Demons

by Beth Abbott

  “Why can’t Suzy work for you?” Lacey demanded. “I’m supposed to work for an Alpha Company director. I shouldn’t have to work for another PA.”

  Jumped up little madam! Claire could feel herself grinding her teeth.

  “I’ve worked as JT’s PA for almost twenty years, since the day the company started.” Claire explained. “But for the last eight years I’ve done it because I like helping JT, and it’s good for our family. I don’t bother taking a regular wage because to be honest with you, I don’t need the money. And besides, what I get in directors’ bonuses and dividends from Alpha has made me richer than I ever dreamed I’d be. Besides, I give most of it to my kids and grandkids because I don’t want it going to the state in Inheritance Tax.”

  Claire watched Lacey’s face change from arrogant to stunned.

  “Why do you get directors’ bonuses from Alpha Company.” Lacey demanded, as though she had a right to that information.

  “Because I’m a junior director, on the same level as Marcus, Thomas, Drew and Tony.” Claire smiled. “And I have been for eight years. So, might I suggest that you moderate the way you speak to me from now on, because while I don’t want to invoke that ‘get lost’ clause in your contract, if you keep up this attitude towards me, I’ll be left with no choice than to kick your ass the hell out of Alpha Company. Is that clear?”

  Lacey nodded silently.

  “Great.” Claire clapped her hands together, making Lacey jump. “So, why don’t you have a large coffee and pop a couple of pills to help you get rid of that hangover, and report back to me in thirty minutes. We’ve got work to do.”

  Claire watched Lacey the Bitch walk out of the door and back to her cubicle, the poor woman looking like she’d been kicked in the teeth.

  Poor woman, my ass! Claire got up to shut her door.

  That was the woman who was quite happy to make Suzy miserable, and keep Matt away from his family.

  It was time Lacey the Bitch learned what being part of the Alpha Company family was all about.

  Chapter 20 – Megan

  Megan pulled into Robbie’s drive and cut the engine of her little Uno. It was only a ten-mile drive from her flat out of Birmingham heading north-west, but this exclusive private road of gated multi-million-pound properties was a world away from where she’d grown up, not to mention where she lived now.

  But instead of being jealous, she was proud of her baby brother. He was doing so well for himself through his own hard work and talent.

  Staring at the front door, she almost wished she could be anywhere else, and then immediately felt guilty. She adored Robbie and would quite happily have shared a house with him if it had just been the two of them.

  As it was, with Cerys living with him, Megan spent more time making excuses for why she couldn’t visit than was really fair on either of them.

  Cerys was so like their mother Megan could hardly stand to look at her, and when she sponged off Robbie, constantly demanding he buy her everything she took a liking to, Megan could happily have slapped her all the way back to Cardiff.

  She was a money-sucking leach, and the sooner Robbie grew confident and strong enough to stand up to her the better.

  The tapping at the side window made her jump, and she turned to see Robbie’s face mushed up against the glass, making his nostrils look huge.

  “Ugh!” She complained. “Gross! I hope you have some wet-wipes to clean my window.”

  Robbie stepped back laughing as she opened the door.

  “There are groupies that hang around outside the training ground, and if I did that to their car, they would literally remove the window and sell it on e-bay.” He grinned. “Or frame it and hang it on their bedroom wall.”

  “Freaks, the lot of them!” She climbed out of the car, shaking her head. “Where did you come from? I was staring at the front door.”

  “I came from the back” Robbie grinned. “I was putting the recycling bins out.”

  He grabbed her handbag and slung it over his shoulder, wrapping his free arm around Megan to walk her into the house.

  “Ok, what’s with the hugging and wearing my bag.” She looked up at him suspiciously. “If you want to try cross-dressing, I’ll lend you my whole wardrobe, but you’ll have to get your own tights and trousers. Your legs are way longer than mine.”

  “Can’t I cwtch my own sister if I want to, and help her carry that heavy load?” Robbie grinned.

