Down Under Complete Trilogy Box Set

by S. M Phillips

  As soon as I've collected my luggage, I call Melissa. I'm praying that she'll be a love and come and collect me. I don't fancy wasting any more time waiting around on a taxi. I’m also not in the mood for small talk with strangers after that gruelling flight, either.

  "Hey, Liss." I say as soon as she answers.

  "Hey. I've been waiting for you to call. So, have you come up with your plan of action yet? Please tell me you have."

  "I have, but I don't know how much good it will do. I'm at the airport, could you come and pick me up? I’ll love you forever."

  "What? You're here? Now?" She shouts down the phone and I have to pull it away slightly.

  "Yeah. I've been cramped in a tight space for thirty hours, Liss. Please say you'll come and save me. I'll beg if I have too." My pleading tone sings down the line and she laughs at me.

  "Sure thing. I'll be there as soon as I can." I thank all things holy for Melissa and I sag against the nearest bench, desperate to take the weight off my swollen bloody ankles.

  I spot Heath before I see Melissa. His big frame dominates everyone around him and I can’t help but shiver when I look at him. He just looks so scary. Melissa however, looks absolutely besotted. It looks like her relationship is going from strength to strength, and I'm glad. She's waited so long to be with Heath. I guess there's nothing stopping them now that Max knows.

  She pulls me into a tight embrace as soon as she can reach me. "Boy, am I fucking glad to see you, girlie."

  "It's good to see you, too." I’m so glad that I’m finally here. Only one last hurdle to face and that’s Max.

  "I think Max could really do with your support, Jess." I'm shocked at the words that come from Heath’s mouth and I turn to look at him.

  "Is he really that bad?"

  "Like you wouldn't believe. He won't talk to anyone and all he's doing is drinking his fucking life away. He's in a really bad place."

  "What about Mal?" I ask. I remember how cut up he was when Mal fell ill and it seems like they've always been close.

  "He's even shut Mal out too. To be honest Jess, you're our last hope. I know what he did was wrong, but believe me; he thought he was doing the right thing when he upped and left. He's always tried to put you first. Even if it is the wrong thing to do at the time."

  My heart breaks for my loveable rogue. Out here; all alone while he deals with this. He needs to stop pushing the people that care about him away. I know he's all male and be doesn't like his ego to be tarnished but he's only human too, and we can only take so much before we break.

  "Where is he?" I ask, desperate to get to him. I need to see him, to check how he is for myself.

  "When I last spoke to him he was at the office. I don't know if he'll still be there though. Are you sure you don't want to get some sleep first? You’ve had a long journey."

  "No. I won't be able to sleep until I've spoken to him. Plus, I can always sleep on the plane when he sends me on my way."

  "Oh Jess, don't say that. You have to be firm with him. Don't let him push you away. Can't you see that this is what he wants? He'll block you out, he'll tell you stuff that you don't want to hear just so that you prove him right."

  "I'm not following?" Melissa’s talking in riddles, and considering I’ve not had much sleep, I’m really finding it hard to make sense of what she’s trying to tell me.

  "Be prepared for him to throw all kinds of shit at you. By doing that he knows that you will walk away and that will prove to him that you never really cared in the first place."

  "Are you being serious? You know I care. Shit, he knows how much I fucking care about him."

  "Then you need to prove that to him. Show him that no matter what he's going through, you'll be there battling it with him every step of the goddamn way."

  It feels weird being back here after being home for a few weeks. It feels bloody good to be back though. I just wish that it were under different circumstances. I don't even know if Max is still here, let alone if he'll even want to see me. It pointless trying to call him because I know he won't answer the phone to me. I need to remember what Liss said. Be strong, stand my ground and don't take any of his shit personally.

  It looks like I'm the one who's going to need to be strong for the both of us if we have any chance of making us work. I press the button to call the lift and take a deep breath. I haven't flown all this way for nothing. One way or another, he will listen to what I have to say.

