Chapter 461

  I make to protest but fall silent as she lets me go and Arry’s hand finds mine, without hesitation. It makes me stop my silent refusal and go almost limp, at the unexpected touch. He pulls me with him silently and makes the last few steps towards the empty floor, giving me no choice but to have my hand encased in his. It’s like being scolded at the same time as being stroked. The pain, the longing for that touch that sends my insides into a bizarre spin and renders me hopeless.

  Looking around to see we are the first and Leila is going to get bitch-slapped from here to kingdom come, I spy the cameraman setting up in one corner, fully focused on us and know I have no way out of this without causing a scene. I don’t want to draw attention to the fact that we no longer know each other.