‘Cordelia, I am gratified by the way things are going.’
‘I’m pretty pleased myself.’
‘So, what next?’
‘Well, I have had offers from some television shows. Now, we need to be careful not to choose the wrong ones. I am recommending Wake Up Britain! That’s broadcast really early but has a very high viewer rating. This Afternoon with Nancy Witter will be good for you as she’s really friendly. Then I think we’ll try Michael Martin Discusses, it’s a Jerry Springer-type show, it might be a bit boisterous, do you think Holly would agree to appear?’
‘Definitely not.’
‘Good, then you can get your views across without any difficulty. Then we’ve also had an offer for you to go on Keith Northam’s show, you know...the gay comic. It’s a very funny and highly popular show. He might take the piss a bit but I think you can handle him. Also that show has an evening slot, so by the time we’re finished everyone in the country will know who you are.’
‘Wow, I can’t believe it!’
‘This is only the tip of the iceberg, George. By the time I’ve finished, Holly will be crawling on her hands and knees to you begging you to take her back.’
‘But we were never together in the first place.’
‘You were, George, remember, for the purposes of this campaign you were. Now we are going to cram all this in pretty quickly. You’ll do two shows the day after tomorrow, then next Monday you do Michael and you’re doing Keith next Thursday evening. I think you can cope.’
‘So this is already arranged?’ I wasn’t sure that I liked her agreeing things without my say so.
‘Only provisionally, we don’t have time to mess around George, I’ve told you that enough times.’
‘Sorry. This is great. I’m certainly impressed.’
‘I’ll send Holly a schedule of your TV interviews. I’m toying with the idea of you doing some radio but we’ll see how the TV goes first.’
‘You’re the boss.’
‘George, have a good restful day tomorrow because you’re going to be busy. Busy, busy, busy.’
‘I will.’ I kissed Cordelia on the cheek and left to go home. Holly would soon be putty in my hands.
At home I read through the papers again, and for a fleeting moment felt bad. But then I pulled myself together. I was doing what I had to do. It had become my mantra. Doing what I had to do.
I made some notes for my forthcoming television appearances and I also looked up the shows on the Internet. I wanted to be prepared. Then I turned to the question of wardrobe. I didn’t want to look too flashy, I wanted to look smart and serious. My court suit would be perfect. I decided to address my television appearances the way I would address my court appearances. When I went to court, I always wore the same outfit. I had five identical suits, I had countless white shirts, and I used the same tie. Consistency. If you looked the same dependable you, other people unwittingly began to trust you. Not quite subliminal, more amateur psychology. So that would be what I would do on TV. I smiled as I realised that I could be very good at this.
The journalists I’d faced so far had all been so sympathetic that I wasn’t worried about the TV hosts. One female journalist had hit on me, I was sure of it. She said it was a crime for a man like me to be on my own and then she winked at me. Another said Holly must be crazy to turn me down. The male journalists sympathised as well. We guys must stick together. I was being encouraged and that reinforced my feelings that I was doing the right thing.
I ran my fingers through my hair and thought about getting it cut. But then I decided against it. I didn’t want to look too well-groomed, too clean-cut. Wearing a sharp suit and having my hair slightly messy would convey that I was upset by the situation; and I was.
OK, so there was an amount of calculation and a certain manipulation of public sympathy, but at the same time I was working for the greater good.
My mobile rang as I was contemplating my opening lines. ‘George Conway.’
‘George, it’s Clive.’
‘Clive, I’ve been meaning to call you to thank you for putting Cordelia in touch with me.’
‘I see by the tabloids that it’s working out.’
‘Well it seems to be. Of course Holly hasn’t capitulated yet but she will soon.’
‘George, be careful won’t you.’
‘Clive you are one of the most cautious bastards I know. Too long in the British legal system.’
‘I know, but Cordelia can be dangerous.’
‘What, in a mad axe-wielding sort of way?’
‘No, but I’ve dated her and believe me she’s got a ruthless streak.’
