“True,” Scott laughs. “Alright then, well stay.”
“Have you eaten?” Tristan asks. Scott shakes his head. “Edith,” Tristan says. “Can you rustle something up for us all?”
“Of course Tristan, anything in particular?” she asks.
“Coral?” Tristan says looking down at me. I'm about to answer him when Debs suddenly comes to, and I know, I can tell by her face – Shit!
“She gonna be sick!” I shout, rushing over to her and grabbing the wastepaper basket as I do, luckily, I get there just in time as she starts hurling into it.“Ugh! Debs!” I pass the basket to Scott who looks a little green himself, then I walk back over to Tristan, wrapping my arms around his waist as I do.
“Edith, I don't mind what we have, whatever’s easy, it’s quite late,” I say, looking up at the clock on the wall, it’s 8.15pm – very late for a married woman like Olivia to be out. I don't understand why she’s here? – She wants Tristan! I bite my lip at that thought, not again!
Edith smiles at me and wobbles into the kitchen, just as Stuart wonders over and helps Scott get Debs to her feet, at least she’s stopped hurling, I watch them walk her past us and into the downstairs bathroom.
Finally, Tristan turns his arctic glare on Olivia. “What are you doing here?” He says very slowly, articulating each word with a hiss, his voice low and menacing.
“That’s a dazzling display of affection you’re putting on their Tristan,” she says, ignoring his rising temper.
“Tristan,” I whisper, he looks down at me. “Would you like to speak to Olivia alone?” I ask sweetly, purposely widening my eyes.
“No baby, stay.” He says pecking my forehead.
“Ok,” I whisper smiling up at him. Then I turn and narrow my eyes at Olivia – See, he’s mine! – Jeez, I sound like Susannah! I frown at that thought.
“Get out!” Tristan growls at Olivia, gripping my upper arms. I think it’s so he doesn’t march her out himself.
“Darling,” she softly says. “You called me remember?”
“Yes I did,” he says. “But never, for a moment...did I expect you to turn up here and harass my fiancé into letting you in the house. You have no idea what’s she’s been through, none at all. And now, now I regret calling you, I wish I hadn’t.” He’s livid. His voice almost shaking with anger, he takes a deep calming breath.
“Get the fuck out of our house Olivia.” He says, slowly enunciating each word, so he’s making himself perfectly clear to her; and to me.
Olivia’s face pales. “Tristan darling, come along now. There’s no need for that kind of language,” she says, smiling at him, she doesn’t seem to be affected by his mood at all.
“Stuart!” Tristan shouts. Stuart appears from the utility room – I guess he was still helping Scott with Debs. “Your choice Olivia, leave, or Stuart helps you leave?” Stuart tries to hide his smile; he seems to be enjoying this. He walks over to Olivia so he’s stood right next her, and politely gestures for her to walk with him.
“No!” She snaps. “I came here to speak to you.” She adds, keeping her eyes locked on Tristan. And I know – I just know!
“Olivia, why are you really here?” I ask. She looks down at me in the most disgusting way, as though I shouldn’t be addressing her directly. “Well?” I prompt, my teeth grinding together.
“As I said, it’s Tristan I want to speak to.” She snaps at me.
“Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of Coral.” He snaps back.
She narrows her eyes at him. Then she crosses her arms and sticks her nose in the air. “I’m leaving Jeremy,” she says in the most casual way.
I stop breathing – She’s here for Tristan, I know she is.
“Why?” Tristan snaps.
“You know why,” she says, her eyes darkening as she and Tristan stare at one another.
“And now you’re back on the market, you want to see if Tristan is free, right?” I say sarcastically.
Olivia looks down at me again, as though I’m a street rat, and just stares at me with the most insulting look in her eyes. A slight smile twitches her lips, then she looks away from me, trying her best to hide the filthy look she wants to give me.
What a bitch! Edith was right!
Tristan you better say the right thing to this woman!
I turn and look up at him, and I’m shocked to see he looks entranced by her. His cheeks have flushed and his eyes have darkened. The atmosphere suddenly plummets...it’s so dense.
