by Nikki Ashton
Charlotte felt herself blush slightly; she hadn’t expect him to be so magnanimous. “Well let’s forget it shall we and at least try to get on over lunch, and I promise that there will be no surprise fiancés making an appearance,” she said smiling a very thin smile.
Niall nodded. “Okay, we can try.”
The bar was very busy, due to the pre- Christmas rush, which meant that lunch was a long time in coming. It was so late that by the time it did arrive, they were both well into their third drink. Charlotte had gone onto white wine by this time, sensing that if she carried on drinking pints she may not be responsible for her actions, or words. She was relieved when the food did arrive. Her stomach was starting to make some funny noises, plus the lack of conversation was deafening.
“Hmm, smells lovely,” said Niall, as he reached across to fork some chips from the bowl.
Charlotte began to feel more relaxed as she began to eat. “I feel quite tipsy,” she thought aloud.
“Actually, so do I, I think that we’ll have to get the train home,” Niall replied, without looking up from his food.
Charlotte almost choked on a chip at the thought of travelling home with him on a train.
“Are you okay?” Niall looked concerned.
“Hmm, it went down the wrong way.” Embarrassed, she took a large sip from her drink and decided to change the subject. “So, I don’t suppose that we’ll see much of you, now that the deal’s completed." Charlotte looked up and watched Niall take another drink, his thumb ring clinking against the side of his glass.
“It depends really.” He smiled, but didn’t expand on what it depended on.
Once the main course was finished Charlotte flopped back in her chair, holding onto her stomach. “That was gorgeous, but I am so stuffed. I don’t think that I will be able to work this afternoon.”
Niall wiped his mouth on his napkin. “Another drink then?”
Charlotte nodded, and followed his walk to the bar with her eyes, admiring his bottom as he pushed through the lunchtime drinkers.
A few minutes later, Niall pushed a drink in front of her. “We will definitely have to get the train after this.”
Charlotte smiled and did the shrugging shoulder thing. “Hmm.”
“So, what are these problems of your then?” Niall asked. “As long as you don’t think that it’s my turn to be nosey.” He looked over the rim of his glass at Charlotte, his eyes so intense that she had to look away.
“I don’t think that you are being nosey, but I’m not sure that you’d be interested, perhaps you are just being polite.”
Niall grinned. “I know that I may appear self-centred, but I can assure you I would be interested, so spill the beans.”
Charlotte spent the next hour telling him about Kerry and Kelvin, and then about Bets and Stuart, talking away until she felt exhausted by it all.
“God, you do have problems, but if you want my advice you’ll let them sort themselves out, just be there for them. If it all goes wrong, they can’t blame you, but if everything turns out for the best, well, then you’ll be the best friend ever.”
“Maybe,” Charlotte sighed, as she looked intensely at Niall. He’d taken his jacket and tie off and rolled up his shirtsleeves, due to the warmth from the coal fire, and the whole effect had suddenly made Charlotte feel very giddy; unless of course, it was the alcohol going straight to her groin. “I just love them all so much,” she continued, quickly realising that she was in danger of dribbling. “I hate to see them hurting, never mind though, you’re right they are their decisions to make at the end of the day. So, would you like another drink?”
Niall nodded and glanced at his watch. “Grand, but maybe we’d best get going after that one.” This time his eyes followed Charlotte to the bar. “Nice arse,” he muttered into the dregs of his pint.
An hour and two more drinks later, after getting along quite nicely, they strode out into the cold winter air. It was four o’clock and they had been there for just over three hours, so as soon as the fresh, cool breeze hit them, both Niall and Charlotte realised how drunk they were.
“God isn’t it funny how drink goes straight to your legs during the day,” Charlotte hiccupped, as she tried to button up her coat.
Niall moved towards her and taking hold of both lapels fastened it for her. “You’d better take my arm; I don’t think that I could cope with seeing you flat on your arse, again.” He proffered his elbow to Charlotte, who gladly linked it with her arm, grateful for the steadying influence.
