‘Good night?’
She turns, narrowing her bright blues on me before she grins. ‘The man’s an animal!’
I scoff at her description of Sam. There’s a certain someone else I could nail that descriptor to. ‘Good?’
She pours boiling water into the mugs and adds milk. ‘He’s all right.’ She shrugs. ‘That’s enough about me. Why did you leave this morning looking like you’d had a similar night to me, and return a few hours later looking like you’ve been slapped?’ She takes a seat, handing me my tea.
I sigh. ‘I’m not going to see him again.’
‘Why?’ she cries.
I look up at a shocked, pale face. Why is she so stunned by my declaration? ‘Because Kate, without a shadow of a doubt, I’m going to get stung really nastily. He’s hazardous.’
‘How do you know that?’ she asks incredulously.
Well, that’s easy. ‘He’s a mature business man, way beyond rich and confident. I’m just a little play thing to him. He’ll get bored, toss me away and move onto someone else.’ I huff sarcastically. ‘Trust me…there will not be a shortage of women throwing themselves at his feet. I’ve seen the reaction he draws, I’ve experienced it. He’s incredibly fierce in the bedroom – and bloody good with it – and that tells me he’s not short of sexual conquests.’ I draw breath, while Kate looks at me agape. ‘He’s a woman magnet, possibly a womaniser. I’m already getting a reaction from Sarah.’ I slump back in my chair, grabbing my mug of tea.
‘Who’s Sarah?’
‘A friend, the one who I thought was the girlfriend. She doesn’t like me, and she’s made it perfectly clear.’
‘You’re not seriously jumping ship because of a few bitchy words from a woman scorned? Tell her to fuck off!’
‘No, it’s not just that, although I really don’t need claws digging in my back.’
She rolls her eyes. ‘My friend, you’re blind!’
‘No I’m not. I’m sensible,’ I defend myself. ‘And you’re bias.’ I spit. She’s made it perfectly obvious she likes Jesse, but why oh why, I don’t know. ‘Why do you like him so much?’
‘I don’t know.’ She shrugs. ‘There’s just something about him, isn’t there?’
‘Yes, and it’s dangerous.’
‘No, it’s the way he looks at you, like you’re the centre of his universe of something.’
‘Don’t be stupid! I’m the centre of his sex life.’ I correct her, suddenly considering the fact that I could, quite possibly, be one of many women he’s showing a good time to. The thought is painful and another reason to walk away while I’m still partly intact. Oh, who am I kidding? I’m already in pieces, but it’s only going to get worse the longer I let this go on.
‘Ava, you’re the master of denial.’ she scorns me lightly.
‘I’m not in denial.’
‘Yes, you are,’ Kate states firmly. ‘You’ve fallen in love with him. It’s easy to see why.’
‘I’m not in denial.’ I affirm, because I don’t know what else to say to that. Is it that obvious? I’m denying it all the way. It should make this painful process easier to bear. ‘I’m going to lie down.’ I push my chair away from behind my legs and it scraps along the wooden floor. I wince at the piercing sound. The hangover’s back with a vengeance.
‘Okay.’ Kate sighs.
I leave her in the kitchen to retreat to the sanctuary of my room, flopping on the bed and pulling a pillow over my head. I hate to admit it, but that pouty bitch is right. I can’t build my dreams of Jesse Ward. The thought is like a knife through my splitting heart.
***
I walk into the office for a fresh week, feeling anything but fresh. I didn’t sleep a wink, and I’m under no illusion as to why that is.
‘Morning, flower,’ Patrick calls from his office. He sounds better.
‘Hi.’ I try to sound chirpy but fail miserably. I can’t even muster up the strength to feign cheerfulness. I throw my bag by my desk and sit down to fire up my computer.
Within five seconds, my desk is screaming in protest as Patrick takes his usual pew. He looks much better as well.
‘What’s the state of play with Van Der Haus?’ he asks. This will be a project that Patrick will keep a keen interest in.
I reach under my desk to retrieve the small box of material samples that I abandoned on Friday. ‘These came on Friday,’ I say, laying some on my desk. ‘He’s emailed me the specifics and sent the drawings over.’