“Well, all I know is he likes my software, so read what you want into that,” I grinned back and she flounced off satisfied.
Friday came around again and I got a text ping. My Jason Lucas.
: Someone will pick you up at the usual time and I’ll meet you there.
No signoff just the one sentence. I had a moment of foreboding, what was going on?
Another impersonal driver picked me up at my apartment. How many did he employ? He deposited my bag in the boot and held the car door open for me. I could not keep the nerves out of my hands as I smoothed down my skirt yet again.
“Music, Miss?” asked the driver. I shook my head as he looked at me in the mirror. Not today.
The house felt colder than usual. I could sense his absence straight away. Leaving my overnight bag in the master bedroom, I made myself a tea. Hearing a voice, I headed to the entrance hall expecting to find him there, but the voice was coming from CCTV room. I approached cautiously, upon entering the small room a dark suited man sprung up and stared straight at me. He put his mobile phone away in his pocket. I recognised his face as my earlier driver.
“Everything alright, Miss Marshall?” he asked keenly.
“Sorry, I didn’t realise anyone was here.”
I felt uncomfortable with the young man. He was tall, well built and his eyes had intelligence lurking behind them. He was no more comfortable with my presence then I was with his.
“I’m just finishing off setting up the perimeter cameras.” As if I needed an explanation for his presence. I was not sure what setting up entailed but he pressed the keys on his keyboard. Then I heard the front door open and shut. Jason was back.
I dashed out into the hallway to see him there, loosening his tie and kicking his shoes off. The security man came out and stood behind me.
“What’s going on?” asked Jason curtly, looking first at me and then back to the other man.
“Fixing a monitor. Everything is good, Mr Lucas, just heading off to the gatehouse for the night,” the security man answered quickly.
Jason nodded in acknowledgement and the man turned on his heels, heading towards the back door by the utility room.
“What were you doing in there?” Jason’s voice was icy, not the warm reception I was expecting.
“Nothing, honestly. I was bored and wanted to explore. I didn’t expect to find anyone there,” I answered clearly in a calm voice. I was not guilty of anything. Jason relaxed his stance and I followed him into the kitchen.
“Let's eat,” was all he said.
A well-practiced routine followed as we found food and drink and sat down to an unusually quiet meal.
“Busy day?” I asked.
“Yes, but it is over now,” replied Jason neutrally.
He got up, mealtime was over and he held out his hand to me.
“Come we need to talk.”
I took his warm hand in mine. A thumb rubbed over my knuckles, a small gesture of reassurance. I followed him not to the bedroom but to the large sitting room and we settled into one of the long couches side by side. I sensed the apprehension rising in me again, was this it? The end of the line speech.
“Gemma, I know we’ve been having a good time together this last month.”
 
; I nodded in agreement waiting on his next words.
“Trouble is I know we’re not being honest with each other. We both have a sexual history and it is obvious you’re more experienced than you first appeared. No beating about the bush anymore. No secrets.”
I looked down at my hands and sensed the end game coming. Once he knew about my past, my preferences and true nature, he might not like me. I was rapidly losing confidence.
Jason cleared his throat. “I’ve not been honest with you.”