C4 Chapter Four

He laughed without humour. ‘Honest? I doubt you know the meaning of the word.’

Her hands curled into fists. ‘Just because you’re some big shot property tycoon, it doesn’t give you the right to play judge, jury and executioner. I’m not on trial here.’

‘No. But you will be.’ He stared at her speculatively. ‘At a rough guess facing charges of trespass, unlawful entry, intent to rob-’

‘I didn’t come here to rob anyone,’ Rachel snapped. ‘If you must know, I came here to--’

Breaking off, she stared at him in horror. Around her the tension in the room had soared, so that suddenly she felt as though the walls and the windows might implode.

His gaze was fixed and unblinking. ‘To what?’

She stared at him mutely, frozen, horrified by how close she’d come to betraying David and then in the beat of her heart she darted past him. But he was too quick, and before her brain had even registered him moving, his arm was curving around her waist and pulling her against the hard muscles of his chest.

It was like an electric shock. For a moment she forgot everything. Everything except the fierce, prickling heat surging through her body, warming her blood and melting her bones, so that in another second she knew her legs would buckle beneath her.

‘Let go of me.’ Angry, outraged more by her body’s inappropriate response than his restricting grip she started to punch his arm, but he simply ignored the blows, jerking her closer.

‘Stop it,’ he said coldly. ‘You’re not helping yourself.’

‘You’re hurting me.’

‘Then stop fighting me.’

His arm curled tighter, so that his stomach was pressing against her spine. But despite his anger, and even though she could feel his strength, she was surprised to find she wasn’t afraid of him physically.

Only there was no time to ponder why that should be the case as he said sharply, ‘What’s in your hand?’

Instantly all her efforts were concentrated on clenching her fist as tightly as possible. But it was a short, unequal fight, and she watched helplessly as, uncurling her fingers, he prised the security card from her hand.

‘Thank you,’ he said softly, and abruptly he loosened his grip and jerked her round to face him.

She gazed at him dazedly. Her pulse was racing, her blood thundering like an incoming tide. She felt her stomach tighten painfully as his eyes flickered over the card.

‘Where did you get this?’

For a moment she considered telling him the truth. But one look at his face was all it took to convince her that that course of action would not only be foolish but hazardous. He was furious. Beyond furious. He was enraged.

It was on the floor.’

‘Of course it was!’

The jeer in his voice sliced through her skin like a knife, so that she had to swallow against the pain. The air was thickening around her and she was finding it hard to breathe. His anger was overwhelming her. She couldn’t fight the way he did -didn’t have that desire to win whatever the consequences. Whatever the cost...

‘I...I... It must... Someone must have dropped it.’

Christopher shook his head dismissively.

He could deal with her lies. He could even understand why she was lying. But he couldn’t deal with all the other lies that were crowding into his head. Lies from the past. Conversations between his parents. His mother darting between stories, swapping truths-

Suddenly he just wanted it over. Wanted her out of his office and out of his life.

Lip curling, he glanced to where she stood, wide-eyed, the pulse in her throat jerking unevenly.

‘I know this looks bad,’ she said haltingly. ‘But I wasn’t doing anything wrong. You have to believe me-'

‘I think we both know it’s a little late for that,’ he said savagely.

He didn’t trust her, and for good reason. Life had taught him at an early age that there was nothing more disingenuous or dangerous than a cornered woman.

But this one wasn’t his problem.

‘I’m tired,’ he said bluntly. ‘And this conversation is over.’

He reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone.

‘What do you mean? Who are you calling? No. Please-’

He felt his stomach soar upwards, snagged by the desperation in her voice even as anger swept over him like lava. Was she really going to keep this up? This pretence that she’d come up here to see the view.

‘I gave you a chance to tell the truth. That you came here to steal from me-’

‘But I didn’t.’ Her voice was husky with emotion. ‘I admit I lied to you. But I swear I’m not a thief.’

He held her gaze. It would be easy to believe her. She sounded so convincing. But then he remembered how she had fought him for the swipe card, with fire-not fear-in her eyes, and glancing at her face he could see tautness-the nervous dread of a skater standing on thin ice, waiting to hear it crack.

But why? What was there left to dread?

His shoulders tensed. And then, as his gaze dropped down to the short black apron, he saw her face freeze. He felt a dizzying anger like vertigo. Slowly he moved in front of her, his powerful body blocking her exit.

‘Prove it. Empty out your pockets,’ he said tersely. ‘Unless you want me to do it for you.’

She shrank away from him, eyes widening with unmistakable guilt, her face pale with shock and uncertainty. ‘Are you threatening me?’

‘I don’t know,’ he said, his voice soft, light, his face sculptured with menace. ‘Do you feel threatened?’

Rachel swallowed. Yes. She did. And not just threatened. Trapped. But how could she do what he asked? If he saw the watch-his watch-there was zero chance of her getting out of the office, let alone the building.

‘I can explain...’ But her words faltered as she realised that she couldn’t.

Christopher stared at her in silence. A sudden vivid memory of his mother saying exactly the same words slid into his head, and he let them echo and fade until he was able to speak.

‘I’m sure you can. But I think I’ve had enough bedtime stories for one evening.’

His words sent a chill through her.

‘Don’t worry though. I’m sure someone else will find them far more entertaining.’ He paused, a cold smile curling his lips. ‘Like my security team. We can go and talk to them right now. They’re downstairs with David-your brother. Waiting to take you both to the police station.’