Page 87 of Ace My Heart

“Okay,” I muttered, confused, but feeling an odd sensation like I didn’t want to push Brad for an explanation.

Even in the rain the restaurants in the main street of Kirribilli were doing a bustling trade as we passed them. Ben’s apartment building wasn’t much past the main strip.

I wiped my damp hands on my jeans, remembering the way he’d spoken to Joel that day, demanding to see me, like he owned me or something. And now I had to let him know that there was no future for us, and I had no clue what his reaction was going to be.

I should have called Joel.

Brad pulled up outside and turned to me. He gave me an intense look.

“I’ll wait for you here, okay? If anything happens, give me a call, and I’ll break down the door if I have to.”

I felt a surge of love for Brad – he was so dependable. I reached over and hugged him.

Brad gave me a small smile as I got out of the car and trotted through the rain to the door. I pressed the buzzer with number 901 on it and waited.

“Mel?” Ben’s voice wafted through, warm and friendly. Not at all like the cruel tone he’d used with Joel.

“Um, yes, it’s me,” I replied, unable to keep the shaking from my voice.

Get a grip, Melanie!I told myself.Get it done, and it’s over.

“Come on up.”

The door buzzed and I let myself into the foyer, where there was a very old elevator. I pressed the button dubiously and it made its creaking way down the shaft. I was contemplating taking the stairs up, when the doors opened in front of me.

I stepped in, and after what felt like an interminable amount of time in the groaning lift, I was on the ninth floor.

Ben was waiting for me outside the doors. He leaned close and kissed me on the cheek. I stiffened, and he took a step back, but he didn’t seem to think much of it, ushering me with a smile towards his apartment.

It certainly wasn’t anything like the ultra-modern pad in Dubai. This one was all thick creamy carpet and big soft furniture. I could see straight through to a balcony with a view over the harbour, the Opera House sails gleaming centre-stage.

“It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?” he asked, coming to stand behind me, a hand resting on the small of my back. “I was planning to sell and buy a house in the suburbs instead – with a yard for the kids. But that view just gets me every time.”

He looked down at me with a cheeky grin. It looked so much like Joel’s that I caught my breath.

I stepped away from him, out of reach of his hands. His talk of houses in the suburbs and kids, it was frightening. What had he pictured in his head about the two of us?

“Ben, I’m really sorry,” I began, taking another step back and wringing my hands. “It’s just that I’m not … into you, the same way that you seem to be into me,” I finished lamely. Ben moved forwards until he was standing mere inches away from me.

“You seemed to be pretty into me in Dubai,” he murmured in my ear. I took another step away.

“That’s not really true you know. I mean, I told you that it wasn’t going to work out.”

Ben stared at me, blue eyes dark. “No, you said that you couldn’t see a future for us when I lived on the other side of the world.”

I took a shaky breath. “I’m sorry, but I was really just trying tolet you down easy.” The way Ben’s eyes narrowed sent my heart buzzing nervously in my chest. He stepped closer.

“So, what you’re telling me is that I left my business, myhome, and came back here fornothing?” His voice was low and dangerous. “I did all this foryou, because youliedto me!”

I stepped away again, backing closer and closer to the balcony.

“That’s not fair, Ben! I slept with youonce, and then told you I couldn’t see a future. It doesn’t matter what reason I gave; it was not an invitation to move across the world with no notice, no discussion, no anything! You should have called before you made such a huge decision, you should have talked to me.”

Ben advanced on me and I backed hastily away, stumbling on the runner for the sliding door that separated the living area from the balcony. Ben grabbed me by the arms, as if to steady me, but his fingers dug painfully into the soft flesh in the crooks of my elbows. I gasped, but he didn’t seem to notice that he was hurting me, his eyes blazing angrily into mine.

“I shouldn’thaveto talk to you about it! You stayed in my home, youfuckedme for Christ’s sake! You accepted my gifts, you were more than happy to let me buy you dinner. You gave me every impression that this would be a long-term thing, if I was back here in Sydney.”

I felt my own anger heating inside me. “You buying me things and taking me out does not mean you own me! And I didn’t keep the stupid dress – it’s probably still hanging in the wardrobe.

---