I Need A Bad Boy: A Collection of Bad Boy Romances

by Sophie Brooks

  “Ha! As if. He’s so not my boyfriend.” She joked. Glad we had moved on from talking about me I teased her more.

  “Ok ok, if he’s not your boyfriend." I said with air quotes, “I bet you want him to be. God those eyes and the muscles. You’ve got to admit he’s easy on the eyes… if not a bit…” I struggled to put a word to describe Jake.

  “Intense?” she offered.

  We dropped the topic as soon as we got into the building but were still laughing by the time she left me to go to her desk. There was a note waiting for me on my desk. Mildred had already been into the office and left again since her youngest was ill, but my duties for the day were scrawled on the page in front of me. “Shit.” I said aloud to myself, “I’ll never get that all done today!” With that, I removed my jacket and went straight to work.

  I only stopped to eat at lunchtime, returning back early to get my work finished. About twenty minutes before home time, I got a phone call from Denver.

  “Good afternoon, Bella.” He cooed, innocently.

  Bastard I thought. “Yes Denver, how can I help you?”

  “My assistant, Jessica has had to go home early today; she was supposed to make up some empty files for me to bring with me to the meeting on Monday. Could you spare me 10 minutes and do them for me?”

  What I really wanted to say was, “Do them yourself, dickhead.” But my actual response was, “Sure, no problem. I’ll get right on that now for you.” I really couldn’t afford to lose this job, and as a partner in the business, Denver could really mess things up for me. I just needed to keep the boat very un-rocked until I got a job elsewhere.

  Louise stopped by my desk as I had the folders in my hand, ready to leave into Denver’s office. When I explained what I was doing her mouth formed a flat line across her face.

  “I don’t like it,” she bristled. “I can take them for you.” She reached for the files.

  “No!” I said a bit too loudly. “Look, if he thinks he can intimidate me, I need to show him that he can’t.”

  “Well at least let me come with you.”

  “And how would that look?” I questioned. “I’ll be fine; it’s a two-second job.”

  “Well, if you’re sure. Hey, how about meeting up with us when you come out? I’m going for drinks with a couple of the others. You’re very welcome to join us in Flanagan's?”

  I didn’t like the thought of going straight back to my lonely flat so I agreed that I’d see her shortly. Denver’s office door was shut, so I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders before knocking.

  “Come in.”

  Chapter 7

  Bella

  I held my breath as I went into the office. I’d half imagined something overly opulent, or something creepy, but I was disappointed as it was neither. His office was just an ordinary office, filing cabinets against the walls, and a large desk with a computer and overflowing with papers.

  “Thank you, Bella.” Denver said as he looked up from his computer screen.

  “You’re welcome.” I spat.

  “Y’know Bella, I was just being polite. Putting together some stationery isn’t exactly the hardest job in the world… I mean, just about anyone could do it.” He steepled his fingers and rested his chin on them. “I mean, yes, it seems like you’ve worked well, but what true value do you bring to Sawyer’s or are you easily replaced?”

  My resolve wobbled – was he threatening my job? “Mildred has been very happy with my work.”

  “Yes yes,” he said dismissively. “But Mildred’s planning to be away for a little while now, isn’t she?”

  I didn’t speak, I couldn’t breathe. What was supposed to be an in-out job to leave some files into his office was taking a turn for the worse. Eventually, he broke the silence.

  “I believe you have some keys.”

  “Keys?”

  “Yes, dear, keys.” Patronising bastard, but I already knew what he was talking about. “The ones Mildred gave you for her office that you’ve had since you started here?” There, he went straight to the point.

  “What about them?” my mouth was dry and I thought I could guess what was coming.

  “You’ll make me a copy of the full set.” The arrogance! Not only did he want copies, he expected me to present them to him on a silver platter.

  “Mildred made it very clear my keys were for emergencies only. That her office contains many confidential client files.”

  “Tsk, tsk. You are a slow learner, aren’t you?” he shook his head slowly and retrieved his mobile phone from the table. A few seconds later he’d brought something up on the screen. “Look, Bella, do you recognise anyone?”

  The sound was low, but I heard the moans before I even seen the screen. A sex tape? What the fuck? Why was he showing me a sex tape? “Mmm, Denver!” a woman’s voice whimpered out of the phone’s speaker. The camera was shot in first person, from behind the woman who was bent over a table, her dark hair covering her face.

  “Yeah, baby, you like that?” Denver’s voice spoke on the video and the shot moved to pan over the back of her head, down to her naked back and further down to where her skirt was hitched up and where the person taking the video was watching himself slide into the woman. I looked away in disgust, handing the phone back to him as I heard the video version of Denver telling the woman she was a dirty girl, then the sharp sound of a smack and her moaning in pleasure.

  “What the fuck are you showing me that for?” I raged.

