The Golden Collection

by Kam Carr

I cringed, that was a too big of a question to ask myself. At this moment she just needed me to be here for her and take care of her. I ran my fingers through her hair and she gave a little moan.

  "Where did you go?" She asked, snuggling into me.

  My grip of her got tighter. I was never going to let her go again. "I had to sort something out" I lied. "Did you want anything to eat?"

  She looked up and gave me that look. She slowly bit down on her lip. "What exactly are you offering?" Her hand began to run up and down my leg.

  Even after today she only had one thing on her mind. This was why I loved her. She was insatiable and craved me as much as I craved her. I placed a hand on her cheek and lowered my face.

  "You sure you're up for this? We can take it slowly if you want" My eyes burned into her and I felt a lump in my throat. Did I want to cry? I think so. Dumb fucker laughed the voice in my head.

  My lips melted on to hers and our tongues magically danced with each other. Slow passionate movements. My free hand reached up under the shirt and placed its self on her perfect breasts. This woman drove me crazy, just being close to her got me rock hard.

  There was a knock on the door. "Ignore it" I hissed, breaking our kiss for a second.

  The door knocked again, this time it sounded like they were going to break the damn thing down.

  "You better get it" she laughed breaking away. I watched as she wiped the moisture off her lips. She was right. I stood up and tried to gain my equilibrium.

  Never before had I answered the door with a hard on. Over the last few months I had done many things I wouldn't have done before.

  The person banged on the door again. I finally opened the door and two men were standing on my doorstep. "Yes!" I snapped looking from one to the other. A man pulled something out of his pocket and waved it in my face. They were police.

  I narrowed my eyes. "Why are you here?" I hesitated.

  "Mr Thomas," The tall one began. "We are arresting you with the assault of Mrs Waterman."

  Georgina ran behind me. "What?" She screamed, I turned to her and she moved away. She shook her head as if she didn't understand what was going on.

  Fuck, I didn't even know what was going on. She was fine when I left a little while ago.

  "I didn't do anything!" I protested, but Georgina wouldn't look at me. Shit! She thought I had done it. I ran my hands through my hair and heart was beating fast. I turned to the police. "I honestly didn't do it."

  "Anything you do or do not say will be given in evidence in court" the tall one continued ignoring me completely. Georgina walked back into the living room. "Do we have to cuff you?"

  "No... I am not a criminal!!" I yelled.

  "If you wouldn't mind following us, Mr Thomas"

  I looked behind me as I followed them both to the car. Georgina wasn't there. My stomach churned... She actually thought I was capable of intentionally hurting someone else. I got into the car and rested my head on the back of the seat.

  Someone was trying to set me up...

  Never in my life had I ever been arrested. Was I going to lose everything? The thought that everything I worked for could be snatched away from me. Or was this my punishment...

  CHAPTER 21

  Georgina

  I was laid on my bed watching Amy having fun in my wardrobe. After Maxwell had been dragged off by the police I had rang Amy to come and collect me. The embarrassment of getting out of her car wearing nothing except my underwear and a shirt.

  She was helping me grab a few bits. I was going to stay with her for a while until I found somewhere else to live. Although I had to get a job first.

  So far today was turning out to be the worst day of my life. I found out the man I was going to marry had gone and got someone pregnant. The other had got arrested for assaulting an old woman. I wanted to believe that Maxwell had nothing to do it with. He had disappeared briefly and the police wouldn't have arrested him for any reason. I wanted to scream, maybe throw something.

  When did my life become a horror movie?

  The phone started to ring. I couldn't bear to speak to anyone. I just wanted to hide away and forget all about Maxwell and Blake. Even though the craving for Maxwell hadn't dissolved. I missed him and wondered if he was okay. I couldn't think of him hurting someone.

  “Are you going to get that?” Amy asked, placing a bundle of clothes on the bed. I shook my head. She narrowed her eyes and picked up the phone from the bedside cabinet. “Hello, Blake's apartment...”

