Chapter 10
Elias awoke with a start. A beam of sunlight broke into the bedroom, blinding him when he rolled over. Ava slept with her back to him, naked, her fiery, red hair fanned across the silk pillow. Her milky, white skin begged to be touched, but a crashing wave of guilt overcame him, forcing him out of bed. The sheets still reeked of sex. His discarded clothes lay scattered across the floor. He had cheated on Daisy. The line he didn’t want to cross was now blurred.
Elias wandered into the bathroom and closed the door. He couldn’t look at Ava now, too ashamed to see last night’s indiscretion painted on the sheets. He took a shower and dressed, grabbing his shoes and jacket on the way out. He didn’t bother to leave a note or text Ava that he was going. What happened last night was a mistake, a one-time thing. He was drunk. She was drunk. He had to move on and put it behind him.
He caught a train back to his apartment, knowing Daisy had stayed overnight. As he walked down the hallway, he wondered if she could tell by looking at him that he had slept with another woman. Did he look different to others? He certainly felt different.
He unlocked the front door and stepped inside. The television was on, broadcasting an episode of Day Break. The rich aroma of coffee filled the air, soothing his nerves.
“Daisy, I’m back.”
She materialised from his bedroom, dressed in an oversized T-shirt. It looked like she hadn’t slept one wink. Dark bags shadowed her eyes and her blonde hair was pulled back into a messy bun. Yesterday’s makeup was smeared across her face.
“Hey, baby,” he purred, tossing his jacket over a kitchen barstool. He opened his arms wide, expecting a welcoming hug. Instead, she greeted him with a nasty slap across his face.
“Ow! What the fuck was that for?”
“You ignored my texts last night,” Daisy shot back. “I was worried, Elias.”
“What texts? Do you mean the fifteen messages you sent me throughout the night? I couldn’t answer every single one. I was working, Daisy.”
Her lips pursed together with hurt. “If you had invited me, I wouldn’t have blown your phone up with texts.”
“I’ve told you it was an employee-only event. You’re being melodramatic.”
“I saw you check-in on Facebook and comment on a few people’s statuses, so you were using your phone.” She perched her hands on her hips. “Why did you ignore me?”
“I’m telling you why! I was waist-deep entertaining Sydney’s elite society. I didn’t have time to stop. I was there to make sure they drunk the bar dry and donated their dusty, old money.” Elias pinched the bridge of his nose and drew a calming breath. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t reply to your messages. Let me take you out for breakfast. A new vegan café opened up in Bondi. I think you’ll like it. They serve sugar-, dairy-, and cruelty-free food.”
Daisy’s eyes surveyed his crumpled white shirt and he prayed Ava hadn’t left any lipstick marks. “Have you showered already?”
“I did at the hotel.”
She reached over and flicked some dried food off his collar. “I’ll get this washed and ironed so you can wear it tomorrow. It’s your good work shirt.”
“So, do you want to check out that new café? I need a good damn coffee.”
A small smirk appeared on Daisy’s lips. “Only if you’re driving. Parking in Bondi is a bitch.”
~ ~ ~
The twenty-minute drive into Bondi was silent and awkward, a wedge building between them. There was something odd about Elias. Daisy could sense it as she watched him across the café table. He spoke differently, held himself differently and even touched her differently. A million excuses ran through her mind as she tried to make sense of it. Maybe he was just tired from the fundraiser or angry at her for bombarding him with texts. Either way, Elias wasn’t the same man she said goodbye to last night at the hotel.
Did something happen at the event? She pushed down the unease in her gut and reached for her soy coffee.
“You haven’t told me anything about the fundraiser,” she said, taking a sip, pushing the last sugar-free chocolate cookie towards him. “I’m dying to hear about it. Who was there?”
Eager to see if Elias would take her peace offering, Daisy curled her fingers around her cup and waited. Something flickered in his dark eyes—a memory, perhaps—and he leaned back in his chair.
“It was a good night,” he said at last. “Heaps of money was donated to the charity and people seemed to enjoy the food and prizes. An eighty-thousand-dollar Mercedes was raffled off to a rich guy who would probably never drive it.”
“What colour was it?”
“Cherry red.”
The next sentence slipped out before she could stop herself. “What did Ava wear?”
Elias’s shoulders instantly tensed and she knew she’d hit a nerve. “I’m going to get another coffee.” He stood up and pinched the Sunday paper off another table. “Check the society section in here. There may be a photo of Ava’s dress.” He sauntered off towards the register.
Obediently, Daisy flipped through the newspaper to the society page and found an article on the fundraiser. She skimmed through it, looking for Ava’s name and any gossip on the woman. The piece had a three-page spread, mostly filled with photographs of the night. Happy and drunk business people stared back at her. There was one photo that didn’t match the others, a private moment shared between two people. As Daisy inspected the image more closely, a cold sweat broke across her skin. It was Elias and Ava captured in deep conversation. They weren’t touching but Daisy could see the intimacy between them, as they leaned toward each other, their bodies facing.
She lowered the paper and studied Elias walking back to their table, his hands thrust deep into his pockets, his head casually cocked to the side. Women eyed him hungrily over their sunglasses as he strode past them. He was a handsome man, someone you expected to see on the cover of GQ or Vogue. He had model-good looks and a body of an athlete.
Daisy couldn’t deny she felt threatened when Elias accepted the job at Blue Tail Media. The rumours surrounding Ava Wolfe and her alleged affairs could fill a novel. But Elias was a loyal and loving boyfriend. He would never be seduced by Ava’s charms. Surely.
He sat back down, jerking his chin towards the article in front of her. “Is that a spread on the fundraiser? I haven’t seen any press on it yet.”
Wordlessly, she pushed the paper towards him, studying his face for any emotion or reaction as he read. There was nothing. Deadpan.
“Did you find out what Ava was wearing?” he asked. “I have no idea about fashion or designers.”
She pointed to a full-length photograph of Ava draped over another guest and bit down her jealousy. The woman looked radiant as usual, the knee-length dress accentuating her famous figure. The diamonds around her neck were blinding. “It’s a Gerald Loft gown,” she explained. “His designs are popular for their feminine silhouette and vibrant colours. I saw Ava’s dress in last month’s Vogue. Must’ve cost a fortune.”
“Does this guy have a store in Sydney?”
“Probably. Why?”
Elias reached over the table and caressed her cheek, his eyes softening. “Let me buy you something nice. You deserve it.”
For a split second, Daisy thought she saw something else in his blue eyes other than affection. Guilt? Remorse? She couldn’t tell, but it made her feel sick in the pit of her stomach. She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced a smile. “I think there’s a store in the city. Can we go?”
“Sure.”
“Do you have to work?”
“Today? It’s Sunday, Daisy.”
“I remember your phone didn’t stop ringing last weekend.”
Elias fished his phone out of his pocket and turned it off. “Look, my mobile is off. No calls from anyone. It’s just you and me today.”
After they paid for breakfast and walked along the shore of Bondi beach, hand in hand, Daisy wondered if she’d lost a part of Elias. He’d been drifting away ever since he started working for Ava. It chilled her to the bone at the thought because she wasn’t willing to share him with anyone, no matter who the bitch was. Elias possessed her entire heart, body, and soul. And always would.