Beneath This Man (This Man Trilogy)

by Jodi Ellen Malpas

  ‘I’m glad.’ I smile brightly while he shakes my hand gently.

  He releases me and turns back towards the table. ‘I’m veering towards this one, though.’ He points to the cream and white scheme that I’m favouring myself.

  ‘That would be my choice too.’ I say cheerily. ‘I think it encapsulates your aspiration best.’

  ‘It does.’ he agrees, smiling warmly at me. ‘Take a seat, Ava. Would you like a drink?’

  I perch on a sofa. ‘Water would be good, thank you.’

  He signals to the waiter at the doorway before lowering himself onto the sofa next to me. ‘I apologise for the hold up on our meeting. Things didn’t go as swiftly as I planned back home.’

  Oh. That would be his divorce then. I can’t imagine things would go smoothly when you are as rich as Mikael. His wife is probably trying to take him for every penny. Why else would it not be going smoothly? I don’t say anything, though. I suspect Ingrid shouldn’t have divulged as much as she did. I don’t want to get her sacked. I liked her.

  ‘It’s not a problem, really.’ I smile and return my eyes to the mood boards. ‘So, we’re swinging towards this one then?’ I place my hand on the cream and white scheme.

  He shifts forward. ‘Yes, I like the simplicity and warmness. You are very clever. One would think it would come across insipid and cold, but it doesn’t at all.’

  ‘Thank you, It’s all about the fabrics and tones.’

  He smiles, his blue eyes shimmering. ‘Yes, I guess it is.’

  We spend a few hours discussing the time frames, schedules and budgets. He is really quite easy to be around, which is a huge relief after he invited me to dinner at our previous meeting. I was worried things would be awkward, but it’s not at all. He took my answer on the chin and has said no more.

  ‘It will all be sustainable material, yes?’ He runs his long finger over the drawings of a bespoke four-poster bed I have sketched.

  ‘Of course,’ I mentally thank Ingrid for the important piece of information that Mikael neglected to tell me previously. I indicate the other pieces of furniture I’ve drafted. ‘It’s all sustainable, as per you specification. I understand the forestry commission in Scandinavia is a serious business.’

  ‘It is,’ he laughs. ‘We all have to do our bit for the environment. We got some bad press after Lusso.’

  My mind’s eye is flooded with an image of twelve superbikes and a petrol guzzling DBS. I bet Mikael drives a Hybrid Prius. ‘We do,’ I agree. He casts his eyes to mine, and I smile mildly. ‘Excuse me while I use the ladies’.’ I collect my bag and leave him.

  I spend five minutes in the toilets refreshing my face and using the facilities. I’m pleased with how the meeting is progressing, and I’m eager to get back to the office to start working on the master design. I ruffle my hair, pinch my cheeks and exit the ladies’, walking across the lobby of the hotel and back to the snug.

  As I enter, I nearly choke on thin air when I see Jesse stood next to Mikael, bold as bloody brass, looking over my designs.

  What the fucking hell is he doing here?

  Chapter 12

  Oh, he’s gone too far this time. He’s going to trample my business meeting. Oh God, he is going to trample Mikael, and he doesn’t even know that he’s previously asked me to dinner.

  I’m at a loss. I stand and watch them chat, all business like, while I try to figure out how to handle this. As per my usual reaction to Jesse’s wayward ways, I want to scream at him, but with Mikael here, that is out of the question.

  As if he has sensed my presence – he always does – Jesse slowly turns to face me. I flash him a you’re-pushing-it look and slowly approach them.

  ‘Mikael,’ I say, muscling my way between them at the table. I feel Jesse tense from head to toe at my informal acknowledgment to my client. He can go and take a leap off the nearest cliff! The man deserves everything he gets. And he wants me to move in? He can forget it, and there will be no sense fucking to change my mind either.

  Mikael smiles at me. I don’t miss the arched eyebrow. ‘Ava, let me introduce you. This is Jesse Ward. He bought the penthouse at Lusso. I was showing Mr Ward your designs. He’s as impressed as I am.’

  ‘That’s nice,’ I say without even acknowledging Jesse, turning my back on him to face my client instead. ‘Should we diarise our next meeting now?’ I feel ice cold air emanate from Jesse.

