Beneath This Man(53)

'I like your dress.'

I swing around and my eyes are assaulted by a devastatingly handsome, navy suited beast. I sigh in appreciation. He is just too bloody perfect and he's not shaved. I swoon on the spot. He looks like he's got over his little strop.

'I like your suit.' I counter.

He grins and finishes straightening his grey tie before pulling the collar of his white shirt down. If I was any other woman and I found out about The Manor and the God who owned it, I would join too.

I'm being distracted again. I throw my bag on the bed, retrieve my phone, sweep some gloss across my lips and grab my shoes, all under his watchful eye. I have another futile rummage through my bag for my pills, but I know I'm searching in vain.

'Lost something?' He splashes some aftershave on.

Oh, that smell. 'My pills.' I grumble with my head practically in my oversized, leather shoulder bag. I run my fingers around the stitching of the lining to check for rips.

'Again?'

I look up at him and smile apologetically. I feel stupid, and I'm not relishing the thought of visiting Doctor Monroe again. I need to sort that today before I miss anymore.

'I'll see you later.' He lands me with a chaste kiss on my cheek and leaves me to carry on searching for rips in the lining of my bag. What a nightmare. Maybe I should just get the jab and save myself all of this embarrassment.

I freeze on the spot, my brow furrowing, my mind jumping the gun...I think.

No, he wouldn't. Why ever would he?

As I walk into the foyer, I find Clive rubbing the cuff of his jacket on the marble desk, buffing it to a shine.

'Morning, Clive.'

'Good morning, Ava.' he says happily.

I return his cheeriness with an over-the-top smile. 'Clive, I don't suppose you could show me the CCTV footage from Sunday, could you?'

'No!' he blurts quickly, suddenly becoming busy and frantically typing on his keyboard.

I eye him suspiciously, but he won't look at me. I don't believe this. Jesse has beaten me to it. He knew I would ask Clive. 'Has Jesse spoken to you?'

'No.' He shakes his head and keeps his eyes down.

'Of course.' I sigh, turning and walking out of the foyer. The Lord is cute, and I'm suspicious.

'Oh, Ava!' I hear Clive coming after me. 'Maintenance rang. The door is on order, but it's coming from Italy so it may be a while.' He walks besides me.

'You should call Jesse and let him know.' I carry on walking, and he carries on flanking me.

'I did, Ava. Mr Ward advised me that I should consult with you on anything regarding the penthouse.'

I skid to a halt. He said what? 'I'm sorry.' I sound confused.

Clive looks nervous. 'Mr Ward, he....urh....he said you live here now and anything concerning the penthouse should be run past you.'

'Oh, he did, did he?' I grind. I shouldn't sound so menacing. It's not Clive's fault. 'Clive, do me a favour. Ring Mr Ward and tell him I don't live here.'

Clive looks like I've just told him that he has two heads. I'm fuming. He moves me in under the persuasion of a sense f*ck followed by a reminder f*ck, and then expects me to become Molly mop? No amount of sense or reminder f*cking will work in his favour this time.

'Of course, Ava. I'll...urhhhh...do it now.'

'Good.' I snap, and carry on outside the building. I stand and rummage through my bag for my sunglasses and car keys, completely riled. How dare he? I huff and puff to myself until I find my glasses, and as I slip them on, Massive Attack's Angel creeps into my ears.

'Oh no!' I screech to myself. I'm even madder now. He knows how I feel about that track. I grab my phone and connect the call. 'Stop messing about with my phone!'

'No! Reminds me of you.' he yells. 'What do you mean, you don't f*cking live there?'

'I'm not your f*cking maid!' I shout back.

'Watch your f*cking mouth!'

'Fuck off!' I yell. Oh, my language is blue!

'MOUTH!'

I stand outside Lusso raging mad. If he thinks I'm going to be playing the dutiful domestic lady, he's another thing coming. The cheek! I look up and spot John leaning against his Range Rover. His signature wrap around glasses are on, but I can see his arched brow above it. He's enjoying this.

'What's John doing here?' I snap.

'Have you calmed down yet?'