Page 8 of In Love and Revenge

‘Believe me,’ I whisper, gazing into Freddie’s eyes. ‘It’ll be worth it in the end.’

Chapter 2

Aurora

I snag the stray dog hair from my pencil skirt with my lint roller, then stuff it into my bag beside an empty tube of crisps seconds before the lift doors slide open.

Fairfax Guardian.

That’s what the gold letters spell out above the long, sleek black reception desk. ‘Devil’s Lair’ would be more accurate. Although, that’s not entirely fair. Not everyone who works here is a total arsehole like their CEO.

I mean, Dove works here. My best friend, who I’ve known since one very random night a couple of years ago that involved a bar, one too many cocktails, and a guy with an orange fake tan named Leroy who didn’t know when to quit.

We’re complete opposites. Dove is a ball-busting career woman who heads her family insurance firm’s contracts that– what were her words? Oh yeah– ‘insure the hare-brained, crazily brilliant ideas from people and companies no one else in the industry will touch’. But she loves it. She says innovation never comes from sitting around and doing what’s been done before. You have to be a trailblazer andbe prepared to fail faster than your opponents, so that when you do win ... well, then you make millions.

She’s the only one of her siblings– and all of them help run the firm– who would want to do what she does. Insurance is all about negating risk. But Dove runs towards it. And her brothers let her because, more often than not, it pays off.

Her brothers.Only one brings a sourness to my mouth. Her other two, Gabriel and Angelo, seem okay the couple of times I’ve briefly met them. And the stories she tells me about them don’t set alarm bells ringing.

But, of course, in every family there’s that one person who you’d gladly wish didn’t exist.

That blot.

That bane on society.

‘Good afternoon. I’m here to meet Dove Fairfax,’ I tell the receptionist sitting behind the immaculate desk.

He flashes me a megawatt smile. Maybe they pump out endorphins through the air filters. Surely no one can be that happy working underhim.

‘Who should I tell her is calling?’

‘Aurora Thorne.’

‘One moment, please.’ He presses a button on his keyboard, before talking into his headset. ‘Miss Fairfax, I have an Aurora Thorne here for you.’ He pauses. ‘Of course.’

He looks at me. ‘She’ll only be a few minutes. Please take a seat.’

‘Thank you.’

I head to the waiting area, which is overpowered by a giant concrete table in the centre. I sink into one of the plush seats surrounding it and scan the meticulously displayed financial magazines and papers on the cold grey surface.

My eyes snag on a glossy insurance magazine. There are more copies of it than any of the other titles and I scoff as the reason why becomes apparent.

The object of my disgust is taking up the front cover, filling out his perfectly tailored designer suit and standing with one hand in his pocket like a self-entitled prick. His rich, amber-flecked eyes glow like he’s thinking about a billion and one ways he can ruin you and come out on top.

Emblazoned on the cover beside his image is their company slogan.

Protecting the priceless. Providing you peace.

An exclusive interview with Fairfax Guardian’s CEO, Rafael Fairfax.

I snort, earning myself a quizzical look from the receptionist as I pick up the magazine.

The only peace Rafael Fairfax knows are the lies he tells himself about him being a good man with integrity.

Arsehole.

‘Hey, AJ,’ a guy calls, passing the desk on his way out. ‘Thanks for fixing those reports. See you in the morning.’