  “You can.” Megan nodded, smiling at his use of the Welsh word for cuddle. “Then you can tell me why you’re acting so weird. You’re freaking me out being this loving. Act like a normal teenager, for goodness sake, and scowl at me.”

  “Ok, there is something I need to warn you about.” Robbie grimaced, walking her through the door and shutting it behind him. “Cerys is here.”

  “Robbie!” Megan hissed. “Couldn’t you have called me and postponed? You know she and I have nothing in common except you, and as I suspect only one of us actually loves you for yourself, I don’t think that qualifies as common ground.”

  “I didn’t know she was staying home, honestly. Every other night she’s already gone out by now.” Robbie protested. “But a few things have happened today which I’ll tell you about later, and once she found out, Cerys decided to stay home.”

  “Cerys would stay home just to spoil my evening.” Megan rolled her eyes. “That’s all the reason she needs.”

  “Well, if she starts playing up, just tell her to get lost.” Robbie shrugged. “And on the bright side, tonight you’re going to be treated to the best meal you’ve ever eaten at my place that you didn’t have to cook yourself.”

  Megan paused to take her coat off, and she had to admit that something smelled really good.

  “Since when did you learn to cook anything other than beans on toast?” She grinned at Robbie as she unwound her scarf and hung it on the bannister. “And if you’re gonna tell me that Cerys is cooking, I’m gonna put my coat on and get back in my car right now.”

  “I have someone staying with me for a while.” Robbie grinned. “You’ve already met, so I hope it’s not gonna be too awkward for you.”

  He took her hand and pulled her into the kitchen, barely giving her a chance to grab her handbag off the floor.

  “Megan, you remember Evan, don’t you? He gave you a lift home the other night.” Robbie grinned at her. “He’s our chef for the evening, as well as being my new housemate.”

  Megan felt her cheek muscles freeze, fortunately into the smile she was wearing before Robbie stepped aside.

  Evan stood in front of her, wearing a silly apron, a saucepan in one hand and a colander in the other.

  Dear God! She was actually going to have to spend the evening in Evan’s company if she didn’t want Robbie to find out who he was!

  “Hello Megan.” Evan smiled politely. “I’m sorry for the intrusion on your family time, but as Robbie said, it was decided just today that I was going to be staying with him for a while. I hope it doesn’t spoil your evening too much. I’ll be out of your way as soon as the food is cooked.”

  “What do you mean you’ll be out of our way?” Robbie demanded. “You’re gonna eat with us, aren’t you?”

  “I was going to eat in my room, and let you have some family time.” Evan shrugged.

  “The fuck you will!” Robbie snorted. “You’re eating with us.”

  “Robbie, perhaps Evan doesn’t want to spend an evening listening to your bad language.” Megan scolded, hoping Evan would take the not so subtle hint and retreat to his room.

  “Yeah, because he looks like the kind of guy who’s never uttered a profanity in his life.” Megan spun around at the sound of Cerys’ voice behind her. “I’m with Robbie. The man-candy can eat with us. It’ll be nice to have something worth looking at for a change.”

  Megan rolled her eyes. Cerys was on form. Again!

  “Excuse Cerys.” She turned back to Evan. “She hasn’t yet learned how to behave in civilised
company. Please don’t feel you have to eat with our dysfunctional family. I’m quite sure it’s not in your job description, and if it is, they’re probably not paying you enough.”

  “Don’t listen to the frump.” Cerys sidled up to Evan, brushing her chest against his arm, and fluttering her eyelashes at him as she walked to the refrigerator. “Not all of us are boring, born-again virgins. Some of us like to have a little fun, if you know what I mean.”

  Megan’s cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she refused to involve herself further in her sister’s attempt to liven up the evening.

  “Evan, is there anything I can help you with in the kitchen?” She asked politely, trying to distract his attention from Cerys’ outrageous flirting.

  Evan deliberately moved away from Cerys, turning to the sink to drain the broccoli.

  “You could get some plates and cutlery.” He smiled at her. “The food is just about ready.”

  Megan turned her back to him and started laying four places at the table.

