‘It’s exactly like that. If we don’t have trust, we don’t have anything.’ His eyes start to glisten and he blinks furiously.
‘So you won’t show me?’ My mind is scrambling to make sense of his reluctance, of his emotion, ofeverything.
He gives a bitter laugh. ‘You shouldn’t need to see it to know I’m telling the truth.’
A lump of disappointment drops into my gut. I walk over to the kitchen counter to collect my phone. ‘I think it’s best if I go back to my parents’. Just while I straighten things out in my mind.’ I pickup my mobile and turn to leave, but he’s standing in the narrow gap between the kitchen counter and the breakfast bar, blocking my way.
‘Don’t do this, Alice. Don’t let Francesca’s jealousy ruin what we’ve got.’
‘Then show me your search history. It’s simple.’
‘I would, but there’s stuff on there that I can’t show anyone. Not even you. Things relating to my clients. I could be barred from practising if anyone sees their private information. Surely you understand that? The very fact that Francesca’s been in my computer is a gross violation.’
‘I’m not interested in any of your clients’ private information. I just want to see if there’s anything in your search history about hypnosis. Surely you can understand that I need to know.’
He shakes his head. ‘You do realise she could have planted things in my search history to incriminate me.’
‘What? From months ago? How would she do that?Why?What would be the point?’
‘This is a no-win situation for me,’ he says.
‘Foryou? Forget client confidentiality, if you used hypnosis on me, then not only is it unethical, but I’m pretty sure it’s illegal. I could report you!’
His lips tighten. ‘I didn’t do anything. I can’t believe you’re acting this way, Alice. You might have been fooled by Francesca, but I’m not going to let you ruin my career as well. Can’t you see I love you? I’ve always loved you. If you can’t see that ... If you could even think of reporting me for something that I haven’t even done ...’
‘Then what?’
‘I can’t let you go.’ He takes hold of my upper arms and stares at me.
My heart is pounding and my skin tingles. Right this second, it feels as though I’m looking into the eyes of a stranger, and I’m genuinely terrified for my safety.
Chapter Forty-Three
NOW
Laurence and I both startle at the sound of the front door opening.
‘What the hell?’ he says, frowning.
The distraction enables me to free my right arm, but he still has a tight hold of the left.
Seconds later, Francesca strides into the living room, out of breath, her hair tied back off her face.
‘Francesca?’ Laurence says, confused. ‘What are you doing here? How did you get in?’
‘I had another spare key,’ she replies. ‘You still haven’t changed the locks, have you?’
‘You can’t just barge in here, Fran,’ Laurence replies. ‘I’m sorry, but you don’t live here any more.’
‘Let her go, Laurence.’ Francesca glances from him to me. ‘Are you okay, Alice?’ she asks, her brow creasing in concern.
‘I’m ... yes. I ...’ I’m suddenly aware that I’m trembling. I don’t know how to answer her. Am I okay? I don’t think I am. I’m breathless. My heart is still pounding from our argument. I realise that I’m relieved she showed up. That, for a moment, I was actually quite scared of Laurence.
‘It’s over,’ Fran says to him. ‘You need to admit what you did to her.’
‘Get out,’ he says through gritted teeth. ‘I mean it, Francesca. Get out or I won’t be held responsible for what I do.’
Laurence finally lets go of my arm and, at the twinge of pain, I’m aware of how hard he was gripping it. This all feels too terrifyingly close to my run-in with Damian back in the summer. I never thought Laurence would be capable of this sort of behaviour. I trusted him. I loved him. What the hell has happened? Is it me? Is there something about me that brings the monster out in people?