Beneath This Man (42 page)

‘There you are!’ Sarah’s panicked voice is the first thing to attack my ears as we enter The Manor. She is scuttling towards us, her legs restricted to small shifting movements due to the tight, red, satin dress that could qualify as a second skin. She must have poured herself into the thing. If there was any doubt previously regarding the status of her breasts, they have just been completely eradicated. They are hoist up in the strapless dress and if she lowered her lips, she could kiss them.

She halts her hasty advance on Jesse and gives me the once over, her eyes finishing and remaining on my neck. She’s spotted the necklace, which is hardly surprising, you can’t exactly miss it, but she is not dazzled by the beauty or sparkle – not a chance – she is weighing up the likelihood of who has bought it and judging by her screwed by botox pumped face, she has hit the nail right on the head. I instinctively reach up and clasp the diamond, almost like I’m protecting it from her beady eyes. She flicks a begrudging stare at me and then runs her eyes down my lace clad body. I straighten my shoulders and smile sweetly.

‘I’m here now.’ Jesse grumbles, as he pulls me along beside him. We enter the bar and find Mario dishing out firm instructions to the bar staff. The bar has tripled in size and I realise that the folding doors dividing the bar and restaurant have been opened and dozens of tall bar tables and stools have been scattered between the rooms.

‘Here, sit.’ He lifts me onto a stool at the bar and calls Mario over before sitting himself opposite me.

Sarah points at a spreadsheet in her hand. ‘Can we just go through …’

‘Sarah, give me a minute.’ Jesse cuts her off, without taking his eyes from me. I could kiss him. ‘What would you like to drink?’ he asks.

I can feel the ice emanating from Sarah as she stands there like a plum and waits for Jesse to tend to me before he gives her the attention she’s demanding. I might take a while to decide. Can I have alcohol? He did say I can drink if he is around.

Mario appears, looking rather dapper in his white waistcoat and bow tie, his hair combed precisely to the side and his moustache neatly trimmed. He smiles brightly and I remember the lush cocktail he made for me earlier today. ‘I’ll have a
Mario Most Marvelous
, please.’ I grin at Mario.

He laughs loudly. ‘Yes!’ He starts faffing at the bar. ‘Mr Ward?’

‘Just a water, please, Mario.’ Jesse replies, leaning towards me for a kiss. I can feel Sarah’s eyes drilling into me, so, of course, I oblige and let him have his way. Not that I need Sarah around to do that. He has his way wherever and whenever he chooses.

‘Sloe gin, Mario.’ she snaps petulantly, and then proceeds to huff while Jesse gets his fix of me. He really does not have any regard for this woman, and I feel all the more comfortable for it. She’s not even really a threat.

‘Jesse, I could really do with you in the office.’ she presses.

He growls, and I’m mentally willing him to trample all over her. ‘Sarah, please!’ he grates, standing up in front of me. ‘Baby, do you want to stay here or would you like to come with me?’

I’m not looking at her, but I know she has just rolled her eyes, and while I would love to piss her off more, I’m quite happy to sit with happy Mario and drink my
Most Marvelous
. ‘I’m good here, you go.’      

He grabs his water and pushes his lips to my forehead. ‘I’ll be quick.’ He stalks off, leaving Sarah to virtually jog on her eight inch heels in order to keep up with him, but not before she leans across me to retrieve her gin from the bar on a snarl. I ignore it and accept my drink from a smiling Mario.

‘Thank you, Mario.’ I return his smile and take a sip, gasping in gratitude.

‘Miss Ava. May I say how magnificent you are looking this evening?’ He smiles fondly, and I blush slightly.

‘Mario, may I say how devilishly handsome
you
look this evening.’ I raise my glass to the small Italian man, who I have become rather fond of.

He slaps the bar on a sharp burst of laughter, and then his eyes fall onto the diamond that’s suspended around my neck before he tips his eyes back up to me with a high raised eyebrow. ‘He loves you very much, yes?’

I give a little embarrassed shrug, feeling suddenly uncomfortable with the friendly Italian. I don’t want everyone thinking the inevitable, just like Sarah did. ‘It’s just a necklace, Mario.’ A Sixty grand necklace, yes, but no one has to know that small detail. I reach up to grasp it again. I have to keep checking it’s there, even though I can feel the weight perfectly.

‘I see that you love Mr Ward very much too.’ He smiles and tops my glass up. ‘It makes me happy.’

