Bad Grace: A Billionaire Romance Romantic Suspense (The Filth Monger Book 2) (9 page)

Him

I
hadn’t slept well. The sight of Alex, laying there on the Embankment clutching his side; Rick’s hand, vanishing into the Thames; the images wouldn’t leave me. Even after I’d finally dropped off, I kept coming to with a start from a nightmare that didn’t evaporate on waking. How was I going to be able to make it up to Sandy, without giving away the fact that Rick was dead?

The only bright note was that Alex was okay. He’d rung Ronnie to tell her as much. He was in St Thomas’s but was expecting to be discharged in the morning, as long as the Consultant agreed. I’d put Stephens on alert, ready to go and take him home as soon as he was out, and Ronnie was organising for food and general provisions to be delivered on his arrival. Alex was a confirmed bachelor, and I knew what his idea of eating-in consisted of – the tail-end of the previous night’s takeaway, when I’d gone over there once. It was no wonder he had the start of a paunch developing but then, as he’d said, that was what had saved him.

So, what with all the rest of it, coupled with my inability to contact Grace, it was a frustratingly long night. I’d paced the floor of my duplex, looking out over the river, remembering Rick’s hand, vanishing into the darkness, and the walk with Grace, and wondering what the hell I was going to do.

What the hell must she have thought, when I didn’t get back to her? She’d said she needed help. I hoped she hadn’t done anything stupid. I’d given her my word I’d be there for her, and I’d let her down. At one point, I even contemplated grabbing the Aston and driving over to her house. The only thing that’d stopped me was that, by the time I’d managed to get home and cleaned up, it was past midnight. By the time it occurred to me to drive over there, it was way beyond that. She’d have thought me a freak.

I’d go over there today, straight after seeing Max. I had to find out what was wrong, and – yes – I just wanted to see her again, even if she wasn’t interested. It was enough to snap me out of my lethargy and get myself ready to go over to Ffyvells.

When I got there, Max was in a meeting. I had to sit around in someone’s empty office, sipping at a glass of water while I waited. I felt oddly dejected, and it didn’t seem to be due to the fallout from last night. To make matters worse, I looked to be the butt of some private joke. People kept walking past the office and looking in at me. Most of them were women, but one or two were men, and they appeared to find me incredibly amusing.

One came in and offered me a coffee. I recognised her. She had short dark hair and a puckish face. Pretty, in an emo way. She didn’t seem the kind of girl Max would employ. He was a bit of a po-faced puritan in the workplace, from all I’d ever seen and heard - but she was exactly the sort he’d go for at Dominion. She stood at the door, a smirk on her face.

‘Would you like some coffee?’ she said. ‘I can have some sent up.’

She seemed to think it was an enormous joke, for some reason, and I just shook my head. ‘No, thank you,’ I said, flicking the glass with my thumbnail. It reminded me of Rick, last night at Dominion. God, everything reminded me of Rick.

She gave a quick shrug and smiled brightly. ‘Oh, well,’ she said. ‘Okay.’

As soon as she walked out, I saw some of the others go over to her. She giggled and repeated the few lines we’d exchanged as if it were some amazing revelation. Somehow, it must have been, judging from the awed responses.

Why were office girls – and guys – always like this with me? I mean, I’d nearly drowned in the Thames last night and had no sleep. I looked like I’d fallen out of a tree, but still it didn’t stop them. I put my head in my hands and sat with my elbows on the table, waiting to go in.

Him

W
hen Max had finished his meeting, the dark-haired girl came and got me. She seemed to be excited, trying not to laugh, and I couldn’t work it out. I followed her into Max’s office, feeling self-conscious.

‘Max, this is…uh…’ She looked at me, expectantly.

I smiled a bit at the obvious fishing technique. She knew damn well Max knew me. I knew where I’d seen her before, now. She was Grace’s friend – the one who’d helped her to the taxi outside Ffyvells.

‘Uh…’ I began. ‘N…’

But Max cut across me. ‘I’m well aware of who he is, thank you, Liv,’ he said, in his harshest, most clipped tones. ‘Shouldn’t you be spending less time gossiping and more time at your desk?’

