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She’d trusted him

Trusted him with the most painful part of her life And he’d chewed it up whole and spat it in her face, prostituted her with a pay-off—an article she hadn’t, in the end, even particularly wanted

For a se into his room and confront the woman she kneas in there, to force hi herself to suffer the indignity of being proved right, to choke back tears as he huain

If she were even to attenity apparently intact, somehow she had to do this—soest lie of her life

‘This isn’t a great ti unexpected caain he briefly checked over his shoulder ‘Can we maybe catch up later?’

‘Later is no good forthe dart of confusion in his eyes at her clipped, assured voice ‘The office just called They needjust came up’

‘And you have to go right now?’

‘Right now,’ Ahan briefly eyed the bulging suitcase on the floor beside her before turning his gaze back to her ‘I just stopped by to say goodbye’

‘Then call han started, and a frown formed between his eyes as Amelia shook her head

‘Look, Vaughan, like I said, so just caht even have to go on assign down at her watch, she gave what she hoped was a convincing wince ‘I’d better rush if I’ht’

Vaughan’s frown deepened as Ahtly patronising smile

‘Let’s not go ht was anything more than…’ She allowed him a tiny pause, a brief moment to let it sink in, because it wouldn’t be easy for ahietting his oay—flashing a winning siven But, as han’s abuse of her trust had cut her to the core, shredded every fibre of her faith; yet soth; somehow the torture of his betrayal allowed her to draw on an inner reserve, to look hiht

‘It was business, Vaughan’

He shook his head in vehe out of his already ashen face His face quilted with raw e the door he held, he instinctively reached out for her, grabbing her upper ar her to take back what she had just said

‘That was never business What we had last night aynow A housekeeper passing with her trolley looked over in concern, and Aether, dropping her ar down hard to rid his voice of coarse emotion ‘That wasn’t just business’

‘No, Vaughan, you’re right’ She gave a s over, picked up her case ‘It was pleasurable too Unlike yourself, I can actually e to mix the two’

‘So that’s it?’ Bewildered, he shook his head, and Amelia knew she’d thrown him into confusion, could see the utter abhorrence in his eyes that a wo me?’

‘We were using each other, Vaughan,’ Ah her heart was ha in her throat as she cheapened herself to his level But not for a second did she reveal it, standing not very tall, but sohan received a sularly given out ‘I’ve got the story I wanted and you’ve got the press on your side—for now, at least’

It gave her the first stab of pleasure she’d felt since seeing him in the foyer, a tiny hint of bitter joy in reprisal, and it stirred her on to twist the knife in its final turn

‘It’s been nice, Vaughan’

Offering her hand, she wondered if he’d take it, wondered if he’d recover his ego quickly enough to atte his hand through his hair, his breath co loud and harsh as he turned to the door that had slammed behind him For a tiny instant Anified, proudback as the housekeeper who had been hovering ain as the door opened of its own accord

‘What’s going on?’