‘Leo!’
The sound of a chair scraping back on sandstone tiles grated through her head. The tap, tap, tap of leather soled shoes came closer as Leo jogged into view, his brow furrowed in worry.
Well, heshouldbe concerned.
‘Cara, there’s a problem?’
She pinched the bridge of her nose, the pounding of her heart starting a corresponding pounding in her head.
‘You need painkillers? A doctor?’
She looked up at him. ‘No, Leo. I need you to tell me why you sent an all-company email telling everyone that Marchesa’s now your EA.’
He cocked his head, but didn’t look at all chastened. If anything, his frown deepened.
‘What are you doing looking at your email? Your doctor said you shouldn’t be working—’
‘She said I could have a graduated return starting one day a week and increasing as I felt fit enough. I feel fit now. What I didn’t expect, was that my employer would just…just…sack me!’
Leo held up his hands. ‘Husband.’
‘What? You’re pulling the husband cardnow?’
‘Simone.’
That tone in his voice. She was sure Leo meant it to sound placating but instead, he sounded so condescending it made her grind her teeth.
‘There’s no need for you to work. I can give you everything you need. You’ve trained Marchesa well and she’ll be able to do the job admirably.’
‘There’s only one problem,husbanddearest.’ She lifted her hand, stabbing her fingers into her sternum as if punctuating every word. ‘You. Didn’t. Ask.Me.’
‘I didn’t want you to be concerned about anything. This seemed like a good solution—’
‘As an interim measure. Nothing in our deal said I wouldn’t continue in my role as your EA.’
‘Circumstances change and I don’t understand why—’
She began to pace, trying to expel the furious energy that had overtaken her. Leo could never understand what it was like, being subject to the whims of others. She’dfoughtto be able to make her own decisions and now he was intent on stealing everything away from her. She’d be entirely reliant on him. And when he decided he didn’t want her any more… What then?
‘We have an agreement, but I will not be kept. Since my twenties, I’ve been employed. I’vestudiedto hone my skills as an EA and I’m damned good at my role. Now, you’re taking it all away from me!’
She’d had enough people ruling her life, particularly her parents. Using their money as a weapon to be wielded. She’d left the family when she’d realised they’d never see her as autonomous, only as a chess piece to be moved. Where love was conditional, so long as you fit the family mould.
When she’d walked away Simone had made a promise to herself. She’dnevergo back to a situation where she wasn’t in charge of her own destiny. Sure, she might be married to Leo, but she’d gone into that with her eyeswideopen to help Holly. She’d been fooled into thinking that he’d begun to care about her, even if only a little, when what he really wanted, was to run her life how he saw fit.
‘Come, sit down,’ Leo said.
Her stomach twisted into agonizing knots. ‘I don’t need to sit down. I need you tofixthis.’
‘Simone, you look like if you don’t sit down, you’re going to fall down. Please.’
He moved towards her slowly as though he was approaching a wild animal. Leo touched her elbow gently. A sensation shivered through her, liquid and warm. Too pleasant and comforting. She hated that she felt like this. That he wasright, because the emotion of it all had taken it out of her. She felt like she was wilting like a flower in baking sunshine. Knees a little unsteady. Exhausted, like all her batteries had run empty.
‘Do I have to pick you up again and put you on the sofa?’
For a fleeting second a flare of heat rocketed right through her. The memory of how it felt to be in his arms. How solid. How safe. How cared for.
Yet he didn’t care. If he had, he wouldn’t have done this.