  “Well, baby, you’re here after work time… the guys knew we met last week and had drinks, they were in one of the other booths when we arrived.” He stood up, stretching. “So what if we’d decided to stay a little late at work tonight. I mean, it’s easy to change the time and date on this so everyone thinks it’s you.”

  “You wouldn’t…”

  “Well, you see, I need the keys.”

  “Are you trying to blackmail me?”

  “Or, you could just give me the Chester file and we could have a little fun when we’re here – I promise I’ll not to make a video this time.” He moved around the table, resting on the edge of it. “I hear it’s a comfy table to bend over – just the right height.”

  “Go fuck yourself, Denver.” With angry tears in my eyes, I stormed out of the room, glad that the only one in the building now was the domestic who I heard vacuuming one of the meeting rooms. I quickly collected my things at my desk before running home.

  I was reeling, but the walk home helped me keep distracted enough that I didn’t cry. I thought over all the work I’d done with Mildred since I had started but I had no idea what the Chester file was. I thought of the local businesses that I knew of since I grew up in JOB but that was no help. What was the Chester file?

  My phone rang at the same time my microwave pinged. Louise.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t meet up with you guys.” I said as I answered the phone – shit, with everything I’d forgot.

  “Are you ok?” her voice sounded urgent. “I went back to the office but you were gone.”

  “I’m fine.” I sniffled, the adrenaline leaving me to my tears now. I was just thankful I was alone.

  “I’ll be over in 10 minutes.” With that, she hung up the phone and I let myself sob.

  Chapter 8

  Bella

  My heard the knock at my door within 10 minutes of putting the phone down.

  When I answered, Louise took one look at me and pulled me into a hug. Even though I didn't "do" hugs, I really appreciated it, clinging to her tiny frame as I swallowed back the remaining tears. When the ache eased a little, she finally spoke.

  "What did he do?" she was trying to speak calmly, but I knew there was fury beneath it.

  "I'm going to loose the job. He's got a video of some woman having sex with him in his office and he says he's going to show it and say I’ve been sleeping with him." I sagged down onto the sofa where Louise followed. "If he does that, everyone will think I got this job by fucking one of the partners�
� a married one at that. Any respect for me or chance of my job lasting will be gone."

  "Blackmail?" she pondered, "So, what does he want? You to actually sleep with him or he shares this?"

  "Yeah," I lied. "But it doesn't make sense, he's the married one - surely spreading a video that he says is me would get him in trouble?"

  "You'd think that." she said, unconvincingly, "But the thing is... he's involved in some messed up shit."

  That made no sense to me. "Eh?"

  "Look, I promise not to say anything to anyone about what he's trying to do to you… Please, you can't tell anyone about this."

  I listened in shock as Louise told me that Denver and his wife were very much a respectable couple, doing respectable jobs, living in a respectable neighbourhood and with respectable lives. Yet, he and his wife were involved with the McCauley gang. Louise was pretty sure that Denver's wife was one of the madam's for their gang's sex trade.

  "Are you saying," I laughed, "that Denver and his wife are pimps?" I laughed incredulously. "There's an actual underground sex business in Londonderry and Denver isn't just customer - he's running it?"

  "And doing very nicely at it, or so I hear." the bitterness in her voice took me back. "His wife makes sure the girls keep in line, he gets the buyers and handles the transactions."

  "So it's not a brothel?"

  "No, there are brothels, but Denver and her are involved in the high-class buyers and in selling on the used-up, broken women. Of course, Denver likes to make a little extra by blackmailing the married businessmen who enjoy the darker games he lets them play."

  "And where better to see how much they can afford and to move it painlessly from their accounts than working in the biggest accountancy firm in the area?" The penny had dropped. That's why he works in Sawyer’s, he can easily make up invoices to blackmail payments can be made and hidden all in plain sight. That's what the Chester file was for.

  "It makes sense now," I whispered to myself.

  "What does?" keen eyes surveyed me; "you know more than you're letting on."

  I couldn't say it. I didn't say it. I knew what I had to do: keep quiet for long enough until I could get another job and away from Sawyer’s. As much as Denver was trying to blackmail me, what did I care about another one of his john's getting blackmailed? I came back here for Ryan, he needed me to keep a flat going to he can move into it and be supported when he's released. Ryan is finally clean and sober - if all I have to do is hand over one file to Denver to keep my own head above water before leaving my job, then so be it.

  "Denver had seemed so nice," I played for time. "I can't believe it all, but looking back now it makes sense... was he grooming me to be one of their girls?" I knew that wouldn't be the case, the only thing he really wanted from me was the set of keys for Mildred's office.

  "Possibly," she said unconvinced. "More likely that he wanted you as one of his own collection," she admitted. "He has a real thing for dark hair and blue eyes."

  "He's married!" I said in shock.

  "Maybe so, but apparently they're both fine with the other having… varied tastes."

  I laughed hysterically at the way she'd explained it. Once I’d stopped she was looking at me, and I had a feeling I wouldn't like what she was going to say.

  "I think we should tell Jake."