  I see him as soon as the doors open. My heart starts to beat loudly in my chest as I watch this man before me. He looks completely broken. He's staring off into space with only god knows what running through his head. His sexy stubble is now longer, making him look more rugged. My eyes are completely transfixed on him and I have to remind myself to put one foot in front of the other. I get a sudden urge to run to him, to hold him in my arms and tell him that everything will be okay. But I know that I can't do that. At least not yet, anyway.

  "Max." My voice is croaky and my throat is dry as I try to get his attention. He looks at me, but doesn't really see me. At least not straight away. "What are you doing here?"

  "Jess?" Max's eyes grow wide when he finally notices me standing before him in his office. "What... How?"

  "None of that matters right now Max. Nothing matters but you." I whisper as I walk closer to him.

  "Stop. You shouldn't be here. I don't need your pity Jess." His eyes are swollen and a deep shade of crimson. I'm not sure if it's from the alcohol, lack of sleep or tears. Witnessing him like this makes me feel empty. How could he come out here by himself when he could have been with me? I don't know how much help I could have been, but he could always talk to me, no matter what. "Just go home Jess. I don't need you here, fuck. I don't even want you here."

  His words sting, re-opening the fresh wounds that he'd left me with when I last saw him. This isn't Max taking, Jess. You know this. It has to be his anger or the booze.

  "I don't care what you want Max. You don't get to walk away from me, just so that it makes your life easier."

  "You don't know what you're talking about." He slurs, his hand moving towards the bottle so that he can get a re-fill. I move instantly so that I'm by his side and my hand snaps out to prevent him from grabbing it.

  "I know about your dad, Max. I'm so sorry."

  "Don't be. He was a waste of fucking space and doesn't deserve anyone's sympathy; especially yours."

  "But he was your dad Max. You're bound to feel something."

  "That didn't matter when he murdered my mum in cold fucking blood, did it?"

  Shit. Well that wasn't what I was expecting to hear. I knew his mum wasn't around and I just presumed that he didn't bother with his dad, just like I didn't with mine. No wonder his heads bloody fell off. Liss could have at least given me a heads up. But oh no, there I go again, always putting my foot in it.

  "I'm going to be honest here. I haven't got a clue what to say, and I doubt anything that I do say will ever make it better, but you could have talked to me, Max. You didn't need to run off and come back here. I thought we had this kind of team thing going on?"

  "Jess, you've had enough stuff going on and you sure as hell don't need my fucked up life adding to it. Anything I touch gets destroyed and I won't fucking let that happen to you, do you hear me?"

  "They only thing that will ever destroy me, is you. If you keep pushing me away, you’ll completely destroy me, destroy us. Can you not see that? No matter what it is, we discuss it. We can get through anything, as long as we do it together." I promise him and I mean every goddamn word.

  "You don't know what you're saying. You don't need my crap weighing you down, angel." And there it is; the word that I have been waiting for. I'm still his angel and that’s means that there is still hope for us after all. Now that I know he still cares, it gives me the strength that I need to continue.

  "I know that you're new to all of this, and bloody hell; I'm no expert, but this is what couples do every day of their lives, Ma
x. Something major happens and they lean on each other for support. That's how they get through the hard times. If you're ready to give up at the first hurdle then there's not really much point, but I know you and I know that's not what you stand for. Do you really think you would be where you are today if it were? If you don't want to talk to me about it just yet, that's fine because like I said before, I'm not going anywhere. Just know that I'll always be here when you need me."

  He doesn't say anything to me; so instead, I lightly wrap my arms around his neck and lean down into him. "I mean it Max. There isn't anything in this world that we can't get through together. However, right now, I really need to get back to Melissa's and crash, otherwise I might just pass out on the floor, and I’ll be no good to you then, will I?. Call me when you've finished up here, okay."

