Chapter Twenty-Six
Two days. That is how long it’s been since Daniel and I have spoken.
Work is literally a blur as I go through the motions of my routine.
Thankfully, because of the meeting at the farm, the office is like a ghost town.
Richard insisted I stay here as a backup, but nothing has materialised.
He hasn’t called at all. The following day is also quiet.
It seems the Jamieson contract was revised by our lawyers, sent over directly by courier and signed.
There’s no running around to do and work moves at a steady pace.
Except for me, I’m a lot slower than normal.
I have the most boring spreadsheet of figures to go through and my eyelids are so heavy. I could easily drop off, but I sense someone behind my desk. It’s not who I want it to be and he can probably note the shock in my voice.
“Matthew?”
“Hi, Hannah. How have you been?”
“Um, all right, thank you. What brings you to darken my door?”
“Don’t be like that. I had a meeting on this floor and thought I’d call in to see how you are. I haven’t seen you for a while.”
My avoidance has been intentional. I itch to get shot of him because there’s something about Matthew that oozes sleaze?
Maybe it’s the overly waxed hair or the three-piece camel coloured suit standing out like a sore thumb.
It might even be the amount of aftershave I appear to taste in the surrounding air.
Or was I desensitised from his bullshit. I’ve seen the real him, warts and all.
“I wanted to check we were okay, you know—”
“It’s forgotten. Please, Matthew. Let’s move on. It seems such a long time ago.” I’m impatient and short. I just want him to go.
“I hear you and Daniel Grant are… together?”
I bite my tongue. If I can only get through these next few minutes without referring to him as ‘arsehole’, I’ve done well. There’s no way I’d let him in on my current domestic crisis, so I lie. “Yes, we are.”
“I’m delighted for you, if that’s what you want, Hannah.”
“It is.”
I turn back to my laptop and type in the hope he’ll bugger off. Instead, he taps his fingertips on my desk.
“Is there anything else, Matthew? It’s just I need to get on and—”
“Oh, it is embarrassing really. I don’t want you to look like a fool.”
I lock my lips together, raising a brow, “hmmm?” If I use actual words, they won’t be pleasant ones. Whatever he has to tell me will be unwelcome news or gossip.
“I’m certain you’ve seen it for yourself so… I wanted to make sure you were okay, you know, after the article about Daniel and his ex-girlfriend.”
My blood is on fire as it circulates around my clenched limbs, but somehow, I keep my composure.
Curling my index finger, I signal for him to come closer, which he does more than eagerly.
I whisper, “Fuck. Off. You. Smarmy. Little. Shit.” I wish he’d not outstayed his welcome.
He pulls back, sighing briefly and with a condescending chuckle.
He stares into my eyes with such a smirk, although I give him nothing but defiance in return.
I stand from my chair with crossed arms, now beyond boiling point.
“Run along Matthew, there’s a good fella.
” He walks towards the exit, shaking his head and smiling from ear to ear.
“Fringed bitch,” he mutters and seems far too smug. I can’t let him get away with it.
“Ahem, hang on a minute Mr!”
He turns around and over-confidently says, “I’m sorry, Hannah. I thought we’d finished this conversation.”
If my cheeks aren’t red, and there isn’t steam coming out of my ears, I’d say I’m doing bloody well, but the thing is, there’s another reason I haven’t quite blown my top.
I have one last ace up my sleeve and with the best sarcasm I can muster, it’s time to deliver a double helping of egg all over his pompous face.
“No. We’re not done.”
“I see,” he says, standing with tight, folded arms across his expanded chest and his legs are apart in an extra wide stance.
“I’m not sure you do, Mathew, because I’ve been checking up on you.
” His chest puffs out further and the corners of his mouth drop.
“I would let it go, but I saw you take so much satisfaction in the misfortune of others, I can’t.
When you don’t get what you want, you are nasty.
That’s what happened here and I won’t have it.
You wanted in my knickers, I wouldn’t entertain the idea and funny enough, there’s a reason for that. ”
“Oh, share, why don’t you.”
“Love to. Now how do I put this… bluntly, I think. There was something I didn’t like about you from the start.
I couldn’t put my finger on it initially because you just irritated me.
Then I found out about your scheming, backstabbing ways which repulsed me.
