by Iris Deorre
Amelia had asked Mandy to show her into the master bedroom.
‘Yes, the media and the lies.’ Amelia played along.
‘How is he doing? I got a call from your assistant, it doesn’t seem as though I can speak with him.’
‘You wouldn’t need to, it’s me you’re dealing with now.’
‘Yes, yes of course.’ She smiled. ‘I do hope this whole trial gets sorted out. I can’t believe such a thing is happening.’
‘Yeah, me neither,’ Amelia said sarcastically, but Suzanne failed to notice.
‘I’ve brought a few dresses through, your assistant told me about sizes, but I don’t know if any of these will fit.’
‘If they don’t you could always find more, I mean that’s your job, isn’t it.’
‘Oh yes, it isn’t a problem at all.’
They started the dress fitting. The first four dresses weren’t to her liking. This time it was nice because she could reject it or accept it. The dresses were either too tight around the waist or just not what she wanted.
‘I might have to go out searching again.’
‘How about that one?’ Amelia pointed to a cream dress. ‘That looks nice.’
Suzanne picked it out from the collection and Amelia went ahead to put it on. It fitted perfectly. It clung to the growing bump without restricting it. It flattered all her curves without being tight. It had bat wings and was knee length. Suzanne paired the dress with a cream and gold pair of heels.
‘You look stunning!’ Suzanne squealed.
‘Thank you, and thank you for taking the time to do this.’
‘Oh, it’s my job. I love it.’
There was a light knock on the door while Amelia tried to get herself out of the clothes.
‘Miss Woods, Tate is here to see you.’
‘Now? He didn’t say he was coming.’
Then again, she didn’t expect him to make an appointment. He was her friend after all.
‘No, urm, I don’t have him in your calendar.’
‘Its fine, take him into my office and offer him something to drink.’
‘Yes Miss Woods.’ Mandy was about to close the door.
‘Oh and Mandy, how long before my call to Justin?
‘Forty minutes.’
‘Great, thanks.’
‘Well, well, you are busy,’ said Suzanne as she put away the clothes Amelia didn’t want.
‘I have taken over his business.’
‘I know, the share price to some of his business’s took a nose dive after that announcement.’
Amelia looked at her a moment and tried to work out her game.
‘That was only temporary. Shares have gone up after they used my marketing idea. Justin knew what he was doing when he put me in charge. I had been working for him for years. I’m highly qualified for the job.’
‘No doubt.’ She smiled.
Amelia could sense the cattiness beneath the tone, but decided not to react.
‘Thank you for coming,’ said Amelia. ‘Mandy will show you out.’ She headed for the door and opened it for the woman to depart.
‘It was nice to see you again,’ said Suzanne.
‘Yes, likewise.’
****
‘Tate,’ she said as she closed the door to her office. ‘You didn’t tell me you were coming.’
‘Surprise!’ He stood up. ‘I come bearing gifts.’ He held up the box of blueberry muffins.
‘Oh Tate, you didn’t have to.’
‘I don’t get to see you much at the office anymore.’
‘That’s because I’m your boss.’ She giggled. ‘There’s just so much to do at the moment.’
‘Come, sit down.’ He pulled out the chair from behind the huge oak desk.
Amelia sat down gratefully.
‘Here.’ He opened the box and offered her a muffin. ‘Go on, I know you want one.’
‘Okay.’ She giggled and took the muffin.
‘Here, give me your feet.’ He sat down and pushed the chair closer to her.
‘Huh?’
‘Your feet, give me your feet.’
‘Tate!’
‘Feet!’
Amelia pulled off the black heels and placed them on his lap. Expertly, he began to massage them. Amelia felt her shoulders relax as the sensation traveled from her feet through her body. Her taste-buds swelled as she munched on the muffin.
‘How does that feel?’ he asked.
‘Soooo good!’
He giggled.
‘Seriously though, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?’
‘I finished early, and I did okay that with my manager.’
Amelia laughed lightly.
‘I remembered that you were having the scan today, and I didn’t want you to go alone.’
‘Oh, Tate.’ She took back her feet. ‘Please don’t do this.’
‘I’m not doing anything, I promise. I’m just being a friend.’
She watched him, she wasn’t so sure about that. The relationship between them was always a little awkward.
‘Tate, I don’t want you to waste your life waiting for me. I just can’t –’
‘I’m not waiting. I’m just here for you. Please, just let me be your friend.’
She wasn’t so sure.
‘I promise that’s all it is. I’ve even joined a dating site, to meet someone.’
‘You haven’t!’
‘I have.’
‘Oh wow! That’s great!’ She felt relieved, the pressure off her a little.
He smiled faintly knowing very well that, that wasn’t true. He just hoped that one day, she’d love him the way she loved Justin.
‘So any dates lined up?’
‘Nope, not yet.’
‘I’m surprised, you’re such a catch.’
He laughed.
‘It’s true.’
‘Just not for you,’ he said.
She giggled shaking her head. It was never going to be straightforward between them.
