by Len Webster
“What happened with your father? Is he making you…”
“I have one more appearance on Saturday.”
“But—”
“Hey, I gotta run,” Ally interrupted. “I’ll call you later. Thank you for everything, Stevie. I’m gonna miss living with you and Julian. I love you both. I’ll be sure to visit when I can. Bye.” She hung up before Stevie could say another word that would make her return to Melbourne.
As much as she wanted to speak to Rob, to make sure he was okay, Ally couldn’t. Being selfish meant being selfless. Her dreams for him were going to be a reality. With her now living in Sydney, she was sure of it.
“Well?” Julian had asked his fiancée once she hung up the phone.
Rob balled his fists, waiting to hear what Allison had told Stevie.
Stevie spun around and had given them a tight smile before she shook her head. “She’s not coming back. She’s staying.”
“Are you sure?” Rob asked, trying to sound calm and casual. Deep down, he was devastated. He deserved it, of course. But there were a lot of things he hadn’t said to her and he’d miss his chance to be with her.
“I’m sure, Rob. Ally broke her deal because of you.” She sighed and set her phone on the kitchen counter.
“What deal?” he asked, confused.
“Fuckin’ idiot,” Julian muttered as he pushed off the bench and glared at Rob. “You really are that clueless.”
“You already had your free hit, Julian. I get it. I fucked up! It’s not like you haven’t, either. You caused Stevie to run to the other side of the goddamn world. You thought she had an abor—”
“Enough!” Stevie yelled. “Stop it! Both of you. Rob, we don’t need to rehash it, all right? And you can’t compare him to what you did. At least, I knew how Julian felt from the start. Hell, he knew how much I didn’t want him near me. You led her on. You knew she cared for you.”
“No,” he breathed. “She told me she loves me.”
“And you didn’t say it back?” Julian sounded more angry than surprised. “When?”
Rob unclenched his fists and stared at his nostril-flaring brother. “Yesterday. Before her shift. She came to my apartment and …”
Stevie leant closer to him. Her bright blue eyes wide at him. “Did you … Did you sleep with her?”
He remained quiet and ignored his brother’s fiancée, opting for a change in subject. “Will she see me if I go to Sydney?”
“No,” Stevie said firmly. Then she rounded the island bench and stood next to him. “It’s all over your face. You did sleep with her and she told you she loves you. Instead of making it easier for the both of you, you don’t say it back. Trust me when I say withholding those three words can kinda affect everything. But no, she won’t see you.”
“What makes you so sure, Stevie?”
“Because she left. Because she made a deal that if she could live without her family’s money for six months, she’s free. Her father would never force her into any more of those events or club appearances. Everything she hated about her life would never hurt her again. She finally had the opportunity to say goodbye to the life that slut-shamed her when we both know how completely wrong they were.” Stevie raised her brow at him in an ‘am I right?’ gesture.
“She had to last six months and she’d be free of all of that?” he asked to confirm.
She nodded her head. “She must have spent some serious money last night for her to break the deal. She asked if you were okay. Can you believe that? She must be that in love with you.”
“I have to go to Sydney,” he announced. “I have to be with her. I have to apologise. I have to tell her I love her.”
Stevie’s hands gripped his wrists. “Don’t. I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I’m just saying not yet, Rob. One, she needs time. And two, she sounded very serious. Her family needs her. And she needs them right now. There’s stuff about Ally you don’t know. The truth is she’s lost her freedom. She agreed that if she were to break her deal, she would continue to be the socialite that she was. She’d be anything and everything her father wanted her to be in the public eye.”
His heart bled for Allison. He’d been so blind and oblivious to her. He’d put his needs over hers. She had sacrificed her happiness because of him. “Why would she make that deal?”
“For you. To be with you, Rob. To finally be worthy enough of your love. She loves you. They poisoned her. They made her believe that she’s this whore and she didn’t want that for you. So she agreed to be cut off and she was doing well. She even looked into going to university,” Stevie said with a sad smile on her lips.
Rob exhaled, hoping to release a small ounce of his pain. But it hadn’t worked. “She gave up so much for me.”
“She did,” Julian piped in.
He glanced at his young brother and then at Stevie. “So I let her go?” The question fell from his lips and the immediate explosion in his chest made it hard for him to breathe.
Stevie shook her head. “Don’t even think about. You love her. And I know you, you’re scared to love her. I was scared to love your brother. And now look, I’ve never been happier. Give her time. Her family needs her, Rob. I don’t know everything that happened in her meeting with her father, but her life’s about to change. You need to be ready for when that time comes for you to go to her.”
He nodded, accepting that the clenches in his chest would remain until he had her back in his arms once again. “I’ll be ready.”
“Hey, Rob,” Julian said.
Turning around, he faced his brother’s smirk. “Yeah?”
The idiot’s smirk deepened. “Remember when I punched you in the face?”
“Uh, yeah. This morning.” He reached up and rubbed at his jaw. His brother and Mitch, Allison’s old boss, had quite the punch. Rob was thankful that their hits didn’t result in anything serious.
