Chapter 21
21
A large, shiny four-by-four was hurtling up the driveway, still currently full of potholes, dips and rises. Until all the machinery and deliveries were done with coming to and fro, we’d opted to leave it alone. I didn’t recognise the vehicle but clearly Jesse did.
‘What the fuck is he doing here?’ he growled.
I looked back at him. ‘Who is it?’
Jesse stayed silent, the relaxed posture of moments ago gone, replaced by a tension so visceral, he was practically vibrating. His hands had clenched into fists and his jaw was rigid.
‘Jesse?’ I asked again.
The car had now stopped. The door opened and out stepped Magnus Montagu-Peak.
Now it made sense.
‘Hello, Felicity.’ He sent Jesse a glance and the barest nod of acknowledgement.
‘Magnus? Can I help you?’
‘Yes. I believe we could be a lot of help to each other, actually.’
‘What do you want?’ Jesse’s voice was practically a growl.
Magnus gave him a look, briefly considered ignoring him and perhaps, wisely, sensing it would not be a good plan to antagonise an obviously already angry Jesse, answered.
‘I’ve got a business proposal for Felicity.’
‘She’s not interested.’
‘Jesse.’ I kept my voice low and my temper in check. I absolutely understood why he wanted nothing to do with this man and why he didn’t want me to have anything to do with him either, but it was my place to tell this arsehole exactly what he could do with his proposal, not Jesse’s.
Jesse shot me a look, his face furious and dark.
‘Why is he still even here? You know what he did!’
‘Could we talk about this in private?’ I asked Jesse, my voice low.
Magnus made a show of looking at his watch. ‘Look. I don’t really have time for your lovers’ tiff. Long story short. We’re acquiring a small chain of boutique, extremely high-end luxury hotels in the Indian Ocean area and we’ll obviously be giving them a complete makeover. Caro tells me you’re the best interior designer so that’s what I want.’ He pulled a piece of paper from the dashboard through the open window and handed it to me. ‘I know you may have… reservations.’ He gave Jesse a cold look. ‘But I think this would overcome those. First-class travel, five-star accommodation, all that sort of thing,’ he gave a flick of his hand, ‘would be provided on top of that.’
I looked down at the paper, more as an automatic reaction than for any actual interest. There was no way I’d have anything to do with Magnus, whatever the fee – which I now saw was well over double my usual. It didn’t matter. Magnus could take his offer and ram it up his?—
‘Seriously?’ Jesse turned to me, his arms crossed over his chest.
I looked up at him. I was exhausted, jet-lagged, hungry and a little bit spaced. All I wanted to do was get this idiot off my property and go back with Jesse to the food, bath and bed he’d mentioned earlier.
‘Sorry?’ I asked, a little dazed at the whole strange scenario.
‘You’re actually considering it?’
‘What? No, of course not!’
‘You took a long time to decide. Big number, is it?’ He tilted his head up and stared at the sky for a moment. When he turned back, his expression was icy.
‘Jesse, I’m not?—’
‘You know what, Felicity? You do what you want.’
And with that, he strode to his pick-up, got in and started the engine.
Shock mixed with absolute rage filled me. Who the hell did either of these men think they were?
Before he could swing around Magnus’ car, I stamped across and stood square in front of the pick-up.
‘Get out of the way, Felicity!’ Jesse shouted.
I ignored him, instead turning out to face Magnus.
‘And you! This is what I think of your offer.’ I screwed the paper up into a ball and threw it directly back into his car through the open window. Years of playing Goal Shooter at netball had finally come in useful. ‘I’m guessing you’ve been talking to your cousin about my family’s financial history?’ Magnus shifted his weight but didn’t answer. ‘That’s what I thought. And because of that, she thinks I’ve got a price.’
‘Everybody has a price, Felicity. Don’t be so obtuse!’
‘No, Magnus. Some people most certainly do not have a price and I am one of those people! How dare you come here and try to buy me off just to get back at Jesse?’
Behind me, the engine of the pick-up went silent.
‘Now,’ I said, still facing Magnus, ‘I’d appreciate it if you would get the fuck off my property and don’t even think of ever coming back.’
Magnus’ high colour was reaching peak purpleness.
