“What are you looking at?” she snapped at Felix as he stared at her from her chest. The pitch of her voice rose. “This is all your fault, anyway. I agreed to all this because of you. The buffing and the polishing. Just so I could have sex with you....”
At that moment, the door opened with a click. But not because of Thea’s lock-picking attempts. A wide-eyed face greeted her in the doorway. The masseur. She’d come back just in time to hear Thea’s last words.
“Oh, thank goodness,” she cried, almost ready to kiss her rescuer.
The masseur glanced up and down the corridor, then at Thea’s chest, her minuscule paper knickers, and finally, the bent metal rod in her hands. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll assume you weren’t talking about having sex withme.”
Thea laughed, her cheeks smouldering hot. “Oh, lord, no! Not that you’re not gorgeous and very talented with your hands, but I bat for the other team. I just locked myself out, that’s all.”
The corners of the masseurs’ lips quivered. “Here, come on in. You must be freezing.”
Thea followed her into the delicious warmth of the room. She slumped down into the wicker chair in the corner. “That’s the least of my worries. I don’t think I was spotted, but please, can you promise not to mention this to anyone?” Thea gestured to the magazine bearing Felix’s face, which was still strapped across her chest.
He couldn’t find out. He’d think she was ridiculous. A laughingstock. He’d probably pack her back off to the farm. Maybe he’d dial up Persephone Murray. At least if she got stuck out in a corridor, almost naked, she’d look great after all her procedures.
The masseur busied herself, took a heated robe from a cupboard, and handed it to Thea. “I won’t tell anyone, but you should know the corridor has CCTV. It’s reviewed live in the security room on the second floor.”
Thea’s jaw dropped. Had actual members of Felix’s staff seen her streak across the hallway? The plant and magazine had barely covered anything. There’d be gossip and giggles. Gossip that would make its way back to Felix. Thea swallowed down a bitter taste.
“Would you like me to finish your massage now?” The masseur asked, folding her arms.
Thea gave her a smile. “I’m going to need something a little stronger. Do you have vodka?”
29
THEA
Thea trailed Gemma into Felix’s penthouse. Honestly, his assistant must thoroughly resent her babysitting duties. She can’t have done much work today outside of looking after her. At least she didn’t look like a potato anymore. In fact, she looked like a totally different person.
The beautician had buffed Thea within an inch of her life and her skin glowed with health and a little body shimmer. The manicurist had shaped her nails where possible and painted them a subtle nude colour. The stylist had blown out her hair to hang in silky waves instead of her usual chaotic curls. The real transformation was her face, though. Thea had watched YouTube makeup tutorials before, but nothing had prepared her for the result of highlighting and contouring. She looked like a supermodel!
The second Thea stepped inside Felix’s apartment, she sucked in a breath. Everything about it screamed money. From the floor-to-ceiling windows giving the most incredible city view to the marshmallow-like cream leather couches. Walking on his carpet was like wearing springs. Felix had styled every corner and curve to blend in with the view.
“Holy hell,” she said, turning in slow circles to take it all in.
“Yes, it’s pretty impressive.”
“And he’s hardly ever here. What a waste.” Thea didn’t know what sort of place Felix had in Clavenham, but nothing could rival this apartment.
Gemma snickered. “He used to spend a lot more time in London. I guess he’s had other distractions lately.”
Thea caught the smirk. It wasn’t unkind. She must work closely with Felix. It was only natural she’d know most of his secrets. Even the ones that he kept down in the country.
“I’ve had your bag put in Mr. Walsh’s room. There’s a kitchen through to your left. The fridge is fully stocked, but don’t worry about making anything. Mr. Walsh has a chef on hand at all times. Just press three on the wall control. And then the main bathroom is down on this level, but there’s another on the mezzanine.”
Gemma swung her hand to one side of the room towards a sleek set of wooden stairs. They looked like they floated on air and led to a completely separate floor that jutted out over the main room like the overhang of a cliff.
“That’s...” Thea was about to say “mind-blowing,” but Gemma got in first. “Mr. Walsh’s room. You’ll find your things up there.” Something in Gemma’s eyes had her heart racing twice as fast. A knowing smile on her lips. “He’ll be done with his meetings soon. Best you get ready for the party. Let me know if you need anything.”
Thea swallowed, then nodded. Gemma left the apartment with an efficient turn that any catwalk veteran would be proud of. The door was so beautifully made Thea didn’t even hear it shut.
A crypt-like silence enveloped her, and she strained to hear any noise above the gentle hum of the air conditioning. She didn’t dare move. Didn’t dare take a step into Felix’s inner sanctum. Normally, Thea had no such reservations about makingherself at home, but she didn’t want to invade his space. The order and simplicity around her were alien. Dignified and sacred, like a museum.
Her mind returned to her little sitting room at Small Oaks Farm. The ancient, overstuffed sofa and the dust and cat hair that coated every surface. Wendy’s discarded toys and Ammy’s well-loved Barbie dolls were a constant tripping hazard, but they were “home.” Felix’s penthouse felt more like aVogue Livingcentre spread.
With a sigh, she headed towards the magical floating stairs, half expecting them to give under her weight. Instead, a satisfying and understated tap was all she heard when the sole of her boot struck the wood.
She crept upstairs, chasing the light that blazed in through the wall of glass. The mezzanine was possibly bigger than the entire cobbled yard back at the farm. When she reached the top, she gasped. If the view downstairs had been spectacular enough, the extra height and the feeling of jutting over the city made her stomach drop. It was like she’d ascended into heaven.
