The House Guest - Mark Edwards Page 0,63

tried to speak to her myself, to beg her to reconsider, but I couldn’t get past her assistant. She’ll come to regret it, though.’

‘I doubt it,’ said Ruth, with a stab of pain. Again, she fought to bring back the resolve she’d had before this man arrived. To put all that behind her. To move on to bigger things.

‘Oh, she will.’ Beneath the friendly tone, she detected a shard of ice. ‘If that’s what you want. It’s all about the future, isn’t it? And it’s clear to me that you could be a star. One of the biggest.’

That must have been what he meant when he said Sally would regret it.

‘You say you’ve been following my career. Have you seen The Immaculate?’

‘Of course! I devoured it. You’re incredible in it.’

‘Not many people have seen it.’

‘Huh. Ridiculous. Everyone should witness your talents, Ruth.’

She couldn’t help but experience the tingle of pleasure that came whenever she received fulsome praise. But she said, ‘You’re embarrassing me.’

‘Talented and modest.’ He smiled. ‘I could hardly believe it when Eden told me you were here. I’ve been away on business and was terrified you’d be gone when I got back. I mean, what an opportunity . . . It feels like fate. Destiny!’

She had no idea what he was talking about.

Before she could ask he said, ‘It must have been disorienting to wake up in a strange place and to find out that the people you trusted have let you down.’

As he spoke, his eyes locked on to hers. It was disconcerting. She never felt comfortable with excessive eye contact, another thing she blamed on her childhood; the way the social workers would stare at the ground when making promises. But with this man – and she realised he hadn’t yet told her his name – she found it hard to look away. It wasn’t a sexual attraction. He was too old for her, for a start. His brilliantly white teeth were off-putting. And she had never been attracted to overly confident men. There was something about him, though. His intensity. The interest he was showing in her. The way he looked at her, it was almost as if he was trying to hypnotise her, and she had to break eye contact.

‘Has anyone explained anything to you?’ he asked. ‘About who we are?’

‘No, not really. Eden just said you were all friends. But she’s been maddeningly vague.’ She found she was beginning to mimic the way he spoke.

He stroked his chin. He was definitely familiar. Was it really only that he reminded her of Jack?

‘That’s what we are. Friends. And we’re hoping you’ll be our friend too, Ruth.’

He sounded so sincere that she couldn’t help but laugh.

‘That sounds . . . nice. It’s always good to have more friends. But like I said, I’ve got so much to do. I have to talk to my agent, and collect my stuff from Jack and Mona’s, and . . .’

‘That’s fine,’ he said. ‘If you’re sure you feel well enough.’

‘I do.’

‘But could we talk for a little while longer? I’m such a fan. It would be a shame to let you go so soon. Are you hungry? I could get someone to bring us something?’

Actually, she was hungry. But she really had to get going.

Except when she opened her mouth to say no she heard ‘Okay’ emerge.

‘Wonderful,’ he said. He went to the door and spoke to someone. Had they been lurking outside the door?

‘I have some business to attend to,’ he said. ‘But will you wait here so I can tell you all about us?’

‘I’m not sure . . . I really need to get going.’

‘Please, Ruth. I won’t be long, I promise. And it will be worth it.’

She wanted to leave. But she also really wanted to hear what he had to say.

‘Okay,’ she said. ‘I’ll wait. But after that, I’m going. I need to get on with my life.’

‘Of course,’ he said, with another smile. ‘I can’t wait to tell you what we can do for you.’

Chapter 29

Krugman came towards me, the gun still pointed in my direction. Two guns pointed at me in one day – but this time, I really believed the person brandishing it would use it. Again, I wished I’d taken the weapon Wanda had offered, though what use would it be if I didn’t know how to use it?

‘Put your hands behind your back,’ he said.

‘Wait . . .’

‘Put your fucking hands behind your back.’

I did as he asked, and