‘You stupid bitch!’ he sneered. ‘You think you’re so much better than everyone! Even that idiot knows you thought about taking the money.’ He jutted his chin at Jesse and the door slammed behind me, followed by heavy, quick footsteps. I didn’t turn but I could feel Jesse beside me, the anger palpable.
‘I suggest you go, Magnus. I’m extremely tired and the last thing I want to have to do right now is help him dispose of your body.’
Magnus tipped his nose up, as if the threat didn’t bother him, but there was no disguising the fear in his eyes. Jesse was a big guy and right now, he was one very pissed-off big guy. I wasn’t big but what I lacked in size, I could make up in pure rage. Wisely, he decided not to test either of our patience any further. Yanking open the door, he slid in, started the car and spun it round in the drive, scattering bits of gravel and building detritus as he did so before tearing off the way he’d come. As he hit one particularly large pothole, his wheel made a loud noise of protest and the car slowed to a fast limp until it was out of sight.
* * *
Now it was time to deal with Jesse. I turned round.
‘Fliss?’ A frown crumpled his forehead, brows drawing together as he took a step towards me.
‘Don’t you “Fliss” me! Who the hell do you think you are?’
‘What?’ Confusion covered his face.
‘You! Telling that idiot that I wasn’t interested in his offer!’
His expression darkened again. ‘So you were?’
‘Of course not! Good God, Jesse! Don’t you know me at all? I would never have taken that job no matter how much he offered. Even if I’d been down to my last penny, I wouldn’t have taken it!’ I took a step closer to him. ‘Do you have any idea what that means?’
‘Fliss, I didn’t mean?—’
‘I told you what happened when I was at school and ever since that day, I swore I would never, ever let that happen again. That I would never let a man, or anyone, have control over me again. Why do you think I’ve been taking all the jobs? Every single trip and project Caro offers, knocking myself out, forcing myself to be apart from you? It’s because I am terrified of being in that position again.’
‘I would never let that happen.’ He reached for me but I stepped back. He swallowed before continuing. ‘I’m sorry I butted in. You’re right. Of course you’re right. I should have kept my mouth shut. I just… When I see him, I see red. I can’t help it.’
‘I understand that. And that I could have forgiven. What I can’t forgive is that you didn’t trust me . You didn’t trust me to not take the money.’
His arms were crossed once more as he shifted his weight. ‘You looked like you were considering it! What was I supposed to think?’ Jesse’s voice sounded loud against the peaceful surroundings.
‘You were supposed to think…’ I bit back a sob. ‘You were supposed to think, “I love this woman and I trust her.” That’s what you were supposed to think!’ The words tore themselves out of my chest.
‘Fliss…’
‘Yes, Jesse, I looked at the offer. People hand you something, you look at it. It’s automatic. Plus I haven’t slept for…’ I checked my watch, ‘over seventeen hours, so excuse me if I wasn’t as alert and on point as I usually am. And yes, to answer your question, it was a big number. It was a friggin’ enormous number, if you must know. But it didn’t matter what was written there. It could have been two, three, four times that and I still wouldn’t have taken it. Do you understand what it means for me to say I’d rather be broke than take money from a person who hurt you so badly?’
Jesse looked down at me. The stormy grey eyes were washed with tears and it was only when he gently brushed a thumb across my cheek that I realised my own tears were already streaming down my face.
‘I do.’
‘Good. Then you know how much you just hurt me and why you now need to leave.’
‘What? Fliss, don’t.’
‘No, Jesse.’ I stepped back. ‘That’s it. We’re done. My father lost my trust entirely the moment he picked his trophy wife over his own daughter, and it’s taken a bloody long time for me to even think about trusting anyone other than Nanny again, let alone a man. But I trusted you. I trusted you with everything I had. But trust has to work both ways, Jesse.’
‘Fliss, I do trust you!’
‘Then you have a funny way of showing it. Now, I think it’s best if you leave. I’ll collect my things tomorrow.’
With that, I turned and walked back to the house, unlocked the door and went in. My legs felt weak and it was all I could do to close the door and lean against it, sliding slowly down, feeling a sort of shock settle around me. It was only when I finally heard the pick-up start and drive away that I gave in to the pain that was tearing at my insides and sobbed, my arms wrapped around my middle, until I fell asleep, exhausted, without having moved away from the door.