by Elaine May
“Good night, Noelle.” He says before the door slams shut and he zooms off into the night.
What the hell just happened?
****
The next morning, I wake up and check my online accounts. Everywhere I look there are pictures of me and Charlton looking all loved up and happy to be with each other.
Good acting on my part I guess.
Twitter.
Instagram.
Facebook, we are everywhere. We are even on the news websites and in each one we look loved up. I don’t even remember looking at him like that. How well photos can lie.
I’m not happy, I am far from happy, more than one woman could be and it all centres around one bloody man.
Arghh and it appears that he is liking every moment of it. I can hear my mobile alert me of a textand as I grab it I can see Charlton’s name flashing at me like a warning sign. It should be a warning sign the man needs one with flashing lights above his handsome head.
CHARLTON
You now you want my big fat cock
ME
Pardon me?
I can’t believe the guy. Out of everything that’s what he has to say to me.
CHARLTON
You want me and you might as well admit it little princess.
ME
I don’t think so handsome. I’m doing this to keep everyone else happy.
CHARLTON
And you. I know what you really think. You can’t stop thinking about feeling my big fat cock between your legs.
Oh my God, could he be any cockier if he tried? He’s so bloody sure of his own allure I want to scream at him.
ME
What makes you think that?
CHARLTON
You want me princess. I saw the photos and we’re all over the place. Your eyes say a million things.
ME
You’ve seen the photos?
CHARLTON
I sure did and we have to go out again.
Arghh I’m sure that’s what he’s thinking. Just like when we were younger he’s only thinking with the head between his thighs. If he wants to go out with the whole world watching I can give them all a night they’ll never forget. The people will be laughing till we walk down the aisle. He thinks he’s God’s gift to every female with a pulse and like all the rest I should have such a reaction. I text him a place to meet me and a time, just rubbing my hands with glee at the look on his face and the world when where we are going tonight sinks in.
****
Arghhh that bastard. I try taking in a huge gulp of air just trying to calm myself down as I’m driven closer to my chosen destination. I have told Charlton to come somewhere only a chosen few know about, I like to keep some things private. The newspapers will pay millions for just one picture of what I have planned for the poor bastard tonight. The car pulls up to the car park five minutes away from the destination just like I asked. As I get out and make sure to tip the driver and say my thanks I can feel the excitement rush through my blood stream.
This is going to be so much fun. I can hear the sound of the building getting louder the closer I get and then as I turn the corner I can see him. He has his back to me, but he looks so uncomfortable it’s funny. He’s wearing another suit, oops I should have told him where we were coming, how could I forget something so important. He’s wearing a dark grey suit and I can only guess that he has come straight from the office. Shame tonight isn’t going to go the way he thinks it will.
“Hello Charlton.”
He turns around and his look tells me how out of his depth he feels. Poor baby, not, just as a flash goes off from behind me, lighting up the sky around us.
“W...Where the hell are we?”
I take a few steps closer to him and using my ring finger I trail my finger down his chest making eye contact and licking my lips as I get lower and lower before pulling away. His body heat and scent consume me though from the moment I’m within his personal bubble and the butterflies begin a flight of death in my stomach.
“Don’t tell anyone, but this could be fun.” I nibble on his lobe and then pull away, so he can look at me. Flashes keep trying to blind us, but it is all a part of the plan and I try to forget they are even there.
“Fun” I nod my head slowly at his horror.”
“W...What? I don’t do fun.”
“You are tonight.” I take his hand and lead him down the path to the back of the building andout of nowhere he pushes me back against the wall behind me with a thud. He takes the strands of my hair and runs his fingers through it, our faces so close to one another, our noses almost touching and my blood starts to boil as he pushes against me.
“The cameras.” I try to say but he doesn’t seem to care. The cold bricks are unforgiving against my clothes, all the air seems to be non-existent as I just wait for his next move. He starts pulling at my hair, my neck arching with his grip and I find I just want to take his lips with mine.
“We have a big job tonight handsome.” I say as he loosens his grip and I can feel my airways begin to work again.
“I’ve finished work for the day, little princess.”
“You’ll have fun. I promise.” I step away from him and start fluttering my eyes, pretending to be as innocent as can be just as another flash goes off.
“Doing what exactly?”
“Helping others of course, silly.”
“Helping others? Why the fu…” I walk away from him before I have to hear the rest of his speech. That’s right, there is what’s wrong with most of the rich and famous that grace our world, thankfully I’m not one of them. It makes me sick to think my future husband is though. Typical. The world on the whole just seems too consumed withthemselves, with making more money. They are all blinded by what is happening in the real world. They are all just a bunch of self-righteous pigs that I would love to stay clear of, but Daddy has a plan and I am meant to just follow. I look out of the corner of my eye at Charlton, I’m going to lead him in with all my beauty, charm and company, because that’s what he really wants and when he least expects it I’m going to unleash my own type of hell on him. Let’s see if he wants to be married to me then. If I’m lucky he’ll want to cancel everything and then I won’t have to be the one who messed everything up.
