Beneath This Man

Kate watches with an open mouth as we pass her, before throwing her cigarette butt on the floor and following us in. ‘What’s going on?’

‘He’s an arsehole! That’s what is going on!’ I yell, attracting the attention of all the valet staff, who halt all duties and quietly observe me being jostled back into The Manor. ‘Jesse, put me down!’

‘No!’ He continues through the entrance hall and towards the summer room. ‘It’s fine Kate. I just need a little chat with Ava.’ he says calmly, increasing his grip on me as I continue to battle his hold.

Looking up, I see Kate stop at the bar entrance and shrug at me. I want to scream at her, but I know she’ll be of little use in trying to prize Jesse off me. I’m carried through the summer room, where all of the tables have been cleared and a dance floor set up. The band stops their sound check and watch as Jesse strides through with me draped across his shoulder. I crane my neck around and spot John coming from the direction of Jesse’s office, and he laughs as he shakes his head. It’s not bloody funny. We pass him in the corridor, but he says nothing. He just moves to let us by before carrying on his way, like this is an everyday, normal occurrence. I suppose it is.

Jesse kicks his office door shut and dumps me on my feet, his face contorted with rage, which only boosts my own fury. He points his finger in my face. ‘Don’t you EVER walk away from me!’ he roars.

I flinch.

He throws his arms up in frustration and walks over to the drinks cabinet as I make for the door again. Will he have a drink if I leave? At the moment, I’m too mad to care. I grab the handle of the door, but make no further progress. I’m grabbed and yanked back before he places me on my feet again and practically kicks a cabinet until it blocks the exit.

‘What the f**k are you playing at?’ He grasps my shoulders and shakes me ever so slightly. ‘What’s going on?’

I regain possession of my body and walk away from him. He growls but leaves me. It’s not like I can go anywhere now.

I swing around and throw him the filthiest look I can muster. ‘I can’t believe you trample all over any man who so much as looks at me, yet you think it’s perfectly okay for you to have another woman in your bedroom while you are naked and laying on the bed!’ My voice is getting higher. I’m so mad! ‘I thought John freed you!’

His face drops slightly as he takes on board what I have just screeched at him. ‘Well, he didn’t!’ he yells. ‘He was at The Manor, Sam was unobtainable and Sarah was nearby. What did you want me to do?’

I gape at him. How can he be mad with me? ‘Well, I wouldn’t want you calling another woman!’

‘Well, you shouldn’t have left me handcuffed to our f**king bed!’

‘It’s your bed!’ I’m poking again.

His eyes widen. ‘OURS!’

‘Yours!’ I counter childishly. He throws his head back and curses at the ceiling. I don’t care. He is not turning this around on me. ‘And, while we’re at it, I’ve just had the pleasure of listening to three women compare notes on your sexual abilities. That, I really enjoyed. Oh, and Zoe kindly informed me of your busy bed habits. And who the hell was that woman?’ I try and regain a bit of composure. I’m struggling. The constant thoughts and mental images of Jesse entertaining another woman are poisoning my mind. It’s ridiculous. He’s thirty seven years old.

He walks towards me. ‘You know I have a history, Ava.’ he says impatiently.

‘Yes, but have you f**ked every female member of The Manor?’

‘Watch your f**king mouth!’

‘NO!’ I walk over to the drinks cabinet and grab the first bottle of alcohol I can lay my hands on – which happens to be vodka – and pour some into a tumbler. My hands are shaking as I lift the glass and tip the neat contents down my throat. It’s only now I wonder why he keeps alcohol in his office if he wants to avoid drinking it. My throat burns and I shudder as I slam the glass down on the polished wooden counter. I’m not stupid enough to pour another. I stand with my hands braced on the cabinet staring at the wall.

He’s silent.

My throat is sore and gravelly and I feel completely out of control, consumed by jealousy and hatred. ‘How would you feel if another man laid his eyes all over my naked body while I was handcuffed to a bed?’ I ask evenly.

The heavy breath that travels the short distance between us and warms my back tells me my answer. ‘Murderous,’ he snarls.

As I thought. ‘How would you feel listening to someone voice their opinions on my bedroom manner? Saying they were not going to give up trying to get me in bed.’

‘Don’t!’

I turn to find him watching me closely, his jaw ticking wildly. ‘My work here is done.’ I quip and make my way to the door. That sideboard looks heavy, but I don’t get the opportunity to try and move it. Jesse steps in my way, halting my progress. I take a calming breath and look up at him. ‘You should know, I’m not leaving, but only because I can’t. I’m going out there and I’m going to have a drink, and tomorrow night I’m going out with Kate. And you are not going to stop me.’

‘We’ll see about that.’ he fires confidently.

‘Yes, we will.’

He starts chewing his lip, his eyes burning into mine. ‘I can’t change my past, Ava.’

‘I know. And it doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to forget about it either. Will you move the cabinet, please?’