‘I’m sorry, I was at Summit One, and Jimmy was asking why I was worried about the app, and all of this change came to me so quickly. I should have run it past you both, but Jimmy suggested calling the troops in and .?.?.’ She sounded so genuinely apologetic, stuttering over her words, that Katy leapt forward and hugged her tightly.
‘I think it sounds like an excellent idea, Ells,’ she said, meaning it.
‘Good work,’ Zola added with a wink. ‘And I take it the date went well?’ She bit her nail and swivelled around, looking Jimmy up and down while he spoke to Travis about investors a few metres behind them.
Ella blushed. ‘Yeah, it was really nice, actually.’
‘Uh-huh.’ Zola smirked.
‘What?’ Ella nudged her shoulder, face reddening.
‘Babe, your makeup is completely off around your mouth, and I’m guessing that’s because Jimmy’s wearing it.’ Zola giggled loudly, clapping her hands.
‘Fuck!’ Ella lowered her head. ‘I’d better go sort this.’ She covered her face slightly, feeling suddenly self-conscious, and took a few steps back. ‘I’m going to stay for a bit and write the new plan. Do you want to help?’
Zola turned to Katy, then spotted Ethan leaving the room. ‘I think I might head to the tech suite and see what genius plans Ethan’s got going. Not that he’ll tell me, but I can always observe.’
Katy grinned. ‘I’m going to get a coffee. To be honest, I’m fucked.’
The other two girls smiled and headed their separate ways. Katy walked down the dimly lit corridor to the kitchenette and grabbed a mug, setting it under the coffee machine. She began pressing buttons, but nothing happened. She hit the side of the machine.
‘Come on,’ she muttered. ‘This is a caffeine emergency.’
‘Hey, need some help?’ Travis stood, arms crossed, amused at her conversation with the appliance.
‘It’s broke,’ Katy declared. ‘I’ll just grab a can.’ She turned to the fridge, avoiding eye contact with Travis for as long as she possibly could.
He took a few steps forward and plugged something in; the coffee machine lit up immediately. ‘The cleaner switches it off at night,’ he explained.
Katy sighed as she turned to face him.
‘Right. Em .?.?. Thanks,’ she replied, feeling embarrassed.
Travis’s blue eyes remained on her, a soft smile on his face. ‘How are you settling in?’ he asked. It was the first time they’d been alone since him turning up to their place.
She nodded, reaching over to press some buttons. ‘Mm .?.?. Fine, yeah.’
‘You girls seem right at home,’ he continued. ‘New York suits you, Katy.’
For a moment, she remembered the stalker. Travis always seemed kind and respectful on the surface, but there had to be something darker lurking for him to treat his wife like that. Yet, somehow, he didn’t seem capable. Yes, he was a cheat, but he was quiet and considerate and did try to sort the mess out like an adult. And although things had turned out terribly, he was always gentle with her, loving almost.
‘Travis,’ she said. ‘I have to tell you something.’
He pressed his hand against the worktop. ‘Me too,’ he said.
Katy felt her heart skip a beat. Was he about to admit he was involved in all of this? Maybe this would be the moment he’d try to blackmail her. Fuck. She didn’t get her share of the money from Jimmy until the app was complete and she was skint.
He began just as Katy opened her mouth. ‘I haven’t stopped thinking about—’
‘Someone knows about us,’ Katy spoke over him.
Both of them realised what the other was saying, and they stood looking at each other in shock.
‘What do you mean? Who?’ Travis hissed under his breath, stepping forward. ‘Who have you told?’
Katy took a step back, feeling a little intimidated. ‘I don’t know who it is, they’ve been sending me creepy text messages telling me to go home or they’ll expose us. And I haven’t told anyone! Who have you fucking told?’ She knew Zola and Ella were, of course, exempt from her list, but explaining girl code was not on the cards right now.
‘Creepy messages?’ Travis rubbed his temple. ‘That doesn’t make any sense!’
