Ivy Series Teacher Student Romance - Boxed Set: Romance Boxed Sets for Kindle Unlimited (Ivy Series - Teacher Student Romance Book 7)

by Suzy K Quinn

  I laugh. ‘You know your way around designers.’

  He eases the car around a corner. ‘I’m offered a lot of free clothes.’

  The pavements become wider, and I see clutches of beautiful, tanned men and women swinging shopping bags.

  As I’m watching the handsome crowd, I see a familiar face amid the shoppers.

  Leo.

  His tanned, muscular body is decorated casually in a faded surfer t-shirt and cargo shorts.

  In London, Leo would be mobbed. But in Saint-Tropez there are too many rich, famous people for him to stand out.

  ‘Wait!’ I point to the busy pavement. ‘There’s Leo.’

  Marc skids the car to a halt.

  ‘Wait here.’ He leaps out.

  Before I know what’s happening, Marc is striding towards Leo, jaw hard, eyes furious.

  ‘Oh god.’ I struggle with the seat buckle. But I’m too late. By the time I’ve jumped out of the car, Marc has already knocked Leo to the ground.

  Leo lies on the pavement, rubbing his jaw.

  ‘Get up,’ Marc barks, fists clenched.

  ‘Man.’ Leo’s eyes swim in and out of focus. He tries to stand, but falls back onto his elbow. ‘Jesus! Blackwell. What the hell is wrong with you?’

  A crowd have gathered and cameras flash.

  ‘Marc.’ I run to him. ‘You’ve done enough.’

  Marc massages his fist. ‘No. Not nearly enough.’

  Leo clambers to his feet, and spits blood on the pavement. ‘I haven’t been near Sophia. I swear it.’

  ‘We should go,’ I mutter, aware of the ever growing crowd. ‘I want to find Jen.’

  Marc is still glowering at Leo. ‘I thought you were a good man, Leo Falkirk. I was wrong. Very wrong.’

  ‘What did I do?’ Leo shouts, as I pull Marc back to the car.

  ‘Think it over,’ says Marc, without turning. ‘I’m sure you’ll work it out.’

  ‘He’s fucking crazy,’ I hear Leo tell the crowd.

  Marc stops walking. ‘You want to tell your story here, Leo? In front of everyone? Or have you humiliated your fiancée enough already?’

  Leo’s bronzed face goes pale. ‘Oh shit. How did you—’

  ‘You were hardly discreet.’ Marc turns. ‘Next time, lock the door.’

  Leo puts a hand to his forehead. ‘Jesus Christ. Does Jen know?’

  ‘Not yet,’ says Marc through gritted teeth.

  Leo’s eyes brim with hurt. ‘But she will soon, right? Listen, you have to know. There are two sides—’

  ‘Nothing excuses your behaviour,’ says Marc. ‘Absolutely nothing.’

  75

  Back in the Venturi, Marc grips the steering wheel, his knuckles white.

  ‘Maybe we should have listened to him,’ I say. ‘Sometimes things aren’t as they seem.’

  ‘You saw him stark naked, screwing another woman,’ Marc barks. ‘It’s despicable.’

  ‘But still,’ I say. ‘He deserves to tell his side.’

  ‘You’re very forgiving of that man, Sophia.’ Marc spins the car onto the road. ‘Is there something I should know?’

  ‘Don’t go getting jealous again,’ I say.

  He accelerates. ‘Let’s just find Jen, shall we?’

  I pull out my phone, checking my messages. ‘She’s in Francesca Donà right now. A jewellery store. It’s—’

  ‘I know where it is.’

  Marc waits in the car, as I head into Francesca Donà. This is news I want to deliver alone.

  Predictably, Jen is gazing at larger than life jewellery – huge gold collar necklaces, cuff-length bangles and diamonds the size of golf balls.

  She’s wearing the perfect Saint-Tropez outfit – a sixties-style sundress that shows off her cleavage and waist, cork platforms and giant Audrey Hepburn sunglasses.

  Designer shopping bags hang from her arms.

  ‘Soph!’ She grins pink lipstick at me, but I can see behind the sunglasses she looks a little tired. ‘How come you got the afternoon off then?’

  ‘The filming got cancelled today,’ I say, as a sales girl approaches me with a tray of tall, fizzing drinks.

  ‘Kir Royal, ladies?’ the girl asks, looking at Jen, then me.

  ‘Thanks,’ I say, grabbing a drink and thinking, I’m going to need this.

