Love's Foolish Punch

by S M Mala

  Arthur was standing on her doorstep, taking her case to the car.

  She had to leave Jamie without saying goodbye.

  He would be dragged into it if she didn’t go, and that was the last thing she wanted to happen.

  She had totally forgiven him for his stupid and reckless behaviour, but Sam was another thing. In a way, Jamie was right about speaking to Sam about it all but she didn’t want to. What she had heard was enough to know she had been lied to and set up.

  The more she thought about her sacking and him walking out, then his impending fame, the more it made sense that the television company had to cut their losses.

  And they cut her unfairly and maliciously.

  Looking at Jamie sleeping in the bed, she wanted to kiss him but instead left him a little note.

  ‘I’m now goin’, Mr Cohen

  I love you

  From Molly Drew. X

  PS Look after Bert and don’t touch him inappropriately.’

  She walked quietly out of her home and into the car, sitting in silence. All she did was avoid the newspaper shops, focussing on getting to Heathrow and flying away from all that was going to come her way.

  There were more texts and messages but the one she looked at was from Sam.

  ‘My lawyer is contacting your agent. Best not to mention anything to anyone until agreements are reached. We’ll speak later on this week.’

  ‘Fucking arsehole,’ she muttered and noticed Arthur shot her a look.

  ‘Who dat man in ya bed?’ he asked, clearing his throat.

  ‘Jamie.’

  ‘Jamie!’

  ‘I love him but I have to leave him. I didn’t want to say goodbye.’ Arthur was about to open his mouth. ‘Keep an eye on the road and don’t say anything. I forgive him for being a prick, he was desperate but there are others who aren’t getting off so lightly.’

  ‘Me see.’

  ‘Good.’

  Then Molly remembered something. She checked her phone and noticed the file.

  Her heart suddenly stopped.

  When they got to terminal five, she gave Arthur a big hug and walked in. The shops were opening up.

  But firstly, she needed a coffee and time to think.

  All that came into her mind was Jamie and what happened in the middle of the night.

  He was on a mission to prove he was worth staying for.

  The love making was intense, and he did everything he could to turn her on. Molly couldn’t fault him on anything. And she did all within her power to show how much she loved him.

  It was when they finished she could see Jamie’s sincerity, and this made it harder for her to go.

  But she had no choice.

  Before he woke up to talk her out of it.

  Sipping her cappuccino, her phone started to ring.

  It was the man in question.

  ‘Where are you?’ he asked quietly. ‘Why did you go?’

  ‘Listen, I knew it was going to be hard for me to say goodbye, and this is the only way.’

  ‘You sound like a scratched record.’

  ‘I love you Jamie, and if you love me like you say you do, you’ll understand.’

  He hung up.

  ‘No more tears, no more drama,’ she mumbled to herself, finishing her drink and wanting to go through departures.

  As she walked, her eyes darted to the large newsagents. She was too scared to see if anyone had mentioned Tommy’s book but then she saw it in the window, stopping dead in her tracks when reading the banner.

  ‘My secret affair with hottest television star.’

  Scowling for a moment, it didn’t say much, so she stepped into the shop and looked at the array of papers. To her horror she noticed three tabloids had Tommy on the cover. One headline read ‘Gay secret of Hollywood Brit heart throb’.

  There was no stopping her marching legs as she went straight to the self-service check-in, knowing the news was going to break, and it would eventually come her way.

  Just as she was going to scan her passport, the paperwork was snatched out of her hand. Turning immediately, she saw Jamie holding it above his head.

  Then he smiled and sprinted off.

  ‘Jamie!’ she shouted, seeing him dart off towards the other side. ‘Jamie! Come back!’

  As if my magic, he disappeared.

  Now she was panicking, calling him up but there was no answer. Molly didn’t know what to do, searching for him high and low. Then he called.

  ‘Do you think I’m seriously going to let you go?’ he said, half laughing. ‘Your face was a picture. Priceless!’

  ‘You really are a shit sometimes!’ she hissed. ‘I’m going to miss my plane!’