  Max

  I'm comforted and shocked by Jess' words, but it's a foreign fucking feeling. No one has ever known about my dad and what happened, except Mal, Daisy, Don and Liss. No one else has ever needed to know and I liked it that way. I guess it meant that I didn't have to admit what a lowlife scumbag he really was. The man who helped bring me into this world took the other connecting part right out of it. How the fuck is that normal? How the fuck can Jess stand in front of me and act the way she did? To have that kind of blood running through my veins, she should be looking at me in disgust and running for the hills. But, here she is, clear as fucking day telling me that we can get through anything as long as we do it together.

  My own gad damn guardian angel, protecting and looking out for me no matter what.

  I just hope that over time, her lustful eyes won't turn into ones that are filled with pity. That alone would fucking kill me.

  After Jess has left to get some rest, I sit in my office with just my thoughts for company. Just like I have for the past god knows how long, but this time I feel something move within me. A fire, a reason, something to keep me going instead of being swallowed up by that big fucking black hole.

  Jess... My fucking Jess.

  Stella takes this perfect opportunity to walk into my office. She doesn't see me at first as her head is buried deep in her phone. When she looks up, she looks shocked as hell to see me and so she fucking should.

  "Sit." I snap out at her and she flinches from my harsh tone. I couldn't care less to be honest and I'm not about to take any bullshit from her, especially now that I know what a spiteful, conniving little bitch she really is.

  "Max. I didn't know you were back." She squeaks while trying to smile at me.

  "No?" I couldn't give ten hoots as to whether she knew or not. My so called friend, trusted colleague has tried to sabotage my business and the woman that I love in the process. Surely she knew I would find out and I'm fucking sure she'll know that I won't take this shit lightly. "What's been happening while I've been gone? I left you a couple of messages but you never got back to me."

  "What do you expect me to say Max? It's not easy when you're the one left to pick up the pieces you know? That’s what I had to do when you and your floozy decided to up and leave at a moment’s notice."

  "Watch your fucking mouth, Stella." I warn. She's already pushed me too far, and today isn't a good day to push me any fucking further.

  "Woah, chill out Max. All I'm doing is stating the obvious to you, but you're too blinded by lust to see it."

  "No Stella, let me tell you what I've been too blind to see. Now if I were you, I'd listen very fucking carefully. It seems that I've been too blind to see that so call friends are actually the ones who will stab me in the back, especially when it comes to something that they want. I've been too blind to see that they actually don't give a shit about the people who get hurt in the process or who they destroy along the way. Does any of this sound familiar to you?" I wait a moment for her to answer and it doesn't surprise me when I don't get a response. "How about I make it fucking clear for you? I know what you did Stella. Your sly, vindictive little plan didn’t work. Instead, It’s back fired on you big time. I guess it’s one thing to mess with me, but the fact that you tried to fuck Jess over was your downfall"

  “Max, I don’t…”

  “I don’t want to hear any of your bullshit fucking excuses. I’ve got all the fucking evidence that I need, not to mention what you’ve done on CCTV. I’m giving you one chance to pack your shit and get out of my fucking office before I report it. It’s more than you deserve. Trust me.”

  Jess

  I told Max that I was going to head straight to Melissa's, but instead I've decided to take a detour to Mal's house. Half an hour won't hurt and I've missed him and Daisy while I've been away. At least this way I can check on Mal in person. I guess now's a good time to discuss my new business opportunity too.

  "Jess." Daisy shouts as she jumps up from her garden bench. She looks happy, really happy. I suppose I would too if I lived in paradise. "It's so good to see you."

  "It's bloody good to see you too." I welcome her hug and she smells of summer. It’s a welcome smell and one that instantly makes me feel at ease.

  "Mal." She shouts over shoulder. "Mal, you'll never guess who's here."

  "Who?" I hear him shout back.

  "Come and bloody see, you lazy sod."

  It takes a minute for him to come outside, so I settle myself down on one of the lounging chairs.

  "My god, I don't believe it. When in the devil did you get here, flower?"

