‘I want to know who those men were,’ she said between gritted teeth. ‘And I want whoever was responsible brought to justice. Stuff like that can’t be allowed to happen.’ She slammed her empty mug onto the desk. ‘I can’t ignore it, and Matt needs to know I haven’t been unfaithful. How do you get over something like this? I’ve seen the video even if the evidence has gone. I know what happened. And I feel so disgusting I want to rip my skin off.’

‘It was that bad?’

The sympathy in James’s voice threatened to undo her. She could hear her teeth grinding. This wasn’t the time to fall apart. It was the time to fight. She looked up when he spoke again.

‘Look, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to dash.’ He grimaced. ‘Meeting with the bank. I only dropped in because Fiona rang me earlier and told me about your contract being terminated.’ His eyes met hers. ‘That’s what I really came to talk to you about. Because I’ve had an idea, you see. As part of our deal, I’d like you to come and work for me, in Dad’s sportswear business.’

His suggestion came out of nowhere, and it was a moment before Sara could comprehend what he was saying. ‘But why employ me when you could work full-time in your family business and then I could have the position here? Why do you need two jobs? That’s just ridiculous.’

He gave her a quick smile. ‘Family politics, Sara. Can’t have the old man thinking I’m shoving him out the door before he’s ready. He doesn’t pay me anywhere like the going rate in the family firm. But I think he’d like you as his assistant. You’d be doing me a favour. And we could take two hundred pounds a month out of your wages as debt repayment, if that would make you feel more comfortable. No more repayment in kind. We’ve already agreed that, haven’t we?’

Sara shook her head, completely confused. ‘I’m sorry, that makes no sense.’

‘It might not make sense to you. But it makes perfect sense to me.’ He stood and walked to the door, threw a final comment over his shoulder. ‘Anyway, have a think about it. If your husband’s kicked you out, you’re going to need a job, aren’t you?’

She stared after him as the door clicked shut. Do I have a choice?

She had no other way of repaying him the money she owed. And what he was offering her was something she needed – a job.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Sara sat and thought for a long time, unable to come up with a single positive thing to help her situation. Maybe Hailey had news. She gave her a call.