Taming Eric

by J. a Melville

  Eric found himself relaxing when it was obvious from the huge smile on Maggie’s face that she approved of his girl. “Oh bless you lass. I’m glad you’re enjoying the meals although you’re not eating enough lassy, you’re too skinny.”

  Natasha laughed and even Eric chuckled. Maggie wouldn’t be saying those words if he saw just how much his PA could eat. She was obviously one of those fortunate ones who could eat and not gain weight.

  “Put the kettle on Eric, I brought something for us to have for morning tea. It’s out in the car. Thomas go and get it for me would you please?”

  Eric glanced over at Natasha a hint of a smile on his face and he could see the humour in hers at how much Maggie had Tom under control when he mumbled. “Yes dear.” Before trotting back outside to their car.

  “So where did you two meet?” Maggie asked, looking from one to the other.

  “She’s my PA.” He explained.

  “Oh, how lovely. So you fell in love then, in the office?” Again she glanced from one to the other.

  Eric felt himself tensing as he did everything he could to avoid looking over at Natasha. He could feel himself blushing, something he wasn’t accustomed to doing but Maggie had gone and hit them with an awkward situation with one question. He loved Natasha but he didn’t want Maggie or Natasha to figure that one out. When he took a quick look over at his PA, he noticed she had blushed and was looking just as uncomfortable as he was. The reason for her discomfort wasn’t clear to him though. Did that mean she cared more than she was letting on or did she simply find the question awkward because she was trying to spare his feelings and not answer truthfully? Fortunately Maggie must have sensed the sudden tension in the room because her face fell. “Oh dear, I’m sorry. Jumped the gun a bit did I? That’s my biggest problem. I do love a happy ending.”

  Fortunately Tom walked back inside and spared them both having to answer Maggie. He was carrying a large cake tin which she took off him, lifting the lid to reveal an assortment of homemade cup cakes.

  The sight of them provided a much needed distraction from the road the conversation had been heading down and he reached for a cake. “Wow Maggie. You’ve outdone yourself.”

  Before he could pick one she slapped his hand away. “Oh be away with you. You’ll wait until the tea and coffee is made lad.”

  He scowled at her for immediately making him feel like a scolded child and when he looked over at Natasha, she was trying not to laugh.

  Grumbling, he headed into the kitchen to make a pot of tea for Maggie and Tom and poured coffee for Natasha and himself. She came over to help him and together they carried everything to the table.

  Once they were all seated everyone helped themselves to a cupcake and Eric had to endure the torture of watching Natasha moan when she bit into hers. Fuck but did she have to moan like that over all food she liked? He shifted in his seat when his cock chose that particular time to get hard, pushing against the fly of his jeans. Dammit but the timing couldn’t be worse. Not while Tom and the woman who was his mother figure sat across the table from him. He just prayed that she didn’t ask him to get up and grab her something otherwise she was going to find out the boy she’d raised like her son wasn’t a young boy anymore.

  He couldn’t contain the amusement in his eyes all the same as he ate his cupcake while watching her eat hers. He knew he was torturing himself to do so, but he couldn’t look away. When he finally turned his head, his eyes caught Maggie’s who was watching him, a knowing look on her face. Somehow he suspected she knew his interest in his PA ran much deeper than he was letting on but he ignored her look and his attention returned to Natasha. “Good baby?” He grinned and she nodded.

  “Oh Maggie these are amazing.” She turned to Maggie as she licked some icing from her full bottom lip.

  “Glad you like them lassie. Have another you need some meat on those bones of yours.” She pushed the cake tin closer and Natasha hesitated briefly before selecting a chocolate cupcake.

  When she bit into it, icing ended up on her bottom lip and before she could lick it off, Eric reached over and ran his thumb over it, picking up the icing and sticking it into his mouth.

  Maggie asked him how work was going and he started telling her about it all before the questions turned to Natasha as Maggie asked her about her family and working for him. She turned to grin at him. “He’s a good boss. I like my work.” She said.

  “Oh lassie, come help me clean up the kitchen and you can answer that question truthfully.” Maggie laughed and Eric watched as the two women stood and began clearing the dishes and taking them into the kitchen.

