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“Rosey, it’s not what you think,” he snaps. “I’m in a meeting.”
“In a seedy hotel that rents rooms by the hour,” I snap.
The bathroom door opens, and a woman appears looking confused. “Albert?” she asks, looking to him for answers.
“Sorry about this, Lauren. She’s my—”
“No, I’m not,” I snap before he can label me. “Not anymore.”
I leave the room, slamming the door behind me. I hear Albert let out a stream of curses before the door’s ripped open. “Rosey,” he growls, but I march faster. “Rosey, stop now.”
“Get back to your meeting,” I yell over my shoulder.
I hear his footsteps chasing me down, and the urge to run is overwhelming, but I force myself to remain calm. “Jesus, Red, stop fucking running and listen to me,” he orders. I break out into the street. “Rosey,” he yells, and people turn to stare.
“I knew you’d do it,” I snap.
His arms go around my waist, and I fight him until I break free. “Just calm down,” he growls. “I haven’t done anything.”
“Yet. I’m not stupid.”
“You’re acting pretty stupid to me,” he mutters.
I turn to walk away, and he apologises immediately. “Okay, sorry. Just hear me out. I really am in a meeting.” I slow, folding my arms over my chest and staring down at the ground. “I know it’s easier for you to believe I’m up to no good. Then you can walk away and this torrent of emotion you feel can stop. You can shut it down. But I’m not cheating on you, Red. I’m not. She’s my last meeting here before I have to go to the office for the rest of my appointments. I didn’t tell you where I was because it was irrelevant. Had you asked what I was doing here, I would have told you.”
“Who is she?” I mutter.
He risks stepping closer. “Your next job,” he says, gently stroking a thumb over my cheek. “She needs a contract carried out.”
“Why the hotel?”
“You know I can’t do this shit in the open, Red. I can’t be seen with her.”
“I saw my mum,” I mutter, like that explains my irrational behaviour.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were meeting her? I would have cleared my diary.”
My heart squeezes slightly.He would have cancelled everything to be with me.“I feel like an idiot,” I whisper.
He cups my face in his hands, lifting until I meet his eyes. “Go to my place. I’ll cook us dinner, and you can tell me about your mum.”
“Ollie,” I mutter. “I should be home.”
He looks disappointed but nods anyway. “Okay. Fit me in tomorrow?” I nod, and he gently kisses me on the lips. “I’ll call you tonight.”
Chapter Ten
ALBERT
I watch Rosey walk away. She was rattled when she turned up at the hotel, and now, she looks beaten and exhausted. I didn’t think she’d be in this end of town, and I could kick myself for the misjudgement.
I head back to the room where Lauren Spencer waits patiently. “Sorted?” she asks.
I nod and open the file on the bed. “Everything you need is in this file,” I tell her. She stands closer, staring at Archer’s photograph. “You keep Rosey out of it,” I add.
She smiles. “I intend to. She’s a firecracker.”
“If she sees you, she’ll know instantly, and the deal will be off.”