‘So, are you alright with me tagging along to the scan?’
‘Do I have a choice? You’ve more or less invited yourself.’
‘I guess I have. So is that a yes?’ He teased.
‘I don’t see why not, but right now, I’ve got to get some work done.’
‘Work, work and no play –’
‘Miss Woods, Mister Hughes is on the line for you.’ Mandy poked her head round the door.
‘Thank you.’ She smiled. ‘I’m going to have to take this, Mandy will keep you entertained.’
Tate nodded disappointed, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He was grateful that Justin was behind bars, but it also bugged him that Justin still had control over her even behind bars.
Amelia waited until the door shut behind him before picking up the phone. It beeped constantly, the red light flicking, demanding her attention. She took a deep breath, and then picked it up.
‘Justin.’ She shut her eyes as she said his name.
‘Honey, how are you?’ His voice was calm and collected.
‘Tired, but I’m coping.’ There was a part of her that wanted him to rescue her from all this, but there was also the part that couldn’t forget what he’d done.
She held onto the growing bump and bit back her lower lip. The sound of his voice through the phone sent a tingle down her spine, something she wished wouldn’t happen. But the fact was, she couldn’t just switch off her feelings for him. Years ago, she would’ve been the woman judging another woman for falling in love with a murderer, but here she was, doing something she thought she’d never do.
‘You really gave me a big task,’ she said.
‘To which you are coping fine.’
‘I am, but- ’
‘I know you, I’ve watched you over the years. You are a fighter, a strong woman.’
His words confused her. How could he be so certain and yet at other times be so cruel? She thought about the words Doctor Gallagher ha
d used, and she tried to put them into practice.
‘So tell me, business first, what’s going on.’
They did this on a regular basis. Amelia would go into detail of what was happening. She had a handle on everything, thanks to her competent personal assistant. He listened intently as she gave him details of what was going on. She passed an idea through him, before presenting it to the board the following day. He liked it and told her to go ahead. It felt nice listening to him approve of her, she’d almost forgotten about how he’d wanted her to change her body for him.
‘Now, to more important things,’ he said softly.
‘Yes.’ She knew exactly where this was going.
‘I need to see you,’ he said.
She shut her eyes. She knew this deep within her, but she was terrified.
‘I don’t know. I’m not ready.’
‘Please, you are the only one who keeps me going. I...I feel different when you’re with me.’
‘I know,’ she said softly. ‘But it’s been four months now, and I’m not the same anymore.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m huge,’ she said. ‘I’m the total opposite of what you created.’
He sighed.
‘I know that isn’t what you want to hear.’
‘I’m disappointed,’ he said.
‘I thought you would be.’ She understood completely, but it didn’t make it any easier.
‘I still want to see you. We can talk about it, talk about what I feel.’
‘What do you feel?’ she asked.
‘Empty, I feel empty. When I saw you, when you stepped into the office, I felt, calm and yet there was a side to me that wanted to change you.’
‘To keep me safe?’
‘Yes.’
She smiled at the thought. It was the most bizarre thing she’d ever heard, but it was true.
‘Please,’ he begged.
Amelia thought about the doctors words. Would she be able to stand the possible abuse? There was also the pregnancy. It wouldn’t be possible to hide that.
‘I need you,’ he said softly.
‘Yes, yes okay.’
‘Yes?’ His voice was a pitch higher.
‘Yes, yes I’ll see you.’
‘I’m so happy! Thank you.’
‘Be prepared,’ she warned.
‘I will be. I’ve been working a lot with Doctor Gallagher. I may not be able to feel things, but I can try and learn. I can mimic behaviour.’
‘Is that even real? I mean pretending to care.’
‘It’s all I’ve got. But when I’m with you, there is that sense, that moment when I feel something.’
She nodded.
‘So, can you come tomorrow?’
She shut her eyes trying to remember what was in the diary for the following day.
‘Give me two seconds,’ she said.
‘Yes, of course.’
She pressed a few buttons on the phone while keeping him on hold.
‘Mandy,’ she said after the woman had picked up. Mandy sounded quite chirpy.
‘Could you remind me what’s in my diary for tomorrow.’
‘Yes, yes of course,’ she said catching her breath. ‘Urm...’ She scanned through the iPad. ‘Interviews for an Au pair at eleven and then you have your business meeting scheduled for two thirty. Later you have dinner with friends.’
‘Yes, urm, Gary’s birthday,’ she said. ‘Could you ring Jessica and ask her to chair the meeting instead. She knows what it’s about. I’ll be going to see Justin instead.’
‘Yes, will do.’
‘Thank you.’ She switched the line back to Justin. ‘Sorry about that, had to juggle a few things about.’
‘That’s okay, so what’s the verdict.’
‘I shall see you tomorrow at about two o’clock.’
‘That’s fantastic.’ He sounded genuinely pleased.
Amelia wondered if he’d feel the same way after he saw her. There was no telling what he would feel. They spoke a little longer, and then it was time for her to ring off and get to the conference call. It had been a long day already, but as she rang in and joined the call, it was like the day had just begun.
