by Lucy Wild
It felt different answering it this time, knowing it wouldn’t be her. There was no fluttering inside me, no build up of excitement. It was just the dull apprehension that accompanied any visit from my senior partner.
There’s always a bigger fish, as Liam Neeson once said in the worst film of all time, and Greg was the bigger fish in our company. As he put it, he was the body of the business and I was the face. While I gladhanded clients and attended shindigs, he was in the back rooms, doing the actual work. The clients didn’t need to know which suited Greg. He was not a people person.
I opened the door and didn’t bother to smile. He never did so why should I. “Busy?” he asked.
“Very.”
“I bet you are. I just saw your latest in the lift.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“You’re going to tell me you weren’t just fucking that girl who just left?”
“She’s a delivery girl, that’s all. What kind of a guy do you think I am?”
“I know exactly what kind of guy you are. Archibald mentioned you were in a relationship. I hope it’s not with her, she looks about twelve.”
“She does not!”
“Do I detect a hint of protection in your voice? Mean something to you, does she?”
“You really are a dick at times.”
“So you’re not fucking her, then?”
“No, I’m not fucking her.”
“Bullshit.”
“Fuck off, Greg.”
“I will, once we’ve found that missing money.” He walked past me in order to dump his briefcase on the coffee table. “I still don’t know why we couldn’t do this at the office.”
“I had to wait in for a parcel.”
“You’re the third richest man in the fucking country.”
“Come on, I’m not even in the top ten.”
“That’s not the point.”
“I’m not sure what your point is.”
“Forget it. If you don’t get it now, you never will. But if you think you can spare me the time, any chance of telling me what you’ve managed to find out? Or have you got a paper round you need to get out of the way before we start?”
“Very funny.” I shook my head. “Want a coffee first?”
“Don’t bother with the pleasantries,” he replied. “We haven’t got time for that. Need I remind you we have two weeks before the shareholders see the figures? If we haven’t found the missing money by then, we are so fucked.”
“We’ll find it,” I said, trying to sound reassuring.
“What have you found so far?”
“Have a look,” I said, passing him the first file before sitting on the leather sofa opposite his. “From what I can tell, Hedgehog Industries own ten percent, up from five percent six months ago. They’ve made a gap in the figures somewhere but Archibald says it’s all fine.”
“Hedgehog? What kind of bullshit name is that? I’ve never heard of them.”
“You tell me. Isn’t that your signature on there.” I pointed at the corner of the paper.
“Yeah but that’s not a form I recognise. Where did you find that?”
“Archibald gave it to me.”
“The plot thickens.” He frowned, running his eyes through the file.
“What about you? Anything in the archives?”
“A couple of things buried pretty deep but I’m still working through them. This is good though, Dominic.” He waved the file in the air. “I get a funny feeling Archibald might have something to do with this.”
“I thought you might say that.”
“You know what this means?”
“What?”
“You’re going to have to talk to your father about it.”
My heart sank. I knew he was right but it wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have any time soon. “Can’t we leave him out of this? It’ll only worry him.”
“He’s not lost it yet, he still has the ruling vote on things. If you got him to sign over power of attorney, you wouldn’t have to keep going to him with this stuff.”
“I know, I know.”
“I’d do it myself but it’s not my place, Dominic. You’re his son. It’s up to you.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
“Listen, I’m going to take this back with me and go through it all. You get back to smiling at the world and pretending everything’s all right.”
“Thanks.”
He stood up and left without saying goodbye. That was fine by me, it gave me chance to sink back on the sofa and close my eyes. Talk to my father about the fact the man he hired might be fiddling us.
I hadn’t told Greg but getting through to my father about anything was becoming increasingly difficult. At some point I’d have to admit his mind was gone but that wasn’t a conversation I was willing to have yet. Putting the emotions aside, if the world found out the head of the company had just been diagnosed with dementia, our shares would freefall and a missing thirty million would be a drop in the ocean. Like Greg said, better to smile at the world and pretend everything was all right.
I opened my eyes and immediately saw the two parcels on the table by the wall. What better way to pretend everything was all right than by ordering another pocket watch?
FIVE
EVANGELINE
If I’d known an evening bike ride would end with me in hospital, I’d have stayed at home. But it was so nice out, warm enough even in the dark to get away with wearing just skirt and tee-shirt. I’d had my mini argument with Clare when she finally came home at eight. It was that as much as the weather that sent me out of the house. I hated there being an atmosphere between us.
“You delivered it?” she asked when she saw the empty table. “You’re a star, Evangeline.”
“I’m not delivering anymore for you, okay?”
“All right, don’t get your knickers in a twist. What’s eating you?”
“That Dominic Hawke. He’s rude and antisocial and I’m not going there again.”
“What did he say to you?”
“Just do your job, Clare. What was so damned urgent you had to go into uni in the middle of summer anyway?”
“I had a job interview.”
“Oh, really? What for?”
“Balloon pumper.”