“Why the hell are we here?” He demands and then he actually takes a moment to take in where here is and it takes a moment, but I know when recognition takes over.
“Why are we at a bloody homeless shelter Noelle?” Oh bless him, I can actually hear the desperation in his voice.
“Think about it Charlton.”
“Helping people?” I start clapping my hands, mocking him in the process.
“Well done. Yes, we are and think how good you are going to feel afterwards.”
“I’m not going in there.”
“If you want to be seen with me tonight then yes you are and in case you don’t know we’ve already had photos taken.” I take his hand and start pulling him to the doors. As soon as the doors open the smell of food engulfs me, I love that smell, I love how it makes me feel happy. My mum used to cook and coming here reminds me of what our family house used to smell like whenever she was in the kitchen. I see my friend Jena just by the doors out of the kitchen and she stops when she sees me.
“Noelle you made it. We’re going to be busy tonight, I can feel in my waters.” She almost shouts at me with excitement.
“Oh my God, you always say that and we’re always busy.”
“I know that, hun, but I still like it.” She smiles at me and I decide to just play along with her. Charlton squeezes my hand as if reminding me that he’s here too, like I could forget. The place is getting smaller just because he is here.
“That’s fantastic Jena.” I can feel Charlton’s questioning eyes on me as Jena suddenly decides to take in the man beside me.
“And who’s this?” She asks and I interrupt Charlton before he can answer.
“This is Charlton, he’s come to help us tonig
ht.”
“Oh that’s fantastic we can always do with more help.” She keeps looking at Charlton like he’s the first man to ever come help and I just want to pinch her out of her stupidity. I also want to punch him for giving her his ‘I’d do anything for you’ look, hello he’s with me.
“Where would you like us?” I ask, just trying to bring everyone back to the now, well at least I know I’m not the only one to be sidetracked by the man.
“If you could grab two different trays and take them out to the table, I’ll open the doors.”
“Of course we will.” I take Charlton’s hand and lead him over the kitchen side where Tom and Phil are already picking up trays. I nod at them both and they look over at Charlton and I can just tell what’s going on in their heads.
“Have you dated either of them?” Charlton asks as we both take two trays, his eyes staying focussed on what he’s doing but I can just tell he is desperate to know the truth.
“Why, you feeling the green eyed monster making an appearance all of a sudden, future hubby?
“No. So what are we really doing here?”
“Are you really asking me that?”
“I’m hoping I’m wrong.” He looks around with disgust and I just want to smack it right off him. The people we are about to meet are some of the nicest people I have ever met and he’s dismissing them before he’s even met them.
“That’s not very nice Charlton.At all. I thought you were supposed to be a gentleman”
“I’ve never said that.”I roll my eyes and then turn around with my trays and make my way through the doors into the common room. I can feel his presence next to me.
“I thought you’d be on your way home by now.”
“You’re here, so am I.”Have to admire his persistence.
“Well I’m sure you’re going to have fu..” I’m interrupted by Jena’s joyful voice coming from the front doors.
“Are we ready people?”
“Yahhh.” Everyone shouts, including me, and I look over at Charlton with his serious face and I gesture for him to do the same. He raises his arms above his head and shouts with us, he looks so cute. Cute? Did I really say that???
“We best open the doors then and feed loads of people.” Jena roars as she swings open the doors and we are all greeted by the colder air and a crowd of people.
“Oh God. I can’t believe this.” I hear Charlton groan beside me just as a man with a camera steps through the crowd.
“You may not believe this, but these people don’t want to be here anymore than you do.”
“I doubt that.”
“Well, believe it. And be nice.” I add, just so he knows how much this means to me. If he really wants us to get married, then he’s going to have to get used to this part of my life because I won’t be stopping it for anyone. The first person comes up and I’m glad to see it’s Simon, he fought for our country and now he has to come to places like this. Life’s not fair, I’ve tried to help him, but he won’t have any of it. I haven’t seen him for a while but my smile spreads as soon as he’s in front of me and I can feel Charlton looking on, not believing what he’s seeing.
“Noelle, how are you?”
“Better for seeing you Simon. I haven’t seen you for ages. Where have you been?”
“I’ve been around but it’s never been your day. Finally found out which ones you worked from the one in charge.” He gestures over at Jena and then looks at one of the trays with longing.
“Can I have some mash potato please?”
“Of course you can. And make sure you’re not a stranger.”
“I won’t.” He says as he looks over at Charlton and walks right past him.
“You know that man?” He asks me.
“Yes, I do and I know a few other people you will see tonight.” I raise my eyebrow as if testing him to say anything, but he just gulps, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his long neck. I really want to lick that neckall of a sudden. Much to my own relief I don’t have any more time to dwell on Charlton and his sexiness as we are overcome by people. Person after person steps up asking for food, an odd camera flash goes off, and by the time the doors close my body feels like it’s been on the hardest run of its life, I’m ready to drop dead but I feel happy. We’ve helped. I take my trays back into the sink and help load the dishwasher and Charlton follows me and does the same. I lead him out of the kitchens and to the entrance where Jena is waiting.
