Page 80 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘I know. Call me back if you need to, okay?’

‘Yep.’ And then she’s gone.

‘What are you playing at, Dunn?’ I ask myself quietly.

19

KATE

I plaster on a smile as I walk from my office to the lobby. Inside, I’m reeling as troubling thoughts ricochet around my mind, making my stomach plummet.

What is Jon doing here? Has he figured out that I’ve been fobbing him off? Is he here to confront me? And how does he know I’m not in Birmingham?

I round the last corner, my forced smile bordering on maniacal, but it’s not Jon who’s waiting for me. It’s Willem.

‘What are you doing here?’ I blurt instinctually. ‘Sorry, that was rude. I mean, hi.’

But whatishe doing here?

‘Hi,’ he says hesitantly. ‘Is this a bad time?’

I glance to my left where the receptionists are staring at us – Casey with their mouth hanging open.

‘No,’ I say brightly, ‘not at all. Would you like to come through to my office?’

Without waiting for his reply, I spin and stride down the hallway, my pace decidedly faster than when I thought I’d have to face Jon. The sound of Willem’s muffled footfalls behind me is somehow soothing, and I exhale mindfully. Hopefully, by the time I get to my office, the adrenaline coursing through my body will have started to abate.

I get to my office door and cast a smile over my shoulder. ‘Here we are.’

I skirt around my desk and perch on the edge of my leather chair, indicating for Willem to sit in one of the two club chairs opposite me. His eyes don’t leave mine as he takes a seat and I lean my wrists on the desk, steepling my fingers to keep from fidgeting.

‘So…’ I begin, hoping he’ll leap in to explain why he’s here.

‘Are you okay? You seem… agitated.’

‘I thought you were Jon,’ I reply candidly – no sense in pretending when he’s obviously got a good read on me.

Willem’s eyes widen. ‘Dunn? Why would you think that?’

‘Oh, I don’t know. There’s a strange man at reception and he wouldn’t give his name…’

‘I wasn’t trying to be deceitful. I wasn’t asked my name.’

‘Oh. Sorry.’

‘No,I’msorry I worried you,’ he says, his concern evident.

I give him a reassuring smile. ‘Not to worry. I’m just on edge when it comes to all things Jon. He wanted to take me to lunch yesterday and I made up a lie about visiting my parents, then working from a satellite office for the week. I thought he’d caught me in the lie, then shown up to confront me.’ I expel another slow breath, my gaze fixed on my desk blotter. ‘Sorry, I’m just a little worked up.’

‘It’s okay.’

I look up. ‘So, whyareyou here?’ I ask again, though more politely this time.

‘To ask you to lunch.’

Nowmyeyes widen in surprise.

‘You came all the way to London to ask me to lunch?’

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