Sarah walks in, and I scan her face for puncture holes. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks, reaching up to her cheeks. I hear John laugh behind me, and she turns her questioning expression on him. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing,” I say, passing her. I know I said I’d talk to her, but I’m done talking for the day. Now I just want to go home and talk to Ava in that way we do.
“Where’s Ava?” she calls, and I freeze by the door.
“Why?”
Sarah passes me and closes the door, stalling my escape. I frown at her as she looks up at me, her face confusingly... what? What is that?
“I’m sorry I’ve been a total bitch,” she says, pouting minutely. It’s her lips. She’s had her lips done, I can see some faint bruising she’s tried to hide with a thick layer of makeup.
“Don’t worry, I’m used to you being a bitch.” I open the door, jumping back when it’s slammed shut again. It’s all I can do not to growl at her. I want to leave.
“It’s just strange. It’s always been you, John, and me.”
“The three musketeers,” John mutters sarcastically behind me, and Sarah tosses him a look that could kill.
I chuckle and motion to the door. “Apology accepted. Can I go now?”
“Oh, one more thing,” John calls, reaching over and pulling my laptop across. “I need you to approve the proposal for the update of the CCTV system.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s expensive and I’m not comfortable spending that amount of money without your approval.”
“I’m wanted in the spa,” Sarah says, leaving us to it.
I stomp my way back to the desk and scan the itemized proposal. “When can they start?”
“Six weeks.”
“Great.” I get on my way again. Time is ticking on. Members will start filling the place soon.
“Oi, motherfucker,” John growls, and I look over my shoulder. “Look at the fucking figures.”
“God, you’re demanding today,” I say, reversing and doing as I’m told. “How much?” I blurt. “To update it? We could get a whole new fucking system for that.”
“We’d have to. The security firm aren’t willing to hand over the equipment. We’d need to replace it all.”
“Do it,” I order. The cheeky fuckers think they can back me into a corner? “See you later.”
I hurry out of my office and fly up the stairs to the extension, bursting into the last room, my hands itching to get hold of her. I smile when I find her on her arse on the floor, the pad on her lap. But my smile drops when I register her expression. Then I find Sarah across the room. Oh. “All right?” I ask, cocking my head. She better be playing nice.
Sarah smiles, and I wince as her lips stretch, straining. That must fucking hurt. “Yes, sweetie,” she purrs, joining me and rubbing my shoulder. I frown at her hand there. What’s gotten into her? “Ava and I were just discussing the new rooms,” she says. “She has some fabulous ideas.”
They were talking? Like friends? “She’s good.” I flick a fond smile to Ava.
“Yes, very talented,” Sarah replies.Oh, you have no idea, Sarah.But I appreciate her being nice for once. “I’ll leave you to it.” She drops a kiss on my cheek. “Ava, it was lovely to see you again.”
“And you, Sarah.” She smiles, and I watch, stunned, as Sarah leaves. Did they inject some reason into her when they plumped her lips?
“Let’s have a look then, lady.” I join Ava on the floor, taking the drawings. She did all this in a few hours? “Wow,” I blurt, taking in the intricately detailed bed. “I love that bed.”
“So do I.”
“What’s all this?” I ask, indicating the cover above.
“It’s a lattice design. All the wooden beams overlap to form a grid-like effect.”