Innocent Cinderella. Julia James

to the office.’ He paused. ‘Do you want me to say anything to Lynne?’

      ‘No,’ she said quickly. ‘Oh God, no.’

      He nodded. ‘Then I’ll leave it to you. But please don’t let it slip your mind,’ he added evenly. ‘And when I come back at two to collect you, Marin, make sure you’re here.’

      ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I will be.’ Her smile hurt. ‘After all, what real choice do I have?’

      ‘None,’ Jake said harshly. ‘But, in case you’ve forgotten, that applies to us both.’

      She was aware of him crossing the room. His footsteps in the hall. The outer door closing.

      Then and only then, as silence closed in on her and she could be quite sure she was alone, she buried her face in her hands and stayed without moving, crouched in her corner of the sofa, for a very long time.