Matt appears behind me, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror.
“Hannah and Andrew won’t be joining us; they’re having dinner with Hannah’s parents.” He smiles and my heart skips a beat.
“Just us four then.” I return his smile.
~~~~~
The Italian is still as amazing as I remember.
The Spaghetti Bolognaise is to die for.
Matt opts for Spaghetti and meatballs and we share cheesy garlic bread between us.
“So Matt, I was thinking of taking you to see the new project I am working on tomorrow, if you fancy it?” My dad asks him politely.
“Absolutely. That’s if Casey doesn’t mind giving me up for a few hours.” He replies jokingly, glancing at me and giving me one of those smiles that makes my stomach do that butterfly thing.
I laugh, “Oh it will be nice to have a break, sweetheart.” I use the nickname he gives me and I see his eyes widen a little before I wink at him.
“Brilliant!” Dad smiles before putting a fork full of pasta to his mouth.
“It will give me and mum a chance to go and do a little bit of shopping. I was thinking of having a look around the local villages since I haven’t been down here for a while.” I look at mum, “What do you say, mum?”
“Oh yes, that sounds lovely Case.” She smiles sincerely, love showing in her eyes.
I’ve always been close to my parents, it was hard when I first moved away and I tried to get home most weekends but as I got older and busier attending ‘red carpet’ parties it wasn’t possible for me to visit as often as I would have liked. It’s not like I live hours and hours away, it’s only two hours or so down the road but with all our working schedules it is a lot harder than it seems. So we resorted to weekly phone calls.
I can’t wait to spend some alone time with mum and tell her all about Matt.
The banter around the table as we eat is non-stop. Everybody seems to be getting on well and I know my parents approve of Matt. His charm and good looks have won them over, just how he won me over.
A young looking waiter approaches our table carrying a bottle of champagne and places it in the chiller in the center of our table.
“A gift from the gentleman over—“ He turns as he tries to find who he is looking for and when he can’t find whoever it is he turns back at us, his face confused. “He’s gone now and he didn’t leave a name he just left some money. Sorry.” He turns and walks away.
I look at Matt, his face absent as though he is deep in thought. He’s thinking the same thing as me. The champagne is from the stalker.
“How lovely!” Mum grins. “You must have a secret admirer Casey.” She lifts the bottle and starts to pour into dad’s flute and then hers.
“Don’t drink it!” I shout and mums eyes flick up to meet mine. I stand and reach over to take the bottle from her, a little bit more forceful than I expected because mum sits and looks at me expressionless. She looks over to Matt and then me.
“What’s wrong Casey?” I turn to look at Matt, his face tight in thought and I can tell he is annoyed. His eyes meet mine and I give him a small smile to let him know I am okay.
I wanted to leave mum and dad out of the stalker situation – I knew that they would worry. But now it seems as though I haven’t got a choice.
I take a deep breath. “I have a stalker-“
“A stalker?” Mum is wide eyed – her voice high with shock.
“A stalker.” I confirm with a nod. “I’ve been receiving emails for a while and at first I thought it wasn’t anything too bad, just somebody who was really angry at me-“
“Do you know who it is?” My dad’s tone is demanding and his face matches.
“Let her finish, Dave.” Mum nudges him.
I look down at the napkin I didn’t realize I was pulling to pieces, knot both of my hands together and place them on my lap.
“Then, the emails became more frequent and I started getting funny phone calls. When I went over to America to visit Matt he turned his attention to Hannah, she also started receiving calls and emails. She started waking up to banging on the door in the middle of the night and when she went out she thought she was being followed and then she did see a black car following her.” I gulp. I realize how scary it all is when I am telling them. How dangerous the situation is.
I feel Matt’s hand cover my hands which are still in a ball on my lap. I look over to him and he nods at me to continue. I turn to face my parents, both of their faces filled with despair.
“When I returned home, the stalker returned his attention back to me. The calls and emails continued. Earlier this week Matt treated me and Han to a spa day at Seaham Hall and he received pictures of us. The stalker had followed us!” I wipe the tears away which are forming in the corners of my eyes. “Now he has followed us here.”
“Do you know who it is?” Dad asks again, his voice calmer than the first time he asked. But I can still see the emotion in his face. I shake my head.
“I assume it’s a man who’s taken a fancy to me...from what some of the messages have said,” I whisper, hoping Dad doesn’t ask for details.
Mum is crying and I know she is scared for me. I am scared for me.
“Have you contacted the police?” Dad asks again.
“Yes, we contacted them but they wouldn’t do anything as they aren’t direct threats, my life isn’t threatened.” I explain.
“Yeah for how long?” Dad asks and I gulp. “Do you have any idea who it is?”
I shake my head. “I thought it may have been Darren at first, but he got arrested when he turned up at my office-“
My mum’s mouth drops open, “Darren came to your office?” and I instantly remember that I did not tell them about that day and I now know why.
“That bastard.” My dad mutters his eyes focused on the table, he is annoyed.