  ‘Yes, that would be good,’ Mikael says. ‘Does Friday afternoon suit? We can meet at Life and get a rough idea on quantities. Maybe I could buy you lunch?’ His eyebrows rise suggestively and while I know I shouldn’t be encouraging this sort of behaviour, I just can’t help myself.

  ‘Friday afternoon suits me fine and lunch would be lovely.’ I smile, but then feel Jesse’s warm, minty breath on the back of my neck. He’s standing pretty damn close for someone who supposedly doesn’t know me.

  ‘I’m sorry to interrupt,’ Jesse pipes up.

  I freeze. Oh God, please don’t trample.

  He grasps my shoulders, and I watch as Mikael frowns in confusion. He slowly turns me around until my stunned face is looking up at him. ‘Baby, have you forgotten that I’m taking you shopping?’

  Oh fucking hell!

  He really doesn’t have any regard or shame. He’s going to get me sacked. Mikael is going to be calling Patrick to complain, then Patrick is going find out about Jesse and I’m going to get sacked! I can’t even muster up the strength to fire him a disgusted look.

  He is looking down at my dumbstruck face, his eyes twinkling. I have no idea what to do here.

  ‘I didn’t realise you knew each other.’ Mikael says in utter confusion.

  He’s just introduced us and neither one of us informed him that we were already acquainted. Well, much more than acquainted. We are so much more than acquainted. He just called me baby, and he’s holding my shoulders firmly, and not in a professional capacity, whatsoever.

  Jesse knocks Mikael out with a killer smile. ‘I was in the area and I knew the love of my life was here,’ he shrugs. ‘I thought I would slip in and get my fix. I’m not going to see her for another four hours.’ He bends down and brushes his lips over my ear. I’m totally speechless. ‘I missed you.’ he whispers.

  Missed me? He left me a couple of hours ago. He’s trampling better than ever before. I want to thrust my leg forward and prompt him to piss all over it. The man is impossible, and I have just landed right on my arse after being shoved off Central Jesse Cloud Nine.

  He turns me around so I’m facing Mikael and pulls my back to his chest, wrapping his arm around the tops of my shoulders and kissing my temple. This is so unprofessional. I want to die on the spot. I look up at Mikael and find him observing Jesse’s little trampling session thoughtfully.

  ‘I’m sorry, when you mentioned you were here to meet your girlfriend, I didn’t realise you were referring to Ava.’ Mikael says coolly.

  ‘Yes, isn’t she beautiful?’ He presses his lips to my temple again and inhales in my hair. ‘And all mine.’ he adds quietly, but loud enough for Mikael to hear.

  I feel my face getting hotter by the second, my eyes darting everywhere except in Mikael’s direction. Is he trying to eliminate Mikael? He’s a client, not a threat. Not that Jesse knows of, anyway. God help me if he finds out about my dinner invitation.

  My eyes land briefly on Mikael. He’s watching me carefully. I feel so uncomfortable.

  ‘Mr Ward, if I had an Ava, I’ve no doubt I would do exactly the same.’ He flashes me a smile, and I feel my face burning up further. ‘Perhaps Monday would be more suitable?’

  I find my voice. ‘Of course, Monday will be fine.’ I try to subtly wriggle free of Jesse, but he has a firm hold of me, and I know that even the whole British army would struggle to prize me from his arms.

  Mikael puts his hand out to me. ‘I’ll call you to arrange a time once I’ve checked my diary.’

  I take his offering. I’m ending an important business meeting with a
very important client and I’m completely coated in my neurotic, possessive control freak. I’m mortified. ‘I look forward to it.’ I say enthusiastically, earning myself a sharp little nudge in my back.

  Is he winding me up?

  Mikael exits the snug, and I notice him glancing over his shoulder as he leaves. I just about capture the thoughtful look on his pale face, and I can’t help but think that Jesse has just set a challenge for him. I could collapse with exasperation. I’m glad Jesse is behind me because he is the only thing holding me up.

  I relax against him on a long sigh. ‘I can’t believe you just did that,’ I say quietly as I stare at nothing in particular. ‘You’ve just trampled my most important client.’

  I’m swung around in his arms to find his face level with mine as he bends to accommodate the height difference between us. ‘Who is your most important client?’ he asks on a heavy furrowed brow.

  I roll my eyes. ‘You’re my lover, who happens to be a client.’