‘I’m sure, but she has to in her line of work. Anyway, why would she be doing this for me, for not much money, if she was so ruthless.’
‘I don’t know, but that’s what worries me.’
‘Clive, you’re not bitter because you broke up are you?’
‘We’re not all like you, George. I just want you to be careful.’
‘I appreciate your concern but I can look after myself.’
‘Bye.’ He hung up.
Clive wasn’t someone I was interested in now, he was way too cautious, but I was grateful to him for getting me and Cordelia together, even if he regretted it. It was hard to understand the feelings and motives of other people. No one but Cordelia was supporting me at the start, but now, the press were behind me. Clive could go to hell.
Straight away my mobile rang again, it was Cordelia.
‘George I’ve confirmed all those interviews and I’m biking round details as we speak. Also I’ve spoken to the papers, they’ve had very positive feedback so far, apparently the public have been sending e-mails in support of your plight. We’re winning.’
‘That’s all I need to hear.’ Clive was a fool, Cordelia was doing her absolute best. I had to trust her because she was all I had.
Chapter Twenty-five
My first appearance was on Wake Up Britain! which meant I had to get up in the middle of the night and travel to the studio in east London. There I was met by a lovely young lady called Sally and taken to make-up. I was a little taken aback but they said it was normal ‘so my nose didn’t shine under the studio lights’. I felt nervous, as I sipped at a coffee and waited for my turn on the sofa with Anton Harvey and Felicity Long, but I didn’t have long to wait.
‘Our second guest this morning is a man with an unusual story to tell. He actually took his childhood sweetheart to court to try to get her to marry him. Ladies and Gentleman...George Conway.’
My legs wobbled as I walked on to the set but I faced the camera, gave them a smile, shook hands with Anton and Felicity and sat down.
‘George, welcome,’ Felicity said, smiling brightly.
‘Thank you,’ I replied.
‘So, George, a bit weird to say the least, suing someone to get them to marry you,’ Anton said. My first reaction was to punch him; his voice was so mocking. But I was here to win sympathy.
‘It might sound strange but I felt I had no other option,’ I replied, again, with a slight smile.
‘Why is that?’ Felicity asked. I wondered how long they had been working as a double act. They were probably screwing each other which would have explained a lot.
‘I have been in love with Holly for as long as I can remember. We’ve been pretty inseparable since we were twelve. But of course, growing up it’s not healthy to have only one relationship, we both agreed on that. However, we always said we’d be together. I was ready before Holly, that was it really. At twenty I told her I was ready to commit to her but she wasn’t to me. Although we were sleeping together constantly, she was still seeing other men. So she agreed to sign a pact, actually it was her idea—’
‘Can I just interrupt? You were sleeping together but she slept with other men? Didn’t that give you a clue that she wasn’t interested?’ Anton was a jerk. If he was sleeping with Felicity then she was a jerk as well.
‘She reassured me to the c
ontrary. Have you ever been in love, Anton?’
‘No, I’m married.’ He laughed at his hilarious joke.
‘Well, then you are luckier than me. Holly said that we would end up together, she promised that and I love her as much now as the day we met. I didn’t sue her to hurt her, but to make her see what she was throwing away.’
‘But you weren’t successful were you?’ Felicity said. No, of course I wasn’t you single-brain-celled bimbo, otherwise I wouldn’t fucking be here. I took a deep breath.
‘No, which wasn’t a surprise. I’m a lawyer and I knew my chances of winning were slim. I just wanted her to see how much she means to me.’
‘But if she doesn’t want you, don’t you think you’d be better off walking away?’ Anton asked, looking too smug. This wasn’t as easy as I thought.
‘Perhaps I would, but I know in my heart that I am meant to be with Holly and she’ll realise one day that she’s meant to be with me.’
‘Thank you George, I’m afraid that’s all we have time for...after the break we meet Kelly, the kitten who can tell the time.’