  Blake's apartment. I felt a twinge of sadness. I had spent over a year here with him. He had taken care of me, put up with my strops and my constant lack of domestication. I closed my eyes... The endless nights I had lain in this bed with his warm strong arms wrapped around. I felt a tear run down my cheek.

  It was really strange that in an instant my whole life had fallen apart. I had no Blake, no Maxwell, no job and no place to live. Everything had been taken away from me. I guess I did deserve it after all the lying and cheating I'd done in the last few months.

  “George, it’s your Dad.”

  I opened my eyes and shook my head again. I really didn't want to speak to him. I could just imagine him screaming and telling me how I had ruined my life.

  I already knew that and I didn't need anyone to rub it in.

  “Okay, Mr Dawson... Yes... I will tell her... Bye.” I watched Amy put the phone back and sit on the edge of the bed. “Your Dad said he wants you to go back to Spain with him tonight.”

  I groaned. “Seriously, how much fun would that be? He reminding me of what a complete fuck up I am.”

  Amy rolled her eyes. “Not at all, he sounded very concerned. No one blames you for running out like you did. You should have taken your shoe off and hit him with that instead.”

  I gave a little giggle remembering beating him with my bouquet. Just then we heard the front door slam shut. I jumped off the bed. I couldn't bear to be anywhere near him. I looked at Amy in terror.

  She stood up and placed a hand on my shoulder. “It will be fine.”

  “Georgina,” I slowly turned and he was stood in the doorway. His hair was a mess and his white suit stained in his own blood. I looked down at his hand and he was holding a whiskey bottle. “I was hoping I would find you here” he wobbled in. He was obviously drunk out of his face. I moved in the opposite direction to keep as much space between us as possible.

  “How's your mum?” I asked as he sat down on the bed.

  His emerald eyes looked over at me. He looked cold and lost. He looked like a different person. This wasn't the man I had fallen in love with years ago. He was now a stranger and I no longer loved him.

  He took another swig from the bottle and slowly swallowed it. “Rotting in hell for all I care!” He began to give a little laugh and now I was confused. Why wasn't he by his mother's side?

  I looked over at Amy and she too looked as confused as I was. “Why would you say that?” Amy asked she was much braver than I was. In fact if she had something to say she would come out with it. I tilted my head to the side and took in a deep breath.

  Blake rose from the bed looking calm, and then all of a sudden he threw the whiskey bottle at the wall. It crashed into it and smashed into a thousand pieces. Something was wrong? Apart from the obvious.

  He let out a blood curdling scream and I watched the pain flash across his face. His hands grabbed hold of his hair. He looked like he was about to rip his hair out of his scalp. Still... He hadn't answered Amy's question. I couldn't bear to see him in this state. I know I didn't love him, but I wasn't cruel. I had played a big part in his heart breaking pain. In fact, we were both as bad as each other. We had lied, cheated and hurt each other.

  I walked over and wrapped my arms around him. I felt him give a sigh of relief. I looked up and his eyes were staring down at me. They looked sad and I could see tears welling up. I had never seen Blake cry before.

  “Tell me,” I begged tightening my grip of him.

  He lo
oked up at me and backed away from my hug. Maybe he couldn't handle my touch? He sat back down on the bed and placed his head in his hands. He took a deep breath and looked back up. With both hands he wiped his tears away. Me and Amy stood in complete silence.

  “I hit her” He gave a hysterical laugh and then looked down at his hands. “I HIT HER!”

  “Hit who?” Amy asked then we looked at each other and it clicked. “You.” Amy looked stunned and Blake gave a little nod.

  “You assaulted your mother?” I asked while putting my hand to my mouth.

  “Yes” he confessed. He got up and started to walk towards me. I couldn’t be near him. Why did he do that? Oh my god, poor Maxwell was at the police station being charged for it. All along it had been Blake and he was roaming around drinking.

  “Please... George... You have to listen I had a reason!”

  “There is no reason to inflict pain on another person, Blake. Maxwell is at the police station being questioned about what you did. He could lose everything.” I ran my hands through my hair. I couldn't believe I had doubted him.

  “It was her!!” He yelled, he fell to my feet and began to cry. “I heard them talking in her office.”