  He was going to stay where he was and try and blatantly listen in on their conversation but Tom started talking and finally Eric realised he wanted him to come outside to the garage to see the ride on mower. Something was wrong with it apparently. He groaned to himself. He didn’t give a fuck about the ride on, if it had shit itself, then he’d give Tom money for a new one. He didn’t do mechanical work anymore. He didn’t need to but Tom was insistent, so reluctantly he got up and followed the older man outside.

  Tom spent some time going over the care of Eric’s home, when the calves would need to be sent off to the sales before lifting the cover on the ride on mower and started going on about what the problem was. Eric struggled to focus but his mind was on what the two women were doing inside. They had been gone for quite a while and he was worried that Maggie might reveal his true past to Natasha. A part of him didn’t think she would, but at the same time he could tell Maggie liked his PA and that might make her more likely to open up. He found it hard to concentrate on Tom’s words when he was worrying about what was going on inside his house.

  He personally didn’t give a shit about the mower, he just wanted to get back inside so he could reassure himself that Maggie wasn’t saying things he didn’t want said. His heart tightened in his chest as his anxiety rose and when finally he spotted Maggie and Natasha walking towards the garage, his eyes immediately shifted to Natasha’s face to try and read her expression.

  When they stepped inside he grinned at her, still searching her face as he willed himself to act normally around her. She smiled back and although she looked slightly tense, she didn’t look like she was disgusted with him so Maggie must have kept his secret.

  “Oh what are you boys fiddling around with now?” Maggie asked.

  Tom snorted. “It’s not fiddling woman, we’re trying to locate the problem with the engine.”

  Well Tom was Eric thought to himself. He personally didn’t give a damn about the ride on mower’s engine. He just wanted to stop having to pretend like he was interested when he wasn’t. He was ready for Tom and Maggie to go home so he didn’t lose any more of his time with Natasha and so he didn’t have to worry about anything from his past accidently coming out.

  “Oh and what’s Eric supposed to know about engines Tom? Leave the lad alone. He shouldn’t be wasting his holiday time on a ride on mower.” At her words, he secretly cheered. Maggie got it, she knew he’d want to enjoy his holiday time and not spend it pouring over some old engine when he could simply replace the whole mower.

  “It’s ok Maggie. If the damned thing’s had it, I’ll get a new one. No point nursing a tired old piece of machinery, trying to keep it going. I’m good for the money for a new one.” He joked.

  “Listen to the lad Tom. Don’t bother him with this now. Let him enjoy the rest of his stay here with his lass.”

  At her assertive tone Eric struggled not to grin. She really did wear the pants in their relationship but then Tom seemed happy with that arrangement. They’d been married a long time after all.

  “Tom if you want to repair the mower, that’s up to you, but I’ll leave you with enough money to buy a new one. I don’t want you wasting your time trying to keep this old thing going if it’s ready for retirement.”

  “So mechanics ar
en’t your thing?” Natasha teased him, humour gleaming in her eyes. “I thought you could do anything Mr Rothman. After all, you’re not just a pretty face.”

  He scowled at her, not entirely enjoying her teasing him in front of Tom and Maggie. “I used to keep the old bombs going that I drove years ago baby. I can work on an engine enough to keep it going for a while but those days are gone. I don’t have the time or interest to do it anymore. It’s just easier to replace it baby. Why spend hours tearing engines apart, getting dirty when I have the money to buy a new one?”

  Eric jumped slightly when Maggie suddenly clapped her hands together. “Ok Tom, come on. Let’s leave these two to enjoy their time without us old fogies getting in their way.”

  Immediately Tom stopped studying the engine on the mower and straightened. “Yes dear.”

  At his instant capitulation Eric struggled not to grin and from Natasha’s expression, he wasn’t alone. They all left the garage and headed back towards the house. “I’ll get your cake tin.” Natasha said, Maggie told her she’d come too and the two women walked inside.