Julian nodded as he closed the distance between them until they were face-to-face. Then Julian’s smug grin turned into a hard line. “Break Ally’s heart one more time and I promise I’ll have my fist waiting for your jaw. Don’t go after her and I promise I’ll have my fist waiting for your jaw. Got it?”
“Yeah. I expect you to go through with those threats of yours. But I won’t do either. I’m gonna wait for her.”
“Miss O’Connor,” a female voice said as she shook Ally.
Ally groaned.
“Miss O’Connor,” the unidentified female repeated.
“Yes?” she moaned as she covered her face with her blanket.
“It’s time to get up. Your day’s been planned out.”
Another less-than-pleased sound left Ally’s lips. “Who are you?”
“Come on. Up!” The irritation was now in the unidentified woman’s voice.
How the hell did she get in here?
In a panic, Ally quickly kicked the covers off her, sat up, and screamed, “Serge!”
The woman in the pants suit combination had her hair pulled back into a bun. She startled back when Ally glared at her.
Then there was a rush of footsteps and then her bedroom door burst open. “Ally?” His eyes swept her bedroom until they landed on her. He was by her side in seconds. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head. “Who is this woman?”
Serge sighed in relief. “Your father’s hired her as your assistant.”
“Excuse me?” Ally peered past her bodyguard to see the fearful expression of the young and attractive woman. It was hard to see much more of the woman with the windows covering much of the sunlight.
“That is correct. Hello, Miss O’Connor. I’m Frankie, and I’ll be your assistant,” she introduced.
Frankie.
It was different. Her name reminded Ally of Stevie’s. She missed her best friend. Ally would always see her every morning before Stevie went to class. Though she wouldn’t admit it out loud, she missed Julian, too.
“Fine,” Ally said once she had rubbed her face clear of sleep. “Fra
nkie, it’s nice to meet you. First off, I’m not great with mornings. The only person who gets to wake me is Serge. I wouldn’t feel bad if I tried to slap him for waking me up at such an hour. And secondly, do you mind giving Serge and me some time to talk?”
Frankie nodded her head. “Of course. I will be in your office, Miss O’Connor.” Then she began to exit Ally’s bedroom.
“And thirdly,” Ally shouted, causing Frankie to stop. She spun back around, and Ally could see the concern in her eyes. “It’s Ally. I kinda hate ‘Miss O’Connor’ and only really accept Serge saying it.”
“Yes, of course, Miss—” She paused and took a deep breath. “Ally. I’ll be in your office once you’ve eaten and showered.” Her new assistant left her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
Ally reached over and picked up the small remote from her bedside table. She pressed the button Serge had shown her the day before and the curtains began to part and showcased the beautiful harbour views. Her father had chosen well. The apartment, although a ridiculous amount of money was spent on it, was perfect. Somehow, she had to figure out her next trip to New York. She would ask her father what her days ahead of her looked like.
With Liam stepping down, everything felt like it was rushed. She hadn’t heard from her brother since before he left for Berlin. She had messaged him and called but she never got a response. Ally just hoped that ‘finding himself’ was keeping him out of trouble.
“How did you sleep?” her bodyguard asked.
Ally stretched out her arms and let out a yawn. “Wonderful … But that doesn’t mean I’m still not miserable. I miss him, Serge. I love him. So I’m confused. I have everything I wanted. But I can’t enjoy it because every time I take a breath, it doesn’t feel like my own. Someday, I’ll learn to live without him and I won’t wake up to your look of pity.”
“I am not giving you a pity look,” Serge retorted as he sat down on her bed.
She laughed. “Whatever.”
“Your things from Melbourne will be brought down later this evening. So it’s your first day learning the family business. How do you feel?”
“Nervous,” she admitted. “But I’m excited.”
Serge nodded with a smile. Then it faded as quickly as she blinked. “Piccola, I worry that this might make your blood pressure rise. We still need to have you looked at by Dr Fuller or a doctor he recommends here in Sydney.”
“Speaking of New York. I bought an apartment and it has three rooms. Which means you don’t have to insist on taking the couch when we go. You’ll have your own room. Isn’t that nice?” she teased.
“Ally,” he breathed.
She gave him a tight smile, careful not to open her stitches. The pain had dulled to a mild annoyance. But now, she had bruises dotted on her face. Makeup would cover them, but she knew what lay underneath. Proof that Jewel Monroe should be a boxer rather than a marathon runner. “I don’t know when I can go back to New York without raising any suspicion. It’s gonna be soon. After Saturday, I hope. One more event and I’m free.”
He reached over, cupped the back of her head in his hand, and brought her forward. His lips pressed on her forehead. “I’m proud of you, Ally.”
She peeked up at him through her lashes. “You know, you don’t have to come to New York with me. I can’t keep you away from your life.”
“You’re my life. You’re like a daughter to me. Wherever you go, if you need me, I am there. I want you safe and healthy,” he explained and then got off the bed.
She tilted her head up at him. “Frankie might be new, and she could totally make my life easier, but don’t think that makes her my favourite. That spot’s yours. Love you, Serge.”
“I love you, too, piccola. But you must get ready. It’s a big day for you,” he reminded.
