by S M Mala
‘Is that the only reason you’re biased?’ Finlay muttered under his breath and caught his mother’s annoyed eye.
‘I’ve a lot of time for Sylvie and she deserves to be steered in the right direction by genuine people,’ Andy replied, smiling brightly, his face looking sickeningly handsome. Finlay instantly thought the direction Andy would have Sylvie, is on her back. ‘Whoever comes on board will have to win her trust and your company would have to agree the right price. The land they’re sitting on is worth quite a lot now, considering the new hotels are going up and the access to Heathrow. There’d be no question of not receiving a return on the investment. Plus the business itself isn’t doing too badly. Why would you want to sell it?’
‘We need to sell the ones that don’t fit into our portfolio,’ Alice said quickly. ‘Piers set it up as a sort of hobby and now we have to let it go, for a profit, and concentrate on what can build the company not question it’s strategy.’
Finlay found himself staring at Andy who was nodding at Alice. He didn’t want him to buy the shares let alone have anything to do with Sylvie
He realised he would have to stop this from happening but knew if there wasn’t a suitable buyer, his mother would force everyone’s hand and fold the company in a matter of moments.
Finlay was stuck but more importantly, he wanted to know if anything happened between Andy and Sylvie when he was in France. The idea that she could have been with him, through hurt or rejection made him feel sick. It was now he realised he was the one not confident about himself because the man sitting in front of him, could help the woman he loved, whereas Finlay could only hinder.
‘That’s a ridiculous statement!’ Sylvie said laughing at the edited package Toby had just shown her. ‘She can’t say that!’
‘Well she bloody well did and it’s hilarious!’ he said, grinning from ear to ear. ‘She’s getting a cult following our Samina, with her ‘Low down on Love’ as she calls it.’ Toby started to laugh. ‘You know I loaded some of these on the web and people love it. We’re getting more hits because of her ability to promote the products. Plus let me show you something else, you’ll laugh.’
‘You mean ‘inability’,’ Sylvie sniggered and sat down. ‘She can’t be saying that a vibrating egg can tighten your muscles to stop incontinence… we’ll get into trouble. The thing is, against my better judgement, she seems to be pulling in people to the website.’
They both laughed for a moment as Toby stopped and she realised he was staring at her. Sylvie let out a little sigh and touched his knee.
‘What?’ she gently asked.
‘You and he still together? He seems very happy, sickeningly so. All day on Sunday he was grinning over lunch and it, personally, was quite nauseating.’
‘We have to keep it quiet as Stephen’s sniffing about. Your mother shouldn’t have forced us to take him back in, especially since that incident. Are you alright about him being here?’ Sylvie grimaced for a moment as he shrugged. ‘He’s not been pushing you about?’
‘I can stick up for myself and he’s been rather gentlemanly. Maybe he knows I throw a wicked punch?’ he smirked. ‘That brother’s birthday of mine is in a fortnight. What shall we do?’
Sylvie smiled, knowing that Finlay’s request was to spend the day and night together. She’d already booked her mother in to look after Daisy for two days and nights as Sylvie had organised a weekend getaway for them.
‘Oh god, he wants to shag you, doesn’t he?’ Toby said with utter disgust. ‘You know his slut wife’s in London and doesn’t like any of the places he’s finding for them to live? She’s being a bitch and no doubt fucking loads of men at the same time.’
She gulped for a moment, trying not to betray her concern about Juliette being in town. The upside was that Finlay was happy seeing his son most days and this made him more relaxed. Checking her watch, she realised he was on his way back from a visit with his child. Then she heard something Toby was playing and walked closer to the screen.
‘No way!’ she shrieked out to see Rosalind and Samina, on camera, waving vibrators in the air singing ‘Good Vibrations’. ‘That better not have gone on the website because we haven’t got the copyright for the song. I tried ages ago and it was too expensive plus they didn’t think it was a good thing to be associated with.’
‘It’s a scream! We thought we’d have a laugh, as there’s so little time left, considering in a few months we will be no more. And you seem to be focussed on his highness.’
