To Peru. I stroke the face of the ticket. And double-check my name so that I’m absolutely sure there’s no mistake.

I’m going to Peru. And nothing – nothing – can stop me now!

Chapter 108

Chapter 108

Lauren went into the office. It made her heart pound with nerves just climbing the stairs. Yet, however reluctant she was to do this, she wanted to have a final look around and to clear her desk of her personal belongings. It wouldn’t do for the new occupant of her job to find the pictures of her and Jude together on her computer or some of the love notes that he’d written hiding at the bottom of her drawer. Lauren sighed to herself. Those were the days.

She’d left it until eight o’clock, thinking that the offices would be deserted by then. But Lauren was surprised to see a light on in Jude’s office when she opened the main door.

Sure enough he was at his desk, tapping at the keyboard with one hand, eating a carton of Chinese takeaway with the other. She had a moment when she didn’t know whether to go in or to turn and bolt. But it was too late – Jude had already looked up and seen her standing there.

Lauren went over to his office and leaned on the door-frame. She tried a smile, but she didn’t think that it reached her mouth. ‘I’ve come for my stuff,’ she told him. ‘And to return your keys.’

Jude wiped his hands on a paper napkin that had clearly been supplied with the takeaway.

‘Burning the midnight oil?’ she asked.

Her ex-lover’s eyes were red rimmed and he looked terrible, drawn and tired. ‘Georgia’s thrown me out,’ he said. ‘For good this time.’

Lauren didn’t know what to say.

‘I’m living here,’ he told her. ‘I have nowhere else to go. I’ve got a sleeping bag in the boardroom.’

She looked through the boardroom windows to the table where they’d made love so many times, then pushed the image away.

‘I’m sorry to hear it.’

‘Stay,’ Jude urged. ‘Have some Chinese. There’s plenty here.’

‘Thanks,’ she said. ‘I’ve already eaten.’

Jude laughed and it was a sound without humour. ‘With him?’

‘Yes.’

‘You probably think I deserve all this,’ he said. ‘Finally got my comeuppance.’

‘No. I wish you could make it up to your family.’

‘Looks like that’s not going to be.’

‘I’m sorry,’ she repeated.

‘What will you do?’ Jude asked.

‘I’m putting the flat up for sale,’ Lauren told him. ‘I’ll give you half of whatever profit I get. That only seems fair.’

‘Oh, Lauren – there’s no need for that,’ Jude said sadly. ‘You’ll need every penny, and I just want you to be happy. You deserve it.’ Then, ‘Where will you go?’