  ‘I am more than your lover!’

  Yes, okay. That was a little bit of an understatement. He is most certainly more than my lover. I look at the panicked face close to mine and curse myself for wanting to head straight to the hotel bar and down a large glass of wine. No, actually, make that a bottle.

  I exhale in complete despair. ‘I need to get back to work.’ I turn away, but feel his hand clamp around my wrist, the usual heat his touch instigates ever present.

  He walks around me so he is in front of me. He keeps hold of my wrist. ‘You did that on purpose.’ he says accusingly.

  Yes, I did! Just like he rocked up to The Royal Park on purpose to hijack my meeting and for what purpose? I look up at him through the fog of tears glazing my eyes. ‘Why?’ I ask. It’s a simple question.

  He looks down at the floor. ‘Because I love you.’ he says quietly.

  ‘That’s not a reason.’ My tone suggests I’m completely defeated. I am.

  His head snaps up in shock, and he pins me in place with his appalled glare. ‘Yes, it is. And anyway, he’s a known womaniser.’

  Okay, now he’s just making up excuses to justify his unreasonable behaviour. If he loves me, then he should support me in my work, not try to sabotage it. I know I’m being a bit dramatic, but this whole situation could have a massive impact on my flourishing career and all because he thinks Mikael is a womaniser? What grounds does he base this opinion on, anyway?

  ‘You can’t hijack every meeting I have with a male client.’ I say tiredly. I have absolutely no faith in my attempt to reason with him.

  ‘I won’t, just him. And any other man who may be a threat.’ he says candidly.

  I want to throw my head back and scream at the heavens. Does that mean I should expect him at The Life Building on Monday? Jesse sees every man as a threat. ‘I have to go.’ I try and regain possession of my body, but he refuses to release me.

  ‘I’ll take you,’ he informs me, releasing my wrist. ‘Collect your things.’ He walks over to the table and starts scooping up my mood boards. ‘These are really very good.’ he says zealously.

  I can’t join him in his enthusiasm. I feel despondent and flat. I can see my dream career flushing down the pan before my very eyes and worst of all, there is the little niggling fear that I will push him to get steaming drunk if I don’t comply with his unreasonableness. I feel helpless and hopeless. How can I go from being so immensely elated to so incredibly defeated, all in such a short space of time?

  Jesse drops me at the corner of Berkeley Square under my request so I’m not spotted by Patrick getting out of Mr Ward’s car nearly four hours after I went for a breakfast meeting with him. I have no doubt that my days are numbered with regards to Patrick’s enlightenment on mine and Jesse’s involvement. I would like to delay it for as long as possible, though. I need to think about how I’m going to break this to Patrick, and I pray on all things holy that Mikael doesn’t bombard him first. This needs to be handled with care.

  I give Jesse a chaste kiss on the cheek and leave him watching me, his bottom lip getting a grueling chew as I drag myself from his car. I say nothing, and neither does he.

  ‘You’ve been a while, flower.’ Patrick says, as I settle at my desk.

  ‘Mikael and I had a lot to go through. It’s looking good. ’ I offer by way of an explanation.

  It seems to do the trick. He smiles instantly. ‘Ah! He is still happy?’

  ‘Very.’ I confirm, and that broadens Patrick’s smile by a few more inches.

  ‘Wonderful!’ he exclaims, retreating to his office looking delighted.

  I open my email and hear the office door open. Looking up, I see a massive bunch of calla lilies floating towards me. Really? I left him five minutes ago.

  They land on my desk, and the young girl sighs. ‘I don’t know why he doesn’t just buy you the shop. Sign here, please.’ She thrusts the clipboard under my nose, and I scribble my name.

  ‘Thanks.’ I hand her back the clipboard and find the card.

  I’m sorry-ish

  Jx

  I fall back in my chair. What he means is…he’s sorry because he knows that he has upset me, but he is not at all sorry for trampling Mikael or my day. Maybe I should stay at Kate’s tonight. I could do with some time, a big bottle of wine, my own thoughts and no distractions.

  The office door swings open and I look up to see Ruth Quinn beaming at me. Why is she here? I only spoke to her this morning. Her blonde hair is shining and bouncing as she struts to my desk, waving excitedly.

  ‘Ava!’ she sings.

