"It was productive and the company has flown in the past twelve months."
"Has Richard ever been violent towards you?"
I shook my head. "No. He's made threats when he's been drunk – I've several voicemails with those threats on – but he'd never followed through. He's all talk. It doesn't mean that what he would say didn't upset me or scare me, but I never thought he was serious."
"We're going to the police tomorrow. I think after tonight we should apply for a restraining order against him as I suspect as he realizes you are getting away from him; he will become more aggressive towards you. He's all about control, Vanessa," Jackson said, breaking off some of the chocolate for himself.
"You think he's been controlling me?"
"Why haven't you had a relationship since you've broken up and don't say it was because you were broken-hearted, because you've just said you didn't love him."
I remembered it was never a good idea to argue with a lawyer. "I was worried about the repercussions." The confession was a difficult one for me. "That if he knew I was dating he'd make life difficult for me personally and professionally. So yes, I suppose he's been controlling me."
"How do you feel now?" Jackson said, breaking off yet more chocolate. He offered me a piece and I happily took it.
"Reliant."
He looked surprised. "On me?"
"Yes."
"Because I'm your lawyer?"
"No, because I'm expecting a bill for your services so you're just doing your job, possibly not at this time on a Friday night – or, hello, Saturday morning." I inhaled deeply. "Because for the first time in more than seven years I feel as if I can pass the baton and not have to be in control all the time. And yes, you're right, Richard has controlled me to a certain extent, but I've given him that power, but he never had the power to hurt me. I never missed him when he was gone."
Jackson's eyes grew darker. "So why do you feel reliant on me? Because you give me the power to help you not feel so alone and that you don't have to deal with everything that comes your way by yourself? Hello, Vanessa. Welcome to the normal world."
"But what if you're not there?"
"Then you'll manage because that's what you do. And yes, you might be upset – or you might not because I can be a complete dick at times – but life does carry on and there are other people who can help share your problems. They might not solve them, but they can support you while you solve them. Like I suppose Sophie has been doing for the past year or more," he said, finishing his tea. He stood up and removed his suit jacket, then undoing his cuff links, rolling up his sleeves to show his tattoos. "Shall I take you home?"
I finished my drink and nodded. "I think I need to get my head around what's happened. But, Jackson, thank you."
"What for?" He picked up his car keys from the kitchen counter.
"For coming tonight. For making that effort to see me and see what I do. Surprising me."
"Baby, that's what people do. I wanted to see you and I wanted to support what you were doing. It was superb tonight – and don't negate that by bringing Richard into the equation: he was there after it had finished." He paused. "Let me take you home." He still hadn't touched me and for a moment I felt bereft, as if what we'd had last weekend and during the week was over.
I sat back down. "Do you still want to get breakfast tomorrow?"
His face broke out into a wide smile. "Yes. I really do. After we've been to the police and you've filed for a restraining order."
"I'll do that first thing. I've helped a friend do it before so I'll sort it straight away. I'll order a taxi and then you can relax for the night," I said, pulling my phone from my handbag.
"I can take you home."
I smiled. "I know. But I'm not sure I'd let you leave."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Chapter Thirteen
Vanessa
Somehow, I slept, although I did wake early, hearing Sophie thudding about the apartment and not for the first time did I wish I'd stayed at Jackson's. I missed his large body curled up against mine and the lazy way he would hold me against him. I missed his house, and the space, and how comfortable I felt there, but I had done the right thing last night by coming back to Sophie's. Staying there and inevitably sleeping with him would have added to my confusion, which, in the daylight was alleviated. Sophie had listened to my tale of woe involving Richard over coffee and had then whisked me to the nearest police station before I'd even applied makeup, making me file a complaint and fill in the forms for a restraining order while we were there.
"You should disappear for the weekend," she said while we were sat in Starbucks, drinking coffee that was nowhere near as good as Amelie's. "Get away from London. Is there any work that needs doing?"
