“Except for the girl watching through the window,” said Pete with a wink. “And she has been well taken care of.”
Dave laughed and Kelly grinned feeling immense relief. Dave was part of the family.
“We’re dropping Spencer’s,” Johnny said, as they all went towards the lounge talking about what had happened.
Kelly dropped behind. “I’ll make some drinks,” she said, heading for the kitchen.
“Hi, Mrs Januka,” she said. “Dave’s home.”
“I wondered what all the commotion was about. I’m glad. Hate to think of him in that place, he’s such a sweetie.”
Kelly laughed. “He is a charmer, that’s for sure. I’m just going to make coffee for them.”
“I can do that,” she said, even though her hands were wrist deep in flour.
“No, it’s fine. Let me do it, otherwise, I’ll have to sit with them while they talk shop.”
Besides, Kelly quite liked doing things for herself. Just the act of making coffee gave her pleasure. Mrs Januka was great, everyone loved her, but sometimes, Kelly would have liked the freedom to move about her own kitchen undisturbed.
Kelly carried the tray to the lounge, setting it down on the table and pushing down the top of the coffee percolator. Pouring into each cup, she added the right amount of milk and sugar, then handed them out.
As the smell of the coffee wafted around the room, Johnny gave her bottom a pat of acknowledgment. She sat down away from them with her coffee and sipped as they continued to talk.
Her mind wandered to the last time she was out collecting. Jenny’s went fine, with no more suggestions of sleeping with Pete. It still made her smile. As much as she loved Pete, the idea sleeping with him was not something that ever appealed to her. In fact, she couldn’t recall ever seeing him with a girl. Underneath that hard and ugly exterior was a nice guy. Surely there should be someone out there for him?
Then she thought of Sue and the last time she had been around. Pete had waited outside the front door as she had to get used to going in alone.
“Remember,” said Pete as she was about to knock. “Say anything, you can be a scary bitch when you want to.”
Kelly grinned and knocked hard on the front door.
Sue opened it, her lip curled at the sight of Kelly. “You again,” she said, turning away and walking inside.
Kelly pushed the door to and followed. “That’s right. Weekly visits,” she said, brightly.
In the lounge, Sue turned to her. “You really enjoy this, don’t you?”
“It’s my job, Sue. Do you know what one of those is?”
Sue sucked her cheeks. “You think I’m the scum of the earth, don’t you?”
“No. I don’t think that. I don’t think of you at all,” Kelly replied, indifferently. She really didn’t like this woman. There was just something about her.
“You fucking little cow!” Sue hissed and stepped forward.
In that instant, Kelly wasn’t sure if she was going to lunge at her. So she shoved her backward and Sue stumbled, losing her balance and fell on the sofa.
“Just watch who you’re talking to,” Kelly said in her sternest voice without raising it. “You pay me the money, and I leave, get it?”
The hate that came out of Sue’s eyes almost made Kelly stagger back, but she managed to stay still.
“You think this is what I am?” Sue waved her hand. “This is not who I am. I’m getting straight again. I’m not just a nobody, you know?”
“I don’t care whether you are the Prime Minister’s daughter. You pay what you owe, and I leave. It’s as simple as that.”
Sue scowled. “One day, you’ll get what’s due to you.”
“Oh,” said Kelly, “Is that a threat?”
Sue didn’t reply, but got up and went into the drawer and slapped the money into Kelly’s open palm.
“Thank you,” she said. “And let’s not be so dramatic next time, eh?”
She turned and left, feeling Sue’s eyes burning into her back.
Once outside Pete looked at her and she realised her hands were shaking again. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Are you are right? Did she give you any trouble?”
“She’s a little bitch, that one, but I think I handled it. I’d still feel better if you came with me again next week, though. I don’t trust her.”
“I’m yours as long as you want me,” he said.
Back in the room, Johnny was saying something about people that needed moving and putting to work as soon as possible. Kelly brought her eyes back to the men sitting at the table drinking coffee. They looked like businessmen discussing corporate strategy. This life, thought Kelly, her eyes flicking wistfully to the garden again.
Then Johnny suddenly said, “It’s been a long time since we threw a party, and this seems something to celebrate.”
“Long overdue,” agreed Pete.
Although it sounded nice to Kelly, the last thing they wanted was to draw the attention back to themselves. “Don’t we have to be careful? I mean, if the police have looked our way once?”
“You’re right, but don’t you worry, we’ll take care of that,” Johnny told her. “All you need to do is look pretty.”
“And collect money,” she added.
Johnny stared at her before saying, “And you’re pretty good from what I’ve heard.”
“I wouldn’t say that, but I am doing it. I just have bad feelings about that Sue.”
“She’s all mouth,” Pete said. “You handle her well, and you’re very good with Jenny so don’t put yourself down.”
“Me or Pete will always come with you if you’re not happy going on your own,” said Dave.
She nodded. “I’m only doing this because you asked me, Johnny. I don’t like it, and I’d rather not see their faces as I just do the books.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit,” said Johnny, with a smile that was a little tight. “Does she?” He looked at Dave and Pete.