Liv looked down at the floor. ‘Yes, Max. Sorry.’

She left the room quickly, shutting the door behind her, but not before casting her eye over me one last time. It wasn’t a look of lust…more of curiosity mingled with amusement. She gave me a final smirk and left the room.

Max looked at me in irritation. ‘Do you have to do that?’

‘Do what?’ I said, sitting down in the chair opposite him and leaning back. I cast a glance back out onto the main floor. The girl, Liv, hadn’t returned to her desk. She was standing with one of the guys from before, looking over at us and giggling. There was something about her – something about the way she was with Max – that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

‘She’s not my usual,’ Max said, following my gaze. ‘And, to tell the truth, she’s been a bit of a nuisance.’

‘Oh?’ I said. ‘In what way?’

‘You know,’ he said, watching her as she sauntered over to her desk and sat down. ‘How young girls are. Going out late…getting in late.’

I nodded, trying to feign sympathy. Christ, everyone was entitled to a life outside of work, especially at her age. She couldn’t have been much more than twenty-four, and that was being generous. Right now, she was applying lipstick, holding up a tiny mirror before her and peering into it, short-sightedly.

‘I wouldn’t mind so much,’ he said. ‘But it’s affecting her performance.’

‘So what’s happened to your usual?’ I said, casually. I could feel my heart pounding, as I said it, and realised the source of my dejection, suddenly. Grace wasn’t here. All my hopes of seeing her had been in vain. That was why I was still looking out at the trading floor, instead of facing Max. ‘She was here last time I was in, I think.’

‘She’s off,’ said Max abruptly. ‘Personal issues.’

‘Okay,’ I said, knowing I should leave it at that, but not wanting to let the subject rest. It wasn’t that I wanted to know any more. Hell, I probably knew more about Grace’s problems than Max, as it was, but I just wanted to be able to talk about her to somebody. I hadn’t mentioned her to anyone, and right now I needed to get it off my chest.

‘So, to what do I owe the honour?’ Max said, cutting across my thoughts. I turned back to him. He had his eyebrow raised in that supercilious way that never failed to get under my skin.

‘I have…’ I hesitated, not knowing how to explain without making myself sound guilty. ‘A bit of a situation.’

That was putting it mildly, but I didn’t want to overplay it to Max. I didn’t need his sympathy, just his cooperation.

‘A situation?’

‘Yes.’ I took a deep breath. ‘I’ve been charged with ABH.’

He raised his eyebrow further. ‘You? Well, well, I never took you for the type to engage in bar-room brawls.’

‘On a woman,’ I said, impatiently.

At this, Max looked alarmed. ‘Truly? Was it – a sub?’

I could see why he’d be worried. If a sub could accuse me of something like that, it could happen to Max. In fact, it was far more likely to happen to Max. He was a harsh taskmaster, and a cruel punisher. I only punished subs when I had good reason. Max didn’t need a reason. Even when I did chastise them, nine times out of ten it was some other way than the cane or the paddle. Too many subs were disobedient just to feel their sting. That wasn’t a punishment at all.

Punishment or not, there was always the slight chance that a Dom could misread a situation and end up in court, so Max’s reaction was anything but a surprise.

‘It was a sub…yes,’ I said. ‘And no.’

I outlined the situation, carefully avoiding any mention of the reasons for my visit to Charlotte. With Rick’s demise, the business with the tape was, hopefully, over and done with, and the less Max knew about it, the better.

As I finished my spiel, he sat forward, steepling his fingers, and looked me deep in the eyes.

‘If you did it,’ he said. ‘You can tell me. We owe you – you’re aware of that.’

‘I didn’t do it,’ I said.

‘It’ll help Giles to help you,’ he said, still holding my gaze.

I leaned forward and returned his stare. ‘I. Didn’t. Do. It.’

As Max opened his mouth to speak, there was a tap at the door. It was Liv again.

