He moves inwards, leaning against the wide chest of drawers opposite the bed, where I am seated. “I’m sorry.”
Something like a laugh slips through my lips. “Are you really?” I toss my cell down. “Surely your little investigation on me would have flagged this up, I bet you enjoyed watching my world crash down.”
“I didn’t know this.”
I press my hands to my eyes, praying the tears hold still, but they don’t. When I finally open my eyes, the room is empty. It shouldn’t but a pit of utter despair and loneliness suddenly rages through me...until I spy Matthew exiting the bathroom, a tissue box in hand.
“I can put you on a flight, to London if you want.” He hands me the box.
“No...I need to speak to her first, I actually don’t think I could even face her...if this...if it’s true.”
He takes a seat on the far edge of the bed. When I finally meet his gaze, I realise that whatever malice, for the moment, has left his features. He’d been a different man at the event...there had been a horrible hardness to him, and now...I shook my head clear, mopping up the tears.
“Why don’t you have something to eat, or drink?”
“I’m okay.”
“You were sick. You should at least have something to drink, water, or a tea? The housekeeper is here.”
I reach for the blanket that I’d put around my shoulders. “I’ll get changed, then maybe grab a tea or something.” I get to my feet, Matthew following suit. “Matthew, did you know?”
“No Talia, I didn’t. I can promise you that.”
“And tonight, it was to...embarrass my father by out bidding him?”
“Seems childish now, but yes...and with you by my side, I’d hope to incense him.”
I nod, my bottom lip trembling as the tears fall. “I feel like I’ve been used.”
Matthew sighs. “You have. By me. And your father.”
“Will you let me leave?”
He’s by the door now, reaching for the handle. “No.”
“Please!”
“No, I mean, you can’t be alone at a time like this...whatever I’d had planned...it was a sick twisted game. You would have got hurt and I was okay with that but now...”
“He hurt me first.”
“And for some inexplicable reason,” He murmurs. “I can’t quite bear it.”
I don’t manage any quality of sleep, having spent some time trying to reorganise my working life through Andrea, who mercifully, through some miracle was still happy to employ me. She books me a catering job for later in the week for a belated festive party at a private residence and I was grateful.
After that, I had tossed and turned until three AM, it was a heady mix of the truth of my birth and that wild kiss that Matthew had planted on me at the party...before my life had imploded. At six AM, wet from the memories of that kiss and exhaustion, I get up, shower, and sit in the armchair on the terrace, waiting for the sky to fully lighten.
I watch the water, but was unable to take any calm from it. Mopping my tears on the blanket, I hear the terrace door open, Matthew slips through the gap to take the seat beside me.
“You didn’t sleep did you?”
“No.” I sigh. “Look, I think it’s time I went home.”
I hear him take a long, soft inhale, his view, much like mine on the horizon before us. “I think that might be a good idea.”
“Whatever this thing was between us, it was toxic. I’m sorry you lost all that money...but surely...” I gesture to the space around us. “You’re okay at the bank right?”
I hear him laugh softly, which makes me look at him. He looks rested, dressed in a shirt and smart trousers. I assume he’ll be leaving for the office. “I think it was more my pride that took a hit.”
“You couldn’t believe you had fallen for it and you saw red.”
“Yes.” He says. “Something like that.”
“I better pack up my things.”
“The housekeeper can do that for you.”
“No, it’s okay, Lara’s got enough to do.” I shuffle forwards on my seat, aiming to put my socked feet to the floor. “I can manage.”
“Well, why don’t we have breakfast together?”
I look to the rising sun, before looking back at Matthew, at the face that’s hidden in the shadows. “I’d like that.”
Lara prepares a wonderful Continental style breakfast for us. I’m amazed when she pulls freshly baked pastries from the oven, before leaving with a polite smile. Seated at the breakfast bar, I marvel at the light pouring through the space now that the sun has risen.
“I’ll miss this view.” I take a bite of the croissant. “Can I say that...?”
“You can say that.” Matthew smiles. And it makes him look so handsome. “What?”
“Nothing.” I take great interest in stirring sugar into my tea.
“What, you were staring...have I got croissant flakes on my face?”
“No,” Although I wish he had, as I would have gladly let my fingers remove it. “No.”
“Talia?”
“It’s just...” I shake my head. “No, it’s nothing. Look, I better get moving.” I grab my dishes, bundle them together, and leave them by the counter. By the time I turn back, Matthew’s followed me.
“You feel it, don’t you?” His hands press my hips back until my butt meets the black granite counter top.
“Matthew...” My heart jumps into my throat as I feel him close the gap. The soft press of his clothes against me, and then full body contact as he presses up against me. I sigh when I feel the fullness of his arousal.
“Since that kiss, you’re all I can think about.” His fingers press under my chin, bringing our gazes together.
“Matthew...” His cologne is a wild, fresh assortment of citrus notes that makes me shimmer inside. His hands
