Page 135 of Worth Every Penny

41

KATE

Asharp squeal pierces my dreams. My mind struggles to make sense of it before I realise I’m awake, in bed, and the strange noise is the creaking hinges of my bedroom door. I need to oil them. This flat is falling apart. I must tell Jack to sort it out.

Then, right on cue, Nico’s name pops in my mind like corn in the microwave. Memories explode and multiply uncontrollably, each one another wound to my already broken heart. All concern for the rusty door-hinges vanishes.

“It’s Wednesday.” Elly’s voice splices my thoughts.

I creak an eye open to see her moving across the room, picking her way through the scattered clothes. It’s been a few days since I tidied anything away. Tissues lie balled up on the floor, soaked in tears that wouldn’t stop because I’ve lost Nico. I’ll never kiss him again. Touch him. Never be held in his arms. And to think Ichosethis.

A fresh wave of searing pain hits me and I let out a wail that I quickly muffle by covering my mouth with my hands.

Concern flashes over Elly’s face, but it’s only there for a second before she wipes it away and checks her watch. “11.37 am.”

I groan and pull the duvet over my head just as she rips the curtains open, letting the summer heat disinfect the room.

The old sash windows groan, telling me Elly’s pushing them open. The roar of traffic from the street below blasts in on a warm breeze. Distant drilling and clanging of scaffolding batters my brain.

Elly yanks the duvet down, and bright light bursts against my eyelids.

“Hey!” I try to grab it back, squinting and flapping my hands.

“I never thought I’d say this,” Elly says. “But you need to get back to the office.”

“I can’t.” Even the thought of being in the same building as Nico is too much for my system.

“You can,” she coaxes. “You have to. Your brother called. He said you’ve got stuff to do for the spa project.”

Elly’s had possession of my phone for a few days. She confiscated it from me to eliminate the chances of me sending regrettable messages to Nico in the middle of the night.

“Did anyone else call?” I whisper, not sure if I want to hear her answer.

Elly throws me a compassionate look. “Nico didn’t call. Did you want to hear from him? I thought you broke it off?”

I don’t even know what happened. My memory of being at his flat is all messed up. I smashed that picture… I really let loose. He probably thinks I’m crazy.

“I don’t want to go back to the office. I can’t.”

“Jack said you’d say that.” She holds out the phone to me. “He’s on the line.”

“Eh?” I say in confusion. “The whole time you’ve been in here?”

“Hi Kate.” Jack’s voice echoes on speakerphone.

“You bitch,” I mouth at Elly. “Give it here.”

She shakes her head, holding it up, shooting me a ‘no chance’ look. She’s right; I’d hang up right away.

“Get out of bed.” Jack’s voice cracks like a whip. “Get to the office and start preparing the best presentation you’ve ever done. If we don’t want Martin Brooks to take the spa project, then you need to impress the Argentum board. They’re coming in. Show them what you can do. It’s on Friday. 10 am.”

“I don’t care about the spa project. It’s not mine anymore,” I croak.

“Bullshit.”

I hold my breath too long, as though refusing to exhale might make this all go away. “What difference will it make? Martin’s in charge now. He can do what he wants.” My eyes briefly shutter, pain mangling my heart.My spa project.

“Trust me, we have a chance to keep this. A bloody good one.”

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