It does? He gets distracted by a smashed glass and goes stalking off, waving his arms around and shouting in Italian.

I sit happily at the bar watching the staff preparing for the evening. Champagne is poured into hundreds of glasses and the bar is repeatedly wiped down by Mario. He shouts instructions around and points here and there to guide his staff. This is like a finely tuned execution of organisation – he knows what he is doing. The little Italian is a perfectionist, making everything just so. The huge room looks stunningly made up, everything obviously arranged precisely and with the utmost attention to detail. The low hanging chandeliers are shimmering subtly, giving off a soft apricot glow of light, the words sensuous and invigorating springing to mind immediately – words I have heard before.

Pete appears with a tray of canapés. ‘Ava, you look wonderful.’ He presents me with the tray. ‘Would you like a canapé?’

I take in the glorious smell of smoked salmon and spy the small flat breads caked in cream cheese. ‘Ah, Pete.’ I place my hand on my stomach. ‘I’m still full from lunch.’ I have no idea how I’m going to manage a three course meal. I’ll burst out of this dress.

‘Ava, you hardly ate your lunch.’ He gives me a disapproving look and carries on his way. ‘Enjoy your evening.’

‘You too, Pete.’ I reply, feeling immediately silly for telling a member of Jesse’s staff to enjoy their evening of working hard, but he’s right, I didn’t finish my lunch. That’s because I lost my appetite when Sarah rocked up and it’s probably why I’m not hungry now either.

I turn back to the bar and find my glass has been filled again. I search Mario out and spot him across the bar repositioning some stools. He catches my eye and gives me a cheeky grin, while I hold my glass up and give him a frown. He ignores it and carries on moving stools about. I’ll have to be careful. I’ve had two glasses of this
Most Marvelous
concoction already, and I have no idea what’s in it. I can’t be falling about all over the place when people start arriving.

‘Ava!’

I jump into standing position as Kate’s excited shriek hammers me from the side.

‘Whoa!’ She skids to a stop in front of me, her eyes popping out of her head. ‘Fucking hell!’

‘I know.’ I grumble. ‘I’m petrified of the damn thing. It should be in a safe.’ I reach up and fiddle with it again, and Kate bats my hand away to cop a feel herself.

‘Wow! That is some serious special.’ She drops the diamond and stands back to eye me up. ‘Look at you! Someone has been thoroughly spoilt today.’  

I laugh. I think what I have been today is way past spoilt. ‘What about you?’ I grab her hands and hold them out to the side. ‘I love the dress.’ I send her on a little twirl. She looks fabulous, as always, in a long, green gown, her red locks vibrant and piled high on her head. ‘Do you want a drink? You have to try this stuff.’ I grasp my glass from the bar and hold it up. ‘Here, sit. Where’s Sam?’

She pushes herself onto the stool and rolls her eyes. ‘He wouldn’t let any of the valets park his car. He thinks they’re all driving morons who can’t handle the power of a Carrera.’ She laughs. ‘Where’s Jesse?’

My smile disappears. ‘Sarah dragged him off somewhere,’ I glance at the clock and note he’s been gone for over an hour. ‘Anyway, I couldn’t help but notice a certain Carrera, with a certain red head in it, pulling into The Manor yesterday evening.’ I say casually as I sip my drink, eyeing her reaction over the rim of my glass.

My fiery, red head friend fires me a fiery glare. ‘Yes, Ava. You’ve already pointed that out.’ she says haughtily. ‘Get me that drink.’

I shake my head, but I don’t press her. ‘Mario?’ I call, and he waves his acknowledgment as he walks over. ‘This is my friend Kate. Kate, this is Mario.’

‘Yes, we’ve met.’ Kate smiles at Mario.

‘How are you this evening, Kate?’ Mario blesses her with one of his lovely warm smiles.

‘I’ll be better when you get me one of those.’ She points to my glass, and Mario laughs before going to fetch his glass jug of the
Most Marvelous
stuff.

Of course they’ve met. I’m so envious of her laidback nature. Mario returns with his jug and I slap my hand over my glass when he tries and fill mine again, throwing him a playful, warning look. He shrugs, muttering something in Italian and fighting a smile, clearly trying to pretend he’s offended.

‘Where’s the love?’

We both turn and see Sam stood, legs spread and arms extended in the entrance of the bar. He looks unusually smart, compared to his traditional baggy jeans and t-shirt combo. He straightens his suit jacket and waltzes to the bar confidently, shouting for a bottle of beer as he approaches. He may look smart, but his hair is its usual mop of brown, messy waves and his cheeky grin and dimple are ever present.