Sylvie slumped down on the chair realising he was right, then laughed at the footage being played. She wondered for a moment if they’d accidentally stumbled on something then clicked what Toby had just implied.
‘Do you think he’s distracting me?’ she asked tentatively as Toby pulled a face, the one she knew when he was weighing up what to say. ‘Tell me. Goodness knows how long it’ll last before he dumps me again.’ Sylvie let out an uncomfortable laugh. ‘Shall we place a bet?’
He looked at her as if she was missing something. Then Toby half smiled and shook his head from side to side before leaning closer.
‘That bitch has come to a town she hates with their son. There is no way Juliette is going to let her company close down and knowing her, she’s probably putting together her own survival package which will include Finlay.’ Sylvie gulped hard as Toby raised his eyebrows for a moment. ‘Which means you’re going to be at war over my brother… are you ready for that because you don’t sound like you are?’
For a moment she didn’t know what to say.
That was something she hadn’t clearly thought about and stared at Toby.
‘Or are you protecting yourself?’ he continued. ‘Sylvie, you know he’s piggy in the middle on this. I know he’d help but mumsy said he can’t and she can easily dispense with him if she wants.’
‘I worry he says one thing and then he’s not sure. It’s been a pretty turbulent time for him and I have to be prepared he’ll change his mind.’ Biting her lip for a moment she smiled. ‘Your mother won’t sack him, considering no one knows exactly what he does for a living.’ She laughed out loudly. ‘I’m still not sure.’
‘Are you in love with that piece of shit?’ Toby smiled. ‘I can say that because I still think you should have picked me.’ He squeezed her arm. ‘I will say this, though I don’t want to, but he’s back being the person I love and know. She didn’t make him happy, he thinks she did but I know that slut didn’t.’
‘Why are you so mean about her? What has she ever done to you other than take your brother away to live in the South of France?’ she asked and noticed his smile disappear. ‘I told Finlay months ago that I felt sorry for her. I know what it’s like to be disliked by someone’s family, especially a mother in law. It’s horrible!’
‘Well your ex mother in law certainly liked Finlay. He screwed her for god sake!’ laughed out Toby as Sylvie thought she misheard. She felt numb as Toby’s smile turned to shock. ‘He didn’t tell you? It was years ago… shit… fuck Sylvie. I mean, he never mentioned it? I know, well he told me but … god no Sly… he didn’t do it recently.’
‘He slept with Freya?’ she said, feeling a massive surge of disgust sweeping over her. ‘Years ago? How many years ago?’
‘Fuck me!’ Toby said and she knew he was starting to panic, glancing at the door. ‘I thought he’d tell you, I really did.’
‘Finlay fucked Freya, is that what you’re telling me?’
She felt sick.
Something she didn’t ever expect to hear.
‘He slept with Rupert’s mother?’ she pressed again as her voice started to shake.
‘He was younger than I am now!’ he said loudly. ‘Sylvie, don’t look like that.’
‘Like what?’
‘Horrified! Oh god, what have I done?’
Samina and Rosalind singing ‘Good Vibrations’ was being played in the background as she sat there, open mouthed, looking at the two deliriously happy women on screen, unabl
e to digest the piece of information.
‘Oh my god!’ she said, remembering something he said. ‘He mentioned he’d slept with someone older when he was twenty six, that was twelve years ago. Fuck! Her? He slept with her?’
‘Oh god, oh god, don’t break up with him over this,’ Toby pleaded as Sylvie started to get angry. ‘It must be in the blood, you see, to do bad things. Must be mummy’s side.’
‘What do you mean?’ she said, standing up and pacing around the small edit suite. ‘He slept with my mother in law and never said a word! What the fuck else has he been up to that I don’t know about. I know he likes his sex but that… oh god Toby. I’m going to kill him!’
Realising she shouted it out loudly, she watched the young man look on the verge of tears.
‘I’m so sorry, I’m really sorry. Don’t be mad with him,’ he pleaded, Sylvie realising his loyalty to Finlay was thick like concrete. ‘I’ve done bad things. Fuck! His wife sucked me off!’
