‘If I have a problem, I’m expected to sort it out myself.’
‘Did you talk to the teachers?’
‘Yes.’ She looked at him as if he were clearly stupid. ‘They spoke to the bullies, who were so angry that I’d told on them they set fire to my hair. Fortunately Arianna walked into the room and we managed to put it out, which was a relief because burnt hair is not a good look.’
Damon gritted his teeth. ‘What happened then?’
‘We trimmed the ends. It was fine. It actually suited me shorter.’
‘Not your hair, the bullying. Why didn’t you tell your father?’
‘Why would I tell my father?’
‘Well, because—’ Damon found himself at a loss for words. ‘You were fourteen years old. It was his responsibility to come down to the school and sort it out.’
‘That isn’t his style. He prefers me to sort things out myself and that’s fine with me. I’m grateful to him. I’m quite independent as a result of it. But I did feel guilty that Arianna got drawn into the whole episode.’
‘So you didn’t invite the boys to your room because you wanted to party?’
‘No. I paid them to come and hang out while I danced in my underwear with a bottle of whisky in my hand. Someone tipped off the head teacher who promptly caught me. Which was as we’d planned, obviously. I thought it was an extremely creative solution. Anyway, it did the trick and the boys didn’t seem to mind helping us out.’
Mind? Damon tried to obliterate the image of Polly writhing in her underwear with the express purpose of getting herself thrown out of school. ‘Why did the other girls bully you?’
She wrinkled her nose. ‘Mostly because of my dad, I suppose. As I said to you last night, it was social suicide having a parent turning up in a sports car with a young blonde in the front seat. I suppose if it hadn’t been that it probably would have been something else. They just pick on whatever suits them—red hair, glasses, fat thighs—you know what bullies are like.’
He didn’t, but she obviously did. ‘What about your next school.’
‘Oh, that worked out really well. I picked a nice day school close to my house.’
‘You picked it?’
‘Yes. I went to see a couple and chose one that did a lot of art and creative stuff. I thought it would suit me perfectly.’
‘You—’ Damon broke off, unable to believe what he was hearing. ‘You’re saying that you picked the school by yourself? That your father didn’t go with you?’
‘Why would he? I got myself kicked out of school. It was my job to find myself another one, which turned out great,’ she added cheerfully. ‘I don’t see why you’re so shocked about the whole thing.’
‘Bullying is unacceptable behaviour. You should have had support. You shouldn’t have had to leave.’
‘Leaving was the best thing that happened to me. I hated that school and so did Arianna.’
‘Arianna hated it?’
‘Yes. The girls were vile. Honestly, I think we were just unlucky with our year group or something. She didn’t really want to hang around there without me and she thought my party plan would work better if she joined in.’
The news that his sister had also hated the school was a solid blow deep in his gut. Shaken by those unexpected revelations, Damon turned the full force of his own guilt into anger. ‘Why the hell didn’t one of you tell me the truth?’
‘Arianna did say that she might, but you were storming and ranting and looking like thunder so I think she lost her nerve. Look—just forget it. It’s such a long time ago I can hardly remember.’
He didn’t believe her for a moment. It had obviously left deep, permanent scars. ‘Don’t lie. For once, I want the truth.’
‘The truth is that it doesn’t matter any more. None of it. I’ve moved on.’ She was silent for a moment, as if her own words had come as a surprise to her. Then a tiny smile touched the corners of her mouth and she sat back in her chair, as if she were surprised by something. ‘Wow. I’ve said those words a million times and never really meant them. But this time I really mean them! I really have moved on.’ Her smile widening, she sprang to her feet and did an impromptu twirl. Then she grabbed the front of his coat and her eyes shone into his. ‘Do you have any idea how good that feels? You can deal with something, you can put it behind you, but that’s not the same as actually being over it. And I’m over it! Honestly, truly over it.’
Observing this unrestrained display of ec
stasy with growing bemusement, Damon found himself overwhelmed by a sudden urge to drag her back to bed. Staring down at the tiny dimple at the corner of her mouth, he wondered what had happened to restraint and discipline.
‘I can see now what a difficult time you’ve had.’ The words stuck in his throat. ‘And then I took over your father’s company and stormed and ranted and looked like thunder.’ And made things worse for her.