Page 70 of Where She Is
His hand cups my chin and his thumb runs over my cheek before he gently leans in to kiss me. Our lips stick a little when we move, as if they never want to part. Daniel gets up from the sofa and immediately picks me up in a full-on cradle carry. I have a thousand thoughts running through my head, but he has just one. My heart rate beats ten to the dozen as he walks with purpose to the bedroom and drops me on the bed. His body crawls on top of mine and he says, “And now, I’ll show you, very slowly, exactly how much I missed you.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
There’sa noticeable spring in my step this morning. I notice quite a few smiles from my colleagues as my infectious happiness spreads across the office. It’s all because of one Mr Daniel Grant. Each time he enters my memory, along with his sexploits, I want to sing from the rooftop.
Richard is not here yet, so I prepare for the day and power up my laptop. I hum a made-up tune and spin in my chair while I wait for it to come to life. I tackle my email first, as I do every morning. My fingers tap lightly across the keyboard in time to the song I’m humming while my eyes dance over the screen. My eyelids flash fully open while my beats to the keys become weighty and eventually non-existent. I should have known someone had a pin to burst my beautiful bubble.
My stomach is in turmoil as the sight of her name leaps out in 3D. Freya Grant. There’s no subject heading, so I can only assume she wants to spit more of her venom. The content is bound to be nasty, so I take an extra-large gulp of air before I open it. There are no polite enquiries as to my health. She goes straight in for the kill.
I told you. He doesn’t do relationships and to prove it, here is a snapshot from his recent ‘business trip’.
I shake my head, laugh and say out loud to myself, “crazy bitch.” I click on the link at the bottom of the page that leads to a newspaper article. The photo of Daniel with his lips attached to a tall blonde is the first thing to slap me in the face, as my heart hammers against my chest to deafening proportions. They seem to be outside a club or a pub. I can’t really see the woman’s face. She’s turned sideways so the only feature I can make out is her mouth on my man. My head is light, dizzy almost. I shudder and blink several times as I try to take in the written words.
Virtual recluse, Daniel Grant and former girlfriend, Tabitha West, spotted last night at The Live Lounge. Could this be a reunion for these two lovebirds? Our source seemed to think so, quoting, ‘They were close all evening’.
The article is dated yesterday, so they took this on Monday night. The night he was in Melbourne. Bile rises from my stomach, and I swallow hard to keep it down. My mind is awash with all his beautiful words. How could he do this to me? Tears threaten to form as I imagine his lips touching hers, his hands all over her body.Oh my God, did he sleep with her?
Richard appears from the corridor so I have to get myself together. Normally he is so supportive, but he’s never been sure about my relationship with Daniel. I use the sleeves of my cardigan to dab at my eyes before he can notice something is wrong. Then I follow him into his office.
“Are you all right, Hannah?” God, he knows me too well, but I manage to keep my emotions in check.
“I’m fine, thank you, Richard. I wanted to give you a quick update. There are no messages so far and all meetings are as scheduled in your diary.”
He gives me a sideways glance as he sits at his desk. “Can you sort out a flight and hotel for me in Melbourne? There’s a meeting Tuesday afternoon with all staff involved in the Jamieson contract.”
“Everyone?”
“That’s right. You will have to cancel all my appointments for next week and reschedule. This will probably take up most of my time until it’s signed.”
Shit. Does that mean Daniel has to go back to Melbourne too? Will there be more photos of Daniel and Tabitha splashed across the internet?
“I must be in the Melbourne office first thing Monday morning, so can you arrange for me to fly out Sunday afternoon?” I’m shaken to the here and now by Richard’s annoyed tone. “Hannah? Did you hear what I said?”
I haven’t taken a blind bit of notice. “Sorry, Richard, what did you say?”
“Hannah, are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes, everything is great, honestly.”
His lips purse together. This is his worried face. “Just sit for a second,” he gestures towards the chair on the other side of the desk. I wonder if he is about to give me a lecture, or worse, he’s seen the paper. “What’s happening at home?”
“I’m sorry?” The image is still flashing through my mind.
“With Daniel. Are you two getting on okay?”
“Yes…” I stutter, “we’re fine.”
“Just fine?”
“That’s what I said. Fine.” I fidget in my chair while Richard’s wide eyes tell me he’s not convinced. I sigh and clasp my hands on my lap. “Richard, I know you mean well, but you have nothing to concern yourself about.”
It’s as if he hasn’t heard me. “You can come to me, Hannah. We have to take care of each other here. If you need any adviceor help with anything—anything at all, you will talk to me, won’t you?”
“I will and thank you.” I over-do my false smile and Richard gives up on me.
“Right, well if you’re sure… okay, as I was saying, book a hotel and flight to Melbourne….”
I get back to my desk and stew in Daniel’s gravy. I try very hard to think rationally. I bet Freya loves this. She knows what effect this news will have on me. She’s probably rubbing her hands in glee, and I hate her for it. I’ve never hated anyone, but for Freya, I’ll make an exception. She brings out the worst in me. Her only mission in life is to inflict misery on everyone around her. It must be a sad and lonely existence.