****
‘Let’s go in my car, you get to be normal again,’ said Tate.
‘Things are never going to be normal again for me,’ she said.
‘But they can be today, in this moment.’ He grinned as he opened the door to his car.
‘Fine,’ she said and wiggled into the passenger seat.
He walked round to the driver seat, gave her a wink then started the car.
‘You really didn’t have to do this, you know.’
‘I know, but I want to.’
There was a moments silence between them. Amelia’s mind was filled with the thoughts of the visit. There was a part to her that was looking forward to it, looking forward to seeing him, his lovely grey eyes and his gorgeous face. But there was the part of her that was dreading it. She had ballooned and she knew it was the one thing he despised.
‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I overheard Mandy booking your diary for a visit to Justin.’
She bit back her lip, she wasn’t sure if she was irritated or bored of the same conversation. She looked at him a moment and wondered why he was so obsessed with the whole relationship. At some point, he’d have to let her go completely.
‘What do you want to know?’ She knew there was no fighting this, even if she wanted to, and besides, she wasn’t in the mood.
‘Why, I want to know why you’re going to see him?’
Amelia pushed her head back into the seat. The more things changed, the more they stayed the same. It was never going to change with Tate.
‘Because I love him,’ she said.
He was quiet for a moment.
‘Take the motorway into Leeds, I’m going to the private Leeds hospital for my scan.’
He nodded, still unhappy with the answer she’d given him.
‘You have to understand that it’s complicated. I know you think I should never see him again, after what he put me through, but the fact of the matter remains, that I still like him.’
‘I’ll never understand that.’
‘You don’t have too, it’s not about you, it’s about me and this baby.’ She rubbed her tummy gently.
He bit back his lip and shook his head.
‘Don’t get me wrong, I totally appreciate your friendship and what you’ve done for me, but I can’t switch off my feelings for him. I struggle everyday with the anger and bitterness, and yet there is a side to me that understands.’
‘I don’t understand how you can love someone who’s a killer. He hurt you!’
‘That’s were you’re wrong.’
‘Wrong about what? The killer part or the love part?’
‘There are things you don’t know about Justin, that I do.’
‘I see, so the fact you know things about him, excuses him from the fact he put you through hell.’
‘Why are you here, why are you doing all this if what I do bothers you so much!’ It was beginning to get on her nerves and her raging hormones weren’t helping.
‘I’m sorry, I just can’t wrap my head around it. I mean, he’s an evil man.’
Amelia wasn’t getting through.
‘I have a car, I could’ve done this without the stress. I don’t need this.’ She took in deep breaths.
‘You’re right, I’m sorry.’ He bit back the words that were urging to come out.
It didn’t matter what he said, or how he put it to her, she wasn’t going to change her mind about Justin. The next thirty minutes were restrained. Amelia wished she’d had the driver take her instead. Defending her relationship to Tate was getting exhausting. The man had given her control of his assets, and she knew things about him, that no one, except Doctor Gallagher, knew. She wasn’t going to turn her back on him, even though it frightened her to death.
They arrived at th
e hospital with little said between them. He clicked off the seatbelt and turned to her.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said.
Amelia looked at him not sure whether or not to believe him. He’d been saying sorry more times than she’d cared to remember, and things still hadn’t changed.
‘Amy?’
‘You’ve been sorry a lot of times. It’s getting old.’
‘If you can find it in your heart to forgive him, surely you can forgive me.’ He tried to sound light about it.
‘I don’t...I don’t....you know what, I’ve got to get to my appointment.’ She opened the door.
He opened his mouth to speak, but thought better of it. Instead he stepped out of the car and followed her into the hospital. They were greeted by the friendly staff and quickly shown to the room where the ultra sound would take place.
‘Are you dad?’ asked the Sonographer.
‘No, just a close friend,’ he said.
They got as comfortable as they could, as soon as Amelia saw her baby on the screen all the anger disappeared. Everything that seemed to matter disappeared, and all that mattered was the little human growing inside of her.
‘Everything is looking good,’ said the woman kindly.
Amelia felt her heart flutter. She hoped that was a good thing all around. At least physically everything was looking good. She looked up at Tate and smiled. He smiled back and took her hand and gave it a gentle rub. She had to admit that she was grateful that he was with her, it would’ve been hard doing it all alone.
‘Would you like to find out the sex of the baby?’ she asked.
Amelia nodded, she wanted to know. At her first scan it had been too early to know, and she’d had a lot going on, but this one was more relaxed, and she was more in-tune with her body.
‘I would like that very much.’
The woman smiled as she pressed against her stomach. At times the pressure made Amelia feel as though she would wee at that very moment.
‘You’re having a boy,’ she said gently. ‘You’re having a baby boy.’
‘A boy!’ Her body covered with goose bumps. ‘I’m having a baby boy.’
Just knowing that fact made everything real.
‘Wow!’ Tate was speechless. The whole atmosphere wasn’t anything he’d ever experienced.