“That’s right Tristan,” she smiles seductively at him. “It’s still there,” she adds.
I take a step back out of Tristan’s arms. This is not happening!
“You...you want her?” I manage to squeak out, blinking rapidly at him.
Tristan turns and glares down at me. Then without at word, he marches over to Olivia, grabs her by the arm and starts marching her out of the house.
“Tristan!” She shouts, yanking her arm out of his.
They both stop and stare at one another, only inches apart.
“Olivia...” Tristan takes a moment and stares down at the floor. He’s still livid. “Please leave...before I do something I’ll really regret.” He warns.
“Darling, you know I’ve never stopped thinking about you, about what we had. How you used to take control’ - her eyes flash to me for a brief second – ‘how you used give me what I need, what you needed, Jeremy won't do that with me. I know you’re still attracted to me.” She says reaching up to touch his face, but he grabs her hand and twists her around so her back is to his front.
“You have no idea what I like, who I am, or what I need. That woman, who you seem to think so little off, is more woman than you could ever be. Coral is everything I have ever wanted and that’s because she’s everything you’re not,” he barks.
“Tristan,” she gasps, her head tipping back – It’s almost as though she’s enjoying this. Tristan twists her around, yanks her by the arm and starts dragging her out again. “Tristan, you are hurting me!” she shouts.
“Go home Olivia,” he snaps as he yanks the front door open.
“But, you’re message sounded so wounded, I thought you needed me?” She says, all sorrowfully.
Tristan shoves her out of the house so she’s stood on the front porch. “What the fuck did you ever do for me?” he asks. “Nothing, that’s what! You’re a selfish, stuck up, snobby bitch. And I’ll tell you something else, I’m glad Susannah lied, I’m glad she told me-” Tristan suddenly stops, registering something on Olivia’s face.
“No!” he gasps in horror, taking a step back. He shakes his head several times, running both hands through his hair. Then he steps forward and grabs hold of her upper arms. “It was Jeremy, wasn’t it?” he growls, shaking her.
The sickening smile that spreads across her face is shocking. “Finally worked it out,” she laughs.
“How could you?” He growls.
“Well, you were never going to ask me, were you?” she questions, gazing up at him.
“Ask you what?” He snaps.
“To marry you,” she softly says.
“That’s beside the point Olivia!” Tristan snaps.
“No Tristan, it’s precisely the point!” she snaps back. “What did you expect me to do, wait around forever for you to make up your mind?” She glares back at him. “I had to have back-up darling,” she adds.
Tristan looks shocked and hurt as he blinks back at her. “Money!” He shouts, he’s seething! “It’s all you were ever interested in. You were never concerned about me. You just wanted to be with someone who could continue the lavish lifestyle that you are so accustomed to.” He bawls.
“Really Tristan, you don't want to try again?” she asks, batting her lashes at him. And she’s smirking at him, evidently finding his pain, his suffering amusing – I want to beat her to a pulp, maybe she’ll learn some respect – God, she’s worse than Susannah!
I want to look away, but I can't. I wish Tristan
would let go of her. I don't like him touching her. The moment I think that, he pushes her backwards, making her stumble in her heels.
“If you were the last woman on earth I wouldn’t go anywhere near you. You’re nothing but an empty hollow shell.” He says, his voice low and void of emotion.
“Just words again Tristan. And you seem so angry, so tense...and we both know how to sort that!” Olivia smiles coyly at me. What! What the fuck does that mean?
Tristan sighs heavily. “Olivia, why don't you fuck off, and go sink your teeth into some other poor, unsuspecting fool! I’m done here!”
“Well, I’m not,” she states, crossing her arms then glaring at me.
Tristan sighs heavily, he looks so tired and fed up. He closes his eyes in frustration and pinches the bridge of his nose. I take a deep breath, walk over to him and wrap my arms around his waist.
Tristan reciprocates and wraps his arms tightly around me.
“Go home Olivia!” I snap, squeezing Tristan.