“Anyway, Niall,” she announced, suddenly drink making her brave. “Why do you dislike me so much? I mean, apart from lunch, which was lovely, you really have been quite mean to me.” She stumbled slightly on her heels.
“Steady,” Niall whispered, holding onto her. “I wasn’t aware that I disliked you, anyway I thought that we cleared this up in your office the other evening?”
“No, not really, that was about the lunch debacle. It has nothing to do with how you’ve treated me, since you began doing business with us.”
“I didn’t realise that it appeared that I didn’t like you. I rather thought it was the other way around that you had a bit of a dislike for me, probably because I mentioned that I knew Grant.”
Charlotte stopped walking and dragged him back. “Don’t even mention that shit head’s name please. I do not want to ever be reminded of him, now carry on.” She matched his stride once more.
“Well like I said, I thought that you didn’t like me, because of him who shall not be named.”
“Ah, but what about what you said at the match the other night, people have to earn your respect. You were definitely having a go at me then.” Charlotte wagged a drunken finger at Niall.
“What do you expect? You called me a red, as a blue you should know how hurtful that is, I was devastated by that remark.” Now Niall stopped and turned to face Charlotte. “But if you remember, I also said that you were pretty and sexy.”
Charlotte looked up at him, his breath like clouds of smoke in the twilight. “Yes, I remember,” she said, her heart hammering uncontrollably, “but it doesn’t alter the fact that on that first day in Paul’s office, you practically ignored me. Now that was rude.”
Niall nodded and smiled. “Yes, let’s just say a very different picture had been painted of you, but I soon came to realise how much you had helped Paul to achieve what he has today. You should know that I don’t like being made a fool of, which ‘shit head’ obviously did. So quite wrongly I took it out on you, and then of course you pulled the engagement stunt.” Charlotte coloured in the darkness, as Niall glanced down at the diamond ring, now firmly on her right hand. “You have to admit; it was pretty pathetic.”
“Hey, hang for a minute, I thought that we’d agreed to forget that, mainly because it wasn’t any of your business,” Charlotte cried; her arms folded severely across her coated chest.
“I don’t remember saying that we would forget it, I remember accepting your apology but…”
Charlotte stamped her foot in anger. “What apology, I didn’t apologise for pretending to be engaged, how dare you say I apologised?”
“Yes you did.” Niall’s defiant face moved closer to Charlotte’s, their breath mingling into one cloud.
“You are the last person that I’d apologise to, you pig-headed shit!” she cried into the cold air.
Niall started to laugh, infuriating Charlotte even more. She started to walk away, but didn’t get very far, as the heel on her shoe got stuck in the grass verge.
“Oh, crap!” she screamed, wobbling precariously as she tried to pull her foot out of the muddy grass.
Still laughing, Niall moved towards her and held out his hand. Charlotte took it and steadied herself.
“Thank you,” she muttered grudgingly, looking down petulantly, examining her heel. “You go ahead if you like, I’ll be fine. I can’t believe I was beginning to think you were actually human. I suppose you thought you could ply me with drink, be p
leasant to me for a couple of hours, and then I would forget what a prat you really are. Sod professionalism, this is my lunch break, so I can say what I like. You are…”
As Charlotte ranted, Niall sighed deeply, and slipping a finger under her chin, he tilted her face and kissed her very slowly on the mouth. At first, Charlotte hesitated in letting herself join in, but he tasted so sweet that she kissed him back. Her tongue brushed against the inside of his lips, flicking against his teeth. Niall pulled her closer to him and their kisses became more urgent. Charlotte couldn’t believe how kissing Niall made her feel, as her fingers ran through his hair and she stroked his neck.
Niall cupped the side of her face with his hand, and slowly pulling his head back, their lips gradually parting.
“God, you are so damn sexy when you are shouting, but I just had to shut you up.”
He breathed the words quietly into Charlotte’s mouth, and then started to kiss her ears and her neck softly, until he slowly nuzzled his way back to her mouth, urgently pushing his tongue in once more. Charlotte felt inside his jacket, and holding on tightly to his back, her fingers pushed hard against his body. Charlotte pressed herself against him as he began to kiss her neck once more. Suddenly, were aware of someone watching them, and quickly pulled away from each other, breathless.
