The flat where she lived was in West Hampstead, the office in Camden in a converted warehouse by the side of the canal – not that far apart, but sometimes she wished they were nearer so they could go there for some privacy in the lunch-hour or straight from work. Time always seemed to be against them. But that’s what you got for trying to fit two lives into one, she supposed.

Jude glanced at his watch. It was a Breitling – one that he’d lusted after for a while. It had appeared on his wrist shortly after his birthday. He said that he’d treated himself to it as the company was doing well, but she didn’t like to think where it had really come from. Had Georgia been the one to buy it for him? It pained Lauren that she could never afford to buy him presents like that. Even though she had a decent salary, a Breitling was still way beyond her price range.

‘I’d better be going to my office,’ he said.

‘I need to talk to you,’ she said, laying a hand on his chest. The heat of it almost made her feel dizzy. ‘I’ve been doing a lot of thinking at the weekend.’

‘Not now,’ he said, ‘but later. Later in the week.’

‘I don’t think that I can keep on doing this,’ she told him. ‘Not indefinitely.’

‘I know,’ Jude said. ‘And I’ll fix it.’ He stroked her face tenderly. But she could see him check his watch again surreptitiously. ‘You know I will.’

‘We’ve been doing this for five years, Jude. Five years. It isn’t right, and it isn’t fair. It isn’t fair to any of us.’

‘I know.’ He kissed her briefly and then straightened his sweater. He looked fabulous today in black cashmere, white jeans and black Cuban-heel boots. Like a model in an aftershave advert. Just looking at him made her mouth go dry and other parts of her go very wet. ‘Later, my love. Now, I’m outta here.’

The door swung closed behind him and she leaned against the cupboards, trying to stem the flow of tears.

A minute later, and it swung open again. Her heart leaped and she sniffed back her tears, turning to the door with a beaming smile.

‘Whoa,’ Zak said. ‘Wrong guy?’

Lauren’s expression slipped back into misery and she nodded.

‘Same old song again?’ he asked.

She started to cry. Zak slipped his arm round her shoulder and squeezed.

One day he would leave, she thought. One day Jude would keep his promise to her. All this waiting couldn’t be for nothing. She just had to bide her time. She just had to believe.

Chapter 10

Chapter 10