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Or I could open my mouth. For once.
“Let me do this, before I lose my nerve.” My voice wobbled.
“Only if I can stay in the room.”
Bloody lift. Ground floor. Lobby.
He left me to lead the way, my eyes focusing on nothing as I almost took out a luggage trolley on the corner towards the back office. Someone shouted my name, but I kept going, pushed the door open. Finn caught it behind me and slammed it shut.
I could see people, but they stepped aside, letting me pass without saying a word. Maybe they spoke, but I heard nothing, only the silence in my head blanking out every thought.
I had nothing to say. No words. My brain was white mush.
I kicked the door to Finn’s office open and stepped inside, watching Lewis stand up, clearly rattled by my crash of an appearance.
He was shorter than I remembered. Thinner. His mousy-brown hair was mussed to the side. He was usually better presented, and his suit… Honestly, he looked like shit. I don’t know what made me do it, but I stood my ground. I didn’t have to turn around to know what Finn was doing, closing the door then standing with his back against the wall with his arms crossed.
I mimicked his stance in front of the desk, because it felt right, crossing my arms as my eyes pierced his.
“What do you want?” I demanded, my voice impressively low and stern.
“Hugo…” Lewis fiddled awkwardly with the chair like he wanted to sit but didn’t.
“I’ll ask again. What do you want, Lewis?”
He swallowed.
I could almost see him squirming on the inside. I’d known him all my adult my life. I could still read him. All of him.
“The flat’s gone, Hugo. Thanks for that.”
Guilt tripping and gaslighting in one first impressive serve. I almost smiled, nodding my head.
“Figured, with the gambling debts stacking up.”
He hadn’t expected that. He must have known that I knew. He wasn’t that stupid. What had he expected me to say? Strike up a conversation about the housing market and the state of his bank account? Thank fuck we’d never had a joint one.
I breathed out. Kept my stare firm.
“And?”
“And, Hugo? What the fuck? You need to stop this. The letters and the threats and—”
“There’s contact details at the top and bottom of any letter. I’m sure you’re able to figure out who sent them and respond in a timely manner.”
Shit. I was being sarcastic as anything here. Finn swallowed a giggle behind me, then cleared his throat. He probably re-crossed his arms too.
“Did you have something you needed to discuss with Hugo?” Finn.
“Who’s this guy? Your dad or something?” Typical Lewis. Idiot.
I’d known. I’d seen it. If anyone was an idiot here, it was me. And it was almost like, for the first time ever, my eyes were open. My ears were taking in his words, but it was different. Really fucking different.
“He’s my boss, Lewis. I work here. And I really don’t appreciate you causing a disruption to my working day, not to mention that you’re inconveniencing my colleagues. Did you really come here to have coffee with my manager, or is there anything else I can help you with?”
I was cold as ice. Stern. But I was also tense as hell. Slowly, I rolled my shoulders back, my neck creaking as I leant it to one side then the other.
“Or were you planning to share more information about Hugo’s work ethic?” Finn asked. “What is it this time? Hugo prostituting himself to our guests? Stealing money from the tills? Scamming the hotel through under-the-table discount deals? That one was my favourite.”
