Page 73 of Pride

“Was Tobey helpful?” I asked.

“Not really. But it was good to talk to someone else about it.”

“Did you tell him about the stalking? The messages and emails?”

“Of course not. That’s no one else’s business. I only asked him where we stood on the termination of your employment. But I was vague. He wouldn’t know it was about you.”

I nodded, picked up a pastry from the table and bit into it, but I wasn’t hungry, and my throat had gone dry.

“Why won’t you tell me, Alex?”

He didn’t need me to elaborate.

“Because I can’t. And besides, it doesn’t matter now. He’s gone. He’ll never bother you again.”

But it mattered to me. I wanted to know who it was that had such a hold over him.

Alex sighed and sat back in his chair.

“Let me take you out tonight. To dinner. Everything has been so tough lately; you deserve a bit of fun.”

“I’m not sure,” I answered, but part of mewassure. I did want to spend time with him. Despite everything that’d happened.

“I won’t take you to some lame restaurant that serves tiny portions that’re ridiculously overpriced, don’t worry. We’ll go somewhere more relaxed. It’ll be fun. Come on, Emma.” He leaned forward. “Live a little.”

“Fine,” I smiled, giving in way too easily. “I suppose I can go to dinner with you.”

He grinned back at me.

“I think I might surprise you.” He winked, and then he stood up, and as he walked past me, he brushed his finger across the top of my arm, and I swear I heard him sigh.

That tiny touch sent my pulse racing, and I turned to watch him leave the room. As I did, I noticed a selection of newspapers on the table beside me. I picked one up and saw the front-page story was the murder of Sirius Bell and an appeal for any witnesses to come forward.

‘The heartless murder of a proud man’ it said in the headlines.

They had no fucking idea who they were dealing with.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

EMMA

Igot rid of the fucked-up doll in the box that was burning a hole in my handbag. I know it was evidence, but in all honesty, I just wanted it gone. To forget it had ever been there. I’d put it inside a plastic bag and left it in the bins outside the estate. It was time for me to move on and start living my life again. And part of that new beginning meant opening myself up to the opportunities around me. One of those being Alex, and his dinner invitation.

He told me to wear something comfortable, casual and warm, so I went with a burgundy knitted dress that still had a sexy feel to it, with an off-the-shoulder detail, along with thick tights to keep me warm and a pair of boots. It was a cute outfit, and I couldn’t wait to see him and find out where he was taking me.

As I walked down the staircase, pushing my brown curls over my shoulder, I saw him standing at the bottom of the stairs smiling up at me. He was wearing jeans and a black hoody. I’d never seen him in anything other than a suit before, but it looked good on him. Plus, I got to see more of the neck tattoos that I loved, dark tribal patterns that were beyond sexy.

“You look stunning,” he said. “Absolutely beautiful.” As I came to stand in front of him.

“You don’t look too bad yourself,” I replied, giving him an elevator glance. This man could make a paper bag look sexy.

He held his arm out for me to take and led me across the foyer and out the front door. At the bottom of the steps was another sports car, a red one this time, and he opened the passenger door for me, helping me climb in before closing it and going to the driver’s side.

“So, where are we going?” I asked with a hint of excitement. It had been a long time since I’d felt giddy like this.

He turned to face me, and the smirk on his face gave me butterflies.

“I’ve always wanted to try something and never got round to it, so I thought tonight might be my chance to rectify that.”