‘I’m sorry, drinks?’ he asks, getting his laughter under control and giving me a wink.
I pool on the stool, sending him a telepathic message to take me home. Basking in the sun on Central Jesse Cloud Nine has resumed. I’m in my element.
Drew and Sam throw their orders at Mario, but he’s already halfway to the fridge to collect their beers. I scoop our cocktails up and pass one to Kate, catching her nodding over my shoulder. I frown at her, so she repeats the jig of her head, and I realise what she is signaling – she wants a cigarette. I lean into Jesse, and he drops his conversation with the boys’, instantly turning his face to me.
‘What’s up, baby?’ He looks worried.
‘Nothing, I’m just going to use the ladies’.’ I lower myself from the stool and grab my clutch from the bar. ‘I won’t be long.’
‘Okay.’ He kisses my hand.
I walk away and join Kate. ‘I need a fag.’ she spits urgently.
‘Really? I thought you wanted to drag me upstairs,’ I flip as she leads me out. My casualness with regards to upstairs must be a result of Mario’s Most Marvelous. ‘I’m going to the toilet quickly, I’ll meet you outside.’
‘The front.’ she calls, making her way to the entrance hall, while I head in the other direction towards the toilets.
I find the ladies’ empty and let myself into a cubicle. I’ve not attempted the task of using the toilet in this dress yet. I could be a while. I negotiate the dress up to my waist with relative ease and make sure I hold it all up before I sit. I don’t know why I’m worrying; the toilet floor is spotless. I hear the door open and a few voices chatting happily.
‘Have you seen her? She is young for our Jesse.’
Oh no!
I freeze mid-wee and hold my breath. Our Jesse? What? Did they share him? I sag on the toilet and release my bladder. I’ve started now, I can’t stop.
‘He’s all over her. Fucking hell, did you see the diamond around her neck?’ Voice number two gushes.
‘You can hardly miss it. It’s obvious what she’s after.’ Voice number three pipes up.
How many of them are there out there? I finish up and start pulling my dress back down while contemplating what I should do. What I want to do is go out there and put them straight on the whole money business.
‘Ah, come on, Natasha. Jesse is beyond a fucking God. The money is just a bonus.’ That’s voice number two, and now I know that voice number three is Natasha, the incorrigible flirt. And he’s my fucking God!
‘Well, it looks like we’ve made all this effort for nothing. I had heard, but I didn’t believe, not until I saw it with my own eyes. It looks like our Jesse has been whipped from under our feet.’ Voice number one laughs.
I stand in the cubicle willing them to leave so I can escape, but I can hear the pops of lips from the reapplication of lipstick and the spray of perfume going on.
‘It’s a shame, he’s the best I’ve had and I’m never going to get to try it again.’ Voice number three – AKA Natasha – muses.
My hackles rise. He has slept with her. I look up at the ceiling, trying desperately to gather some calming thoughts, but it’s impossible, especially with three tarts out there having a good old chinwag about my God’s sexual capabilities.
‘Oh, me too.’ Voice number one adds, and I stand there with my jaw on the toilet floor, waiting for voice number two to pipe up and make it a clean sweep.
‘Well, I don’t know about you two, but he was too good to give up trying.’ Voice number two totally finishes me off.
I can’t listen to this shit. I flush the chain, silencing all three, and make sure my dress isn’t tucked into my bodice before I swing the door open and walk casually out of the cubicle. I smile politely at the three women, all with some sort of make-up suspended in front of their faces, staring completely flummoxed at me as I make my way to a mirror at the other end of the bathroom. I calmly wash my hands and dry them before topping up my gloss, all in silence and under the wary eyes of the three brazen hussies at the other end of the ladies’. I waltz past and leave the bathroom without a word, my dignity still firmly intact.
My heart is jumping and my legs are slightly shaky, but I make it to the entrance hall still standing. That was horrific, and while I knew that Jesse has dabbled, did I really consider the extent of it. Hearing those women talk about him like that has me more upset than mad. He really has put it about…everywhere…with a lot of women. I think I need a cigarette too.