  When they came back out of the house Tom and Eric shook hands and he gave Maggie a hug. She whispered in his ear. “Don’t be afraid to open your heart to this one lad. She’s perfect for you.” She stepped back and he stared at her schooling his features to hide his shock at her words. Had she seen right through him and worked out that he loved Natasha? Fuck, would she have told Natasha that? He forced himself to calm down. No she couldn’t have, Natasha wasn’t acting any differently towards him.

  Maggie and Tom climbed into their 4WD and they both waved as the vehicle headed down the driveway until it disappeared from their view. Once they were alone again he turned to Natasha. “You and Maggie seemed to hit it off ok.”

  “She’s really nice Eric, so is Thomas, but Maggie’s just one of those ladies whose like everyone’s Mum.” She smiled.

  “Yeah baby, I know what you mean. She’s been really good to me since I bought this place. Always making food for me. I think she’s convinced I’d starve if I didn’t have her making meals for me. Well, you can see that for yourself. All the food she made, not to mention stocking the fridges and pantry like she’s expecting us to be holed up here for the next 6 months or something.”

  “So what are we going to do for the rest of the day?” She asked and he shrugged. Looking at her standing before him in that green dress of hers, he knew what he’d like to be doing. He’d like to be taking it off her and taking her to bed but as tempting as the idea was, he invited her to Tasmania to show her around too, not keep her under him in bed all the time.

  “How about we finally get you out and you can buy some warmer clothes?”

  “We’re going to be here long enough for that? You’re not getting restless for work yet?”

  “No baby, I’m not. I know we’re going to have to get back eventually but I’m happy to stay here for a few more days.” Still with guilt over his behaviour sounding in his voice he continued. “I’m hoping to have an answer as to whether you’re pregnant before we go home. I need to know so we can work out what to do to take care of the situation. You’re late aren’t you?” He asked but Natasha shook her head.

  “No Eric, I don’t think so. I don’t know. I’ve never been very regular with my cycle.”

  “Well while we’re out today, I suggest you get a pregnancy test kit.” As far as Eric was concerned, he was tired of the not knowing, he wanted a definitive answer so he knew what they would have to do next if anything. If Natasha wasn’t pregnant, then they’d dodged a bullet and there would be nothing to worry about. On the other hand if she was pregnant then they’d have to consider their options and decide where to go from there.

  He stared at her suddenly curious as to what had sparked her reaction when she blushed. After staring at him for a moment, she lowered her eyes. “I already have one. I bought it when I went to the Chemist in Sheffield. I just didn’t tell you.”

  Eric stared at her without saying anything. She lied to him? Ok, not lied but she omitted to tell him she’d already bought a pregnancy test? Why? What had possessed her to keep that a secret? She knew how much he was hanging on an answer as to whether she was pregnant or not. He hated secrecy, he hated lying and the longer he looked at her bowed head the angrier he got.

  “Why the hell not? You were going to keep something like that from me? The outcome affects me too you know. I can’t be a father Natasha, I just can’t. You won’t trap me with a child I don’t want.” The words poured from his lips, out of control. All his fears, all his insecurities were running rampant through him and the words that should have never gone beyond those thoughts and fears in his head were spilling out of him unchecked.

  Was he really worried she was trying to trap him? No, but he still couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t have told him about the pregnancy test kit. They could bury their heads in the sand for a little while, but sooner or later the truth was going to come out. Either she got her period and if she didn’t, he’d want to be involved when she did the test, but she had chosen to hide it all from him?

  He could feel his body starting to shake as his emotions threatened to get the better of him. He had put Natasha up on a pedestal, thinking she was beyond deception, omission of the truth or blatantly lying, but it seemed she was no different to any other woman he’d had in his life. That hurt, but what hurt the most was the fact that she had obviously chosen not to include him when she did the test, she was doing like everyone else he’d ever loved had done to him, she was shutting him out.

  He began to pace, raking his hands through his hair until Natasha’s angry words cut through his thoughts. “It’s just a test kit Eric. I haven’t taken the family silver.” He could hear the anger in her voice.

  Fuck her, why was she angry with him? She was the one who was trying to keep him out of something that could affect his future too. “I want you to do that test Natasha and I want you to do it now.” He snapped.

