Chapter Seventeen

Tessa

I pace outside the office, trying to calm my nerves. I check my watch for the hundredth time just as it strikes nine a.m.

A woman comes rushing over with her keys in one hand and a bag in the other. She looks harassed as she drops the bag and holds out her hand. "You must be Tessa?"

"Yes," I say, smiling as she shoves a key in the door and opens it. She grabs her bag and punches some numbers into a bleeping alarm, which immediately silences.

"I had a nightmare getting here," she huffs, dropping her bag again, this time by a desk. I close the door as she pulls up the blinds. "I hate London traffic. And could I find a place to park? No. Because as usual, the little shitbag who owns the vape shop three streets away nicked my space. Honestly, I'm ready to kill the fucker." I stare wide-eyed, and when I don't respond, she glances my way then winces. "Sorry. Shit, sorry." She waves her hand in the air dismissively. "I'm not a morning person, and I haven't had a coffee. Anita, by the way." She moves closer, holding out a hand, and I shake it.

"How about I make a coffee and you gather yourself?" I suggest. I point to a door behind her that states ‘kitchen' on the label. "Through there?"

She smiles wide and gives a nod, shrugging from her jacket while I head that way. "Milk, no sugar," she tells me.

I manage to find my way around the small kitchen area easily and return minutes later with a hot coffee. Anita is in a small office at the back of the reception area with the door open. I pause in the doorway, and she glances up. "Come in," she tells me, and I place the coffee on her desk. "Thank you, you're a life saver. Please, take a seat."

I lower into the chair opposite her desk and cross my legs. The nerves seem to have calmed, and I suddenly feel proud of myself. I've made it this far without a panic attack.

"Okay, Tessa, I need someone who is literate enough to answer the telephone and take down messages I can read." She sips her coffee and closes her eyes for a brief second before adding, "And who makes a decent cuppa, so tick that box."

I smile. "I've been making coffee since I was six years old."

"You're hired," she says, and my eyes widen. "Seriously. I am that desperate, I'm hiring you for your coffee making skills."

I laugh nervously. "I can answer the telephone too."

"Perfect."

"And take messages."

"Even better. Any questions?"

"When can I start?"

"Exactly, when can you start?" she counters, and I laugh again.

"Now?"

She slams her hands on the desk. "Yes. Damn it, yes, I think I love you."

I release a breath and give a nod, pressing my lips together to hide my huge smile. "This is the salary and contract," she says, sliding an envelope toward me. "Temp for three months and then we'll assess. That's your desk," she adds, pointing to the reception desk. "The appointment book is in the drawer. We open at nine and take appointments from nine-thirty to three-thirty. I like to be out the door at five, earlier if possible."

"No problem." I stand. "Thanks so much, I really appreciate this."

"Keep the coffee coming and we'll get along just fine."

I pause at the door. "Erm, one more thing, what exactly do we do here?"

She laughs, throwing her head back. "You mean, Lucas didn't say?"

"Not exactly, just that it was an admin role."

"I'm a solicitor."

"Fantastic. I'll get settled."

I take a seat at the desk, placing my handbag underneath. I take a breath and release it slowly. I have a job. I smile to myself. I did it, I have a bloody job!

The telephone rings, startling me, and I jump before glancing back nervously at Anita. She gives an encouraging nod before saying, "Good morning, Jenson's Solicitors."

I give a nod and grab the telephone, repeating the sentence in a bright voice. "Anita?" a gruff voice barks on the other end.

"No, I'm Tessa, her new receptionist."

"Put her on," he snaps impatiently.

"Of course, can I take your name, please?"

"She left my bed an hour ago," he growls. "She knows who it is."

I press hold and turn back to Anita. "He's really cross," I tell her. "Wouldn't give a name but said you left his bed an hour ago."

She laughs again. "Was he rude?" I nod. "Then cut him off." I stare wide-eyed. "Seriously, just take him off hold and slam the phone down."

"Oh, I don't think that'll help his mood."

She grins. "Exactly." I do as she says, and a second later, it rings again. "If it's him and he's rude again, do the same. We don't speak to anyone who's rude. They all know the rules, including him."

I brace myself and answer, "Good morning, Jenson's Solicitors."

"Did you just fucking hang up on me?" he roars, and I wince before doing the same again. It's not how I've ever been instructed to deal with clients. When it rings again, I groan but answer regardless with the same bright tone.

"Please, can I talk to Anita?" he asks, and I can tell by his tone he's gritting his teeth in annoyance.

I smile, shocked her tactics work. "Of course, what name is it, please?"

"Atlas," he mutters.

"I'll just put you through."

I pop him on hold and turn to Anita, who's also smiling. "See, they soon remember. Press transfer and number one and that'll transfer him to me."

I do as she instructed, and she picks up the call. "Atlas," she greets. After a short pause, she says, "Your mood hasn't improved, I see." Then she gets up to close her office door.

By lunchtime, I'm starting to relax. Anita explains everything so well and I feel like I'm picking everything up relatively easy. I even managed to have a quick glance over the contract and it seems good. The monthly wage is way more than I've ever earned and Anita's arranging for me to get paid weekly so I don't have to wait so long.

She points me in the direction of the nearest deli for lunch and gives me her bank card to pay on the provisor I grab her something too.

I pull out my mobile the second I'm out and call Pit, my smile soon fading when he still doesn't accept my call. Then I grab some lunch and sit on a metal bench across the road. I open the texts I've already sent him.

