by Sofia Grey
She made him nervous. Increasing paranoia was another typical symptom of brain injuries, and Jordan tried to figure out how much of this was his imagination playing overtime. Her work was excellent, and Marcus had been reluctant to let her go.
Was Jordan overreacting?
When Adele smiled and asked if he’d like to join a small group for dinner one night, his control snapped.
“Adele.” His voice was sharp, but this had to stop. “I’m flattered by your attention, but I’m not interested. Got that?”
She flushed a bright red, her eyes wide. “I don’t know what you mean.” She spoke slowly, as though she was trying to keep herself under control.
Jordan sighed. This was going to be ugly. “I’m not interested in any kind of relationship outside the workplace. Not sports or dinner or clubs. Nothing. I’m your line manager, and you’re my creative director. And that’s as far as it goes. Are we clear?”
She stared at the contract and shuffled the pages with trembling fingers, and Jordan felt a pang of remorse. He should have handled this better. He was relieved when she looked up and met his gaze.
“I’m sorry if there’s been any misunderstanding. I wouldn’t want to damage our good working relationship.” She blushed hard enough he could fry eggs on her face.
Jordan felt like a jerk. The worst kind of manager. He blew out a steadying breath. “That’s fine. Let’s get back to this?”
All credit to Adele, she held herself together as they worked through the actions list. She wished him a good weekend as she left his office.
The door closed behind her, and Jordan sank his throbbing head into his hands. Christ. Could he have handled this any worse?
Chapter Fourteen
Adele kicked herself repeatedly, as she sat through the rest of the meeting with Jordan. She’d never been so humiliated in her life. She wanted to crawl under his table and lick her wounds, but she was a professional. The meeting couldn’t finish soon enough.
The minute she reached her floor, she headed for the bathroom and locked herself in a cubicle.
What the fuck just happened? Did he think she was making a play for him? Dear God. He was her boss. And married. She recounted their every meeting in her head. She crushed on him, but didn’t think it showed. She behaved with him as she did with all her managers.
Jordan thought she was flirting. He shot her down
Was this it—her career crashing and burning before her eyes?
If only Nick were here. They could grab a coffee, and she could unload on him. Do a sanity test of her actions. But Nick was at home, playing happy family with Lara, and Adele had nobody else to turn to. Not Jason. Never him, in a million years.
On unsteady feet, she headed out to Starbucks. She was perilously close to crying, her equilibrium smashed to dust. The queue for drinks was horrendous, and she sighed. Today was the shittiest day in forever.
“Adele.”
She lifted her head and saw Karl at the front of the line, about to be served.
“What do you want? I’ll add it to my order,” he said.
Her gratitude was overwhelming. She hurried to his side. “Skinny latte, please. And thank you.”
He paid for it along with a large Americano, and they moved to the waiting area while the drinks were made. It was noisy, and that was as well. Adele wasn’t up to conversation. She pretended to scroll through her emails, and Karl flicked through the freebie newspapers.
She peeked at him over her phone. He was taller than her and skinny, with pale skin and short, dark hair. Wire-rimmed spectacles kept slipping down his nose. He had a friendly smile, though, and crinkles in the corners of his eyes, as though he laughed a lot.
By the time they returned to the office, drinks in hand, Adele felt more balanced. “Thanks, Karl. That was lucky timing.”
He shrugged. “You’re welcome. I’ve not seen Nick in a few days. Do you know if he’s around?”
“He’s taking leave. Then we’re in Paris, for a sales conference, next week.”
“Oh. Okay.” He glanced at her. “There’s a bunch of us going to another club tonight, if you fancy it?”
Did she? Anything to get the memory of her meeting with Jordan out of her head. “I might. I was going to play squash with Nick tonight, but since he’s not here, I don’t have much else planned.”
“I... um... play too. If you want a match.”
Why not? She could make up her mind about the club later, and take a change of clothes with her to the gym. In case she decided to go out after all.
Karl was a demon on the squash court. He ran her ragged and only conceded a few points, but she had a hell of a workout. The points she scored were immensely satisfying, and when he offered to play her in a regular slot, she agreed right away.
The club might be fun, and she dressed up, this time in skinny jeans and spike-heeled boots, with her hair messy around her face.
Karl’s eyes were wide when she emerged from the changing rooms. “Wow. You look pretty,” he said, his cheeks colouring. “We’re meeting the others in the Frog, and then going from there. You are coming, right?”
Adele recognised the others from work. Although Jason was going again tonight, it should be fine as long as she stuck with the group. They had drinks first and talked about music. It turned out that Karl was a real muso. He shared her love of rock, and they swapped stories of concerts they’d been to.
Drinks extended to a spliff break outside. Jason had some amazing weed, even smoother than Nick’s, and he shared it with Adele and two others.
“I can get you a regular supply if you like,” he said to her.
“Nah, but thanks. Occasional is all I want.” And she’d rather keep him at arm’s length.
“Sure.” He flashed her a grin. “I can keep a little back for you, out of my stash. Pay me later.”
Adele felt mellow. “Okay, I’ll take a little.”
