Page 127 of Pretender

[Ziggy] He’s a smooth talker @Kit-Cat-8, charms people. They’re putty in his hands.

[Kit-Cat-8] How come you know so much @Ziggy? I’ve been watching you. You know someone. You work there, don’t you, at The Orion?

[Ziggy] I’m around… Hey, commenting on blogs isn’t illegal

[Pumpsup] It’s been boring lately but I LOVE A GOOD EXPOSE

[Rampage101] Can we go back to Sebastian Vincent? He was much saucier as your objective

[Lavish-Monkey] JUSTICE FOR LINNEA. Go WHIM!

[Lavish-Monkey] Come to the prediction market (link here) and let’s make something of this. Sinclair to drop Henry on his arse, yay or nay?

[Tilly-Tat] Dude/lady @whathappensinmayfair, you think you’re some kind of hero? You’re the one who should be exposed next

[whathappensinmayfair] @Tilly-Tat have at it

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

paranoid

LINNEA

Thankfully, I must have been paranoid. It’s been a normal week. A beautiful, delightful week with Aiden.

I hate how heavily my past sits on me, still. This is something I need to shake. I need to do better. For us. Every time Aiden avoids talking about something, I worry, and it’s not healthy.

‘Do you trust me?’ he asked me two months ago.

By now, the answer to that question should be an unequivocal ‘yes’. I trust that he would tell me if there’s something important. I trust that he cares for me, that he wants me. Whatever reasons he has for holding back from me, I need to trust that he will open up one day about what matters.

I swirl the red wine in my glass, watching the liquid as it turns lighter red at the edges and darker in the middle. Today is the first day I’ve not been out and about for work, and I’ve had a Friday me-day, which has been perfect. I’m limber and clean from a long bath, my hair is blown out, and I’m all dressed up in one of my new dresses from Casa Aurato. A light pink one that is silky soft, and hugs my curves, which Aiden will appreciate.

Mmm, he’s going to get that passionate, hungry expression on his face again. When he looks like he wants to eat me and play with me at the same time.

It turns me on just thinking about it.

Hmm, when can I see him?

The sun is still streaming in through the conservatory, so it can’t be late enough yet. Four maybe? I poke at my phone on the table to check. Yep, 4.30 p.m.

Aiden’s meetings should finish around six, so I have plenty of time to enjoy my wine and listen to music before I surprise him at The Orion. He always comes around here, I’m sure he’ll love not having to get in the car for once.

Minutes later, dancing around my living room to ‘Take on Me’ I barely hear the knock on my front door, but it’s such an unusual sound that I react with a jolt to my stomach. I’m not expecting anything or anyone.

I pause the music and open the door, and my body freezes with shock.

“Hi, Linnea.” He has the audacity to smile.

“Henry.” In the flesh. Alone. On my front step.

“Can I come in?”

“No.”

“Fine, I can stand here on your doorstep like a nitwit.”

His words, not mine. I’d be harsher.