‘Right, fine. Michelle? Shall we go shopping?’
‘Yeah, of course. Simon is playing football anyway today.’
‘Fine. So you’re going now?’ Sally asked her boyfriend.
‘Yes. Someone should have packed my bag.’
‘We need to go,’ stated Mr. Gallagher.
He stood from the table and left the room after which David stood to follow him. Reluctantly Sally stood too. ‘I’ll come and see you off.’
David offered his hand and again reluctantly Sally accepted it and they walked to the entrance to the mansion and watched as their bags were loaded into the back of the Rolls-Royce. ‘Sorry about this. I had a fantastic time with you last night. I’ll miss you while I’m away.’
‘I’ll miss you too. Be careful in New York.’
‘I will be. Sorry I didn’t tell you last night but I knew it would ruin your night.’
‘It’s okay. I understand and I know that this will be a one off, hopefully.’
‘I’m sure it will be. I’ll miss you because I love you.’
‘Me too David, me too.’
With a kiss they parted and David got into the Rolls-Royce next to Mr. Gallagher and she watched them until the car went out of view in a fold of the land along the driveway. When she returned to the breakfast room she was surprised to see Michelle sat on her own.
‘Where’s Simon gone?’
‘He had to dash. I asked Alfred to sort him out a ride home. He’s got to get to his match. He said sorry he didn’t see you but that he had a great time last night.’
‘Oh right. No worries. Well that was a shock.’
‘What’s going on with David and your father?’
So Sally explained the situation and she could not help notice Michelle’s surprise. ‘Yeah, I know. Crazy isn’t it? David my dad’s, well, apprentice I suppose.’
‘But why David? He has no business experience whatsoever?’
‘That’s the point. He wants someone fresh, clean, unsullied. To tell you the truth Michelle, I’m as baffled as you. I have no idea what my dad is playing at but I can see David ending up getting badly burned. But what can I do? How can I refuse him this opportunity no matter how crazy it seems at the moment?’
‘You can’t, but it does seem to be moving very quickly with trips to New York.’
‘No, that part I understand. It will give them chance to talk about it. Getting my dad available for last night was a nightmare. He’s so busy. He had to move so much stuff. I think his secretaries were all on valium by the time they’d finished!’
For a few moments they both laughed together until there was a silence between them. Sally stared at the table thinking about all that happened in the last twenty-four hours, and her eyes rested on Michelle’s left hand. It did not register with Sally straight away but there was something not right about what she was looking at, something not right at all. And then it clicked into place. ‘What is that on your left hand?!’ Before Michelle could react Sally had grabbed Michelle’s hand and was scrutinising her ring finger. ‘Is that what I think it is?! He didn’t?!’ With a glance at Michelle’s face she knew that he did. ‘Oh my! Why on Earth didn’t you tell me?!’
‘Believe me when I say I was at least a thousand times more surprised than you are!’
‘He proposed to you and you said..?’
‘Well I’m wearing the ring silly!’
‘Good point! I can’t believe it! Where did he do it?’
‘Well, he wanted to do it in the marquee but he rightfully thought that that would have been inappropriate because it would have taken the spotlight away from you. I would have killed him if he’d done that.’
‘I wouldn’t have minded.’
‘Maybe not, but I would have. I thought there was something wrong with him all night. He seemed tense and a bit moody but I just put it down to the fact his team got beat so I ignored him. Turns out I was a little bit wrong!’
‘Just a little bit!’
‘So he proposed in the bedroom. It was really romantic, with the four-poster bed and the candles flickering in the wind because the balcony doors were open. He made me close my eyes and he got down on one knee with the box open and asked me!’
‘Did you answer straight away?’
‘Well I burst into tears and said yes!’
‘I can’t believe it! I’m so happy for you both!’
‘Thank you Sally. That means a lot to me.’
‘Right, shopping to celebrate! My treat and no limit to what we spend!
‘Sounds good!’
‘Let’s go!’
With that Sally ran out of the room waving her arms and whooping in delight. She found Alfred and ordered a car to take them into the city to celebrate her friend’s love and new engagement.
*
After the trip to New York David’s life was never the same. His work varied from being his new boss’s administration assistant to attending high level business meetings, all the while he watched and learned from Mr. Gallagher.
Sally and Michelle both studied at Oxford, Michelle reading Law, Sally studying Physics. Both of them kept their respective relationships strong through hard work from all parties. When Michelle was not studying, she was planning her wedding which was due to take place in the summer of their graduation year, and when they both graduated with Firsts their excitement built. Sally had obtained a position with an airline on a pilot scheme and Michelle had gained a position at a top law firm. Both were due to start in the autumn of that year so that meant they had a full summer to relax and enjoy their time together.
Sally was now twenty-one and her beauty was at its zenith. That summer she looked radiant. Her life was perfect. She had a handsome boyfriend, her best friend was due to be married in the summer and she had landed a modelling contract with one of the best agencies in the country.
At first her modelling jobs were mainly adverts in the body of some of the magazines, but then she started to get cover work. It was not too long before her natural beauty was recognised and she was soon on the front cover of Cosmopolitan and Vogue. And the offers of work kept flowing in. She was offered large amounts of money to do catwalk modelling, television commercials and even a few movie offers, but she did not want the hassle or the fame.
