Page 65 of Arrogant Heir

I extract myself from Stephanie and return to the table alone. Jamie’s not there. I can’t see her anywhere and panic claws at me. Steph’s gone to the ladies. I heard her out and listened to her pathetic apology. Eventually, when she let me get a word in, I told her I appreciate the gesture, but it’s five years too late. I said there’s no future for us, and I’ve moved on.

She said she couldn’t bear it when she saw me in the papers with the redhead, and she knew she had to come and tell me she still loves me. She’s always loved me apparently and regrets not marrying me when she had the chance. The biggest mistake of her life was leaving me…

Yeah, right.

Steph took my response badly, and it got messy, so it wasn’t easy for me to get away. I don’t love Steph any longer, which is a revelation to me. I was so relieved to discover I’m not in love with her anymore. I knew my feelings had faded, particularly more recently when she stopped monopolising my dreams, but I was always afraid they would rush to the surface again the minute we met. That’s why I’ve avoided going anywhere she might be ever since we split. God knows how she got in tonight without me knowing she would be here. I didn’t see her name on the guest list, so she must have attended as someone’s plus one. Sneaky. I guess she planned to surprise me. Well, she certainly did that.

I won’t pretend it didn’t fluff my ego to hear she regrets leaving me, but what good is that now? We were together for a long time, and she used to be my entire world, but it’s been over for years. She shattered my heart into a thousand pieces, and I was certain I’d never love again.

Steph started crying when I told her there’s no future for us. I think she’s drunk too much, so who knows if her reaction was genuine? I wanted to come back to Jamie, but I couldn’t just leave Steph in that state. I’m not a monster. Eventually, a friend of hers came over and said she’d make sure she got home okay. The minute I disentangled myself, I legged it back to the table to look for Jamie.

An old friend of my mother’s is sitting at the table and gestures for me to move closer. She asks if I’m looking for my red-headed girlfriend. When I confirm I am, she says that she left with Seb about ten minutes ago.

My insides turn cold. What the fuck does Seb think he’s playing at? He knows she was my date, and that she’s pretending to be my girlfriend. And why would Jamie just leave like that without telling me? We’re supposed to be spending the night together at my place.

The thought of the long night without her after the highs of our incredible afternoon is grim, and I text John to meet me around the back. I’m not taking any chances the press will see me leaving without my mystery girlfriend. That’s all I need. I hope they didn’t notice her leaving with Seb, and he was discreet.

Once we’re on the way back to Chelsea, I call Jamie, but there’s no reply. She left with Seb, but where is she now? I mustn’t jump to conclusions. Maybe he gave her a ride to my place because she couldn’t find me, and they know I’ll show up soon. As much as we are rivals in many things, I don’t believe he’d shaft me by having a thing with her. Besides, I think he fancies his daughter’s nanny. I saw them dancing together earlier and wondered if there’s something between them. But just because I’ve fallen in love doesn’t mean everyone else has.

Where’s Jamie gone? I’m not religious, but strangely, I pray she’ll be waiting at the penthouse for me. Seb could have dropped her there, and the concierge could have let her into the building, even though she couldn’t access the private lift.

I message her and ask where she is. Ten minutes later and there’s still no reply, so I call again. It goes to voicemail.Again.

I get over myself and call Seb. Making sure Jamie’s okay is more important than salvaging my wounded heart. Jamie has changed me, and I ache for her. I want her in my bed tonight, and I want to wake up with her in the morning. I can’t believe I’m thinking this, but I want hereverymorning.

What the fuck has she done to me?

Seb doesn’t answer either, and my foreboding whirls out of control.

I blame Seb for taking her home without telling me they were leaving, but I know it’s not fair. I call her again. I’m filled with dread that she saw me with Steph, and I’ve blown it. Jamie’s the only woman I’ve felt anything for in years and I’m so out of practice, I didn’t know how to show her I care. I’ve royally screwed things up.

We arrive at my building, and I leg it out of the car and shoot around to the side entrance and stride towards the front desk.

The concierge sits up straight and greets me, surprise on his sleepy face. I can’t remember the last time I entered this part of the building. Avoiding places like this is what private lifts are for.

‘Mr Rochester. What can I do for you, sir?’

I tell him I’m looking for Jamie Jackson, a friend of mine, and ask if she’s been in or is waiting for me somewhere.

He shakes his head and says no one’s been in tonight, but he’ll keep an eye out for her and let me know if she arrives.

If I knew exactly where her flat is I would have John drive me there now. I’m desperate to see her and apologise for disappearing tonight. I call Seb again for her address, but he doesn’t pick up. I text and get no reply.

He must have turned off his phone and gone to bed.

The only contact details I have for her is a care of the agency business address, and my shoulders slump. I know this without checking because I’ve looked at her file several times since we met, and she infiltrated her way into my bitter heart.

Tonight was supposed to be our night. Maybe I’m not destined to be with someone I love. Shrugging out of my jacket and loosening my dress shirt, I throw it across the back of the sofa and pour myself a neat whisky. And then another. Lord knows I need it even though I already had a skinful at the ball.

I’ve fallen in love with the family ghostwriter and can’t even keep her happy for one evening.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Images of Jamie arching her back over the grand piano while I made love to her flash into my mind, and I’m instantly aroused. She’s the sexiest woman I’ve ever been with, and on top of that, she’s brilliant in every way. I can’t remember having sex that hot as well as so much fun with a girl.

She’s a woman, you nob.

And I let Steph come between us. I’m furious with myself. I don’t know if Jamie left because she was genuinely hurt or because she’d grown tired of waiting for me. She was keen today, but I don’t know how she feels about me beyond mind blowing sex and a shared sense of humour.