“Sorry, what?”
“Balloon pumper.”
“What the hell is a balloon pumper?”
“It’s a party planning firm the uni use for proms and things. They need someone to help with the dull stuff.”
“Like pumping up balloons?”
“If I’m lucky, in a couple of years, I might get promoted to senior balloon pumper.”
I smiled before getting cross again. “Just don’t keep asking me to deliver stuff for you, all right?”
“All right, I’m sorry. Jeez, if I’d known you’d get so stressed about it, I wouldn’t have asked. I thought I was doing you a favour.”
“A favour? In what way were you doing me a favour?”
“Well, you told me you liked him.”
“No I didn’t.”
“You said he was hot.”
“That doesn’t mean I like him.”
“You told me you’d gladly let him fuck you.”
“I was kidding.”
“I don’t think you were.”
I felt my cheeks burning. Served me right for getting drunk and talking men with her. “Just drop it, will you.”
“No need to get snappy.”
“I’m not getting snappy, I just don’t like being manipulated.”
“That’s a bit melodramatic, isn’t it?”
I turned and left the room, muttering “I’m going for a bike ride,” as I went.
I set off, my mood improving as I took in the sights of the nightlife around me, a bubbling mix of winding down and working up as people sat outside cafes and bars, enjoying the end of the working week.
I was just turning towards the railway station when a sleek black car ca
me barrelling round the bend out of nowhere, cutting the corner and clipping my handlebar. I wobbled, my wheel catching in the grate of a drain and stopping dead. Before I could react, I was flying over the handlebars, seeing a lamppost moving far too fast towards my head.
The next thing I knew I was opening my eyes in the back seat of a car, listening to a man screaming at someone. Was he screaming at me? “You could have fucking killed her, you fucking idiot.”
I blinked, the fuzziness in front of my eyes reluctant to let go. I blinked several more times, turning my head as the voice continued, seemingly without pausing for breath. “When I said quickly, I didn’t fucking mean take out anyone in the fucking way, for fuck’s sake.”
I knew that voice. Where did I know that voice from? The figure on the seat next to me came into focus and I groaned when I saw who it was. “Oh, no,” I muttered. “Not you.”
Dominic spun to face me. “You’re awake,” he said, relief pouring across his face. “I thought he’d killed you.”
“Not quite,” I said, a wave of dizziness washing over me as I slumped downwards again. “Who nearly killed me?”
“My idiot driver, thinks he’s Jason Statham. He’s not, he’s a fuckwit. Hold on.” He took my hand in his. “We’re taking you to hospital.”
“There’s no need for that,” I replied. “I’m all right.” He went to pull his hand away but I kept hold of it. It felt warm, it felt protective.
“You passed out, you’re not all right.”
“I’m so sorry,” another man’s voice said, presumably the driver. “You were in my blind spot, I just didn’t see you.”
“It’s all right,” I replied, my eyes closed. “Only an accident.” I opened my eyes with a frown a second later. “Hang on, where’s my bike?”
“I’ll replace it,” Dominic said. “Don’t worry.”
“Where is it?”
He sounded slightly sheepish. “By the time he’d turned the car round, someone had gone off with it. This fucking city, eh?”
“It’s not so bad,” I said with a smile. “It’s the crazy driving you’ve got to watch out for.”
I pushed myself upwards as the car slowed to a halt. “We’re here,” the driver said. “Shall I take her in?”
“You’ve done enough damage,” Dominic snapped, pulling open his door to give me a glimpse of the brightly lit hospital outside. “You wait here. I’ll help her.”
He ran round the car and pulled my door open, shouting for help whilst taking my hand and guiding me out. “Can you walk?” he asked.
“I’m all right,” I said, my legs losing strength all of a sudden as I fell into his arms. “Okay, maybe I’m not.”
A nurse appeared, pushing a wheelchair over. I sank into it and she pushed me through the automatic doors into the emergency department. “What happened,” the nurse asked.
As Dominic explained, I closed my eyes again, my head pounding. It was all a blurry haze for a while after that. I was looked at by the nurse, a bright light shone in my eyes by someone, then I was left by a row of chairs to wait my turn. “This is ridiculous,” Dominic said when we were alone. “You could have a cracked skull and they just expect you to wait.”
“You can go if you want,” I said. “There’s no need to stay.”
“I’m staying until I know you’re all right,” he replied. “Hang on, here’s someone.”
Another nurse appeared and he stepped in front of her. “What’s going on?” he asked. “My friend here needs looking at and no one seems to care.”
“We’ll be with you as soon as we can,” she replied.
“That’s not good enough.”
“I’m going to have to ask you to lower your voice, Sir.”
“It’s all right,” I said, reaching out to tug at his arm. “Just come and sit down.”
“You might be dying,” he said. “All because he had to drive like a fucking idiot. I tell you, I’m this close to firing him.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because it was an accident.”
He grumbled but then he looked at me, the anger fading from his face. “I’m glad you’re calm about this.”
