Page 7 of Endgame

‘You’re adorable when you’re frustrated. Here, I’ll get your apple.’ He smiles. As soon as he walks behind the tree, I know what he is going to do.

‘There’s a ladder, isn’t there?’ I start to laugh.

‘Yes, there’s a ladder.’ He scurries up, grabs both our apples and climbs down again.

‘Thank you.’ I wipe and bite my apple. It’s delicious.

‘Want to check out the tasting barn?’ Dominic asks, playfully bumping into me as he takes a bite out of his.

‘Unsupervised?’ I reference MrsThompson.

‘Yeah.’ He wears a naughty grin that makes it difficult to say no.

We make our way over to reception to get the keys, and navigate through some hedges to arrive on a large patio at the back of the house. I am so busy being amazed that anyone would know what hedge to come through, that I don’t spot Maximilian before he shoves Dominic.

‘Stay the fuck away from my wife!’ Maximilian shouts at Dom as he rushes to push him again.

‘Hey!’ I protest and step between them. People suddenly start to emerge from the house onto the patio.

My eyes travel to Mackenzie, who is watching the altercation. She is concerned, but also seems to be enjoying the spectacle.

‘I’m nowhere near your wife,’ Dominic shouts back.

‘Bullshit. She didn’t turn up until ten this morning.’

‘Then you’d better ask her where she was. Keeping track of time has never been Mackenzie’s forte. You of all people should know that.’

‘Dominic!’ I reprimand him as I put my hand on his chest to try to get him to back away. Maximilian reaches round me to clip Dominic on the side of the head.

‘Hey, stop it!’ I turn round to face him.

‘Oh fuck off, you’re not fooling anyone,’ he dismisses me angrily. ‘You didn’t give a shit where he was last night. You just stood in the corner of the party, sizing us all up, you gold-digging house Negro!’

The last thing I see before I feel something really hard smash into me, is Dominic going red and charging. After that, everything goes black.

I wake up in an unfamiliar bed with a violent headache.

‘Ariella, it’s Selene.’ A soft and soothing voice pulls me into the room. ‘You’re in our medical cottage. Don’t move. I have some clear and rose quartz crystals on your tummy, head and chest.’ She rubs the back of my hand. ‘Would you like some water?’

I produce a croak, then try again. ‘Yes please.’

Selene pops a straw leading to a bottle of water in my mouth. I try not to disturb the crystals.

‘Can you handle a painkiller?’

I nod carefully. She removes her crystals and presses a button that folds me up into a seating position. I pop the pills in my mouth as soon as she hands them to me.

‘Is Dominic okay? What happened?’

Her face softens. ‘Dominic is fine. Your little accident put an end to things pretty quickly. I am so sorry you got caught between my two monstrous children. I heard what Max said. I am deeply horrified and ashamed.’

I fight the tears I feel pricking my eyes.

‘Dominic asked me to call him when you are awake. Can I?’

I shake my head. I’d really like some silence.

‘I think I’d just like to be alone in my cottage, if that’s okay?’ I get up. I’m a little sore and my head is pounding, but I’m fine.

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