She needed to wrestle back the momentum. ‘Fine, let’s sit down then.’
Simone walked to the couch and lowered herself onto it. It was deep and as comfortable as the one in her bedroom. The moment she sank into it she decided she was never going to leave. She wanted to curl up and sleep the week away.
Leo sat next to her. Close enough, but the gulf between them seemed unbreachable.
‘No one visited you at the hospital.’
Her heart rate spiked, sending another pounding into her head. She touched her temple. Why was he bringing that up?
‘I asked for your emergency contacts from HR. Called Holly. She said she couldn’t come because she’s pregnant and doctors won’t allow her to travel. Insisted I get in touch with your parents. Gave me their details. Your father emailed me in response to keep him appraised,should I be so inclined.’
Simone knew he’d been in touch with Holly. The moment Simone had been well enough she’d contacted her sister to reassure her that she was fine because she didn’t want Holly to worry any more than she had already. It was bad for her blood pressure. They’d exchanged messages since, Simone downplaying the aftereffects of her fall.
Holly hadn’t said anything about Leo contacting their parents.
‘I told you I was estranged from them.’
Leo’s eyes tightened. The expression was one that looked a lot like concern but she was used to that being wrapped up in a desire to control. She wasn’t buying into it, not any more.
‘You were injured. Seriously. If it weren’t for me, who would have cared for you?’
It was as if the world stopped. She gripped onto the arm of the sofa because that terrible truth slammed into her so suddenly. She really had no one. Work was her life. She didn’t have many close friends because those she’d thought she was close to once, had laughed at her behind her back. She was caring for Holly, not the other way round. Her throat tightened. What if she’d been alone, and fallen down a flight of stairs with no one to find her? She might not be here right now.
Simone shook her head. What was she thinking? Her New York studio had only been one level. There were no stairs to fall down there. She was jumping at shadows, at possibilities that would never have arisen.
It still didn’t take away the creeping, terrifying thought that she could have died when she’d barely even lived. It was like a terrible weight of realisation pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
‘I take care of myself. That’s what most people do. You don’t get to make decisions for my life.’
Everything about this, how she’d thought he cared, seemed changed. Like when she’d arrived at this house and he’d shown her to her beautiful room. Or taken her to Lake Garda to see a magnificent waterfall and garden that few people ever would. Then when she’d woken in hospital to find him by her bedside. Those fond memories curdled in her stomach like sour milk.
‘I was trying to help so you didn’t need to worry.’
‘And yet here I am, more worried than before.’ She pinched the bridge of her nose. Trying to hold back the burn in her eyes.
Leo reached out and took her hand gently. Rubbed his thumb over the back of it. Anyone looking at them might see this as a tender moment.
Looks could besodeceiving.
‘What do you need?’ he asked.
She looked at him. His expression seemed so open, concerned. She wanted to believe what her brain told her she was seeing. That he really did care. That this was an aberration and he was just trying to do the right thing, not run her life. But trust was a hard-won thing and she’d been here before. People wanting to steer her life because they didn’t like the way she drove it herself.
‘My job back. To ease into things as I feel ready. But you can’t exclude me from making decisions. Not ever again. I though you respected my autonomy.’
Now she was scared he didn’t respect anything at all.
CHAPTER SIX
In the dayssince their argument over Simone’s work, they’d reached a form of truce. Leo was sensible enough to realise he’d overstepped, even though what he’d done was for Simone’s benefit. He’d called Marchesa and apologised, saying that Simone would resume her role at her own pace, with as much or as little assistance as she chose.
All Simone’s assistant had said was,I knew she wouldn’t let you gothat easily.
Simone had also demanded that he reinstate her attendance at the charity ball this evening. Whilst he’d said nothing to her, he was worried. He didn’t want to stretch her too thin. Her photophobia had dissipated and she wasn’t getting dizzy any more, but she still tired more easily than usual. Guilt plagued him about what he’d asked of her. It was unrelenting. The memory of Simone lying at the bottom of the stairs played over and over in his head. Yet she’d been firm, so he’d been sensible. Choosing not to pick a fight that didn’t need to be fought, since clearly this was one he’d never win.
He adjusted his bow tie and checked his watch. An alert pinged on his phone, telling him their driver was on the way. He strolled from his room and waited outside. Not wanting to leave until he could safely escort Simone down the stairs.
She’d been somewhat elusive in the past week. Working with him on the days that she wanted to but otherwise taking herself into the city on her own. He’d resorted to asking Marchesa who claimed it wassecret women’s businessand said nothing else. It piqued his interest but he didn’t ask because he didn’t want to interfere. He’d made too many mistakes already and he refused to make another, not where Simone was concerned.
