LITMIR.BIZ

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go then.’

      No way was she letting him loose downstairs. Not that he’d find anything, but that wasn’t the point. ‘It’s locked.’

      ‘I have keys.’ He had the audacity to dangle them in front of her.

      She tried to swipe them, but he moved his hand. ‘Keys that my solicitor has repeatedly asked you to return.’

      He shrugged. ‘Change the locks if you’re that worried.’

      ‘I can’t afford to do that. The security system is highly sophisticated. It would cost a fortune to replace it.’

      He took a step closer, a calculating glint in his eye. ‘Tell you what, I’ll hand over my keys once I have all of my belongings back.’ His expression turned menacing. ‘And that includes the holdall containing my money.’

      Her cheeks became instantly warm. ‘Wh … what money?’

      He laughed. ‘Oh, I think you know what money. I must say, I was surprised. Little Miss Perfect finally did something wicked.’ He tapped one of her large hoop earrings, making it sway. ‘You actually stole from me.’

      One of the businessmen glanced over. Lexi waved and assured him everything was okay before refocusing on Marcus. His cruel taunting had dissolved any guilt she might have felt at scamming him. ‘What a shameful accusation, Marcus. I mean, who would steal from their loved one, right?’

      He had the good grace to look uncomfortable. ‘I never stole—’

      ‘Yes, you did. You didn’t bank the sale proceeds for my Franz Gerste collection. Instead, you ran off to Spain with your PA and left me to deal with your mess.’

      ‘I never meant for that to happen. You don’t know the pressure I was under. The garage was going bust. People were chasing me for money. HMRC were on my back. Everything I tried made it worse.’

      ‘That doesn’t justify you running off with Cindy, of all people. A woman who thinks Liverpool is a country.’ Lexi didn’t normally slate other women; she liked to think of herself as an advocate for women, empowering each other. But that was before she’d been dumped unceremoniously for a women ten years her junior. It stung.

      Marcus sighed. ‘She’s certainly not you.’ He looked almost wistful.

      Lexi resisted the urge to yell, then why did you run off with her? Instead, she opted for, ‘You’re damned right she’s not,’ trying to salvage something of her bruised self-esteem.

      He took her hand before she could move it. ‘I miss you.’

      Ignoring the familiar warmth of his touch, she met his gaze. ‘Well, I don’t miss you, Marcus. I don’t miss being lied to, stolen from or cheated on.’

      Far from being deterred, he saw this as a challenge. He’d always been seduced by things he couldn’t have. She’d suddenly become unattainable. Nothing turned Marcus on more than the temptation of a woman saying no to him.

      He stroked the back of her hand. ‘You forget all the good times we had.’

      ‘You’re right, Marcus, I do. I’ve made a conscious effort to forget every single one of them.’

      ‘I don’t believe you.’

      ‘Frankly, I don’t care what you believe. Now, please leave and don’t come back. I don’t want you in my life anymore. I’ve moved on.’

      He was staring at her mouth like he used to when he was about to bedazzle her with his charms. ‘Christ, you’re sexy when you’re angry.’ He reached forwards to kiss her.

      She pulled away. Jesus, his flattery skills had taken a dive.

      ‘I still love you, Lexi. You know that. We could be together again. Think of the fun we’d have.’ A glimmer of the old Marcus was back. A scheme forming in his mind as his eyes roamed over her body, no attempt to hide where his thoughts were headed. ‘We’d make a great team. You and me, hustling the world. I’m not angry you took my money. Actually, I admire you for it. I never thought you’d have the balls. Think what we could do with it? You’ve been a goodie two-shoes for too long. It’s time to unleash your inner bad girl.’

      Words every woman longs to hear … not.

      What an idiot Marcus was. What an idiot she was for marrying him.

      She was about to tell him as much, when someone banged on the gallery door.

      A tall man with thinning beige hair and matching raincoat was peering through the glass. He drew out an identity badge and held it up.

      Oh, Christ, what now?

      ‘Who the hell is that?’ she said, praying it wasn’t the police. Not that she’d done anything wrong. Well, not much.

      ‘No idea, but I’m not hanging around to find out.’ Marcus shot over to the steps leading down to the basement before she could stop him.

      She was about to go after him, when she realised she needed to deal with the official-looking man first. Not to mention her customers. Marcus wouldn’t find what he was looking for downstairs. He was a problem for later.

      Unfortunately, she realised the businessmen had left. They’d obviously grown tired of being kept waiting. She’d missed out on a sale. Bloody Marcus!

      The man in the raincoat stepped inside. ‘I’m looking for Mrs Alexia Aldridge,’ he said, tucking his glasses inside his worn coat.

      She turned to him. ‘Well, you’ve found her. Although Aldridge was my married name. I’ve reverted to my maiden name of Ryan.’

      He held out his name badge for her to read. ‘Brian Falk, investigating officer with the insolvency headquarters. I have a few questions.’

      Jesus, hadn’t they quizzed her enough fifteen months ago? ‘Now isn’t a convenient time. My assistant isn’t in. Can you come back another day?’

      ‘This won’t take long.’ He obviously wasn’t going to leave.

      With a sigh, she locked the door and flipped the closed sign. The sooner she answered his questions, the sooner he’d be gone. She needed to get Marcus out of her basement.

      ‘Follow me,’ she said, showing him into the back office. ‘Tea, coffee?’

      He placed his briefcase on the floor and sat down. ‘Just water. Thank you.’

      She went over to the kitchenette, trying to stem the rising feeling of panic. Why was he here? Did he know what she’d done?

      Water slurped over the edge of the glass as she carried it over to him, her nerves betraying her. ‘So, how can I help you, Mr Falk?’

      He put his glasses back on and laid his briefcase across his lap. ‘As you know, we’ve been looking into the matter of undeclared assets for you and your husband—’

      ‘Ex-husband.’

      He peered over the top of his glasses.

      ‘We’re no longer married.’

      ‘My mistake.’ He removed a document from his briefcase. ‘Further evidence has come to light with regard to a life insurance policy taken out for you and your husband.’ He handed her a document. ‘Are you familiar with the policy I’m referring to, Mrs Aldridge?’

      ‘It’s Ms Ryan.’ She took the document from his outstretched hand. ‘And no, I’m not.’ She carried the document over to the table and sat down.

      ‘If you would care to look at the policy details and the withdrawal section on the back, you’ll see both documents bear your signature.’

      She gazed down at the document in her hand, a document she’d never seen before. The Royal Sun Alliance policy appeared to have been taken out in August 2014, shortly after they were married. Both of

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