Page 108 of The Donor’s Dilemma

“No,” Verity said. “I need the distraction.”

“Only if you’re sure. I really wish you’d told me. If he took advantage…”

“He didn’t,” she interrupted. Even if she was angry and confused and utterly devastated, Verity couldn’t let Cora think her the victim, even if she felt like it. She asked for it. Repeatedly.

Cora nodded, giving her another hug. “We’ll talk later,” she said, waiting for Verity to nod before going to help Kim out front.

The cafe hummed with activity as Verity leant against the sink, massaging her temples. With every passing moment the realisation that this was, in fact, not a mistake, settled like a boulder in her stomach. This was the longest he’d gone without messaging her since her very first visit to SubRosa. His constant checking up had gone from exciting to irritating to part of her daily routine. Now she felt lost without it.

Her phone rang and she could have drowned in relief, until she saw the name. Vital Exchange. A voice in her head begged her to ignore it. If she didn’t answer then she could hold onto the chance it was all a misunderstanding for a little longer, but she couldn’t do that. She had to know.

“Hello?” she asked.

“Good evening, is this Verity Harper?” a chipped male voice asked.

“It is.”

“I’ve been asked to give you a call to ensure you received our correspondence this evening.”

She took a shaking breath. This was really happening. “I did,” she managed to say.

“Good. I would like to stress that until the investigation and tribunal have been concluded there is to be no contact between yourself and Lord Chapel.”

“No contact?”

“Have you read the letter, Miss Harper?” the man asked.

Verity fumbled with her bag, pulling out the crumpled paper.

With a sigh the man went on. “Lord Chapel has requested not to be contacted. You are not to visit City Hall or Horsham House. If you try to, it will reflect poorly on your suitability as a donor. Do you understand?”

Her finger traced the words on the letter. It couldn’t be a mistake. Theo had specifically said that he didn’t want her going to his work or his home.

“Miss Harper?”

“I understand,” she murmured.

“Good. We’ll be in touch with the next steps in due course. Good evening, Miss Harper.”

Verity couldn’t bring herself to say goodbye before hanging up. Her mind emptied, heart hollowing, as it finally sank in. It was over. Whatever future she had fantasised about with Theo had only ever been that, a fantasy. The trap door had opened, and she was free falling into nothing, a pit darker than Theo’s eyes, and if she was lucky maybe it would swallow her whole.

Of course, she had no such luck. Not when a cafe full of customers waited to feed. Her mind wondered as she worked and thankfully Cora was understanding when she messed up orders until demoting her to washing up.

It was as she scrubbed dishes and plates that the horrifying realisation struck that if Elliot no longer believed she and Theo were an item, he might cancel the contract. He said Cora was getting good reviews, what if he’d been lying? Maybe he wasn’t but Theo would admit the truth, that they were never truly together, and Elliot would withdraw his support out of spite. She prayed Theo wouldn’t let that happen, but considering his reporting her, she wondered if she really knew him at all.

When the breakfast rush was over, Cora fetched Verity from the back and sat with her by the window, shoving tea and cake towards her.

“Tell me everything.”

Verity picked at the cake, looking around to ensure no one could hear. Although she had admitted to her friend that there was more, had been, more between her and Theo, she definitely couldn’t tell her everything. Some things needed to remain secret.

“There isn’t really much to tell. I’ve been helping him with work stuff, he’s been swamped with work and… we got close.” She took a sip of tea, the hot liquid doing little to thaw her heart.

“How close?” Cora asked.

Verity shrugged. “We kinda… we both admitted that we liked each other, but we were trying to… keep a professional distance.”

Cora pulled a face. “But you’ve been going out in the day, and staying over, and Valentine’s…”