For Your Own Protection(50)

‘Don’t run off without explaining what you know.’

‘If I don’t return to the office soon, they’ll be phoning me up, and you know that’s never a good thing.’

‘Then just tell me. And you can leave.’

Sean looked at the exit, and then back at Matt. ‘Okay,’ he surrendered. ‘I’ll tell you. But you’ve got to promise me one thing: you won’t tell Beth about what I’m about to say.’

‘I promise.’

Sean ran a hand across his face. He looked like he was about to start, before stopping himself and thinking something through. ‘Now, Matt, please don’t take this the wrong way. I want you to try to see things in the context of what was happening at the time.’

Sean took another moment to think.

‘When you were going through your really bad patch – you know, just after you took a break from the company. You weren’t yourself, and Beth was really worried, you know that.’

‘I was feeling a little better by then.’

‘I know. But Beth was worried about you still. We all were. You know the way you reacted when she got together with James. That day you came round to the house to get some things, and you were so upset. She was worried you might do something stupid. It was real concern. She spoke to me about it a few times, saying how worried she was about your mental state.’

‘Do something stupid – you mean, kill myself?’

Sean didn’t have to reply; his expression told its own story. Suddenly an awful, sickening thought rose up from the depths. ‘She was worried I might do something stupid with Charlie?’

Sean didn’t look like he wanted to confirm it out loud. ‘Well . . . not really . . . but yes, there was a concern there that you might not be thinking straight. Obviously, she never thought in your right mind you’d do anything to hurt Charlie, but the way you were acting, you’ve got to admit you were erratic, so she was worried.’

Matt shook his head in disbelief.

Have I got this all wrong?

He shuddered at the thought.

Was Charlie being protected from him, the boy’s own father?





CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR


James Farrah exited the cubicle. He was shocked to see her waiting there, leaning provocatively against the bank of sinks, her pencil skirt flirting with the tops of her calves.

‘Jessica, what the hell are you doing in here?’

She smiled seductively, moving towards him and looping her arms around his neck. ‘I just wanted to catch up, that’s all. You’ve been a bit distant lately.’

James ducked out of the embrace, conscious that a colleague could come walking in at any moment. ‘What the hell, Jess – you followed me into the toilets?’

Again she wrapped her arms around him, but this time he didn’t fight it. ‘You didn’t seem to have a problem with it last time. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten our little timeout last month, in the middle of the executive board meeting.’ She kissed his neck and he closed his eyes, chin tipping towards the ceiling.

She rested her hand between his legs.

‘Jessica, no,’ he said, pushing her hand away as he fought the urge to surrender. ‘Someone might come in.’

‘Come on,’ she pressed. ‘Into the cubicle. Now. I’m hungry.’

‘No.’

This time she got the message, and her face twisted in displeasure. ‘What is this, James? Is it all just a game for you?’

‘Just go,’ he said.

‘What the hell is the matter?’

‘Nothing.’

‘You think I can’t tell that you’ve gone cold? You’ve hardly spoken to me the past week or so. What’s going on?’

He almost laughed. She didn’t have a clue. ‘Jessica, please, leave me alone.’

‘You’ve changed your mind, haven’t you? You’re not going to tell her about us.’

James didn’t deny it.

She shook her head in disbelief, laughing ruefully at the realisation. ‘You are going to Australia with her, after all. That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?’

‘Yes.’

‘Two weeks ago, you said—’

‘I know what I said,’ he interrupted, ‘but that was then.’

‘That was then?’

‘Things change,’ he said dismissively.

‘Screw you,’ she said, slapping him across the face.

He swallowed down his anger. ‘This conversation’s over.’

But she blocked his path. ‘You move to Australia with her and that will be it. The past two years, all those good times, over. Do you understand?’

‘Oh, I understand.’

‘You won’t have me ever again.’

James shrugged it off.

‘I mean it.’

‘Look, Jess. I know you think you’re something special, a real catch, but you’re not. You’re easy.’

‘Unlike Beth? I mean, well, she’s—’

He lifted a finger. ‘Don’t say it.’

‘It’s not you, James,’ she tried. ‘It’s not who you are – the family man with a snotty kid in tow. She wants to mould you into the perfect family man, the perfect father. But that’s not you, is it? I know the real you. Don’t I?’