“Yeah, he came by and demanded that I give him what was his – my money and my company.” I shake my head. “He threw a stapler at my head and I had a small bruise for a little while, but security came just in time and got the police.”
Matt stays silent beside me but I know he is listening to my every word intently. I tangle my fingers between his so we are holding hands.
“I’ll kill him when I get my hands--“My dad growls, his eyes still staring at nothing in particular on the table.
“Dave, calm down.” My mother’s voice is soothing.
“I don’t know who it could be.” I ponder. Then it hits me. I turn to face Matt. “William, I think it could be William!”
His eyes look at me intently as if he is thinking it through and he nods. “I think you could be right, Case.”
“Who is William?” My mum asks.
“His mum used to work for me and he has a major crush on me. Always has. He constantly came round to my office asking me to go on dates with him and he never took the hint that I wasn’t interested. He called by the other day with a gift for me – a necklace. I declined and when Matt walked in he ran off.” It all makes sense.
“We just need proof that it’s him Case.” Matt’s tone is low.
The young waiter returns and Matt being the gentleman that he is settles the entire bill. We all ride back to my parent’s house in silence. All lost in thought and I am thinking on how I can catch William out.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Casey
When I wake up the next morning I can’t help but smile as I realize there are two fingers between my legs rubbing the fabric of my panties making me hot and aroused. A perfect wake up call.
“Good morning.” I flash Matt a sleepy smile, my voice breathy.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” He kisses my neck whilst his fingers circle and press.
“I like morning sex.” I say in my sexiest voice, but really it sounds like I am a heavy smoker. I feel Matt’s chest rise as he chuckles.
“This isn’t sex.” He points out. “This is.” He says as he pushes two fingers inside my panties and
inside of me. The fabric restricting him, I open my legs wider hoping for deeper penetration.
He continues to stroke inside of me until he finds the spot which makes me moan.
“Ahh there it is.” He laughs lightly.
My hips thrust against his hand and I want more.
“Not yet,” he whispers, I want to save it for later and I am disappointed. How can he get me so worked up and not fuck me?
He climbs up onto his knees and slides my panties off down my legs and throws them to the floor. He bends my knees and pushes them apart.
And his tongue is where his fingers were moments ago, circling my clit before dipping inside of me and I stifle back a moan suddenly aware my mum and dad’s bedroom is across the hall, hoping that they can’t hear what is going on, hoping that they don’t know what Matt is doing to me. If they did, breakfast this morning would be quite awkward.
Matt’s tongue circles my clit as his fingers push inside me faster and faster. The tension makes me tip my head back, dig my nails into the mattress and makes my toes curl.
The orgasm crashes through me in huge waves. Matt holds my legs in place and continues to run his tongue over me.
He stops and sits and looks at me.
“How was that?” He looks down at me with amusement.
“Amazing.” Is all I can manage.
His grin widens and he lays beside me, pulling me into his arms.
“What about you?” I ask.
“Oh I’ll get my pleasure later, sweetheart.” He runs his tongue across his lip. “I can still taste you, you taste so sweet, and I don’t think I will ever be able to have enough of you Casey.”
His words are amazing, but I feel dirty. My cheeks flush and he senses my embarrassment and laughs.
I am exhausted from my orgasm, so we decide to go back to sleep for a little while. Wrapped in each other’s arms.
Chapter Thirty-eight
Casey
We arrive home late Sunday night; we ended up having a lazy day at my parents and watched some TV with them before packing to come home. Dad told Matt he will show him his projects another time, I know he was secretly disappointed he didn’t get to show it to him, I can tell he really likes Matt. We were planning on spending the day with them and enjoying the little time we had bonding with them. But now we know my stalker is in the area we decided we should lay low and head home once it gets dark.
Hannah decided to stay an extra few days. I know she’s enjoying herself spending time with Andrew and I can see there is definitely a romance blossoming between the two. They make the cutest couple. Andrew watches Hannah’s every movement like a hawk, and he looks at her so lovingly.
Matt makes his way straight up the stairs and I head to the kitchen to make us both a cup of tea and a few slices of toast which I carry upstairs on a tray and place on our bed.
He exits the en-suite bathroom with a slight smile on his face. “Your bath is ready.”
“Thank you, I have made us some supper.” I glance in the direction of the tray and he sits on his side of the bed.
“Oh I almost forgot! I haven’t checked my phone.” I reach to the bedside cabinet and open the drawer where my phone had been kept and switch it on.
There are over fifteen unread messages – a few from Sasha asking how I am, one off my mum asking me to let her know once we arrive home and the rest from the same number taunting me.
You look lovely today. Jeans suit you.
Don’t ignore me Casey, you will make me mad.
Answer me back.
Why won’t you answer me, I have sent you loads of messages now and you never answer me.
Now I am really mad I warned you. You stupid slut.
Hope you enjoy yourself in Saltburn. I’ll be watching.
Did you enjoy your champagne? I bought it especially for you.
Why didn’t you drink your champagne you ungrateful bitch!!!!!!
Julie misses you.
