by Reyner, Jade
“Ouch!” he said, “What the hell happened to your face?”
“Oh, it was nothing,” she lied, “I tripped over a rug at the hotel and came face to face with the rough carpet; it’s more of a burn than anything else.” She really was a scarily proficient liar these days.
“Clumsy...” he said as he gently caressed the injury, “but still my beautiful Elise.”
Aware that his hand was now starting to drift down her cheek and towards her neck and collarbone, she grasped it in hers and pressed a kiss into his palm.
“Hadn’t you better go and check on the food?” she asked, “It smells delicious.”
He kept her gaze for a moment, an almost puzzled expression on his face, and then he stood up and headed towards the kitchen. “I hope you’re hungry” he shouted back as he departed, “I don’t know how much they think two people can eat!”
The food was delicious but far too much as Dale had predicted and Elise was absolutely stuffed by the time she admitted defeat. Dale’s good mood had continued throughout the meal and he had drunk only water which really shocked Elise. It was unheard of for Dale to drink water on a Friday night when he had the whole weekend to recover, and the more his behaviour differed from the norm, the more unsettled she began to feel.
So far he had given no indication of knowing anything at all about what had happened at the conference and he had barely mentioned it, other than to ask if it had been successful. Despite her unease at his radical change of behaviour, Elise began to accept that maybe Olivia had kept her mouth shut as she was certain she would have known about it by now if she hadn’t.
Once the dishes had been cleared away, Dale suggested that they watch a movie and she was surprised to see that he had hired The Holiday, one of her favourite Christmas movies but a real chick flick – something that she would have expected to watch with Cole, not her thriller-loving husband. She was amazed that he even knew the film existed, let alone that it was one of her favourites, and had to give him credit for that at least. It almost felt like he was trying to woo her all over again and Elise wondered if he had finally realised that things between them were well and truly broken.
Whilst it was wonderful and definitely a pleasant change to see this side of her husband, his actions this evening had not changed her mind at all and she knew with absolute certainty that she no longer loved him and, as such, there could be no future for them. No happily-ever-after. Not anymore.
She had already decided to leave their final discussion though until after Christmas and her heart lifted at the prospect of this perhaps being a pleasant one, rather than the usual drunken and abuse-filled day. She may be intending to break his heart at the end of it but given his behaviour over the last five years, she had seriously begun to doubt that he even had a heart left anyway.
As the end credits began to roll, Elise became aware of the fact that somewhere during the course of the movie Dale had linked hands with her and his arm was across her shoulders resting on the back of the sofa. This was so reminiscent of the old days that she inadvertently snuggled into him, breathing in his familiar scent and loving that it wasn’t tainted with alcohol for once.
Too much had happened for them ever to go back to the innocence of those early days, but tonight it felt like something magical had happened and they were both being allowed to enjoy their relationship as it had been, for one last time.
When Dale tugged her to her feet and led her up the stairs, it didn’t occur to her to argue. She wasn’t an idiot and she knew what was going to happen but she also knew that it felt right. Almost like a goodbye. She and Dale had been in love for countless years and even though for her it was over now, she couldn’t forget what they had had in the past and maybe they both needed this almost calm release so that they could remember the good, forget the bad and move forward.
They made love that night with a tenderness that had been sorely missing in recent times and although Elise didn’t enjoy it, she recognised the beauty of it for what it was. For her, it was closure and she knew that in the next few days things would undoubtedly get rough but at least she could leave with one beautiful memory of her marriage to hold on to.
She tried to blank from her mind the fact that she had promised Vaughn that she wouldn’t do this and she couldn’t believe how the whole time she was with Dale she felt that she was being unfaithful. This was her husband and yet she hadn’t once felt unfaithful when she had been sleeping with Vaughn. Even though he was probably having a merry old time with Olivia right now, her heart belonged to him lock, stock and barrel and she really had no idea how she was ever going to get it back.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The rest of the weekend was bizarre - it was the only way to describe it. After their strange truce of Friday night, Saturday and Sunday had passed in a whirl of normality. Household chores had been tackled side by side, shopping had been done and they had talked like they hadn’t talked in a long while.
Elise was pleased to realise that Dale had caught up his hours at work and was now trying to stay on the straight and narrow. There were moments when he talked with passion and she saw glimpses of the old Dale again, reminding her of the man he used to be and the man that she had first fallen in love with all those years ago.
On Sunday they had visited a car boot sale; really an indoor Christmas fair as it was far too cold and out of season for a proper boot sale. There were the usual items of junk for sale as well as some festive decorations and they found themselves buying odds and ends and bartering with the best of them to save fifty pence here and there. By the time they had finished they both had bags full of things that they really didn’t need but they had been swept away by the excitement of it all and had just enjoyed each other’s company.
They finished the day off at a pizza restaurant and then they both retired relatively early to bed in preparation for work the next day. They didn’t make love again and Elise was relieved for that. That one occasion had felt right but she couldn’t have coped with any more than that. Whether or not there was going to be a future for her and Vaughn, it didn’t feel right being with anyone else anymore, not even her husband.
