Hannah though, was presumably still operating in the dark. She had no idea who was on the other side of their shared wall. Worse yet, she seemed to believe him to be in love with Shelley and had made plans to move out and who knows, maybe leave the city altogether.

Then, of course, the best part.

She’s fallen in love with me, he mused incredulously, unable to believe the words even as he kept reading them over and over. But Hannah didn’t know that she had it all wrong about Shelley either. Didn’t know that he was in love with her in return. Or that there was nothing more he wanted than to be able to tell her that.

Yet, if he revealed the truth and the crazy mistake they’d both made about each other’s identity, what would happen then? Wouldn’t she feel embarrassed? Maybe feel like he abused her trust, maybe even set out to deceive her on purpose. Manipulated even?

If he walked out his door right now and went next door to knock on hers without any warning or explanation, he would look like a stalker, just like Kendrick. Same if he took to lingering in the lobby, waiting for her either to leave the building or enter it. She was far more likely to be spooked than won over.

Ward swallowed hard, recalling with embarrassment the many times he’d approached next door, angry and annoyed over trivial, insignificant stuff and taking out his frustrations, causing Hannah additional grief on top of what she had to deal with day to day. He shook his head with frustration – what a self-centred ass he’d been. And to think that all this time he was trying to reach her, to explain about the shit he’d done, she had been mere steps away.

But if he was somehow given the chance, he swore he would make it all up to her and then some.

He needed to do this the right way though. He only had one shot. Especially when it seemed the clock was ticking.

Having considered various other angles and approaches, he figured there really was only one way. He glanced over at Pretzel. ‘To think that you’ve been squatting over there all this time, while I’ve been over here wondering how to get her attention …’

He could only surmise that the cat had been traversing between the decorative window ledge running along the front of the penthouse level and jumping in and out of the openings where possible, making herself at home wherever took her mood.

Ward knew what he was about to do was a major gamble, but he was hoping that Hannah’s curiosity and unfailing good nature would get the better of her.

‘OK.’ He exhaled, bracing himself for the slotshot of his life. ‘Here goes.’

P-2,