  “Heard who talking?” I spat.

  “Maxwell and Mum” he sobbed.

  “What was Maxwell doing there?” Amy asked walking to my side. Blake looked up at us. We both had our arms folded and were glaring down at him. He didn't answer just looked back down at his hands.

  What did he hear? Why would Maxwell go to see Mrs Waterman?

  “BLAKE!!!” I screamed. “What were they talking about?”

  He looked back up at me and his face went white. It was something bad I could already feel it. He coughed and shifted slightly. “She paid him... She paid him to hire us and seduce you. Veronica isn't pregnant and I never slept with her. She drugged me in Ibiza and that's why I can't remember anything about it.”

  It felt like someone had punched all the air out of body. I wanted to run, but my legs wouldn't move. Had I actually heard him right?

  “She paid him 2.5 million to break us up” he placed his head in his hands and began to cry again. “Anyway, I saw Maxwell go and I entered her office. She made out I had heard everything wrong. She began with her shit again and I just saw red. I picked up this statue thing and just....”

  Amy crouched down next to him and hugged him. I still couldn't move or talk. Everything I thought I knew had gone. Maxwell had been paid by the witch, it made me feel sick. Surely he wasn't that cold and heartless? Did he not love me? Was I just a 2.5 million price tag?

  I felt my eyes well up and I thought about all the time I had spent with Maxwell.

  Did he lie every time? I truly loved him without any doubt. Everything didn't make sense... He had the American contract, so why did he need the money?

  Or maybe I didn't know anything about him? My mind returned to the odd coldest he would show me. Okay, so maybe he was hot and then cold... But all the extra bits he did? The trip to Cannes, the hotel room, the necklace and most of all that screen saver he spent hours making. You wouldn't do that for someone you didn't love. You would for 2.5 million!! God that voice really did piss me off.

  I couldn't believe I was going to say this even after Blake's revelation. At the end of the day I wanted Maxwell and I loved him too much to see him be punished for something he never did.

  “You need to go to the police!” I ordered. Blake looked up at me as if I had said something out of line. After all he had hit his mother not Maxwell. Why should Maxwell suffer because of him?

  I felt bad again. The Blake I fell in love with wouldn't hurt a fly. Was this all my fault? Had I created this monster before me? Had I messed up his life? You never told him to hit his mother.

  No, everything had got out of hand and everything was pointing to me as the problem. If Blake hadn't been with me then nothing like this would have happened. I was the problem here for everyone. I had to get away.” Amy, ring my Dad and tell him I'll go with him.” The words left my mouth before my head could register. She nodded and walked over to the phone.

  Blake grabbed hold of my legs. “No!” He screamed pushing his head into me. “You can't leave me, Georgina. I did nothing wrong.”

  I fell to the floor in front of him and with shaky hands I cupped his face. I looked into those beautiful emerald eyes; that for two years had controlled my body and soul. His beautiful face was hurting and I felt bad. This is what I had done to him.

  “Please,” I began, my own tears falling. “Go to the police and tell them what you did.”

  He rested his own hands on top of mine. “Have I lost you?”

  I swallowed hard. It didn't help my mouth still felt dry. I bit down on my lip not because I wanted sex for the first time ever. I was biting my lip because the pain I was feeling now was killing me. I stroked his face with my finger and then traced his lip. For old time’s sake....

  I leaned forward and our lips locked in a kiss. I would miss him and there was no doubt about that. All the memories we had shared together would stay with me for life. I pulled away and slowly wiped a tear from his cheek. He was still a very beautiful man and he would find someone else. Someone who would give him everything he needed. I just wasn't cut out to be that woman, in spite of what he thought.

  I slowly rose to my feet and looked over at Amy. She had now got off the phone. I looked round the room and my heart felt heavy. This was it... Everything I had known was gone.

  “Your Dad will be here in twenty minutes to collect you.” She walked over to Blake and held out her hand. “Come on, I will take you to the police station.” Blake gripped hold of her and stood up.

  “I do love you....” he said before walking away. I didn't reply.

  “Call me as soon as you get there!” Amy ordered.

