by Jade Winters
Fiona eyed them with curiosity as they approached. ‘You’ve ’ad a nice day, I take it?’
‘Hardly,’ Lauren said, unlocking the door. ‘We’ve been out buying a security camera.’
‘Pardon? A security camera?’ Fiona said.
‘To catch the person who is putting letters through my letterbox,’ Lauren said as though she were relaying information to a five-year-old.
‘Ah, but I thought you knew who it was. You were wrong, no?’ Fiona said triumphantly.
‘No, it’s the same person, but he hasn’t got the message of how serious I am about pressing charges, but to do that I need evidence. Hence the camera.’
‘I need to speak with you.’ Fiona looked at Emma then back at Lauren. ‘Alone.’
‘In that case, I’ll be off,’ Emma said and backed away down the hall. ‘Are we still doing drinks tonight?’
‘Definitely,’ Lauren said. ‘I can’t wait. I’ll see you around seven?’
‘Sure thing.’
The resentment in Fiona’s eyes was palpable but her voice sounded reasonable as she said, ‘Bye, bye.’
She smirked at Emma, but shock soon replaced her smug look when Lauren said, ‘You’ve got five minutes, Fi. I have a ton of work to catch up on.’
Emma poked her tongue out at Fiona then ran to the lift. She knew it was childish, but she felt as anxious and giddy as a child at Christmas, wondering if she’d get the present she wanted more than anything. In this case, the present was the woman of her dreams. Now that Lauren could come home to London and feel safe again, was there a chance of them getting together? Though Lauren reciprocated her attraction, was it enough to give up her life in Paris?
Chapter Twenty-Three
‘I don’t appreciate your behaviour around Emma,’ Lauren said, casting Fiona a look of annoyance.
‘Emma, Emma, Emma, that’s all I keep ’earing from you. What about us?’ Fiona pouted, her normally thin lips more than doubling in size.
Lauren procured a beer from the kitchen then retreated to the sofa, swallowing down a scream. ‘Fiona, please get it through your head! There is no “us”. This has to stop. I want you to leave me alone.’
‘You don’t really mean that.’
Lauren looked up at her. ‘I really do, Fi.’
Fiona chewed on her bottom lip, deep in thought. ‘You’re really not going to forgive me for my … little indiscretion, are you?’
‘Has it only taken seven months for that to sink in?’ Lauren flopped back against the sofa and took a long lug of her drink.
‘I thought we were stronger than this.’
‘We were, until you felt the need to cheat on me. I told you at the very beginning that if you broke my trust, that was the end of it. There was no going back. Yet you decided to do it anyway, and now you have the cheek to make our break up all about me, as if I’m the one who caused all the problems.’
‘Are you saying you wouldn’t get back with me even if Emma wasn’t here?’
‘How does what you’re saying even make sense? We haven’t been in a relationship for seven months, and Emma’s just come back on the scene.’
‘Because I know you. I know you need me—’
‘Need you? That’s just it. I might have thought I did, but these last few days have taught me that I am strong. Despite everything—the letters, the burglary—I haven’t run. I’m still here.’
‘With Emma.’
‘Oh give it a rest. In fact, I’m done talking about us—for good.’
Fiona suddenly took the conversation in another direction. Sheepishly she said, ‘I came to tell you I’m moving to Rome.’
‘Isn’t that where your floozy lives? I assumed she’d dumped you.’
Fiona averted her gaze, a flush of crimson rising up her neck and covering her face. ‘No she didn’t. I ’ve just been thinking a lot and decided I was going to choose you and stay in Paris, but I can see there’s no point. I only ’ope that one day, when you realise what you’ve lost—’
‘Please, stop pretending what we had was something special. You were never this sentimental about our relationship when we were together. What’s changed?’
Fiona stepped towards the sofa, and Lauren held up her hand to stop her.
‘I didn’t realise what I ’ad with you until it was too late.’
