And he’s turned up outside your flat twice in the last week. Max glared at me. I glanced over at Anna but she avoided eye contact. How could you keep something like that from me, Paige? I care about you but you have to trust me with this sort of stuff.

Turning to face Anna, I stared at her for a moment until she shrugged and gave me a wide-eyed look.

What? she asked, trying her best to look innocent.

Would you leave us to have this conversation in private?

For a moment I thought she was going to dig her heels in, but she got up and slunk off to her bedroom. I recognised her body language – she knew she was in the wrong, but she would defend herself vehemently if she had to. I was too angry to bother with her at this point; I needed to sort things out with Max before we talked about what she’d done.

With Anna gone, I took off my shoes and sat down on the sofa, taking my time to try and stay calm. I was exhausted from broken sleep, and all I wanted to do was have a shower and try to forget about this case, but I wasn’t going to get that chance just yet.

I understand why you’re angry, but it’s my past, my history. That means it’s my right to tell whoever I choose, or to keep it from them. Anna shouldn’t have told you.

I’m glad she did, he replied, leaning against the wall opposite. How am I supposed to help you, or protect you from a man like that, if I don’t know about it?

I made an exasperated noise in my throat. I don’t want you to protect me! Have I ever asked that of you? No. I can protect myself, or if I can’t I’ll call the police. Don’t you see this is just like the problem I had with Mike, that he thought I was weak? He wanted to manipulate me; you want to protect me. Yes, there’s a difference, but when do I get a say in it?

Max looked at me with his mouth open, as if I’d just thrown my drink in his face.

How can you compare me to him? he asked slowly. Do you seriously think we’re alike?

Of course not, but you have to admit that your reaction had the same sense of propriety over me, I replied, standing up to face him. You see your role as my protector, which doesn’t make us equal partners. Can’t you see that?

From the tightness of Max’s jaw I could see that I wasn’t explaining myself well. I put my head in my hands and thought for a moment.

Sit down, I told him. He resisted for a couple of seconds, but then did as I said.