  “Don’t order me around Eric. I’ll do the test because I want to do the damned test, not because you’re telling me to do it.” Her anger had risen to match his and they both glared at one another, neither prepared to back down. “Why are you getting so angry Eric. If I’m pregnant, I’m not trying to trap you, I’m not asking for a damned thing from you. I… don’t… need… you!” She spat angrily at him and with each one of those four little words, his heart started to splinter.

  He had to get away from her. They were going to tear each other apart at this rate and her telling him she didn’t need him was playing over and over again in his head, the pain with each word like a knife, threatening to reduce him to tears and fucked if he was going to give in to his emotions in front of her.

  With the pain consuming him he retaliated using anger to hide his hurt. “That’s fine Natasha because I don’t need or want to be a father and I don’t fucking well need you either.” He yelled and before the tears that burned at the back of his eyes could fall, betraying his true feelings, he turned and stormed off into the house.

  His mind was playing the whole fucked up conversation with her over and over again. He thought he was going to go insane. He couldn’t face her, he had to get out of here for a while. His eyes fell on his car keys still lying on the kitchen counter and he snatched them up, grabbed his wallet and headed out the back door to the garage.

  He calmed down slightly but only slightly when the smell of the leather interior of his Ferrari hit his nostrils and with an agitated flick of his wrist, he turned the key listening to the powerful engine roar to life. Normally he’d have warmed it up a little, but he was like a man possessed and after putting the car in gear, he shot out of the garage, screaming down the side of the house and onto the drive, kicking up gravel as he went.

  Eric drove with no thought as to where he was going. He had no plans, no destination, nothing, he just drove. With his mind tormented
by the images of his fight with Natasha he pushed the car as hard as he could. He didn’t even know how they’d ended up where they did. Ok, she hadn’t told him about the test but was it really that bad? He’d snapped, he’d lost it with her and he wasn’t sure why. Perhaps the worry over whether she was pregnant had affected him more than he wanted to admit but the bottom line was their fight had escalated far too quickly. He didn’t want to lose her but her words haunted him, she didn’t want him, she’d told him so. The pain of those words that she’d thrown at him distracted him and it was only after taking one particularly sharp bend in the road too fast and feeling the normally sure footed sports car slide out from under him, that he realised if he didn’t back off, he was going to potentially get himself killed or at the very least total his car.

  He slowed down a bit, his grip on the steering wheel so hard, his knuckles were white. How the fuck had it all gone so wrong? He’d fucked up by letting his old insecurities cause him to over react when he found out she had bought a test kit without telling him. He could get over that, he could go back and grovel for her forgiveness but he couldn’t forget her face, the anger, her disgust, those words as she spat them at him. “I… don’t… need… you.” They played over and over again in his mind and the more they played over, then it was no longer just Natasha’s voice anymore, it was his father, his mother and the procession of boyfriends she had. No one had ever wanted him. Sooner or later they all got tired of him and wanted nothing more to do with him and now the woman he loved didn’t want him either.

  The pain consumed him again and the tears that had burned at the back of his eyes welled over and started falling, getting heavier and heavier until he could barely see the road in front of him. Before he ran the car off the road, he had to pull over and as soon as he found a spot suitable to stop, he slammed on the brakes, the Ferrari skidding to a halt on a patch of gravel by the driveway of someone’s property.

  He sat there, going over everything they’d said to each other and despite the fact that it seemed she wanted nothing more to do with him, it didn’t change the fact that he needed to know the outcome of the pregnancy test. Obviously their time in Tasmania was over unless he could get back and try and sort things out between them, but although he could apologise for what he’d said, nothing was going to fix what he’d said about a baby. It was true that he was scared, terrified, break out in a cold sweat kind of fear, but he honestly didn’t want her to terminate a pregnancy. He could never ask her to do something like that. Why he always let his fears and his past fuck up his life, he didn’t know but he kind of had enough insight to know that he had a destructive personality. He expected everything to go wrong, he didn’t think he was worthy of love, that he could be wanted or needed, so he made sure no one would want him or need him. He made it all go wrong for himself. Why the fuck he couldn’t control his personal life the way he did with work, he didn’t know. How he could be so successful with his company, the stock market and making money, but so fucked up when it came to his life outside the office.