‘Listen to her, Weston,’ Paul Forbes taunted. ‘She knows I’ve only told you the truth. And you can’t deny the truth.’
A numbness had overtaken her now and she turned away without saying another word. Everywhere she looked there seemed to be hostile accusing faces, people who she knew to be friends suddenly appearing as enemies.
Juliet came to her side as she stumbled away, helping her up the rocky pathway. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked gently.
‘Yes.’
Juliet turned to Jake. ‘She’s in shock, Mr Weston. I think we should get her to a doctor.’
‘No!’ Stacy said forcefully. ‘No doctor.’
Jake was once again the cold removed stranger, his fierce anger seeming like a dream. ‘Juliet’s right, you should see a doctor.’
‘No!’ her voice rose shrilly. ‘I just want to get away from here. I’m going back to the hotel to pack my things, and I’m leaving here today.’
‘You’re seeing a doctor first,’ he insisted. ‘You’ve had a lot of shocks the last few days.’
‘Shocks!’ she repeated hysterically. ‘If you mean almost being raped by two men then I suppose you’re right.’
‘Two men …?’ Juliet looked at Jake Weston with dawning comprehension.
‘But then you don’t think it was only almost, do you, Jake?’ she continued bitterly. ‘You would rather believe that—that— You would rather believe Paul Forbes’ version of what happened. But then that’s because you believe me to be a girl who sleeps with who I feel like.’
‘Stacy!’ Juliet was obviously shocked by her outburst. ‘You really are in shock.’
‘I’m nothing of the sort,’ she denied heatedly. ‘That’s what he believes. Go on, ask him,’ she invited. ‘Tell her, Jake. Tell her what you think of me!’
‘If you don’t calm down I shall be forced to slap you,’ he said coldly.
‘I wouldn’t give you that satisfaction. Physical force seems to be the only thing men understand. Quite frankly I’m sick of the lot of you!’ She felt physically sick that he could actually believe Paul Forbes’ story. The actor had certainly had his revenge on her in the best way possible, completely alienating the man she loved.
Juliet looked bemused by her vehemence. ‘You should be thanking Mr Weston,’ she scolded gently. ‘No one else would have dared to thwart the man. The others would have let him rape you right there in front of them.’
Stacy gave a bitter laugh. ‘Mr Weston is under the impression that I would have preferred that. I like every cheap thrill I can get, didn’t you know that?’
‘I warned you,’ Jake said grimly, and his hand landed with a resounding slap on her cheek.
‘You—you pig!’ Tears of pain cascaded down her cheeks. ‘That’s all you understand, isn’t it?’ she accused. ‘Sex and brutality!’
Jake gave Juliet a grim smile. ‘I don’t think she needs that doctor after all. She seems to be back to her normal self.’
‘Oh, I—’ began Juliet.
‘What do you expect when you hit me?’ Stacy demanded.
‘Surely that just makes us even?’ he taunted.
She couldn’t believe this was the same man who had leapt to her defence only minutes earlier. She pulled his leather jacket from about her shoulders and threw it at him. ‘Come on, Juliet,’ she said stiffly, ‘let’s get away from here.’
Jake grasped her arm and swung her round to face him. ‘I’m driving you back to the hotel.’
Her green eyes sparkled angrily. ‘Don’t bother, we can find our own way.’
He ignored her protests and dragged her over towards the car. ‘You’ll do as you’re damn well told! I’ve had enough arguments out of you lately. I’ll give you a thorough beating if you don’t shut up.’
‘Sex and brutality!’ she muttered as he pushed her into the passenger seat.
‘With you it always turns out to be just brutality,’ he murmured softly against her ear.