Beneath This Man (This Man Trilogy)(87)

‘Oh, okay,’ Doctor Manvi seems satisfied with Jesse’s explanation of who he is. I’m past caring. ‘We ran some routine tests on your urine.’ He pulls up a chair and it scrapes along the rubber floor, making me wince. ‘When was the date of your last period?’ He looks at me with sympathetic eyes, and I want to crawl across the room and into the clinical waste bin.

‘A week-ish ago.’ I answer quietly to the ceiling. I don’t need to look at Jesse to know he’s twitching.

‘Right, well its routine for us to do a pregnancy test to try and establish what caused the blackout episode.’ He pauses, and I brace myself for the hurricane that will be Jesse flying around the room in a complete frenzy. ‘You’re not pregnant.’

My head flies up. ‘I’m not?’

‘Well, I say you’re not, but if it’s only been a week since your period, it may be too early to tell.’ He smiles kindly, but it does nothing to settle me. ‘Do you use the contraceptive pill, Ava?’

‘Yes.’ I virtually squeak.

‘Then I think we can safely say you’re not pregnant.’

Oh God!

‘Ava, it’s important that you try to remember anything of last night, who you spoke to, who you met.’

Jesse’s animosity travels through our joined hands, attacking me. ‘What?’ he snaps. ‘What are you trying to say?’

I don’t bother with scorning him for his rudeness, and Doctor Manvi continues, turning a blind eye. ‘We proceeded with a further test. Your symptoms prompted it.’

‘Symptoms? What symptoms?’ I ask, completely confused.

The Doctor inhales and shifts in his chair. ‘We found clear evidence of Rohypnol in your urine.’ he says regretfully.

‘WHAT!’ Jesse roars.

My eyes widen and my heart starts hammering in my chest. As in date rape? Oh, fucking hell!

Jesse flies up from his sitting position, dropping my hand, and I glace up nervously to find him shaking and sweating, the anger pouring from him. ‘As in date rape?’ he yells at the poor Doctor.

‘Yes.’ Doctor Manvi confirms mine and Jesse’s fears.

I spiral into panic at the doctor’s diagnosis to my blackout episode. Oh, this is so bad.

Jesse flies around and throws his head back. ‘Jesus fucking Christ!’ he cries. I see the back of his shirt rising and falling violently as he braces his arms on a nearby metal unit.

‘Ava, I would advise you notify the police. You need to tell them everything you remember.’ He turns to Jesse. ‘Sir, can you confirm whether she was alone at any point?’

My mind races with the evenings events. I don’t think I was. I watch as Jesse’s fingertips reach for his temples and start circling. He’s going to explode. He’ll be like a whirlwind flying through the hospital. Suddenly, telling him I could be pregnant seems so much more appealing than this.

The doctor looks back at me when he gets no response from Jesse. ‘We need to do an examination to determine whether you were raped.’

‘What?’ I blurt. Oh God!

‘She wasn’t alone,’ Jesse replies, more calmly than I expected. ‘I watched her hit the deck, I was there in a split second.’ He turns to face me, and I stare into his tortured eyes. I feel devoid of any emotion. I think I might be in shock.

‘And you are sure of this?’

‘Yes.’ Jesse all but growls.

‘Sir, I would like to carry out the checks,’ he pushes, ‘for bruises and scratches, initially.’

‘I’ve checked every square inch of her. There isn’t a mark on her.’ Jesse stomps across the room and flings the door open. ‘Kate?’

I hear a brief exchange of abrupt, muffled words from outside the door, no doubt Jesse pressing for answers. The doctor flicks a confused gaze from me to Jesse, while I continue to wrack my brain for something.

He’s by my side again. ‘Baby, Kate said she went for a cigarette, but Tom was with you. Can you remember that?’

‘Yes.’ I answer quickly. I definitely remember that. ‘But Tom went to the toilet while Kate was having a cigarette.’ I add.

‘Okay, do you remember what happened during the time you were on your own?’ he pushes.

‘Yes.’ I won’t tell him why I remember. Holy shit, mentioning Matt would be a grave mistake. ‘Why?’ I ask.

‘Because, Ava, I don’t want anyone poking you about unless they really need to, so please, think hard.’ He squeezes my hands. ‘Before I turned up, were you okay? Do you remember everything?’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘That is good.’ Doctor Manvi interjects. ‘But, Ava, I would be happier if you would consent to the examination.’