‘Sorry to interrupt, Max,’ she said, sounding breathless. ‘But Grace’s here to see you.’

At the mention of her name, I spun round. I couldn’t help myself. Liv stepped back and, there in front of me was Grace Anderton, the fucked-up little angel I’d vowed to help, and then let down in her hour of need.

As her eyes caught mine, they widened, and she went to smile. It was at that moment that I realised I didn’t want Max to realise I knew her…didn’t want him interfering.

I hoped she’d understand as I glared at her with my eyes, then smiled casually and turned back to Max.

‘Is that going to be a problem?’ I said, dragging my mind back to the reason for my visit.

‘It’s no problem at all.’ Max stood up and extended his hand. ‘Giles will see to it directly he returns, I’m sure. Now, if you’ll excuse me.’

I shook his hand and threw a disinterested smile at Grace and Liv. They were both standing there, staring at me in disbelief.

‘Ladies,’ I said, with a brief nod, and walked out past them without looking back.

Her

I
couldn’t believe it. For a moment or two, I simply stood there, staring at nothing, before Max coughed discreetly, at which point I stared down at him, instead.

‘I…I’ll leave you to it, then,’ said Liv, tactfully. I turned to her, only to find her giving me a puzzled look. She went out and closed the door behind her, but I could tell she was aching to stay.

‘How are you, Grace?’ Max said. ‘Take a seat.’

I sat down opposite him. Although the skirt of my suit was knee-length, it rode up slightly as I sat down, leaving the backs of my thighs exposed. The leather of the chair was still warm against them. I shifted, the enduring heat of his presence making me feel awkward and extending the hurt of his indifference. I wondered if Max knew what had passed between us, or if my reaction had given it away.

Almost as if he’d read my mind, Max’s next words increased my discomfort. ‘I see you’ve met my esteemed friend,’ he remarked.

I flushed. ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘He was here the day…’ I tailed off, not sure how to put into words the anguish of that morning.

‘He was, yes.’ Max didn’t speak for a moment. When he did, he seemed to have forgotten about his departed guest. ‘How have you been, Grace?’ he said.

He seemed genuinely interested, which put me even further on the back foot. It wasn’t like Max to be interested in the personal lives of his staff, and it made me wonder again if he knew more than he was saying. I didn’t want to acknowledge anything though, after his
esteemed friend
had so coolly blanked me. ‘Up and down,’ I said. ‘I need to get back to work.’

‘I’ve never been more glad to hear anything in my life,’ Max said, with a smile that disarmed me completely. For such a tyrant, he could be charming when he chose. ‘Liv...’

He left her name hanging in the air, but it told me all I needed to know. He’d missed me. It made me feel better about myself. I’d worked for Max for over two years, and I’d never known whether he was pleased with me, or not. I wondered what Liv had done to annoy him so but, knowing Max, it was nothing more than the unfamiliarity of a different face.

‘It’ll do you good,’ Max said. ‘Coming back to work. Keep you on the straight and narrow, and, hopefully, away from that dick.’

I felt my eyes widen. So he knew about us, after all. I was about to speak, to dismiss it as nothing but a chance encounter, when he spoke again.

‘Footballers like him are just overgrown man-boys,’ he said. ‘He’ll never be any good for you.’

I almost sagged with relief. He was talking about Leo.

I thought over his words. I felt embarrassed again, as if he’d somehow ticked me off for my bad taste in men. At the same time, I knew he was right, much as it pained me to admit it. ‘Is it okay if I start back on Monday, then?’ I said, to change the subject.

‘Most assuredly,’ he said, standing up to see me out. As I got to the office door, he touched my shoulder, and I turned to face him. ‘And, Grace, regarding our mutual friend...’ He indicated the now empty leather seat. ‘I don’t know what’s gone on between you…’ He spoke quietly, to avoid anyone overhearing, but his tone was intense and severe, and I felt myself growing hot with embarrassment again. So he
had
known.

‘…But I’d be very careful. Between you and I – and I don’t want this repeated – he’s just been charged with assaulting a girlfriend.’