This doesn’t matter; it’s a distraction. I shake my head. “Let’s… talk once you’re warm?”
She doesn’t reply, just glares at me, shoots Carol a glance full of reproach, then storms past us both and into a room I presume is her bedroom. The door slams.
The sudden awkward silence is broken by the kettle clicking off, steam jetting from the spout. Carol doesn’t move toward it, making it clear I won’t be getting my coffee.
We don’t have to wait long. Vicky’s door opens and she strides out, belting her robe about her waist as she comes, the T-shirt beneath dry, but still wearing her wet running leggings. “Why are you here?”
“To check on you, of course.” I’m conscious that Carol is listening, but I don’t make the mistake of glancing at her. “You didn’t reply to any of my messages.”
“I leftyoua message.”
“You did?” I almost reach for my phone.
“You can’t have missed it. It was on a piece of paper on your bed.”
Bitingandpointed.
“I’m keeping it safe,” I say carefully, watching her.
She trembles where she stands, though I’m not sure if it’s cold or anger. One hand grips the back of an armchair, the other’s in the pocket of her robe. Her hair’s still wet, darker than usual, a stray lock curling at the edge of her face, begging to be brushed back. Her throat jerks as she swallows.
“Sell it,” she bites out. “I don’t care.”
“I care.”
She gives a short, bitter laugh. “No, you don’t.”
“I missed your birthday. I understand you’re upset.” I take a small pace toward her. “It was the Summit Ridge deal. We… got it signed.”
“You’ve been working on it for six months. It couldn’t have waited twenty-four more hours?”
“No, it couldn’t.” And I’m not exaggerating. “Time kills deals, Vicky. I told you that. One day could—”
“I don’t give a fuck about your deal. I don’t care about yourwork. We don’t need the money!” She glances away, lips pressing thin, angry.
It takes me a moment to realize she said ‘we’; she realized before I did.
“I… uh… hear you got a new contract. Congratulations.”
Vicky directs some of her anger at Carol, then returns her focus to me. “Is that your way of sayingyou want the money back? I’ll pay it. Give me… three months.”
That wasn’t what I meant. Though now I consider it, I could demand it all… No. It’s better she keeps it. She’s just told me she can’t afford to repay it; she needs it. Dependent on it. On me. A constant reminder.
“You don’t need to pay it back when you’ll be returning to me soon enough.”
“The hell I will.” Her chin comes up. “I want you to leave.”
“Not until I’ve—”
Her fist clenches on the chair, eyes flashing with fury. “I’m not interested in whatyouwant.Iwant you to leave.”
My irritation uncurls inside me. “Don’t you think this is a bit petty?”
“Petty?” She spits the word at me. In the corner of my eye, Carol winces.
I gesture with one hand. “I get it was your birthday, but—”
“You don’t fucking getanything! That’s the whole goddamnpoint!”
