Page 41 of Resisting Mr Black

“Derek. This is Sophie Ward, I’d like her to be given access to my apartment whenever she needs it, even if I’m not around. Okay?”

I know he’s making a point with this gesture. It’s an I’ve-got-nothing-to-hide-from-you gesture.

Derek breaks out into a smile. “It’s lovely to be properly introduced to you, Miss Ward. Of course, Mr Black. I shall make a note of your request on the system.”

I smile politely at Derek, as Art leads me up the staircase, his vice-like grip on my hand remaining. I’m not sure why he’s gripping it so tightly. Maybe he’s scared I’ll do another runner. It’s not until we’re outside his apartment, and he unlocks the door, that he finally lets go. He opens the front door with a push. “Please, go on through.”

The parquet stretches out through the rest of the apartment as I walk down the hall, stealing glances through doorways as I go. I’ve already spied a bathroom, office, and second bedroom by the time I reach the open-plan living and dining area. The walls of the living space are painted a deep blue and matching wood panelling runs around the bottom half of the walls. An inviting low-back, deep blue velvet sofa sprawls along the left-hand wall, facing an ornately carved white marble fireplace, above which hangs a large plasma TV. French windows clad in white voile floor-length curtains lead out onto a short balcony overlooking the street below, and an ornate crystal chandelier hangs from the centre of the ceiling. It’s country manor with a modern twist and in complete contrast to the kitchen and dining area, which takes up the right-hand side of the space, all gleaming white and space age in design with shiny surfaces and a circular six-seater glass dining table. The place is immense and my mind boggles at the thought of the crushing price tag for living in an apartment like this, in a postcode like Mayfair.

He sits on the sofa, resting an arm across the back. His fingers tap against the material signalling restlessness he’s trying hard to keep under wraps. “Please, sit.”

I perch at the opposite side of the sofa, on the edge of the seat, careful to keep a safe distance from him. There must be no risk of him touching me if I’m going to keep focused.

“Why did you run?”

Is he serious?

“You left me naked in your bed while you entertained another woman,” I snap. “She was clearly more important.”

“I hardly entertained her. Tara came to tell me about some work issues. She stayed for five minutes and then left which you’d have known if you hadn’t run off.”

“Why didn’t she call and tell you about it like a normal person? Why did she have to come to your apartment?” I shoot back, aware that I’m bordering on sounding jealous.

“She’d tried to, but I’d turned off my phone because I was with you. I’m sorry, maybe I should I have let you know that I wasn’t going to be long with her.”

I inspect the nails on my right hand. He’s apologising. There’s a first time for everything. “What happened this time? More trouble at one of your gyms?”

In my peripheral vision, I sense him shift forward on the sofa and rest his elbows on his knees. “Things can get out of hand sometimes... with guys. It was business, that’s all.”

I’m not sure what to think. If I overreacted about him letting Tara in, it’s because I’m expecting something to go wrong. Just like when I was with Theo. He was Prince Charming to begin with, but it didn’t take long for our relationship to descend into a toxic twister of unhappiness, hurt, abuse, and cheating. Of course, when I think back, the signs were there at the start of our relationship. His Saturday night booze fests out on the town with his football-loving mates were a weekly ritual. He’d always return legless in the small hours and blame too much alcohol on his memory gaps of the previous evening if I challenged him the next day. He possessed a wandering eye and was quick to toss out a flirty comment towards any attractive woman who crossed his path. Banter, he’d claim when I got annoyed. The tiny nagging voice at the back of my head, the one I ignored for too long with Theo, is back. This time I’m not going to ignore it.

“I’m not going to be just another woman who you bring back here and shag.”

“I’ve never brought a woman back here before.” His body turns to mine and for the first time since we arrived, I look at him.

I falter because I’m not sure what it means, if anything, that he’s brought me back here. “What about Tara?”

“What about Tara?”

“You two have history, don’t you?”

He drags his fingers through his hair and an uneasy feeling takes hold of me. The look on his face is confirming my suspicion. “It’s not exactly history. Yes, we slept together. Twice, three years ago. I met her at Savage. Nothing else has ever happened between us and I’m really not interested in her.”

His confession does little to ease my unease about the situation. “So, how come she’s ended up working at one of your gyms?”

He shrugs. “I just own the places. I don’t recruit staff. It’s coincidence.”

I’m not sure I believe in coincidence.

Before I can interrogate him further, he slides towards me on the sofa and cups my right cheek with his hand. His dark eyes hold mine and my heart skips in my chest at the contact. “You have absolutely nothing to worry about with Tara. You have absolutely nothing to worry about with anyone. Why would I want anyone else if I’ve got you?”

“You don’t have me,” I state resolutely, trying my best to remain focused.

He’s reeling me in, and I’m weakened by his touch. My defences are crumbling to dust, and I hate myself for it. I swallow hard. “How did you know I was at Lucy’s?”

“After hours going crazy not knowing where you were, I realised you’d probably be at Lucy’s house.”

His detective skills are top-notch but it still doesn’t explain how he knew where she lived. “How did you get her address?”

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