  ‘Hair of the dog,’ says Jen, taking a glass. ‘Well if you’re game, I am. God – I was so hung over this morning, but then Leo and I started arguing over everything and now I’m exhausted.’

  ‘Arguing?’ My hand tightens on the glass.

  ‘You know how it’s been.’ Jen knocks back half her drink.

  ‘Listen,’ I say, taking a much-needed gulp of fizzing pink cocktail. ‘You’ve been shopping all morning. Shall we go sit somewhere? Get a coffee or something?’

  ‘Great idea!’ Jen hands her half-drunk cocktail back to the sales girl. ‘Oh my god, I know the best place. This funky little patisserie around the corner. It is so French. They have the most amazing pastries.’

  ‘Let’s go.’

  76

  The patisserie is called Crème Anglais. It specialises in custard pastries, decorated with thick caramelised sugar.

  Over coffee and buttery tarts, Jen tells me how fed up she is with Leo.

  ‘He bought me all these clothes,’ Jen moans. ‘And then turns around and says I’m controlling for buying my own handbag!’

  ‘Leo bought you clothes?’ I say.

  ‘I know,’ says Jen. ‘Weird, right? He even suggested the shopping trip. I thought for a moment that maybe we were sharing an interest for a change. But he barely lasted an hour before he got bored.’

  ‘How is Leo?’ I ask, trying to sound innocent.

  ‘He’s fine.’ Jen cuts a square of pastry. ‘Why?’

  ‘Just asking.’ I tap nervous fingers on my coffee cup.

  ‘Come on Soph.’ Jen drops a square of pastry in her mouth.

  I turn my espresso cup on its pretty pink saucer. ‘There’s something I need to tell you.’

  ‘Spill it,’ says Jen, wiping pastry crumbs from her lips.

  Oh God.

  ‘It’s … about Leo,’ I admit.

  Jen’s eyes fill with concern. ‘What is it?’

  My stomach turns over.

  Can I really do this? Can I really tear her world apart?

  It’s not really a choice. This sort of news gets out, one way or another. This is the least humiliating way.

  ‘Nadia threw Cassandra off the movie today,’ I begin.

  ‘That’s big news.’ Jen leans forward. ‘What happened?’

  ‘Well, you know how Nadia sees a film set as one big family?’ I reply.

  ‘I didn’t know that.’ Jen cuts more pastry. ‘But carry on.’

  ‘Cassandra did something that hurt the family,’ I say, looking at my coffee cup.

  ‘Oh wow.’ Jen’s eyes widen. ‘What did she do?’

  ‘Something bad. Jen … this is to do with Leo.’

  77

  ‘Soph? What do you mean?’ Jen lowers her fork to the plate.

  ‘Cassandra and Leo … oh God.’ I shake my head. ‘I can’t even say it.’

  ‘Soph?’

  ‘I saw them together this morning,’ I gabble.

  Jen shakes her head, confused. ‘But Leo was with me this morning.’

  ‘Before that,’ I continue. ‘He was in Cassandra’s room. Her … her bedroom.’

  Jen’s eyes widen. ‘In her bedroom? Why?’

  Oh god.

  ‘They were … ’ I let out a long sigh. ‘Together.’

  ‘You mean …’ Jen shakes her head, eyes wide. ‘Like having sex together?’

  I nod.

  ‘He was fucking her? That old cow with the fake tits?’ Jen puts a hand to her stomach. ‘He wouldn’t. Not Leo. I mean, I know we’re not getting along so well, but he’d never … I mean, he’s not like that.’

  ‘I know,’ I say. ‘He’s a good man. I still can’t believe it. But
I saw them.’

  ‘Tell me exactly what you saw.’ Jen leans across the table, eyes manic.

  ‘Jen, don’t do that to yourself. This is already bad enough.’

  ‘I’m serious, Soph. Maybe they were rehearsing a scene. Or … he was just visiting her or something.’

  I take a deep breath. ‘They were both naked, Jen. And … well you can work out the rest.’

  ‘That bastard!’ Jen screams so loud that half the café turn to look at us.

  ‘Jen—’

  ‘Bastard, bastard, bastard!’ She pounds the table with her fist.

  If there was anyone left in the café not looking at us, they are now.

  ‘I’m so sorry …’ I begin.

  ‘I’m going to burn all his stuff and cut his bollocks off.’ Jen leaps to her feet, ‘Oh God Soph. What the fuck am I going to do? We were supposed to be getting married. That cheating scumbag son-of-a-bitch. I can’t believe he’d do this. Leo. I thought he was one of the nice ones.’