  “Robbie, could you get some drinks and glasses, please?” Megan smiled at her brother. “Maybe some wine or beer for you guys, and a Coke for me, please.”

  “Sure, sis.” Robbie grinned. “Full-fat or decaf?”

  She knew he was referring to her Coke.

  “Full-fat, thanks.” She smiled at him. “I still can’t drink that diet or decaf crap. I’ll burn off the calories in work tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, yeah!” Cerys sat at the table waiting for her food, a bottle of vodka and a carton of orange juice in front of her. “Because your ass is obviously so fat you need to worry about all that weight gain.”

  Megan was a healthy UK size ten, and her weight tended to hover between a hundred and fifteen and a hundred and twenty pounds. At five-feet-six, she liked to think that was her perfect weight, so she ignored Cerys’ outburst like she’d never spoken.

  She glanced over to see what Evan was dishing out.

  “Poached salmon, boiled potatoes and some veggies.” He glanced over and smiled at her. “There’s a salad as well if you want some.”

  Megan stared at him in surprise.

  Poached salmon was her absolute favourite food, and after all the times she’d made him eat it during their brief marriage, she had absolutely no doubt he’d cooked it especially for her.

  “Sounds lovely.” She smiled politely, taking the salad bowl to the table.

  When all the food was dished out, they took their seats, and she found herself sitting opposite her sister, with Evan sitting immediately to her right.

  Evan politely waited for everyone else to help themselves to food before he filled his plate with what was left.

  “Holy shit! Look how much he’s gonna eat!” Cerys giggled, pointing at Evan’s plate. “That’s enough food for three days for me!”

  “Cerys, don’t be so rude.” Megan scolded. “I’m sure Evan’s calorie intake is no more than a man of his stature requires. And need I point out that it’s all healthy food. You’ve got more calories in your glass than he has on his plate.”

  “I have a good appetite.” Evan smiled at her. “But thankfully, I have an even better metabolism. I burn off more calories than I can take in most days. Not so much as when I was still in the military, but not far off.”

  “Evan runs marathons.” Robbie mumbled, his mouth full of food. “London and Boston.”

  Megan wasn’t surprised. He’d always been a fitness fanatic.

  “Why those two?” Cerys frowned. “There are plenty more glamorous locations to run a marathon than that.”

  Evan smiled at her naivety.

  “It’s not about how glamorous the location is.” He explained. “I ran London the first time because it fitted in with my leave from the army. I’d applied several times before, but I missed out because I’d been overseas on the actual date. I’ve done London five times now.”

  “And why Boston?” Robbie asked. “Aren’t Chicago and New York just as famous.”

  “I did Boston with the guys from Alpha Company.” Evan explained. “After the bombing at the 2013 Boston marathon, the British Alpha Company guys and their American counterparts in Stalwart Security signed up to run Boston as a show of solidarity with the city. They’d been doing the Philadelphia marathon for a few years anyway, so this was just supposed to be a one-off switch. As it turned out, they had such a great time doing it, they now go back each year. I was lucky enough to run it with them earlier this year. It nearly killed me though, because between Boston and London there was only a six-day turnaround. Jet-lag didn’t help either.”

  “What’s your best time?” Robbie asked, obviously interested in anything sporting. “Are you a serious runner?”

  “My best ever time is three hours and three minutes, so pretty decent.” Evan shrugged. “This year I did Boston in three hours and fourteen, and London in three hours and twenty-seven minutes. I was actually prouder of the London time, because it was the second marathon in a week.”

  “Man, they’re good times!” Robbie whistled. “It took Megan more than three hours to run a half marathon a few years ago.”

  Megan blushed, staring at her plate.

  “It’s not as bad as it sounds.” She shrugged, glancing up at Evan. “There were ten of us, all running for charity, and we promised we’d stay together no matter what. That meant we all had to run at the same pace as the slowest amongst us. It was worth it, though. We all finished.”

  “Good for you.” Evan seemed genuinely impressed, and Megan looked away quickly.