They beamed. I smiled. Then I said my curt thank yous and left. I sat in the dressing room and called Cordelia.
‘You were marvellous,’ she said.
‘It was a fucking fiasco. Those brainless morons couldn’t interview a chimpanzee.’
‘Actually they can’t even interview a kitten, which is what they are trying to do as we speak, but they are very popular, and you came across very well. Keep it up this afternoon and we’ll be home and dry.’ I felt slightly reassured.
The afternoon interview was with Nancy Witter. She came to meet me before the show went on air and we ran over what she knew about me, and I filled in the blanks. She was lovely, reminded me of my mother, when my mother had been talking to me.
‘So, what we will do is talk a bit about your story, then I’ll ask a couple of questions then to finish I’ll ask if you have a message for Holly, which you can then relate.’
‘Sounds good.’
And it was. I told my story without any mocking. The sympathy on Nancy’s face was so genuine I wanted to cry. Then finally she asked me if I had anything I would like to say to Holly. I looked straight at the camera on cue.
‘Holly, if you’re watching, I want you to know that I love you so much. Please come back to me.’ Then I let a single tear roll down my cheek.
I called Cordelia from my dressing room.
‘George you’re a genius—the tear—my God, you almost had me crying and I never cry.’
‘It was genuine, Cordelia.’
‘Of course it was. No question. Now if there is anyone left in the country with any sympathy for Holly I’ll eat my Manolo Blahniks.’
In the taxi on the way back to my flat I thought for the first time about Holly. Had she seen the programmes? Of course she would have done. There was no way that she could resist watching. I wondered if they had swayed her yet. I wondered if we’d got rid of Joe. I had an overwhelming desire to talk to her but knew that I mustn’t. I had been told by Cordelia to let her come to me. I was so psyched by the way things were going that I knew it was just a matter of time.
The press picked up on my television appearances and I got some good coverage. It was superb. There was even a phone poll in the biggest national daily newspaper asking people to vote if they thought Holly should marry me! I was gaining ground each day. By the time I came to do the show with Michael Martin, I had gained enough confidence not to feel nervous any more. I felt like an old hand and more than that I was enjoying myself. The lights, the cameras, the action. It was an amazing buzz.
However, Martin’s show was different because I sat on a stage, told my story, then members of the audience asked me questions. Cordelia had told me that this was the sort of show where you needed the audience onside from the word go. I had no idea because I never watched this sort of thing. I knew there were hundreds running in America but not being the sort of person who had time for daytime TV, I never watched. Julia and I called it trash TV. I felt a pang as I was reminded of her but pushed it away. I wasn’t trash and this was TV. That was all.
I was the third guest, and the show was about unrequited love. Which annoyed me because my love wasn’t unrequited, it was just unrealised, which is what I said. I looked at the audience and at the scary fat man in the ill-fitting checked shirt and the woman who had warts on her nose, and knew I didn’t belong there. I was going to kill Cordelia.
However, in the meantime I needed to say something, so I told my story, with the tear which now seemed to appear on demand. I told them the same I’d told everyone, there was nothing new to say and no new way of saying it. When the audience got to speak, one woman asked me if I’d marry her, another said that Holly was blatantly a fool. A man told me he admired me for being able to admit my feelings, another said that I should move on because she didn’t deserve me. Unlike the ugly people that I shared the set with, I gained the audience sympathy, and their affection. When Michael read out a statement from Holly (who refused to attend), they booed. I was once again triumphant as they applauded and cheered for me. They liked me, they supported me, they reaffirmed my belief that I was right.
As I left, I was asked for my autograph. It was such an amazing feeling, imagine being asked for your autograph for the first time ever. I signed with a flourish and whistled as I sat in yet another taxi.
Instead of going home I went straight to Cordelia’s office. She was almost orgasming she was so pleased with me.
‘You are not going to believe it. I’ve had letters and e-mails forwarded on from newspapers and the TV shows. You’re a huge hit with the public. Huge. Mammoth. Let’s go to lunch, I feel like celebrating.’
