Page 229 of The Heart You Kept

“Thank you, Mrs. Dupont, I shall have some ideas back to you by Thursday at the latest. It was lovely meeting you.”

“You too, dear.” She smiles as she walks me out, I glance up to see the car is back and the two boys are out and leaning up against it.

“Have a good day.” I smile as I walk down the front steps and the door closes behind me.

After the longest hour of my life, I’ve finished the appointment, but I’m not waiting another minute to call him. “I just have to make a call,” I mouth to the boys.

Philippe nods and Stefan says something to him and Philippe smirks.

What the hell are they saying to each other…. Am I the village idiot here?

Anger begins to heat my blood, it’s one thing to have men follow me around but for them to know shit that I don’t is just damn infuriating. I dial Edward’s number.

Ring, ring…. Ring, ring…. Ring, ring…. The answering machine picks up.

You’ve reached Edward Prescott.

Leave a message.

“How convenient,” I mutter, infuriated, as I hang up. I call him again.

Ring, ring…ring, ring…ring, ring.

You’ve reached Edward Prescott.

Leave a message.

I begin to fume. “Call me immediately.” I march to the car.

“You ready to go?” Philippe smiles as he opens the back door for me.

“Yep,” I snap as I climb in.

Don’t talk to me, asshole, I’m annoyed with you too. When I ask you a question, you fucking answer it. My phone beeps with a text, it’s from Edward.

Mr. Doe

Hi babe, Can’t talk, I’m in a meeting, and back-to-back all afternoon.

I’ll pick you up from work x

He doesn’t want to talk to me?

Why?

I stare out the window as Monaco flies by; a million scenarios are running through my mind and none of them good.

This should be interesting.

“So what’s going on?” Jonty asks as he peers out the shop front window to the men standing out on the curb. “Why are there four of them now?”

I try to act casual. “Oh, I don’t know, they must be rotating soon I guess.” I keep dusting. The shop has never looked better, I’ve been rage cleaning all afternoon.

I’m always so much more productive when I’m pissed.

“Oh, fuck.” Jonty runs away from the window and I know that he must have arrived.

There’s only one person who can frighten the living daylights out of everyone just on sight.