‘It was beautiful,’ she muttered. ‘Thank you, Sir.’

‘Nat’ll do now, gorgeous.’ I pushed a strand of hair from her cheek and kissed it lightly. ‘Playtime’s over.’

‘Nat,’ she muttered and rolled into me.

I took her in my arms and laid there for a while, looking from the glitter of the stars over the London skyline down to the silk-wrapped star beside me. In some ways, the whole episode felt like a dream and, in the way of dreams, I lost all sense of reality and forgot to alter my alarm.

She was already sitting on the end of the bed when I awoke. She was pulling on the sun dress she’d worn for the picnic the day before and talking on the phone.

‘Can you meet me in the Ladies?’ she was saying. She sounded panic-stricken. ‘There’s a bag under my desk with my work clothes from yesterday in it. I’ll be…’ She turned to look at the clock beside my bed. ‘Fifteen minutes…twenty tops.’

I sprang out of bed. ‘Shit, gorgeous – I’m so sorry.’

‘It’s not your fault,’ she said, turning to look at me over her shoulder. Her eyes were wide with panic. ‘I didn’t hear my alarm. Liv rang four times before I woke up – she was worried sick. Max is doing his nut.’

‘Finish getting dressed and I’ll drop you off.’ I threw open my wardrobe and grabbed the nearest t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

‘I can get a cab.’

‘No way, Angel.’ I picked up my phone and dialled Stephens’s number, pulling on my jeans with the other hand. ‘It’s me. Be ready out front, please, immediately.’

I’d have driven myself, but Stephens was already on standby to take me to a meeting at the Castle, later on. I didn’t like the fact that Grace was so stressed out about Max. If Stephens drove, he could drop us off directly outside and I could go in with her – have a quiet word.

The traffic was slow – as ever – and it was almost half an hour before we arrived outside Ffyvells. I got out and went round to her door to let her out. She practically tumbled out the car, grabbing at the handbag she’d almost left on the seat. I shut the door behind her and went to follow her into the building.

‘What are you doing?’ She looked at me, horrified.

‘Coming in with you,’ I said. ‘I’ll speak to Max.’

‘No!’ She shook her head. ‘This is my fight. Let me handle it.’

‘But…’

‘No.’ Her brow was furrowed, her mouth hardened into a straight line. ‘I’m sick of being pushed around. I’ll deal with him.’

I shook my head, but didn’t argue. ‘I’ll be waiting outside,’ I said. ‘Let me know how it goes. If he gives you any grief…’ My jaw hardened at the mere thought of it.

‘It’s my own fault.’ She gave a shrug. ‘I have to face the consequences.’

And she was gone, disappearing through the imposing entrance to the country’s most exclusive bank, her head high and her shoulders set.

I don’t know when I’d ever found her more attractive.

    Thirty Nine

Her

Liv wasn’t in the ladies, when I arrived. I was just looking at all the missed calls when she came bursting in. There were numerous – seven had come in from Leo while I was otherwise engaged at Dominion. I shoved the phone in my bag – I couldn’t deal with that now, if at all.

Liv was clutching my bag and more or less threw it at me, as soon as she saw me. ‘I’ve been popping in and out,’ she hissed. ‘I couldn’t wait in here. Max is on the warpath.’

‘Thanks.’ I grabbed the bag and started dragging its contents out onto the sink in front of me. ‘Sorry to be pain.’

‘You didn’t come home,’ she said. ‘And you weren’t here either. You weren’t answering your phone and I kept thinking about what you’d told me…you know…about Nathaniel, and how he was being investigated for murder. I was so worried. Even Max was worried, I think.’

‘No.’ I shook my head. ‘He wasn’t. He’s just mad. He knew exactly where I was.’

‘Oh?’ Liv stood back and looked at me. ‘Well, go on then…tell.’

‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.’

‘Try me.’

I wouldn’t have told her, if I hadn’t trusted her completely. I knew she wouldn’t spread it around the office – or anywhere else, for that matter. ‘Nat owns a…sex club. Bondage…fetish…you know?’

Her mouth fell open. ‘No way, Grace! Were you…?’

I nodded, pulling my dress off over my head. ‘He took me there – only for a little while.’

‘Oh my God – what was it like?’

‘It was…’ I started to dress, while I thought of how to describe it. What was it like? ‘It was different…sexy, but far too full of Maxes.’

She literally gasped. ‘Max was there?’

I nodded, buttoning my shirt. ‘It was mortifying.’

‘No wonder he’s so annoyed.’ She gave a secret smile. ‘I always knew he was my ideal man.’

I laughed. ‘I had a feeling it wouldn’t put you off him.’

‘Put me off him?’ She actually blushed. ‘You’ve got to be kidding. I’ve just fallen officially in love.’

I pulled my skirt up over my hips and wriggled my feet into my shoes. ‘Don’t you have enough of him throwing his weight around at work? Would you actually want him bossing you in the bedroom, as well?’

‘Ooh.’ She gave a sigh. ‘What wouldn’t I give?’

I shook my head and laughed. ‘I guess it takes all sorts,’ I said. ‘Come on, I’d better face the wrath of Mad Max.’

I soon stopped laughing when I saw his face. I’d never seen him so angry. Far from shouting at me though, he spoke in quiet, measured tones. ‘In my office, please, Miss Anderton.’

I followed him in, closing the door behind me and leaning against it. My legs felt weak – for all the wrong reasons. ‘I’m so sorry, Max.’

‘You should be.’ He sat down. His voice was still calm, but there was a fire in his eyes that made me quail. ‘I told you to stay away and, instead, I find you at Dominion – his club – dressed…’ He left the rest of the sentence unsaid, to my relief. I could feel my cheeks growing hot at the mere thought of it.

‘It won’t happen again,’ I said.

‘You mean you’re going to stay away?’

‘Yes. I mean, no.’ Why could I never say what I wanted to, when it came to Max? ‘I mean, I won’t be late.’

‘I pride myself on the loyalty of my team, Miss Anderton.’ He leaned back in his chair and stared directly into my eyes. ‘When I ask them to do something for me, I expect them to do it. I don’t expect them to completely disregard my wishes.’

‘I’m sorry I was late,’ I said. ‘It’s just…’

‘Your being late has nothing to do with it, for fuck’s sake,’ he snapped, finally losing some of his composure. ‘Not that it’s made me see matters in a better light, obviously. I don’t want my team mixing with my friends. Do you understand?’

I nodded, starting to feel angry. It was just like last night with Nat, except that I loved Nat. I didn’t love Max. In fact, at that moment, I didn’t even like him.

‘I’d suggest you have a decision to make,’ he said, looking down at the papers on his desk. ‘Be part of my team, or don’t be.’

I almost laughed. It was none of his business who I saw or what I did. Yes, I’d been late. I held my hands up to that. It was a fair cop, but…this? He was asking me to choose between Nat and him. How could he think he had the right?

‘You know what, Max?’ I could feel the fury boiling in my throat. ‘Screw your team – and screw you.’

‘Now, Grace…’ he began, before tailing off. I think he could tell I was past it already.

I wrenched the door open but, just as I was about to walk out, I caught sight of Liv, sitting at her desk. She was going to have to pick up the flak, yet again. Liv, who’d been there for me and never judged. She was probably the only true friend I had right now and I was going to land her right in it.

I turned back to Max. ‘A word of advice, before I go,’ I said, bold now I’d made my decision. ‘Take care of Liv. She’s going through a tough time, right now, and she’s probably the only one left who’ll put up with your shit. She’d do anything for you,’ I was about to walk out and I had only one chance at this. I took it. ‘And I mean…you know…anything.’