“All done.”

“Good.” I look at my watch. Shit, where did that time go? I get up and stretch. “I’m going to get Ava.”

Sarah walks in, and I scan her face for puncture holes. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks, reaching up to her cheeks. I hear John laugh behind me, and she turns her questioning expression on him. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” I say, passing her. I know I said I’d talk to her, but I’m done talking for the day. Now I just want to go home and talk to Ava in that way we do.

“Where’s Ava?” she calls, and I freeze by the door.

“Why?”

Sarah passes me and closes the door, stalling my escape. I frown at her as she looks up at me, her face confusingly . . . what? What is that?

“I’m sorry I’ve been a total bitch,” she says, pouting minutely. It’s her lips. She’s had her lips done, I can see some faint bruising she’s tried to hide with a thick layer of makeup.

“Don’t worry, I’m used to you being a bitch.” I open the door, jumping back when it’s slammed shut again. It’s all I can do not to growl at her. I want to leave.

“It’s just strange. It’s always been you, John, and me.”

“The three musketeers,” John mutters sarcastically behind me, and Sarah tosses him a look that could kill.

I chuckle and motion to the door. “Apology accepted. Can I go now?”

“Oh, one more thing,” John calls, reaching over and pulling my laptop across. “I need you to approve the proposal for the update of the CCTV system.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s expensive and I’m not comfortable spending that amount of money without your approval.”

“I’m wanted in the spa,” Sarah says, leaving us to it.

I stomp my way back to the desk and scan the itemized proposal. “When can they start?”

“Six weeks.”

“Great.” I get on my way again. Time is ticking on. Members will start filling the place soon.

“Oi, motherfucker,” John growls, and I look over my shoulder. “Look at the fucking figures.”

“God, you’re demanding today,” I say, reversing and doing as I’m told. “How much?” I blurt. “To update it? We could get a whole new fucking system for that.”

“We’d have to. The security firm aren’t willing to hand over the equipment. We’d need to replace it all.”

“Do it,” I order. The cheeky fuckers think they can back me into a corner? “See you later.”