She wasn’t quite sure how much her jaw had dropped as she held herself up against the wall for a moment.
‘Oh god! We sound bad but we’re not. Finlay said that woman, Freya, was giving it to him on a plate which was funny as she’d come round to dinner with her husband, you know Rupert’s stepfather, and went into his bedroom which seems to be a familiar pattern as that French woman came into mine one night. I think we’ve both got strong cases for sexual abuse.’ He slumped forward, putting his head in his hands. ‘Fin doesn’t know. I never had the heart to tell him as I realised she’d deny it and I… well look, I jacked off in her mouth so I’m just as guilty. It happened about four years ago and I’ve hardly seen her since then, don’t want to.’
Not knowing how she got there, Sylvie realised she was sitting on the floor staring at Toby. All the information was shocking considering it was being played against an out-of-tune rendition of ‘Good Vibrations.’
‘What are you going to do?’ he quietly asked. ‘Finlay doesn’t know about Juliette. Please don’t tell him as it’ll break his heart.’
‘What is it with you two little fuckers?’ she said as her voice returned. ‘Can’t you keep it in your pants? And the women you pick? Is it to do with inter breeding you’re both thick as shit!’
Toby nodded solemnly which made Sylvie laugh nervously.
‘So that bitch fucked him when she was married?’ she sighed.
‘Juliette?’
‘Freya.’
Fifty eight
In fifteen seconds from entering the building, Sylvie grabbed his arm and marched him back out.
‘You’re keen,’ he laughed as she walked the fastest he’d ever seen her before stopping when they were away from the building.
The woman looked both furious and beautiful.
‘I love you,’ he said, realising she wouldn’t go with Andy and to ask her would be stupid.
‘Did you fuck Freya?’ she said, looking up at him and he felt a massive tightening in his chest. ‘Did you fuck Rupert’s mother?’
The feeling in his throat was of constriction as he looked at the people walking around them.
‘Fine!’ she said and held firmly onto his arm as she dragged him across the roundabout and headed towards their hotel, literally pushing him into the room and throwing her bag down.
‘Are you also fucking your wife or anyone else I need to know? I don’t expect you’ve screwed my mother but that’s because you’ve not met her!’ she barked as he slumped on to the bed. ‘Why didn’t you tell me? That’s such an important thing for me to know! How could you!’
‘Firstly, I’m with you so there’s no one else, so don’t ask me questions like that. Juliette might be in London but I’ve not slept with her and I have no intention to. Secondly, that was a long time ago. I didn’t see the point of telling you as when I realised Rupert was your husband, I’d told you I was going back to France and it didn’t seem important.’
Finlay looked at her disbelieving expression.
‘Oh my god Finlay, you fucked my daughter’s grandmother! Do you know how bad that sounds? And my late husband’s mother! What is it about you!’ she shouted before putting her hand over her mouth. ‘I don’t get it.’
‘How did you find out?’ he gulped and sat up. ‘I’m not ashamed of it, if that’s what you want to hear. It happened years ago and that’s that really.’
‘I’ve slept with the same man as the woman I hate most of all in the world. The woman who tried to beat me down when Roo died,’ she said aghast. ‘You know what she did to me, you know what happened and you’re not ashamed? Well I’m ashamed of you!’
He jumped to his feet and glared at her for a moment.
‘You’re ashamed of me?’ he challenged. ‘Me?’
‘Are you going to rummage in my mother’s knickers when my back is turned?’
‘For fuck’s sake!’ he shouted loudly seeing her step back. ‘Freya has nothing to do with anything. Why are you making such a big deal about it? It’s the past.’
‘She’s part of my present,’ Sylvie said, looking around the room. ‘Oh god, that’s another reason for no one ever finding out about us, she’d have a field day with this. Does your mother know?’
‘You know what? That I slept with Freya? God no!’ he said, not wanting to talk about it, feeling embarrassed but refusing to admit it to her. ‘I’m going to get something to drink.’