‘No! I know nothing happened. I have no bruises, no cuts.’

‘If you are one hundred percent sure, Ava, I can’t force you.’

‘Damn right you can’t fucking force her!’ Jesse hisses.

Oh God, get me out of here. ‘Nothing happened. I remember everything until Jesse arrived.’ I look at Jesse. ‘I remember everything.’ My voice is shaking. I’m shaking.

He slides his palm over me cheek. ‘I know. I believe you.’

‘Okay. All of your vitals are fine.’ Doctor Manvi says. ‘You’ll have a sore head for a while, but other than that, you will make a full recovery. Once I’ve sorted your discharge papers, you can go home.’

‘How long will that take?’ Jesse has reverted back to madman.

‘Sir, we are in the aftermath of a Saturday night in central London. How long is a piece of string?’

‘I’m taking her home now.’ Jesse says with utter finality. I look up at him and know immediately it’s a battle not worth fighting – not if you want to live. Doctor Manvi looks at me, and I nod my acceptance.

He rises from his chair. ‘Okay.’ he practically sighs. He’s not happy.

I lay back in a complete trance as I watch the Doctor talking to Jesse. I hear nothing. It’s all a muddled garble in the distance. How did this happen? I didn’t once leave my drink unattended. I didn’t accept a drink that was offered. I was careful and sensible. Jesus, what if I had of gone to the toilet a few seconds earlier and missed Jesse at the door? I could have been unconscious and completely unaware of anything going on around me. I could have been raped. I’m attacked by unexpected tears and uncontrollable shakes as I start sobbing in my hands.

‘Baby, please don’t cry.’ I feel his warmth engulf me, holding me tight as my body jerks under him. ‘Baby, I’ll get really crazy mad if you cry.’

I sob relentlessly while he comforts me, muttering his own little curses and prayers above my head. ‘I’m so sorry.’ I heave between sobs. I don’t know why I’m sorry, maybe for defying him and going out anyway. I really don’t know, but I feel so remorseful.

‘Ava, please shut up.’ he pleads, holding me tight and stroking my hair soothingly. I’m aware of the frantic clatter of his heartbeat under my ear.

When I’ve finally regained a little control, I wipe away my tears and sniffle. I must look like a tear stained mess. ‘I’m fine,’ I say, taking a few calming breaths and pushing him away, ‘I want to go home.’ I sound like a spoilt brat.

I start to clamber from the bed, but I’m met by the fierceness of a tall, lean, green-eyed wall. He picks me up and starts for the door, meeting Kate on the way. ‘Get her stuff.’ he orders, striding past her.

‘What’s going on?’ Sam jumps up from the chair outside the room.

‘She was drugged.’ Jesse states flatly. He doesn’t stop to give any further explanation.

‘Oh shit!’ The horror in Sam’s voice is clear.

I hear Kate’s heels trying to keep up with us. ‘What? Like date rape?’

‘Yes, just like fucking date rape!’ he shouts as he proceeds down the corridor with me in his arms. ‘I’m taking her home.’

We emerge into the morning air, and I squint at the offensive, harsher natural light. I’m lowered into the DBS and secured in my seatbelt. I flinch when the door closes, and then I hear the mumble of voices outside the car. There’s a subtle tap on the window, and when I look, I see Kate giving me the call-me gesture. I nod my acknowledgment and rest my head against the window as Jesse slides in and places my shoes and bag in the foot well. I close my eyes again and drift off.



‘Come here you.’ I open my eyes as Jesse lifts me from his car and carries me through the foyer of Lusso.

‘Oh, Mr Ward?’ Clive appears alongside us as Jesse makes his way to the penthouse elevator. ‘Is everything okay?’ He sounds concerned. It’s not unusual for me to be seen carted about by Jesse, so I’m guessing I look terrible, and I know Jesse does too.

‘I’m fine, Clive.’ The elevator doors close, leaving a concerned Clive mystified.

I rest my head against Jesse’s firmness and the next thing I know, I’m being lowered into his huge bed. I’m vaguely aware of my dress being removed and disapproving grumbles coming from Jesse. I roll over when I’m free from my clothes and release a contented exhale of breath when I’m greeted with my most favourite smell in the world; fresh water and mint. I know I’m back where I belong.