  “Amy,” she turned to look at me. “Will you make sure Maxwell is okay?

  “Yes” and with that I was alone.......

  ***

  Maxwell

  “Sign here, Mr Thomas.”

  I snatched the pen off him and squiggled on the piece of paper. All fucking night I had spent in that piss stinking cell. Only be told an hour ago they knew it wasn't me. Knob heads! I was dying for a cigarette and not to mention fresh air.

  “You're going to be hearing from my solicitor” I grunted reaching out and retrieving my belongings.

  The policeman gave a little smile and shook his head. “We were only doing our job.”

  “Can you arrest me for swearing?”

  He narrowed his eyes and stood straight showing his authorization. “Mr Thomas, after the night you've had, I wouldn't blame you.”

  “Good!” I nodded. “PRICK!” I screamed at him. “Have a nice day” I smiled and made my way outside. I took a lung full of the fresh air. What a fucking embarrassment!! I took a cigarette out of the packet and placed it between my lips. I quickly lit in and inhaled my nicotine fix. I began to make my way up St Aldates.

  “MAXWELL!!!” a voice screamed. I looked behind me and that Amy woman was running towards me. What was she doing here? Where was Georgina? Surely by now she would have known I had nothing to do with the assault.

  “What are you doing here?” I exhaled the smoke and she tried to catch her breath. “Where's Georgina??”

  “Spain!” She replied. “She has gone to stay with her Dad.”

  “What?” I spat... Why had she gone to Spain? Did she actually believe I had assaulted that woman? I closed my eyes and felt my fist clench. Once again when things got a little rough she did a runner. I thought I had made her promise never to that again.

  “Georgina knows everything. Blake told her about the 2.5 million you were paid to seduce her” Amy raised an eyebrow and folded her arms. She looked pissed and so was I. “Blake heard you talking to his mother. He was the one who hit Mrs Waterman. You should be ashamed with yourself. She loves you and you treated her badly.”

  “I gave the money back!” I yelled.
/>
  “Oh well, that makes everything okay” she laughed sarcastically. “Come, I said to Georgina I would make sure your okay.” She rolled her eyes. “Don't have a clue why she cares. I would have left you rotting.”

  I narrowed my eyes. I didn't want to go with her... I threw the cigarette butt to the floor and I had that feeling again. Same feeling I always had when I need Georgina. I couldn't stay here knowing she was there thinking I was cold and I didn't love her. I ran my hands down my face. I had to be with her. I had to bring her back here and she had to be with me no matter what.

  “Where in Spain?” Amy shrugged her shoulders. I grabbed hold of her and looked her directly in the eye. “Amy... This is not a game... I need to see her and apologize. I can't live without her, Amy” my voice was desperate, just like I was desperate to be close to the woman I loved.

  Amy's mouth opened wide. “Oh my god, you really do love her.”

  “More than words can explain... Will you help me? Please...” I begged.

  Her eyes came to life and a little smile played on her lips. “Just call me fucking cupid.”

  ***

  Georgina

  “Ha-ha!!!” My Dad laughed. “Ritchie Rich is in the paper!”

  I rolled my eyes and pushed the plate of toast away from me. It had been two days and not a word from anyone. I did ring Amy and she insured me that Maxwell was safe and sound. Why hadn't he called?

  I placed my head on the table. Caitlyn was being nice, but my Dad was a nightmare. Kept telling me exactly what he thought about Blake, putting him down at every chance.

  “He smashed his mum over the head with some sort of Buddha statue.” I looked up and he was still reading the paper. “She's in a coma and fighting for her life. Must have been a big Buddha.” He looked up at me. “Lucky escape... Huh? Told you I should have called a hit man.” He took a bite of his toast. “If I ever meet that other bloke … You know the one who stopped your wedding... I would hug him and I'm not even gay.”

  “OH MY GOD!!” I screamed. “Will you shut up?” I couldn't bear to listen to him any more. My life had fallen apart and all he cared about was not being gay. I knew it was a bad idea to come here, but I had nowhere else to go and it was lush just to sit in the sun.