Through the Dark Keyhole

by Rosalyn Richardson

  His slim figure was clad in a crisp grey suit and a shining white shirt with a sky-blue tie. His feet were encased in expensive leather loafers, which looked as though they came from the Bally Score range that I had heard about, which were usually over £600 a pair. He was clearly dressed to impress his clients.

  As our hands touched, they felt like velvet, and his fingers were like those of a piano player; long and slim and manicured. What a comparison to Andrew’s fingers which had been like thick pork sausages and always seemed to smell of the farm; probably because he refused to wear work gloves and never seemed to wash them properly.

  I chided myself in my thoughts as I was sure that there was an electric shock as our hands touched, and that teasing smile as Neil Garside introduced himself to me that made my legs tremble.

  Mr Myers ushered me into the communal kitchen and laid out the relevant paperwork and the agreement on the table.

  Mr Garside suddenly appeared and offered to make Mr Myers and me a drink. We both politely declined, as we both had limited time.

  Mr Myers asked me a few final questions about the start date of the lease and what I was going to call my company. He also explained that I would need to give them a month’s notice if I decided to leave. It was agreed that the lease would start on the first of July. I had decided to call my company Ryedale Secretarial Services.

  I had a feeling that Neil Garside had been listening to our conversation as he suddenly came back into the kitchen and commented. “That’s a first, and we could do with a secretarial business up here. Just let me know if you need anything. I’ll be happy to help. I look forward to getting to know you.”

  I temporarily let my mind wander, as I mused, Was Mr Garside by any chance, loitering with intent and being nosey? I certainly hoped.

  With that he smiled, and was gone.

  Mr Myers gave a wry but knowing smile. I was, in time to come, to find out that Mr Garside had certainly built up a reputation and had made his mark in many places.

  Chapter Six

  Jayne and Tom were brilliant. They came up before the end of the week with little Callum. They contributed many accessories to my new office, even a new kettle, a tea and coffee-making machine, along with cups and cutlery and a two-seater settee for visitors.

  I had arranged with a telephone company to connect my extension to the existing landline and was all set up for the first of July.

  I spent the rest of the week getting business cards printed and a modest sign to put on my new office door.

  I thought that I would ‘kill two birds with one stone’ and pick up my orders from Gavin the printers and visit my parents. That was no mean feat and one more of duty than pleasure.

  As I parked outside my parent’s house, I gave a huge sigh in apprehension and mentally braced myself for their expected derogative remarks about my new business plans. I had totally gone against their planned future for me, and being a business woman was certainly not one of them.

  Mother and Father were pleased to see me and at first made me quite welcome with tea and homemade cake. However, it did not take them long at all to suddenly bombard me with gossip, regarding the members of their religious community, and especially the ones I had previously known. I desperately tried to look mildly engaged with their conversation, but the strain was too great.

  Suddenly, the tone and the subject changed and fingers were pointing at me. My mother began to tell me in a simpering way, that there were so many who were missing me and asking when they would see me again. May I just add, these so called “friends” were only friends when you were attending their church, but once you stopped, you were passed in the street without even an acknowledgement.

  At an appropriate and opportune gap in my mother’s spiel, I began to tell them my news.

  “Anyway”, I started, “I thought you might like to know that I have handed my notice in at the employment agency and I am in the process of setting up my own business, a secretarial one. My office is on a Business Park. Gavin from the printers is helping me with the advertising,” I finished excitedly.

  A painful silence ensued. Even though it was what I had expected of them, a tiny part of me still had a particle of hope that my parents would take some pride in me, like most parents would in their offspring’s achievements. No way, this was devout Ron and Martha Cunningham, pillars of the church.

  Then the bullet of anger was fired at me by my father as he said, “Have you totally lost it? It’s all pie in the sky with you. You embarrassed us by leaving Andrew – you know marriage is for life, and then you go on some hair-brained scheme of setting up your own business.”

  With that, my father did his usual exit performance and slammed the door on his way out.

  My mother’s response was far from motherly. She shot a cold glare at me. “Now look what you’ve done. You just can’t resist upsetting your father, can you?” she asked rhetorically.

  Then her face softened a little, and her expression turned to her famous “doe-eyed” look.

  “Come back home Tash. We miss you so much.” Then came the sympathy quest. “Life’s been so difficult, what with losing your brother and then losing you to the “world” out there, with all the bad associations that have taken you away from us.”

  “Mother,” I began firmly, “I loved my brother too and I think of him a lot of the time, but yes! life can be cruel, but life also goes on and we have to learn to cope along the way. What is that expression that you always used to quote to me in my younger years when things didn’t go right? ‘It’s all a part of life’s rich tapestry’.” I carried on, despite her scowl. “Well I’ve had enough of that tapestry. I’m a grown up now and I’m allowed to make my own mistakes and learn from them. I’m sorry I can’t be what you want me to be, but you need to accept that I’ve made my own choice.”

  Her expression became angry as she said, “Well, don’t come crying to us and remember, we won’t be funding any of this nonsense of yours!”