Ally craned her neck and gazed out at the beautiful, early morning view of the harbour. It was a big day for Sydney, too. The city had finally shaken loose of their number-one socialite and party princess. The habit had been kicked. She wouldn’t relapse.
She was finally clean.
Ally stared at the menu. “No, just the five-course lunch please,” she ordered and handed their waitress the menu.
The restaurant Ally and her father were having lunch at had been named Australia’s restaurant of the year and had been one of her father’s favourite places to eat. Sepia was a Japanese-inspired restaurant that had a chic style to their décor, using a gloss black finish on their tables to make the restaurant fit their food. Simple but classy. It felt expensive. And it was. Her meal would cost her one hundred and eighty-five dollars. It took her two full day shifts at PJ’s to make that much money. Being cut off made her realise just how much money went to waste. Sepia was a luxury her family could afford, but she didn’t want. She had tried to escape it, but she had failed miserably, returning home with the remaining pieces of her once functioning heart.
Her father’s phone rang just as the black-haired with bangs waitress had turned to take his order. Her father smiled apologetically, which was a sight she had never seen before, and handed her the menu. Then he said, “The nine-course tasting menu, please. As well as the matched wine to accompany my meals, thank you.”
“Yes, sir,” the soft-spoken waitress said. Then she shifted her attention to Ally. “And would you like the matched wine, too, miss?”
Ally shook her head. “No, I’m fine, thank you.”
“Very well.” And then the waitress left them alone.
“You can answer your phone, Dad. It could be important,” Ally insisted as she caught him staring at it on the table.
He gave her a firm shake of his head. “I’m having lunch with my daughter. You’re what’s important.” He then picked up his phone and slid it into the pocket of his suit jacket. “What did you think of sitting in on my meetings this morning?”
“You’re a busy man,” she said as she fiddled with the clothed napkin in front of her. “Your job’s stressful.”
“It is. Running an international multi-million dollar company isn’t easy, Allison. That will be you someday,” he pointed out, the hint of proudness in his voice had her smiling. His dreams no longer needed her appearing in clubs and making a mess of herself on the cover of magazines.
Glancing down, she took in the black pencil skirt and light pink blouse she’d worn for her first day. The black Christian Louboutin pointed pumps she’d worn had been a present from her mother, apologising for not being in Sydney and for not being there for her first day. Sitting in on her father’s meetings had been overwhelming. He had Skype meetings with his directors in Hong Kong and then with the chief operating officer of the European sector of the company. Problem after problem her father had addressed and solved so quickly that it made Ally’s head hurt trying to comprehend the solutions.
It dawned on her that this would be her and not Liam. It was never the plan. She wasn’t supposed to be the O’Connor offspring who would inherit all the money and the business. But she would be and Ally would not let her family down again, especially with Liam off frolicking around Europe. She needed her brother. She needed to know how he dealt with it all. How to prevent the pressure from killing her.
The familiar beeping from her father’s phone rang once more and he exhaled heavily. Ally smiled and nodded for him to take it.
“I promise, sweetheart, this won’t take long,” he said and then left her alone at their table.
Her eyes scanned the busy restaurant and then decided to give her heart what it wanted. To see if Rob had called her. She hadn’t checked her phone since this morning. His text messages had gone unread and his calls ignored. He was trying and she was fighting, afraid if she heard his voice or read his words she’d be taking the company plane back to Melbourne. But this was all about her. She wanted to be successful. She wanted to shake off the shadows of her old life. One day, it won’t matter whom she had been linked to. One day, someone would love her even though her name had been dragged through every single bad t
abloid and article.
“Miss O’Connor,” a deep voice said.
Ally glanced up from her phone to see a smirk splayed across Mr Abraham’s face. The same cocky and sexual harassing board member of her father’s company. The hairs on the back of her neck stood to attention at the sight of him. There was no one here to come to her aid. Her father was outside, taking a call. And Serge was by the car, refusing to eat lunch with her father and her. Before Ally could tell him that now was not the time, he pulled out the chair to her right and sat on it.
She held her breath, staring at his dark eyes. “Mr Abraham,” she breathed.
His eyes travelled the length of her, and he chuckled. Then he produced his phone out of his jacket and swiped at the screen. He set the phone on the table and turned it so that she could see. Ally squinted at the article of her from almost six months ago.
Ally O’Connor caught in threesome tryst with two married men.
It felt like ice had been injected into her, causing her to still at the false article. “I’m having lunch with my father,” was all she could whisper. Although it was complete fabrication with no proof, the public had believed it.
Mr Abraham leant in close. “You may have put on more clothes, Ally, but you’re still the whore you see in the mirror each morning. I told you, be with me and this all goes away. No more articles. I can help you run the company.”
“You just want to sleep with me!” she hissed.
“So what’s the problem?” The humour in his tone could make her sick. “You’re a whore, Ally. W-H-O-R-E. That’s all you’ll ever be. You’ll never make your father proud.”
“I’m a whore? You think that hurts me? I’ve been called it for so long that it’s lost its burn, Mr Abraham, you sick son of a bi—”