Stop. Steeling my resolve, I pull myself from the door and go straight across to fire up the laptop. I know his passwords. Jason’s never had any reason to hide them from me. If he has now, then won’t my suspicions be as good as confirmed?

Fifteen

JASON

His emotions colliding violently inside him, Jason made it out of Fenton’s Bespoke Plumbing and Bathroom Services before he leaned over to retch, bringing up the contents of his stomach. Robert Fenton had to be totally fucking insane. Was he really so consumed with hatred for him that he would resort to this? It was bullshit. It had to be bullshit. Straightening up, he loosened his collar, wiped the back of his hand over his mouth, leaned against the outside wall of the building and slid to his haunches.

Jesus… Gulping back the bile rising like acid in his throat, he looked skywards and prayed. Please don’t let it be true.

‘Jason?’ someone called, as he tried to still his racing heart and get his chaotic thoughts in some sort of order.

Disorientated, feeling as if he might actually pass out, Jason glanced sideways to see Abbie hurrying towards him.

‘Are you all right?’ she asked him worriedly.

Jason answered with a tight nod and attempted to lever himself to a standing position.

‘Stay. Give yourself a minute,’ she said, passing him the glass of water she was holding.

His hand shaking, Jason accepted it gratefully, his teeth chinking against the glass as he gulped it back.

‘Did he turn you down?’ Abbie asked, after a second. ‘I don’t mean to pry, but I—’

Jason laughed cynically. ‘No,’ he said, his voice hoarse. ‘He didn’t turn me down. He’s willing to give me all the financial backing I need.’

Relieving him of the glass, Abbie looked at him quizzically.

‘On one condition,’ Jason added.

‘Which is?’ Abbie asked warily.

‘Oh, nothing much.’ Pushing himself from the wall, Jason heaved himself to his feet. ‘I just have to walk out of my marriage.’

‘What?’ Abbie’s look was one of shock. ‘But…’ She shook her head, bewildered. ‘Why would he…?’

‘Because he’s a complete bastard.’ Jason shrugged, offering her a semblance of a smile for the kindness she’d shown him. He actually felt like breaking down and weeping. But he wouldn’t do that. Not here. ‘You might do well to start looking for another job, Abbie,’ he suggested. ‘The man’s toxic.’

‘I am,’ she called after him, as he turned to go. ‘And as soon as I do…’

She would hopefully shop the fucker for sexual harassment, Jason thought, fury smouldering like white-hot lava inside him as he walked towards the car park.