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So this was how it would end. Plummeting to my death from a Welsh mountain. I knew this was a bad idea. Terrible. Quite possibly the worst ever, in fact. Jasper, of course, disagreed. Jasper thought it was one of his most brilliant ideas yet. An idea he’d had after a client he was currently schmoozing was marvelling over the amazing views on his recent trip to Snowdonia, thanks to being lucky with the weather.
‘Have you ever been?’ he’d asked.
‘Oh God, yeah, but it was ages ago now.’ Jasper had replied. ‘Before it became so touristy. Be good to go back though.’
I’d kept my eyes fixed on the bone china plate in front of me, knowing he was lying – Jasper wasn’t exactly what you’d call the outdoorsy type. But the more I’d come to know him, the more I’d realised this was his modus operandi. The thought that someone might have done something that he hadn’t bothered him way more than it should, and he’d immediately begin rectifying the situation.
Sometimes I didn’t mind. The trip to Capri was pretty nice and I certainly wasn’t going to complain about the holiday to Mustique. Although the ban on cocktails because they weren’t included in the deal he’d swung was a bit of a downer. As a hedge-fund manager, Jasper had plenty of money, but he wasn’t always keen on spending it on anyone other than himself. I’d tried to argue that I objected to him dictating what I could spend my own money on, but he’d gone into a huff and dropped a hint about as subtle as a tsunami that I was being ungrateful as he’d paid for the rest of the trip. I’d have happily paid my way, but as he didn’t offer the best salaries in the sector that ruled out that option. As usual he’d missed the point entirely and I’d dropped my objection. I didn’t expect anyone to pay for me and I’d done OK until I met him. It had been his idea for me to move into his place and to leave my long-standing coffee-shop job and take a position at his company. I’d known from day one that particular decision was a mistake but, by then, it was too late. But Jasper had really outdone himself this time. His never-ending obsession with one-upmanship had reached new heights – quite literally – with this latest endeavour.
I looked up at the looming mountain in front of me and felt my stomach swirl, the delicious home-cooked breakfast I’d wolfed down this morning threatening a swift reappearance. My eyes drifted up to the jagged ridge at the top. Oh God. This was such a bad idea. Thankfully I wasn’t the only one who thought so. Jasper was currently in deep… let’s call it ‘discussion’, with the climbing guide he’d hired for the hike.
‘I’m sorry you feel that way,’ Matt replied. ‘But it’s my job to keep people safe and, as much as I’d like to, I can’t control the weather. Getting to the top today is out of the question. The cloud is too low and visibility will be poor to non-existent.’
‘I hired you to take us to the top, not give up halfway! The word is you’re one of the best guides around but I’m beginning to question the validity of your re
putation.’
‘Jasper!’
‘What?’ he snapped. ‘I suppose this works out just perfectly for you. You were against this trip from the start.’
Oh good. And now we were going to have an argument in front of a stranger. Again.
‘Never a great idea to piss off your significant other on the side of a mountain, mate.’
A giggle snuck out from under my defences and Matt shot me a momentary grin, which neutralised the dagger Jasper sent.
‘Oh. Hilarious. I hope you’re not charging extra for your “humorous” advice.’
Matt blew out a sigh through his teeth. ‘Nope. Free of charge.’
‘Good. And just to let you know, I’ll be demanding a full refund for this so-called service anyway. Trade descriptions.’
Matt’s reply was patient, his gravel-edged voice even as he spoke again. ‘As I mentioned, unfortunately none of us have control over the weather. That point is stated in the booking details.’
‘In the tiniest print possible, I suppose?’ Jasper sneered.
‘No. Same size. Actually, now you mention it, possibly a bit larger.’
I turned away, ostensibly to admire the view but in reality to hide a smirk.
‘Oh, quite the joker, aren’t you?’
‘Nope. You asked a question. I assumed you wanted a reply.’
