This Man Confessed (34 page)

“Where’s Patrick, Sal?” I ask, having not gotten any answer from Victoria.

“He’ll be in at noon,” she answers. “He’s not been around much.”

“No?”

She shakes her head, but says no more and returns to the pile of invoices at the filing cabinet.

“Ava,” Tom begins, straightening out his fashion specs. “You need to call that Ruth. She hounded the office phone yesterday.”

My laughing abates fast. “What did she say?” I ask casually, riffling through my bag for my phone when it occurs to me that I’ve still not turned it on. It’s been off since Thursday morning when Jesse impounded it.

“Not much.” He straightens his aqua tie. “Everything’s fine with the works. I kept your appointment with her on Thursday, but she wasn’t impressed to see me.”

I shrink into my chair on a wince as my phone comes to life in my hand and immediately starts alerting me of dozens of missed calls, texts, and e-mails. I filter through, responding to Kate’s
Welcome home!
text, and my mum’s
Call me when you’re settled
text, before counting the missed calls from Ruth. There are eleven, but despite the bombardment of calls from her, it’s the two missed calls from Mikael that start my heart pumping fast. I can’t avoid this any longer and for the first time, I sit and think hard about who could be responsible for drugging me and trying to run me off the road. And then there are the dead flowers. They were from a woman; I don’t doubt it for a moment, which leads me to the same conclusion: Mikael couldn’t possibly be responsible. He’s a businessman, and a respected one at that. But what about the CCTV footage from the awful night when my drink was spiked? It was Mikael, I’m certain. Maybe the incidents aren’t connected at all. My money is on Coral, the ex-lover, or perhaps Sarah. The flowers came after Sarah’s apology, though. So did the car chase. Is she playing games still? I drop my phone to the desk. My brain aches.

I twiddle my pencil, scanning my mind for my next move. It doesn’t take long. I swipe my phone up and dial Mikael. I don’t even register it ringing before his smooth, mildly accented voice comes down the line. “Ava, how very good to hear from you.”

“I’m sure,” I reply dryly. “Did you manage to sort your divorce out?” I go straight for the jugular and judging by the silent span of time that follows my question, I’ve succeeded in my strategy.

“I did,” he says cautiously.

“Oh good. What can I do for you, Mikael?” I’m stunned by my own confidence. I could be dealing with a lunatic here, and I’m talking to him with absolutely no respect, as a client
or
as a potential lunatic.

He laughs lightly. “It’s time we met, don’t you think?”

“No, I don’t,” I retort briskly. “I think we both know that our business relationship is over, Mr. Van Der Haus.”

“Why ever would that be?”

His question stops me in my tracks, but I soon gather myself. “You said it was very interesting that I’d been seeing Jesse for a month-ish.” I’m not shying away from this.

“Yes, except now you’re married to him and expecting his twins. I’m brokenhearted, Ava.”

I don’t gather myself so quickly this time. How the hell does he know? “Mr. Van Der Haus—” I’m sure to keep my voice down, scanning the office constantly. This isn’t the time or the place, but I’ve started now. I’m not finishing this conversation until I’ve said what needs to be said. I get up, beating away balloons, and pace into the conference room, shutting the door behind me. “Is this about Jesse and your wife?” I know I hear a falter in his breathing, and it boosts my confidence. “Because I already know, so you’re wasting your time.”

“Oh, Mr. Ward’s been confessing?”

“Your ex-wife turned up at Jesse’s home, Mikael. I’m sorry for what has happened, but I don’t see what this is going to achieve.” I’m not sorry at all, but maybe, just maybe, I can make him see sense.

He laughs, and it prickles at my deeply bronzed skin. “Ava, I couldn’t care less about my ex-wife. She’s a money-grabbing whore. I care only for your well-being. Jesse Ward is not the right man for you.”

I flinch at his harsh referral to his wife and rest my backside on the edge of the conference table. “And you are?” I stammer over the words, mentally scolding myself for showing any hesitance. He cares for my well-being?

“Yes, I am,” he says candidly. “I won’t entertain other women behind your back, Ava.”

