Beneath This Man (This Man Trilogy)(56)

She scoffs. ‘I do not!’

‘Oh, you’re hopeless.’ I snap. Why can’t she just swallow her pride and admit it? What harm would it do, especially to me?

‘Talking of hopeless; how’s Jesse? Fuck me, Ava. That man can screw!’

I laugh. ‘Yes, he can. Matt tried to jump my bones before Jesse ambushed the flat. He proceeded to tell Jesse that we had a little snog. I think Matt might be nursing a black eye this morning.’

‘Ha, good!’ She laughs, and I can’t help the small smile of satisfaction developing on my face. He deserved it.

‘He knows about Jesse’s little drink issue.’ I add. I’m not laughing now.

‘How?’ Her shock matches mine.

‘I have no idea. Anyway, I’ve got to ring my mother. I guess I’ll see you later.’

‘Oh yes!’ she chirps excitedly. I can’t match her excitement for the anniversary dinner tonight. ‘See you there!’

‘Bye.’ I hang up and dial my mother before she sends out the search party.

‘Ava?’ Her shrill voice assaults my eardrums.

‘Mum, not so loud!’

‘Sorry. Matt’s called again.’

What?

I take myself across to the main open area and sit myself down. Any hopes of being cheered up by my mother have been well and truly dashed with that little statement.

‘Ava, he said you’ve moved in with a raving alcoholic who has a terrible temper. He beat Matt up!’

I fall back in a chair and look up to the ceiling in total mental exasperation. Why can’t the prick just crawl into the dark hole he came from and die? ‘Mum, please don’t speak to him anymore.’ I plead. What a lowlife he really is, dumping this shit on my parents. It just reinforces my conclusions about the deceitful, nasty snake.

‘Is it true?’ she asks tentatively. I can see her in my mind’s eye flicking a worried glare at my Dad.

‘Not exactly,’ I can’t completely lie to her. She’ll have to find out where I am eventually. ‘It’s nothing like Matt says, Mum.’

‘Well, what is it then?’

Oh, I can’t do this over the phone. There is far too much to explain and I don’t want her passing judgment on Jesse. I could kill Matt. ‘Mum, listen. I’ve got to get to work.’ A little white lie won’t hurt.

‘Ava, I’m so worried about you.’

I can sense her despair. I hate Matt for doing this, but he said he was sorry. Was that before or after he called my parents to give them an update on my love life? I should send Jesse around to trample all over him. ‘Please, don’t be. Matt wanted me back. He pounced on me when I went to collect the last of my things and turned nasty when I rebuffed him. Jesse was just protecting me.’ I try to cut a long story short and purposely leave out any parts that could tarnish Jesse. There are a few.

‘Jesse? Was that the man you were with when I called last weekend?’

‘Yes.’ I sigh.

‘So, he’s not just a friend?’ Her tone is scornful. She’s rumbled my small white lie and she won’t be happy about it.

‘I’m just seeing him. It’s nothing serious.’ I try and play it down and laugh in my head. I can’t believe I just said that.

‘And he’s an alcoholic?’ she prompts.

I let out a tired breath that I know she won’t appreciate. ‘He’s not an alcoholic, Mum. Matt’s being spiteful, ignore him. And don’t answer anymore of his calls.’

‘I’m not happy about this. There is no smoke without fire, Ava.’ She really doesn’t sound happy and I can’t blame her. I’ve never been so glad that they live so far away. I don’t think I could face her. ‘Your brother will be back in London soon.’ she adds threateningly. I know for sure she’ll be hanging up on me and ringing Dan immediately to give him the lowdown.

‘I know. I’ve got to go.’ I push.

‘Fine, I’ll speak to you over the weekend,’ she says on a huff. ‘Take care of yourself.’ She adds the last bit a little more softly. She never ends a conversation on a bad note.

‘I will, I love you.’

‘You too, Ava.’

I drop my phone in my lap and keep staring up at the high ceiling. Will he continue to shit all over me? The temptation to ring Matt’s mother is overwhelming. I’ve never been her favourite person and she’s never been mine. Her little golden boy can do no wrong, so calling her and filling her in on Matt’s transgressions would be fruitless. Oh God, my parents will be frantic.

