‘Turn that din off,’ he demanded nodding his dark head toward the c.d. player as she placed the plate on the table.
‘No I’m listening to it,’ she was only playing it loudly because she knew it annoyed him.
He caught her arm as she started to move away, ‘I’m sick of casserole, isn’t there anything else?’ he asked pushing the plate away.
‘No,’ she smiled into his angry face.
‘Have you eaten?’ he asked seeing only one plate.
‘Yes,’ she told him tapping her feet to the latest hit by the latest boy band to hit the music scene.
‘What did you have?’ he asked while prodding a piece of chicken around his plate.
‘Steamed fish, boiled potatoes and vegetables,’ she told him placing a cup of tea on table, ‘followed by cake and a small glass of red wine.’
He narrowed his eyes at her for a moment before speaking, ‘I would have liked fish,’ he said pushing his plate further away, he would have liked anything other than casserole.
Quinn shrugged her shoulders and turned off the c.d. player, ‘Isn’t life a bitch?’ she said softly leaving him sitting alone in the silent kitchen.
They were getting ready for bed when he brought up the subject of her birthday, ‘I’m sorry I forgot...’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said off handily, almost convincing herself it didn’t matter he had forgotten.
‘Yes it does, I don’t want you to think it was deliberate…’ he started to say.
She wrapped her dressing gown around her shoulders before turning back to him, ‘Please don’t bother, I don’t want anything off you.’ Quinn had no idea where the rest of her words came from, she certainly hadn’t thought of them before they spilt from her lips. ‘Except a divorce,’ she said and watched his face pale.
‘What?’ he asked with a look of incredulity.
‘You heard a divorce,’ she told him calmly. ‘No cards, flowers or meaningless trinkets, just a divorce, that’s the only present I want off you.’
‘You really mean it don’t you?’ he asked after a long silence.
‘Yes, why shouldn’t I? We don’t love each other, all we do is make one another miserable,’ she told him calmly, inside she was falling apart but she was not going to let him know, so bravely she lifted her chin and looked in to his stunned face.
‘What about the baby?’ he asked.
‘A child needs their father to be part of their life, I just don’t want you in mine,’ she gave him a cool appraising look before carrying on. ‘It would achieve nothing to make things unpleasant for anyone concerned. I won’t make things difficult for you to see your child,’ she informed him.
Max stood open mouthed and listened as she calmly told him how things would be. He had never seen her so controlled or so calculating in her efforts to hurt him. For one of the few times in his life he was stuck for words, he sensed if he attempted to say what he wanted she would have something tucked up her sleeve to hit him with. Something very hard and hurtful and so for the time being kept his mouth firmly shut.
‘We’ll stay together until after the baby’s born,’ he said breaking the silence.
Shaking her head she told him, ‘No I don’t want to stay here any longer than is necessary,’ she turned and looked to where he stood, seemingly rooted to the spot.
That was enough to bring him out of his state of shock and they argued for over an hour. In the end he talked her into staying. ‘The nursery is ready, and you’ve always said you like this house,’ he argued, ‘why give yourself more work to do having to start again?’
He was right of course; she would have to find somewhere, more likely than not it would need decorating. ‘You stay here, I’ll move out but not until after the baby is born,’ he reasoned. ‘I’m not leaving you on your own...’
‘And I’m not staying here to be your wife,’ she glared up into his stunned face, ‘in any shape or form!’
At that moment he decided she must really hate him and he was almost ready to give the freedom she seemed to desperately want. For the next few long moments they glared at each other across their bedroom, while Maxwell wondered how things had become so bad.
‘I’ll stay on the understanding you don’t expect me to cook for you, I’ll keep the house clean but that’s all,’ she conceded. ‘You can start by sleeping in another room, if you don’t I will.’ Her voice filled with steely determination, hiding the desperate need to feel his arms around her, hiding the fact she didn’t care he didn’t love her, hiding that she still loved him and would for all time.
