Nice premises. Justin surveyed the Portland stone exterior of the 1930s art deco building from which Graham & Young Investment Advisers operated. The lease would undoubtedly be extortionate. Is that what Alicia had been impressed with, he wondered, his wealth? His emotions were swinging between disbelief that she would ever have got involved with Radley and gut-twisting fury. From where Justin was standing, the man had no redeeming features whatsoever.

They’d had an affair right under his nose. And this wanker had swanned back into her life and was resorting to threats, using his daughter as some kind of hold over her, presumably so he could pick up where he left off. That was a huge error of judgement on Radley’s part, and Justin had decided to point out just how huge. He was obviously the type of person who got off on getting what he wanted, whatever the cost. Not used to being turned down. Justin recalled the challenge in Radley’s eyes the first time he’d had the misfortune to meet him at the party, his obvious irritation when Alicia had turned down his offer of a lift to Jessica’s after the break-in, the day she’d buried her child. And this was supposed to be someone who cared about her? About Sophie?

Bastard! There was no way he was going to have contact with Sophie. Not while Justin still had breath in his body would he allow someone like that anywhere near her.

Curtailing his temper, Justin sucked in a breath and pushed his way through the revolving doors at the front of the building. Checking the list in the foyer, he ascertained the location of the company, nodded a greeting at the security guard and bypassed the lift, preferring to take the stairs up to the third floor. Counting the steady rhythm of his footfall against the stone steps did little to calm him.

Reasonably composed, he walked into the reception area and waited for the girl behind the desk to finish her call. ‘Paul Radley?’ he enquired pleasantly, when she acknowledged him.

‘He’s in a meeting,’ the girl said, with a bright smile. ‘Do you have an appointment, Mr…?’

‘Cole. Dr Cole. I need to speak to him urgently,’ Justin said. ‘Is his meeting here, on the premises?’

‘In the conference room.’ The girl pointed behind her, her forehead creased in obvious concern that a doctor was calling. ‘If you take a seat, I’ll ring through and get someone to let him know you’re here.’

‘No need. I’ll go straight through. He needs urgent medical attention,’ Justin said, his tone serious, his gaze on the conference room doors at the end of the corridor. Or he soon fucking well will.

‘Excuse me…’ The girl twirled in her chair as he walked purposely around her. ‘Excuse me! Dr Cole? You can’t go in there.’

Clamping his jaw tight, Justin walked on, shoving the double conference room doors open and walking straight across to where Radley had obviously been heading up the meeting. Plainly, he was some company bigshot, and Justin was about to bring the bastard right down to size.

His gaze shooting towards him, clearly registering who he was, Radley stopped mid-sentence, a startled look on his face in place of the smug expression Justin had seen what seemed like a lifetime ago. ‘What do you want?’ he said, taking a step back. ‘You can’t just walk in—’

‘To break your neck,’ Justin cut across him. ‘But I’ll settle for an arm or a leg. Maybe two.’

Radley was scared, he noted, stopping in front of him. He searched his eyes – rich chestnut-brown, deceitful, dark eyes. Nothing like his daughter’s.

‘Look, I have no idea what this is about, but I’m sure we can sit down and discuss it civilly.’ Loosening his tie, Radley glanced around him, presumably wondering whether he could get past. Not a chance, sunshine.

‘You threatened my wife.’

‘Threatened?’ Radley laughed nervously. ‘Don’t be preposterous. I rang her to ask if we could meet to discuss things going forward, that was all. I have no idea where you would get the idea that I—’

‘Do your colleagues realise what a slimy piece of shit you are, Radley?’ Justin cut him short. The ‘things going forward’ business-speak really hadn’t helped the man’s case. He was talking about his wife, his daughter, his fucking life!

‘This is ridiculous,’ Radley snapped irritably. ‘Rachel, call security,’ he instructed one of the employees Justin could sense hovering uncertainly behind him.

Justin’s mouth curved into a scornful smile. ‘Good idea, Rachel,’ he said, his gaze never leaving Radley’s. ‘Why don’t you call the police while you’re at it? Mr Radley and I can have a nice cosy conversation with them down at the station about why he’s stalking my wife.’

‘Mr Radley?’ the girl asked uncertainly.

Popping the top button of his shirt, Radley shook his head. ‘It’s fine, Rachel,’ he said, coughing nervously.

‘Tell them to leave,’ Justin said, working to hold on to his temper now he’d established the man was a spineless prick. He was as tall as him, and looked pretty fit, but he was shaking in his designer shoes.

Radley paled. ‘What?’

‘I’m not asking you twice, you bastard,’ Justin bellowed. ‘Tell them to leave!’

Perspiration wetting his forehead, Radley swallowed, and then glanced at the audience behind them. ‘Can we have the room, please?’ He smiled shakily. ‘Dr Cole and I have some things to discuss.’

Justin waited while people filed out.

‘Satisfied?’ Radley asked, as the doors closed.

‘Not quite.’ Justin looked him contemptuously over. ‘Do those windows open?’ He nodded behind him towards the long picture windows that gave a scenic view over the city.

‘What?’ Radley glanced confusedly in that direction. ‘No!’ he said, his expression now petrified.

‘That’s a pity,’ Justin said, stepping towards him. ‘Means I’m just going to have to put you through one, doesn’t it?’

Radley swallowed. ‘Look, I realise you’re upset,’ he said, holding his hands defensively up in front of him, ‘I don’t blame you. You should know, though, that I don’t go around having random affairs with married women. Alicia was lonely, upset. She approached me, truth be known.’

Justin narrowed his eyes.

‘She contacted me when I got back from Dubai,’ Radley babbled on, spouting crap, his eyes all the while flicking nervously towards the window. ‘I tried to put her off, I swear I did. Obviously, now I can see how distressing this all is for you, I’ll avoid any future contact. As for Sophie, I’m happy to back off. I’m not an unreasonable—’

His fury unleashing inside him, Justin seized Radley by the throat, shoving him back towards the window before he could blink.

‘Don’t!’ Radley screamed as he rammed him hard against it. ‘I’m terrified of heights. ‘Please. God… Don’t.’

Justin stared hard at him, his emotions swinging wildly as he realised, with a jolt, that he didn’t actually care if the man went through it.

Twisting his collar tighter, Justin eyeballed him meaningfully. ‘Do not even breathe my daughter’s name,’ he warned him. ‘And do not ever attempt to contact my wife again. If you do, I will kill you. Am I making myself clear?’

His eyes wide with fear, Radley nodded quickly.

‘I didn’t fucking hear you!’ Justin lifted the man off his feet.

‘Yes,’ Radley rasped; his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat.

Justin breathed in hard. ‘Good,’ he said, more quietly, and then, counting silently backwards, he gained a tenuous grip on his emotions and relaxed his hold.

Crumpling with relief, Radley almost slithered down the window. ‘Rachel!’ he shouted croakily, as Justin turned away. ‘The police!’

Bad move. Justin turned back. ‘You’ll want something more substantial than threats to report,’ he suggested, bringing his fist back, getting little satisfaction as he heard bone and sinew crack. ‘You’re scum, Radley,’ he spat, turning to walk away as the man dropped to his knees.