“You two going all the way then?” the bus driver shouted, above the throb of the diesel engine.
“Maybe,” laughed Niall, kissing Charlotte’s hair.
“We’d better go,” said Charlotte, as the laughing bus driver pulled away. “It’s getting late.”
“I don’t think that I want to though,” said Niall, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Neither do I, although I don’t remember giving you permission to kiss me.” Laughing with each other, their lips met again and Charlotte started to kiss him passionately.
Niall slowly pulled away. “Come on, let’s get back and sort out how we are going to get home.
The ten-minute walk took thirty on the way back; as they stopped every few yards to kiss once more. They joked that it wasn’t normal behaviour for two people who obviously hated each other. With their fingertips entwined, Niall gently pulled Charlotte along the drive, smiling broadly at her over his shoulder. As they came in sight of the main doors Niall froze, and dropped Charlotte’s hand. She followed his gaze towards a BMW convertible on the car park.
“Niall, what is it, is that a better car than yours, is that it?” she giggled, her cold nose glowing in the descending darkness.
“No, no, look Charlotte, I’m really sorry,” he said, now turning towards her. “I think that you’ll have to get the train home alone tonight, my MD is here.” He then turned back to the car again, his shoulders slumping as he thrust his hands into his trouser pockets.
“Oh, I see, never mind.” Charlotte tried not to sound disappointed, but couldn’t help but wonder where the evening may have led to.
“Look, I am sorry. I really am,” he muttered, striding back towards the office.
Charlotte chased after him, but as she caught up to Niall, she realised from his stern face that he didn’t want to talk. As they approached the door, he quickly turned to her.
“I’ll ring you and explain, but I’m going home for Christmas, so it will be after New Year, okay?” His tone was insistent, but he didn’t give Charlotte time to answer as he marched to the building.
As they moved inside, to the warm reception, Charlotte could see Paul talking to one of the consultants, he had a blonde girl with him, a temp maybe; however, she looked far too classy to be a temp. She was Charlotte’s height, with a bleached blonde urchin cut, that framed her tiny features perfectly. She was wearing chocolate brown leather trousers and a tan coloured cashmere sweater, all obviously expensive.
Then Paul spotted them and suddenly looked decidedly uncomfortable. He walked towards them, the temp following closely behind, a watery smile upon her face.
“Charlotte, Niall there you are, good lunch?”
Charlotte started to grin from behind Niall, but the stiffness in his shoulders suddenly dampened her spirits. Before anything was said about their lunch, Paul stood at one side and ushered the temp forward.
“Charlotte, this is Ingrid Cathcart, from Niall’s company.” The woman moved forward, taking Charlotte’s hand and shaking it limply.
“Ah, the MD,” Charlotte smiled knowingly.
“Yes, that’s right and Niall’s fiancée too, for my sins.” She reached on tiptoe and kissed Niall on his lips. “Good lunch darling?” she asked, licking her lips slowly. “I know that you said lunch would probably be a boozy one, so I thought that as I was in the area I would give you a lift home, so whenever you are ready.” From the thin smile upon her lips, this was obviously a command rather than a question.
Charlotte suddenly felt sick; her stomach was churning up inside, a thousand feelings fighting to get out. She placed her palm against her mouth, where she could still feel Niall’s lips on hers, still taste their sweetness, and she held it there, desperate to stop a cry escaping. As her stomach tightened, Charlotte felt the need to retch, so she closed her eyes, anxious for the feeling to go. After only a moment, she opened them again and stared at Paul, Niall and Ingrid chatting. She felt as though she was in a dream and everything was happening in slow motion. The sounds of their voices were muffled as her head felt lighter, yet it was full of images of her and Niall kissing. With shallow breaths and small steps, Charlotte moved toward the group, desperate to get into the sanctuary of her own office.
“Excuse me,” she whispered with her head down, wanting Niall to move.