“Thanks again Noelle. See you on Thursday?” She questions. I come in twice a week, more over the holidays and she still can’t believe I’ll be back.
“Of course I will.”
“What about you Charlton? It’s been good to have an extra man here to help with the heavy lifting.” She gives him a wink and touches his arm. I don’t know if she’s doing it because she fancies his hot arse or she’s just hoping to get him back in here to help again. For some strange reason I would like to think that it’s the latter.
“I’m busy Thursday I’m afraid but I will be back. I promise”He says and I’ve never seen Jena smile so big. I take his hand and lead him out before Jena can smother him with kisses. Why does the thought of that make me feel angry? She’s my friend and I don’t really want to marry him. I’m only pretending to do it because I have to. Even so he seems to have a magnetic field around him that’s getting a little too strong for comfort. It’s getting a little bit too hard to want to stay away from him and I just know the cocky bastard knows it by the way he keeps looking over at me as he lets me walk in front of him to lead the way out.
Bastard.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Charlton is in year six now, next year he’ll in the bigger part of the school and a new boy has started in his class. Every day when we go to play hewatches as Charlton comes over to me and Louisa until one day he just comes over with a nasty smile on his face.
“Who’s this?” He asks as he runs towards Charlton with a ball in his hands.
“Louisa is my little sister and this is her best friend Noelle.”
“Noelle?” The boy says and he starts laughing but Charlton hits him on his arm.
What’s wrong with my name? I know I must look sad and I can’t help but want to cry. I was having such a nice day and now this little boy is ruining it. It’s not fair.
“Louisa, funny name girl?” The boy says and I see Charlton in the corner of my eye looking a little red. He walks over to the other little boy and pushes him a little.
“That’s my little sister’s best friend. Her name’s not funny.”
“Yeah it is.” He nods his head a few times while he looks at me and then back to Charlton again.
“No it’s not. It’s pretty, just like her.” He thinks I’m pretty?
“Play with your own class.” He says as he takes Charlton’s hand and leads him away. After that day I still see Charlton, but he seems distant unless I’m over at his house and he doesn’t have his own friends over.
I lead Charlton out of the building and before I can reach in my bag to find my car keys he’s taking my hand again and leading me, no pushing me back down the alleyway we were in earlier.
What does he think he’s doing?
Our meeting is over for another night thank you very much, handsome.
“What do you think you’re playing at?” I ask, my feet are killing me and I just want to get home and go to my bed. He doesn’t say anything. but I can feel something brewing inside him. It’s not anger but he’s not happy either and I don’t know what to make of this new situation I’m finding myself in. He stops suddenly, and I almost bump into him but he grabs me and pushes me against the wall. His eyes are storming with I think lust and pleasure. That can’t be right, this is only a game to him, hence the reason why I’m trying to up the stakes. I have to keeps things in my corner. He takes both my hands and pulls them above my head with one of his, the fingers of his other latching onto my right breast and kneading it, squeezing it through my clothes.
“You made
me hand out food to the homeless.” He says so close to my ear, he licks along the edge of it, my panties start to dampen as my core races with need and all I can think about is wanting this delicious man to fill me with the hard, large cock I know he has. Oh God, I can feel myself wanting to come from the thought of what he could do to me already.
What’s wrong with me?
“Answer me.” He says with a growl, reminding me of where we are and taking a bite of my ear.
“You didn’t have fun with me tonight?” I try to sound hurt.
“No I didn’t. The homeless, Noelle, the fucking homeless. I don’t do charity.”
“With all the money you have you could make a real difference.”
“I don’t care.” He takes a bite of my bottom lip, pulling it slightly, that same anger brewing. I’ve really pissed him off tonight. Good, he should get used to it. This is what our marriage will be like unless he cancels it like I hope he does.
“You’re crazy. You are driving me fucking crazy and this thing....Our fake relationship is only just starting princess” He whispers in my ear, his deep voice eliciting goose bumps across my skin.
“I know what you are trying to do and it’s going to stop. We are getting married, little princess.” Suddenly his mouth descends on mine, his tongue parting my lips, begging for entrance, wanting so much from me and I can’t help but give him everything I can back. Our tongues dance together, his fingers driving through my hair and all I can do is the same back. I’m forced to inhale his scent, he’s everywhere at once, consuming every cell in my body and I have no choice but to take him in.
“I think I deserve payback for all my good deeds tonight.” He says around my lips and I notice his fingers moving from my hair, down my face and neck leaving a trail of fire in their wake, I have no idea what he wants but right now I just want it. This should be the other way round I should be the one controlling him, making demands on him but when he’s so close I find myself powerless to stop myself falling into the abyss. I can still feel his fingers as they move above my clothes and when he reaches the top of my jeans, his fingers touching my skin, I start to panic.