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“Just know we are on your side. We’ll do our best to get this sorted for you,” he promises, and I want to gag when he reaches for her hand resting on the desk.
She lets out a breath. “Thank you. Sorry for snapping. I just hate it when the justice system isn’t fair.”
“Hey, I get it. The police feel the same way. We work to build a case to present to the courts and sometimes it means nothing if they don’t see it going anywhere.”
“I’m not blaming you. I know how it goes. I’ve worked here long enough to know what will be entered into evidence and what won’t. It’s like a friend of mine. Her sister got pushed down some stairs and broke her ankle. They found the group of girls who did it, but because they couldn’t prove which one actually pushed her, they all got away scot-free. It’s a joke.”
“I wish there was more I could do,” he declares, before clearing his throat. “Your dad contacted us as he wants to file a restraining order against Zach. Is there something I should know?”
Imogen’s hand immediately snaps up to her cheek, but I don’t see anything there. But that reaction comes from victims of assault. My fingers clench around the cup in my hand. Has Zach hurt her and she hasn’t spoken up? I flag the question in my mind, knowing once this arsehole has left, I will go and question Evan about it. Until then, I’m not leaving her alone with this dick. Not when his intentions are so clear for the entire room to see.
“No. Nothing of importance,” she murmurs, but her mind is clearly elsewhere. “Was there something else you needed as I really should get back to work.”
I smirk behind my mug at her disinterest. She clearly hasn’t picked up the signs that he wants her.
“Actually, there is,” he tells her as he leans in closer, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I was wondering if I could take you out. To dinner. As a date.”
I choke on the hot liquid, scorching my throat. “Like fuck you can,” I snap.
His brows scrunch together as his gaze moves to me, then back to Imogen, who is glaring at me. “Like you have a say,” she snaps, then turns to Jackson. “Friday. At eight?”
“You can’t be serious?” I hiss, then notice a few of the men are watching our interaction.
“Deadly,” she bites out, turning back to Jackson. “If you’re working, we can arrange another time.”
“Um, no. Friday is good. I’ll pick you up.”
“I can meet you—”
He places his hand over hers again, and it takes everything in me not to get up there and rip his hand away. “No. It’s a date. I’ll pick you up.”
She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Then I’ll see you Friday.”
Jackson grins wide. “I’ll see you Friday.”
He leaves. As she continues to watch him go, I can’t smother the snort that comes out. She spins around, pinning me down with a glare. “Something you need to say?” she remarks sharply, arching a brow.
My gaze flicks to the door and back as I arch my brow at her. “I’ve got a few things.”
She jabs her finger at me. “Youcan stay out of my business.”
“Please, I was doing you a favour.”
“I don’t need any favours,” she snaps.
“Since you two are clearly not focused on work, you can drop the toys down at the Salvation Army,” Evan orders, his voice firm. “And you can stay to help wrap them.”
“Dad…” she begins but he cuts her off.
“Go. And come back in a better mood,” he demands, his gaze cutting to me. “Same goes for you.”
Fucking hell! If I don’t get it together before the day ends, he’s going to know. And all the hurt I’ve caused would be for nothing. It would mean nothing.
*** *** ***
Imogen is doing her best to keep a distance between us at the church’s community centre. An older lady brought us back to a private room, where a bunch of presents were waiting to be wrapped. Imogen talked her way into helping with the food, but that only lasted until an hour ago. Now, she’s back in the room with me. With so many presents already here, as well as the toy collection Evan gathered from friends and family, we are going to be here all night. It’s already three in the afternoon, and this isn’t how I imagined my first day going.
“Are you going to talk to me?” I demand, putting down a creepy-looking baby doll.