“You’re better than you think,” Pete agreed, but he would say anything for Johnny.
“Listen to Pete. You’re still getting used to it. Anyway, back to the party...”
Kelly listened and nodded, trying to make herself more affable. After all, she didn’t want to upset Johnny again. “Okay, I’ll make arrangements with Mrs Januka. I’m sure she will be delighted.”
There would never be any point arguing with him. He was always right and always got what he wanted in the end. She was never going to get out of this.
“Good. I want you to buy yourself something stunning,” Johnny said. “There’s a place in Trackham that does designer gear. I want you to go there as it has a good reputation. I’m planning to have some potential business contacts come, and I want you to play your part, so buy something to enhance your beauty.”
“I’ve seen that place,” she said with a smile. “Thank you, I will.”
“Use my credit card,” he added and gave her another smile.
She couldn’t help but feel a little excitement. Johnny’s parties were well attended and fun. Plus, she had always fancied going to that shop in town. It looked far too expensive, even for her, so with Johnny’s blessing, she was more than happy.
“How’s the yoga going?” Dave asked, having watched her practice in the garden.
“Good. I like it.”
“You go to that retreat, don’t you?” He added.
Kelly’s heart dropped as Johnny suddenly looked up. “What retreat?”
“The one down the back road over Forsham way,” Dave volunteered, not realising this was the first Johnny had heard of it.
“I hadn’t told you because I didn’t think you’d be interested,” she lied.
“Since when do you keep things to yourself? Of course, I’m interested.”
Dave stood up, aware that he had caused a little trouble. “Sorry, I didn’t realise it was a secret. I’m gonna get showered and burn these clothes. Get the stink of pig off m
e.”
Pete stood too. “Yeah, thanks for the coffee, I’ve got some stuff I need to be doing.”
That left her and Johnny looking at one another. “Tell me about this retreat?” He said as the door closed.
“There is nothing to tell, really. I came across it one day and liked what I saw. I go a couple times a week. The rest of the time I practise in the garden. I just need something for myself, Johnny.”
“You don’t need anything more than what I provide for you.”
She sighed. “I know, generally, it is enough, but I want to stay healthy and looking good for you. It’s important to me too.”
“I don’t like you keeping anything from me. I like to know exactly what goes on in my organisation. You know that. It’s the only way I can control everything.”
“It’s not part of your organisation. It’s just something I like to do.”
“You are part of it. You play an integral part of it. I’m the one who says what’s good for you, K, not you. So, tell me more about this retreat and let me decide.”
She had no choice, but it felt like a betrayal. “They do residential courses and people come from all over the country to learn how to meditate and learn different types of yoga. The teachers are all about Karma, which comes from the teachings of old Buddhism.”
“It sounds like a load of twaddle to me.”
“It isn’t, Johnny. I don’t go for the Buddhism part, but everything else is good. It’s a special place and people pay hundreds of pounds just to study there.” As soon as she said it, she groaned inwardly.
“Do they really?” He said as his eyes lit up. “Perhaps this is something I need to look into.”
“I’d rather you didn’t,” she said a tad too quickly.
“Oh? And why’s that?”
“Because it’s mine. It’s something I do, and I don’t want it to be part of any shady business.” She cringed. Damn.
“Shady business?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it quite like that.”
“You bloody will be,” he said. “You think all of this is shady?”
“That’s not what I meant, it was just a bad choice of words.”
“Then explain what you do mean as I really want to understand. Aren’t all the new dresses enough? You don’t want for anything, K. How do you think all that is paid for?”
“Look, I said the wrong thing, and I said I was sorry.” She rose to her feet as it was time to leave this conversation.
He got up too, and as she turned his way, he slapped her face. Only once this time. “Perhaps you need to be reminded who the boss is around here. I’m the one who makes the decisions for the right reasons. Do you understand me?”
Kelly held her cheek as it smarted under her hand. “I understand too well. What you don’t understand is I’m not yours to smack around.”
He laughed. “Darling, one slap now and again as a reminder doesn’t do anybody any harm.”
“But that’s just it, Johnny, I’m not anybody. Anybody can be anybody.”
“Ah, fuck off, Kelly, with your riddles and rhymes, before I really lose my temper.”
She turned and grabbed the door handle, but then turned back to face him. “You can’t control people by hurting them. Ultimately, it only drives them away.”
“You think you can just walk out of here, do you? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No, I’ve no intention of leaving. I know which side my bread is buttered, but to have me love you is something money can’t buy.”
She opened the door, stepped out, and closed it quietly behind her. She wanted to slam it, but her point was made. He wasn’t stupid. He’d know exactly what she meant. Little by little she knew she was withdrawing.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Kelly
It was early morning, and they were just dressing when Johnny produced the credit card. It was gold, and she knew it was the special one immediately. Her words obviously had the desired effect.
“I want you to look stunning on Saturday. Buy something really special. Money is no object, and I like red on you.”
She gave him a half smile, glad that he’d made the first move after their argument. It was what she wanted.
“Thank you,” she said, taking the card from him.
