Page 155 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

Matt scrutinized her, frigid eyes searching her face for any indication of deception. “When did you take these pictures?”

“At some function while you were recently in Egypt,” she admitted with a vagueness that unsettled him. “I tried to see exactly who he was but I didn’t want them to see me. I knew if she realized her secret had been found out,” Louisa sighed, looking away from him. “I knew she’d only twist it, turn you against me. That’s the only reason I took those pictures, Matt. To prove she’s nothing but a lying wh-”

“Don’t.” Matt cut her off tersely. He took a deep breath. “Who else knows? Have you shown these pictures to anyone else?”

“Of course not.” Louisa grabbed his arm. “Should I have confronted her? I’m so sorry, darling. I think she was terribly drunk and I just – I was so shocked at seeing her in that state – I didn’t-”

Matt uncurled her grip on his arm and took a few steps back. He swallowed hard, unclenched his jaw and asked, “So you have no idea who the man is?”

Louisa shook her head, then noticing the suspicious gleam on his face, hastened to say, “You must believe me, Matt.”

Matt rubbed his chin slowly, his stare didn’t waver. “You must understand why I’m a quite reluctant to take you at your word, Louisa.”

“But there are photos,” she cried out in exasperation. “And Isawthem engaged in, well the pictures speak for themselves.”

Matt nodded once. “Yes, but it all seems a tad too convenient. We both know how you feel about my wife.”

Louisa huffed, no doubt insulted. “I may not like her, but I respect you and your marriage. I know you may not believe me, but I am your friend and our families have been close for so many years. I would never lie to you about something of this magnitude!”

He assessed her clinically. To all outward appearances her distress was genuine, but Matt was still unwilling to believe his poppet would ever be untrue to him. Madi was not that type of woman…but she did like her alcohol. He had seen her various stages of inebriation, and she could drink with the best of them. Running a hand over the lapels of his jacket he reiterated harshly, “I swear if this is some pathetic attempt of yours to turn me against my wife, you’ll sorely regret it,Louisa.”

She threw her hands into the air and her limbs shook in frustration. “Really, Matt! Do you think I enjoyed hiding my presence like some dirty voyeur asyour wifefucked another man? Do you think so little of me to believe I would deliberately try to ruin your marriage? I thought you should know what I happened upon, perhaps I should have said nothing. Left you in ignorance while she made a fool of you behind closed doors.”

Again Matt observed her intently, and again she seemed genuine. Her cheeks were flushed, her blue eyes wide and silently pleading for his trust. He frowned as the first stirrings of doubt settled in his mind. Louisa knew him, and she knew any underhand machinations on her part would result in dire consequences. Sheknewhim. If he discovered this was naught more than a despicable lie, Louisa knew damned well Matt would stop at nothing to make her life a misery.

Yet she held his gaze and said, “I’m sorry I had to bring this to your attention, darling. Whatever you decide to do,” She closed the distance between them. “Know that I am here for you, as a friend. Maybe marriage counselling-”

“I think you should go, Louisa.” Matt pointed at the door.

“Matt,” she touched the sleeve of his jacket.

“Leave.” Matt bit out with eyes hard and aloof.

Louisa nodded and reached for her bag. “I’m sorry.”

Matt remained silent as she strode out his office. The moment the door shut behind her, he returned to his seat behind the desk and called Rachel’s line.

“I am not to be disturbed.” he grated down the telephone before hanging up. Seconds later he gingerly picked up his mobile, loathed to look at the pictures but needing to do so in order to get his head around this. There was no way Madi would cheat on him. Matt hissed sharply when he opened the picture messages he’d sent himself from Louisa’s phone. The first photo was definitely of his wife, apparently naked under some sheets with a man’s whose face was turned away. Who was he? These pictures had to be fake. Grinding his teeth, Matt reached for his office phone again. The person he called would be able to get him the answers he desperately needed. His private investigator picked up on the third ring.

“James, it’s Bradley here. I need to see you today.”

“Of course, Mr Bradley,” Came without delay. “Where would youlike to meet?”

Matt stared at the image on his mobile. “At your office. I need you to confirm the authenticity of some photos taken via a mobile phone.”

There was a small pause here, then the man said, “I’ll need to call in one of my techs. When shall I expect you?”

“I’m leaving now,” Matt advised, his disbelieving gaze was still fixated on the picture. “Depending on traffic, maybe an hour at the most.”

“I’ll be ready, Mr Bradley.”

Matt ended the call without further ado. Moving on autopilot, he shut down his laptop, gathered up the reports he needed to work on tonight and shoved them in his briefcase, then locked the drawers of his desk. All this he did while his thoughts were buffeted with unending questions. There had to be some valid explanation for this, although for the life of him he could not conjure any. The pictures were fake, and once this was proven, he would deal with Louisa and her filthy lies. Matt added his laptop inside the briefcase, grabbed his car keys and hurried out the office.

“Rachel,” he said on approaching her desk. “I’m stepping out for a while and I’m uncertain as to what time I’ll be back.”

Rachel gave him a startled look. “But your father is in today, Mr Bradley. You have a meeting with the board-”

Matt narrowed his eyes as he cut her off. “Cancel whatever meetings I have for the next few hours. I’ll call you.” With that resolute order, he marched towards the doors. The sooner he got to the bottom of this, the better…

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