“I’m really looking forward to your mum’s cocktail party on Saturday night.”

“I know you are.” It was all I could muster.

Chapter Four

Juliette

“Wake up, Dick.” I pulled the covers back and gave him a not-so-gentle shove. “You have to go.”

“Don’t call me Dick.” He sat up and rubbed his eyes, yawning. “You know I hate it when you call me that.”

“Oh right, sorry.” I’d stayed up too late reading a fascinating book about street fighting techniques and hadn’t had any coffee yet. I really wasn’t sorry.

Richard rolled his eyes, yawned again and then dragged himself off towards the ensuite.

“No time for a shower.” I threw his clothes at him. “Heath messaged me overnight and wants me in early to set up for a meeting.”

“Are you serious, Juliette? This is crazy. It would be far more convenient if—”

“I’m deadly serious,” I replied, cutting him off. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? Can you pick me up on the way to Mum’s thingy?”

“Not sure Isabel would appreciate you calling her event a thingy, but yes, I’ll pick you up around four. It’ll take over an hour to get there and she wants us to arrive early to help welcome guests.”

Even though he’d just woken up and was being booted out the door, it was obvious how excited he was about another Isabel Fontaine affair. I wasn’t dreading it—my mother’s charity work was admirable—but I didn’t look forward to society engagements the way Richard and my mother did.

When I’d ushered Richard out the door and watched the lift doors close on him looking unimpressed and holding his shoes, I pulled my oversized t-shirt off and over my head and padded to the bathroom for a quick shower. As the hot water slowly woke me up, I mentally chastised myself for not telling Richard I was nowhere near ready to move into his townhouse a few streets away from my parents. Whilst he was dropping hints about co-habiting, I was busy formulating my next excuse to put it off. We hadn’t had sex the night before. He was tired and I was happy to read. I knew our relationship was lacking, but my mother was fragile, and it made her happy.

I wasn’t a complete martyr. I had two guilty pleasures I managed to keep a secret from everyone I knew: fight training with Zac and car racing. Tonight, thanks to Jim and Shorty’s invitation after the race last Sunday, I was hoping to add a third.

I rarely saw Richard on Friday nights as he socialised with his own colleagues, and I was ashamed about how happy that made me. We only really saw each other on weekends when we were attending a social function together. Any shameful feelings, however, were going to be forgotten when I planned to leave my colleagues at the bar sometime before midnight under the guise of heading home.

Instead, I’d get in a cab with adrenaline surging and go underground for what I hoped would be a blissful few hours. During those hours I wasn’t going to be twenty-five-year-old Juliette Salinger, daughter of social elite Isabel Fontaine and legal royalty John Salinger. I wasn’t going to be anyone’s puppet, hanging from strings I couldn’t seem to untie. I was just going to be Jules, and I thirsted for the blood spilling in front of me. Not like a vampire or anything paranormal. I’d studied plenty of fights on TV, and I simply craved the energy I gleaned from watching the pummelling impacts, the uppercuts, the right hooks and the sublime confrontation of man against man. In my mind, I preempted every move the fighters made and cringed when they deviated. It would invariably end in them knocked out, unconscious or comatose. Illegal fight nights were a whole new level, and I had a feeling I was going to be counting the hours, the minutes and the seconds between each one.

Work passed quickly. Most brokers and assistants left soon after market close on a Friday, so Heath and I were alone in a quiet office when I stood up from my desk and decided to do something I’d never done before.

“Heath.”

He looked up and raised his eyebrows, giving me the signal it was okay to interrupt him. “Is it okay if I head out now?”

“Of course. Have a good weekend.” He smiled and then went back to his work, looking back up a few moments later, obviously confused that I was still there.

“I was wondering if you have any interest in a drink with us after work,” I asked hesitantly.

“Oh.” He sat back in his large black leather chair and swivelled gently as if that would help him contemplate an answer.

“We meet each Friday night at the Z bar. Sometimes we grab some dinner too.”

“Hardware Lane. I know it.”

“No pressure. Just thought I’d ask.” I paused before risking my next statement without eye contact. “I know Sia would love you to be there.” Cringing, I looked up and saw a slight redness to his cheeks and the hint of a smile. “Well, that’s where we’ll be if you decide to join us.” I turned and walked towards my desk.

“Thanks, Juliette.”

I turned back and smiled.

“I’ll try to make it.”

***

The Z bar was buzzing with the collective release of city workers letting off some steam at the end of the working week. It was the same each Friday. From five to around seven, it was civilised. Seven to nine would see the older and possibly wiser leave to go out for dinner or home to their families. From nine onwards, it started getting a bit loose. I often wondered how many one-night stands, couplings and potential marriages could be attributed to alcohol.

“He might not come, Sia.” She had been glancing at the door since we arrived two hours ago. “He’s got a lot on his plate at work with this new listing.” I kicked myself for telling her I’d asked him to come.

“He’s coming.” Her confidence was admirable, and I couldn’t help feeling excited for her. “He’s all powerful and sexy at work, but underneath all that, I think he’s just a bit shy and needed a push.”

“Well, why didn’t you say that months ago?”

“Months ago I wasn’t planning on being out of the country for six weeks.”

“You’re a little crazy. You know that, right?”

“You say crazy. I say awesome.”

I was still shaking my head when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

“Can I get you ladies a drink?” Heath asked. He had removed his tie and jacket, and I was surprised at the transformation.

I was genuinely shocked to see him there and annoyed at myself for not asking him sooner.

“Corona with lime, thank you,” Sia requested.

I glanced from her to Heath and back to Sia. They were mesmerised by each other, and I felt very much like the third wheel.

I interrupted their silent gazing. “I’ll have the same.”

Heath disappeared to the bar.

“Told you so,” Sia said with a smug grin.

“You did. You’re very smart.”

We were both laughing when Heath returned with our drinks. I spent the next few hours being social. As the time ticked on, I checked my phone more regularly, waiting for the message which would apparently be sent from a different number and at a different time every month. It finally arrived at ten fifteen, and I immediately commenced my exit strategy.

Chapter Five

Juliette

“Are you sure that address is correct, miss?”

The question was probably fair enough, but I wasn’t paying him to question my destination. I was paying him to take me there.

“It’s correct.” I sat back and looked out the window of the cab as we moved away from the curb.

As we drove further and further from the city centre, I started to breathe. When we arrived at the parking lot of a closed shopping mall, I paid the driver and got out. It was dark and fairly cold, but I was soon warmed by the bodies of around five hundred other people who’d obviously received the rendezvous message. I retrieved the black loose-knit beanie from my bag and pulled it down over my head.