‘With your girlfriend…’ Sabrina now felt anger rising within her.
Lowen snarled. ‘Yes, with my girlfriend. And she tells me that some blonde tart comes in for a root touch up, nothing out of the ordinary there but as you rushed out to leave, she sees a tattoo on your shoulder.’
‘And?’ Sabrina closed her eyes in anticipation of knowing exactly what was coming.
‘The very same tattoo of a swift that that Polly Malone, big-shot soap star, has.’
‘Lots of people must have tattoos of birds.’ Not liking the tone of his voice, Sabrina moved away from him towards the balcony door.
‘Not with the same birthdate under it they don’t. When we got back, Giselle froze it on the screen to show me as she was so excited it could be you.’
Lowen lunged towards her and roughly pulled at her top.
She pushed him away. ‘I think you should leave.’ Sabrina felt suddenly afraid.
‘Why have you lied to me, Jilly, or whoever you are? And why go in and try and cause trouble for me with my girlfriend?’
‘I really don’t care enough about you or her to spill even a drop of tea. And I didn’t know! I honestly didn’t know who Giselle was!’ Lowen stood shaking his head. ‘We had sex, Lowen. Yes, it was fun but I’m not a cheater and don’t intend to ever knowingly be one.’
‘You’re a two-bit soap actress, not Elizabeth bloody Taylor. I wouldn’t even have known who you were if Giselle hadn’t told me. Saying that, I’ve never fucked anyone remotely famous before, so I guess I can add that notch to my bedpost, at least.’
‘You’re vile.’ Sabrina felt tears pricking her eyes. ‘And I don’t have to tell you anything.’
‘And as for working the market, surely you’re loaded?’
‘Do you have to be so cruel? Just fuck off, Lowen. My life is none of your business.’
Lowen raised his voice. ‘Tell me! You lied to me. I have a right to know.’
Sabrina centred herself. ‘OK, although clearly you are far more concerned that I will out your infidelity than caring who the hell I am!’ She then began an uncontrollable rant. ‘My fiancécheatedon me. My honeymoon was supposed to be at Kevrinek. I came away to escape from the drama and vitriolic comments that were all over social media. Because you may not know who I am, Lowen, but many people do. And I’d had enough.’ Her bottom lip began to wobble. ‘And I wanted to escape, and I want people to like me for who I am and not the character I represent or the fame I have. Because the man I thought loved me, couldn’t even do that.’ She began to cry.
His drunken mind tried to compute. He went to embrace her.
‘No.’ She pushed him away. ‘Go home to your girlfriend, Lowen. But before you do, please tell me that my giving you the money for the market stall was legitimate. I heard youhavebeen sacked.’
‘You hear too much.’ Lowen growled. ‘You got the unit you wanted at the price you wanted. I don’t know what all the fuss is about.’
‘That’s not an answer. And what did you mean about not getting too close to anyone in the market? How dare you even think of being jealous over me, when you are the one with a girlfriend.’
‘I didn’t realise quite how stupid you were to even think that.’ Lowen shook his head in mock disbelief.
‘Just go. Please leave. I don’t want or need to know anything else,’ Sabrina shouted.
The man’s mood changed again. ‘Look at little actress pushing me, away. I said don’t get too close to anyone because by next year, the outdoor market is going to be no more, and it will mean a lot of the businesses may not survive.’
‘You’re talking rubbish, Lowen. You’re drunk. It’s been an outdoor market for over a hundred years. Ferry Lane Market is part of the history of Hartmouth.’
‘And times need to change, don’t they? I’m now working for the planners of a big new housing development and we’re looking to build a brand-new housing estate at the top of Hartmouth Hill. We need access to Ferry Lane, seven days a week to act as a bypass to cope with the new volume of traffic heading out on the coastal road to Penrigan. And with the council workers I’ve kept in my back pocket, they will be getting their pockets filled with backhanders from me when they push it through.’ Sabrina’s mouth dropped open. ‘You can’t do that.Theycan’t do that– and I wonder where you got that backhander cash from?’
‘Watch us.’ An evil grin spread across his face. He took hold of her hand. ‘You can’t deny we had great sex. Come on, how about one for the road– or shall we say, lane?’ He laughed manically.
Sabrina ran to the front door and opened it. ‘Getonthe fucking road andoutof my life.’
‘I’m going. I’ve said too much.’
‘You really have.’ Sabrina was shaking.
Lowen turned as he was at the top of the stairs. ‘I think we need to make one more deal, don’t you?’ Sabrina remained silent. ‘You stay away from my girlfriend and keep your mouth shut about the market and I don’t blow your cover, because the last thing you want is the press running all over town and that includes your ex-boyfriend.’ Lowen smirked. ‘Quite a babe he’s got on his arm, now, hasn’t he?Au revoir, salope.’