  ‘Listen to me and listen carefully. You can’t feel shit about yourself. The man needs to explain to you and then you can let it rest. Why should you hide? That fucker should hide because he betrayed and cheated on you.’

  ‘That’s all well and good but-.’

  ‘I don’t want you to go under that bloody duvet other than when I’m giving you a good seeing to and for sleeping, which goes without saying.’

  She let out a sigh and then looked up. He was standing on the balcony peering down at her.

  ‘If you want to go to… where are you going? Limassol? Okay, if you want to go there later on, I’ll personally escort you back here but let’s do something good, to save some of your wounded pride. Do you trust me?’ The wide smile coming at her, made Molly sigh.

  ‘I have no choice, do I?’

  ‘Where are we going?’

  Molly was sat in the back of a black cab with Jamie pressing up against her. Every time she turned to say something, he was just trying to cover her mouth with his lips.

  ‘It’s April Fools’ Day, and we’re going to play a trick,’ Jamie said, smiling right at her. ‘And it’s a good trick.’

  ‘Have you read the papers?’

  ‘I’ve not seen anything,’ he smiled then looked at his phone. ‘But it’s all over the internet and you, my darling are being mentioned. Seems there are a lot of questions people want to ask you. And I’ll go first. Did he ever try and stick it up your-.’

  ‘Shut up!’ she hissed, looking at the taxi driver. ‘No and no and no to anything else you want to ask!’

  ‘Did you ever wear a dildo to-.’

  ‘Jamie!’ she screamed, pushing him away as he laughed loudly. ‘Don’t let me jump out of this taxi!’

  ‘They’ve got child locks so you can’t.’

  ‘You should have let me go,’ she said and this time she couldn’t stop the panic tears.

  ‘Never in a millions years. Some might say that’s a very romantic statement.’

  Molly buried her head in her hands and stayed there until the cab stopped.

  ‘Now I’ve let you stay in that position as I know that’s what they recommend when a plane is going to crash,’ he whispered, stroking her back. ‘But a real crash is going to happen and I need you to focus.’

  ‘Is she all right?’ a recognisable voice said, and she looked up to see Squirrel peeking through the window. ‘You don’t suffer from travel sickness, do you Molly red mop top?’

  She just growled seeing Jamie had a plan of some sort, and her cousin was involved.

  ‘May I say,’ Squirrel continued. ‘My utter dismay at finding out that Sam has been leading a double life and destroyed yours. Auntie Connie was most distraught, and Uncle Craig told me some unhealthy things he was going to do to young Mr Price.’

  ‘Is Bill here?’ Jamie asked, going around Molly as Squirrel opened the cab door.

  ‘What’s going on?’ she asked, looking at the pair of them.

  Then she realised they were at the side entrance to Claridges.

  ‘I’m not going in,’ she said, shaking her head from side to side. ‘I know what’s happening here, this morning, and I don’t want any part of it.’

  ‘I always found Sam’s like for this place a little unsavoury considering he couldn’t afford
it. But then again, he used your money for long enough. How would you know he’d go to a cheaper establishment around the corner for his little meetings with others,’ Squirrel said, and Molly gulped hard. ‘We managed to get a copy of Tommy Halo’s new book. Seems Tommy didn’t only like to drop his halo when he was with Sam, his trousers seemed to quickly fall down.’

  ‘I want to die!’

  Right now, she would have killed for a duvet to hide under.

  ‘Oh, I’m delighted to hear that Jamie is in love with you!’ Squirrel said, smiling brightly before leaning over. ‘And he better have not laid a hand on you, do you hear me, young lady?’

  Jamie put his hand out, smiling brightly as Molly looked at it then at him. Squirrel then yanked her by the arm, pulling her out and taking the suitcase.

  ‘You need to speak to Sam. Bill has arranged it,’ Jamie said, and she couldn’t hide the horror of what he was expecting her to do. ‘Don’t look so scared.’

  ‘This isn’t a game,’ she replied, feeling sick. ‘This is a mockery of six years of my life and two more for when everything fell to pieces. I can’t do it.’

  ‘You won’t be alone.’

    And the winner is…

  ‘Take a deep breath.’

