Page 81 of A Night with Damien Spur

‘Well… we speak.’

‘And?’

She shrugged. ‘Nothing to tell.’

Chapter 24

Justin Baird had rescued Anna from unrequited love.

She’d been consumed by Damien Spur. Even when he’d moved on, during the week she continued her pastime of ravishing her pillow at night imagining his smooth body enclosing her delicate frame, save for Saturdays, when Justin came to stay. He was attractive, kind and generous and so when he proposed she said yes.

And why not? She liked the way he treated her. He said he loved her and that she was beautiful and talented.

He brought her flowers and took her to the ballet and elegant restaurants. But what she loved most about him was that he believed in her.

Nurse Aileen did not. She perceived her as a posh, ditzy little dreamer.

Which she confirmed one day at precisely 2 p.m.

It was Tuesday and the practice had been busy, followed by a quiet period with only one patient left in the waiting area. Anna was enjoying the lull when Mr Green arrived with his six-year-old daughter, Kylie, who had a dental appointment.

‘Good morning, Mr Green. Hello, Kylie. Dr Lacey is running a little late, but please take a seat. He won’t be long,’ Anna said.

‘I don’t want to sit down,’ Kylie said.

The elderly patient in the waiting area with sleek grey hair and a stylish navy suit looked up from her magazine and tut-tutted.

‘I can give you a colouring book, if you like,’ Anna whispered, and glanced apologetically at the woman.

‘I’m not a baby,’ said Kylie.

‘Well, you’re acting like one.’ Anna took out a book and some crayons from a drawer in her desk and slapped them on the table.

‘I don’t like your face. It’s twitchy like a rabbit,’ Kylie said.

And that was it. Anna flipped.

‘Can’t you control your nasty little daughter, Mr Green?’ she said. ‘What a charmless child she is. She needs to be locked up in her room for a week. Nothing wrong with washing her mouth out with a bar of soap, either. And what’s the mother doing? No doubt letting her daughter run riot. And why is the girl wearing nail polish at six years old? This mother-sister thing is no good. No wonder she behaves like a spoilt brat. It always stems from the mother.’

Mr Green’s face flushed red. ‘Don’t you talk about my wife and Kylie like that. Who do you think you are with your posh voice? You’re only a receptionist, not bloody royalty.’

‘I’d rather be a receptionist than someone like you!’ retorted Anna.

‘Don’t you speak to my dad like that!’ squeaked Kylie, and then she spat at Anna.

‘Ugh! You disgusting little brat. Howdareyou!’ Anna took a tissue from her bag and wiped her cheek.

‘Is this a Harley Street practice or a fish market?’ the woman with the grey hair said.

‘I am so sorry, Lady Langton.’ Anna moved from behind her desk, grabbed Mr Green by the lapels and pulled him towards her.

And that’s when Aileen walked in.

‘Anna, what are you doing? Take your hands off Mr Green,’ she snapped. ‘Come outside.’

Anna put her few small belongings in her bag, followed Aileen to the door and said, ‘You don’t need to patronise me with another one of your condescending speeches, you hideous virago. I’m resigning. And when my book is published nextmonth, I won’t bother sending you a signed copy.’

Chapter 25

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