I nearly drop my phone. He knows that, too?

“Nevertheless”—I’m desperately trying to find my stride again—“I think too much has happened for us to continue working together.”

“Too much has happened?” he asks. “And you know what he got up to when he left you?”

“Yes,” I grate, wondering how the hell he knows. I’ve managed to keep that issue quiet. “My relationship with Jesse has nothing to do with you, Mikael. I know what he did.” It kills me to say it. “I’ll be speaking to Patrick and withdrawing from The Life Building project. You’re welcome to take my designs and have someone else see the contract through.” I hang up and exhale a relieved breath. I don’t know why I feel like a weight has been lifted when I’ve still got to tell Patrick, and listening to Mikael for the last few minutes has stirred more questions. I’m not sure whether I would put my life on it, but I don’t think he would go to the extremes of drugging me and trying to ram me from the road, not if he wants to take me away from Jesse so I can be with him. What use am I dead? I laugh out loud in my own little private moment of comprehension. Someone tried to kill me. This is insane.

My phone dances in my hand and a quick glimpse at my screen tells me my day has only just begun. Dealing with Ruth Quinn at the moment, though, doesn’t seem like such a chore. “Hi, Ruth.”

“Ava!” She sounds surprised. “You never said that you were going away.”

“Last minute, Ruth. Is everything okay?”

“Yes, fine, but I’ve changed my mind on the cabinets for the kitchen. Can we meet to discuss?”

“Of course.” I only just suppress my sigh. “I’ve got piles of paperwork to get through, so can we say tomorrow?”

“Twelve?” she counters, not demanding today, which is a pleasant surprise.

“I’ll see you then, Ruth.” I hang up feeling empowered, like I’m taking charge of things rather than letting them take charge of me.

I land at my desk and spend the rest of my Tuesday clearing the buildup of paperwork.

Six o’clock comes around fast, and I’m the last the leave the office. Patrick didn’t return to work as planned, but called to assure me that he’d be in tomorrow. I’ll talk to him then, but I’m disappointed. I feel the compulsion to rid myself of this burden without delay.

I get straight into the big black Range Rover without a sigh, falter, or complaint. “Hi, John.”

“Girl.” He pulls off into the traffic. “How was your day?”

“Constructive. Yours?”

“Magnificent.”

I get the feeling he’s being cynical. “Where are we going?” I slouch back in my chair, hoping he says Lusso, but I won’t hold my breath. Jesse would’ve collected me himself if we were going home.

“The Manor, girl. How did it go with your boss?” He flicks his covered eyes to me, a curious look traveling across his face.

“It didn’t. He wasn’t in today.”

“That’ll please the crazy motherfucker.” He laughs.

I smile my agreement. I know it will.

I jump out the second John pulls to a stop and take the steps fast, pushing my way through the doors. “He said to wait in the bar for him, girl,” John calls to my back, but I pretend not to hear him. I’m not waiting in the bar. After having him to myself for three whole days, my first day back at work has been the longest ever. I hotfoot it past the stairs and through the summer room before John can catch me. The usual gatherings of members are here, but I don’t hang around to gauge the reaction to my presence.

I steam straight into Jesse’s office, without knocking and without stopping to think that I could be barging in on a business meeting. I’ve had some shocks when doing this before.

And I’m shocked now.

D
an?” I say warily, staring at my brother’s back. He’s sitting opposite Jesse at his desk, and he turns at the sound of his name. “What are you doing here?” The sudden astronomical consequences of his visit hit me hard.

“Hey, kiddo.” He stands, all smiling, and makes his way over to me, stooping to hug me. “Congratulations.”

“I might get to tell someone myself soon,” I grumble, landing Jesse with a reproachful look over my brother’s shoulder. He shrugs sheepishly and pouts before mouthing
I love you
.

“So what are you doing here?” I repeat, cocking my head at Jesse, but he just shrugs again and remains quiet. It’s a novelty.

“Making amends.” Dan releases me and runs his hand through his dark mop. “I didn’t want to go home without sorting this out.”