Jasper’s face was thunderous, his high colouring beginning to turn an interesting shade of purple. He wasn’t used to people questioning him. He was always the one in charge. The one throwing his weight around. Not that Matt was throwing weight around, which, by the size of him, was probably just as well. Had his trekking gear been white I reckon there’d be a spike in sightings of Yeti on the Welsh mountains.
‘Look, I don’t want to fall out with anyone. I love this area and I love getting to share it with other people too, but my first job is to keep clients, and myself, safe. I’m afraid it’s just too dangerous to go to the top today for any
one, especially novices.’
‘I’m not a novice! I’ve climbed plenty of mountains before.’
I glanced at Jasper’s backside. Apparently the fire from his pants hadn’t yet burst through his overpriced walking trousers. My gaze then slid to Matt. His bearing, unlike Jasper’s, was relaxed and his expression was as steady and immobile as the mountain we stood on. Suddenly he flicked his gaze to me and I felt my breath catch. The striking ice blue of his eyes held mine for just a moment and, in that instant, it felt as if he saw right through me. It was also clear from that glance that he knew Jasper was telling the most enormous, and dangerous, porkie.
‘That’s as may be, sir,’ Matt said diplomatically, ‘but you hired me as a guide for Crib Goch and, as such, it’s my job to keep both of you safe. Taking you further now would be irresponsible. You may be experienced but clearly you felt the need for some guidance on this particular mountain, which was a wise move. There are aspects which can easily lead to difficulties if you’re unfamiliar with it. Perhaps we could try again tomorrow, if that’s convenient. The weather is forecast to improve overnight.’
‘No, it’s not bloody convenient!’ Jasper fired back at him. ‘Today is the only full day we have here. Some of us have proper jobs to get back to.’
‘Jasper!’ I said, flushing pink on my boyfriend’s behalf and sending Matt an apologetic look as Jasper clearly had no intention of doing so.
‘What?’ Jasper turned now, snapping at me again. ‘This is all your bloody fault anyway! Hire a guide, you said, it’s not safe without one, you said. And now look at us! I knew I shouldn’t have listened to you. Bloody women. I’d be up there by now if it wasn’t for you and your bright ideas!’
The blush I’d felt tingling at Jasper’s earlier rudeness now came out in full force. At least now if anyone did get in trouble in the vicinity, they’d have a glowing beacon in the form of my face to guide rescuers to them.
‘I did say I wasn’t sure it was really my thing.’
‘Oh, so now it’s
my fault? Of course it is.’
‘The lady was right to suggest hiring a guide, and for someone who’s never done anything like this before, she’s doing well.’
Jasper issued a cold bark of a laugh. ‘Flatter all the pretty women, do you? I see you’re not wearing a wedding ring. You must keep yourself very busy up here.’
I lowered my gaze and looked for a massive hole in which to disappear. Even a small one would do – I wasn’t fussy. Anything to extricate myself from this excruciating situation.
When I met him, I thought Jasper Hamilton-Grey was good-looking, charming and kind. I’d not long come out of a long-term relationship that hadn’t ended well and my confidence, never high at the best of times, had taken a hit. So when Jasper showed an interest in me, I was entranced. That was really the only word for it. The rent on my flat was due a renewal in six weeks and somehow I let him talk me into moving in with him. He made it sound like a financially wise, not to mention romantic, decision. And for a while it was good. But gradually I began to see beneath the shiny, sleek veneer and I wasn’t a fan of what I saw. The sound judgement I’d been convinced of before didn’t seem all that sound now. I was, in fact, in quite the pickle. I was not only dependent on him for a home, having given up my tiny rental, but also my employment. Jasper had assured me I wasn’t fulfilling my potential making coffees for strangers and I should come and work for him as an assistant. Something I could build a career out from. I liked my job at the coffee shop but I knew it wasn’t a career. It was supposed to have been temporary. The trouble was I was now in my thirties and still had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up! But then there was Jasper with his promises of great pay and perks and I’d be working in a swanky office in the City.
