He was used to people pandering to his every whim, but what he respected more than ever were people who could be straight with him. And with Maggie, there was no pretence. The woman was always as honest as she was brutal. And she was always kind to Rebecca.
‘I thought getting her out of the house would help, but I guess I was wrong.’ Rebecca sighed as Ella continued to scream, rubbing her head to ease the headache she now had. Ella’s incessant crying had been ringing in her ears since the moment she’d left home, echoing through her skull as she’d traipsed halfway across London to Jamie’s Mayfair offices. The journey had taken almost an hour in the end, zapping all her energy and patience as she’d dragged the pushchair through the overcrowded maze of the underground.
Tucking the loose strands of hair that had fallen out of her clip behind her ears, she wiped the beads of perspiration that had formed on her forehead. Her swollen feet throbbed inside the ridiculously high shoes she’d forced on because they went with the dress she’d decided would seduce Jamie into finding her attractive again. Only the whole outfit felt too tight now, the extra baby weight she’d gained making the fabric cling to her body, sticking to the thin film of sweat. She could only imagine what a sight she must look.
And Ella was worse now. Fractious and due her next feed. Rebecca suspected she needed her nappy changing too.
It was all going wrong. She shouldn’t have come, she thought as she looked around the immaculate reception area and suddenly it didn’t seem like such a good idea to just turn up at Jamie’s office unannounced, with Ella in such a state.
But she was trying. Wasn’t that the entire point of today? After her chat with Lisa yesterday, she’d vowed to make more of an effort, to try to get back on track with Jamie. If they were going to talk, properly, then they needed to start spending some time together.
‘Do you know what, Maggie, if it’s just finishing up, I’m sure he won’t mind me and this little one interrupting the meeting. I was hoping to surprise him anyway…’ she said, holding up the little picnic of Jamie’s favourite foods she’d packed neatly into a cool bag. ‘I bought him some lunch.’
She’d come this far. She needed to go and see Jamie before she lost her nerve completely.
‘I should really give him a call… he did say that he didn’t want to be interrupted…’
‘Oh, right,’ Rebecca said, eyeing the woman suspiciously. She wasn’t imagining it, was she? Maggie was acting cagey. The look of panic crossing her face as she reached over the desk for the phone.
‘Don’t,’ Rebecca said, her voice too hard, her tone too sharp. ‘I want to surprise him,’ she added, her tone shocking them both. It wasn’t a request it was an order.
Maggie wavered for a few seconds, as if considering what she should do for the best, before placing the phone back down on the receiver.
‘You know what, that sounds like a wonderful idea. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to see you both.’ Maggie winked, quickly trying to disguise the hesitancy in her voice as she plastered a smile on her face. ‘And this little poppet will probably be all the better for seeing her daddy. Though he might hear you both coming before he sees you.’ Maggie grinned, her eyes on Ella, whose loud cries filled the reception area.
‘Thank you,’ Rebecca said politely, before making her way down the corridor towards Jamie’s office. Shaking the pushchair rhythmically as she went, in a last-ditch attempt to get Ella to quieten down, she’d guessed that was exactly what Maggie was counting on – Ella’s cries announcing their arrival before Rebecca did, giving Jamie a few minutes’ warning before they interrupted whatever was going on in his office. Unless, of course, she was just being paranoid again. Lately she really didn’t know what to think or believe.
Reaching the office door, Rebecca paused, her hand visibly shaking as she reached for the handle. Scared of what she might see on the other side. She took a deep breath and flung the door open.
‘Surprise!’ Composing herself, Rebecca forced a smile, despite the pang of jealousy that she felt ripping through her as she eyed Jamie and the younger, attractive woman sitting next to him at his desk. So close to each other it felt almost intimate. It’s more of a cosy little lunch date than a meeting, she thought as she took in the takeaway boxes that sat on the desk. A selection of fancy looking tapas along with a bottle of wine.
‘Shit!’ she said, wincing then as the buggy smacked hard against the door frame, only for it to spring back and whack her shin, the sudden jolt sending Ella’s already deafening sobs into near on hysteria.
Their surprise arrival was nothing like the grand entrance she’d envisaged in her head.
‘Rebecca? I didn’t know you were going to drop in. You’ve met Jenna?’ Jamie said, awkwardly standing up. Awkward now. But nowhere near as awkward as Rebecca felt standing self-consciously in the doorway. There was practically a crackling charge running through the airwaves around her.
Jenna.
The name Jamie called out when they were having sex. This was her.
‘No. I definitely haven’t. I’m sure I would remember…’ Rebecca put on a fake smile and shook her head.
Jamie would have made sure of that.
Because the girl was simply stunning. Even from here, Rebecca felt mesmerised by her sultry blue eyes. She was a perfect size ten, Rebecca guessed, taking in the younger woman’s tiny, toned figure. Her long blond hair trailing down past her waist. The type of woman that most wives wouldn’t want working in such close proximity of their husbands.
‘I’ve made you egg mayonnaise sandwiches,’ Rebecca said, instantly regretting the lame sentence escaping her lips, before silently wishing for the ground to swallow her up. Catching the younger woman’s eyes, she recognised the look she gave her. Full of sympathy. No, something else.
Something worse.
Pity.
As she quickly looked away, fixing her gaze on the floor, Rebecca caught her smirk. It ripped through her as she knows it was intended.
‘Right, well, I’ll get that all typed up and emailed over as soon as possible. Thank you for lunch,’ Jenna said, her tone professional as she gathered up her things.
Rebecca’s glad that this woman at least has the decency to get up from her seat and make her excuses to leave, only Jamie misses the beat. His puzzled expression lingers on Jenna’s face as he tried to work out what Jenna was talking about.
‘Right. Yes,’ he said. Flustered. Playing along, only he’s a few fractions of a second too late.
Rebecca sees it.
Because you can’t bullshit a bullshitter and Rebecca has always known an actress when she sees one.
Stepping aside as Jenna walks towards her, she can’t help but compare herself to the girl, aware that in contrast she’s tried too hard and hasn’t quite pulled it off.
She’s wearing too much make-up. Her perfume too strong, too overpowering. Her clothes too tight. She feels cheap and frumpy.
Ella is screaming now. Louder than Rebecca has ever heard her cry before. Embarrassed, she picks her up to comfort her, glad of the distraction. Grateful of something to do, only the sudden movement dislodges what’s been bothering Ella the past few days, and Ella projectile vomits all over her. The last strand of dignity she possessed slips from her grasp. Her plans ruined, she catches the look on Jamie’s face. Instead of concern, she just sees anger as he visibly cringes with embarrassment. Saint Jenna quickly rushes to her aid, leaning over the desk in her bum skimming dress before passing Rebecca a wad of tissues along with an apologetic glance, before rapidly fleeing the room. Leaving Rebecca and Jamie finally alone.