it harshly. ‘It’s very loud.’
Shit, she’s right. It’s banging, nothing unusual, but Ava’s head is delicate. I pull her on, keen to get us away from the pumping gym floor to somewhere quieter. ‘Here.’ Opening the door to her office, I usher her in and shut out the noise. That’s better. She probably couldn’t hear herself think.