  Squirrel was holding her by the shoulders. ‘Molly, I know this is hard but you have to deal with it, once and for all.’

  All she could see was the look of concern on Jamie’s face. She was being held up against a wall, her head spinning from the fear of what was going to happen next. They were in a room waiting for Bill to come. There was a knock on the door and Kim walked in, rushing towards Molly.

  ‘Oh my god, are you all right?’ she said, looking concerned. ‘Are you sure she can cope?’

  ‘She’s going to have to.’ Bill walked into the room, and Molly noticed a little girl standing next to him. ‘That’s the owner of Bert, Beatrice. Meet Molly Drew.’

  Immediately she pulled herself together, seeing the pretty child smiling.

  ‘Hello,’ she said, gently pushing Squirrel away. ‘Lovely to meet you.’

  ‘Daddy said Bert’s coming back on television. I can’t wait. Will I meet him?’ she asked excitedly and, for a moment, all Molly’s woes were gone.

  She’d missed seeing the joy on the faces of children when they spoke about her puppet, and it suddenly hit her.

  This is another thing Sam had taken away from her all because of his lie and indiscretion.

  ‘I’m going on holiday and when I come back, you can certainly meet Bert. He can be a little bit naughty, not like someone a million miles away from here,’ she said, looking at Jamie grinning at the kid then at Molly. ‘But I know he’d love to meet you too.’

  ‘Bea, you better go and see your aunt. She’s waiting outside,’ Bill proudly said and waited for the door to be closed.

  Beatrice waved at everyone and walked out.

  ‘Is that what our kids are going to look like?’ Jamie whispered then grinned.

  ‘She’s like a mini version of this one, here,’ said Squirrel laughing. ‘I hope she doesn’t turn out to be as barking mad as Molly.’

  ‘That’s rich coming from you,’ sighed Molly then looked at all the people in the room. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘He’s going to deny it all, obviously, even though I heard it as well,’ said Bill quietly, walking towards Molly. ‘He also seems to think that by calling you a twisted, bitter, liar, if you say anything, will also help his cause.’

  ‘And she’s supposed just to let him do this?’ asked Squirrel, getting agitated then turned to Molly. ‘Tommy didn’t write horrible things about you, but he did about Sam. Mr Price wasn’t very nice on many things and, I’m afraid, Mr Halo has stated it clearly. I’ll give him his due; he didn’t agree, but it’s there in black and white.’

  ‘Can I read it?’ she asked and noticed Jamie’s angry expression. ‘Will it help?’

  ‘No, it will only hurt you even more, and I don’t want that,’ said Jamie, walking closer to her. ‘I could kill him as it’s pretty cruel.’

  ‘You read it?’

  ‘Yesterday.’

  ‘And you didn’t say anything?’ she asked loudly. ‘Yet another lie!’

  ‘I didn’t lie because you didn’t ask, and I had other things on my mind,’ he whispered. ‘You deserve better than this. And your time is now.’

  ‘Just listen to what he says.’

  Kim was standing next to her. They were hidden away in the back of the room so Molly couldn’t be spotted. ‘I don’t know what he thinks he’s playing at. They want you to sign a document to say you’ll keep quiet about what Sam said the other week. They’re saying he was stressed and very tired, he would have admitted to anything. The book’s been released so we can only wait and see how Sam gets out of it.’

  The men had dispersed and then she saw Hamish, standing at the front. He was laughing with some of the photographers. What surprised her more was the amount of press scattered around. It was obviously newsworthy, but she didn’t think it would be that interesting.

  How wrong she was.

  Then he walked in, all shiny and new, looking relaxed and accompanied by a very beautiful woman. They were holding hands, and Molly wanted to vomit at the show. Again, there was another face she recognised. It was the person in charge of the broadcasting channel; she couldn’t remember his name, Dylan something. Then she clicked how much she had been set up.

  ‘Firstly, thank you for coming,’ Sam said, all smiles. ‘I didn’t think so many people would be interested in the third series. It’s good to see we have a solid fan base.’

  ‘Wanker,’ she heard Kim whisper.