Other smokers trooped into the street, clustering together to share a light, and Jason inched closer to her. “I’ll bring it round to your place.”
She nodded, distracted by the guys invading her space.
“C’mon,” said Jason. “Let’s go somewhere quieter.”
“Let’s not. The others will be waiting.”
Jason hesitated but followed her back into the pub.
Adele felt Karl’s gaze on her, and she smiled at him when she reclaimed her seat. She liked Karl. Yes, he was one hundred and fifty percent nerd, but with a sense of humour. He also seemed to be crushing on her, which was good for her poor, bruised ego.
They eventually made it to the club on the far side of the city, and this one was a gem. A brash and lively rock band played on stage, and Adele was only too happy to dance with the group.
Time passed. Jason got brighter as the night progressed, while the rest of them got tired. Adele and Karl headed back to their table for a break, and Jason joined them, a clutch of bottled beers in his hands. To Adele’s irritation, he sat next to her and slipped his arm around her shoulders in a possessive fashion.
She shrugged him off.
He did it again.
“Jason. Cut it out.” She took a swig of cold beer and turned back to Karl, to continue their heated debate about which Pearl Jam album was their best.
Not long after, Jason tugged on her hair, and she turned around, ready to tell him to keep his hands to himself. She didn’t expect him to wrap his arms around her, and press his lips to hers.
Oh no. She shoved him back, hard. “Get off.” The moment she was free, she rammed her chair against the wall, and stalked off to the bathrooms. Bloody Jason. He had no sense of appropriate behaviour.
There was a queue, but it gave her time to calm down. She straightened her clothes, freshened her makeup, and went back to their table, to find everyone other than Jason had gone.
She couldn’t see them on the dance floor. “Where are they all?”
“Gone home, babe. Shall we head back too?”
; No chance. They lived in the same block, so he’d expect them to share a cab, but with the way he’d been behaving tonight, the idea made her nervous.
She thought quickly. “Hell. I left my phone in the bathroom. I need to go back and get it.” She managed a realistic smile, to hopefully put him off the scent. “Why don’t you get another round of drinks? I’ll see you back here in a few minutes.”
“Sure.” He grabbed her hands and tugged her to him. “What can I get you, gorgeous?”
Something complicated. A drink that would take a few minutes to make. “How about a cocktail? Surprise me.”
“You got it.” He released her and ambled towards the bar.
She had to move quickly.
She grabbed her bag and hurried in the direction of the bathrooms, diverting to the exit as soon as she was out of Jason’s sight. Then she ran to the cloakroom for her coat. The queue was a mile long. If she waited, Jason might come find her. She’d return for it another night. Right now, getting outside and into the first cab she could find was her priority.
There were no taxis outside, and a long line of customers already waiting. She’d walk to the next taxi rank, if she knew where that was. Panic spiralled in her chest. What if Jason caught up with her?
It was cold outside, and the night air made her dizzy. She must have drunk more than she thought.
Focus. Where was she? The club was in a side street. If she went to the main road, she’d have a better chance. She set off, and then heard someone call her name.
She was scared to turn around, in case it was Jason, but she glanced over her shoulder and found it was Karl. She wanted to throw herself on him with relief.
“Adele, are you okay? Jase hasn’t come out yet.”
“I want to find a taxi. I don’t want to wait for him.” She saw the curiosity on his face.
“Did you have a row?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
He looked away, suddenly awkward. “Sorry. It’s none of my business.”
Things clicked together in her head. “What’s Jason been saying?”
Karl ducked his head. “Not much. I mean... you were going home with him. You know.”
“Only because our apartments are in the same block. I assure you there’s nothing between us.”
“Oh.” He pulled a funny face. “Maybe I misunderstood.”
Adele shivered. Her thin top was inadequate for the cold night air.
He tugged off his jacket. “Are you cold? Here. Take my coat. I’m fine.”
It was sweet of him, and reminded her of when Nick lent her his jacket the other week. Karl’s was quilted and down-filled, and she snuggled into its soft depths with a little sigh of relief. “Thank you. What a gent.” She pulled the front together and felt warmer. “Can I come with you, to find a cab? I don’t want to hang around here and wait for Jason to come out. He thinks I went to the bathroom.”
Karl’s eyes opened wide. “Sure.” He nodded. “Let’s head up here. There’s another taxi rank by the station.”
They walked side by side along the street. Adele was making as rapid a progress as she could, although the beers had gone to her head. She was lurching along rather oddly. The thought of Jason racing after them was not appealing. He’d be annoyed when he found she’d gone. “Lucky you were there,” she said. “Were you waiting for a cab?”
“Um... no.” He glanced away, then back at her. “I wanted to check.” He mumbled something, and Adele frowned.
She shook her head, trying to clear the dizziness. “Check what?”
“That you were—you know—okay.”
She stopped and gazed at him, touched at his concern. “Thank you. I wasn’t okay, and I’m very glad you waited outside.”
He shrugged. There was a hint of a pleased smile on his face. “That’s alright, then.”
Adele tucked her arm through his, and they carried on. She could trust Karl to get her home safely.
