Page 17 of Never Tell Lies

"I have to see you again."

"Why? Because I'm a rare beast and you love a challenge? I'm not interested in being in anyone's game."

"But you are interested in playing, you're very interested in winning, and you definitely want that project." So that's the carrot he was going to use to lure me with? Would he even give me the project after he'd had his way with me? I didn't trust him, not even close, but the thought of finally getting a shot at my dream called to me.

I was desperate to say yes but there was a voice in the back of my head screaming not to give him any leverage over me, and working directly for him would give him major leverage.

This just wasn't going to work.

"Mr Tell, I've said no. Thank you for returning my phone to me. Enjoy the rest of your day." I hung up before he could speak again. If I heard that lilting voice one more time I knew I would buckle.

Disappointment hit me first. I'd wanted that project so damned much. Had I made the right choice?

My mobile buzzed a minute later and I picked it up.

You didn't deny that you wanted it.

A.

He'd stolen my number. That sneaky, evil genius had stolen my number.

I switched off my phone, threw it in my drawer, and went back to work.

Eight

Keira, who had given up on her sad-looking salad, munched her way through half a ham and cheese panini that she'd stolen from my plate. She was a curvaceous girl with chestnut locks, a round, happy face and a fashion sense that kept you on your toes. Today she was sporting leather trousers and a jacket she had decorated with sequins in the shape of peacock feathers.

She listened studiously as I filled her in on the events of the last twenty four hours.

"Bloody hell," she mumbled around a mouthful of my lunch. “I don't even know where to start." She reached across the table for my Diet Coke and took a sip. Her sparkling water remained untouched as usual. "Actually, I think I need to see exactly what we're dealing with first." She pulled out her phone and seconds later, let out a low whistle, followed by ‘sweet holy Jesus’. She turned her phone to me, showing me a photo of the man himself.

“This him?” She asked and I nodded. “Sweet holy Jesus and mother Mary.” She muttered again as she scrolled through image after image of Alfie Tell. All of them were press shots, apparently he wasn't big on social media, and in several of them he had Angie Carter on his arm.

Keira looked impressed, and how could she not be? After another minute of scrolling, she put her phone down with a shake of her head, as if she couldn't stand to look at that level of beauty any longer.

"So, are you really not going to take the project?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I don't want to step on Mark's toes and I'd have to give up my weekends and?—"

"You're worried you'll fuck it up," she finished for me, voicing my unspoken fears.

I couldn't help giving her an affectionate smile. She knew me so well.

"Lo, you're talented. I know those fuckers at the College of Whatever keep turning you down, but fuck them! You've got an opportunity here to show what you can do, and not just in someone's back garden or wherever, but on a huge piece of property for an international company. This is huge, Lo! If Versace called me and asked me to design for them I'd be losing my fucking mind!" Keira currently worked as a seamstress assistant for our local theatre and she’d read every copy of Vogue ever published. She and I were in the same boat career-wise.

"But what if he's just dangling that 'opportunity' in front of my face to get me to sleep with him?"

"Then he's an arse, but you'd be an idiot not to find out," she finished, taking another decisive sip of my drink.

"I'll think about it." She was right, I was scared of failing at something I wanted so badly. Plus the 'opportunity' had come wrapped in unspoken caveats that had my palms sweating.

"Good, now what about this guy? If you take the project I'm guessing you'll see a lot of him?"

"Normally no, but I have a feeling he would find ways of seeing me." I took my drink back and stuck the straw in my mouth to stop myself from saying anything else. She grinned at me and I scowled.

"That's kind of hot." She winked. My best friend would be much better suited to Mr Tell than me. She wouldn't have hesitated to take him up on his rooftop offer.

"It’s kind of creepy," I retorted.