Promised

‘Livy, I need to go,’ he says shortly, standing in the mirror and messing with his pesky tie. It was perfect already.

I leave him behind, perfecting on perfect, and hurry to his room, throwing on my jeans and Converse. I’m suspicious, and I’ve never been suspicious because I’ve never had anything to be suspicious about. I don’t like it.

‘Ready?’

I look up and bitterly register how spectacular he looks. He always does, but a three-piece black suit for a meeting at the club? ‘Great,’ I mutter.

‘Are you okay?’ He takes his customary hold of my nape and directs me from the room.

‘I’ll come with you,’ I say, confidence oozing in my tone.

‘Olivia, you’ll be bored to tears.’ He’s not in the least bit fazed by my demand.

‘I won’t be bored.’

‘Trust me, you will.’ He leans down and kisses my forehead. ‘I’ll be drained by the time I’m done. I’ll need you to cuddle, so I’ll come and get you and you can stay with me tonight.’

‘I may as well wait here.’

‘No, you can pack some clothes and I’ll take you straight to work in the morning.’

I scowl to myself. ‘What time will you be done?’

‘I’m not sure. I’ll call you.’

I give up and let him push me onward, down the masses of stairs until we arrive at his car in the underground car park. The silence is deathly the whole way home, and when he pulls up outside Nan’s, he undoes his belt and shifts in his seat so he’s facing me.

‘You’re upset,’ he says, reaching over and giving my cheek a gentle brush with his thumb. ‘I have to work, Livy.’

‘I’m not upset,’ I argue, but it’s plainly obvious that I am, although for different reasons than Miller thinks.

‘I beg to differ.’

‘I’ll speak to you later.’

‘You will.’ He leans over and spends a few moments refreshing my memory on what I’ll be missing for the next few hours. It doesn’t improve my mood.

I get out and walk up the path to my house, mind racing, quickly letting myself in and shutting the door behind me. As I knew she would be, Nan’s standing at the bottom of the stairs with the biggest smile on her face.

‘Have you had a nice time?’ she asks. ‘With Miller, I mean.’

‘Great.’ I try to match her smile, but suspicion and uneasiness are crippling me. If it’s work, then why is he meeting her at a fancy restaurant?

‘I thought you were staying the night.’

‘I’m going back out.’ The words fall from my mouth, my subconscious seeming to make the decision for me

‘With Miller?’ she calls hopefully.

‘Yes,’ I reply. Her happiness at the potential news tugs painfully at my fallen heart.

Chapter 23

I slide from the taxi as elegantly as I can, exactly how Gregory showed me. I was torn by how to dress, but having checked Google, it would seem you don’t wear Converse at Quaglino’s, nor do you turn up without making a reservation, but I’m not planning on eating. The cocktail bar, that’s where I’m heading.

The doorman nods and pulls open the glass door by the giant Q-shaped door handle. ‘Good evening.’

‘Hello.’ I straighten my back and pass him, and then go about brushing down the short pale-blue silk dress that Gregory made me buy. Miller may have disdained my hair and make-up, but I specifically remember him saying he liked the dress. And now my hair is back to golden waves and my make-up is natural again, he should be fairly pleased. If he’s with that woman, then I hope he takes one look at me and chokes.

I wince as I take the stairs down to the maître d’, my new nude stilettos pinching my toes. She smiles brightly. ‘Good evening, madam.’

‘Hello.’ I pull a confident tone from nowhere, appearing to be a regular in these types of swanky places.

‘Reservation for?’ She looks down at her list.

‘I’m going to settle at the bar for a cocktail and wait for my date.’ The words roll off my tongue with ease, surprising me.

‘Of course, madam. Please, this way.’ She gestures towards the bar and leads on, taking me around a corner where I have to refrain from letting out an audible gasp.

A marble staircase comes into view, with polished gold handrails and black Qs linking together to form a balustrade on either side, leading down to the huge restaurant, all light and airy, with a stunning glass vaulted ceiling running down the centre. It’s bustling, busy for a Monday night, with groups of people making happy chatter at every table. I’m relieved when I see the cocktail bar is on this level, the glass panels making it easy for me to see below into the restaurant. My eyes are darting around, scanning every corner, but I can’t see him. Have I made a colossal error?

‘May I recommend the cherry and orange Bellini?’ the maître d’ says, indicating a stool at the bar.

I decline her offer of a stool near the back of the bar and take one closer to the end so I can see down below. ‘Thank you. Maybe I’ll try.’ I smile, wondering if I could get away with drinking a glass of water when I’m in such a fancy place wearing a fancy dress.

She nods and leaves me with the barman, who hands me a cocktail menu on a smile. ‘The lavender and lychee martini is so much better.’

‘Thank you.’ I return his smile, feeling more comfortable and at ease now that my body is being supported by the stool.

I cross my legs, keeping my back straight as I peruse the menu, noting the barman’s suggestion has London Dry Gin in the mix, putting it right out of the contest. I smile as I remember my granddad constantly battling with my nan over her gin-drinking habits. He always said that if you wanted a woman to break down on you, feed her gin. Then my smile fades as I recall the last time I drank gin myself.