Instead she did the occasional shoot for the magazines just to give herself a small feeling of independence from her father. Any money she did earn she invested so she could contribute to her own wedding and university fees for her children. David had not yet asked her to marry him but her twenty-first birthday ball was approaching and she thought something would happen then. If it did not, she would have to start dropping more unsubtle hints.
Life had rolled on perfectly for all of them, until the summer of Sally’s twenty-first birthday.
Chapter 41
It was a beautifully perfect day that summer when the four of them met in the city centre for the final fitting of their outfits for the wedding. Sally and David were maid of honour and best man respectively and they were fitted out for the last time in one of the top wedding shops in the city. Michelle and Simon had to attend separately of course so Simon did not see the dress. After he had visited the exclusive wedding shop he waited in a bar with David while Sally attended with Michelle.
‘Do you know who that druggie is who keeps staring at us?’ David asked of Simon.
‘Nope mate. Never seen her before in my life.’
Simon had though, but her drug ravaged body and face had changed so much since the day he last saw her when she was being escorted out of a department store.
‘Well I think she knows us. She hasn’t taken her eyes off us since we sat down.’
‘Ignore her mate. I’m sure she’ll crawl back to whatever sewer she crawled out of.’
‘How do they get the money to come and sit in a bar and drink?’ David queried.
‘I have no idea.’
Sarah was not there to drink though. She had been walking out of an alley
when she saw Michelle walk past with another woman by her side and then they were greeted by two handsome men who had stepped out of a wedding shop. She darted back into the alley, peering around the wall, and saw the two women walk into the wedding shop and the two men walk into a bar. Thinking that this was too much of an opportunity to miss, she knew she would not be welcome in the shop though, so she followed the men into the bar, guessing correctly that the women would follow shortly.
‘Here they are! My beautiful bride to be and her maid of honour!’After curtseying Michelle sat down next to Simon, taking his hand in hers, and Sally sat next to David giving him a kiss in welcome.
‘How’s the dress?’ Simon asked.
‘It’s perfect! It fits like a dream!’ Sally replied eagerly.
‘It doesn’t! I look fat!’
‘You don’t look fat, you look amazing!’
‘I can’t wait to see you. I can’t believe it is only one week away now.’ Simon shook his head in seeming bewilderment. ‘The time has gone by so quickly…’
‘You getting married then Michelle?’
Everyone jumped and turned to look at the woman that stood next to their table.
‘Do you know her Michelle?’ asked Simon to which she shook her head firmly in the negative. ‘I’m sorry, do we know you?’
‘You don’t recognise me Michelle, your so called friend?’
‘No sorry, I don’t.’
‘How about if I said, Michelle, you are a fat little porker who used to waddle around school. Bring back any memories?’
‘Now I don’t know who the hell you think you are…’
‘It’s okay Simon. I’ll handle this.’
For a few more moments she studied the face in front of her. She looked about forty, at least. Her face was wrinkled, like old tree bark. When she spoke, Michelle had noticed that she had barely any teeth, and those that were still present were black and rotting. It was the eyes that got Michelle though, those haunted drug taker’s eyes, with bags and black circles underneath them and it was the eyes that finally triggered a memory in her mind. It had been years since she had seen her last, and the woman who stood before her now was a shell of the woman she had known then. ‘Sarah, is that you?’
‘Bingo! We have a winner! And here’s your prize, a bacon sandwich and a lump of lard to add to the lard you carry around in your knickers everyday!’
‘My God Sarah, what happened to you?’
‘Why? What’s up? Do you not think I’m pretty?’
‘You’re pretty sick,’ muttered Simon.
‘So who’s the lucky guy who’s going to be sticking his cock into this lump of fat for the rest of his life?’
‘Right, that’s it…’
Simon made to stand but Michelle lightly placed a hand on his arm to stop him. ‘Simon, please. We don’t need to lower ourselves to her level. That’s what she wants. Sarah, what do you want? Do you want some cash? I’m sure we could scrape together the cost of a few hits of heroin for you if you like?’
‘Oh no Michelle. H is old school. Crystal meth is the new black now Michelle. I’m a meth addict and look what it’s done to me. Do you not think it has made me pretty?’
‘No, not really Sarah. I think it has made you evil. I think you need help. Why don’t you come with me now and I’ll get you booked into a rehabilitation clinic…’
‘You will do nothing of the sort!’
‘Simon, please be quiet. What do you think Sarah? I’ll help you to help yourself.’
‘I’d prefer to be taken into the toilets and given a good hard fucking by your friend there. Who is he? He’s gorgeous!’
Sarah made to sit down next to David but with a firm hand Simon pushed her away. ‘Go away before something happens that you will regret.’
But Sarah was not listening. Her eyes had fallen onto Sally who had remained motionless and silent in the corner of the seats, mentally restraining herself from intervening, knowing too well that Michelle could handle whatever this vile creature threw at her. ‘I know you. I’ve seen your face, recently too. I know I’m gorgeous, but you make even me look like a hippo! Fuck me. That’s it! Front cover of Vogue last week! Well look at me! Little Sarah is in the presence of modelling royalty! Can you get me some work there? I could easily go on the front cover. Get me some work, pleeeaaassseee!’
