Page 16 of In Love and Revenge

‘Is it one of those websites where she sends you videos without the workout gear on too?’

My jaw clenches and I curse myself internally. My ludicrous obsession with Aurora Thorne means that I couldn’t even shut my damn phone off quick enough to prevent Dominic from getting a glimpse of her. Not that it should bother me. She posts online multiple times per week. Any number of men could be leering over the curves of her arse in those leggings right now.

Sourness swirls in my gut.

‘Hey.’ Dominic throws his hands up in a chuckle. ‘No need to get jealous. I’m a happily married man. I can’t be looking at some beautifulyoungblonde who’s commanded your attention.’

‘She hasn’t. She’s no one,’ I lie through my teeth, ignoring his emphasis on the word ‘young’. I know Aurora’s too young for me. She’s twenty-five, I’m thirty-nine. I don’t need Dominic reminding me of the fact whilst wearing a shit-eating grin on his face.

‘Whatever helps you sleep at night,’ he says, sinking into the chair on the opposite side of my desk.

‘I have a date tonight. With a brunette,’ I announce, like I have to justify myself.

Dominic rests his hands over his stomach, leaning back in the chair. His eyes glitter beneath his swept-back silvery hair. ‘Fine,’ he concedes with a smirk. ‘Let’s talk business. How’s the Beaufort account?’

I relax back in my seat, mirroring his position, much more at ease talking multimillion-pound contracts than I am discussing Aurora Thorne.

‘Great. They’ve taken on more mines in Botswana. Their share prices have risen as a result. And Sullivan is announcing a new line that’s already got a long waiting list.’

‘Diamond jewellery business is thriving then?’ Dominic quips.

‘They’ll be busier than a one-armed hooker giving out two-quid hand jobs,’ I reply, the tension evaporating from my muscles as we discuss one of Fairfax Guardian’s biggest clients. Their headquarters arein New York, and over the past few years working together, their CEO, Sullivan Beaufort, has become a friend as well as business associate.

Dominic chuckles. ‘Glad to hear it.’

‘Things are back on track ... finally,’ I say, my momentary reprieve meeting a premature end as thoughts of what could have been push to the front of my mind again.

‘George Thorne is nothing but a bad memory,’ Dominic says, giving me a levelling look.

‘You say that so easily,’ I grumble, my molars grinding together – a sign that he is not a memory to me, not by a long shot.

‘The guy’s in prison, Rafe. What else do you want?’

To know what he did with my two hundred and forty bloody million pounds, that’s what.

Has he got it stashed somewhere? Ready for when he’s out in a few years’ time? To retire to some Caribbean island with? Minus what his darling daughter has already squandered on designer workout gear, that is.

The memory of her face getting into the lift last time I saw her niggles at me. Thinking she got one up on me. She might act the cute and innocent daddy’s girl, but underneath it all she’s a shrew. A cunning and devious accomplice to her father’s misdemeanours. She has to be. You’d have to be an idiot to watch a parent go to prison, continue to live alone in your mansion in Chelsea with your clothing allowance, and not ask where the money came from.

I bring my hands together and crack my knuckles.

The fact she’s Dove’s friend is the only thing stopping me from going after her already. Despite everything, before this all happened, Aurora was a good friend to my sister when God knows Dove needed one. Under ideal circumstances, Aurora would have distanced herself after her father’s conviction. Not subjected my sister to the hounding from the press following them both aroundin those early days after the verdict. Dove was still recovering from the appendicitis that resulted in her going to hospital. If Aurora really cared, surely she would have kept her distance? Realised that environment wasn’t healthy for my sister when she was healing?

I gave the menace a little nudge, making sure she overheard me vocalising my less than stellar opinion of her father when I ran into her at the office one day. But even that wasn’t enough to deter her.

Aurora Thorne seems intent on staying in my world.

So she had better be prepared for the consequences.

‘You still worried they’ll find out?’ Dominic says, lifting his brows in understanding.

My mouth flattens into a grim line, and I nod.

‘This investment was supposed to show my father that I’m perfectly capable of doing things without him.’

Dom grimaces. ‘I’m sorry. It was a sure thing. I wouldn’t have suggested you invest otherwise. I didn’t know some bastard was going to drain the company’s account.’

‘I know, I know.’ I nod. Dom’s right. It was a sure thing. Just like previous investments I’ve made through him with Fairfax Guardian’s money. Only this time we went big.Two hundred and forty million big. ‘They can’t find out. None of them. My father handed the business over to me when he retired, and I almost ran it into the ground within the first three months. Doing it again would be the cherry on the bloody cake.’