The truth was, though, the pay wasn’t all that brilliant. In fact, it wasn’t much more than for my barista job and I didn’t get tips here. I also missed the interaction with the customers, especially those regulars I’d got to know over the years. And the biggest poke in the eye was that my job, my promised swish admin job that would help me begin stretching my capabilities and ‘showing the world what I could do’ (Jasper’s words) basically involved me making coffee for him, his clients and the rest of the staff. Most days I was bored out of my skull and secretly longed for my old job and – even more secretly – my old studio flat back. I’d bought new clothes, as Jasper had said my old ones didn’t really suit the ‘new me’ – whoever the new me was. New, or old, me was sure of one thing though. Jasper was often capable of bei
ng a rude, embarrassing, entitled arse. And today he was outdoing himself.
‘It’s this way, I assume?’ Before Matt could answer Jasper strode off back down the mountain, still yapping away to himself.
Matt watched him go, the corners of his mouth tilted up ever so slightly. It was a really nice mouth. Not that I was leching, but it was hard not to notice he was pretty tasty in that I-spend-a-lot-of-time-outdoors-doing-outdoorsy-things way. Not like a weather-beaten Captain Birdseye, just sort of rugged. Yes, that was it. Matt was rugged. With ice blue eyes that looked straight into your soul. Those eyes now squinted at the bracing wind whipping up and ramming into the wall of rock behind us, but as he turned to me I noticed they too had a hint of the same smile. Jasper amused him. Whereas my boyfriend had clearly been going for intimidating, apparently all he’d done was entertain our guide.
‘I suppose it’s probably not the best idea to piss off your guide up a mountain either?’ I said, shrugging my rucksack back on.
‘You’re a fast learner.’
‘Sorry about Jasper. He was… he was just looking forward to it.’
Matt put out an arm as my boots hit a bit of shale and I slid forward with the momentum. I grabbed it automatically.
‘Thanks.’
‘You’re welcome. Watch out for that, there’s patches of it all over. Also, don’t apologise for your boyfriend. He’s the arse.’ He gave me a look. ‘Sorry to be blunt.’
‘That’s OK.’
‘Fuck!’ In front of us, Jasper was stomping along in a mood and did exactly what I’d just done but without the care Matt had warned him to take before we’d put one foot on the mountain this morning. Too busy throwing his metaphorical toys out of the pram, he’d now slid and fallen straight on his backside.
‘You all right there, mate?’ Matt held out a hand to help him up. Jasper pointedly ignored it, and its owner, and heaved himself up. Without looking bac
k to see if I was OK, he stomped on.
‘So, do you want me to take you back to the hotel or is there something else you fancy doing in the area today instead?’
‘No, there isn’t anything else I bloody fancy doing. What a sodding waste of time and money! As for you—’ he pointed an expensively gloved finger at Matt, ‘just wait until I get on Tripadvisor.’
Matt gave a kind of side nod that indicated that was Jasper’s prerogative. I felt an inward groan. Jasper loved that site. The last time a hotel room hadn’t been up to his exacting standards, he’d written a flippin’ essay! I say he did. What actually happened was that he dictated it, striding about his penthouse, peering down on all the people below (something I realised now was actually the perfect metaphor for him), while I madly typed his venomous words into a review. What he didn’t know was that the next day, I uploaded my own review, under an alias, giving the boutique hotel, which had really been quite lovely, a glowing five-star rating to try and balance out his unfair attack. It wasn’t the first time I’d done it, and I could see I’d be preparing another
very soon.
‘Would you like me to drop you back at the hotel, then?’ Matt asked again, his features still relaxed and impassive. Honestly, this guy was either a saint or on something. I somehow doubted it was the latter, seeing as he looked like an advert for an expensive health and lifestyle brand. Shame though. I could have done with something to help me chill out right now.
Jasper was almost puce with frustration. I wasn’t relishing the trip back down south from Wales with a furious Ribena berry.