‘And there you have it. Too late.’ Lauren’s heart softened at the regret in Fiona’s eyes. Yes, she’d cheated, and Lauren had no intention of ever taking her back, so there was no point in holding on to any resentment over her betrayal. ‘Fi, I hope this relationship works out for you. I really do.’
Then Fiona was gone. Another door closes. For good this time, Lauren hoped.
Once Lauren was alone she polished off her beer. For the first time in a long while, work was the furthest thing from her mind. She wanted to open her window and scream as loud as she could that she was free to do whatever the hell she wanted. Free from Fiona and Mike! What a low-down, nasty, rotten bastard. How could he do this to me? To take away the best years of my life, and for what? To scare the life out of me?
How many life experiences had she missed out on? How many friendships had she cut short in fear of it all happening again?
If Emma hadn’t been so insistent about staying around, she could have lost her for a second time. Lauren smiled. Emma. Sweet, beautiful, protective Emma. She couldn’t wait to tell her the news that she had decided to come home. It wouldn’t take much to pack up her meagre belongings in Paris. I’ll see if Emma wants to go to Paris with me for a mini break.
As she fitted the camera to the peephole on her door, she imagined walking hand in hand with Emma along the Seine, eating lunch opposite the Eiffel Tower, and visiting the Louvre and all the other great attractions Paris had to offer. Satisfied the camera was secured and unsuspecting passers-by wouldn’t notice it, she grabbed her jacket and left. She had shopping to do for this evening, and she needed to see Frankie. For the first time in years, she would go about her daily business without having to watch her back, and it felt great!
***
Less than an hour later, Lauren was standing in Frankie’s office, having walked there without a care in the world. When she’d heard footsteps running up behind her, she didn’t break into a sweat or look for the nearest hiding place. She’d carried on walking tall, head held high—too pumped up on adrenaline to give a toss about anything.
Frankie stared at her speechlessly when she told him how she confronted Mike. His long, slender fingers drummed on his desk. ‘Who knew school friends could be so cruel?’
‘He wasn’t my friend—not ever.’ Despite her soaring spirits, a trace of anger rang in her voice. She wanted Mike to pay for what he’d done.
‘This calls for a celebratory drink, don’t you think?’ He pulled open his drawer and withdrew a bottle of brandy.
‘Drinking on the job, Frankie? Whatever next?’
‘You’d be surprised.’ He walked out of the room and returned minutes later with two mugs. He poured two measures and handed one to Lauren. ‘So are you still returning to Paris once the show’s over? I was thinking of coming to stay with you for a few weeks. Running this place has knocked the stuffing out of me. I didn’t count on the exhibition being so time consuming.’
‘I’m afraid you’re out of luck. You’ll have to stay in a hotel.’
His pressed lips into a fine line. ‘Is this what it will be like from now on because you have a new girlfriend? I take it she doesn’t want me staying with you?’
‘Don’t be silly. You can’t stay with me because I won’t be there. That’s what I came to tell you. I’m coming home to London. Isn’t that great? You can get in touch with those reporters and tell them they can splash my face anywhere they want.’
Frankie’s mouth opened then promptly shut again. Eventually, in a strained voice, he said, ‘That is good news. The mysterious Vikki Wells comes out.’
‘Nope, not Vikki Wells. I want to start using m
y real name.’
It would be a relief for people to know her by her birth name. She’d lost count of how many times people had called her by her pseudonym, causing her to blank until realising they were talking to her. Those socially awkward mishaps would be a thing of the past.
Frankie stared obstinately at her for a moment. ‘Will you go public with your story? It might bring attention to your work.’
Lauren took her time to think about it. She couldn’t see what harm it would do, it might even help others who had experienced the same thing.
‘Sure, why not? But please don’t go overboard. I want my name to be known for my work not for being the victim of a stalker. I will never give Mike control over my life again.’
This time, she’d got lucky. How many others could say the same?
Frankie’s non-judgmental glance put her at ease. He took a gulp of brandy then shrugged nonchalantly. ‘Like I’ve always told you: you lead, I’ll follow. I’ll set you up an interview for tomorrow morning.’