“Oh?” I look at Jesse again, who just shrugs…again. “So you’re friends?”

“Something like that. Anyway, I need to shoot. I’m meeting Harvey up west.” He turns to Jesse. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Jesse nods, not bothering to be civil and stand to see Dan out. That and all of the nonchalant shrugs are increasing my suspicion.

“When are you heading back?” I ask when he’s facing me again.

“I’m not sure. Depends on flights. I’ll call you, okay?” He kisses my cheek and heads past me, meeting the big guy at the door. John shakes his menacing head at me before escorting my brother from Jesse’s office.

I point my suspiciousness at Jesse. “What was all that about?”

“What?”

I walk over to the sofa and drop my bag down before taking the seat my brother has just vacated. “Look at me.” Those three words always do the trick, but not because he’s obeying me. It’s because he’s always shocked to hear them. I don’t care. He can look at me stunned all he likes. “Why was Dan here?”

He stands and picks his phone up from the desk. “He apologized.”

I laugh in his face. Dan would never apologize, not to Jesse. I’ve known him my whole life, and I know he’s far too proud to back down. “I don’t believe you.”

“That makes me sad, baby.” He pulls a solemn face, which raises my suspicions further. “Now, tell me. What did Patrick say?”

I know my suspicious glower has just transformed into guilt, and it’s me evading
his
eyes now.

“You’ve not told him, have you?” he asks with an edge of anger in his tone. “Ava?”

“He wasn’t in the office,” I blurt quickly. “But he will be tomorrow, so I’ll speak to him then.”

“Too late, lady. You’ve had your chance. Again and again and again.”

“That’s not fair,” I argue. “I told Mikael I won’t be working with him anymore, so you can’t say I’m not trying to resolve this.” I know immediately that I’ve made a grave mistake when his shoulders stiffen and his greens widen.

“You did what?”

“I don’t think he drugged me, Jesse. He said he wanted me, so why would he hurt me?” I need to shut the hell up. Those words have just made his mouth drop open.

“What the fucking hell are you doing talking to him?” He rests his fist on the desk, like a silverback gorilla getting ready to charge. It makes me sit back in my chair.

“He knows that you’ve…” I say and start a frantic tap on my front tooth with my nail, “entertained other women while we’ve been together.” I hold my breath, knowing that I’m increasing the building fury.

“We agreed never to speak of that again.” He virtually grinds the words out, his jaw tense to snapping point.

“It’s hard when people keep reminding me of it.” I’m leaning forward now, finding a momentary spurt of bravery. “How does he know?” I figure the answer out before he can deny even knowing it. The chewed lip and quite a few other things, mental comprehension, mainly, bring me to a fast conclusion. Mikael’s ex-wife. “She was one of them, wasn’t she?” I ask. His eyes close, and I stand up and lean across the desk, mirroring his threatening stance. He doesn’t need to reply. “You said
months
. You said you hadn’t been with her for months, that you didn’t understand why she was suddenly sniffing around. You’ve slept with her more than once, too!”

“I didn’t want to upset you.” He’s still hostile. It’s a blatant defense mechanism.

“Tell me. Did you call them up and have them make a queue outside your door?”

“No, they hear that I’m on the drink and they’re like flies around shit.”

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Don’t make my heart crack, Ava. Does it matter who it was?”

“No, what matters is that you lied to me.”

“I was protecting you.”

“And it’s hilarious that every single time you do that, you end up hurting me.”

“I know.”

“So, have you learned?”

“Every fucking day.” He grabs my jaw aggressively, but says softly, “I’m sorry.”

“Good.” I nod decisively in his hold, suddenly registering that our faces are now touching as we both lean in over his desk. We’re burning each other with angry gazes, mixed with a ton of lust. “How did this happen?” I ask the question out loud when I was only intending on thinking it.

“Because, my beautiful girl, we’re meant to be stuck together. Constant contact. Kiss me.”

“I’ve accepted that you’re an arsehole, so there’s no need to try and get me submitting to your touch now.” I will, though.

“I missed you, baby.”

