Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“Oh, I did know that,” I lie. “I thought he was back already.”
“No, not until the weekend. Sunday, I believe.”
Red steam shoots out of my ears and I side eye out the window.
Mother. Fucker.
“Take me to my store please.”
EDWARD
The office door opens. “Edward.”
I stand, walk in and sit down.
Paul smiles as he looks me over from behind his desk. “Back in London.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me, how has your week been?”
“Not. Great.” I bite my lip.
“What happened?”
“I….”
“Go on.”
“I ended my relationship.”
“Good.” He smiles. “This is progress.”
“Is it, though?” I shrug. “It doesn’t feel like progress, feels like I’ve just jumped over a cliff into a pit of fire.”
He chuckles. “I do always love your analogies.”
“How did your girlfriend take it?”
“Terribly.”
“Okay.” He nods. “How was it seeing her so upset?”
I shrug, a weight sits heavily upon my shoulders. “I’m ashamed of how things turned out.”
“Ashamed of yourself?”
“For hurting her.”
“Yes.” He nods. “I understand.” He thinks for a moment, “Have you seen Alora?”
“Yes.”
He smiles. “How did that go?”
“Worse.”
“Worse?”
“I followed her to Paris and she was on a date.”
“Oh.” He frowns.
“She said he was a friend.”
“Is he a friend?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Maybe.”
“Why do you think maybe?”
“She’s seen him since and nothing suspicious has happened.”
“How do you know that?”
“I have guards on her.”
“Does she know that?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say when she found this out?”
“I….” I hesitate.
“You what?”
“I haven’t taken her calls since I put them on her.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to fight with her.”
“Edward Prescott not wanting to fight.” He sits back and smiles. “I do believe we may have progress.”
“Fuck off.” I roll my eyes. “I just don’t want to….”
“What?”
“Antagonize her.”
His eyes light up. “Are you scared of Alora?”
“I’m not scared of Alora, I’m scared of losing my temper with her,” I murmur.
“Why is that?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?”
“Not to me.”
“Where she’s concerned, everything is heightened.”
He stares at me for a beat. “You’re afraid your temper will be heightened too.”
I roll my lips, uncomfortable with where this is going.
“Edward, you need to have more trust in yourself. You have never been violent with women.”
“Not that way, I mean I don’t want her to end it,” I say softly.
“So something has begun?”
“No.”
“But you want it to?”
“Maybe.”
“Why are you afraid that she will end it?”
“Because she’s the first person I’ve ever met that I know actually would.”
“She’s as strong as you?” He frowns.
“Just as stubborn.”
“Which means?”
“Which means if I fuck this up she will walk away.”
“And that would be a problem?”
“Oh my fucking god. Do you listen to me at all?” I snap. “I’m leaving, as usual you are wasting my fucking time.”
“Hold up, sit back down.” He swings on his chair as his eyes hold mine. “Why don’t you take things slow with her.”
“Like how?”
“Get to know her properly. Wine and dine her. No sex, show her the real you.”
“Paul. Do you have a brain at all?” I roll my eyes. “I’m an angry sex maniac. If she meets the real me then she’s one hundred percent leaving.”
He chuckles. “I don’t think so.”
“So that’s your answer.”
He smiles over at me.
“I fly all the way to London for you to tell me to be friends with her.”
“I think it’s a great idea.”
“I think you’re talking out of your ass.” I throw my hands up. “You have no idea how hot this woman is and how not sleeping with her is physically impossible.”
“Vulnerability is a superpower, Edward.”
“No.” I shake my head. “You told me last week that her bonding depends on how hard she comes. That is my superpower.”
His eyes hold mine.
“So I’m going with that option.” I stand. “I should charge you for these visits, I’m the only one here with any decent ideas.”
“I’ll see you next week.”
“No you won’t.” I walk to the door. “Problem solved, I’m going to fuck her into unconsciousness.”
“That’s not legal.”
“Who fucking cares.”
ALORA
Ring, ring…. Ring, ring.
I close my eyes, hoping he won’t answer and I can just leave a message.
“Alora. Hi.”
“Hi Pascal,” I reply. “I saw the news and spoke to your mother. Are you okay?”
“I’m getting there.” His voice has a sadness in it. “Just got out of hospital today.”
“Right.” I chew my lip as I try to work out what to say next. “Who did this to you?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see them.”
“They jumped you from behind?”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t Edward, he would never hit someone from behind, he would want them to know it was him.
Phew….
“What are the doctors saying?” I ask.
“I have six broken ribs and a broken eye socket and nose.”
“God. You must be in so much pain,” I whisper. “How awful.”
“I’m on the good drugs, so I’ll be fine.”
“Ummm.” Should I just ask him? Yes, screw it, I need to know. “Pascal, I have to ask you something.”
“Yeah.”
“I found an….” I try to find the right words. “A tracker in my purse. Do you know anything about it? I mean, if you put it there by accident or something while we were going out then that’s okay,” I stammer. “I just need to know who put it there. It’s really scared me.”