I know I audibly groan when Sarah steps out from the doorway that usually serves the restaurant. She’s been waiting for this moment all night and after what I’ve just endured, I’m feeling even less tolerant of her than usual. I’m facing the fourth woman in as many minutes – no, probably seconds – who Jesse has fucked. I feel sick and in no mood for Sarah and her viper gob, but I also don’t want to have a catfight in my stupidly expensive gown.
‘Sarah, you’ve done an amazing job tonight.’ I say courteously. I’ll get in first with the pleasantries so there is no mistaking my attempt to keep things civil, even though it is taking every ounce of strength I have.
She folds an arm under her already high chest, boosting it further while holding her sloe gin in front of her mouth. Her posture and body language scream superiority, and I’m bracing myself for the inevitable warning.
‘Did you collect your gift bag from the table?’ she asks on a smile.
It throws me completely. She’s changed her tone. I thought we were past faking pleasantries, especially when Jesse’s not around. ‘No, I didn’t.’ I answer warily. After seeing Kate’s face, I really didn’t want it.
She broadens her smile. ‘Oh, that’s a shame. There was something in there that may have been of use to you.’
‘Like what?’ I can’t help the curiosity in my voice. What’s her game?
‘The vibrator. I noticed yours was left in a million pieces on Jesse’s bedroom floor.’
‘Pardon?’ I blurt on a laugh.
She smiles slyly, and I dread the words I know she’s about to say. ‘Yes, when I rescued him on Wednesday morning after you left him handcuffed to his bed,’ She shakes her head. ‘Not a wise move.’
My stomach falls into my heels as I watch her weighing up my reaction to her information overload. Jesse called Sarah? When he was bollock naked, handcuffed to the bed and with a vibrator next to him, he chose Sarah to come and release him?
What?
I thought John freed him. Why did I think that? I can’t even reflect that far back. At the moment, I’m just looking at the nasty creature stood in front of me, smugly delighting in my misery. I’m going to kill him, but first I’m going to wipe that sly smile off of her botox pumped face.
‘Have you ever heard of tit tape, Sarah?’ I ask coolly. Her face drops, as do her eyes to her chest. I start walking forward. Oh, she is so getting trampled!
‘Excuse me?’ she laughs.
‘Tit tape. It’s widely known to keep breasts secure, or…’ I shake my head. ‘Of course, it’s your intention to assault people’s eyes with your overinflated chest.’ I stop in front of her. ‘Less is more, Sarah. Have you ever heard of that saying? You would do well to remember it, especially at your age.’
‘Ava?’
No! Oh no no, no!
I turn and find Jesse stood with his frown line perfectly in place. Good, because he should be really concerned. I hear Sarah’s heels disappear off into the restaurant. Yes, she’s dropped her bombshell and has now fucked off to avoid being hit by the shrapnel.
‘What’s going on?’ he asks, his handsome face full of confusion and concern.
I don’t even know what to say. I glance around the entrance hall of The Manor and see many members making their way upstairs. It must be past ten thirty.
‘Ava?’
I return my eyes to Jesse as he starts walking towards me. I step back and he stops in his tracks. ‘I’m leaving.’ My tone is completely resolute. I can’t stay here and listen to women boast about their sexual encounters with Jesse, listen to them pass judgment on why I’m with him. Neither am I watching as he disappears with another woman with no explanation. And I’m certainly not setting myself up for humiliation by Sarah. I turn and walk with purpose to the huge, double doors that will take me out of this hellhole. My heart is hammering and tears of frustration are brimming.
‘Ava!’ I hear him yell, and then the telltale signs of his thumping footsteps coming after me.
I have no idea what I plan on doing when I get outside. I know he will catch me, and I know he won’t let me leave. I’ll steal a car. I don’t care that I’m way over the limit. My visit to the toilet was bad enough, but Sarah has completely finished me off. I can’t subject myself to this torture anymore. It’s rotting my reasonableness, turning me into a jealous, resentful monster. I shouldn’t have come here.
‘Ava, get your fucking arse here!’
I make it to the steps and bump into Kate. ‘Where have you been?’ she asks shortly, her eyes widening when she obviously catches sight of Jesse in pursuit of me.