by V, Krissy
“Ok stop! Get that picture out of your mind, I can't talk to you if you start picturing things like that” Go on Tasha, just say it to him!
“Sorry Tasha but to me you look like an angel sent down to tempt me”
What can I say to that. I don't know how to respond. Should I really be encouraging him to send me these messages. On the other hand it makes me feel better and puts a smile on my face.
“Tasha sorry did I scare you by saying that. I promise to restrain myself, please talk to me”
“Caleb you embarrassed me there and I was thinking maybe I shouldn't encourage you, maybe you shouldn’t be sending me messages, but they make me feel good and you make me smile.”
“Tasha you've made me a very happy man. I hope you realise that. I know I shouldn’t be texting you, I know you have problems at home, but you feel like a part of me and I need to know you are ok!”
"Tasha are you awake?" I hear Mum calling me.
“I'm blushing now and my Mum is calling for me. I'll talk to you later Caleb. Enjoy your day!”
“I'd enjoy it more if I could have coffee with you!”
“Soon, when I'm back at work, I promise :-)”
“I'll hold you to that Tasha ;-)”
I get out of bed, delete his messages, put my phone in my pocket and walk down the stairs.
During breakfast Mum asks if I want to go shopping today, just for a walk and bit of exercise. I say yeah and we get dressed and go off into the City.
We've been in the city for a couple of hours when I need to sit down so I suggest we go for lunch at TGI's, Mum agrees and we walk over to the restaurant. We have to pass the building where I had my interview on Tuesday, where I had a breakdown afterwards. "Mum that's where I went for my interview on Tuesday I'd love to work there."
"Well Tasha you've always gone after what you want and succeeded so I don't see any difference this time" she says looking up and down the building.
As we walk past I see the car that was outside on Tuesday morning when Mr. Handsome was staring at me. I wonder if he's in the car? A little shiver goes down my spine as I see the door open and a pair of legs come out of the car.
I can see him side on and I have to stop and just look at him, he's gorgeous. Mum looks at me "Tasha stop staring, then again I can see why you are, he's hot!"
I laugh out loud and he turns towards me at the sound of my laughter. He stops and smiles at me. Once again I find it hard to breathe, it’s like time stands still and I’ve forgotten everything except HIM. I shake my head to get those kind of thoughts out of my head, he then nods his head and walks into the building. I wonder if he is the CEO for the Company I want to work in. Wow! Now that would make every day interesting.
I look at Mum and she's stood there with her mouth open, I put my finger under her chin and close her mouth and I start laughing. I reach out and link arms with her as we walk towards the restaurant. "Did you see the way he looked at you Tasha? I hope he hadn't just had lunch because he looked hungry enough to eat you up. You still got it girl" she says laughing.
When we arrive at the restaurant my phone signals a text. After asking for a table for two I check my phone. It's Caleb!
“I see you are feeling better today Angel. I'm sure I just saw you in town with another gorgeous woman. Hope you're treating yourself, if not then you should. You've had a tough week. Wish I could have stopped to say hello, but I know you're not ready for that.”
What!!! He saw me, I can't even remember 100% what he looks like, the memory of him was erased after falling down the stairs. Damn now I'm frustrated.
“Where did you see me?” Maybe I can work this out by process of elimination.
“Ah now that would be telling lol. You'll have to work harder than that to find out”
God he's frustrating, but I like his challenge.
“I know you're that fat, ugly man standing on the corner with the “All you can eat” buffet sign!”
Hope that doesn't piss him off, but he deserves that!
“Ha ha I nearly fell of my chair laughing there Tasha, you are so wrong! Maybe I'm in TGI's looking at you!”
What? He's here? Where? I look around me and there's not a man on his own and no one’s texting on their phone. Is he a creep? Spying on me – I need to ask him.
“Should I be freaked that you know where I'm eating lunch? I looked around and there's no one in here that I remember bumping into. Maybe you're just forgettable! ;-)”
“Oh now they're fighting words. I am a little disappointed that you don't remember me I will admit that, but it means I can talk to you and you can get to know ME and not what I look like”
Now I'm intrigued even more. I'm smiling at my phone when Mum clears her throat "Is that Felix, he's certainly put a smile on your face"
I just look at her blankly and then I fire a text off to Felix to tell him where we are if he we wants to meet us. "Yes I was just asking if he wants to meet us for lunch" my phone beeps again and Felix says he's on his way over. "He's coming now". I feel a bit guilty that she thinks I’m texting Felix, but she wouldn’t understand what’s happening at the moment. I need someone to talk to that will listen to me moaning and not tell me that I’m imagining it.
Mum smiles, I know she loves Felix and I could never disappoint her and tell her what he has been doing recently, it would break her heart.
I smile back at her and I hear my phone beep. I quickly read my text.
“Tasha?”
“Sorry Caleb I have to go, I like what I've learnt so far, although you sound a bit like a stalker because you keep seeing me and I don't see you - only joking ;-)”
I delete his messages and then turn my phone onto silent so it won't disturb me during lunch.
