I wake to the sound of the jug boiling and Mum talking to Max, toaster popping, and Bridget and Abbie talking about some boring subject on a way too high decibel. I blow out a breath. How is it that the rest of the world is just carrying on as normal when my world is literally crashing around my feet? I feel different today … I'm angry. So angry, at myself mostly. I am a psychologist and I ignored every warning sign. Went against everything I preach in order to hold a man that was never actually mine to hold. I was totally delusional. Joshua Stanton is not my happy ending, he is not my soulmate as I once previously thought. What a load of shit that term is … soulmate. I don't even believe in that word anymore. He has bought me nothing but heartbreak and you know what? It's time to grow up and get on with it. I need to pick myself up and dust myself off. My heart is safe as long as I am away from him … so that's how I am going to keep it. I'm done. I get up and walk out into the lounge room.
"Hi love, how are you today?" asks Mum
I smile. "Better. Max, you don't need to guard me anymore. Joshua and I are finished so I am not in danger of being stabbed or something equally ridiculous. I'm going to the gym. Go back to your girlfriend's house," I announce confidently.
He narrows his eyes at me. "Natasha, I am not leaving you unaccompanied until I get the go ahead, so you can forget the spoilt brat routine. I'm not copping it," he snaps.
Abbie bites her lip to stifle a smile. "You should use that as a pick up line Max. It sounded totally hot."
He shakes his head in frustration. "I agree actually Abbs." Mum laughs.
"God … you girls are ridiculous," he sighs.
Two hours later we have been to the gym. Max worked out with me so that was … different. I want to call into work to pick up my laptop. I have some patient notes to go over before the court case I am going to next week.
We walk through reception and I smile at our secretary. "Hi Belinda, I just need to get my laptop from my office."
"Oh, you're back already. I thought you were away till Sunday." She raises her eyebrows in question.
I fake a smile. "No, got back last night." I grab my laptop and am walking out of the office with Max when Nicholas Anastas walks out of Henry's office. I stop dead in my tracks. Lordy lord he is one delicious man, once again I am stunned to silence.
His eyes light up when he sees me. "Hello … Natasha isn't it?" I hunch my shoulders like a juvenile delinquent. Holy shit, he remembered my name.
"I was hoping to see you today." He smiles
"You were?" I smile as my brain turns to mush.
"Yes, can I have a private word?"
My eyes widen. "Of course, come into my office." Max frowns at me. "It's ok Max, I know this man."
Nicholas frowns at our exchange. "Why are you so heavily guarded?" he asks as we walk into my office.
I shake my head in embarrassment. "My boyfriend … ex-boyfriend is a little on the protective side."
He nods. "Was that your boyfriend I met at the restaurant that day? Joshua Stanton."
I nod glumly. "Yes that's him." Fucking scuzbuckett.
"Oh right. So you had another man with you, Adrian Murphy."
I smile, oh my god I know where this is going."
"Yes." I can't hold the smile that is splitting my cheeks.
He looks around in embarrassment. "I am going to America for a couple of weeks and I wondered if I could get his number off you. I thought we might hook up."
I give him a resigned smile as I frown. How do I put this? "Umm, Adrian … isn't really the kind of guy that hooks up."
He frowns. "Sorry, that came out wrong, I meant catch up." He raises his eyebrow as he contemplates asking me a question. "Not that kind of guy, hey?" he adds with a trace of a smile on his lips.
I smile broadly as I picture the beautiful Adrian. "Adrian is a romantic, he believes in love. Trust me, he doesn't hook up with random people."
I can almost see his brain ticking as he licks his scrumptious lips. His eyes hold mine with renewed determination. "So … can I have his number then?"
Hmm ok, I'm going to make Adrian a little hard to get. Right, what would Abbie do in this situation?
"Look I don't know, he doesn't like me giving his number to anyone. I get asked for it a lot." I inwardly cringe, oh boy was that too cheesy?
He nods and passes me his phone. "Call him. See what he says." I smile as I look at his hand outstretched with his phone in it. Determination in a man is so damn hot.
"No, I am not calling him on your phone because then you will have his number in the call register." I smirk.
He smiles as his ploy to trick me is uncovered. "Touché," he whispers as he raises an eyebrow. He passes me his business card. "Call him tonight and then call me back and tell me what he said."
Hmm … so dominant. So bloody sexy. "Why don't I just tell him to call you?"
"I'm pretty sure we both know if we leave it up to him I won't be getting a call anytime soon." He smirks.
I scrunch up my face in uncomfortableness. "I wouldn't take it personally. He doesn't call anybody back." God … I should shut up now, I'm blowing it.
He nods. "Yeah I get it. I will speak to you tonight." He smiles and leaves my office.
I blow out a breath that I didn't even realise I was holding. If Adrian doesn't go out with him, he's crazy. That man is frigging hot. I regain my composure and leave my office. "Ready to go?" I smile at Max.
He nods and we leave the building. Suddenly cameras start flashing and two men start to scream. "Natasha Stanton, is your husband going to make a full recovery?" Huh?
"Is your husband still a sex addict, Mrs Stanton?"
What the hell? My horrified eyes meet Max's.
"Is he still currently in rehab, Mrs Stanton?"
Max steps in front of me and holds out his arm to shield me, obviously much more accustomed to this than me. We make a run for my car with them chasing us. This is ridiculous, is this really what the world has come to? How could anyone be interested in this trivial nonsense?
"Is your husband a sex addict and a cocaine addict, Mrs Stanton?"
I get into the passenger seat of Max's car and he speeds away. He looks into the rear-view mirror to check we are not being followed.
"Shit, that was intense," I whisper to Max wide-eyed.
He nods. "I was wondering how long it would take for them to find you. Just make sure you don't give them a reaction when they ask you any questions. It just amps the assholes up."
"I would really like to answer their questions with yes he is a sex addict, possibly a cocaine addict and a total adulterer prick and I'm not his fucking wife, asshole. Not even close," I snap as I throw my handbag into the backseat.
He smirks at me. "Tough." He smiles.