Tell me Mathew, why would any women find that trait attractive? ”
“What the hell are you talking about?” he scowls.
“Well now, I had a conversation with our mutual friend a few days ago.” His blank expression tells me he hasn’t cottoned on.
“Mr Jacobs?” I love this moment. Realisation dawns, and he’s quiet for someone who normally likes the sound of his own voice.
“It seems you have no business scruples. Those deals you ‘won’ in the UK were not yours to claim.”
I’ve never seen a man lose the colour to his cheeks so quickly. His skin is almost grey.
“Apparently, you were brilliant with legalising your underhanded deals.” I smile while I pace courtroom style, “Oh, and should we mention your dirty cocaine habit?” I stop in my tracks. “No?”
He’s shocked into silence, a moment I’ve been waiting a while for.
“It’s very obvious why you had to transfer out here, Matthew.
You used your colleagues and made so many enemies you had no choice.
Before you challenge me about my private life and, in particular, my personal relationship, I suggest you consider how you run your own affairs.
Now, as per my previous request. Fuck. Off. ”
He surprises me by stalking right up to my face and screwing his rodent features up so tight as if he might self-combust at any moment.
He’s trying to intimidate or scare me and he wins a little when his fingers gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
Then he leans further towards me, his lips almost touching my ear, and he whispers each perfectly pronounced word.
“I got away with it. I wonder what else I could get away with.”
My intake of breath is visible, which lets me down. Now he knows he’s scaring me. “Oh you poor thing, did you hurt yourself when you fell off your high horse?”
I focus briefly around the office. We’re not on our own, so I’m certain he won’t do anything, although he’s pretty unpredictable.
Whatever happens, I refuse to be in a position where I’m constantly watching my back.
I don’t want to use my connections, but I may have no choice.
Turning away, I put some distance between us.
If I stay too close, I’ll lose my nerve.
I straighten my posture and with a smile as false as his; I answer with an equal amount of venom in my voice.
“Honestly, Matthew, I’m not one to snitch, but if you ever threaten me again or even attempt to approach or talk to me, I will make sure Peter and Simon have a conversation.
” I turn around and poke my finger into his chest on the beat of my every word, “Do. You. Understand? You will be sent home to merry old England on the first flight with a welcome parade provided by the boys in blue. That is a promise.”
He steps back, his hands ball into a tight fist and he rigidly walks away. I think I’m rid of him, but he turns around one last time and delivers the words, “You’re pathetic . ”
“I can’t be, Matthew. A pathetic person would let you bully them.”
His shaking head and evil eyes fill me with dread. I hope to God he’s not hellbent on revenge. I’m relying on my threat to keep me safe.
I sit back at my desk and breathe in deeply through my nose while my shaky hands rest on the keyboard.
I’ve surprised myself. I’ve never experienced confrontation like that before and although my head was dizzy and a sickness formed in my stomach, I was proud of myself for not letting him overpower me.
I was certain one day he would darken my door again, which is why I made the phone call.
Once I mentioned Matthew was on my radar, Simon’s warning words were cemented in my brain.
“He is dangerous. Stay well clear of him.” What I didn’t expect was his blatant hatred and details of the damage Matthew had caused.
He was clever, but he’d only get away with it once.
I don’t know if the Grants have the full facts, so I’ll make sure they get them. Every. Single. Detail.
My afternoon has dragged and I’m fidgety after my run-in with Matthew. It shocked me, to say the least.
I desperately want to see Daniel and my thoughts wander his way during the drive home.
While Benjamin helps me out of the car, I spot Jack parked up in the Range Rover behind.
I’m overjoyed and slightly nervous all at once.
Daniel’s here and I try very hard to hide my excitement.
The spring in my step and a highly contained smile could give the game away, but it soon fades once I’ve bounced into the house.
I hear two voices. Daniel’s and one I’m not familiar with. A woman.
I tentatively walk to the lounge and see him perched on the arm of the sofa and sitting opposite is a beautiful, petite girl.
She has a short blonde bob; intensely blue eyes and I recognise her instantly.
They both stand as I enter and my vision is drawn to her long legs and tiny waist. The tight fitted pencil dress shows her figure off beautifully. She is stunning.