He turned towards her, a sad smile on his lips. “Sorry,” he also whispered, his eyes willing her to look at him.
However, she didn’t; Charlotte didn’t even want to touch him, or breathe the same air. She held her breath and sucked in her sickly stomach as she moved past him. “Thanks,” she muttered and then almost ran to her office.
She sat behind her desk, without removing her coat, grateful that everyone had gone early, ready for the Christmas holidays. She stared at the paper clips on her desk, not moving, just replaying the afternoon’s events. After about ten minutes the door opened, she looked up sharply, but it was Paul, a sympathetic smile upon his face.
“Charlotte, I am sorry. I didn’t know.” He moved towards her and placed a comforting arm around Charlotte’s tense shoulder.
“It doesn’t matter, let’s just put it down to too much alcohol,” Charlotte sighed.
“Come on, I’ll give you a lift home, I’m going to see my parents tonight, so I can bring you back tomorrow for your car.” He didn’t say anymore, but just ushered her out of her seat, towards the door.
As he started the car, Paul glanced at the hurt in Charlotte’s face. Whatever had gone on at lunch it wasn’t just down to too much alcohol; he had known immediately that there was an attraction between them, who wouldn’t? The air was electric when they were together, and the atmosphere was so intense no one would have guessed that there would be a fiancée. How could he have got it wrong, but the tears in Charlotte’s tired eyes told him he had?
Chapter 19
It was Christmas morning and Kerry was sat upon the sofa, watching Esme play with a box that one of her presents had come in. She was happily banging the lid with a wooden spoon. Esme was always happy Kerry thought. The current situation didn’t seem to have affected her daughter one little bit, but she and Kelvin; well that was a different matter.
“Kerry, could you lay the table for me please?”
Kerry smiled up at her mum; at least, things were getting better in their relationship. They’d stayed up late last night, talking until the early hours, and at least Sheila now seemed to understand why Kerry was being the way she was. Kerry was also beginning to think that maybe everyone had a point; she was suffering from some form of depression. She’d tried not to believe it before, but now she had promised to go and see a doctor. Kerry bent to kiss Esme and smil
ed tentatively at Kelvin, as he sat in an armchair playing with the watch that she had bought for him for Christmas; he glanced at her but didn’t smile back, putting his head down as she walked past into the kitchen.
“Okay love?” Sheila rubbed Kerry’s arm tenderly, as she reached inside the kitchen drawer for the cutlery.
“He still won’t speak to me Mum. It's horrible, and we usually have such a lovely Christmas. I wanted it to be special for Esme.” Kerry wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her jumper, taking a deep breath so as not to cry aloud. “I know that I’m to blame, but I just can’t help the way I feel at the moment.” Kerry moved over to the dining area and started to lay the table for the three of them plus Michael and Sarah, her eldest brother and his wife, who were coming later.
“I’ll try to talk to him, see if I can get him to come home at least.”
“Thanks Mum, at least if he’s home we can try to start to sort things out.” Kerry went over to her mother and kissed her gently on the cheek, just as Kelvin came in holding a whimpering Esme.
“What’s the matter with her Kelvin?” Kerry rushed over to them both, and softly touched her baby’s face.
“I’m not sure,” whispered Kelvin. “She was okay one minute and then just started to cry. Although she’s been a little grouchy for a couple of days now, hasn’t she Sheila?” All the time Kelvin spoke he didn’t look at Kerry, but at his daughter and finally, his mother-in-law.
“Come here, come to Mummy.” Kerry took her child from Kelvin’s arms and sat at the table. “She feels a bit hot actually. I think that I’ll give her some Calpol and put her down for a while.”
Kelvin stood aside to let her pass, as though if he touched her in any way he would turn into a pillar of salt. When he was sure that Kerry was up the stairs, he shut the door leading out to the hallway.
“What has she said?” he asked, moving over towards Sheila. “I didn’t hear either of you come to bed until gone three this morning, has she said whether she’s seeing anyone else?” He twisted a tea towel around in his hands anxiously.