The very same husband, who, unbelievably, throughout the whole entire weekend, hadn’t touched one single drop of alcohol.
Monday was Christmas Eve, traditionally a quiet day on the roads and at work for which Elise was glad. A lot of offices closed over the Christmas period but Andrews & Andrews had always believed in some staff being available on all working days, so there was a rota of skeleton staff who worked a half day on Christmas Eve.
Elise usually always worked it as she hadn’t ever really celebrated Christmas since she had been with the company. Dale was always too busy drinking to do anything anyway and so it had just become another working day to her. In latter years, it had provided a blissful relief from the trauma that was her home life.
Walking into the office, she was surprised to see that it was quite busy. Most staff had obviously elected to work this year. As she hadn’t been in at the end of last week, she had no idea whether Stephen or Olivia would be in but she really hoped that good fortune would be smiling on her as far as Olivia was concerned. The bruise on her cheek had largely worn off but was still just visible if you looked hard enough and she had no idea how the two of them were going to conduct anything approaching a working relationship.
She was aware of several pairs of eyes watching her as she walked through the office but no one said anything and she just kept her head down, putting on foot in front of the other.
When she eventually arrived at her desk, she was pleased to see Stephen and even happier that there was currently no sign of Olivia. Stephen jumped up when he saw her and came around his desk to give her a crushing hug, not caring who saw it would seem.
“Hi babe, it’s so good to see you. Mmm... you smell good...” He began to snuggle into her neck and she pushed against him good-naturedly.
“Stephen! Put me down!” she wriggle
d out of his hold and laughed at the manufactured hurt that appeared on his face.
“Hey, can’t blame a man for trying – besides, it really is good to see you. I’ve missed you.”
He gave her a mock pout before swatting her lightly on her backside and sitting back down at his desk. Elise removed her coat and hung it on the rack, aware that Stephen was watching her the whole time.
“I heard what happened. You OK?” He asked.
She turned to face him. Which bit was he referring to? The conference, her sleeping with Vaughn, the whole fight incident or the slap from Olivia? Hard to tell really and she wasn’t sure she was OK with any of them.
“I’m fine.” She said, electing not to clarify exactly what he had been referring to, it wouldn’t have made any difference to her answer anyway.
“So, is it just us today?” she asked as she settled at her desk.
“Looks that way. I think Olivia said she had today off and I can’t say I’m sorry – she was in such a bitch of a mood on Friday once she heard about you and Vaughn at the conference. Christ knows what was eating her.” Stephen replied. Elise had a pretty fair idea.
“Thanks for what you did on Friday, Stephen. Cole told me you had been trying to quash some of the rumours. I really appreciate that.” Elise smiled at him, surprised to find that she was starting to build a fondness for this man who up until recently had just been an absolute pain in the backside.
“No worries Elise, I like you. You’re my desk buddy. I don’t want to hear people saying things about you, regardless of whether or not they are true. Besides which, Vaughn and I have known each other forever. He has my back and I have his – simple as that.” Stephen turned to carry on with his work and Elise surprised herself by reaching over to touch his arm and stop him.
“Thank you, Stephen,” she said, “Thank you for caring.” Abruptly she felt tears well in her eyes and hastily went to dash them away.
“Babe – don’t you dare blub on me,” he said, “I am a modern man and I cope with most things but blubbing women are so not my scene.” He laughed. “You carry on like this and I’ll feed you to the office rumour mill myself!”
Elise laughed back, “And for a minute there I almost liked you. I always knew I had poor judgement!”
Stephen punched her lightly on the arm. “You don’t have poor judgement, Elise – you’ve made my man Vaughn very happy. That, as far as I am concerned is excellent judgement.”
“Ha. I don’t know about that,” Elise replied, “He wasn’t exactly singing from the rooftops when we got back here on Friday after all the rumours had started. We had words and he left without so much as a backward glance. According to Olivia,” she spat the other girl’s name out with barely concealed venom, “he had asked her to stay behind and wait for him so if anyone’s making him happy, I can assure you it’s not me.”
Stephen looked at her with an odd expression on his face. “When did you last speak to Vaughn, Elise?”
“Friday, when we got back here after the conference. I left to go home before him but Olivia was still here waiting for him. Why?” Subconsciously she touched her cheek where Olivia had slapped her, the memories momentarily flooding back.
“I think you should open your e-mails Elise.” Stephen said, a serious expression crossing his handsome features.
“I don’t understand – why do I need to open my e-mails?”
“Just do it, Elise,” replied Stephen, an almost commanding edge to his tone, “and then we’ll talk.”
Elise hadn’t checked her inbox for several days so wasn’t surprised to find it overflowing with all the usual company memos. Quickly she skimmed through those, mentally noting any that seemed to be important enough to warrant further reading. There was one reporting on the conference that they had attended at the end of last week and Elise left that one for later too – Christ knows what that would contain and Elise couldn’t bear to see Vaughn’s name shamed in print. There was also her usual morning welcome from Cole and one from Stephen on Friday which simply said “Missing you babe.” When she read that one she glanced across at Stephen and he merely smiled innocently. “Well I was.” She rolled her eyes and returned to the rest of her inbox.
