Free Just Tell Me (The Justice Series) by Emma Appleton Page A

beating so quickly, Andrew was angry at her and she needed to keep the pretence going.  This was her career, not Andrew’s and he could go to hell, why was he even here?  There was nothing he could do in front of her boss, was there?
    Daniel had got to the club early, he needed to see Nicole, he couldn’t stop thinking about her and he knew he was falling in love. He had never felt this way before and had no control over his emotions, he had let someone into his life and even though they had only just met he felt more alive than he ever felt before.  The sounds of The Imagine Dragons sounded distorted as he walked to the bar and ordered a vodka and lime.  The waiter gave it to him with a straw and a wink, Daniel winced at what his mothers reaction would be this to this, but smiled back. He looked around the room for Nicole but he couldn’t see her through the crowds. It was gone 10.30 now. Where was she?  
    Daniel finished his drink and regretted not taking her mobile phone number but he was sure he would see her tonight and sort out the details. He knew her room number so he decided to return to the hotel, see if she was OK.
    He had a bad feeling as he walked into the r eception and towards the bar, he saw her sat with a group of men and watched as the one he recognised got down on one knee in front of her. He couldn’t move as he realised it was Andrew Black and the waitress brought a bottle of champagne to the table. What the fuck? Daniel felt a pain in the pit of his stomach; he watched as Nicole took a glass from the table, her face was strangely blank as she stared at its contents. The glint of the ring on her finger.  She glanced up and saw him as he turned and walked away, oblivious to the sound of breaking glass as she stood up to go after him.
    What the fuck was I thinking? He’s proposed to her and she accepted? He wasn’t a fool, his face clouded, he felt embarrassed and betrayed. He needed to get away from Nicole, she wasn’t who he thought she was after all. Just another gold digging bitch .   His driver was waiting for him, he threw the single red rose he had bought on the ground and stood on it like he was extinguishing a cigarette as he got in the car.  He instructed his driver to take him to Hambelby and the car drove off into the night. 
    As he sat in the back of the car he watched the night city fly past him, he felt like he had been taken advantage of by Nicole, she wasn’t who he thought she was and he thought they had shared something. His heart stung, he had let his guard down, allowed Nicole’s apparent innocence to captivate him, he thought she felt the same as he played over the conversation they had only a few hours ago. So why did she just say yes to Andrew Black?
    He looked at his Blackberry as though it had the answers and sent a message to the hotel informing them he wouldn’t be returning, they could return any of his belongings to Hambelby.  He owned the hotel, they knew where to find him and he knew he couldn’t go back to that penthouse, not now. 
    Nicole had stared at Andrew in horror as he got down on one knee. What the hell was he doing?  She looked at her bosses as they nodded expectantly. Andrew knew she would never agree to marry him, not ever so why was he doing this?  She knew in a split second why.  It was the flat and her position within the company. A lot easier to manage when they were husband and wife not just co-habiting. She had watched him in horror as he had spoken, knowing she couldn’t say anything.
    “Nicole, it’s about time I made an honest woman of you. I have wanted to ask you for a while and coming to Edinburgh tonight seemed the perfect time. Will you marry me?”  She thought she was going to be sick as she stared into his eyes. The old solicitors assumed she was stunned into silence and ordered some champagne as Andrew forced the ring onto her hand, it was a size too small and he writhed it onto her finger, she looked at the stone as