“Olivia, I will slap a restraining order on you if I see you anywhere near this house – Christ, anywhere near Brighton!” he adds. Olivia is still smiling at him. “In-fact, you’ve just convinced me to do it anyway. You’ll be hearing from my solicitor.” Tristan adds.
She instantly loses the grin. “I was the best thing that ever happened to you,” she snarls, pointing her finger at him. “Or ever will have,” she adds looking me up and down – Cheeky bitch!
I want to slap her down, I go to move, but Tristan grips my upper arms, keeping me close to his body.
“Leave-now!” Tristan threatens.
With one last look at Tristan, Olivia sticks her nose up in the air and stomps over to her sporty Mercedes. Tristan pulls me away so I can't see her anymore. Stuart follows Olivia outside, I guess he’s making sure she leaves, moments later he returns.
“Sir, may I suggest locking the gates tonight?”
“Yes, good idea,” Tristan says. Oh great, just great! Another crazy stalker woman after Tristan!
I shake my head and sigh inwardly.Then I feel it building inside me, I try to fight against it, because I don't want it to happen.
Don't fall apart Coral! – But I'm too late, I’ve had enough today!
Both of our exes, my father, Debs’ news, and the fact that I was pregnant, and Susannah shot me...almost killed me – It’s all just too much.
The floodgates burst wide open.
“Baby!” Tristan gasps and lifts me into his arms. He carries me into the library, away from everyone, and shuts the door behind him.“Oh Coral, I'm so sorry she turned up, so sorry,” he softly says, sitting down in the recliner with me in his lap.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I mewl, weeping into his neck.
“That I’d called her?” I silently nod, then look up at him. “Well, you said you didn’t mind baby, I wasn’t keeping it a secret; it just wasn’t a big deal to me. I thought I wanted...needed her forgiveness for what I did.” He says, shaking his head in disgust.
“She wants you back.” I whimper. Tristan shrugs. “Should I be worried? Do you still have feeling for her?” I tentatively ask.
“No baby, I don't,” he firmly tells me.
“What did she mean when she said ‘you seemed angry and tense and we both know how to sort that’?” I tentatively ask.
“She was just saying that to wind you up Coral,” he says, but his eyes are telling a different story.
“Liar,” I whisper, pleading with him to tell me.
“Coral, I...” Tristan breaks off, shaking his head. Ok, I’ll leave that one – for now!
“What happened on the porch, you realised something?” I ask.
“She was seeing him when she was supposed to be with me.” He says, his face going pale.
“What?” I choke.
“I knew the moment I said it that she had been concealing the truth from me. She always was a very good actress,” he adds.
“Susannah was right?” I gasp.
“I couldn’t say if Susannah had actually caught her...maybe she knew something was going on?” He says, frowning thoughtfully. I wonder if Susannah did know, if she had actually caught them kissing? I must remember to ask her that, when I finally see her.
“Then I’m glad Susannah got her out of your life.” I say. “And she cheated on you with Jeremy, her husband, who she is now divorcing?” Tristan solemnly nods. “And you’re really not going to see her again?” I ask.
“Coral, after that little stunt she’s just pulled, she can stick my apology – that is evidently no longer needed – where the sun don't shine.” He barks, I have to snigger at that one.
“She’s so pretty,” I say, my tears slowing down.
“Not as pretty as you baby.” I look up at Tristan, his dreamy chocolate eyes instantly melting me. “You blow her out of the water,” he says, wiping my tears away with his thumbs.
“Oh Tristan, don't be silly, she’sstunning.”
“Not as stunning as you,” he reiterates. I need to get of this subject. I think about what Debs told me, how it made me feel, which makes me panic again, my earlier fears coming back to me.
“Tristan,” I say gripping him tighter. “I have so much to tell you, to ask you,” I sniff.
“You do?” He says picking up a box of tissues and handing them to me. I take them off him, blow my nose and dry my tears.
“Yes.” I finally say.
“Ask away,” he says – But now he’s here, I can't find the right words to say, so I ask him something else.
“Did you have a nice time with Malcolm?” I ask a little high pitched.