I climb up onto his desk and inch my way closer on my knees until I’m wrapped around him and my lips are all over his. Stupidly, I’ve missed him, too. One working day after Paradise and I’m feeling hard done by—short changed. I’ve been suffering Jesse withdrawal and now I’ve finally got my next hit. “I wish you were pure and untouched,” I mumble, trailing my lips over every inch of his face. Of everything, this I wish the most—that no one came before me, or even during me. I’ve forgiven him, I truly have, but I’m struggling to forget.

“I am.” He sits down in his leather chair and jostles with me until I give in and let him sit me on his lap. “The most important part of me is untouched.” He takes my hand and twirls my rings for a few thoughtful moments before flattening my palm and placing it on his chest. “Or it was until you stepped into my office. Now it’s being stamped all over and is exploding with pure love for
you
.”

I smile. “I like feeling it beating.” I move in, opening his jacket up and lowering my ear to his shirt. “I like hearing it, too.” It’s one of the most comforting things in the world.

His arms wrap around me and pull me in closer. “How was your day?”

“Crap. I want Paradise.”

He laughs and kisses the top of my head. “I’m in Paradise whenever I’m with you. I don’t need a villa.”

“You were more relaxed in Paradise.” I say it how it is. I know being back in London will slowly draw my neurotic control freak back to the surface.

“I’m relaxed now.”

“Yes, that is because I’m sitting on your lap, coated in you.” I reply sardonically, earning myself a little dig in the hollow space above my hips. I laugh and turn myself around on his lap so I’m facing his desk. “How was
your
day?”

His hands slide around onto my tummy and his chin rests on my shoulder. “Long. How are my peanuts?”

“Fine.” His notepad catches my eye. “Why’s my brother’s name written down there?” I reach forward to pull it closer, but too slowly because it’s soon whipped from under my nose and shoved in the top drawer of Jesse’s desk. I pull my hand back on a shocked jump at his fast movement. “Daniel Joseph O’Shea?” I frown to myself, thinking I definitely saw numbers on that paper, and it wasn’t a telephone number. “Why have you got Dan’s bank account number written down?”

“I haven’t.” He quickly dismisses my question, and he’s tense. Damn him, he hasn’t learned at all.

I remove myself from his lap and place myself to the side of him, punishing him with a stare equal to his
don’t push it
glare. “I’m giving you three seconds, Ward.”

His lips press into a straight, aggravated line. “The countdown is mine,” he claims, childishly.

“Three.” I even hold three fingers up, in the most provoking fashion possible. I’m just as bad as he is. “Two.” I lose a finger, but I don’t get to one or zero because I have an obvious moment of lucidity. “You’re giving him money!”

“No.” He shakes his head in the most unconvincing way possible, shifting his feet in his seated position. He’s becoming as bad at lying as I am.

“You’re a shit liar, too, Ward.” I swivel on my heels and make a run for it, mainly to catch my brother before he leaves, but also to escape Jesse before he catches
me
.

“Ava!”

I take no notice of the threatening shout of my name, and break into a full-on run when I reach the summer room. I pass the kitchens, the bar, and the restaurant and skid on my heels when I find Dan standing by the huge round table in the entrance hall. He’s not doing anything or talking to anyone; he’s just standing there looking confused. John is here, too, and I know why that is. It’s the same reason why John accompanied
me
everywhere in the early days. I watch in apprehension as Dan looks around and John tries to usher him on, but he’s not shifting, not even for the big guy.

Jesse’s chest hits my back, and I’m picked up and turned in his arms. He’s not happy. “For fuck’s sake, woman! You’ll give the babies brain damage! No running!”

If I wasn’t so concerned by my brother’s location and behavior, I would laugh at the crazy idiot holding me firmly in his arms. “Get a grip!” I wriggle free and swing around, finding Dan watching us. His brow is completely furrowed, and John looks on edge.

Dan takes a leisurely gaze around the entrance hall again, and then his inquisitive eyes land on Jesse. “If this is a hotel, then where’s the reception area?”

“What?” Jesse’s tone is impatient, almost defensive, and I wish it wasn’t. It’s a dead giveaway and I’m praying for him to think up something quickly.