‘Ladies! May I say how damn fine you’re both looking this pleasant evening?’ He kisses my cheek and then lavishes Kate with a dramatic sloppy one. She bats him away, laughing. ‘Where’s my man?’ he asks, glancing around the bar.

I want to correct him and tell him that Jesse is, in fact, my man, but I think I might be in the realms of trampling if I do that. I laugh to myself and at my little mental trample. ‘He’s in his office.’ I say, taking another sip of my drink. I’m pacing myself, but this stuff is delicious and going down a treat. I feel better now that Kate is here, my mind distracted from the fact that Jesse is still missing.

An hour later, the bar is crammed full and Jesse is still nowhere to be seen. Soft jazz is playing in the background and the sound of happy chatter is prominent in the air. The men all look fine in tuxes and suits and the woman have all gone to town in various gowns and cocktail dresses. I’m not ignorant to the fact that I seem to be the choice of conversation for many groups of people, particularly women, who make a rubbish job at hiding their interest. The thing that is bothering me the most, though, is my unreasonable, enquiring mind that keeps wondering just how many of them Jesse has slept with. It’s a depressing thought and one I don’t think I will ever shake off.

I’m on my third glass of the
Most Marvelous
stuff and sipping it cautiously. Drew has arrived and actually looks no different to normal. He always looks well groomed and precise. I exhale and relax when I feel two big palms rest on my hips and his fresh water, minty loveliness drift into my nose. Where has he been?

His chin rests on my shoulder. ‘I’ve neglected you.’

I crane my neck to see him. ‘Yes, you have. Where have you been?’

‘I couldn’t get two yards without someone making a play for me. I’m all yours now, I promise.’ He pushes his front into my back and leans over to shake hands with the boys’ before leaning towards Kate so she can kiss his cheek. I can guarantee that all of the
someone’s
who he couldn’t get two yards past were women. ‘Is everyone good?’ he asks as he waves Mario for some water.

‘We will be when dinner is out the way.’ Sam grins and chinks bottles with Drew. I know what he’s getting at, and I distinctively remember Jesse giving firm instructions for the upstairs to remain locked until ten thirty. Now I know why; to keep keen people, such as Sam, out.

I’m suddenly attacked with a very worrying thought. Bloody hell, will Kate be disappearing upstairs later? I look at her with wide eyes, but damn her, she won’t look at me. She knows what I’m thinking – I can tell by the way she’s turning her body further away from me, hiding her face.

‘Ten thirty.’ Jesse says sternly. He pulls me off the stool and sits there himself before pulling me down onto his lap and burying his face into my neck. Sam and Drew throw each other disapproving looks and Kate still refuses to look at me.

‘I want to lay you on that bar and take my time peeling all of this lace off.’ he whispers in my ear. I stiffen over him and silently wish for him to shut up immediately before I oblige and climb up onto the bar for him. He pushes his groin up into my backside. ‘What’s under the dress?’

‘More lace.’ I say quietly on a smile, and he groans in my ear. Why did I say that? I need to curb the sex talk, not encourage it.

‘You’re fucking killing me.’ He nips my ear, causing shivers to bolt through me.

‘You have to stop.’ I warn, rather unconvincingly. It will take him a week to get me out of this dress and back in it again. Actually, it probably wouldn’t take him that long at all. He’ll lose his patience and rip it off, in which case, I won’t be putting it back on.

‘Never.’ His tongue dips into my ear, and I close my eyes on a sigh.

‘You guys!’ Kate playfully slaps Jesse’s shoulder. ‘Put her down!’

‘Yeah, you’re restraining our sexual needs, but it’s okay for you to sit there and fondle your girl.’ Sam complains.

Jesse lands Sam with a reproachful glare. ‘Try and stop me. I’ll shut up shop now and take her home.’

‘You’re trampling your mates now.’ I laugh, and they all start laughing with me. I feel Jesse resume nibbling at my nape. ‘Who’s that?’ I ask.

‘Who’s who?’ His head comes up from my neck, and I nod towards a woman stood in the entrance of the bar with a cream shift dress on. She’s probably early thirties, with black bobbed hair and pretty features. I wouldn’t have paid much attention, but she is staring straight at us and she’s alone.

She starts walking towards us, and I feel Jesse tense under me. Sam and Drew shut up immediately, which only serves to make me even more wary. Who the hell is she?