  ‘He is a good guy.’ I stand to. ‘That’s what makes this all so weird.’

  ‘Where’s my bag?’ She looks around, knocking her chair back into someone else’s. ‘He’s a scumbag. Oh Jesus Christ … I knew something was wrong. But I had no idea he’d do something like this. I’m going to find him and kill him.’

  ‘Um … Marc already found him,’ I admit.

  ‘He did?’ Jen grabs her bag from the floor, flinging it over her shoulder.

  ‘And knocked him out,’ I say.

  ‘Well that’s a start I suppose.’ Jen bundles her shopping bags over her arm. ‘But I still owe him a punch or two. Are you coming with me?’

  ‘Jen, maybe this isn’t a good idea,’ I say, following her out of the café. ‘You’re in shock. We should go back to the villa, just the two of us, and let you calm down.’

  ‘I will not calm down,’ says Jen, marching along. ‘Not until I’ve done some physical harm to that cheating piece of shit.’

  ‘I know you, Jen,’ I say, hurrying after her, out onto the street. ‘You don’t make good decisions when you’re angry.’

  Jen isn’t listening. ‘And Cassandra!’ she rages, flicking sunglasses on her eyes. ‘That fucking bitch. Has she left the villa?’

  ‘She’s gone,’ I say, blinking in the strong sunshine. ‘You know, maybe you and Leo—’

  ‘Forget it Soph. No way.’ She marches along the pavement.

  ‘You don’t even know what I was going to say,’ I say, catching up with her.

  ‘You were going to say that maybe Leo and I can work things out,’ says Jen. ‘And it’s not going to happen. No chance. Not ever.’

  78

  I spend the next half hour following Jen around the town, as she darts into Leo’s favourite shops and calls his phone over and over again.

  But his mobile doesn’t answer, and we can’t find him anywhere.

  ‘He’s probably waiting for you back at the villa,’ I say.

  ‘Hiding, more like,’ Jen shrieks. ‘The cowardly piece of shit can’t even answer his phone.’

  ‘Calm down, Jen.’

  ‘That’s not going to happen.’

  Back at the villa, Jen heads straight to the suite she shares with Leo.

  ‘If he’s not in our room,’ she shouts, climbing stairs two at a time. ‘I’m going to take all his messy, scruffy fucking surfer bum clothes and throw them in the pool.’

  I run upstairs after her.

  When Jen flings open the bedroom, Leo is perched on the bed, forehead lined with worry.

  He stands when he sees her. ‘I was waiting for you. Please. Babe, listen – I wish you’d never found out this way.’

  ‘You fucking bastard.’ Jen throws shopping bags at him. ‘Get out. Right now.’

  ‘You have to listen to me,’ Leo insists.

  ‘No I don’t,’ Jen shouts.

  ‘It was such a big mistake.’ Leo stands. ‘Everything was getting so heavy. So grown up. I couldn’t handle it. I … I fucked up big time.’

  ‘Fine. If you won’t leave, I will.’ Jen goes to the wardrobe and flings clothes into her huge Armani suitcase.

  Leo follows her to the wardrobe. ‘We need to talk—’

  ‘My solicitor will be in touch over all the wedding stuff,’ Jen snaps.

  ‘Jen, just stop.’ Leo puts a hand on the wardrobe door. ‘I’m a huge, massive shit. I know that. I just … you made me feel like a child, you know? I wanted to feel like a man again.’

  ‘What a fantastic man you are,’ says Jen, flinging more clothes into the case. ‘Cheating on your fiancée.’

  ‘I don’t love her, babe.’ Leo puts a tentative hand on her arm. ‘I love you. Please. It was just some stupid thing.’

  Jen whirls around. ‘How many times did it happen?’

  ‘Twice.’ He looks at the floor. ‘And that last time, I knew it had to end. It was just … sex, you know? She thought I was worth something. Made me feel I wasn’t such a useless waste of space.’

  ‘You’re not a useless waste of space, Leo,’ says Jen, zipping up her suitcase. ‘But fucking hell, you need to grow up.’

  ‘Oh come on.’ Leo’s hand drops from her arm. ‘You think I’m worth shit – that’s the problem.’

  ‘That’s not true.’ She pulls her suitcase towards the door.

  ‘No?’ He follows her. ‘When was the last time you let me choose where to take you out? Or pick something for our apartment? Or even go down on you, for fuck’s sake?’

  I take that as my cue to leave.