“Where do your guests pick up the keys to their room?” He looks up at John. “And why the need to have a gorilla escorting me everywhere?”

I cringe, Jesse tenses, and John growls. My brother is a bit quicker on the uptake than me. I’m wracking my blank mind for something, anything, but it just isn’t happening. I, or we, have been caught completely off guard. And then I hear a voice and it’s the only voice in the world that I would wish
not
to hear right now.

Kate.

I visibly sag on the spot, and I feel Jesse’s hand on the small of my back. Why isn’t he saying anything? I watch and listen in horror as Kate and Sam dance down the stairs, giggling, feeling each other up, and generally looking all sexed up. This is a disaster. I can’t help elbowing Jesse in the ribs, a silent demand to say something. Oh God, please say something!

Kate and Sam are completely oblivious to the silent peanut gallery awaiting them at the bottom of the stairs, as they fondle and pet each other, saying inappropriate things, of which one sentence definitely included the word
dildo
. I’m in hell, and no one has even said anything, except my delinquent best friend and her cheeky chap of a boyfriend, not that they are aware…yet. I’m stuck in limbo. It’s the closest I’ve come to watching a train crash, all very slowly. Dan and The Manor; Dan and Kate; Dan and Sam; Dan and Jesse. The shit is going to hit the fan in a big way.

“Oh!” Kate’s delighted shriek echoes around the entrance hall, followed by Sam’s sexed-up growl. Then they land at the bottom of the stairs in a messy bundle of entwined arms and frantic lips, eating each other alive. They should have stayed in the suite because they are nowhere near done. “Sam!” She laughs and falls back over his arm, catching my eye, her happy face beaming further, until she clocks my brother. She’s not laughing now. In fact, she looks close to seizure. She scrambles up and slaps a disgruntled Sam away before smoothing down her wild red hair and pulling at her disheveled clothes. But she doesn’t say anything and neither does Sam as he looks to and fro between the quiet observers.

Dan breaks the screaming silence. “Hotel?” He’s drilling holes into Kate and Sam at regular intervals, back and forth, before turning his questioning eyes to Jesse. “Do you often let your friends carry on like this in your establishment?”

“Dan.” I step forward, but I don’t get very far. Jesse places himself in front of me.

“I think you should come back to my office.” Jesse’s voice is intimidating, as is his body language.

“No, thanks.” Dan almost laughs, keeping his eyes on Kate. I’ve never seen her looking so uncomfortable, and Sam must be wondering what’s going on. “You’re whoring it up at a brothel?”

“What the fuck?” Sam shouts. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?” Sam’s moving forward, but Kate catches his arm, pulling him back.

“This is no brothel, and I’m no whore.” Her voice is shaky and unsure as she holds on to Sam. I want to jump to her defense, but no words are forming and Jesse saves me the trouble, anyway.

He approaches Dan, wraps his palm around the nape of my brother’s neck, and leans in, whispering something in his ear. It’s the most threatening act possible. I don’t even want to consider what he has said, especially when Dan shows his willingness to follow Jesse’s lead, with no further persuasion. I go to follow, too; I want to hear this, but I’m halted.

“Wait for me in the bar, baby.” He tries to turn me, but I’m feeling a little defiant. I’m not happy with Jesse taking Dan to his office alone.

“I’d like to come.” I have no faith in my feigned confidence.

I’m picked up and taken to my stool. “You’ll stay put.” He kisses my cheek like it will appease me. It won’t. My eyes are throwing daggers right at his back as he stalks out of the bar in long, even strides.

“Ah!” Mario’s happy voice draws my attention away from my husband’s disappearing back. “Look at you, all…how you say? Like a flower. Blooming!” He clucks my cheek across the bar and passes me a bottle of water. “No more Mario’s Most Marvelous for you!”

I grunt but smile, taking a long swig of the icy water, leaving Mario to go and tend to other members. Sam wanders in, looking all chirpy and with his dimple in its usual spot. I’m confused. “Hey, Mama!” He has a cheeky rub of my stomach. “How are you feeling?”