So in a state of shock he agreed, at that moment he would have agreed to anything just so long as she didn’t leave him, or send him away all together.
Over the next few days they hardly looked at each other, to Maxwell’s disappointment Quinn looked more relaxed than she had for weeks. He was passing the nursery when he heard her talking softly, he stopped closed his eyes and listened. He could visualise her sitting on the floor, gently stroking her stomach while whispering softly to their unborn child, telling him or her she loved them. He opened his eyes, unaccustomed tightness in his throat made it hard to swallow, and he suddenly realised he missed her more than he thought possible. Missed her in his bed, missed her swollen stomach pressing into his back and the gentle kick of their child. Missed the way she would wrap her arms around his neck and swing herself up into his arms, ‘I love you Maxwell Cordell,’ she would say looking straight into his eyes, he’d never told her once he loved her and now he’d never get the chance because he was sure she didn’t love him any more.
Quinn spent hours in the nursery, sometimes just looking at the tiny soft sheets and blankets or opening and closing the miniature chest of draws. She had finished the painting and decorating, the room was soft lemon and pale green the furniture white. Max had brought a big white rocking chair home for her to sit in while she nursed the baby, but for now she sat and rocked herself while she cried for hours.
The phone rang as she was making her way into the kitchen, half expecting it to be her mother she lifted the receiver to her ear hiding her surprise when she heard Max's voice.
‘It’s me,’ he spoke softly into her ear, ‘I was just ringing to see you were okay, are you?’ he asked after a moments hesitation.
‘Yes, fine,’ she replied after her own slight hesitation.
‘I was concerned…’ he started to say.
Quinn cut in quickly, ‘I won’t do any harm to your baby,’ it was hard to keep the edge from her voice.
‘I never thought you would… I didn’t ring to fight,’ he said quietly, ‘I’ll see you later.’ When Quinn didn’t reply he cut the connection turned his chair and stared out of his window.
A growing number of employees of Cordell and Smyth were concerned by the change in the Chairman, almost overnight he had changed from the loud dictatorial employer who very rarely closed the door to his office, into the one who sat in his office all day with the door tightly closed not taking calls and avoiding meetings whenever he could.
Maxwell was still looking out of his window nearly an hour later when Paul came into the room.
‘Maxwell,’ he called as he walked across the expanse of thickly carpeted floor, ‘they are waiting for you in the board room.’
Max turned around with a deep frown creasing his brow, ‘Hell I’d forgotten,’ he muttered looking at his p.a. ‘I’m not really in the mood, clear my diary for the next few days will you,’ he asked while ignoring Paul’s surprised expression.
Paul sat in the vacant seat the other side of Maxwell’s desk, ‘Sorry no can do, not until…’ he opened his diary, ‘the day after tomorrow. You look like…hell,’ he decided after looking him over for a few seconds.
‘Yea, well I don’t feel much better,’ he said quietly after a few moments silence. ‘Did you always know you loved Melissa?’ he asked taking him by surprise with his question.
‘No not really, I only realised after we split up for a w
hile,’ he gave a half laugh, ‘I was terrified she wouldn’t come back to me. Did she make me suffer!’ he laughed again. Taking the plunge he asked, ‘Problems?’
Max sighed and nodded his head vigorously, ‘You could say that,’ he lifted both hands and ran them through his hair, cursing softly when the phone rang. Paul lifted the receiver quickly and took the call; pressing the privacy button on the phone he told Max they were still waiting for him in the boardroom.
He stood up quickly smoothed down his hair and straightened up his tie, ‘On my way,’ he mouthed as he headed for the door, determined to get the meeting over as quickly as possible.
Quinn was sat in the lounge when Max arrived home from work that night, in just seconds she could see he looked tired. Tired meant he would be bad tempered. Not in the mood for a row she stood up reaching for the tray from which she had eaten her dinner, intending to wash her dishes before going to bed early to read her book, anything to avoid another confrontation with him
‘Let me,’ he said lifting the tray from her reach then quickly opening the door for her to pass him.
