6

In the morning, I woke with a start. It was a bright day outside, and the sun streamed in through the uncovered bedroom windows, casting a warm golden glow on the room.

Sitting up, I gazed at the man I’d spent the night with. He lay on his front facing away from me, hands tucked under his pillows. The duvet covered him from the waist down, but I knew he was completely naked. As was I.

It occurred to me, as I sat there staring at his sleeping form, that I had never asked his name. And he hadn’t asked for mine. We were complete strangers who’d gone with the flow off pure chemistry. It was dangerous, really, because a man like that could make a girl fall in love. And I didn’t want to fall in love. I valued my independence too much.

I needed to leave. I had no idea what the time was but I wanted to get home, shower off the night, and put on something clean. This man, whoever he was, had marked me, not just literally but mentally too. He was dangerous, and not in the way my dad and my brother were. He was dangerous because he was normal, in that way that well-off corporate men could be. He was dangerous because he was safe. I’d just got my freedom. I wasn’t about to give my time to another man when I hadn’t even managed to warm my own bed.

Slipping off the bed, I found my dress discarded on the floor and slipped it back on. I knew my heels were by the door with my bag, so I tiptoed away, giving my lover one last longing look before I vanished.

Bag (with my phone and keys inside) and shoes in hand, I made my escape. Outside the building, I walked a few streets over before I ordered an Uber with what little phone battery I had left. It was early—barely 7am on a Saturday—which meant I didn’t have to wait long. I was back at the flat in Deptford by 7:30.

Inside, the flat was quiet. Emmy’s door was closed and I know she left it open yesterday when we left, so she must’ve been home. In my room, I stripped off my dress and found a towel, then had a long, hot shower.

By the time was done and redressed in a pair of sleep shorts and a vest, Emmy was in the kitchen nursing a coffee, with no sign of her guest.

“Welcome back,” she coughed out. Emmy had never coped well with hangovers.

“Feeling rough, chicken?” I cooed, patting her head.

“Sod off,” she grumbled, batting my hand away. “You know what martinis do to me.”

“Loaded with caffeine too? There was no hope for you. They might consider this a come down.”

Emmy muttered something unintelligible. “Tell me where you’ve been.”

I smirked. “The Borough.”

“Oo. Fancy. Who’s the guy?”

I shuddered at the reminder of his face. “God, Emmy, he was gorgeous. Stacked. Rich.”

“Full package, then?”

“You have no idea.”

“Marriage material?”

“One hundred percent,” I agreed fervently, then frowned. “Not for me, though. And I think he hasn’t left his bachelor phase yet. His place was a pad.” All open plan, exposed brick, steel beams, riverside view. It was perfect.

Emmy wrinkled her nose. “Too old to be a bachelor?”

I thought about it. I had no idea how old he was. “Not necessarily. We didn’t really exchange pleasantries so I don’t know.”

“Not a bad thing.”

“What about your guy?”

She sighed. “Hot but shit in bed. Was all about him.”

“Ew.”

“Yeah. So vain I think he’d have preferred looking in a mirror rather than at me.”

“That’s disgusting.”

“Tell me about it. Anyway, we have more important matters to discuss. Like your NEW JOB!”

We squealed together, but it just made Emmy wince. “I can’t believe it, Em. I’ve got a job.”

“I know, I’m so proud of you.” She hugged me tightly. “Now, on today’s agenda we have need of a rather large breakfast, then we’re gonna make everything official so you can go to work on Monday, then lunch, then shopping for new work clothes.”

I grinned. “Sounds perfect.”