moment she walked into her apartment, Sheridan knew that something was wrong. Roz’s presence had instigated drama after drama; but she had to admit, a little piece of her enjoyed breaking the spirit of the young woman in her care. No longer was she fretting over her fading acting career. She was the one in control. Even their fight had released a surge of adrenalin she had not felt in a long time. Dormant feelings had been awoken in the bedroom, too. Sex between her and Daniel had always been good, but lately it was like nothing on earth. He was a sucker for a damsel in distress and she would take advantage of the primal instinct Roz had awoken in him.
Roz could bear the stretchmarks and sickness, and the pain of childbirth to come. Sheridan would keep her perfect figure and pass the little girl off as her own. That baby was hers – all hers, and Roz was nothing more than a rented womb. Her meeting in LA had been a success. She had taken Samantha, and together they had worked out her schedule for the next month. Delegating as much as she could, she put her absence down to her advancing pregnancy but promised she would be back at the helm soon. Her agent had lined her up with a plethora of deals for when the baby was born. Wearing the fake bump had been cumbersome, and deflecting people’s grubby hands away was a task in itself.
She did not imagine in the short time she was gone that she would have so much to face upon her return. Walking along the hall, she cast her eyes over the glossy tiles, checking every surface was spotlessly clean. She paused at the lift doors. The memory of her fight with Roz still lingered: her blood dripping down the surface of the lift doors as she prised them open. The taste of metal in her mouth. It was a long time since anyone had hurt her like that.
First came the phone call. A message from Daniel telling her that he had allowed Roz to go to church. Sheridan was furious, but by the time she had picked up the message, Roz had already left. It was utterly frustrating. Daniel did things his way, then let her know as an afterthought.
As Anna opened the lounge doors, Sheridan raised an eyebrow at the sight of George standing with his back to the fireplace. He was dressed like a street hoodlum, his face stony, his hands clasped behind his back. He looked as if he were about to face the firing squad.
‘It’s OK,’ Daniel said as he took in Sheridan’s worried expression. ‘Roz is home safe and well. Juanita’s preparing her lunch now.’
‘Nice to see you, too.’ Sheridan frowned, waiting for the ‘but’.
Wearing an apologetic smile, Daniel kissed her on the cheek. The musky aroma of his aftershave still made her stomach flip.
‘I’ve missed you,’ he murmured, his breath warm on her face. ‘How was your trip?’
‘Good,’ she said, drawing away. He was not off the hook yet.
Sighing, she wished she could kick off the heels that were making the balls of her feet ache. Briefly closing her eyes, she inhaled the delicate scent of burning logs. So that’s why Daniel wanted to meet in the living room. She had once told him it was one of the few places in the house where she felt truly relaxed. Things must be bad.
Her thoughts returned to Roz, her frown deepening a notch. ‘Where is she? Down below?’
‘Yes.’ Taking a seat in the leather wing chair, Daniel spread his legs wide. George, on the other hand, had yet to move an inch. ‘Nobody saw her at church,’ Daniel continued. ‘It all went as planned. Oh, and Monica called. She sounded upset.’
Sheridan rolled her eyes. Monica would have to wait. She turned to George. ‘If everything’s all right with Roz, why do you look like you’re about to faint?’
‘I’m sorry,’ George said, his gaze creeping to Daniel. ‘I didn’t want to go.’
‘Baby, it’s not George’s fault,’ Daniel interrupted. ‘There was never anything to worry about.’ He relaxed back into the chair, his eyes chasing the dance and sway of the imitation flames in the fireplace. His beard had grown, making him appear mature, relaxed, in control. Sheridan wanted to shake him. After all her hard work in LA! He couldn’t even see what he had done wrong.