Page 36 of Unbind

‘Excellent.’

There’s a draught of cold air when the doorman lets another member in behind me, but I pause.

She chews her lip, as if she’s waiting for me to clear off.

And I bite the bullet. ‘Will I—do you ever…’ I clear my throat and gesture behind her. ‘You know, go next door when your shift is done?’

We stare at each other, and I swear her clear brown eyes widen a little, as though she’s caught my unasked questions.

Will I see you in there later?

Do you ever slip through those doors and let any of those hungry, entitled arseholes fuck you?

Would you ever, in some inconceivable parallel universe, letmefuck you? Let me make you feel as good as I know I could, if only you’d let yourself judge me on the man who stands before you today and not the sins I was capable of committing half a lifetime ago?

There’s a second where we hold each other’s gaze, and I swear our souls speak to each other, before she shuts me down.

‘Ineverfraternise.’

Okay, then.

Time to drag myself away and preserve what little is left of my dignity.

20

NATALIE

It would be truly helpful if someone could please explain the following to me:

Why, up until last week, Adam Wright existed to me solely by name: the thug who ruined my brother’s life and the undeserving billionaire who backs some of the biggest jackasses in the fashion and luxury sectors.

And why the hell he is noweverywhere: saving me from a night in A&E; kidnapping me; dazzling me with his palatial home and thoughtful gifts; creeping into my room while I’m sleeping and putting on a semi-pornographic show for me, and worst of all,hanging out with my fucking friends?

Gen knows most of what went down last week—she quizzed me at length when she next saw me to ascertain whether Adam had looked after me well after he swept me away, and it seems my answers reassured her well enough. Still, she made sure to give me a kindly heads-up earlier that he’d be in tonight, but Darcy sure as hell didn’t mention anything to me when she rocked up with her gorgeous menfolk half an hour ago.

I don’t have to wait long.

It can’t be more than fifteen or twenty minutes after Adam goes through to the bar, looking unfairly like a puppy who’s just been kicked, that Darcy comes out into the lobby at a sprint. She’s in a long, platinum sequinned dress tonight whose deep V plunges almost to her navel, and she looks incredible. No wonder two of the most gorgeous men in London are completely obsessed with her.

Right behind her is Maddy, Zach’s wife and another good mate of mine. I love these guys. Maddy’s speed is compromised by her five-inch heels. She may be pregnant, but nobody’s putting this girl in flats.

‘What the fuck?’ Maddy begins as Darcy puts her hand up to halt her.

‘Okay, tell me I’m crazy, but is Adam Wright, nasty dickhead bully and billionaire you told us about a few weeks ago over drinks the same guy who’s sitting next door, charming everyone’s pants off? It’s the same guy, right?’

The inexplicable rush of resentment at the concept of Adamcharming everyone’s pants offbarely has time to land in my reptile brain when Maddy chips in.

‘And he’s the same guy who’s taking over the Alchemy stake?’

‘Yeah,’ Darcy presses, ‘but is he also the same guy who rescued you and, like, kidnapped you last week? My sister just mentioned it in passing to me and I was like, what the fuck are you talking about? But she wouldn’t tell me any more.’

She lets her hand fall, defeated, to the lectern and they both stare at me expectantly.

I sigh, because the last thing I need is Darcy or Maddy sniffing around this story and giving Adam’s unwelcome prominence in my brain any more oxygen. ‘Yes, yes and yes. All the same guy.’

‘But,how?’Maddy asks, and I laugh, becausemy thoughts exactly.

‘Seriously,’ I say. ‘It’s ridiculous.’

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