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“They won’t,” she sniffles.
“How do you know?”
“Because they’re long gone, Melanie,” she snaps.
“Meli,” I correct. “The police can do all sorts these days. Forensics might find traces.”
“In acid?” snaps Jolene, rolling her eyes like I’m stupid. She turns her attention back to Arthur. “Can you accompany me later? I have a business meeting about one of the apartment blocks.”
“Of course,” he says, standing to check his diary. “What time?”
“Eight.”
“Eight?” I repeat. “In the evening? Who arranges meetings that late?”
Jolene stands, kissing Arthur on each cheek. “Thank you. I’ll text you the details.”
Once she’s gone, I glare at Arthur, who is busy texting on his phone. “She’s putting that on,” I snap. “The woman deserves an Oscar for that performance.”
“I know,” he mutters, not looking at me.
“So, why didn’t you call her out?”
“Because, Melanie,” he grins, placing his phone on his desk and coming over to me, “liars trip themselves up if they think everyone believes them.”
“What is she lying about exactly?”
He shrugs, taking my hand and pulling me to stand. “I don’t know just yet, but I’ll find out.”
“By having evening meetings?” I ask, using air quotes.
He laughs, wrapping his arms around me. “How bad are the ribs?” he asks, kissing me.
“Very bad.”
“What if I do all the work?” he suggests, reaching over to lock the office door.
We shower together in the office bathroom. I love these moments when we’re alone and he isn’t attached to his mobile. He’s not distracted, unless you count the way he keeps looking at me like he wants to eat me all over again. “Will we ever live like this?” I ask, wrapping myself in a towel.
“Aren’t we already?”
“I mean spending time together. Maybe not at the office,” I laugh, “but, yah know, like normal couples.”
“You want marriage, kids, a beautiful home?” he teases.
“Not kids,” I scoff, and he frowns. My playful smile disappears. “You want kids?” I ask. He just doesn’t seem the type, so I assumed he felt the same as me, and I’m pretty sure I mentioned I didn’t want them when we spoke on the rooftop that time.
“You don’t?” he asks, frowning. I shake my head. “I didn’t think you were serious before. Why not?”
I shrug, beginning to dry myself. “I don’t know what I have to offer another human that will depend on me for everything.”
“You have loads to offer,” he reassures me. “You’d be a great mum.”
I pull on my clothes. “Maybe so, but it’s not something I want.”
ARTHUR
I can’t deny Meli’s floored me with her confession about not wanting kids. But I have other things to deal with right now, like the fact Jolene mentioned acid when it’s not something we’d told her.
