‘Ava,’ Tom begins, straightening out his fashion specs. ‘You need to call that Ruth. She hounded the office phone yesterday, looking for you.’
My laughing abates fast. I’d forgotten about my admirer. ‘What did she say?’ I ask casually, riffling through my bag for my phone when it occurs to me that I’ve still not turned it on. It’s been off since Thursday morning when Jesse impounded it.
‘Not much.’ He straightens his aqua tie. ‘Everything’s fine with the works. I kept your appointment with her on Thursday, but she wasn’t impressed to see me.’
I shrink into my chair on a wince as my phone comes to life in my hand and immediately starts alerting me of dozens of missed calls, texts and emails. I filter through, responding to Kate’s Welcome home! Text, and my mum’s Call me when you’re settled text, before counting the missed calls from Ruth. There are eleven, but despite the bombardment of calls from my lesbian client, it’s the two missed calls from Mikael that start my heart pumping fast. I can’t avoid this any longer and for the first time, I sit and think hard about who could be responsible for drugging me and trying to run me off the road. And then there are the dead flowers. They were from a woman, I don’t doubt it for a moment, which leads me to the same conclusion: Mikael couldn’t possibly be responsible. He’s a businessman, and a respected one at that. But what about the CCTV footage? Maybe the incidents aren’t connected at all. My money is on Coral, or perhaps Sarah. The flowers came after Sarah’s apology, though. So did the car chase. Is she playing games still? I drop my phone to the desk. My brain aches.
I twiddle my pencil, scanning my mind for my next move. It doesn’t take long. I swipe my phone up and dial Mikael. I don’t even register it ringing before his smooth, mildly accented voice comes down the line. ‘Ava, how very good to hear from you.’
‘I’m sure.’ I reply dryly. ‘Did you manage to sort your divorce out?’ I go straight for the jugular and judging by the silent span to time that follows my question, I’ve succeeded in my strategy.
‘I did,’ he says cautiously.
‘Oh good. What can I do for you Mikael?’ I’m stunned by my own confidence. I could be dealing with a lunatic here, and I’m talking to him with absolutely no respect, as a client or as a potential lunatic.
He laughs lightly. ‘It’s time we met, don’t you think?’
‘No, I don’t.’ I retort briskly. ‘I think we both know that our business relationship is over, Mr Van Der Haus.’
‘Why ever would that be?’
His question stops me in my tracks, but I soon gather myself. ‘You said it was very interesting that I’d been seeing Jesse for a month-ish.’ I’m not shying away from this.
‘Yes, except now you’re married to him and expecting his twins. I’m broken-hearted, Ava.’
I don’t gather myself so quickly this time. How the hell does he know? ‘Mr Van Der Haus,’ I’m sure to keep my voice down, scanning the office constantly. This isn’t the time or the place, but I’ve started now. I’m not finishing this conversation until I’ve said what needs to be said. I get up, beating away balloons, and pace into the conference room, shutting the door behind me. ‘Is this about Jesse and your wife?’ I know I hear a falter in his breathing, and it boosts my confidence. ‘Because I already know, so you’re wasting your time.’
‘Oh, Mr Ward’s been confessing?’
‘Your ex-wife turned up at Jesse’s home, Mikael. I’m sorry for what has happened, but I don’t see what this is going to achieve.’ I’m not sorry at all, but maybe, just maybe, I can make him see sense.
He laughs, and it prickles at my deep bronzed skin. ‘Ava, I couldn’t care less about my ex-wife. She’s a money grabbing whore. I care only for your wellbeing. Jesse Ward is not the right man for you.’
I flinch at his harsh referral to his wife and rest my backside on the edge of the conference table. ‘And you are?’ I stammer over the words, mentally scolding myself for showing any hesitance. He cares for my wellbeing?
‘Yes, I am.’ he says candidly. ‘I won’t entertain other women behind you back, Ava.’
I nearly drop my phone. He knows that, too?
‘Nevertheless,’ I’m desperately trying to find my stride again. ‘I think too much has happened for us to continue working together.’
‘Too much has happened?’ he asks. ‘And you know what he got up to when he left you?’
‘Yes,’ I grate, wondering how the hell he knows. I’ve managed to keep that issue quiet. ‘My relationship with Jesse has nothing to do with you, Mikael. I know what he did.’ It kills me to say it. ‘I’ll be speaking to Patrick and withdrawing from The Life Building project. You’re welcome to take my designs and have someone else see the contract through.’ I hang up before he can come back at me and exhale a relieved breath. I don’t know why I feel like a weight has been lifted, I’ve still got to tell Patrick, and listening to Mikael for the last few minutes has stirred more questions. I’m not sure whether I would put my life on it, but I don’t think he would go to the extremes of date rape and trying to ram me from the road, not if he wants to take me away from Jesse so I can be with him. What use am I dead? I laugh out loud in my own little private moment of comprehension. Someone tried to kill me. This is insane.
My phone dances in my hand and a quick glimpse at my screen tells me my day has only just begun. Dealing with Ruth Quinn at the moment, though, doesn’t seem like such a chore. ‘Hi, Ruth,’