Page 161 of Guilty Pleasures

‘Do you remember what happened?’

She gave the slightest of nods.

‘Someone ran me off the road,’ she whispered.

She saw Rob frown.

‘No, honey. You were in a car accident.’

She shook her head.

‘Someone tried to run me off the road deliberately. ’

‘Look, I think I’d better get a doctor,’ he said, standing up.

‘Please Rob.’

A tear slipped down her cheek.

‘Someone tried to kill me, Rob. You’ve got to believe me. My family want me dead.’

She saw his face change from surprise to concern.

‘You’ve had severe concussion, Em. You were in an accident.’ He lowered his voice and glanced around. ‘Honey, your family doesn’t want you dead. They’ve all been at the hospital for the last twenty-four hours worried sick about you.’

She gave a tiny shake of the head. It was exactly what she would expect from them: Roger and Cassandra with their crocodile tears.

‘Have the police examined the accident scene yet?’ she asked, her voice rising. ‘Have they seen the tyre tracks of another car trying to push me off the road? Paint scrapes on the rear bumper? What have they said?’

Rob touched her shoulder.

‘Easy, Em, I don’t know. I’ve only really spoken to your mom and Roger.’

Tears were flowing down the sides of her face now.

‘Rob, listen to me,’ she said, struggling to control her voice. ‘I saw the car behind me, a black car. It came up close behind me, smashed into the bumper, again and again.’ Her eyes closed as she recalled the whole horrific scene. ‘I couldn’t see who was driving, but they tried to run me off the road.’

Rob was holding her hand tightly and he could feel it becoming clammy.

‘Why would someone want to kill you?’ he asked softly.

She looked at him, her heart full of longing for him and fear for herself.

‘For the company.’

He puffed out his cheeks and let out a long breath.

‘Em, don’t think like that. It’s not good for you.’

‘I need you to believe in me.’

‘I do, of course I do, but…’

He turned around. Roger, Virginia and a doctor were standing at the door.

‘Thank God you’re OK,’ said Roger, bulldozing his way into the room.

Emma squeezed Rob’s hand as the doctor approached the bed and reached for his notes.