‘Is there anywhere else we could climb?’ The area was stunning and I’d have been happy to explore more now that the original, insanely scary plan had to change.
‘I don’t want to go anywhere else. I wanted to climb this one!’ Jasper snapped, doing an excellent impression of a spoilt five-year-old.
‘I know, but the weather is preventing us, so perhaps there’s a compromise?’
‘It’s not the weather preventing us,’ he growled at me, shooting Matt a dark look.
I let it go, as did Matt. He’d obviously sussed out pretty quickly that Jasper wasn’t worth the breath he’d expend in arguing. Unfortunately, it had taken me rather longer.
‘I can have a look and speak to another couple of guides on the satellite phone. The weather can vary a lot within a short distance up here so it’s possible somewhere else might be more accessible, if that’s something you’re open to.’
‘That would be great, if you don’t mind.’ I smiled at Matt, trying to make up for my boyfriend’s unforgivable lack of manners.
‘Do you want to ask if I mind,’ Jasper interjected, throwing me a look as dark as the one Matt had received moments earlier, ‘before you and he start making plans together? Perhaps I should just go? Leave you to it as you seem so keen to remain in his company.’
I stayed silent. I’d forgotten to mention the jealousy. Firstly it had been a little thrilling, in that strange way that the mind works. That someone wants you and the thought of others wanting you affects them deep down. But it soon morphed into more than that and t
hen it wasn’t so fun any more. Jasper liked his money and he bought possessions with it. Sometimes I wondered if he considered me as just another of those possessions.
‘If there’s an easier climb available, you may not need me anyway. Especially as you already have experience,’ Matt said, looking at Jasper. Full kudos to him for keeping any hint of sarcasm out of the last sentence.
Jasper puffed up a little. ‘That is true. OK, then. Make your calls.’ He gave a flick of his fingers in a shooing motion. A tiny muscle flickered in Matt’s jaw and I momentarily saw it tighten. Maybe a lot of people wouldn’t, but I’d grown up watching for these tiny signs that indicated people’s moods and the possible actions that might follow. A tiny knot curled itself in my stomach. Matt turned away to make the call, catching my eye as he did so, while Jasper stabbed madly at his own phone, trying desperately to get a signal on it. Matt’s face softened and the knot miraculously unfurled.
‘Two thousand pounds and it still can’t get a bloody signal!’ Jasper stomped off to another spot further away from me and I breathed out, turned to the stunning scenery we’d had our backs to and let my mind drift, concentrating on the view in front of me and nothing else.
‘So, apparently the weather is better on the other side of the valley. I’m happy to take you walking over there, or I can take you and pick you up later if you’d prefer. There’s also a bus to the village once every hour.’
‘A bus?’ Jasper looked at the man, astonishment sending his eyebrows so far up his face they nearly shot off the top of his head. ‘A bus?’ he repeated. ‘Do I look like the sort of person who takes public transport of any sort?’
Matt wisely, and commendably, chose to remain silent about what sort of person Jasper looked like, instead waiting patiently for a reply to the question he’d asked.
‘Well, I’ve already shelled out on your so-called services so I may as well get some use out of you.’
‘That money can, of course, be very easily refunded if you’d prefer, sir.’ Matt certainly looked as if he’d prefer it and I didn’t blame him.
‘No, come on. Where’s this better weather, then?’ Jasper stomped between us, heading to the four-by-four Matt had met us in.
‘Sorry about this,’ I said, keeping my voice low as Matt and I both turned to follow him.
His focus was on the way ahead. ‘You’re not responsible for other people’s actions, so you don’t need to apologise for them.’
‘No, I know. But still…’ I let the sentence drift off.
‘But still what?’
‘I… just…’ I opened my mouth to continue, closed it when I realised I had no idea of what to say and then opened it again to try and fill the silence. Matt had glanced back to check the path ahead but now turned again. One dark brow rose a tiny bit, as if prompting me.
‘I’ve no idea,’ I said, exhaling. ‘I just felt like I should apologise. He’s not always like this.’
