Chapter 39

 

April didn’t bother trying to cover her face with make-up the following day. What was the point? No amount of foundation or concealer could hide the dark blue bruise around her right eye, or the scratches on her cheeks.

As she stood outside the back door to the gallery waiting for Joey to let her in, she took a deep breath in. He’d see her on the monitor so would be on his way. Although she was dreading seeing him and Rachel, it was Dylan that worried her most of all.

Joey opened the door, concern etched across his handsome face. “What the hell’s happened?”

“I’m fine, Joey, honestly,” she reassured, “it looks much worse than it is.”

“How’ve you done that?” he asked, tilting her chin to examine it properly.

“I fell outside my flat last night when I got back from the pub.”

“It looks nasty,” he dropped his hand. “Have you been to hospital to get checked out?”

“No need. It’s my pride that’s hurt more than anything,” she laughed, trying to diffuse the fuss. “I felt stupid as one of my neighbours came out when he heard the commotion. What he must have thought seeing me flat out in the bushes, I don’t know.”

Rachel appeared and rushed towards them, “Oh, my God, Gemma, what have you been doing?”

“I fell last night near my flat. I’m okay, I was just telling, Joey, it’s my pride more than anything that hurts.”

“Aw, it looks so sore, poor you . . . come here.”

Rachel wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tightly. She was such a sweet girl.

April pulled away, “I’d better get changed before I end up in more trouble.”

“Do you think you should be here?” Joey asked. “Maybe you should be at home resting.”

“I’m fine, honestly. I’d rather crack on. I’ve been resting all day and I’m off tomorrow.”

“What about Sunday morning though?” Rachel asked, “Will you be okay to clean after Saturday night’s function?”

“Yeah, course I will,” she smiled.

 

She headed for the changing room with Rachel and was putting on her overall when Ingrid opened the door.

“Joey just told me you’d had an accident, Gemma, are you alright?”

April turned to face her, “I’m fine, Ingrid, thank you. It’s lovely of you all to be concerned, but honestly, I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”

“Well, as long as you’re sure,” Ingrid’s eyes were examining her face. “What happened? Joey said you fell.” Her face had disbelief written all over it.

“Yes, I did. It was silly of me, I tripped over a step and it catapulted me forward. Thankfully the bushes broke my fall, but I still caught my face on the wall of the building.”

“Oh dear,” she frowned. “As long as you’re sure you can work. You must say if you don’t feel right.”

“I’ll be okay,” April reassured, “but thank you anyway.”

 

April started her usual routine of cleaning the toilets. She crept around on the top floor as she knew Dylan would be in his office until about six. The last thing she wanted was to bump into him.

Would Ingrid say something to him? She doubted it. Why would she? He might send her home, and supervisor or not, she’d have to do some work for a change.

She diligently cleaned the toilets and put bleach down each of them. Although she’d taken some aspirin, her head throbbed. If she could get her hands on that loser, she’d have him arrested for assault and attempted rape. It was unlikely he’d set foot in the pub again, though.

She scoured the vanity units and polished the tiles. Quite how they got in such a mess, never ceased to amaze her. The downstairs toilets yes, as they were open to the public, but not the ones on the first floor.

As she sprayed and polished the mirror over the sinks, she looked at her reflection.

What a bloody shiner.

Please let Dylan have gone home.

 

She spent as long as she dared cleaning in the toilets praying that Dylan would have left. The last thing she needed was having to embellish the lie. She’d fabricated enough as it was. She checked her watch. It was 6.20 so he should be on his way home by now.

As quietly as she could, she opened the toilet door and made her way along the corridor. She turned onto the office passage way, and there he was in his doorway.

“Hello,” he smiled as she walked towards him.

He’d been waiting for her.

There was no way she could hide her face. His concerned eyes were drawn to it immediately.

“What’s happened? What have you done?”

She instinctively put her hand up to her cheek. “I tripped over last night just outside my flat. It looks far worse than it actually is.”

He moved towards her and put his hand on her chin, examining her face. The sympathy in his eyes caused her tummy to flip.

Please don’t let Ingrid see him. She’d be around somewhere.

“That looks sore?” he winced.

“It’s not too bad. It’ll be gone by this time next week.”

“When did you say it happened?”

“Last night.”

“Then you shouldn’t be here.” He stroked the side of her face with the back of his hand. “Let’s get you home. I’ll take you.”

“No, please,” she moved her head away so he dropped his hand. “I really don’t want a lot of fuss. I’m absolutely fine, I wouldn’t have come to work if I wasn’t.”

She heard footsteps coming along the corridor and knew instinctively who it was.

“Ah, Dylan,” Ingrid said, “I was just on my way up to tell you about Gemma. I see you’ve found her though.”

Yeah, right. As if.

You wouldn’t have even told him if he hadn’t seen me.

“She should be at home,” he replied. “You can manage tonight without her, can’t you?” he asked but it wasn’t really a question.

“Of course, I’ve said exactly the same myself. Home’s the best place for her. Joey’s more than happy to take her, and I’ll be here until he gets back.”

“No need. I’ll take her.” He turned to April, “Go and get your things and I’ll meet you by the door.”

There was no point in arguing with him.

Dylan Rider wasn’t the type to take no for an answer.

Ingrid would really have it in for her now.