I see Felix walking into the restaurant as I put my phone back into my pocket. I go to stand to greet him but he holds his hands out to say no. "Hey babe how are you feeling. I was delighted you text me to meet for lunch. Thanks" he kisses me on the forehead.
"Hi Jean, you managed to drag her out, well done" he sits down next to me and opposite my Mum.
We order lunch and talk about what we bought and what we are doing this afternoon. Mum and I have decided to go to the cinema to watch a film. It doesn't matter what's on, we just want to see something. Before we know it lunch is over, Felix pays and then goes back to work. Me and Mum link arms and walk down to the Odeon Cinema to see what is showing. They are showing The Internship with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, so we decide to go in and watch it. It was so funny, we laughed all afternoon.
When we get home later that evening, we collapse on the couch because it was such a busy day. We had fun today, it's been a long time since we did anything together like that. I really enjoyed my day.
Chapter 15
FELIX RINGS ME ON his way home to tell me he has a black tie event with work tonight and he wants me to go with him. God I wished he'd said at lunch time, I could have had my hair and make up done while I was out. I know I have to be careful about what I wear because of my bruises. Mum comes upstairs to help me choose a dress, we try a few on, she has to help me because it's a little painful bending and lifting my arms. The one we both like is a bright royal blue with lace insets just above my waist and on the back as a panel. It's gathered slightly on my hips. I love it, it's one of my favourites, I put some black high heeled pumps with it, a plain single diamond necklace and diamond earrings.
My Mum helps me to do my long red hair, she curls it and let's it cascade down my back.
I look in the mirror and smile, I look amazing and I feel a million dollars. Mum says "sweetheart you look fabulous, Felix will be so proud" I lose a bit of my smile. I hope he likes it, maybe he won't want me to wear this, he doesn't seem to like me showing myself off recently.
Too late to rethink. I can hear him coming up the stairs. "Tasha, Jean where are you?"
"In here Felix" I shout holding my breath because I hope he likes it and doesn't say anything derogatory in front of Mum.
He opens the door and walks in and stops dead "Wow! Tasha you look beautiful, I'll have to keep my eye on you tonight" he chuckles but I know he doesn't really find it funny.
"Just remember Felix you'll be the one taking her home tonight not anyone else" she smiles at him and he smiles back.
"I'm very lucky Jean, very lucky! Now both of you out because I need to get changed so we can go.” He says indicating the door.
We walk out and down the stairs. I take some painkillers because I'm in a little pain with the high heels on, but it should pass. We stand in the kitchen talking and I remember my phone in my bag. I take it out and am slightly disappointed not to have any new messages from Caleb. I put my phone into my evening bag and don't turn the sound back on.
Felix comes down and we go off to the function, which is in the Bristol Marriott Hotel. It's very upmarket and I can't wait to see inside. We pull up to reception and Felix hands the valet the car keys. Wow this is posh!
We walk into the function room and it's full of people, both men and women. I look around to see if I recognise anyone from work, I can see Peter Frost, our CEO with his wife; Mary Dwyer, our HR Manager and her husband. At least I know some people. As I'm looking around I notice a man staring at me, he's so familiar looking but I can't quite place him. I don't think he works in our company though. I'll have another sneaky look later and see if I can place him.
I hope I don’t bump into one of the people who interviewed me, I’d like to think that if I do, they will realise I’m here with work and they won’t say anything. We walk around and find out where we are sitting for dinner, we are with the others from work and two other couples.
When we sit down to dinner, Felix pulls out the chair for me to sit down, I look up at him and smile, he is being very attentive tonight. We talk to the others around the table as the starter and main course are served. When it comes to dessert I excuse myself from the table and find the ladies room. When I’m in there I take my phone out of my bag to check in with Mum, I didn’t really want to leave her at home on her own, but she couldn’t come with us. I see I have a text from Caleb waiting for me.
“I thought I saw an Angel tonight wearing a beautiful blue colour?”
What?? Does that mean he is here at the function? Now I’m curious, I want to know what he looks like, or do I? I see the message came through not long after we walked into the function room. I know I will be looking at everyone to see if they are Caleb.
“Now you have intrigued me Caleb. I didn’t think I wanted to know what you looked like or who you are, but knowing you are in the room with me changes everything”
“Really!! I didn’t think it would change anything for you. Is that your husband with you? I’m finding it hard not to come over and talk to you and introduce myself. I’d find it harder not to punch him for treating you the way he does”
“How cavalier Caleb!”
“I know, I never experience these feelings and it’s very strange Tasha. I would like nothing more than to introduce myself, however, I don’t think you really want to yet!”
“True, you know me already! However, I would like a clue, I’m going to be checking all the men out to see if I can work out who you are”
“Oooh now who has fighting talk lol. See you on the dance floor Tasha”
After deleting my messages, I speak to Mum, she says she is going to go to bed and will make sure I get up to go for my appointment in the morning, then I go back to our table and join Felix. I find myself looking around the room looking for Caleb, it’s quite frustrating that I don’t know what he looks like! Then again it is fun!
