I had a call that afternoon from the doctor, confirming that all was fine, and a letter was in the post. She also enquired as to where she should send her bill. I paid it there and then using my debit card. There was no way I was letting Ivan pay it, even though it had been his idea. I wouldn't even be using the information, so it felt like a waste of two hundred and fifty quid. Live and learn, I thought to myself.#p#分页标题#e#
I headed home around seven, pausing at the deli to buy some milk and a sandwich, fully prepared to spend my evening lost in Jeffery Archer's imagination. I was actually rather looking forward to it. After all my recent dramas, I needed some quiet time. I also needed some time without a man. I had found both Oscar and Ivan high maintenance, and rather draining. I was used to my own company, and although I'd had friends at school and uni, I wasn't one to spend lots of time out socialising. I decided to look up a few old pals, and arrange some nights out that didn't involve power crazed men.
I made a latte, changed into my pyjamas, and checked through my post. I noticed one for James with an Australian postmark. I frowned slightly, before adding it to the pile I was leaving on his desk, hoping it wasn't from Janine, as it would only upset him. I had just eaten my sandwich, when there was a knock on the door. I opened it to see Oscar standing there, a worried look on his face.
"Hiya, come in, what can I do for you?" I said, not acknowledging the fact that I was wearing pink jimjams.
"Are you ok?"
I frowned, "of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"All the events this week. It can't have been easy for you."
"I think I'm still in the shock stage over mum. I got the results of the post mortem. It was an aneurysm as they thought. I'm going to register her death tomorrow, and arrange the funeral. I'm coping though."
"And what about Ivan?"
"Over. Still working for him. Doubt if he'll be bothering me much though, as I can pretty much deal with his staff for the type of work we do for him."
"How do you feel about it though?"
I thought about it for a moment. "Relieved if I'm honest. I always knew I was too ordinary for him, and I suspected it was the thrill of the chase for him. I'm not cut out to be a billionaire's girlfriend, so yeah, glad to be out of it."
Oscar scowled at me, and I realised I had ruled him out too. In truth, both men were way too complicated for me, and it was a relief to shed the sense of inadequacy I felt around both of them.
"Ivan isn't seeing Dascha you know. He can't abide the woman."
"He looked pretty comfortable with her hanging off his arm the other night. Besides, I really don't want to discuss this with you, so unless you have a legal problem, I need to make some phone calls, and head to bed."
"Mother suggested I invited you to Conniscliffe this weekend. There won't be anyone else coming. She suggested it might be a nice mini break for you."
"Don't you find it surprising that your mother is so nice to me?"
He shrugged, "not really. You are quite likeable. I think she 'gets' that you're different, and was impressed by the way you handled a difficult test of your integrity. She might be a bit of a gorgon, but she's really quite sharp."
"She's nobody’s fool, I'll give her that. I tell you what Oscar, I'd love to visit this weekend, but the caveat is separate bedrooms, and no assumptions that I'm going back to you, I'm not, and you need to accept that."
He nodded, "of course. I'll let mother know about this weekend, she'll be delighted. We'll go after work tomorrow if that's ok?"
"Ok, great, and Oscar?" He looked expectant, "thanks for not judging me over Ivan." He gave me a sympathetic smile, and left.
I decided against phoning old friends, as I'd be away the weekend, so decided on a bath and an early night instead. I had just got into bed when Ivan called. I decided not to answer it, quarter to ten at night was veering towards booty call territory, and I wasn't going to be available. He called twice more before he took the hint that I wasn't picking up.#p#分页标题#e#
The next morning I did my usual routine, but had a strange sensation of being watched. I couldn't put my finger on it, a sort of prickling sensation at the back of my neck that caused me to turn around, as if there would be someone there. I experienced it from the moment I left the flat, until I got into my office. I told myself it was probably one of Ivan's team keeping tabs on me, instructed to do so by Mr Control Freak himself. He really had no concept of privacy.
I had a busy morning, full of meetings, and before I knew it, one o'clock had rolled round, and it was time to head off to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Woolwich. Laura had organised a taxi for me, which would wait, and take me to my appointment with the funeral directors before bringing me home.