Finlay walked past her and out of the room, feeling a massive wave of relief as he went quickly into the bar and sat down before his heart felt like it was on the verge of exploding.
‘Fuck,’ he mumbled as he rubbed his eyes and ordered a whiskey.
Sylvie looked disgusted with him.
He’d never received such a stare before.
Often he’d been accused, mainly from her, that he had that expression but to see someone do it to him, and that person being the woman he loved, was devastating. He walked back to the room and hoped she was still in there realising storming out wasn’t the wisest move.
As he entered the room, he was relieved to see her sitting on the bed, typing something on her laptop. She didn’t look up as he took a swig of his drink and stared.
‘You think I’m a shit then?’ he asked, walking towards the bed. ‘It happened. I was drunk and-.’
‘She was married to her current husband,’ Sylvie said quietly, not looking up at him. ‘How can you look at yourself knowing she’s a deceitful cow?’
‘I’ve done many things,’ he said, knocking back his drink quickly. ‘And I don’t have to justify them to you or anyone. No one got hurt and … why are you being such a judgemental bitch!’
‘What? Are you upset someone is judging you when all you do is judge others?’ she said, through gritted teeth. ‘I take it you saw her at the memorial? Did she give you a quick blow job for old time’s sake?’
‘When I saw her and realised who she was to you, I was really fucked off! Not only had I just said goodbye to you, for good, I realised who your husband was and what she’d done. Now I know a lot more and I feel bad but I’m not going to apologise for screwing her because that was a long time ago.’ He marched closer to her, taking her laptop away before leaning over to look into her eyes. ‘And never ask me again if I’m fucking my wife because I’m not and I won’t ever! If you don’t trust me then we shouldn’t be together. I mean, I never asked you if you fucked anyone else!’
‘Because you know I wouldn’t.’
‘But do I? Do I really know?’
Sylvie crossed her arms defiantly as he sat on the bed and examined her up and down.
‘You do,’ she said as he met her eyes. ‘That’s why you keep bouncing back and forth with me because you know I’ll take you back.’
Finlay shook his head at the comment before examining her face.
‘Was she good in bed?’ he heard her ask and narrowed his eyes for a moment in disbelief. ‘What did you do?’
‘You can’t ask that!’
‘I just did.’
/>
Slowly Finlay moved closer to her and saw the look in her eye, the one that betrayed she was unsure about him again. This time it hurt as he bit his lip and touched her face.
She didn’t pull away neither did she push her skin to his hand.
‘I’ve slept with a lot of women. I can’t recall all the sex. Some have been good and some bad, I don’t remember everything and what I do is between me and them, no one else. I don’t kiss and tell,’ Finlay said quietly as she glanced away for a second and looked straight back at him. ‘It’s not the wisest thing I ever did but it happened. I didn’t tell you as I know it’s a sore subject so I didn’t see the point.’
‘Don’t make a fool out of me, please don’t do that. You should have said.’
‘I know but I’d forgotten about it. All I wanted was you, whatever happened before doesn’t matter.’
She frowned as he kissed her pursed lips for a moment.
For the first time he felt the fear of losing her.
‘Does this change anything between us?’ he asked, not pulling his face away from hers. ‘I don’t want it to. You know how I feel about you.’
He felt her hand squeeze his arm before taking her other hand and stroking the back of his neck. Gently she placed her forehead against his.
‘If you don’t help me find a buyer who’ll be fair to me then I’m going to tell your mother,’ she whispered, her dark eyes staring at him. ‘And I’ll tell Freya bitch’s husband and you’ll get a beating.’
‘You’re blackmailing me?’ he said laughing at her determined expression. ‘That’s not fair.’
‘You know as well as I do your mother will shaft my company. I can’t let that happen so you are helping me, Finlay Chambers. You’ve not imparted any of your wisdom and, frankly, I’m not sure you have any other than you’re good at distraction. I need you to give me some guidance here. I’m lost on what to do.’
‘What do I get out of it?’ he asked, leaning closer. ‘You know my mother will go mad.’
‘It’s not the first time you’ve buckled to an older woman, is it?’