Elemental Fear Read Online Free PDF Page B

ended, and we acted like such an intense conversation never occurred. It was as if a shutter had come down between us closing off our friendship.
    “Erm...ham Panini please, with salad , no…”
    “Cucumber or onion ,” he finished my sentence. I smiled, liking that he knew me so well.
    He went to the counter to order our food; I turned sideways in my seat to watch him at the counter. His jaw twitched as he looked over the menu boards. He had his hands in his pockets , rocking on the heels of his feet. It was one of his personal habits I adored about him.
    Dominic’s mobile rang , startling me out of my avid staring. I reached over the table to look at the screen. The caller ID said Vanessa. I looked over at Dominic but didn’t say anything; I simply got up and left the patisserie. I didn’t want to sit there and listen to another of their conversations. Although I wanted him to confide in me about her, I couldn’t prepare myself for how that would feel when he did. Once he married Vanessa, I knew our friendship would be very different, and I would no longer have him in my life the way I did now. I had to start hardening my heart. I had to push Dominic out of my mind. I had to adapt to  Elliott and his demons.
    Dominic didn’t return that afternoon; Emily called in the office and said he’d been called out to a meeting. I wonder if he was meeting Vanessa. I mentally sc olded myself for feeling a pang of jealousy. I needed to get a grip of my emotions. Things were getting very blurry and out of context, and I needed to rein that in. I was furious at myself for just leaving the cafe today, but it physically hurt to hear him talking with Vanessa. I knew I had no right when I was currently in a relationship with someone else, but knowing the man who I had loved my entire life was making plans to spend the rest of his life with another woman kind of killed me inside and made me hate myself, and Elliott more.
    My desk phone rang , startling me out of my pity party. “Eve Beaumont’s office”
    “Hi , Eve, it’s Lucinda. There’s a delivery for you at the front desk,” she said cheerily.
    I frowned; I hadn’t been expecting a delivery and certainly not one personal ly to me.
    “ Okay, I will be down in a bit”
    “Thanks, bye.”
    I placed the receiver back in the holder and went to collect my “package.”
    A few minutes later , I walked through the large foyer that was the main entrance to the building. It was a huge open space with black granite flooring, a glass front that opened the space making it feel like you were almost outside. Lucinda’s desk was situated to the left of the entry, a big curved oak desk that was as high as my chest.
    I walked over to her with a questioning look. She must have noticed because she offered me a bright smile . “Your lunch, although I was tempted to keep it because it smells divine.” She smiled again.
    “Erm...”
    “It’s from across the road. Oh, and you have one of their delicious carrot cake muffins too. Want to swap? All I've got planned is a prawn salad bowl.” She chuckled slightly, and I smiled at her as I reached over to take the pre-offered bags.
    “Thank you.”
    Confused, I carried my lunch back upstairs to my office. I opened the bag, and my stomach groaned in happiness. It was the Panini and salad from the cafe and, like Lucinda had said, one of their scrumptious carrot cake muffins. As I was taking my mouth-watering treats out, my mobile alerted me to a text.
     
    Sorry I spoilt our lunch together, forgive me?
    Hope you enjoy what I ordered for you D
     
    I smile and re-read the text.  I slowly stroke my thumb over the words.
     
    Nothing to forgive, I was a mardy cow sorry x
    Thank you for my lunch
     
    I take a bite of my sandwich and moan loudly. “Heaven”. My phone pings again.
     
    I was a bastard and you know it.
    I've been called out to a meeting so I can’t give you a lift home sorry
    Dx
     
    No worries, I’ll get the bus X
     
    After