  Her eyes travelled around the room and stopped at Jamie, standing near the middle looking over at her. He looked at Sam, then back at her before shaking his head and mouthing, ‘Crap, ugly actor.’

  Then the questions started about Tommy Halo, and she watched Sam’s reaction.

  Acting as if it was totally untrue.

  Laughing at the comments and shaking his head.

  ‘I certainly can’t comment on that because the lawyers are dealing with it,’ he said, smiling brightly. ‘But all I can say is that he obviously wants to try and sell that book.’

  ‘But didn’t he work with your ex-girlfriend?’ someone asked loudly. ‘It seems probable you would have met.’

  ‘Of course. There is no way anything happened. I was with someone, and I’d never cheat on her.’

  ‘But didn’t the relationship end soon after the alleged incident Tommy Halo said you were involved in?’

  ‘I don’t want to discuss my private life.’

  ‘I think you made it perfectly public by having a hand job courtesy of Tommy Halo!’ shouted out Jamie. Molly’s mouth dropped open as the press started to laugh. ‘Allegedly.’

  ‘No comment,’ Sam replied and Molly could see he was getting pissed off.

  ‘And isn’t it true that the show she was on with Tommy Halo soon got cancelled. From what I hear, the corporation wanted to clean up its act. Funny, considering they still aired your show knowing you were the one Tommy Halo jerked off.’

  There was a massive murmuring in the crowd and questions were now being fired at Sam, whose publicist stepped in, a small tubby man, to calm it all down. Molly noticed security approached Jamie.

  ‘We’re here to announce the third series of ‘Lies within’, so could we focus on that?’

  Again, more questions were being shouted out.

  ‘It seems an appropriate title, all things considered!’ shouted out Molly, hoping to stop Jamie get evicted, and watched Sam do a double take before standing up.

  ‘Who are you?’ the publicist asked.

  ‘I’m his ex.’

  Now everyone turned around but she walked straight to where Jamie was standing and stopped.

  ‘Molly, can we talk later?’ Sam said, looking shiftily around. ‘This isn’t the time and-.’

  ‘He admitted to me, when he was having
a quarrel with Tommy, that they were lovers for four years. Tommy told me they severed our contract because they didn’t want anyone to find out that their new star liked to get pleasured by a puppet’s sidekick.’ There was a loud laugh from the room. ‘And my puppet was not involved in any of these lewd acts. So effectively, Sam Price, you lied to me for six years, cheated me on me for four of them and left my life and career in tatters for two.’

  ‘That’s a lie!’

  ‘You’re a liar!’ she shouted back and felt Jamie’s hand touch her side. ‘And I don’t care who knows it. I’ve been humiliated enough. I looked after you and in return you made a fool out of me!’

  ‘I suppose you want some money?’ he laughed in a patronising tone.

  Reaching into her pocket, she grabbed her phone and scrolled down as the security men came towards her, but she barged past them, looking at Hamish. To him she whispered,

  ‘You lying two faced fucker. I’m getting back the cut you took from my severance pay plus interest.’

  Then she looked at the man in charge of the channel.

  ‘And as for you? Constructive dismissal because I know you were covering it up.’ Then she turned to Sam as two men tried to pull her away, seeing Squirrel and Jamie intercept. ‘Get off me! I need to do one more thing.’

  She held the phone in the air and played the footage and audio she’d forgotten about, that night she found out her relationship with Sam had been a lie.

  Next thing she knew, Sam was trying to wrestle her to the ground.

  ‘My phone!’

  Sam had punched it out of her hand, and it fell, smashing into pieces.

  ‘You bitch!’ he shouted.

  Then she lost it.

  All the things Mr Mac said to her came rushing to her head.

  She laid two punches to his stomach, winding him immediately as he doubled up in pain. Then she kicked him over before shouting,

  ‘That’s no way to treat a lady, but I forget, you prefer men!’

  All she could hear was laughter from Jamie, who was inches away.

  ‘You can’t arrest her. We have a whole room of witnesses to say it was self-defence,’ said Squirrel, standing in front of Molly. ‘She’s not a violent woman just a little pre-menstrual.’