I looked down at the paper, more as an automatic reaction than for any actual interest. There was no way I’d have anything to do with Magnus, whatever the fee – which I now saw was well over double my usual. It didn’t matter. Magnus could take his offer and ram it up his?—
‘Seriously?’ Jesse turned to me, his arms crossed over his chest.
I looked up at him. I was exhausted, jet-lagged, hungry and a little bit spaced. All I wanted to do was get this idiot off my property and go back with Jesse to the food, bath and bed he’d mentioned earlier.
‘Sorry?’ I asked, a little dazed at the whole strange scenario.
‘You’reactuallyconsidering it?’
‘What? No, of course not!’
‘You took a long time to decide. Big number, is it?’ He tilted his head up and stared at the sky for a moment. When he turned back, his expression was icy.
‘Jesse, I’m not?—’
‘You know what, Felicity? You do what you want.’
And with that, he strode to his pick-up, got in and started the engine.
Shock mixed with absolute rage filled me. Who the hell did either of these men think they were?
Before he could swing around Magnus’ car, I stamped across and stood square in front of the pick-up.
‘Get out of the way, Felicity!’ Jesse shouted.
I ignored him, instead turning out to face Magnus.
‘And you! This is what I think of your offer.’ I screwed the paper up into a ball and threw it directly back into his car through the open window. Years of playing Goal Shooter at netball had finally come in useful. ‘I’m guessing you’ve been talking to your cousin about my family’s financial history?’ Magnus shifted his weight but didn’t answer. ‘That’s what I thought. And because of that, she thinks I’ve got a price.’
‘Everybody has a price, Felicity. Don’t be so obtuse!’
‘No, Magnus. Some people most certainly donothave a price and I am one of those people! Howdareyou come here and try to buy me off just to get back at Jesse?’
Behind me, the engine of the pick-up went silent.
‘Now,’ I said, still facing Magnus, ‘I’d appreciate it if you would get the fuck off my property and don’t even think ofevercoming back.’
Magnus’ high colour was reaching peak purpleness.
‘You stupid bitch!’ he sneered. ‘You think you’re so much better than everyone! Even that idiot knows you thought about taking the money.’ He jutted his chin at Jesse and the door slammed behind me, followed by heavy, quick footsteps. I didn’t turn but I could feel Jesse beside me, the anger palpable.
‘I suggest you go, Magnus. I’m extremely tired and the last thing I want to have to do right now is help him dispose of your body.’
Magnus tipped his nose up, as if the threat didn’t bother him, but there was no disguising the fear in his eyes. Jesse was a big guy and right now, he was one very pissed-off big guy. I wasn’t big but what I lacked in size, I could make up in pure rage. Wisely, he decided not to test either of our patience any further. Yanking open the door, he slid in, started the car and spun it round in the drive, scattering bits of gravel and building detritus as he did so before tearing off the way he’d come. As he hit one particularly large pothole, his wheel made a loud noise of protest and the car slowed to a fast limp until it was out of sight.
* * *
Now it was time to deal with Jesse. I turned round.
‘Fliss?’ A frown crumpled his forehead, brows drawing together as he took a step towards me.
‘Don’t you “Fliss” me! Who the hell do you think you are?’
‘What?’ Confusion covered his face.
‘You! Telling that idiot that I wasn’t interested in his offer!’
His expression darkened again. ‘So you were?’