When I sit down at the table I tell Felix that I have been talking to Mum just in case he wonders why I took so long, he smiles at me and turns to continue talking to Peter.
I eat my dessert and find my eyes still looking around, but no one is looking at me so I can’t work it out. After coffee, Felix asks me to dance with him, I say that I will but he has to be careful of my ribs. He smiles and puts out his hand to help pull me up. I wince slightly, my tablets must be wearing off, I’ll take some more after we have danced.
We go over to the dance floor and Felix pulls me into him and puts his hand onto the lower part of my back and then holds my hand with his other hand. We glide around the dance floor, I’m glad we had lessons to learn to dance properly for our wedding, we work very well together and I concentrate on Felix. He is smiling down at me, when he twirls me around. The pain cuts through me and I make a small scream, Felix pulls me close to him “Don’t make a scene Tasha” he whispers in my ear as we continue to dance.
“Felix, that really hurt I need to sit down, I need to take some tablets, please”
“Tasha stop making a scene it was only a small twirl for gods sake” he moans in my ear. I can feel the tears welling in my eyes and I know they are going to overflow onto my face soon if I don’t get some control back. I start to pull away from him and he quickly pulls me back. “Tasha, I’m warning you, I will drag you away from here kicking and screaming if you fight me” he says.
“Felix please, I’m begging you! I think I’ll pass out if I can’t sit down and take some tablets” I’m leaning against him and he’s moving me around the dance floor. After about 5 minutes which actually seemed like 20 minutes, he stops dancing and pulls me back to the dinner table. I excuse myself to go to the ladies room because I know I need to cry and I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me.
The ladies room is full so I go into the disabled toilet cubicle and lock the door and sit on the toilet and sob. I take my pain killers, so that they can start kicking in straight away. While I’m sitting on the toilet I start thinking about Felix and why is my life turning into a bad soap opera? I always thought that these kind of things wouldn’t happen to me! How did this perfect life turn into a nightmare?
When I’ve stopped sobbing I hear a small knock on the door “Just a minute, I’ll be just a minute” I say wiping my face and making sure my make up is straight.
“Tasha is that you in there? Are you ok? I saw what happened, it’s me, Caleb.” I’d know his voice anywhere after only hearing it a few times.
“Yeah it’s me, I’m hurting so bad physically and also emotionally, why me? I’ve never done anything to hurt anyone ever, I’m not a bad person Caleb.”
“I don’t know why Tasha, I can’t help you with that. Is there anything I can get now to help you. I want to just come in and hug you, but I know that won’t make it any better” he’s whispering at the door. His voice sounds like melted chocolate and under other circumstances I’m sure I’d be melting too. “I’ll wait for you to come out if you want me to, but I think your husband is looking for you. I’m going to go but I will be keeping an eye on you ok!” and with that he leaves.
I feel slightly better that someone else saw what happened and it’s not just in my imagination. After a couple of minutes I check myself in the mirror once again and walk out of the toilet. As I’m walking back to the table I see Felix walking towards me. I smile to let him know I’m coming back to the table, but he doesn’t look happy. What now?
“We’re leaving Tasha, we’ve been dealing with a client and he just approached Peter and told him that he wasn’t going to be dealing with us in future. That’s a big contract that I had been working on for months, down the drain. No reason, no nothing. Peter is not a happy man! So we are going home. You can drive, I’ve had a drink!” he is furious.
He pulls me into the lift after him and he can’t even look at me. “I didn’t get chance to say goodbye Felix” I say.
“Don’t worry they were too engrossed in a conversation with Mr. Hunt to be bothered whether you said goodbye or not” he sneers at me. I decide at this point to just go along with anything he says. We walk through reception and out to the valet, who collects our car when we hand him the ticket. We get into the car and I drive home in silence, it was such a lovely evening and then it was spoilt for two reasons, one Felix and t
wo his client. It really hurts for me to drive the car, because I have to keep twisting to see behind me.
When we get back to the house, I remind Felix that Mum is asleep in the house and we go off to bed. I hope he doesn’t touch me tonight, I don’t think I can take his anger tonight! I have to ask him to undo my zip so that I can step out of my dress. I have lacey matching underwear underneath and I hope he doesn’t get turned on when he sees it. Thankfully, he seems to be in such a bad mood he doesn’t even notice. I put my nightdress on and climb into bed and lie facing the wall, I can feel myself drifting off to sleep when I feel the bed move as Felix gets into it. I can feel myself holding my breath in case he moves onto my side of the bed, he doesn’t “Goodnight Tasha, you looked beautiful tonight, I’m sorry” and then he goes silent. There are silent tears running down my cheeks, I didn’t think I had any tears left.
Chapter 16
AGAIN, I WAKE AFTER Felix has gone to work, my head is hurting from all the crying. I don’t know what to do! I don’t understand what is happening with my marriage, I don’t know whether to say something to Mum or not. I’m really torn because I tell my Mum everything and I never hide anything from her, but I just don’t think she would believe me. That would hurt the most, if she didn’t believe me! She’d probably think I was being a drama queen or something. So I decide not to say anything!