Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 224334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1122(@200wpm)___ 897(@250wpm)___ 748(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 224334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1122(@200wpm)___ 897(@250wpm)___ 748(@300wpm)
Jesus.
That was before I was in the equation. Does he know I’m in the equation?
I get out my car and walk to the end of the street, drinking in the fresh air, trying to reason with myself. I’m failing on every level, unable to stop myself wondering what’s going on in their meeting. Is he making a move on her? Exacting his revenge?
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I mutter, pulling out my phone and dialing Drew.
“What’s up?”
“I’m about to storm Ava’s meeting with Mikael Van Der Haus.”
“Why?”
“What if Freja has told him about me and Ava? He already knows his wife’s been in my bed.”
“Call Freja and find out.”
“I’ve tried. I’ve burned my bridges there, mate.”
“Why would Van Der Haus care, anyway? He cheated on her left and right.”
“He cares because his wife doesn’t care. He never did like me.” Ego. He tolerated me because I was buying the most expensive unit on his project. “Even before Freja discovered The Manor.”
“And The Lord who owns it.”
“You’re supposed to be helping.”
“Who cares?” Drew sighs. “They’re getting divorced.”
“I think Ava might care,” I say quietly, stopping at a wall and resting against it, exhausted. “If Van Der Haus tells her I fucked his wife after I met Ava.”
He breathes in. “Shit.”
“Yeah.” Fucking shit. “What should I do?” I cannot believe I’m asking Drew. He’s an emotionless freak of nature.
“Mark your territory,” he says, simple as that. “Fuck. I’m running over for my next call.” He hangs up, and I laugh. Mark my territory? What a stupid idea.
So I pace some more, up and down, spinning my phone. I look at my Rolex a while later. Two hours. She’s been in there for two hours. Don’t tell me a consultation meeting takes this long. What’s going on in there? I dial Freja, pacing again, willing her to answer and not tell me to go fuck myself. Except she doesn’t answer.
“Fuck.” I get back behind the wheel and anchor myself, giving myself a little therapy session, going over all the reasons why I shouldn’t storm her meeting.
I can’t think of any. All I can think about is Van Der Haus in there getting uncomfortably close to Ava. Leaning in to see the drawings. Sitting close to go over the plans. Borrowing her pen and conveniently brushing her hand as he takes it.
Inviting her to dinner.
Telling her I slept with his wife only a few weeks ago.
I’m out of my car fast, tossing the keys to the valet, and I scan the lobby when I enter. “Excuse me.” I stop one of the hotel staff as he crosses the marble floor with a tray of drinks. “If I was to have a business meeting, where would you recommend?”
“The bar, sir. Or if you wanted more privacy, I would suggest the smaller snug.” He indicates toward the back of the lobby.
“Thanks,” I say quietly, my skin prickling uncomfortably. I don’t bother with the bar. I head straight to the smaller snug, where someone would have a meeting if they required a bit of privacy.
I reach the doorway and see him immediately. Yet no Ava. But I know she must still be here because there are drawings scattered across the table, Mikael Van Der Haus leaning over them. He’s all casual. Relaxed. My hackles rise. In a business meeting.
He looks up, stilling when he finds me at the door. Just the slow rise of his body to full height tells me plenty. But not enough. “Mr. Van Der Haus,” I say, stuffing my hands into my pockets as I wander in. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Yes,” he replies slowly. I detect the animosity. The contempt. He knows. “If you don’t mind, I’m in the middle of a business meeting.”
“I do mind.” I reach the table and glance down at Ava’s work. As ever, it’s spectacular. She should be working for herself. Reaping the benefits, not working herself stupid for someone else’s gain. “Very extravagant,” I muse, my fists involuntarily clenching in my pockets.
“A little like that sex dungeon you run.” His retort is loaded with hostility, and when I glance up at him, I find his expression is too. “Have you fucked my wife there recently?”
He’s straight in with a blow below the belt. “I don’t fuck anyone there anymore.” Let’s make that clear.
“Oh?” he says, tilting his head. He doesn’t believe me. “Anymore?”
“Since I’ve settled down. I’m a one-woman man, now.”
He laughs, and it’s like nails across my skin. “You? No woman in their right mind would settle down with you, Ward.”
I frown to myself, something not adding up. “Well, one has.”
“Who? I’ll pass on the number of a good psychiatrist.”
Who? He doesn’t know? Fuck. I should be panicking, trying to dig myself out of the hole I just put myself in. But instead, I turn my attention to the drawings, running my finger to the bottom right corner where Ava’s name is displayed. “This is the woman who designed Lusso,” I say thoughtfully. “She’s talented.”