She must have been asleep when he’d rung, late in the evening for him. But then, he’d spent all day with his girlfriend, hadn’t he? she thought bitterly. Deciding to ignore the call, she washed and dressed, then made her way to The Bath House.
It was now approaching noon and to her relief there were no more appointments booked that day. But now she had time to think about Jasper. Why was he ringing? For a friendly chat? His secretary must have passed on the message of her ringing him, he was probably just returning the call.
When Adira told Cassie about her conversation with Jasper’s PA, she pulled her face in disbelief.
‘A girlfriend? Since when?’
‘That’s what she said.’ Adira shrugged.
‘Well, he’s never mentioned a girlfriend before and he’s leaving Dubai for good, so—’
‘Maybe she’s coming back with him?’ Adira interrupted. The thought filled her with dread.
‘No.There’s been some misunderstanding. It doesn’t make sense.’
It did puzzle Adira why Jasper had acted the way he had with her, especially if he had somebody waiting for him in Dubai. Cassie was right. It didn’t make sense.
Cassie was looking at her with an expectant expression.
‘I’m not ringing him,’ Adira stated flatly.
‘Sure?’
‘Yes,’ she replied firmly.
How glad she was with her decision not to ring two hours later. Especially when she received the picture on her phone.
Adira’s eyes widened in horror at what she had just opened. There, lying completely naked with a knowing smirk on her face, was a woman on a bed. Jasper’s bed. She knew that because a picture of Fletcher was clearly visible on the bedside cabinet. Whoever this was, she definitely wanted her to know she’d been with Jasper. His girlfriend. It was Jasper’s girlfriend warning her off. Adira wretched and only just made it to the toilet before throwing up.
Later that afternoon, Adira had called at The Laurels with all her laundry, feeling sick to the stomach and dazed. She was bending down, piling it into the washing machine, when Fletcher came into the kitchen.
‘Ah, just the lady.’
‘Hi, Fletcher,’ she mumbled over her shoulder.
‘Jasper rang.’ Adira froze. ‘He wanted to know if a parcel’s arrived for you.’
‘For me?’ She stood up straight to face him.
‘Yes,’ nodded Fletcher, seeing how guarded she was looking. ‘He sent you something.’
‘Oh right,’ she frowned.
‘But it’s not arrived yet.’ Fletcher eyed her and folded his arms.
‘Did he say what it was?’ asked Adira.
Fletcher let out an infuriated sigh. ‘Don’t you two talk?’ Then he marched into the hall. ‘Follow me!’ he called over his shoulder as he picked up the phone. Squinting, he read Jasper’s number which was written out in large numbers on the pad next to it. Adira panicked as she realised what he was doing. ‘You, here,’ he ordered, pointing his finger at her.
Adira tentatively walked towards him.
Jasper was in a board meeting when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He discreetly took it out to see The Laurels flash before him. Instantly he stopped. What was wrong? Had Fletcher had an accident? He rose and quietly made his apologies for leaving.
Outside, in the corridor, he answered.
‘Hello?’
‘Jasper, it’s me, Fletcher,’ boomed his uncle’s voice. He sounded fine, thank God.