  ‘Ruth,’ I frown, but she doesn’t seem to notice my confusion.

  ‘I was just in the area and I thought I’d drop by.’ She places her neat, slender body on a chair in front of my desk.

  ‘Oh?’ I say, looking at her to continue.

  ‘Yes,’ she smiles, but doesn’t elaborate.

  I glance at the clock. It’s not even three o’clock. I’ve got another three hours to get her designs over by email. ‘Was there something that you wanted to add to the specification?’ I ask.

  ‘No. Not at all. I’m sure I’ll love the designs.’

  I’m not sure what to say. She’s dropped by for nothing? No reason?

  ‘Are you okay, Ava?’ Her smile fades a little.

  I shake myself up. ‘Yes, I’m fine.’ I force a happy face. I’m not fine, but I want to mood over it in peace, not make pointless conversation with a client. ‘I’ve prepped everything, Ruth. I’ll get it across to you before that day’s out.’ I know I’ve already told her this on the telephone, but what else can I say. Should I offer her a coffee?

  ‘Lovely.’ She strokes her hair, and then flicks it over her shoulder. ‘Are you doing anything nice this weekend?’

  Now I really am frowning. She’s not a clinger on, is she? ‘I’m not sure.’ I’m really not. I don’t know what I’m doing, where I’m going, not in any element of my life at the moment.

  ‘We should have drinks!’

  I inwardly groan. She wants to be friends. Never mix business with pleasure – my new rule applies to female clients too. What should I say? ‘Sure.’ The word slips past my lips and stuns me. I don’t want to have drinks with Ruth. I want to crawl into my bed and sulk.

  ‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ she presses.

  ‘Yes, fine.’ I try to smile. I’m struggling.

  ‘Man trouble?’ Her fair, precisely plucked eyebrow rises.

  ‘No.’ I shake my head. Oh God, she’s getting personal.

  ‘Ava, I know a woman in turmoil when I see one.’ She laughs. ‘Been there, done that.’

  ‘Honestly, Ruth. There is no man.’ I can’t believe I just said that. No man? There most certainly is a man, and he most certainly is causing me turmoil. But I need Kate for this line of conversation, not a client. Wine and Kate.

  She gives me a knowing smile and stands. ‘They’re not worth the trouble.’

  I return her smile, but only because I’m pleased that she
appears to be leaving. ‘I’ll get your designs over soon, Ruth.’ I’m repeating again.

  ‘Can’t wait! We’ll talk soon…about drinks.’ She breezes out of the office, leaving me sat in the turmoil she knows I’m in.

  I immediately email her. I don’t want her returning and offering more drinks. My head’s going to explode. I need Kate, and I need wine.

  I don’t go to Kate’s, though. I leave the office and I’m pulled towards St Katherine Docks by the magnet that is The Lord of the Sex Manor. I said I wouldn’t leave him, and I need these mounting questions answered, like this mystery woman.

  ‘Evening, Ava.’

  ‘Hello, Clive. Can I speak to security, please?’

  ‘They are all off site at the moment.’ He diverts his attention to his computer, his way of halting this conversation from going any further – his way of dodging me.

  ‘Right.’ I sigh, leaving Clive and carrying on my way to the elevator. I board and lean back against the mirrored wall after I’ve punched in the code that Jesse still hasn’t got changed.

  I let myself in with my pink key and head straight for the kitchen, kicking my shoes off and looking for wine that I know won’t be there before finding a vase to put my flowers in. I remember the bunch upstairs that I hastily dumped on the chest in favour of prepping myself to deliver one truth fuck, so I take the stairs tiredly and enter the master-suite to retrieve them.

  Oh…dear.

  My new diamante embellished vibrator is in a million pieces all over the far end of the bedroom floor and there’s a hole in the wall opposite the bed. The bedroom is vast, so he must have lobbed it with some force. I’m suddenly thinking that leaving before he got free was a decision well made.

  I look across the room to the bed and see the handcuffs still dangling from the headboard, mental images of Jesse flying into a rage instantly starting to assault my brain. This man has issues – big, unreasonable, bloody issues…with control…with me.

  I kneel and collect up all of the pieces, taking them to the bathroom and depositing them in the bin before I start running a bath. Picking up the calla lilies that are in desperate need of some water, I make my way back downstairs.