Page 81 of Mayfair Madame

“I have a meeting with Melinda. We meet every couple of days to discuss the business and what’s going on in the building. I should go get changed, actually.” She focused her attention on the day’s delivered mail.

My focus, however, was on the tantalising glimpse of her body beneath her robe. I shook my head.

Concentrate, Ellie, concentrate.

“Doesn’t Rupert own it?” I focussed on her face and not on her smooth skin.

“He does, but he leaves me with the day-to-day running of it. I deal with any tenant issues, check in with the retail premises downstairs and the agency. I like to keep busy. Do you have any plans?”

Her tone was perfunctory, all emotion erased, and now I wondered if Ihaddone something wrong.

“I might go home.” I didn’t have to stay here. I could manage at home, alone.

“Oh?” She turned to look at me, her brow furrowed.

“Yeah, I need some clean clothes, and you’re busy, so I’ll get out of your hair.” In all honesty, as much as I’d love to spend the day with Naomi, my reliance on her was getting out of hand, plus with the mood she was in, I didn’t want to stick around and upset her further.

I’d never depended on anyone the way I had her since coming out of hospital, and I felt stronger, more like me. I didn’t need her to think I was weak and needed looking after.

I’d been an independent woman since Kate had left. I’d made my way in life, got my promotion, and was trying to make a name for myself.

“Fuck.” She dropped the mail on the table and ran from the room. What the hell had I said now?

I glanced at the piece of paper she’d let fall. Stark red letters on thick white paper.

Fucking die bitch

This was fucking ridiculous. I chased her down and found her in her bedroom pulling clothes out of her drawers.

“Where are you going?” I grabbed her arm before she could leave the room.

“Where do you think? We both know who’s doing this. I’m going to find him and...and...”

“And what? Calm down, please. Rushing out of here and going who knows where to find him won’t help you or anyone. For starters, you don’t know where he is.”

“Athis club. He’s been staying there since his wife kicked him out of their London home. I know where he is.”

“And what will you do? Confront him? Tell him to stop? You have no proof. You already admitted that.”

“I know it’s him, Ellie,” she shouted, then sat on the bed, a defeated look on her face.

“Youthinkit’s him. Let’s go see Josh. Show him the other message and the letter.” I’d need to put it in a bag and hope there was some forensic evidence on there we could tie to him.

But first I had to soothe her.

“What’s the point? Josh said the police couldn’t do anything.” For the first time since the night Godfrey had assaulted her, Naomi looked rattled.

Her bottom lip quivered. She was barely keeping it together, and when I held her hands, they trembled.

“Let’s take a breath and think logically. But first off, I want to know what you know.”

What had happened for him to be threatening her this way? And there was the fact that they’d both dropped the case. Something fishy was going on, and I had an inkling she knew exactly what that was.

“I don’t know anything.” She refused to meet my gaze. I might not know her that well, but I knew when I was being lied to.

“Do you want to rethink your answer?”

“I’m not a suspect in this.”