  “Well, I don’t see the point in it, myself.” Cerys took a large swig of her vodka. “I mean, if you want to get hot and sweaty, there are far more pleasurable ways of doing it. Wouldn’t you agree, Evan?”

  Megan kept her head down and ignored her sister’s outrageous flirting.

  Evan was old enough and experienced enough to handle Cerys all by himself.

  “It’s not about getting hot and sweaty.” Evan said simply. “It’s about challenging your fitness and applying discipline to train to get yourself to that level. The training is where the achievement is. Running the actual race is just the icing on the cake. Setting a personal best time occasionally is the cherry on the top.”

  Cerys giggled, turning her attention solely on Evan.

  “How about you use your culinary skills to mix up a batch of icing sugar, and I’ll show you somewhere you can put your cherry.” She purred.

  Robbie slammed his knife and fork down on the table.

  “For fuck’s sake, Cerys!” He shouted. “Do you have to talk like that? If you want to act like a common little tart, go to one of those bars you spend all your time in. The guys there might actually appreciate it.”

  Cerys stood up suddenly, pushing her chair back from the table so fast it nearly toppled over.

  “Christ, you guys are absolutely no fun whatsoever!” She picked up the Vodka and her glass. “I’m going to get changed and go out, and maybe find some place where people aren’t so judgemental. Fuck!”

  Robbie sat in his chair for a few seconds, clenching and unclenching his fists.

  “It’s fine, Robbie.” Evan smiled at him. “Don’t take any notice of her. She’s just acting out to get someone’s attention.”

  “Yeah, yours, if that little performance is anything to go by.” Robbie scowled. “I don’t know why she has to act like such a skank.”

  Megan kept her mouth shut, knowing that anything she contributed to the conversation wouldn’t be particularly kind to Cerys.

  “I’m going to call dad.” Robbie stood up. “He needs to know what’s going on with Cerys, or he’ll never understand when I finally throw her ass out on the street.”

  “Don’t worry about her behaviour on my account.” Evan reassured him. “I’ve come across women like that more often than you’d imagine, and I’m quite adept at ignoring them and keeping a safe distance.”

  “That’s not the point though, is it?” Robbie shrugged. “She’s completely out
of control, and I can’t help but think that me giving her money every month is just making her worse.”

  “Speak to your dad, Rob.” Megan nodded. “He’ll know what to do with her.”

  Megan watched Robbie walk from the room and her heart sank.

  The last thing she wanted was to have to sit in the same room as Evan, let alone have to make small talk with him.

  She stood and carried her plate to the sink.

  “Thank you for the meal, Evan.” She smiled as she rinsed the remains of her dinner down the waste disposal and loaded her plate in the dishwasher. “Tell Robbie I’ll call him in the morning.”

  Evan stood up as she reached for her bag.

  “Meg, you’ve hardly eaten anything, and I made a special dessert for you.” Evan protested. “Well, I took it out of the freezer and heated it in the oven, but it’s almost the same thing.”

  Megan smiled in spite of herself.

  “Thanks Evan, but I really think I should be going.” She shrugged. “You and I have nothing to say to each other, and I have no desire to spend my evening in a house with two people I’d rather avoid. I’m sorry if that’s rude, but it is what it is.”

  “You might have nothing to say to me, but I have plenty to say to you, if you’d only listen.” Evan stepped around the table. “Won’t you just give me ten minutes of your time? Five minutes, even? Then you can tell me where to go, walk out, and I’ll never bother you again.”

  Megan stared into Evan’s chocolate brown eyes, remembering how she used to think they were warm and velvety.

  Now, they just had a wary look in them, as though he was waiting for her to make a dash for the door.

  “What’s the point, Evan?” She sighed. “Just so you can feel better about yourself?”

  He had the decency to blush.

  “Maybe, yes, in part at least.” He admitted. “But you need to hear it too, otherwise you’ll go on believing the lies I told you ten years ago. That’s not going to help you move past what happened.”

  Megan narrowed her eyes and stared at him.