  “Mother, I don’t need your money. I came today to visit my parents, but you are even more like strangers than you were before. I’ll keep in touch, and I do still care about you both.” I gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek and made my way out of the door. Walking back to my car and walking on to my new exciting life and career.

  Chapter Seven

  I picked up my business cards and a sign for my office door from Gavin.

  I went to Ryedale over the weekend and began putting the finishing touches to the office. I half expected to see Neil Garside’s Bentley in the car park, considering he had said that he worked 24/7, but it wasn’t.

  I momentarily became carried away with my thoughts, such as, wondering if he had a partner and a family and what sort of house he lived in and whether it matched his Bentley, such as a mansion, I mused to myself.

  The weekend seems to drag and I became very restless. Jayne and Tom had gone away for the weekend to her mum’s in Suffolk, and even my elderly lady friends seemed busy. They were probably helping run the local church fete.

  I took myself off to the cinema. I had picked the best of an unexciting list of films and left halfway before I fell asleep.

  I went to electrical wholesalers not far away and splashed out on a new laptop along with a printer, all ready for the launch.

  At last Monday first July came. Excitedly, I made my way to my new office. I’d had an announcement and an advertisement in three of the local papers and details of my grand new opening. I was aware that starting from scratch and that it was going to be a slow process but nevertheless I had a good feeling about it.

  I arrived at Ryedale, and for some strange reason my heart sank as I pulled into the office car park and didn’t catch sight of the Bentley. I mentally scolded myself. I was fantasizing about a man I had only met once and with no rhyme or reason to have any feelings for.

  As I passed a few of my neighbouring workers, I introduced myself and made sure each of them had one of my business cards.

  Jo
e, one of the directors of the accountants, encouragingly commented that he and his brother, Tim, might well need some of my skills. Their clientele were mostly farmers from the Dales and needed their accounts typed up. Joe also offered to tout for business for me.

  The following morning Tim knocked on my office door with a couple of files. “Please could you set up a couple of new files and print them for me when you are done?”

  “I’d be delighted to,” I responded smiling.

  “Are you managing to settle in a bit now and getting to know the motley crew in the business park?” Tim said laughing.

  “Yes,” I said hesitantly, and then I decided to bite the bullet. “I’ve managed to speak to most of the people here. I only met Mr Garside briefly when I came in to sign my contract the other week, but I haven’t seen him since.” Trying to sound light hearted.

  “Oh, you mean Neil? He’s a free spirit is our Neil, in more than one sense. He can run his business from his computer and mobile. He can be anywhere in or out the country. You watch it, Neil will be getting you to take more than his notes down before you know it,” Tim said with a cheeky grin and naïve as I was, I realised this remark had a suggestive ring to it. I felt my face redden, and as a blush emerged, I quickly turned to avoid Tim from noticing.

  As Tim closed my office door, my mind wandered. Neil eh? I will have to get to know this intriguing man but when?

  Chapter Eight

  I had been in my office now for two weeks and work was steadily, albeit slowly, coming in, beginning to build up my new customer list. Gavin’s advert had certainly helped.

  I beavered away at my desk until lunchtime, when the desire to sit outside in the office grounds at the back of the kitchen, got the better of me. Just adjacent to the kitchen back door was a low wooden platform with two picnic tables on it, and four easy garden chairs.

  Opening the small fridge, I picked up the salad box that I had made earlier and a bottle of sparkling water.

  As I ate my lunch, I gazed across at the view of the Dales and the farmers hard at work. They were grabbing every opportunity to complete their haymaking in the glorious sunshine, with the fields turning from rich green to straw coloured, in relatively quick succession.

  The atmosphere, my lunch now busy digesting, and the warmth of the sun made me feel completely relaxed and I must have dozed off.

  When I awoke, there sat Neil Garside opposite me. His long legs were stretched out and his hands were clasped together behind him, supporting his head which was slightly tilted back on the chair. He had his sunglasses on and he looked positively sexy with his cheeky smile. I jumped.

  “Sorry to disturb you Miss Cunningham, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to sit opposite you. I didn’t mean to startle you though.”

  “That’s okay, Mr Garside,” I replied, at the same time I was desperately anticipating what he was going to say next.

  “Please call me Neil – and your first name is?” he asked, prompting me.

  “Natasha,” I replied.

  “What a lovely name,” he complimented.

  “Thank you,” I said, thinking that this was probably his usual answer to a woman.

  “Well, it’s good to stop the world, as it were, and enjoy a few minutes in this glorious sunshine, especially with an attractive young woman for company,” he said teasingly.

  I tried not to blush as usual and concentrated on my next sentence. I made sure not to respond to his “easy off the tongue” compliment, and I just carried on in my usual manner.

  “Joe and Tim said that you were busy and must have been away,” I said.

  “Oh, did they now eh? I bet that’s not the only thing that they said,” he replied, amused.

  He obviously knew of the digs that they made about him. He quickly changed the conversation.

  “Yes, I was in China this time,” he continued.

  He went on to tell me a little about his furniture restoration business and how his business had grown to such an extent that his company wasn’t just number one in the country, but was rapidly extending to other countries.

