Page 75 of The Good Neighbour

Josh stopped.

“I can understand it,” he replied, quietly. “I can’t forgive it. No one has hurt me like you.”

Winston stared hard at him. “Not even Nikolai?”

The words hit Josh like cracks of a whip. How dare he?

“Don’t you mention his name,” Josh said. His voice remarkably calm. “I’m going to ask you one more time to get out of here or else I’m calling the police. That will fuck up your begging list. You might be disappointed about that as well. Madeline got me one of the best divorce lawyers in the business.”

Winston’s eye twitched. Normally, Josh feared that. It meant he was struggling to keep control. Now, he didn’t care. Winstoncould work his rage out on one of his little French men he’d evidently tired of.

“I’m staying at the Nickleby.”

“How lovely.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

“Don’t bother.”

Josh watched him leave. When Winston turned when he reached the top of the stairs, he looked so cliched Josh wanted to laugh out loud. Yet he also saw a deep sadness on Winston’s face.

“We were pretty good once,” Winston said. “Have I hurt you so badly that you’ve forgotten all that?”

“Yes, Winston,” Josh replied. “Yes, you have.”

“Then I’m very sorry.”

Winston didn’t wait for a reply and Josh was relieved. The anxiety had claimed him and he sank to the floor. His mind racing faster than his pulse.

After a few minutes of deep breathing, he’d managed to regain control enough to ring for help. And he knew exactly who he needed.

With a shaking hand he dialled the number.

“Darling. Is everything all right?”

“Madeline.”

“What’s going on?”

“Winston. He’s been here.”

This was met by silence on the other end.

“Are you there?”

“Wait. He came to your studio? How dare he?”

Josh let out a sob. To hear her instantly jump to his defence was exactly what he needed. She was overseas at the moment. He’d forgotten where.

“You haven’t heard the worst of it yet.”

“Go on.”

“He wants to get back together.”

She gasped. “The brass neck of him. I hope you told him where he should stick it?”

“Of course…”