Page 22 of Suddenly Desired
And, more importantly, would she still believe him now that this video was everywhere?
The taxi jolted to a stop, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Here we are.” The driver nodded towards the sleek, glass building.
Blake thanked the man and climbed out of the car.
David’s words echoed relentlessly in his head.If you’re not careful, you’re going to lose everything— his company, his shares, his money, his future. But standing there, staring at the towering building that represented all of it, Blake found he couldn’t summon the usual fear or urgency. For once, the weight of Heartbook didn’t feel like the most pressing thing in his life.
Instead, he found himself thinking about Ellie.
He should be heading upstairs, cleaning up the mess from his hair, and calling David to strategise. Maybe even shooting another message to the APEXgroup for their take on how to deal with the situation. That had been the plan.
But right now, the thought of explaining himself to David or enduring Michelle’s sharp commentary felt exhausting. What he really wanted was something far simpler.
He wanted to hear Ellie’s voice. Her laugh, the way she teased him without trying too hard, the fire in her eyes when she talked about her dream for LifeWrite. She’d made him feel like a person, not a headline or a cautionary tale.
Blake rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a slow breath. He’d never been one to lean on others, but there was something about her that made him want to open up, to keep the conversation going.
He slipped his phone into his pocket and headed inside, his footsteps echoing in the lobby’s marble-clad quiet. He still had a business to protect, a reputation to salvage, and a board of directors to face, but in the back of his mind, one thought lingered, clear and insistent.
If he could choose, he’d be talking to Ellie right now.
Chapter 12
ELLIE
Ellie was a mess by the time she arrived back at her flat. The evening air clung to her like a second skin, thick and humid, and the hour-long walk home had left her drenched in sweat. She’d used the last of her money on the coffees and hadn’t been able to afford a taxi. The evening was hot and clammy, and she still felt like she was in adrenaline mode after the incident at the bar. Her pulse was racing, her body like a furnace. She couldn’t believe that had happened. It didn’t feel real. How could anybody be that cruel to another person? Even if Blake had been guilty, it didn’t give somebody the right to tip a whole pitcher of rancid water over him.
She unlocked the door, picturing Blake’s face. He’d looked so horrified, so upset. She had no reason to believe his claim that he was innocent, but in the short time she’d spent with him tonight she felt she already knew him. Either he was telling the truth, or he was the world’s best liar.
Of course, it wasn’t like she hadn’t been taken in by a liar and a cheat before.
Ellie pushed the door open and stepped into her dimly lit hallway, her bag slipping from her shoulder. Her flat was small and cluttered, but cosy, the faint smell of strawberry milkshake from her diffuser hanging in the air. She barely had time to let out a breath when a figure lunged at her from the shadows.
“Jesus,” she yelped, leaping backwards into the console with a clatter.
“Oh, sorry,” said Josh, not sounding sorry at all. “I just needed to collect some of my things.”
Ellie’s initial shock gave way to anger, her jaw tightening as she flicked on a light. She pushed past him, hanging her bag inthe hall next to the lightweight raincoat he wore whatever the weather.
“You don’t have anything left here,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm. “You haven’t had anything here for weeks.”
“I beg to differ,” he said, holding up a razor.
She was certain it hadn’t been here before today. She’d gone through the place in forensic detail after he’d left and chucked everything that belonged to him — and everything that they owned together — in a bin bag. But Josh had insisted on keeping a key, and she was too poor to have the locks changed, and technically the lease on the flat was in both their names so she couldn’t even complain to the landlord.
“Great,” Ellie said. “You’ve got it so now you can go.”
Josh ignored her and sauntered into the kitchen. “Coffee?” he called over his shoulder. “I’ve put a pot on.”
Ellie screamed internally, following him into the kitchen to see that as well as the coffee bubbling in the pot, there was something spinning in the microwave. The smell of cheap burgers filled the air. His laptop was open on the counter.
“You don’t mind,” he said, a statement rather than a question. “I won’t be long. Besides, I figured you could use the company.”
“I’m tired, Josh,” she said. “It’s been a long day.”
“You and me both, honey.” He poured himself a mug of coffee and added a large glug of her favourite creamy milk. He leaned against the counter. “Where have you been?”