My eyes flit to Matt. “William has got Julie!” I whine.
~~~~~
Matt
Casey has paced the bedroom floor for the past twenty minutes. My eyes following her every movement. I asked her to sit but she won’t. She wants to catch William. She wanted to call the police but without proof they won’t act.
“I know what I need to do!” her voice is loud and eyes wide with realization.
I look at her questioningly.
“Tomorrow, once I am back at work I will contact William to come and see me, I will act extremely nice and pretend I am interested in him. I’ll keep him there for a while and we will see if I get any texts, emails or calls whilst he is there. If not, I will know he is the one behind it all.” She says her face straight, eyes still wide.
I nod. It is a good idea, it just might work. It won’t prove for certain that it is William, but it might rule him out as a suspect. But how will I know she is safe?
What if William is the stalker, from his messages he seems quite disturbed. What if he hurts her?
“And what if appears that William is the person behind the stalking?” I ask her.
She sits down on the bed beside me. “Then I can tell the police.”
“And what if he tries to hurt you?”
“I’m going to make sure Graham and the rest of the security team know what I am doing. I will tell them to check on me regularly and Michelle will be at work so I will get her to pop in occasionally.”
It takes me a few moments to realize who she is talking about and I realize she is the assistant who made the pass at me. Slut.
“Okay and what about me?” I ask.
“In the nicest possible way, I want you to stay away; you scared him off last time and for Julie’s sake I can’t afford for that to happen again.” She smiles sincerely and I know she isn’t trying to sound like a bitch, Casey isn’t a bitch. I pull her onto my lap and tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. I kiss her on the cheek.
“Okay, but I won’t be far. I just have to know you are safe.” I say against her face.
She nods, “I will.”
I know she believes it, but I intend to see to it.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Casey
My fingers are tapping away on my desk.
I'm nervous and I can't concentrate. I hope everything goes to plan.
I made sure I wore a white low cut blouse with my navy trouser suit. I need to make William feel like I really want him.
I need to catch the fucker out so I can save Julie from wherever the psychopath has been keeping her.
I need to find out what he wants from me and what will make him leave me, my family and friends alone. For good.
Michelle enters my office wearing a short dress that doesn't leave much to the imagination - her breasts are on show for the whole world to see. No wonder the majority of the men in the business fancy her. She's quite the floozy.
"Hi Casey." She smiles.
"Hi Michelle. Did you manage to contact William Smith?" I question, urgency in my voice.
"Yeah - he said he will call by as soon as he can."
"Brilliant. Can you work on the desk outside of my office today? With Hannah being away until later tonight I really need an Assistant to take my calls and deal with any visitors whilst I'm busy with William." I lie; I really want her to sit outside the door so she can hear if I scream.
Her eyes widen as if I have given her some kind of promotion. "Of course I will." She grins and turns to walk away.
My first text from the stalker alerts me.
Casey? Don't you care about Julie? You selfish bitch.
I can't help myself, so I text back -
I will speak to you soon. Don't you worry about that.
The time seems to drag. I don't get a reply back; I assume that is because William will be travelling to my office. So many questions are running around inside my head I am starting to give myself a headache. I take a sip of my water and sit back in my chair.
There’s a kno
ck on my door and my phone beeps at the same time.
"Come in," I call out whilst looking at my phone.
The message is off the stalker.
I look forward to it. Can we speak in person?
I shake my head; the ass is trying to play mind games with me. I'll play them back.
Of course. Soon?
I put my phone in my drawer and I look up to see William standing in the doorway, his geeky smile. "Hi Casey." is all he says.
"Please take a seat William." I put on my best fake smile; all I want to do is slap him for what he has put us all through the past month or so. He sits and grins at me. "How are you?" I ask.
"I'm great thank you Casey. How are you?" How am I? I am fucking sick of all of your shit William and I want you to stop and if you don't stop I am going to strangle you.
"I'm good." Is all I settle with. Calm down, Casey, keep your cool or you are going to mess up big time. I take a deep breath.
"So why did you ask me here today?" He smiles again, what a creep. I hear my phone beep to announce a new message, I assume it is off Matt, I told him I would text him to update him but I haven't had chance this morning, my mind has been preoccupied.
"I thought about everything you have said to me. Let's just say I have changed my mind about you. I have realized what I am missing out on after all." I am getting good at lying lately.
"I-I thought you had a boyfriend?" He stutters in disbelief.
I shake my head. "Things didn't work between us."
"So you are willing to let me take you out?" A huge grin takes over his face, his eyes twinkling. I have to remind myself that this is a grown man I am speaking to and not a young boy. The way he acts and dresses one would assume he wasn't over the age of sixteen.
"Yes." Is all I give him. I feel sick but flash my 'flirting' smile and flutter my eye lashes a couple times.
He lets out a huge cheer which makes me jump out of my skin.
"About time Casey. I knew we were always destined to be together! Wait until I tell mother, she will be so happy." He announces.
I smile and I hear my phone beep again. Poor Matt will be worrying like mad because I haven't text him.
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