Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 160782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 804(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 804(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
“Why have you taken all of our guards off Natasha and replaced them with stand-in ones?” Cameron asks.
I narrow my eyes. “Get out, Natasha has a right to privacy you know. I could use some myself at the moment. Leave us alone.”
“Max has stayed with Natasha.” My eyes flick to Ben in a question.
“He refused to leave her,” he replies.
I nod in relief. I took my guards off Tash and replaced them to give her some room to breathe, but I have been worried ever since. At least I know she is safe with Max watching over her.
“Turn that music down, for God’s sake,” Adrian sighs.
“I like this song,” I reply as I light another cigarette. “What is it?”
“Arctic Monkeys, ‘Do I wanna know’” I reply.
“Yeah, on repeat I’m not so sure,” he sighs.
“Get out then.”
“Get dressed. We are going to the gym,” Ben snaps.
I blow out a deep breath. “Ok, I will be out in ten.” They leave the room and I flick the screen back up and I watch the red dot move through the streets. She’s in the car on her way home. I minimize the screen again in disgust at myself.
“Snap out of it, Stanton.”
It’s nine o’clock and we have just returned from the gym and dinner. I’m missing Natasha. I just want to see her, hold her. How on Earth did I get so dependent on one person? I turn on my computer and wait for it to boot up as I sit and tap my fingers on the desk and blow out a deep breath. After what seems like an eternity the screen comes up and I watch the red dot flash on my screen. I narrow my eyes as I look at the address across the bottom of the screen: 117 Macquarie Street, Sydney. Where is she? What is she doing?
My heart starts to race as I type the address into the ‘Find’ toolbar.
Sydney InterContinental Hotel flashes up and my stomach twists. Oh my god, she’s in a hotel. There is only one reason she would be there.
She’s with someone.
I grab my head in my hands as pain lances through my chest and I stand so suddenly that my chair falls to the ground. This is what I wanted her to do, she is doing as I asked. I pick up a glass on my desk and throw it against the wall. It smashes through the room. I find myself in a rage as I punch the computer monitor as hard as I can, and it smashes as it falls from the desk. I pace as I start to lose it, the door slowly opens, and I turn my haunted eyes to see Ben standing quietly in the doorway. By the look on his face I know he knows. He has spoken to Max and he knows where Natasha is. His eyes scan the room, he sees the glass and the broken computer screen and the tears running down my face.
“Mate,” he says softly in his heavy South African accent. “What have you done?”
“Get out!” I scream.
“What have you made her do?” he repeats softly.
“Get out!” I scream again. I need to get away from him and I walk into the bathroom. I look into the mirror at myself. I make myself sick. I asked her to do this and yet I am gutted that she actually is doing it. What was I thinking? I break into full-blown sobs as pain cuts through my chest like a knife. I punch the mirror and it smashes into a thousand pieces. I hear Ben make a call.
“Hello, Steve, this is Ben. We will meet you in the gym in thirty minutes. Yes.” He goes silent as he listens. “Organize some of your best. Stanton needs to fight.”
Natasha
“So, let me give you this brochure and then we can go through your other options.” I listen as the genetic counsellor speaks to one of the clients I am seeing. She has just discovered that she carries the breast cancer gene and is considering a mastectomy. My mind is anywhere but in this room. A heavy lead ball sits in the pit of my stomach. It’s Thursday and Joshua won’t return my calls. What if he was lying? What if it was a test and I failed? I close my eyes in pain. What was I thinking?
A knock sounds at the door and I stand to answer it. Our receptionist is there.
“Hi Tash,” she whispers. “Sorry to bother you but Bridget is on the phone and she said it is a matter of life or death.”
I frown as I take the phone from her and put my finger up to the two women in my office, signifying to them I would be one minute. The counsellor smiles and nods and I step just outside the office.