‘Don’t I have anything else on today?’
‘No, nothing until tomorrow night, the Keith Northam Show. Besides I’ve got loads of other offers for us to talk about. Come on, I’m buying.’
We went to an expensive French restaurant where Cordelia ordered champagne. Before we chose food we discussed the offers.
‘I’ve got a request from the Mail for an interview, they haven’t covered you yet and feel a bit left out, so I agreed to that. They’ve got a huge circulation. Then GQ want to do an interview with photos.’
‘A photo in GQ?’
‘I know, fab isn’t it. Then we’ve got a few more shows, I suggest you do. Also, the Herald will have the result of your poll the day after tomorrow, they want you to comment on the outcome.’
‘I don’t know what to say. Some woman asked for my autograph today.’
‘Darling you better get used to it, because you’re a hit.’ She touched my hand, lightly, I smiled at her. The champagne and the success was making me horny. Beyond horny. This wasn’t like anything I’d felt before, it was spreading through my entire body. I had no idea what it was but it felt great.
We ordered lunch and ate it but I didn’t take my eyes off Cordelia. Of course I would rather be taking Holly to bed, but she wasn’t likely to agree to that and I needed a physical release. I ordered another bottle of champagne and made sure that Cordelia drank more than me. When she asked for the bill, I pounced.
‘I want to prepare for Keith Northam’s show and thought I would look at some pre-recorded videos, maybe you’d care to join me?’ I gave her a direct look.
‘Where are they?’ Her voice was husky and I knew that she wanted to.
‘My place.’
‘Well, you’re my biggest client, I can hardly refuse.’ She paid the bill and we hailed a cab back to my flat.
When we were in the cab I put my hand on her thigh but nothing more. I could tell by the look on her face that she had no objections. It was a simple gesture. I noticed she had on stockings (not those dammed tights—passion killers) and I wasn’t sure who was more turned on. I paid for the taxi, and she was looking at me with a sexy expression; I could tell she was aching for it. I led her into the flat, and as soon as we were through the door I kissed h
er.
The kiss was hard. Months of frustration went into that kiss. When we pulled apart she was breathless.
‘I thought you wanted to watch the tapes,’ she said, teasingly.
‘Get your blouse off.’ I knew Cordelia’s type. They came across all hard and bossy but really all they wanted was to be told what to do. She undid her blouse and let it slip to the floor. I didn’t touch her. ‘Your skirt,’ I commanded, and watched as she unzipped it and let that fall. She stepped out of it and I looked at her. I wanted her. She was wearing a pair of tiny white satin pants, her bra which cupped her smallish breasts matched, as did her suspender belt clipped to her natural stockings. Her high-heeled shoes were still on her feet.
‘Keep the shoes on, but take your bra off,’ I snapped.
‘Kiss me,’ she said, her voice all girly and seductive.
‘Not yet...do as I tell you.’ My voice was commanding and I could see her getting more and more flushed. She unhooked her bra and her breasts were free, with nipples hard as peanuts. I made her stand there but kept staring at her as I took off my suit, my shoes, my shirt, finally my socks. Then I moved towards her.
‘Suck me,’ I ordered and she removed my boxer shorts and sank to her knees.
I had missed sex so much. Cordelia was fucking brilliant. She sucked and licked me till I climaxed, then I brought her to orgasm using my tongue. I turned her over and took her from behind, and she squealed with pleasure. We hit the top of the scale at the same time and collapsed on the floor.
‘Wow! I have never had sex like that before,’ she said, breathing heavily.
‘Me either. You’re a fucking sexy woman Cordelia.’ I looked at her, although I had removed her pants she was still wearing her stockings and shoes.
‘I want more,’ she demanded.
‘Be my guest.’
She straddled me. We had sex countless times, and each time it got better. She was the horniest woman I’d ever met. She was mine for the taking and I would be taking more and more.
Deranged Marriage Page 21