Finally she reached the last two and was alarmed to see that one was from Olivia and the final one was from Vaughn. She opted to open the one from Olivia first.
Friday 21st Dec. 18:30
Elise,
I am sorry that I slapped you today. That was beneath me.
You are a bitch and always will be. I do not regret anything I said.
You have stolen from me one too many times and you will get your comeuppance. Your time will come.
For now though, Happy Christmas, Olivia.
Elise shivered; the hatred poured from the page and whilst she didn’t wish to give it any mileage, she couldn’t help but be a little fearful of what the girl meant. She read and re-read the e-mail countless times trying to make sense of the few simple lines. What did the girl mean that she had stolen from her one too many times? And why the hell was Olivia threatening her in any case? None of it made any sense and she looked across at Stephen to see him watching her.
“What does any of this mean, Stephen? I don’t understand.”
Stephen leaned across Elise’s desk to read the e-mail and when he had finished, he just shrugged. “I have no idea. She’s always had a screw loose if you ask me – beautiful but seriously damaged.”
“How can you find someone who writes an e-mail like that ‘beautiful’?” Elise asked incredulously.
“Hey babe – I can’t help it if I’m a slave to my baser instincts.” And he gestured rudely at his crotch before leaning back across to his own desk.
Elise just shook her head at him in exasperation. “How on earth you have a fiancée is beyond me.” She said, looking away and reading the e-mail again.
Did she reply? If she did, what did she reply? Did it deserve a reply?
Absently she tapped her fingers over the keys of her keyboard lightly as she pondered what would be the correct thing to do. It actually didn’t matter either way she supposed, it wasn’t as if they were going to be friends whether she replied or not.
In the end she decided that she wanted Olivia to know that she would not be bullied, regardless of whatever issues the girl had with her, so she quickly typed a response.
Monday 24th Dec. 9.21am
Olivia,
I very much appreciate your apology with regards to physically injuring me although as far as I am concerned, every aspect of your behaviour on Friday was completely out of order.
I have no idea what your issues with me are but I will continue to put any differences we may have aside whilst we are in the workplace. I would appreciate it if you could offer me the same courtesy.
Hope you too had an enjoyable Christmas.
Regards,
Elise.
Probably more than the girl deserved but hopefully it would show her that Elise was not affected by her threats. She knew from past painful experience that the only way to deal with bullies was to stand up to them and although Olivia clearly thought she had grounds for her grievances, the workplace was not the place to air them. Perhaps, one day, they could talk things through but for now, Elise was prepared to work with the girl and that was all.
Putting Olivia to one side, she turned her attention to the e-mail from Vaughn, her hand hovering over the mouse as she decided whether to open it or to delete it unread. She was tempted to do just that, given the mess that things were already in but curiosity got the better of her – particularly as Stephen had told her to read her e-mails – and so she opened it, her fingers shaking slightly as she clicked the button.
Monday 24th Dec. 07.40am
Dear Elise,
I am sorry that I didn’t see you again on Friday – things took longer to sort out than I had hoped.
I decided to start my break a little earlier than planned so will be on my way to my sister’s by the
time you read this.
I need you to know that I regret how we parted on Friday and wish that we could go back to that beautiful evening at the conference when it was just the two of us together. I have never experienced a night like that and I have thought of nothing else since we parted. Somehow you have got inside of me, right down deep inside and I feel like I am drowning in emotion. I need time to work out what that means for me and how the hell I cope with my feelings, when the rest of the world becomes involved.
I can’t deal with what your bastard of a husband does to you and the thought of any other man touching you completely destroys me. It is not an emotion that I am used to.
You need to understand that I am not running away but the way I reacted to Edwin Dunn at the conference was a wake-up call for me. Shit, I was in control then Elise but despite what I said to you afterwards, it was only just. The more I see you, the more I need you and the more that I need you, the further from me my control slips. My cock is hard every time I think about you and I feel like I can’t see straight any more.
I can’t stop thinking about you, Elise – you are so fucking beautiful and even just typing this to you now is driving me insane. You are there, in my head, every minute of every day. There are so many things I want to do to you and with you and I can’t bear that I have no right to feel like that.
I have left you two presents in your drawer, both of which I have given to you selfishly for my gain. Please read the notes.
I need to be with you Elise, my body needs to be with you and in my head I need to be with you; I guess I just need a little time to catch up.
Open your presents for me now, my beautiful angel – I am imagining your face as you do. Yours as always,
Vaughn.
By the time Elise got to the end of the e-mail, the words had become blurry through the tears running down her cheeks. Never before had anyone sent her anything so heartfelt and beautiful and it touched her right down to her core. She had been the one to push him away on Friday with her harsh words but still here he was apologising for needing some space. She had blamed him for everything going wrong in her life, which was completely unfair. She had been awful to him and he had gone and bought her presents. The reality of how much this man had put himself on the line for her over the last few days began to sink in and she sobbed even louder, no longer caring that her life was continuing to play out in full view of the office.