Beneath This Man (This Man, #2)(97)

‘I know. I’ve got to go.’ I push.

‘Fine, I’ll speak to you over the weekend,’ she says on a huff. ‘Take care of yourself.’ She adds the last bit a little more softly. She never ends a conversation on a bad note.

‘I will, I love you.’

‘You too, Ava.’

I drop my phone in my lap and keep staring up at the high ceiling. Will he continue to shit all over me? The temptation to ring Matt’s mother is overwhelming. I’ve never been her favourite person and she’s never been mine. Her little golden boy can do no wrong, so calling her and filling her in on Matt’s transgressions would be fruitless. Oh God, my parents will be frantic.

I close my eyes and try to dispel all thoughts of hideous ex-boyfriends and worrying parents. It doesn’t work. When I open them again, Jesse’s face is floating above mine, a hand braced on each arm of the chair as he leans over me.

His big smile disappears when he registers my expression. ‘What’s up?’ he asks, all concerned. I don’t want to tell him. The last thing I need is to rile him after yesterday’s events. ‘Hey, tell me. No more secrets.’

‘Okay,’ I say as he crouches in front of me so our eyes are level.

He takes my hands in his. ‘Come on then.’ he prompts when I don’t elaborate on my okay. I don’t want to start the day off with a Jesse rage.

‘Matt phoned my parents and told them I’m shacked up with a raving alcoholic who beat him up.’ I blurt it out fast and brace myself for the storm. I can see the colour rising in his face already as he chews his bottom lip. I’ve changed my mind; I don’t think I want to send Jesse around to sort Matt out. By the look of his face, he would probably kill him.

I sit and wait pensively for Jesse to ponder whatever it is he is pondering.

‘I’m not an alcoholic.’ He eventually grates.

‘I know.’ I give him my most reassuring voice, but I fear I just sound patronising. He really doesn’t like being called an alcoholic, and now I’m wondering if he’s right or if he’s in denial. He looks so angry, I wish I had kept my mouth shut.

‘Jesse, how does he know?’

He stands up straight. ‘I don’t know, Ava. We need to have a chat with Cathy.’

Is that it? Is he not going to try and find out? ‘Why do we need a chat with Cathy?’ I ask shortly.

‘She’s been away. She needs to know stuff.’ He puts his hand out to me and I let him pull me up.

‘Like what?’

‘I don’t know,’ he answers on a huff. ‘That’s why we need to talk to her.’ He tries to tug me towards the kitchen.

I pull my hand away. ‘No. You, Jesse. This is your place, she is your housekeeper.’ I shake my head. That little comment has just earned me an almighty growl and a glare.

‘Ours!’ He reaches around me, grabs my bum and yanks me to his body. ‘You really know how to rub me up the wrong way. Which reminds me,’ He rolls his groin into me. ‘That was cruel and unreasonable.’ He arches his brow. ‘I waited upstairs and you didn’t show.’

A small chuckle escapes my mouth. ‘What did you do?’

‘What do you think I did?’

I burst into fits of laughter at the thought of my poor man resorting to a quick wank because I’m a child and a tease. I’m soon shut up, though, when I feel him grind into me again. I catch his eyes. They are dancing in delight. I know his game and with Cathy in the kitchen, I also know he has no intention of seeing me through to the end. I wriggle out of his arms and straighten myself out.

‘I’m sorry.’ I say on a grin. I’m not.

He narrows his dazzling greens on me. All of the anger has gone, thank God. ‘You will be.’ He makes a grab for me and positions me back in front of him. ‘Don’t do it again.’ He kisses me hard, grinds his hips, and then removes himself from me, leaving me dazed and disorientated.

I scowl at him. ‘Go and talk to your housekeeper.’ I make a rubbish job of pretending he doesn’t have an effect on me.

‘Ours! For f*ck sake woman!’ He clenches his jaw in frustration at me. ‘You’re impossible!’

Me? ‘You go and talk to the housekeeper. I need to make peace with Clive.’ I leave him with a face like thunder. ‘Bye, Cathy.’ I call as I leave the penthouse.



I exit the elevator timidly. I’ve won Cathy back over, now it’s time to work on Clive. I have the urgent need to cleanse my soul. I laugh inwardly. A few apologies to the staff of Lusso isn’t going to cut it, and now Clive knows about the elevator door, I expect he’s even more cross with me.

I spot him collecting the post from the mailboxes. ‘Morning, Clive.’ I say cheerfully.

He looks up as he locks the mailbox. There is no escaping his grievance with me. ‘Ava.’ he replies with no friendliness. It’s beyond formal. I’ve really upset him.

‘Clive, I’m so sorry.’

‘You caused me untold inconvenience.’ He shakes his head as he makes his way back to his desk. ‘And I have no idea what happened to the elevator door. You’re like a whirlwind, Ava.’

Me? I roll my eyes. I’m not defending myself. ‘I know. Tell me how I can make it up to you.’ I rest my elbows on the high desk and plaster on my most angelic face.