For a moment their eyes met, just as quickly they both looked away. Quinn never imagined herself falling in love so deeply she would forgive him anything. Sadly she realised at that moment she would forgive Maxwell Cordell anything, given time, even adultery.
Maxwell had fallen asleep on the sofa; he had brought a mass of paper work home with him, it should have been attended to at the office but all he could think of was getting home. Intending to only close his eyes for a few minutes to ease his headache he rested his head against the back of the sofa, yawned and minutes later fell into a deep sleep.
He was dreaming he had to be, Quinn was kissing him, it had to be a dream the way she looked at him now she hated him so there was no way she would kiss him. Cool air brushed against his chest, closely followed by soft warm lips; yes he decided it was definitely a dream, a very nice dream. He kept very still and slowly opened his eyes; Quinn was kneeling beside him her soft hands brushed lightly across his chest and down his stomach. Clenching his teeth tightly he held back a soft groan as she tugged at the belt on his pants; he dragged in his breath when her knuckles brushed against his stomach the touch of her soft hands against his skin made his heart race.
‘Please love me,’ she whispered lifting her head from his chest, her soft lips caressed his while she tugged at his pants. ‘I want you to love me.’
Maxwell did not utter one word but took the offer of her lips as they parted over his and kissed her back as passionately as she kissed him. Ignoring the fact she was asleep he pulled her closer opened the buttons down the front of her night-dress and ran his hands over her beautifully rounded body, across her silky soft naked skin. Right or wrong he wanted her, right or wrong he would make love to her.
She had opened his pants now; obligingly he lifted his hips, pulled them down his legs and kicked them away. ‘I love you, please love me,’ she whispered taking him quickly into her body. Max settled her against his thighs, leaving her to set the rhythm until he could stay still no longer. Wrapping his fingers through her hair he pulled her mouth to his parting her lips he thrust his tongue deep into her mouth, gasping with pleasure when his kiss was met with equal passion. It was all over in minutes, but never in his life had a woman given him so much pleasure that his body shook, but it did, every time when he made love with Quinn. Long after she had fallen into a restful sleep he clung to her unwilling to break the contact with her body. Her soft declaration of love rang in his ears giving hope to his broken heart.
Max covered her over and left her asleep on the sofa, picked up his clothes and made his way into his room. He was standing in the shower when Quinn came dashing in.
‘You low life bastard!’ she screamed at him. Ignoring the fact she was in her nightdress she snatched open the shower door stepped in and started to slap his chest and arms.
He caught her hands quickly and pulled her out of the shower, ‘For God’s sake Quinn, stop that,’ he held her struggling body against his own.
‘I was asleep…’ she sobbed.
‘I know you were, it’s the only time you let me near you,’ she stopped crying quickly to glare up into his face. ‘I don’t usually take you up on your offer…. but to be honest about it Quinn we are both sexually frustrated, maybe if we weren’t we would treat each other better,’ he took a towel and started to dry her with it, gently rubbing her shoulders and arms.
‘I am not frustrated...’ she said snatching the towel from him.
‘No, you won’t be now…’ he smiled into her outraged face. ‘As usual it was bloody fantastic,’ he told her.
Quinn took a step back and gasped when he started to reach for her. Until that moment she had managed to keep her eyes on his face but as a rivulet of water dripped from his hair onto his shoulder she watched in avid fascination as it trickled down his body. Now she couldn’t stop herself from following the trail as it ran down his chest, mingled with dark wet chest hair. Without realising she flicked her tongue across her lips as she watched the tiny drop of water hover on his tight dark nipple before running down his to stomach.
‘Cover yourself…’ she stammered when his body hardened once again.
‘No let’s do it again,’ he murmured huskily as he pulled her quickly against his wet body, sliding his fingers through her hair he held her tightly. His mouth was surprisingly gentle as he coaxed and cajoled her lips into responding to his. He found no real resistance as her lips parted urging his kiss to deepen.
