The traffic was slow – as ever – and it was almost half an hour before we arrived outside Ffyvells. I got out and went round to her door to let her out. She practically tumbled out the car, grabbing at the handbag she’d almost left on the seat. I shut the door behind her and went to follow her into the building.
‘What are you doing?’ She looked at me, horrified.
‘Coming in with you,’ I said. ‘I’ll speak to Max.’
‘No!’ She shook her head. ‘This is my fight. Let me handle it.’
‘But…’
‘No.’ Her brow was furrowed, her mouth hardened into a straight line. ‘I’m sick of being pushed around. I’ll deal with him.’
I shook my head, but didn’t argue. ‘I’ll be waiting outside,’ I said. ‘Let me know how it goes. If he gives you any grief…’ My jaw hardened at the mere thought of it.
‘It’s my own fault.’ She gave a shrug. ‘I have to face the consequences.’
And she was gone, disappearing through the imposing entrance to the country’s most exclusive bank, her head high and her shoulders set.
I don’t know when I’d ever found her more attractive.
Thirty Nine
Her
Liv wasn’t in the ladies, when I arrived. I was just looking at all the missed calls when she came bursting in. There were numerous – seven had come in from Leo while I was otherwise engaged at Dominion. I shoved the phone in my bag – I couldn’t deal with that now, if at all.
Liv was clutching my bag and more or less threw it at me, as soon as she saw me. ‘I’ve been popping in and out,’ she hissed. ‘I couldn’t wait in here. Max is on the warpath.’
‘Thanks.’ I grabbed the bag and started dragging its contents out onto the sink in front of me. ‘Sorry to be pain.’
‘You didn’t come home,’ she said. ‘And you weren’t here either. You weren’t answering your phone and I kept thinking about what you’d told me…you know…about Nathaniel, and how he was being investigated for murder. I was so worried. Even Max was worried, I think.’
‘No.’ I shook my head. ‘He wasn’t. He’s just mad. He knew exactly where I was.’
‘Oh?’ Liv stood back and looked at me. ‘Well, go on then…tell.’
‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.’
‘Try me.’
I wouldn’t have told her, if I hadn’t trusted her completely. I knew she wouldn’t spread it around the office – or anywhere else, for that matter. ‘Nat owns a…sex club. Bondage…fetish…you know?’
Her mouth fell open. ‘No way, Grace! Were you…?’
I nodded, pulling my dress off over my head. ‘He took me there – only for a little while.’
‘Oh my God – what was it like?’
‘It was…’ I started to dress, while I thought of how to describe it. What was it like? ‘It was different…sexy, but far too full of Maxes.’
She literally gasped. ‘Max was there?’
I nodded, buttoning my shirt. ‘It was mortifying.’
‘No wonder he’s so annoyed.’ She gave a secret smile. ‘I always knew he was my ideal man.’
I laughed. ‘I had a feeling it wouldn’t put you off him.’
‘Put me off him?’ She actually blushed. ‘You’ve got to be kidding. I’ve just fallen officially in love.’
I pulled my skirt up over my hips and wriggled my feet into my shoes. ‘Don’t you have enough of him throwing his weight around at work? Would you actually want him bossing you in the bedroom, as well?’
‘Ooh.’ She gave a sigh. ‘What wouldn’t I give?’
I shook my head and laughed. ‘I guess it takes all sorts,’ I said. ‘Come on, I’d better face the wrath of Mad Max.’
I soon stopped laughing when I saw his face. I’d never seen him so angry. Far from shouting at me though, he spoke in quiet, measured tones. ‘In my office, please, Miss Anderton.’
I followed him in, closing the door behind me and leaning against it. My legs felt weak – for all the wrong reasons. ‘I’m so sorry, Max.’
‘You should be.’ He sat down. His voice was still calm, but there was a fire in his eyes that made me quail. ‘I told you to stay away and, instead, I find you at Dominion – his club – dressed…’ He left the rest of the sentence unsaid, to my relief. I could feel my cheeks growing hot at the mere thought of it.
‘It won’t happen again,’ I said.
‘You mean you’re going to stay away?’
‘Yes. I mean, no.’ Why could I never say what I wanted to, when it came to Max? ‘I mean, I won’t be late.’
‘I pride myself on the loyalty of my team, Miss Anderton.’ He leaned back in his chair and stared directly into my eyes. ‘When I ask them to do something for me, I expect them to do it. I don’t expect them to completely disregard my wishes.’
‘I’m sorry I was late,’ I said. ‘It’s just…’
‘Your being late has nothing to do with it, for fuck’s sake,’ he snapped, finally losing some of his composure. ‘Not that it’s made me see matters in a better light, obviously. I don’t want my team mixing with my friends. Do you understand?’
I nodded, starting to feel angry. It was just like last night with Nat, except that I loved Nat. I didn’t love Max. In fact, at that moment, I didn’t even like him.
‘I’d suggest you have a decision to make,’ he said, looking down at the papers on his desk. ‘Be part of my team, or don’t be.’
I almost laughed. It was none of his business who I saw or what I did. Yes, I’d been late. I held my hands up to that. It was a fair cop, but…this? He was asking me to choose between Nat and him. How could he think he had the right?
‘You know what, Max?’ I could feel the fury boiling in my throat. ‘Screw your team – and screw you.’
‘Now, Grace…’ he began, before tailing off. I think he could tell I was past it already.
I wrenched the door open but, just as I was about to walk out, I caught sight of Liv, sitting at her desk. She was going to have to pick up the flak, yet again. Liv, who’d been there for me and never judged. She was probably the only true friend I had right now and I was going to land her right in it.
I turned back to Max. ‘A word of advice, before I go,’ I said, bold now I’d made my decision. ‘Take care of Liv. She’s going through a tough time, right now, and she’s probably the only one left who’ll put up with your shit. She’d do anything for you,’ I was about to walk out and I had only one chance at this. I took it. ‘And I mean…you know…anything.’
And, with that, I lifted up my chin and stalked out of Max’s office, and out of Ffyvells, forever.
Forty
Him
Within fifteen minutes, she was out again. She looked as if she might cry as she ducked into the back seat, next to me.
‘What happened?’ I asked. ‘Aren’t you staying?’
She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. Then she burst out laughing. ‘I told Max where he could stick his job.’
‘Ouch,’ I said. ‘I’ll bet that hurt.’
She giggled, brushing away a tear from her cheek. ‘I’ve never seen him lost for words before.’
‘I don’t think I have, either.’ I put my arm around her. ‘Are you okay with it, truly?’
‘I think I am,’ she said, slowly. ‘And I put in a good word for Liv, before I went. You know.’ She put her hand on my knee and waggled her eyebrows.
‘Did you?’ I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of it. ‘Do you think that’s wise?’
She looked surprised. ‘Well, yes,’ she said. ‘Liv adores him and, I mean, he was on his own last night. It’s not like he’s got a girlfriend, is it?’
‘No, I suppose not.’ I said. ‘Not as such.’
I thought of Max’s odd relationship with Dominique, but didn’t mention it. That was his business and it was high time he sorted it, once and for all, anyway. Maybe this would give him the kick in the ass he needed, if he was even interested. You could never tell with Max.