He grabbed her around the waist. “You know I love you?” He said, pulling her close and running his hands over her negligee.
“I do.” She looked up at him, placing one hand on his bicep, and the other on his credit card. She felt in control again. “This tells me you do.”
“I want you to love me, K, love me back, please.”
She couldn’t bring herself to say the words he wanted to hear because she didn’t feel they were truthful anymore. “I’m not a puppet, and I can’t be your yes/no girl. I’m certainly not someone you slap about.”
“I’m sorry, darling,” he said, as his mouth nuzzled her ear. “You know I am. I just lose my temper sometimes, but I don’t want to lose you.”
“I know,” she said softly, as her body respond to his.
He nuzzled her neck. “I love every part of you and every part of you belongs to me, my sweet cherry, Kelly.”
She was unable to resist his touch as her mouth found his. The credit card dropped to the floor.
Later that day, Kelly stepped into Carol Arthur Designer Wear. An elegant woman in her mid-50s was sitting at a desk. Her grey-blonde hair was clean and fresh, shining as it hung at her shoulders.
“I’m looking for a very special dress,” Kelly said as she closed the door behind her.
“Well, you have come to the right place, I’m Carol Arthur. What did you have in mind?”
“My boyfriend would like me to buy something red and beautiful. I don’t want to disappoint him. I was thinking perhaps something that clings to me in all the right places.”
“I’m sure we can find you just the outfit you want. Did you have a budget in mind?”
“No, there’s no limit.”
Carol smiled, and Kelly chuckled to herself. She could see the look in her eyes and knew exactly what she was thinking. That smile was even wider now.
“Come in here, let me show you what we have.”
They stepped into another area, and Carol pulled back a curtain revealing a rail of gowns. They all seemed to be arranged in size. “And what size would madam be? About an 8?”
“I was, but I think I’ve lost a bit of weight recently as my clothes feel looser than they used to.”
“In that case, I’ll get my tape measure just to be on the safe side.”
Her high-heeled shoes clipped on the wooden floor as she walked to the desk.
Raising her arms, Carol expertly measured her. “You are a very neat size 6.”
“Okay, I hope you have some size 6 in stock.”
“I’m sure we have, but if you see something else in a different size, then we can have it ordered and made especially for you.”
“Thank you, that would have been a good idea had I thought about buying something earlier. The party is on Saturday.”
“I see, in that case, I’m sure there will be something that catches your eye.”
She pulled out a moveable hanging rail and put all the size 6 dresses she had onto it. “If you’d like to take a seat,” she said, indicating the high-backed red leather chair behind Kelly. “I’ll run through them first. All these are in your size, so we shall start with these. You can decide which ones you would like to try on.”
Kelly nodded and put her bag beside the chair, sitting down.
“This one is a Karen Millen, made of satin with a gathering here to give ample curves,” she added with a smile.
Kelly listened to her go through each one and she certainly knew her stuff.
Eventually, Kelly chose three to try. They were all fairly similar. One of them was particularly stunning and after putting it on, she came out to the front of the shop to look into the mirrored wall.
“Wow, you look de
vastating,” Carol Arthur purred, “It’s as though it was made for you.”
Kelly couldn’t agree more. The red Lycra fabric was thin, so it didn’t add inches to her curves. It had a long V at the back stretching thinly down to her buttocks. The front didn’t show cleavage, but it didn’t need to. It moulded over each breast and down across her stomach, rounding her hips with a sheer drop to just below her knees. The fabric stretched with her as she walked and this only emphasised the shape and voluptuousness of her thighs. Johnny was going to love it, and she had to admit, she did too. Nobody would be able to take their eyes off her, and that was exactly the effect she wanted. He would be blown away. It was always good to stay one step ahead of him.
“I love it,” Kelly said softly, running her hands over her hips. As she turned from the mirror to look back at Carol, she saw a face watching from the window and her heart almost stopped.
The look on Sue’s face was a mixture of envy and rage. It was as if she were saying, so this is where all the extra interest I pay goes.
Kelly felt instantly ashamed, as if she shouldn’t be buying expensive dresses. She never did want to get involved in the money taking. It made her feel like she was preying on the vulnerable herself, never mind doing Johnny’s bidding. This was one of the reasons she didn’t want to do this bloody job in the first place.
“I’ll take it,” she said abruptly. She wanted to leave quickly. Carol was infuriatingly slow as she carefully wrapped the dress and placed it into a box, and then into a carrier bag with her company name written on it. She then fed the credit card through. Kelly signed for the purchase, glancing outside for the face that was no longer there.
She wanted to be a good person, but her lifestyle and Johnny made her just the opposite.
Sue was nowhere to be seen when she got outside, and Kelly headed back down the road towards the taxi rank
Without warning, something hit her hard on the back of the head. She was then pulled backward over a wall.
“Fucking little bitch,” Sue hissed as she felt another blow to her head. For a moment, she blacked out, but came to almost immediately.
“You stuck up fucking cow!” She heard Sue say close to her face.
The Truth Will Out Page 8