“You’ve overstepped the line, Nora.” Angus’s low growl sent a chill up Elisa’s spine as she approached them. “You need to leave.”
“No, no,” Nora said, stepping forward a little. Enough for Elisa to see her now. She didn’t look contrite or apologetic or even respectful; she looked haughty, as if there was no reason why she shouldn’t be there. “I know you’ve been a tad reluctant in our previous negotiations, but I firmly believe the contract I’ve been authorized to offer you will change your mind. We’re talking twelve-months free advertising for Buckley’s Chance on all the network’s channels, social media accounts and—”
“Hi,” Elisa said, coming to a halt a few feet behind Angus.
Nora’s stare snapped to her. For a split-second confusion and surprise flickered over her face, replaced finally with a frown. “What areyoudoing here?” She flicked a glance over Elisa’s attire—Angus’s loose button-up shirt and nothing else—and frowned deeper. “No, seriously,whyare you here?”
“Nora,” Angus’s voice sounded strained. “Enough.”
Nora squinted, as if something unpalatable suddenly filled her mouth. “I mean, I know you’re not his fiancée. I know you didn’t even know each other before touching down in Sydney.”
Elisa’s stomach dropped. A cold chill crawled over her scalp. “How do you know—”
She stopped. Swallowed. Shit. Shit, shit, she shouldn’t have said that. Shit.
“Nora,” Angus warned again, an icy anger in his voice. “Give it a rest.”
“I have a contact at Qantas, you see.” Nora waved her hand with a disdainful flick of her wrists. “They told me you didn’t board together, sit together or disembark together. You didn’t even buy your tickets at the same time. Although it’s of no real concern, I guess. Iamsurprised to see you here, to be sure, but no one, viewers or contestants alike, ever expects the bachelor to be an innocent virgin so it honestly doesn’t matter if—”
“Enough,” Angus shouted. “Jesus fucking Christ, enough.”
Elisa squealed, shock stealing the sound from her throat before she could stop it. He jerked around, his fist in his hair, and she stumbled back a step, heart racing. He stared at her, a tormented shadow filling his eyes. She swallowed. Took another step back. Bit her lip. If she didn’t, she’d yell at Nora herself. What was the woman’s deal? Did her job depend on this? Or was she just that obstinate? Or was Angus the first person to ever say no to her?
She opened her mouth. Closed it. An enigmatic stillness fell over his face and, pulling the makeshift tinsel garland from his head, he turned back to the TV producer, his shoulders bunching. “I’ve had a gutful of this, Nora. Please get off my property. Now.”
Nora raised her finger, mouth opening, and he closed the door.
“Wow,” Elisa whispered, hugging her elbows. “Wow. That was…something.”
He slumped against the door, face in his hands, motionless.
A prickling tension scraped up Elisa’s spine. “Angus?”
He didn’t move. Except for his fingers that clawed at his hairline. Slowly. As if trying to gouge his skin. As if trying to cause pain.
“Angus?”
Was he okay?
“This isn’t going to work,” he muttered.
The prickling sensation spread over her skin. Her stomach clenched. “What isn’t?”
He shook his head, his head still in his hands. “This isn’t going to work,” he repeated, lower this time.
Elisa frowned. He sounded…broken. “What isn’t going to work?” she asked again.
A ragged breath left him, and he lifted his head, his eyes finding hers for a heartbeat before he straightened from the door, stare locking blankly over her shoulder. “I was fooling myself. I can’t… I won’t do this.” For a fleeting second, he looked at her again, his expression empty, his eyes hollow. “I’ll take you to the Mercure now. Your dress is hanging up on the back of my bedroom door. We can leave as soon as you’re ready.”
She blinked. “What?”
Without a word, he strode back into the dining room, discarded the length of tinsel on the table, and started collecting up their untouched food.
“What?” she said again, following him. Maybe she was still asleep? Maybe this was a stupid dream, and she was currently sound asleep, tucked into Angus’s body?
He picked up the platter of fried eggs, bacon, and haloumi from the table, his focus locked on it. His hands trembled.
She narrowed her eyes and gripped the back of the chair she’d been sitting in only a few moments ago. “Angus, I don’t understand. What happened? What’s going on?”