  "Why on earth would you even suggest that? Not your boyfriend my ass."

  "He’s not!"

  "So why do you think he needs to know? You just said you'd keep this to yourself." I felt betrayed. I stormed over to my sink and poured myself a glass of water. "What's he going to do?" except get in the way of me being able to do what I need to do and move on.

  "You don't like him, do you?"

  That was a question. There were things about him I didn't like, but that was because it felt too soon, I didn't know what to do about the flicker I felt when I saw him, or the fear I had now that he knew who I was - or at least knew I wasn't Bella. I couldn't let him get near, it was too risky and all those routes lead to me losing my job and therefore my flat, and how could I help Ryan then?

  "It's not that I don't like him," I lied, "I don't know what he could actually do." I rolled my shoulders, trying to ease the tension I now felt. "Yeah, he owns a gym and is one huge guy, but what's he gonna do - frighten Denver again? I don't think that worked the first time."

  "I can't go into it, but I promise I won't say anything right now. Think about it over the weekend, we'll talk about it again on Monday - let's see how Denver plays this with you at work. If he's trying to get you into his bed, then he'll want to play nice."

  This time I wasn't convinced.

  Louise insisted that we got some food for me to eat and we spent the next couple of hours watching a chick flick on TV that we'd both seen before. I was glad of the company and that she'd dropped the conversation about Denver and Jake.

  Chapter 9

  Bella

  Although I met Louise as planned on Monday, I still begged her to keep everything from Jake. I could guess what he’d want to do. The Armstrong family had always been trouble, even as a youngster I knew to give their children them a wide berth at school. It didn’t surprise me that an Armstrong guy ran a boxing club and gym in the slightest, what did surprise me was that it sounded like they’d cleaned up their act somewhat. With what I’d seen and the rumours I’d heard about their family as I grew up, I would have expected Jake to have beaten the shit out of Denver without even thinking about it.

  They were the family that didn’t need an excuse to fight with someone else… I remembered one time when I was about ten that even my mother in her most drunken states learning the lesson everyone else seemed to know.

  I just didn’t need another guy in my life thinking he knew better. Especially not an Armstrong. They were too well known, too close to my past.

  …

  “Mummy isn’t home yet and I’m the boss when she’s not here.” I screamed. “Now go to bed or I’ll tell her you ate all her favourite biscuits.” Ryan’s face paled and I saw tears well in his eyes.

  “No Sarah! Mummy will be cross with Ryan.” He pouted. “Ryan doesn’t want to go into the naughty box again.” He lifted Fuzzy and held the tattered and smelly bear close for comfort and moving his little body away from the airing closet.

  “Well go to bed.”

  “I’m hungry.” He whined. Damn. I knew he was hungry, his tummy had been rumbling for an hour. The only thing left in the cupboard was some dry pasta and I wasn’t allowed to use the cooker.

  “If you go to bed I’ll go see if Mrs. Conway has locked her gate.” She always threw so much food out for the birds, most of it was ok to eat but last time mummy found out I’d took some she called me a dirty thief and took her shoe to me. I just won’t get caught this time.

  “But…” I saw the fear in his eyes too. “It’s ok Seh-Rah. I’m not that hungry.”

  I pulled him close, “Now, let’s get you into bed. I bet Fuzzy is tired.” I bent down and spoke into the bear’s only ear, “Fuzzy, are you tired? What’s that? You are? But you don’t want to go to bed on your own? What? Ok, I’ll ask him.” Ryan giggled as I talked with Fuzzy.

  “Ryan,” I said deliberately, “Fuzzy says he is tired and he wants you to go up to bed with him, just until he falls asleep.” He giggled.

  “Fuzzy can’t talk!”

  “Well, that’s what you think… he tells me things, you know.”

  “What things?” he asked, letting me walk him along the corridor.

  “Well, things like how much better he liked it when daddy was still here.” I pulled down the bed covers as he crawled in. “And how rumbly his tummy is.” I tucked Ryan in and reached for my school coat, draping it over the thin covers as usual. “And… that he’s glad we ate mummy’s biscuits!” I was rewarded with a giggle.

  It only took ten minutes for Ryan to fall asleep. Once his breathing was deep and slow I sneaked out of the room and tiptoed down the stairs and out into the space beh
ind the flats. On tiptoes, I checked the flickering lights in Mrs. Conway’s ground floor flat bedroom window. She’d gone to bed and was watching TV. Her fence is easy to climb and as usual, the scraps are on her bird table, just waiting for me.

  Ryan was still asleep when I came back so I hid the scraps in my school bag for the next morning, I slipped into bed beside him, snuggling behind him for the heat we’d both need. It was still dark when I was awakened by her return home. This time, she wasn’t alone. I held my breath as I listened… a woman’s voice?

  I peeked through the crack in the door, seeing Veronica, mum’s drinking buddy dabbing mum’s face in the bathroom. “You know she’s an Armstrong, Sarah, so why did you try it?”