Beneath This Man

John shakes his head and clips the side of Jesse’s jaw with his knuckles, but Jesse pulls back from it harshly. I lip read John’s calm down and watch as Jesse walks away, throwing his arms in the air before yanking his dark blonde, disheveled hair in frustration. John shakes his head and this time I know he just said mother f**ker.

Good! This is an indication that John agrees with me. Nasty qualities, I think John said. You don’t get much nastier than this. He’s completely lost the plot.

I look out of the passenger window when he climbs back in the car. I’m not talking to him. He’s gone too far this time. He starts the car and roars off down the road, flinging me back in my seat. His normal driving mood is frightening enough. I’m not looking forward to this journey.

‘How did you know I was here?’ I keep my eyes firmly on the view whizzing past my window.

I hear him wince as he takes a corner and out of my peripheral vision, I see him shake his hand. He’s upset it. ‘It doesn’t f**king matter.’

‘It does matter,’ I turn and look at his scowling profile. He’s still a handsome beast. ‘I was fine until you turned up.’ I accuse.

He whips his head around to face me. I meet his stare with the same fierceness he’s giving me. ‘I’m f**king infuriated with you. Did you kiss him?’

‘No!’ I shriek. ‘He tried and I beat him off. I was just leaving.’ My forehead muscles are aching from scowling so much.

I jump when he punches the steering wheel. ‘Don’t ever f**king tell me I’m possessive and over-the-top, do you hear me?’

‘You are stupidly possessive!’

‘Ava, in two days I’ve caught two men trying to get in your knickers. God knows about the times when I’ve not been there.’

‘Don’t be stupid,’ I scoff. ‘You’re imagining things.’ I’m fully aware that he’s not. He’s totally right, but what I want to know is why Mikael is suddenly interested in my relationship with Jesse. ‘How do you know Mikael?’

‘What?’ he snaps.

‘You heard me.’ I can tell by the disappearance of his bottom lip between his teeth that he’s thinking hard about this.

‘I bought the penthouse, Ava. How do you think I know him?’

‘He thought it was very interesting when I told him that we had been seeing each other for a month-ish. Why would he?’

His head whips around. ‘Why the f**k are you talking to him about us?’

‘I wasn’t, he asked the question and I answered! Why would he think it’s interesting, Jesse?’ I can feel myself losing control. I look away from him, trying to take some calming breaths.

‘That man wants you, trust me.’

‘Why?’ I shout, throwing my face in his direction again, but he refuses to look at me.

He punches the steering wheel again. ‘He wants to take you away from me.’

‘But why?’

‘He just f**king does!’ he roars.

I jump back in my seat, shocked and unsatisfied by his vague, furious answer. This conversation will get us nowhere. He needs to calm down and so do I. I’ll ask my questions when he’s not looking like he may put his fist through the window.

He pulls up outside Lusso and I exit the car before he turns the engine off. I notice John pull into the car park as I enter the foyer, and I completely ignore Clive as he comes out from behind his desk. I head straight for the elevator.

I expect Jesse to stop the doors from shutting so he can get in, but he doesn’t. He’s obviously concluded that we both need to calm down as well.

I exit the lift and fish my pink key from the side pocket of my bag to let myself in before I slam the door behind me and chuck my bag on the floor in a temper. ‘Fucking man!’ I curse to myself.

‘Hello.’ A small voice says.

I look up and see a grey haired, middle aged woman stood in front of me. I suppose I should be concerned by this strange woman in Jesse’s penthouse, but I’m too angry. ‘Who the hell are you?’ I blurt nastily. The woman recoils slightly and it’s then I clock the can of furniture polish and duster in her hand.

‘Cathy.’ she says. ‘I work for Jesse.’

‘What?’ I ask impatiently, but then the anger dominating my entire being gives way to allow that little piece of information to sink in – that and the furniture polish in her hand.

Oh shit!

The door opens behind me, and I turn to see Jesse walk in. He looks at me and then at the woman stood in front of us both. ‘Cathy, you should probably get off now. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.’ he says calmly, but I can still detect the anger in his voice.

‘Of course.’ She places her polish and duster on the side table and then takes her apron off, folding it hastily, but neatly. ‘I’ve put dinner in the oven. Give it thirty minutes.’ She picks up a carpet bag from the floor and stuffs her apron in the top. God bless her, she smiles at me before leaving. It’s more than I deserve. What a first impression to give.

Jesse gives her a peck on the cheek and a reassuring rub of the shoulder as she leaves. I watch her walk out into the foyer and see John and Clive transporting my bags from the elevator. That’s a waste of time because I’m not staying here. I stomp into the kitchen and yank the fridge open, hoping a bottle of wine might have magically found its way in there. I’m sorely disappointed.

Slamming the fridge door, I steam out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I can’t even look at him at the moment. As I enter the bedroom and slam yet another door, I stand and wonder…what now? I should just leave – give us both some space to calm down. This is too intense, too quickly. It’s poisonous, crippling.