  He had no idea of how I had longed to speak to him. To know a little more about him and the disappointment I had endured each day when his limousine wasn’t in the car park, I thought to myself. However, my response was controlled despite my inner thoughts,

  “That’s a country that I’ve never been to,” I replied.

  To my surprise his reply was, “Well, we’ll have to remedy that won’t we?” He laughed as my jaw dropped at his remark.

  He dug inside his inside pocket and pulled out a business card. “Here,” he said. “My mobile number is on the back. You can call me anytime. Could I have your business card in return?”

  Part of me felt outraged at his forwardness, but the real me savoured the suggestion. I handed him my card. He gave me his enigmatic smile and then he excused himself, saying that he needed to go through his mail. When he left, I felt suddenly lost.

  I made my way back to my office. I felt dazed. I heard my office telephone ringing. “Ryedale Secretarial, how may I help you?” I answered as professionally as I could.

  Then a familiar voice answered, “Please let me take you out to lunch tomorrow? Somewhere special, not far from here.”

  I flustered at first and then I tried to sound as professional as possible as I replied, “I’ll have to check my appointments for tomorrow.” I randomly flicked through the pages of my diary as if I was struggling for time. I’m sure that I heard Neil chuckle as if he knew what I was busy doing.

  “Yes, that will be fine for tomorrow,” I said, still trying to keep up my professional air.

  “Brilliant, shall we meet in the office car park at twelve p.m. then?” Neil suggested.

  “Yes, will do,” I uttered, my head was spinning and reeling.

  I arrived back home. Food wasn’t on my mind, so I just settled for two slices of toast and a cup of tea.

  I proceeded to take almost every outfit of clothing that I had out of my wardrobe.

  I decided on a lemon coloured halter neck dress with a crisp white bolero jacket, accompanied by three-inch-high heeled, white sandals. Um, summery but smart, I thought and nodded.

  I spent the rest of the evening relaxing in my expensive Chamomile bath therapy salts, with my Cedar wood aromatherapy candles burning all around the bathroom. The bath was relaxing. My thoughts began to drift and I imagined what my lunch with Neil Garside would be like.

  Eventually, I emerged from the water and put on my fluffy white dressing gown. I then began my ritual of moisturising my skin. I touched up of my spray tan and I painted my finger and toe nails.

  I poured myself a glass of mulled wine. As the warm herbal liquid hit my throat, my whole body tingled. Then it was off to bed for a good night’s sleep to be refreshed and ready for my new but longed-for experience. Who knew what tomorrow would bring!

  Chapter Nine

  The next morning, when I awoke, a sensation of butterflies began to rise in my stomach.

  I applied the final touches to my thick rich dark hair, applying straighteners until my hair hung sleekly around my shoulders. Looking in the mirror, I made sure that my makeup was as flawless as possible and that my green eyes were enhanced.

  Neil’s Bentley was already there when I arrived at the car park. I parked my tiny black Citroen next to it. My car seemed so minute in comparison to his.

  Armed, with my briefcase containing that morning’s work in one hand, and in the other, my white clutch bag for when it was time to go out to lunch, I got out of my car.

  As I passed the main entrance, Tim was on the doorstep having his morning coffee and soaking up another glorious summer’s morning.

  As he caught sight of me, he smiled cheekily and wolf whistled. Before I had chance to say anything, he quickly remarked, “So, Neil’s already luring you into his net. I’ll give him his due, he doesn’t hang about.”

  I gave a coy smile, “Don’t you think you’re jumping to
conclusions?” I asked.

  Tim replied, “I don’t need to.” He chuckled as he went back inside. I must admit that I was a bit ruffled by Tim’s throw-away comments. I hurried to my office.

  Work wasn’t on my mind and I accomplished very little that morning. I made a couple of phone calls, read and answered some emails. I started chuntered away to myself. I was ecstatic to be going out for lunch with Neil. The other half of me however was angry that I had let my guard down and allowed him to enter my life almost like a bulldozer. I didn’t know the first thing about him; yet, on the other hand, I so desperately wanted to be overwhelmed by him.

  My phone rang interrupting my thoughts, and I quickly glanced up at the office clock. It was eleven fifty-five p.m.

  “Ryedale Secretarial, may I help you?” I knew who it would be.

  “You certainly can. I’m outside in the car park, waiting to see Miss Cunningham,” Neil’s voice made my heart skip a beat.

  I gave a silent gasp as I came around the corner walking towards the car park. There stood Neil, leaning against his car. He was casually dressed, compared to the grey suit business attire that I was used to seeing him in. He wore black chinos and a white short sleeved sports tee shirt. He had his sunglasses on. He smiled gently as I approached.

  “By the way, please call me Natasha,” I said, a bit harshly.

  “But of course, Natasha,” Neil replied with a hint of amusement.

  He extended his hand, as if to shake mine. As I extended my hand, he gently kissed the back of it. The feel of his lips on my skin made feelings rise inside me that I found extraordinary.

  Neil opened the passenger door of the Bentley. I sank into the cream leather upholstery which was like a feather bed. The aroma of the leather was rich as it hit my nostrils.