It finally feels like I’m in the driving seat for once. ‘Do you fancy coming over to my place for a drink later?’
‘Sure. I’ll ditch the brandy,’ he said, peeking at her hardly touched drink, ‘and bring a bottle of champagne to celebrate your metaphorical release from jail.’
‘Great! I’ll make some dips—’
‘Please, don’t go to that much trouble for me,’ he said and jumped to his feet.
‘It’s no trouble at all. Besides Emma and her sister are coming too.’
He stared at the ground. ‘Emma?’
‘Uh-huh.’ She moved the mug to her mouth but decided against drinking any more. The overpowering smell nauseated her.
‘You know what? I think I’ll give it a miss,’ Frankie said, avoiding eye contact as he tidied his desk. ‘I don’t want to interrupt your girlie night.’
Lauren sensed his embarrassment in thinking it would be the two of them alone. She chided herself for not making the arrangements clear from the start. ‘Don’t be silly. You know I look at you as one of my closest friends.’
‘And that’s all?’
‘Yes, Frankie,’ she said with a shake of her head. ‘We’re friends.’
Lauren didn’t like the way he was appraising her, as if the news that she didn’t see him as anything more than a friend shocked him. She had no idea why he would feel that way, considering she had never given him the impression she was anything but gay.
‘Off you go then. I’m sure you’ve got lots to do,’ he said.
‘Aren’t you going to come then?’
‘I’ll pass on this one. Besides, by the sounds of it, you’ll be home for good soon. I’m sure we’ll see loads of each other … if Emma can spare you.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘Oh, you know, new love and everything. When you’re happy, you generally don’t want people raining on your parade.’
‘You should know I’m not that sort of person, and I don’t think Emma is either.’
‘Okay, whatever you say.’
She rested her hand on his. ‘I mean it.’
***
During the short walk to the supermarket, Lauren couldn’t help but feel a hint of annoyance. She had begun to feel uncomfortable in Frankie’s company, especially when Emma was around. Although he wasn’t out and out rude towards Emma, Lauren sensed his reservations about her, and Frankie was not a reserved man. She hated to think he still had a thing for her after she had put him straight about her sexuality years ago, when he first became her agent. Since then, he had respected her boundaries.
No, it can’t be that. As she entered the shop, she put his behaviour down to his nerves about her exhibition. After all, his reputation was on the line as much as Lauren’s was.
Chapter Twenty-Four
‘You’re just in time,’ Lauren said, sweeping her arm towards the table laden with deli-style foods. She skirted the table like a fluttering butterfly as if she couldn’t keep still. ‘I hope you’re hungry. I kind of got carried away.’
‘You can say that again.’ Hope grabbed a plate and randomly picked up small bites of food.
Worried, Emma watched Lauren through narrowed eyes. She wondered if something had happened between Lauren and Fiona. Dare she think they had rekindled their romance? The thought froze in her brain and she set her rucksack on a chair.
‘Are you okay?’ she asked Lauren.
‘I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?’ Lauren said, frowning.
In a hushed whisper, Emma said, ‘I thought maybe you and Fiona—’
‘There isn’t any me and Fiona. I think she finally got the message.’ The corners of her mouth curled as she nodded at Emma’s bag. ‘Now what have you got there?’
‘What she has in there is Scrabble,’ Hope said before Emma had a chance to reply.
Lauren pulled back a chair at the table and slumped into it. ‘Oh no. I don’t think I have the brainpower to play Scrabble.’
‘You guys aren’t getting out of it that easily,’ Emma said.
Hope let out a deep theatrical groan. ‘In that case, I think this calls for a very large glass of wine.’
‘I’ll second that,’ Lauren added.
‘Come on. You’ll both get legless and blame losing on being drunk.’
‘Sounds reasonable to me,’ Lauren said.
‘You two are terrible,’ Emma said opening the Scrabble box and laying the board out on the table.