****
Adele struggled to wake up on Saturday morning. Her limbs were heavy, her brain fuzzy and fevered, as though she had the flu. Or a horrible hangover.
She groaned as she rolled over, remembering the nightmare she had. God. It was horrific. She’d woken to find a man in bed with her, holding her wrists and hurting her. She tried to tell him to go away, but he laughed. Her limbs were too heavy, and she couldn’t move. Couldn’t fight him off.
Adele wiped a hand across her brow, and found it sticky with sweat. This had to be the flu. Her stomach growled, a pain cutting low across her belly and she scrambled out of bed and hurried to the bathroom. Vomiting was imminent. Luckily she made it to the toilet in time.
She slumped to the floor when it was finished. Stomach flu sucked. She needed to clean up, and then she’d curl up on the sofa and try to go back to sleep.
The hot water of the shower felt good. Adele stood under the stream with her eyes closed and leaned against the wall. Her wrists still hurt, as they had in the dream. Was she awake, or was this a continuation of her flu-induced nightmare? She picked up her sponge, poured on some body wash, and soaped her arms.
What the fuck? Her wrists were red with scratch marks and bruised on the insides. She stared at them. When did that happen? And why didn’t she remember?
Frightened, she snapped off the water, reached for her towel, and stepped out of the shower. Her knees shook, and she needed to sit down. The closed lid of the toilet was fine.
She examined her wrists carefully and touched the bruises. They hurt.
Adele didn’t know which was scarier—that she had scratches and bruises, or that she didn’t remember getting them.
This had to be a weird, fucked-up dream.
She stumbled to the basin, and on autopilot, wiped the steam from the mirror with her hand.
Oh no. This was worse. Her throat had two—no, three—love bites. There were scrapes across her breasts and a bruise on her jaw.
Tears pricked at her eyes, and her stomach revolted again, prompting another round of retching.
She parted the towel and stared down. Adele whimpered. The insides of her thighs were bruised and angry with scratches.
The reality was too horrific. She didn’t want to believe it.
She’d been raped. In her own bed.
How did this happen?
She forced herself to think back. What could she remember?
Jason was being a dick, and she ran out on him. She recalled feeling dizzy as she wandered down the street. Karl was there. He waited outside the club for her. He lent her his coat—yes, she remembered that clearly—and pulled it together at the front.
They walked towards the Tube station.
She bit her lip and concentrated. There was a taxi. Karl had to help her climb in. Then what? Someone opened her apartment door—Karl. She thanked him. Told him she was fine.
Then nothing.
Was that why Karl waited outside the club? Did he slip something into her drink, and then wait to pick up the pieces?
If there was anything left inside her, she wanted to vomit it out again, but nothing came up.
Tears flowed freely, and her throat hurt. Everything hurt.
Adele didn’t know how long she huddled on the bathroom floor, a towel wrapped around her. She needed water.
She had to put some clothes on. That meant going back in the bedroom, and this time she saw what she missed earlier.
Two condom wrappers on the floor.
He’d contaminated her bed. Violated her. She needed to feel clean again.
In a frenzy, Adele ripped the sheets from the bed and bundled them into the washing machine. She was dirty as well. Even with the shower turned as hot as it would go, she felt unclean when she got out. She’d scrubbed every inch of her body and tried to wipe away the imprint he made, but it was useless.
She was so stupid. She liked Karl. Trusted him. And this was how he repaid her.
For half a second, she considered going to the police. How humiliating would it
be to tell a police officer what happened to her? She’d be examined, her bruises photographed. She’d seen enough cop dramas on TV to know how difficult it would be to get a conviction. A jury would laugh her out of the court. She’d gone to the club with a group of male colleagues, and if anything shouted slapper it was that.
Much later, dressed in loose jogging pants and a T-shirt, she went into the kitchen for some water. Karl’s down jacket was draped over one of the chairs at the breakfast bar.
Adele huddled on the sofa and sipped her drink. She never wanted to see Karl again, but at the same time, she burned to hurt him. To make him pay. It would kill her to bump into him at work on Monday. She needed to make that first meeting on her terms. Tell him to keep the fuck away from her.
She opened her laptop and connected into the secure TM-Tech network, searching for his mobile number. He was part of the IT team. His number would be listed in case of emergencies.
She stared at her phone for an age. How best to contact him? A text would be easiest.
Hi Karl. Wanna meet for a coffee this afternoon? I can give you your coat back. Thx, Adele
He replied within a few minutes.
Hi Adele. You ok today? Coffee would be good. Where?
Slimy bastard, asking if she was okay. She wanted to smash his face to a pulp, and then ask if he was okay.
Her fingers trembled, but she managed to type a reply.
How about Starbucks near the office? 4pm?
His reply was instant.
Cool. See you there.
It was after three already. She didn’t have long to wait. She googled date rape drugs and read with growing alarm about Rohypnol and GHB. Easily available if you know where to go. Cheap and effective.
Her anger was energising. She would make him pay.
Chapter Fifteen
Adele pulled a polo-necked sweater over her T-shirt and set off for Starbucks. It was a short walk, and she was plenty warm enough. Her blood would boil when she saw Karl.
