‘Mr Jeavons?’ There came a discreet knock on the dining-room door before George the butler appeared. ‘Mr Jeavons, I thought I should let you know that Ms Monroe has found her present and its accompanying note.’

Shit. ‘And her mood?’

‘I think it’s fair to say she’s not happy, sir.’ George was, as ever, the master of understatement.

‘Where is she?’

‘Looking for you, sir.’

‘I’ll see her in my study.’

‘Very good, sir.’ George left the room as discreetly as he’d arrived.

I wasn’t far behind him. I headed through the kitchen and straight along the hall to get to the study, circumventing the rest of my apartment. I’d barely sat down and warmed the leather chair behind my desk when Bella flung open the door and burst into the room like a tornado. An extremely pissed-off tornado. I braced myself.

Incoming.

four. Isabella Monroe

‘Dan, what is this?’ Bella strode up to my desk and jiggled the necklace in her hand in front of my face. I leaned back. She was too close. I didn’t appreciate people getting all up in my personal space like that, not without an invitation.

‘A sapphire necklace. What does it look like?’ I asked. ‘Chopped liver?’ It was a gift, and a bloody expensive one at that. ‘Don’t you like it?’

‘It’s ridiculously garish.’

More ingratitude. ‘Give it back then.’ I held out my hand.

Bella ignored the gesture. ‘Never mind the necklace – I’m talking about the note attached to it.’ She was furious. She lowered her gaze and started to read out my handwritten note. ‘“Bella, thanks for the fun times and memories. George will take you to wherever you want to go. Good luck.” What the hell is this?’

‘I’m letting you go,’ I said evenly. ‘It is what it is.’

‘You’re doing what?’

‘Did I slip into some obscure Martian dialect or something?’ I frowned. ‘OK, here it is in as few syllables as possible. You’re out of here. You don’t live here any more. It was fun while it lasted, but we both knew it wouldn’t be forever.’

The range of emotions twisting on Bella’s face was fascinating to watch. She was trying to figure out precisely how to play her next card.

‘But, Dan babe, we’re good together. You said so yourself.’ Her voice took on a wheedling, needy, baby-girl tone.

The wrong play. I shook my head.

‘We were good together. For a while, you served your purpose,’ I said honestly. And yes, I admit I was being brutal, but it would take nothing less to shake off Bella. Any hesitancy on my part and she’d cling like a limpet mine – with the same destructive results. ‘We’ve had some fun these last few weeks, Bella. Let’s just leave it at that, shall we?’

‘But I love you, Dan—’