Me: Guess what, I got a job! The woman is amazing. She's crazy and doesn't take any shit. I think she'll be good for me, Pit. She's already working on toughening me up. I just wanted you to know I'm doing good. I miss you x

I head back to the office feeling slightly less happy. Sharing my exciting news with Pit in a one-way text message doesn't feel as good.

Pit

"Anita," I greet. "How's she doing?"

"Great. Honestly, Pit, I feel like you did me the favour, not the other way around. Where did you find such a gem?"

I prop my feet up on the desk, ignoring the man I have tied to a wooden stool opposite me who's struggling to break free with a wild panic in his eyes.

"She's one in a million."

"She sure is. I even had her hang up on Atlas today for being rude."

I pull my feet back to the floor and sit straighter. "Rude how?" I demand.

She laughs. "Relax, he was just blunt, but I could tell she needed to feel more in control. I can't have the boys walking all over her now, can I?"

The thought pisses me off, but I take a calming breath. "Just watch her for me, Nita. I don't want her upset. She's been through a lot."

"And I assume that's to do with you?"

"Just make sure everyone is respectful." I disconnect and tuck my phone away. "Women," I utter, shaking my head. "Why do we worry so much?"

The man groans into his gag, and I step around the desk, resting my backside against the edge and taking a screwdriver from my inside pocket. "I just happened to be in the area and Steven dropped your name, so I thought I should pay you a visit."

He moans into the gag some more, and I roll my eyes before leaning closer and ripping the sticky tape away. He winces. "Man, I haven't seen Stevo for years."

"You were good friends though back in the day, right?" I'd searched Steven Kendal's social media messages to get me to this point. The ones to this fucker stood out the most, where they were catching up just a year ago and laughing about the time they locked Tessa in the music cupboard and she'd pissed herself with fright. Maybe his story rang too close to the way she'd reacted when I'd done similar. Maybe the guilt was too much. But here we are, and as I look into the cruel eyes of Lee Hive, I absolutely have no intention of walking away.

"Yeah, but we were kids back then."

I hold my hand up, cutting him off. "See, you already know this isn't going to be good because you're trying to make up excuses. I'm gonna say a name, and you're going to tell me your part in her life." He eyes me warily. "Tessa."

He shakes his head frantically, "I don't know no Tessa."

"Tessa Dean."

I see the realisation hit him, followed quickly by confusion. "I haven't seen her in years."

"Tell me about the last time you saw her," I suggest, folding my arms over my chest and fixing him with an expectant glare.

He shrugs. "Fuck, I don't remember. We were kids."

"Think," I push.

"Maybe year eleven."

"That was around the time Steven began dating her, right?"

He smirks. "Is that what this is about? Are you some new boyfriend who's jealous of her exes?"

"It would be simple for you if that was my reason," I tell him, unfolding my arms. I spin the screwdriver between my fingers, circling him. He tracks me with his eyes until I move behind him, then I lean over his shoulder and slam the pointy end into his thigh. He cries out immediately, and I shove a cloth in his mouth to muffle his screams. "When I heard you were in Ireland, I thought it was fate," I whisper, smiling. "Now, think carefully, Lee. What happened to Tessa back in school?" I pull the cloth from his mouth.

"Jesus," he cries, "ow the fuck can I remember almost twenty years ago?"

I pull out Steven's mobile phone and open the messages between them. "Music room?" I ask.

He sags, the fight leaving him. "I was a stupid teenager."

"Very stupid," I agree. "And I did some digging into your life, Lee. The things I saw were not good."

"Who the fuck are you?"

"I'm the reason you'll never bully anyone ever again," I confirm, driving the screwdriver into his opposite leg. He cries out again, but this time, I punch him hard in the face, busting his nose and knocking out a tooth. "You've had several complaints at work, all women saying a similar thing—you make inappropriate comments, give unwanted attention, touching at every opportunity."

"They were ganging up on me," he yells, spitting blood onto the floor.

"All of them?" I ask, laughing coldly. "I couldn't work out how you always seem to get away with it, and then I realised you went to school with your boss."

"Look, I'm sorry I made Tessa upset, okay," he shouts. "But she was a whining little bitch, thinking she was better than everyone else. We all knew her dad was a drunk who beat her mum."

I punch him in the face again, and he curses, shaking his head. "So, you knew she was already having a shit time and you bullied her anyway? Scum."

"She was scum," he spits. "Even her dad hated her."

"What are you talking about?"

"He paid Steven to date her. He wanted her out the house as much as possible cos she reminded him of his wife."

I allow his words to sink in. "Is he still alive?"

"Her dad?" He nods. "Yeah, he's alive."

"Where?"

He scoffs. "Let me go and I'll tell you."

I hit him a third time, following it quickly with a punch to his stomach. He leans forward, coughing violently. "I'm in charge. I want the address, and then I'll consider letting you leave."

He gives a stiff nod, and I grab a piece of paper and a pen. "Shoot," I say, and he reels off a street name.

"It's in Cardiff. He drinks with my uncle. I don't know the house number, but someone round there will know him."

I stand, shaking out my shoulders. "No one will miss you, Lee," I say with a shrug, "and that's so sad." Before he can say anything else, I push the screwdriver into his neck. His eyes widen in surprise, and he begins to cough, spilling blood down his chin. I withdraw it, wiping the end on his jeans before heading out. I close the office door and rush down the metal steps, heading out the factory and into the dark night.

I check my mobile and see another text.

Tessa: Still can't sleep in the bed. Luckily the couch is comfy. Goodnight, Pit. Miss you x

I smile. I miss you too, Te .