Chapter Thirty-Six
Reuben had spent the last hour in the Buchanan Galleries shopping centre picking up the gifts he needed.
Shopping was not one of his favourite pastimes and he was quite horrified by the frenzied energy that the hordes of shoppers brought to the city centre.
He made his way down Buchanan Street, toying with the idea of just catching the next train home.
But it had been ages since he’d been to Princes Square and as he made his way into the mall he heard the carol singers.
He headed across to the balcony so he could look over at them in the courtyard below.
Then he did a double take when he spotted Jessica sitting in the small café next to the escalators.
That familiar fluttering in his stomach appeared whenever she was in his line of vision.
He knew he should go over and speak to her but felt embarrassed at how aloof he was with her last week.
She might not be all that pleased to see him and he wasn’t sure he could handle the rejection.
He stood for a moment, dithering, and then walked towards her.
As he neared, he realised she had company.
It was an older man. He wondered who it was and felt a flicker of jealousy.
He wanted to be the one sitting opposite her while they listened to Christmas carols and did their last-minute shopping together.
But he only had himself to blame for being so cool towards her.
She probably wouldn’t ever want to talk to him again.
Then he looked more closely at her face.
She was frowning and didn’t look very happy with the man.
She looked entirely pissed off. He watched as she pulled her coat on and gathered her bags, clearly getting ready to leave.
But then the man reached over and grabbed at her wrist, pulling her back.
Feeling a surge of anger, Reuben strode towards the table as Jessica tried to pull away.
Just as he got to the table, Jessica glanced up and looked at him in relief.
He placed a firm hand on the man’s shoulder.
‘Even from a distance I can see the lady has made herself perfectly clear. Take your hands off her.’
Zander looked round at him in surprise, which caused him to pull his hand away and off Jessica’s. ‘Mind your own business,’ he said, his slimy smile suddenly vanishing.
‘This is my business.’ Reuben glowered down at him and the man shrank under his gaze. ‘You’re making the lady feel uncomfortable.’
A shaken Jessica took a step back, clutching her bags close.
‘And who are you to tell me what to do?’ said Zander, standing up suddenly and taking a step towards him.
‘Don’t make a scene,’ said Reuben. ‘They don’t like fuss in here. The security guards will have you out of here in a second.’ He glanced over towards the doors, hoping that a security guard would be there if he did start to argue. He glanced over at Jessica. ‘Are you okay?’
Jessica looked at him and managed a small nod.
‘I don’t know who you are or what you think you’re doing, but Ms Stewart and I were having a chat about work,’ he said with a sneer. ‘I’m one of her clients.’
Jessica cleared her throat. ‘Actually, that’s wrong. You are a bullying misogynist who has no respect for women. I will not represent you ever again, and I am sure Ivan will have plenty to say when he hears what you just tried to do. Now, do as I asked and piss off.’
Zander’s face paled.
‘Not such a big man now, are you? In fact, you’re lucky she didn’t give you a Glasgow kiss,’ said Reuben firmly. The man looked back at him with a vacant expression, clearly unsure what he meant. ‘Google it, you twat.’
And with that, Reuben clasped Jessica’s hand and hurried her away from the café and out onto Buchanan Street.