  ‘Soph?’ Jen catches up with me. ‘Wait right there.’

  ‘Maybe you two should have some time,’ I say.

  ‘We don’t need time,’ Jen insists, straightening her bag on its wheels.

  ‘We do,’ says Leo. ‘We need to talk. Work things out.’

  Jen turns to him. ‘There’s nothing to talk about. The trust has gone. That’s it. I’m going straight to the airport.’

  ‘Please Jen. Don’t do this,’ Leo begs.

  Jen pulls her suitcase over the threshold. ‘Come on Soph. Let’s go.’

  ‘Jen, please.’ Leo rushes to the door, trying to bar her way.

  Jen drops her sunglasses on her nose and pushes straight past Leo, bumping her suitcase over his bare foot.

  ‘Times that pain by a million,’ Jen shouts, ‘and you’ll know how I feel. You’ve just torn my life apart.’

  79

  I don’t bother trying to talk Jen out of going to the airport. And I don’t argue when she says she wants to travel alone.

  I know Jen in this mood – she’s not going to listen to reason. Maybe tomorrow, but not today.

  As I watch the limo speed out the villa gates, I can’t help thinking that she’s being too hasty.

  I know she’s heartbroken. I’d probably want to run away too if I were her. But she loves Leo. I’m sure of that too.

  As I watch the gates clank closed, Benjamin strides over the lawn. He’s showered and changed after his run, and smells of soap and aftershave. Loose, checked shorts hang from his tanned legs and a straw hat shades his face.

  ‘Where’s your friend going?’ he asks, watching the car.

  ‘The airport,’ I say.

  ‘She left him?’ Benjamin asks, incredulous.

  I shrug. ‘Jen doesn’t mess around. One strike and you’re out.’

  Benjamin puts a hand on my shoulder. ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘Not really,’ I admit. ‘Those two were made for each other. They just don’t realise it.’

  ‘Do you want me to go after her?’ Benjamin asks.

  ‘Honestly, there’s no point.’ I give him a tired smile. ‘She doesn’t want to see anyone right now. Not even me.’

  There’s a line of limousines on the gravel, waiting to take villa guests into town. Benjamin waves one over.

  ‘All the same,’ he says, ‘sometimes, people don’t always know what’s in their best interests.’ He opens the car door. ‘Let me try, okay?’
>
  I frown at him, confused. ‘You don’t even know her.’

  ‘Yes but …’ He drops his hand from my shoulder. ‘I want to do this for you. I can be very persuasive.’

  ‘Honestly Benjamin, she didn’t even want me going with her. She wants to be alone. I don’t understand why—’

  ‘She’s wrong to be alone,’ says Benjamin, climbing into the car. ‘Right?’

  ‘Probably,’ I admit.

  ‘Then let me try.’ Benjamin slams the car door closed, and the limo creeps towards the gates.

  Marc’s long shadow falls over me. ‘Where’s Van Rosen going?’

  ‘After Jen,’ I say, watching the villa gates swing open and closed.

  ‘Just when I thought life couldn’t get any more interesting,’ says Marc. ‘Why did he have his hand on you?’

  ‘No reason. He was just making a point, that’s all.’

  ‘Mm.’ Marc puts an arm around my shoulder. ‘And why would Van Rosen go after Jen?’

  ‘He was being thoughtful,’ I say.

  Marc gives a curt laugh. ‘That’s a new one.’

  ‘No. Honestly.’ I lean into Marc’s body. ‘He didn’t want her to be alone.’

  ‘Ah. Now it makes sense.’ He squeezes me tight. ‘Jen is vulnerable. So Van Rosen spies another easy conquest.’

  ‘No, it’s not like that at all.’

  He did it for me.

  But I don’t want to tell Marc that.

  ‘Well.’ Marc kisses the top of my head. ‘Perhaps he’ll persuade her to come back. You never know.’

  ‘Have you met Jen?’ I say.

  ‘Once or twice.’ Marc offers half-smile of his. ‘But you never know. In her vulnerable state, she might give in to Van Rosen’s suggestions. Women are known to do that. Give in.’

  ‘Is that what happened with us?’ I say. ‘I gave in to you?’

  ‘Exactly right,’ Marc replies. ‘And in your case, I had no choice but to persist.’

  ‘Oh really?’ I laugh. ‘Because as I remember, you were ready to give up on me at one point.’

  ‘Never.’ He kisses my head again. ‘I would never have given up on you. But I fully expected you to give up on me.’

  ‘Well you are a lot of hard work,’ I say.