‘The only work you’d get is licking the sewers clean,’ retorted Sally.
‘Fuck you slag. Can I shag your gorgeous boyfriend, fiancé perhaps? He hasn’t been able to keep his eyes off me since I walked in. He wants his cock to slide into my tight vagina don’t you honey?’
‘Right, that really is IT!’
With speed Simon was up from his seat and he grabbed Sarah by one of her arms and twisted it up her back. Sarah though had lived on the street quite long enough now to deal with such an assault, so as quick and as lithe as a snake she had twisted out of Simon’s grip and launched her own attack.
Her hands rained down towards Simon’s face, trying to get her nails to scrape at his flesh. One or two of the blows landed, but they had no power, and after a few moments David had grabbed hold of both her arms. The women had also got up to help but for a split second Sarah got one hand free, and without anyone noticing slipped a translucent substance into David’s drink.
Quickly she was brought back under control by the two men and they dragged her kicking and screaming to the door of the bar. Unceremoniously between them they swung her up in the air and dumped her in the gutter.
With a scream she leapt to her feet and ran at them with arms swinging and legs kicking but with ease the two men pushed her away. She lost her footing and with a hard fall she crashed back into the gutter but this time she did not get up because the wind had been knocked out of her.
For the first and last time in his life Simon spat at another human being as she lay on the floor, wheezing and gasping, and then they both turned to re-enter the bar.
‘I think we’d better go,’ stated Simon to the women. ‘She’s out of it now but I don’t think she will be for long. Let’s go out the back way.’
They all nodded their agreement and quickly finished their drinks. By the time David had got back to his drink the substance had totally dissolved. None the wiser he knocked his cola back in one.
*
They went for another drink in another bar to calm their nerves and they stayed there for a while, Michelle explaining to them what she knew about how Sarah’s life had gone so badly wrong. With a sigh she said she’d had enough for today and wanted to go home but instead Sally invited them to her house for a meal and more drinks.
‘You can stay over if you like? Let’s not let that wicked woman ruin our day!’
‘We’ll come for the meal, but we’ll see about staying over. Right now, I don’t really feel in the mood. What happened to her?!’
‘Michelle,’ Simon took her hand and stroked it, ‘don’t worry about it. There is nothing you can do now, and there is nothing you could have done then. I remember her now and she was nothing but trouble back then. I remember she disappeared from college but I didn’t give it much thought at the time. I thought good riddance and you should think that too. You’ve worked so hard; we all have, to have what we have now, to be so happy. If she’d done the same then who knows what she could have made of her life. Instead, she’ll be dead in a couple of years whereas we have our lives stretching in front of us. Forget about her, and forget about her forever.’
‘I suppose you’re right. Thank you, Simon. Everything you say makes sense all the time, that’s why I love you!’ She kissed him, passionately. ‘Shall we go then?’
‘Come with me Simon. I’ll show you what my new car can do!’
‘Okay David. See you there then ladies!’
‘Yeah, be careful.’
They walked to the cars and the women got in Sally’s while the men got in David’s new Audi. Through the city Sally followed David along the crowded streets, but once they reached
the country roads that led to Sally’s mansion, David pulled away quickly.
‘Crikey. He’s gone off quickly.’
‘Don’t worry.’ replied Sally. ‘He knows this road and he always drives quickly.’
‘Yeah, but, he’s out of sight already.’
‘They’ll be fine.’
‘I hope so. He was going bloody quickly’
David indeed did know the road and he wanted to impress Simon with his new car. Simon was used to David driving fast, but today he seemed to be taking it to the extreme. Not once did he change gear below the red line and the Audi was literally screaming along the road. About a mile before a pair of s-bends that David intended to take at speed he suddenly started to feel very strange. As quick as a flash a cold sweat broke out of his forehead and his hands started shaking.
The drug that Sarah had slipped into his coke had taken its time to start to affect his body because he had orally ingested it, but when it did start to affect him the chemicals rushed through his body to his brain and took their hold before he was able to react.
His eyes rolled back in their sockets and he slumped over the steering wheel. Before Simon could grab the wheel they were off the road at the first right corner of the first s-bend. They bounced over a small grass verge and down the other side. Simon made a frantic grasp at the wheel but missed, and by then it was too late. With David unable to press the brakes the car hit a large, old oak tree at a tremendous speed.
*
‘Sally, what’s that up ahead?’ Sally was taking her time with the drive and she was fiddling with the radio while Michelle was speaking. ‘It looks like there’s debris in the road.’
Sally grunted in acknowledgement and started to pay more attention expecting to find that something had fallen off one of the many farm tractors that used these roads. As they got closer though it was clear that it was debris off a car. Slowing down to a stop they both got out of the vehicle and saw the fresh tyre tracks going over the verge. Without saying anything, they both took a few steps up the verge and looked down the other side.
Everything to Nothing Page 42