Beneath This Man (This Man, #2)(118)

‘Pardon?’ I blurt on a laugh.

She smiles slyly, and I dread the words I know she’s about to say. ‘Yes, when I rescued him on Wednesday morning after you left him handcuffed to his bed,’ She shakes her head. ‘Not a wise move.’

My stomach falls into my heels as I watch her weighing up my reaction to her information overload. Jesse called Sarah? When he was bollock naked, handcuffed to the bed and with a vibrator next to him, he chose Sarah to come and release him?

What?

I thought John freed him. Why did I think that? I can’t even reflect that far back. At the moment, I’m just looking at the nasty creature stood in front of me, smugly delighting in my misery. I’m going to kill him, but first I’m going to wipe that sly smile off of her botox pumped face.

‘Have you ever heard of tit tape, Sarah?’ I ask coolly. Her face drops, as do her eyes to her chest. I start walking forward. Oh, she is so getting trampled!

‘Excuse me?’ she laughs.

‘Tit tape. It’s widely known to keep breasts secure, or…’ I shake my head. ‘Of course, it’s your intention to assault people’s eyes with your overinflated chest.’ I stop in front of her. ‘Less is more, Sarah. Have you ever heard of that saying? You would do well to remember it, especially at your age.’

‘Ava?’

No! Oh no no, no!

I turn and find Jesse stood with his frown line perfectly in place. Good, because he should be really concerned. I hear Sarah’s heels disappear off into the restaurant. Yes, she’s dropped her bombshell and has now f*cked off to avoid being hit by the shrapnel.

‘What’s going on?’ he asks, his handsome face full of confusion and concern.

I don’t even know what to say. I glance around the entrance hall of The Manor and see many members making their way upstairs. It must be past ten thirty.

‘Ava?’

I return my eyes to Jesse as he starts walking towards me. I step back and he stops in his tracks. ‘I’m leaving.’ My tone is completely resolute. I can’t stay here and listen to women boast about their sexual encounters with Jesse, listen to them pass judgment on why I’m with him. Neither am I watching as he disappears with another woman with no explanation. And I’m certainly not setting myself up for humiliation by Sarah. I turn and walk with purpose to the huge, double doors that will take me out of this hellhole. My heart is hammering and tears of frustration are brimming.

‘Ava!’ I hear him yell, and then the telltale signs of his thumping footsteps coming after me.

I have no idea what I plan on doing when I get outside. I know he will catch me, and I know he won’t let me leave. I’ll steal a car. I don’t care that I’m way over the limit. My visit to the toilet was bad enough, but Sarah has completely finished me off. I can’t subject myself to this torture anymore. It’s rotting my reasonableness, turning me into a jealous, resentful monster. I shouldn’t have come here.

‘Ava, get your f*cking arse here!’

I make it to the steps and bump into Kate. ‘Where have you been?’ she asks shortly, her eyes widening when she obviously catches sight of Jesse in pursuit of me.

‘I’m going.’ I blurt, gathering my dress up, ready to take the steps. She watches me hastily pass her with a what-the-hell look coated all over her pale face. I fly down the steps, stupidly fast, and collide with his solid, suit-covered chest. That f*cking chest! I’m hoofed up and slung over his shoulder with no effort at all.

‘You’re not f*cking going anywhere, lady.’ he growls, and starts back up the steps to The Manor.

I flick my hair out of my face and push my hands into his lower back to try and break free. ‘Let go of me!’ I yell frantically as I wriggle, but he has a tight hold, and I know he would die before letting me go. ‘Jesse!’

Kate watches with an open mouth as we pass her, before throwing her cigarette butt on the floor and following us in. ‘What’s going on?’

‘He’s an arsehole! That’s what is going on!’ I yell, attracting the attention of all the valet staff, who halt all duties and quietly observe me being jostled back into The Manor. ‘Jesse, put me down!’

‘No!’ He continues through the entrance hall and towards the summer room. ‘It’s fine Kate. I just need a little chat with Ava.’ he says calmly, increasing his grip on me as I continue to battle his hold.

Looking up, I see Kate stop at the bar entrance and shrug at me. I want to scream at her, but I know she’ll be of little use in trying to prize Jesse off me. I’m carried through the summer room, where all of the tables have been cleared and a dance floor set up. The band stops their sound check and watch as Jesse strides through with me draped across his shoulder. I crane my neck around and spot John coming from the direction of Jesse’s office, and he laughs as he shakes his head. It’s not bloody funny. We pass him in the corridor, but he says nothing. He just moves to let us by before carrying on his way, like this is an everyday, normal occurrence. I suppose it is.

Jesse kicks his office door shut and dumps me on my feet, his face contorted with rage, which only boosts my own fury. He points his finger in my face. ‘Don’t you EVER walk away from me!’ he roars.

I flinch.

He throws his arms up in frustration and walks over to the drinks cabinet as I make for the door again. Will he have a drink if I leave? At the moment, I’m too mad to care. I grab the handle of the door, but make no further progress. I’m grabbed and yanked back before he places me on my feet again and practically kicks a cabinet until it blocks the exit.