“It’ll be the brain damage,” I said with a smile.
About ten minutes later, I was wheeled into a cubicle, leaving Dominic behind on the chairs in the waiting area. The curtains were pulled shut around the cubicle and then a doctor appeared. He ran through a barrage of questions before examining my head.
When he was finished, he leaned back on the bed behind him and folded his arms. “I think you’ll live,” he said without smiling. “You might want to consider a helmet in future though. You were very lucky.”
“I will,” I replied.
“Just to be safe, I’d like to keep you in overnight, keep an eye on you. Is there anyone you want to call?”
“I’ll text my housemate,” I said, feeling for my phone. I couldn’t find it. That was just perfect.
“Are you all right to get undressed or do you need a nurse to help?”
“I can manage it,” I said.
“I’ll give you a couple of minutes to get changed and then I’ll come back, all right?”
He left, closing the curtains behind him. I stood up, waiting for the wave of dizziness to fade away. Once it was gone, I slowly began to undress. Lifting my arm hurt and I somehow managed to get my top stuck over my head. It was still stuck when I heard the curtain open behind me. I spun round despite the fact I couldn’t see anything. “Is that you, Doctor?” I asked.
SIX
DOMINIC
I almost said yes. Almost.
“It’s me,” I said instead, stepping into the cubicle and pulling the curtains closed. “I thought I could hear you struggling in here.” The sight of her with her top stuck over her head should have made me laugh but it didn’t. Instead I stared at her chest, her cute bra, the swell of her breasts, the flatness of her stomach, the way her skirt was sat on her hips. “Are you all right? Need some help?”
“I’m not struggling,” she replied, twisting her arms further into knots above her head. “Ow.”
“All right, I’ll go, shall I?”
“No, wait,” she said, a hint of panic in her voice, muffled as it was. “Help me.”
I walked over, ignoring the sight of her pretty little bra as best I could. I paused in front of her, unable to resist looking down. “Hold on,” I said, seeing the slightest hint of her nipple through the white lace. My cock immediately began to harden and I licked my lips unconsciously.
“What are you doing?”
“Keep still.” I reached up and took the end of her sleeve, tugging gently, peeling her top off her. She winced as her head came free, her hair half covering her face.
“Ow,” she said, her arms folding across her chest. “That hurt.”
“You’re welcome,” I replied. “Think you can get your bottom half off?”.
She leaned experimentally downwards. “Nope,” she said, standing up again. “It hurts too much.”
“I can help,” I said, kneeling down before she had a chance to answer. I took hold of the waistband of her skirt, sliding it slowly down her legs, waiting to hear if she protested. She just stood in silence, not moving a muscle. As her skirt fell from her hips, I caught sight of her tiny little thong. It took my breath away, the scent of her assailing my nostrils, making my cock all the harder. My eyes moved down and I winced at the sight of a nasty graze on the outside of her thigh. “Oh, God,” I said, running my finger around the edge of it. “Does it hurt?”
“It’s not so bad,” she replied, looking down at my finger. “I think I’m okay now.”
“Of course,” I said, getting to my feet. “Here, let me get the gown on you.”
I crossed to the bed and picked it up, turning to find her facing me in just her underwear. The sight of her beautiful body made me want her all the more, especially as she just stood there while I stared at her. “Come here,”
I said, holding out the gown.
She slid her arms through the holes as I reached past her, my head brushing past her neck. “I’ll tie it for you,” I said, “hold still.”
I walked round her, standing behind her back with the ties of the gown in my fingers. I couldn’t knot it at first, I was too busy staring at her ass in that thong. Those cheeks looked as if they were aching to be spanked red, to be groped, to be grabbed roughly in my hands. A step forwards and my cock would brush between her buttocks. It took three goes to get the knot tied, I was so distracted.
“Are you done?” she asked, looking back over her shoulder.
“I don’t know,” I replied as she turned round to face me. “Am I?”
I was just reaching out to brush her hair away from her face when my phone rang. Swearing silently, I pulled it out of my pocket. I went to cancel it to but then I saw the notification on the screen. It was Greg.
“One second,” I said, moving across to the curtain and stepping through it. “Greg? This better be important.”
“Get yourself down here now. I need to show you something.”
“Can’t it wait?”
“No it fucking can’t. Whoever you’re screwing can wait, get down here.”
I hung up, sticking my head back through the curtain to find her sitting on the edge of the bed. “Trouble at mill?” she asked.
“Sort of.” I looked at her and the yearning need for her body came back. I wanted to take that gown off her, slide that thong down, throw her on the bed, spread her legs and just impale myself inside her, injured or not. I wanted her so badly.
“Look, I’ve got to go but I’ll send another car for you. I am sorry about all this.”
“You do what you’ve got to do.”
“You going to be all right?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I meant it about the bike, I will buy you another one.”
“It might be tricky.”
“What? Why?”
“You don’t even know my name.”