Matt paused before he gave a small nod of acceptance, which I got the impression was anything but. He was right, of course. It wasn’t my fault that Jasper acted like a total knob at times but somehow I always felt the need to apologise to the perfectly nice people who got in the way of his imperious attitude.
Matt beeped the vehicle open and Jasper, with a long-suffering huff, yanked open the front passenger door and climbed in, slamming the door closed with more force than was strictly necessary.
‘Guess you’re in the back, then,’ Matt said quietly.
‘Guess so,’ I replied, looking up at him as his hand wrapped around the door handle. And then he smiled. Just for a second. But it was enough.
‘You two took your time,’ Jasper harrumphed as Matt started the engine and pulled out on the road. ‘Perhaps I should just leave you two to go off hiking.’
That might be nice…
‘You strode off, Jasper. You could have waited for me.’
‘I can’t keep slowing down just for you to catch up. I told you if you wanted to come this weekend, you’d have to keep up.’
There were two things wrong with that statement. The first was that I hadn’t actually been keen on coming this weekend anyway and had suggested he go on his own, especially as he had a guide for company. Jasper would, of course, disagree but I reckoned he’d been lucky to land Matt as a guide as he clearly had an enormous reserve of patience. But, of course, I had to come. Jasper had been appalled at the idea of me staying at home. What would people think if his girlfriend wasn’t supportive? Well, I supposed they might think that I could do with a break from him. But we couldn’t have people thinking his relationship, or anything else in his world, was anything less than perfect.
The second was that he was portraying himself to be some sort of expert at this mountain lark and he wasn’t. Matt, on the other hand, clearly was a bona fide professional. A real-life action man. Now he had his jacket off, a semi-fitted T-shirt hinted at some serious muscles beneath it, rock-hard biceps poking out of the sleeves. He even had the buzz cut to go with the image. I tilted my head surreptitiously to look for the ‘Eagle Eyes’ switch at the back of his neck.
‘Comfy back there?’ he asked, turning his head as he waited for a car in front to turn off the road, timing his movement perfectly to catch me peering at the back of his head. Crap.
‘Umm, yeah, fine, thanks,’ I replied, stretching my neck to the other side and doing that arm cross-over thing that stretched your shoulders or your back or something. I never was quite sure what it did. I just did it before I exercised because everyone else did.
‘Good.’
‘I’m comfortable too, you’ll be glad to know,’ Jasper added snarkily.
‘Great. It won’t be too long now.’
Jasper looked at his Rolex. ‘Glad to hear it. We’ve wasted enough time already.’
Matt’s eyes flicked up to the rear-view mirror, momentarily catching mine, before looking back at the road in front.
‘This is stunning!’ I said, looking out of the window at the swathes of green, punctuated by mountains reaching for the sky. A sky that was, as our guide had promised, completely different from the one we’d left behind. Soft edged white clouds chased through the blue sky above. There was still a breeze, but nothing like that on the other side of the mountain. I knew Matt wouldn’t be taking us anywhere that would be risky. Jasper’s manner often intimidated people and resulted in him getting his own way but it hadn’t worked here and I’d inwardly, and possibly outwardly, drawn a sigh of relief at that. This terrain wasn
’t something to mess with. It didn’t care how much money you or your parents had, what school you went to, or what car you drove. If you made a mistake, or didn’t give it the respect it deserved, you’d still end up taking the quick way down.
‘Beautiful, isn’t it?’
‘It really is,’ I said, peering out of the window and smiling as a sheep looked up from her munching as Matt slowed to manoeuvre a particularly tight corner.
‘Are we nearly there?’ Jasper asked, looking up from his phone for two seconds.
‘Not far now.’
Jasper returned to his phone. Probably composing his Tripadvisor piece while he was still all fired up.
‘Isn’t the scenery breathtaking, Jasper?’ I prompted. Perhaps if he let himself appreciate the landscape, ...