Quinn lifted her hands to push him away but couldn’t, instead her fingers slowly moved down from his shoulders to his chest. His heart beat hard against his chest, when her thumb rubbed across his nipple he gave a low groan and she couldn’t stop herself from responding to him.
Slowly he peeled away her wet nightdress, prising the towel from her stiff fingers he dried her damp body all the while he kissed her, not once did their lips break contact. He held back a soft groan of pleasure when she responded to his kiss; then before she could change her mind he lay her down on the bed and made love to her, slowly and lovingly. Afterwards he pulled her into his arms held her head against his chest and slept.
A mixture of emotions raced through Quinn when she woke and remembered the previous night. She was still trying to decide how she would handle the situation when the door opened and Max appeared with a breakfast tray for her, instead of his smile bringing her pleasure it angered her and in an instant she was full of rage.
‘I’ve brought you breakfast,’ he said unnecessarily, sitting on the side of the bed he smiled, ‘how do you feel today?’
‘Used,’ she told him coldly.
‘Used?’ his smile faded, ‘I don’t see why it was what you wanted…’
‘I did not!’
Max caught her chin in one hand and held her still, ‘Quinn you drool every time you look at me,’ he told her smoothly, quickly pressing his finger across her lips when she opened her mouth to speak. ‘Don’t even think of denying it. If it makes you feel any better just pretend you’re asleep next time,’ he stood up and moved toward his wardrobe and pulled out his suit jacket.
Quinn spluttered indignantly, ‘There will not be a next time!’
‘Yes there will, you’re my wife. I get no other pleasure from you,’ he flicked his eyes in her direction for a moment, ‘I assure you there will be a next time.’
Enraged Quinn snatched the first thing that her hands rested on, a dish of fresh diced fruit he had prepared for her, it hit him square in the back as he walked toward the door. It seems as though the dish moved in slow motion as it slid to the floor with a light thud leaving a trail of sticky syrup down his jacket and pants.
‘You bastard,’ she whispered, the words sticking in her throat when he turned and glared at her.
‘You know what Quinn; I think we deserve each other, because you are a first class bitch!’
Unable to stop herself she rounded on him, ‘If I a
m it’s what you made me, but at least I’m a faithful bitch!’
‘Shut up Quinn,’ he cut in angrily pulling on a clean pair of pants. ‘I realise its rather short notice but we are having visitors this evening. Thaw one of your wonderful casseroles they’ll be eating with us,’ he finished dressing and picked up his soiled suit. ‘Eat your breakfast, what’s left of it, and make sure you have lunch,’ he demanded as he finished dressing.
Stupidly she nodded, holding her breath when he suddenly stopped in the doorway and looked at her for a few long moments before disappearing from sight. When she let go of the breath she had been holding, her body shuddered, it seemed that even the baby had sensed they were arguing and had been surprisingly still, but now it moved again kicking at her from all directions.
Quinn rubbed her hand over her stomach, ‘I suppose you’re angry with me as well,’ she sighed, rubbing the palm of her hand across when felt very like a foot.
It was an hour before she felt capable of movement and only then because Mrs Davis her cleaner arrived. At Max's insistence she came in twice a week to do the heavy work for her.
Quinn showered and dressed then went into the nursery, she was sitting in the rocking chair reading her ‘Mother and Baby’ book when she realised she felt more relaxed than she had for weeks. A light flush touched her cheeks as she remembered his words about them both being frustrated, she tutted and told herself it was because she had unusually managed to sleep all night, ‘oh and why was that?’ asked a little voice in the back of her head.
Unusually Max didn’t ring her all day, even when they rowed he would still call if only to carry on their argument. Today the telephone was surprisingly silent.
Considering her day had started off so fraught she was by the time evening arrived quite relaxed. A few times over the day she speculated on who he was bringing home, it made no difference she would not show him or herself up no matter who it was.
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