Lauren reached out and grabbed the bottle of red wine in front of her. She twisted off the cap and poured out three glasses. After handing a glass to Emma and Hope, she held hers in the air. ‘To the future.’
‘Hear, hear,’ Emma said. It felt so good to be chilling out with Lauren and Hope. This was her idea of a perfect night in. Drinks, laughs, and fun.
‘So what does the future hold for you now that you have your stalker problem sorted? Well nearly sorted—he hasn’t been arrested yet right?’ Hope asked as she settled into her seat and munched on a celery stick.
Emma held her breath, not wanting to hear Lauren’s answer.
‘Hopefully it’s only a matter of time and anyway I feel safe knowing who it is. As for the future, I’ve decided to move back to London.’
Emma had been so distracted by her thoughts that she nearly missed what Lauren had said. ‘Did I hear you right?’
‘You sure did.’
Emma looked at Hope then back at Lauren. ‘I think you’re doing the right thing.’
Act normal, she told herself. How can I act normal when I just found out the woman of my dreams is coming home?
If Fiona had been there, she would have kissed her feet for making it possible for Lauren to stay by not appreciating what she had. Fiona was firmly in her good books, even though she was the scariest person Emma had ever met.
Lauren laughed. ‘And you’re not in any way biased?’
Feigning shock Emma replied, ‘Me? No way.’
‘I believe you, though plenty wouldn’t.’
‘Are we going to play this sodding game or not?’ Hope said, snatching the bag of tiles from the box and picking out her letters.
‘Eager much?’ Emma said, Hope’s change in attitude taking her by surprise. She knew Hope wasn’t originally happy about Lauren’s reappearance in her life but she thought they had moved past that.
An uncomfortable silence settled between them as Emma and Lauren picked their tiles and rearranged the letters on their trays.
‘Here we go,’ Lauren said, laying the tiles down on the board.
‘Get real. Bawd isn’t a word,’ Hope said, flicking Lauren’s letters off the board.
‘It is so.’
‘Tell her, Emma,’ Hope said.
‘How about I look in the dictionary?’
‘Please do,’ Lauren said, picking up an olive and popping it into her mouth.
‘Here we go … Bawd is actually a word. It means a woman in charge of a brothel. Lauren’s right. Sorry.’
> ‘See,’ Lauren said and gave Emma a high five.
Hope scraped her chair back as she stood, her eyes squinted and mean. ‘I came here for some fun tonight, not to bore myself with Scrabble and watch you two fawn over each other.’
Emma blinked as if she hadn’t heard correctly. ‘Eh? What the hell are you talking about?’
‘Don’t play innocent with me.’ Hope glared at Lauren. ‘Ever since she came back, she’s all you’ve had time for.’
‘That’s really not fair,’ Emma said adamantly. ‘I’ve been helping Lauren. Nothing’s been going on between us. And we weren’t fawning over each other. It’s called playing around, much like we used to.’
‘Yeah, you’re right there: used too. Don’t worry, I’ll get out of your hair and let you enjoy the rest of your evening together. I don’t know why you bothered inviting me in the first place.’
‘Because you’re my friend,’ Lauren said.
‘And my sister,’ Emma added. ‘Come on, Hope, please sit down. We’ll pack the game away and talk instead.’
Hope made no attempt to hide the hurt in her voice as she said to Emma, ‘Now you’re patronising me. I’m leaving.’
She slipped her arms into her jacket and roughly yanked the zip up.
‘Then I’m coming with you,’ Emma said and started to rise.
‘Don’t bother. Seriously, I just want to be alone.’ Hope strode from the room, and shortly after, the front door slammed shut.
‘What the hell was all that about?’ Lauren asked.
Emma shrugged. The only thing that could explain Hope’s behaviour was stress from work. It had to be. Hope had been acting stranger than usual these last few days, and Emma knew she had been under pressure since starting the Wedding Daze contract. Hope obviously thought Emma should be supporting her, but Emma had been so wrapped up in her need to protect Lauren that she had completely forgotten about Hope. A pang of guilt sliced through her.