Unfurl: Chapter 17

My productivity today has been disgracefully low. I spent the morning at Cerulean’s offices, which are around the corner from Alchemy, but nothing the markets threw at me kept my attention. Even a sit-down with Paul, our exotics specialist, had me climbing the walls. Usually, the way Paul explains the exotic derivative trades he’s proposing to put on has me captivated.

Instead, searing montages of a beautiful golden-blonde virgin writhing under our touch like a porn star play again. And again. And again.

In frustration, I abandon any pretence of productivity and head on over to Alchemy. Wandering into our airy meeting room, I’m surprised to see Zach hanging with Cal and Gen. He sets his mug of tea on the coffee table and rises. We bro-hug, and I slap him hard on the back.

‘How you doing, mate?’

‘Not bad, not bad. Can’t complain. You? It’s good to see your ugly mug.’

He settles down heavily on the sofa and rakes his hand through his hair.

This guy kills me. He’s a fucking trooper. There’s no other word for it. And his daughters are just like him. The resilience those three have shown, in the face of a tragedy no family should have to experience, is staggering.

‘I’m fine. How was Stel’s assembly?’

He smiles tiredly. ‘Adorable. She did great. Those things are good for the soul, you know?’

‘Well done Stella. What did she do?’

‘She played a BBC newsreader. The theme was all about adversity, and climbing mountains in life, and aiming high. They sang S Club 7’s Reach.’ He shakes his head. ‘It was fucking brilliant.’

‘Sounds like a topic she’s an expert on. Next time, let me know, okay? I’m her godfather. I should be doing more of this stuff.’

‘Will do.’ He takes a sip of his tea. ‘She’d like that. What’s new around here? Sorry I’ve been MIA.’

‘Shut up,’ we all say in unison. Zach knows he doesn’t have to ask, or explain, or justify. Ever. Not with us.

Gen smiles knowingly. ‘Cal and Rafe had a fun evening, by the sounds of things.’

‘Really?’ Zach settles back on the sofa and crosses an ankle over the opposite knee. ‘By all means, distract me from my life with your tales of sin. How many girls were there?’

I exchange a look with Callum as I sit down. I’m still feeling antagonistic towards him, and I need to get over it. He’s one of my oldest mates, for Christ’s sake.

‘Don’t know how many Rafe had later in the evening,’ Cal says, ‘but I had two. Somehow, though, I don’t think that’s what Gen’s getting at.’

I butt in before Gen can say anything. ‘It was nothing. The first session in someone’s Unfurl programme. It was all over pretty quickly—it seemed to go well.’

When I risk a look at Gen, she’s pressing her lips together in an attempt not to smile. ‘If you say so.’

I’m suddenly alarmed. ‘What? Did she say something—was she not happy?’

Now Gen’s smile makes an appearance, and I know I’ve taken her bait. ‘Oh, no. I spoke to her just now, actually. She was very happy.’

‘Excellent.’ I say. I’m dying to know what Belle actually said, but there’s no way I’m giving Cal the satisfaction of asking. I’ll wait till I get Gen alone later. ‘Moving on.’

‘Not so fast.’ Zach holds up a hand. ‘What am I missing?’

‘What you’re missing,’ Callum says, ‘is that this girl is hot as fuck, and she’s Rafe’s little Catholic neighbour, and he’s going all caveman and territorial over her, and it’s very, very amusing to watch.’

Zach laughs and puts a fist to his mouth. ‘Seriously, mate?’

‘No,’ I bluster. ‘She’s just—she’s sweet, you know? And innocent. And I’m sponsoring her. I feel protective of her.’

Cal coughs out a bullshit.

‘Is she really gorgeous?’

‘She had a blindfold on,’ Cal says. ‘But remember Rafe’s Bridget Hall phase at school?’

Zach’s eyes widen. ‘Nice.’

‘She’s very attractive.’ My voice is stiff. I don’t like this conversation, and I’m pissed off that fucking Callum spotted the Bridget Hall thing without even seeing Belle’s beautiful tiger eyes.

‘Well, he doesn’t stand a chance with her,’ Cal tells Zach cheerfully, ‘because she loved it so fucking much, and once Alex has relieved her of her virginity she’ll be seriously making up for lost time. I can tell. We should comp her a membership, in fact.’

We comp the odd membership to individuals who we’re particularly keen to have in the club for a variety of reasons. Despite my fantasies last night when I was balls-deep in Isabel, I have zero intention of letting Belle through these doors once she’s completed the programme.

However, I have a more urgent fire to put out.

‘Alex? What the fuck?’

Gen fixes me with a steely glare. ‘You know why.’

The others snigger. I glare back. Alex, God bless him, has a pencil dick, but the word in the club is he knows how to use it, making him a solid choice for the sensitive, crucial role that is having penetrative sex with a virgin.

‘Don’t get any ideas,’ Callum tells me. ‘You’d split the poor girl in two. Anyway, she’d probably think it was creepy. You’re her older neighbour. Let’s hope she doesn’t figure out you were there last night, for your sake.’

Zach is laughing so hard now he’s practically spitting out his tea. I shoot him a dirty look. For fuck’s sake. Is no one on my side? And I really do not approve of Alex getting the first shot at her. He’s already had his mouth on her pussy. We should be mixing things up for her.

‘Oh, I forgot to say,’ Gen says airily, ‘you’re totally busted, Rafe. She asked me on the phone if you were there last night.’

‘And you said yes?’ I ask, too horrified by this revelation to acknowledge Zach, whose entire body is now shaking with laughter.

‘We’re not in the habit of lying to our clients,’ Gen replies in her best headteacher voice. ‘It tends to destroy the frail bonds of trust, you know?’

Yeah, yeah.

I’m fucking mortified.

Shit.

‘How did she know it was me?’

‘She said she recognised your scent,’ Gen says, and Zach and Cal collapse.

‘You should shower more often,’ Cal gasps, slapping the coffee table.

‘Fuck you,’ I tell him. ‘I think we both know it was the Le Labo she recognised.’ I wear a bespoke scent. It works well for me with women.

‘Whatever false beliefs serve you,’ Cal says.

I put my head in my hands. I have far bigger worries right now than his bullshit.

Belle recognised me.

The horror morphs into something else. Pleasure, maybe? A satisfaction that she knew. She gave as good as she got in that kiss, she climaxed like a fucking champ, and she knew it was me. Which means she liked that it was me or she was so lost in the moment she didn’t care. Either is encouraging.

‘Was she pissed off?’ I ask Gen.

She shrugs. ‘If she was, she certainly didn’t say so. Let’s discuss her next session, shall we, while we’re all here?’

Zach plonks his mug down and gets up heavily. ‘I’ve had enough salacious chat for one day, thank you. I need to put the first-half accounts to bed today or tomorrow. Thanks for the laughs.’

I stare absently at him as he leaves, but my mind’s eye is on Belle. On what she’s thinking. How she feels.

One thing’s for sure.

I have to see her.