The Secrets We Keep by J.S. Ellis

Author:J.S. Ellis [Ellis, J.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

I turned, and Ben stood a few inches away from me. He was alone, dressed in a light grey suit and a purple tie. Was he following me? But the hotel wasn’t that far.

‘What are you doing here?’ I asked.

He frowned and walked closer. ‘I’m sure you’ve been informed that Lucien has been found.’

‘Yes,’ I said.

‘And you had no idea he was in Berlin all this time?’

‘Look, I’m getting fed up with everyone thinking I know where he is. He is not my boyfriend. I am not his girlfriend,’ I retorted.

He glared at me. ‘Just someone you fool around with from time to time?’

‘That is—’

‘None of my business?’ he interrupted me, taking a step closer. ‘It is my business when the police are involved, and you can’t stay out of trouble, can you?’

‘It seems trouble is looking for me,’ I replied.

‘No, Emily, you are getting yourself in trouble because of the people you’re mixing yourself with.’

‘I’m not mixing myself with anyone. I was invited to a wedding and attended to be polite.’

He placed his hands on his hips, sighing, and looked at the pavement and then in the direction of the hotel.

‘I think it’s time you and I had a chat, don’t you think?’ he suggested.

‘Unless it has to do with the case, we have nothing else to talk about,’ I pointed out.

‘We do, Emily. I have to explain myself. Let me buy you a cup of coffee, please,’ he said.

I sighed dramatically. ‘Okay, fine.’

#

We sat in a café in South Kensington. Ben ordered two coffees, and we sat at a table by the window, waiting for the waitress to serve us the order. His phone rang, and he stood to get it, then returned as the waitress bought us the coffee.

‘I hate how things ended between us,’ he began. ‘I like you; I really do.’

‘But you’re married?’ I said.

‘Separated.’

‘What?’

‘I’m separated, have been for a few years. Sue, my ex-wife, and I were trying to work out what to do. The issue was work, that I’m not home a lot.’

He was separated and kept a photo of his wife in his wallet.

‘Is this supposed to make me feel better?’ I asked.

‘No, of course not. I just... couldn’t help it.’

That was the same excuse I had come up with when I started my fling with Lucien. Oh, I couldn’t help myself. Lots of strange things were happening, and he was beautiful and attentive.

‘We don’t live in the same houses anymore,’ Ben said. ‘When Travis sent Sue those photos, it struck a chord. Things would not get any better between us, so we divorced.’

‘Any children?’ I asked.

‘No.’

‘So, your wife filed for divorce because of me?’

‘It was a long time coming, Emily. It has nothing to do with you. I should have told you. You had every right to know. It was a dick move on my part.’

I glanced at the window, feeling like shit. ‘You should have. I didn’t need that after what I was going through.’

‘I know, and I’m so sorry.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.