Andrew cut the phone call off and tossed his mobile on the hotel bed. It bounced and hit the floor with a dull thud. He couldn’t care less if he smashed the damn thing. He felt close to breaking point and the satisfaction of seeing something destroyed might ease his frustration. That way he would know he was in control again because the current situation had gotten out of hand.
Juliet knew about the blood.
Andrew still couldn’t think of her as Jet. Whoever she was now, his informant in the police force had told him that she knew about it. That piece of shit Italian cocksucker had told her.
He still couldn’t believe the girl Taylor had changed her story. He’d paid her handsomely for her involvement and the stupid princess had gotten cold feet at the last minute. Some shit about seeing the news story about Juliet being attacked and she’d had a case of the guilts. Andrew had expected more from a street kid who had survived by selling her body.
Now Alex was back on the streets again and he’d wasted no time in going to Juliet. When Andrew had recognised him at that gala dinner he couldn’t believe the audacity of the creep. It had taken all of his strength not to march over to him and threaten him to leave. But the more distance between them, the better, so Andrew had watched Alex swan around like a celebrity again, despite his history of openly paying for sex. Andrew wasn’t the most moral of people, he knew that, but he’d never been tempted to pay for sex. Sex came easily to a man like Andrew and it should have come easily to someone like Benedetti, too. The young Italian actor was weak, in his opinion.
None of that mattered now because Juliet knew about the blood. Since the beginning, it had been Andrew’s word against Alex’s. And until now, no one had doubted him, not even the police. And why would they? He was Andrew Temple. But if Juliet knew about that, how much else did she know? What had Alex told her? He wasn’t sure which was worse—not knowing, or the sense that he’d lost control of everything.
As usual, Juliet wasn’t answering his calls. Andrew had hardly expected her to, so he’d been creative and had his assistant call her so Juliet wouldn’t recognise the number. She hadn’t picked up any of those, either.
The woman was infuriatingly stubborn and yet strangely that was one of the things he most admired about her. Her survival instinct.
Juliet was more attractive to him than ever. It didn’t matter that he was fucking Edie. That was entirely a separate matter as far as he was concerned. Edie had a strong survival instinct too and she wasn’t above using a man like him to her advantage. The best way to control a woman like her was to let her think she was the one in control.
Yet she still came nowhere close to Juliet.
Juliet hadn’t needed to use anyone to her advantage. Her natural charm had done the job. Men, women, business contacts—all of them—would gladly help Juliet with whatever she needed and consider it a pleasure.
At the thought of pleasure, Andrew collapsed into his desk chair. The arrangement with Edie was growing old. She was good in bed, there was no doubting that, but she was becoming demanding. Andrew needed to put more distance between them and he regretted inviting her to the New Year’s Eve function. But there was no way out of it. Edie’s eyes had lit up when he’d told her and she wouldn’t let him back out now.
No, he’d endure the evening with Edie by his side and in the New Year he’d figure out a way to extract himself from the relationship. Women like Edie weren’t easy to shake. Edie said she wasn’t the marrying type, but the chance to be associated permanently with the Temple name was too tempting for a social climber like her. He felt annoyed with himself for letting it get this far, although he knew exactly why he had. Weakness. And what was his one major weakness?
Juliet.
Andrew sighed. He was certain of his place in the world but he continued to regret the way he’d ruined his marriage. Juliet was one of the few people who saw beyond his public profile. At the time, he’d thought it had been a weakness on his part letting her see another side of him. Now he missed it.
The phone on his desk vibrated and his gaze darted to it. Damn it. For some stupid reason he’d thought it was Juliet calling him. Hell would have to freeze over first, which made him smile.
When he saw the number, he sighed and answered the call.
‘Hi Edie.’
‘Why so blue?’
The actress was perceptive, he’d give her that. ‘Not blue. Just tired.’
‘Shame I’m not there to make you feel better,’ she replied, her voice laced with suggestion.
‘Edie, what do you want?’
He was met with silence. OK, so maybe that had been harsh, even for him.
‘I can call back if this is a bad time,’ she said icily.
‘No, no. That’s not necessary. Like I said I’m just tired. What do you need?’
‘Well, I need you, but seeing as I can’t have you, you’ll just have to dream of me touching my naked body and—’
He cut her off. ‘Normally I’d welcome the image, but I really am tired. It’s been a long week.’
There was a long pause. ‘I have some news about Juliet.’
He sat upright in the seat, glad of the fact Edie couldn’t see him. ‘Tell me.’
‘I should have figured that would get your attention. She’s attending the New Year’s party at Café Sydney.’
Andrew didn’t say anything for a long moment. ‘Will he be there?’
‘If by he, you mean the winemaker, yes, he’s going to be attending. Although I can’t imagine why she would think bringing him would be a good idea, he’s a nobody for God’s sake—’
‘He’s a somebody to Juliet,’ Andrew said through clenched teeth. It was true, then. The two of them were in a relationship. And it was serious, if Juliet was bringing him.
‘My God, you really do have a problem, don’t you? Face it, Andrew. Jet has moved on.’
‘It’s Juliet,’ he snapped without thinking.
‘Not anymore,’ Edie shot back. ‘Maybe you should take her to the damn party.’
‘I would if she’d have me.’
He heard Edie suck in a sharp breath and he rubbed a hand across his face. He really must be tired to slip like that. ‘That came out wrong.’
‘It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to miss it and you’re accompanying me.’
‘Of course,’ Andrew said smoothly. ‘I’ll be proud to have you with me. I’m sure you’ll shine like you do on-screen.’
It was the right thing to say because she immediately started babbling about the dress she would be wearing and who would be there. He gave her two minutes before cutting her off and telling her he needed to get some rest.
The phone call hadn’t gone as smoothly as it should, but it had resulted in some very useful information. He would get to see Juliet on New Year’s Eve.
He wished it was sooner, but he couldn’t have planned it better himself. It meant he could kill two birds with one stone. He’d talk to Juliet about the blood and put her mind at ease. And he’d also get the opportunity to make sure the winemaker knew his place.
Andrew couldn’t wait.