  "About an hour and a half ago, so I'm still a little fragile." I warn them; at least if I fall asleep it’s not me being rude.

  "You haven't been back to Melissa's to get your head down? Jesus flower, you'll collapse if you're not careful." He says with deep concern in his voice.

  "I'll be fine, honest. I was driving past so I thought it would be rude to carry on going." Daisy suddenly walks back out into the garden with a tray of cold drinks. Oh, I could just kiss her right now. It's bloody boiling out here.

  "So Max told you then?" Mal asks as he hands me a drink of cold lemonade.

  "He sure did. What were you thinking Mal? I can't believe you want me to take over at Stanton's. Do you even know what you're gambling with?"

  "Gamble? Don't be so silly, flower. My gamble paid off many years ago when I originally hired you."

  "I really think you need to check those meds Mal." I laugh at him, but secretly humbled by his compliment. "You've worked so hard to get it where it is today. Too hard just to hand it over, and what if I sabotage the whole thing?"

  "I've got every bit of faith in you Jess. Both Max and I have, and we'll be on board if you need us, you know that. So come on, how about you put an old guy out of his misery. What do you say?"

  "I'm really not sure about all of this Mal. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful. Beyond grateful, it's just a lot for little old me to handle." I tell him honestly. I'm over the moon that he's asked me, but knowing that I'm good at my job is one thing. Being in charge of the business is a completely different ball game altogether.

  "You know I didn't plan this overnight, don't you? I decided a long time ago that Stanton's would eventually be passed down to you. I guess my health issues just sped it up a little, that’s all."

  He's really not going to stop with this until I give him the answer that he so desperately wants to hear. "You're not going to let this drop are you?"

  "I'm afraid not, flower. If you think Max is stubborn, then you've not seen anything yet."

  "Well." I say while drawing out my answer. "I guess there is the prospect of living over here for six months of the year."

  "Well?" He says in despair while throwing his hands up in the air, a sign of frustration at me.

  "I suppose it looks like you've got yourself a deal." I can't help but smile at him, and on the inside I'm absolutely ecstatic.

  "Welcome aboard, flower." Raising his glass to mine, we clink in a silent celebration. Oh my fucking god, I'm now the proud owner of Stanton's. How the hell did I get here? Through tears and heartbreak that’s how, but finally the lig
ht at the end of that tunnel is shining bright and ready to burn. "I honestly cannot tell you how happy you've just made this old man."

  "How's Max holding up dear? Have you seen him yet?" Daisy asks.

  "Not good. I managed to see him for a little while before. He tried to send me on my way, but I stood my ground and told him I wasn't going anywhere. Melissa said he's been shutting everyone out. I think he needs to realise that no one here is going to budge."

  "It's a real good thing that he finally has someone like you in his life, Jess. Deep down, I think he's needed you for a long time. For some reason, fate has only brought you together now." I look at Daisy and I'm comforted by her words. I know Max thinks that he does nothing but bring bad luck to people in his life, but Mal, Daisy and Melissa love him more than life itself and I'm going to make it my fucking mission to allow him to see it, to really see how much love he has around him.

  As soon as I pull up outside Melissa's, all I want to do is climb into bed and sleep for a very long time. It's been a long and emotional couple of days and even alcohol won't help me. I drop a quick message to Jen to check in on my mum. I really hope she's okay. I bet she's running rings around Jen and I know I'll get an earful from her when I get back. Oh well. Shit happens.

  "Did you see him?" Melissa shouts down the hallway at me as soon as I walk through the door. So much for getting past her unnoticed. As much as I want to, I can't just turn around and go to bed. She's letting me stay here again, after all.

  "Yeah." I say when I finally plonk my arse down on the couch.

  "You look fucked."

  "I bloody feel it. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be awake for, either." I can already feel my eyes dropping, but I know that Liss is worried about her brother. "He was a little shocked to see me. Well, that's putting it finely. He actually told me to go, but I stood my ground."