I close my eyes and try to dispel all thoughts of hideous ex-boyfriends and worrying parents. It doesn’t work. When I open them again, Jesse’s face is floating above mine, a hand braced on each arm of the chair as he leans over me.

His big smile disappears when he registers my expression. ‘What’s up?’ he asks, all concerned. I don’t want to tell him. The last thing I need is to rile him after yesterday’s events. ‘Hey, tell me. No more secrets.’

‘Okay,’ I say as he crouches in front of me so our eyes are level.

He takes my hands in his. ‘Come on then.’ he prompts when I don’t elaborate on my okay. I don’t want to start the day off with a Jesse rage.

‘Matt phoned my parents and told them I’m shacked up with a raving alcoholic who beat him up.’ I blurt it out fast and brace myself for the storm. I can see the colour rising in his face already as he chews his bottom lip. I’ve changed my mind; I don’t think I want to send Jesse around to sort Matt out. By the look of his face, he would probably kill him.

I sit and wait pensively for Jesse to ponder whatever it is he is pondering.

‘I’m not an alcoholic.’ He eventually grates.

‘I know.’ I give him my most re-assuring voice, but I fear I just sound patronising. He really doesn’t like being called an alcoholic, and now I’m wondering if he’s right or if he’s in denial. He looks so angry, I wish I had kept my mouth shut.

‘Jesse, how does he know?’

He stands up straight. ‘I don’t know, Ava. We need to have a chat with Cathy.’

Is that it? Is he not going to try and find out? ‘Why do we need a chat with Cathy?’ I ask shortly.

‘She’s been away. She needs to know stuff.’ He puts his hand out to me and I let him pull me up.

‘Like what?’

‘I don’t know,’ he answers on a huff. ‘That’s why we need to talk to her.’ He tries to tug me towards the kitchen.

I pull my hand away. ‘No. You, Jesse. This is your place, she is your housekeeper.’ I shake my head. That little comment has just earned me an almighty growl and a glare.

‘Ours!’ He reaches around me, grabs my bum and yanks me to his body. ‘You really know how to rub me up the wrong way. Which reminds me,’ He rolls his groin into me. ‘That was cruel and unreasonable.’ He arches his brow. ‘I waited upstairs and you didn’t show.’

A small chuckle escapes my mouth. ‘What did you do?’

‘What do you think I did?’

I burst into fits of laughter at the thought of my poor man resorting to a quick wank because I’m a child and a tease. I’m soon shut up, though, when I feel him grind into me again. I catch his eyes. They are dancing in delight. I know his game and with Cathy in the kitchen, I also know he has no intention of seeing me through to the end. I wriggle out of his arms and straighten myself out.

‘I’m sorry.’ I say on a grin. I’m not.

He narrows his dazzling greens on me. All of the anger has gone, thank God. ‘You will be.’ He makes a grab for me and positions me back in front of him. ‘Don’t do it again.’ He kisses me hard, grinds his hips, and then removes himself from me, leaving me dazed and disorientated.

I scowl at him. ‘Go and talk to your housekeeper.’ I make a rubbish job of pretending he doesn’t have an effect on me.

‘Ours! For fuck sake woman!’ He clenches his jaw in frustration at me. ‘You’re impossible!’

Me? ‘You go and talk to the housekeeper. I need to make peace with Clive.’ I leave him with a face like thunder. ‘Bye, Cathy.’ I call as I leave the penthouse.



I exit the elevator timidly. I’ve won Cathy back over, now it’s time to work on Clive. I have the urgent need to cleanse my soul. I laugh inwardly. A few apologies to the staff of Lusso isn’t going to cut it, and now Clive knows about the elevator door, I expect he’s even more cross with me.

I spot him collecting the post from the mailboxes. ‘Morning, Clive.’ I say cheerfully.

He looks up as he locks the mailbox. There is no escaping his grievance with me. ‘Ava.’ he replies with no friendliness. It’s beyond formal. I’ve really upset him.

‘Clive, I’m so sorry.’

‘You caused me untold inconvenience.’ He shakes his head as he makes his way back to his desk. ‘And I have no idea what happened to the elevator door. You’re like a whirlwind, Ava.’

Me? I roll my eyes. I’m not defending myself. ‘I know. Tell me how I can make it up to you.’ I rest my elbows on the high desk and plaster on my most angelic face.

‘Don’t look at me like that, young lady.’ he admonishes me.