“That’s what you wanted to ask me?” He laughs, looking a little puzzled.
“No,” I chuckle.
“Ok. Yes, I had a good time, Malcolm’s a great player, I learned quite a bit. But I'm much more intrigued with what you have to ask me,” he says, cupping my chin to look up at him.
I sigh inwardly – There’s no time like the present Coral!
“Fine,” I mumble, I look down at my hands and start blurting it all out at top speed.“Long story short, Scott had an affair last year. Debs told me...she...well she told me it happened because they stopped spending quality time together, but more importantly that he...” I cringe and close my eyes for a second, when I re-open them I decide to be brave and look Tristan square in the eyes.
“Debs said that Scott said that he wasn’t feeling fulfilled by Debs...in the bedroom I mean and that he had...fantasies that he...” I stop and shake my head. “Debs didn’t realise and I guess he did those things, whatever they were with this other woman. Debs said he got his kicks from her, that this other woman was making him feel good about himself, not Debs, and that it was partly her fault for not recognising that.” I take a deep breath and continue.
“Debs said that men are more insecure than women and they get most of their security by knowing they are, well – satisfying their woman in the bedroom. Is that true?” I ask.
Tristan nods – Holy Crap, we are doomed!
“What are you looking so frightened about?” He softly asks.
“I'm freaking out Tristan! What if that happens to us? What if I can’t satisfy you and you go play out your fantasies with another woman? I mean, you hear about it all the time, and I already know of one affair going on at Chester House, there’s bound to be more. We have to talk Tristan, I can't lose you because of this, tell me your fantasies please, please...and I’ll play them out with you, I’ll do whatever it takes’ – His lips reach mine, silencing me.
When he’s finished kissing me, I am breathless, my bones feel like jelly and I have lost my train of thought – I guess that was his plan.
“Miss Coral Stevens, soon to be Mrs Coral Freeman – Stop worrying. I want to live a long and happy life with you, not have you die at a young age because your heart couldn’t take any more anxiety. You have got to learn to relax darling and not think the worst, please, for me, try to relax?” I nod mutely. “Ok good,
and I hear you baby, we will talk, but not now. Later?”
I nod once more.“Good, but you should know. You already satisfy me in the bedroom baby, in more ways than you will ever know.”
“I do?” I squeak.
“Yes.” He answers firmly.
I frown down at our entwined fingers.“Tristan, what are you doing with me? What are you doing with someone so insecure, when you’re so...so confident? Don't you want to be with someone more like you?”
“I think you are confident, I think you’re brave, and you hold your own Coral, it’s so refreshing. Those other women I dated, they never challenged me, not like you do, but I'm guessing your confidence has taken a knock because of Olivia. Am I right?”
I nod again, feeling stupid!
“Yes, she is confident Coral, but there’s healthy confidence and downright cocky confidence, and Olivia was the latter. Believe me when I say that can be a real put off,” he says.
I frown up at him. “What do you mean?”
Tristan’s eyebrows knit together. “I want to do something,” he says, standing us both up. “Stay here and don't move,” he adds, giving me a quick chaste kiss before he leaves.Moments later, he walks back in with his portable speakers, his MP3 player, and locks the door behind him.
“Tristan, what are you doing?” Ignoring me, he switches on the speaker and fires up his player. Phil Collins’ True Colours starts drifting sweetly through the speaker.I can't help thinking how ironic, considering what I’ve bought him.
My eyes involuntarily fill with tears – It’s such a beautiful song.
Tristan takes the couple of steps needed to reach me, helps me to my feet, and pulls me into him. I can feel the length of his solid, muscled body against mine, the heat of his skin, his breath on my cheek, his potent scent – I cannot take my eyes away from his.
The next thing I know, we are slowly dancing around the library as Tristan softly sings the words to me, I have to fight so hard to stop the tears from falling. I don't want to cry, even though I feel completely overwhelmed by this beautiful, sweet gesture.How is it, that he always seems to know what to do to make me feel better?
Darkest Fears Trilogy: Fallen For Him / Freed By Him / Forever With Him Page 116