The Golden Collection

by Kam Carr

  “Fuck” he hissed, as I felt him explode inside me. He rested his head against my back. “I love you.”

  Our week in Paris was over. Everything about it had been amazing. I was on top of the world. Maxwell was relaxed and hadn’t mentioned anything about work. Olivia was getting on with me, even though it did cost me a Chanel handbag. As for Bailey he was just happy that he had met Mickey Mouse.

  I looked over at Bailey playing on the bedroom floor. Maxwell and Jay were loading up the car to take us to the airport. I didn’t want to go home. Why was it always like this? I know why, the second Maxwell stepped into that office he forgot about everything else.

  I know he enjoys working and I know that maybe I do sound whining. LA doesn’t feel like home to me. I don’t know anyone. I suddenly missed Amy badly and needed to talk to my friend. Amy had been my rock for so many years. In spite of everything that happened, I knew I cold confide in her.

  Since moving to LA I had barely spoke to her and that made me feel guilty. I looked round the room trying to locate my phone. That’s when I saw Maxwell’s on the bedside cabinet. He wouldn’t mind if I borrowed his.

  The red light was flashing indicating he had a message. Without even thinking I opened the message and began to read.

  'It was nice seeing you again. I really enjoyed it. Not so long next time xxx'

  My jaw dropped open and I didn’t know what to do. What did that text even mean? I looked at the name, but it was just some number I didn’t recognize. It might have not meant anything. I just had that nagging voice in my head.

  The tears began to well up in my eyes. There was no doubt about it. The text was from a woman. You didn’t need to be a detective to work that out. Why would a woman send my husband a message?

  My legs felt weak and fell down on the bed. I had to stay calm. I didn’t want to make a scene in front of Bailey. Could Maxwell really cheat on me?

  I heard the hotel door open and I quickly put the phone back. With the back of my hand, I wiped the tears away. Maxwell strolled in, wearing jeans, a shirt and his red hair all ruffed up. He was beautiful and he was mine. He would never cheat on me, he loved me. After everything, he wouldn’t throw our marriage away... would he?

  “You okay?” he asked, his blue eyes sparkling at me. I felt a lump in my throat. I wanted to yell and scream at him. Not yet, I was going to find out the truth before I confronted him.

  “Yes” I smiled, which was difficult. If he had cheated on me, I would find out. Some would say this was karma and I deserve this after all I did to Blake. So maybe I couldn’t take the moral high ground. On the other hand, this was a different situation and I needed to know. God help him if he has.

  ***

  I looked at my reflection. I looked a mess from the lack of sleep and the worry that had taken over me. Maxwell was fast asleep still while I was stuck in the world of uncertainly and I couldn't bring myself to talk to him about it.

  I couldn't sit here all day I had to get ready for work and gain some normality. Also, it would help keep my mind from drifting off to worse scenarios possible. Would he actually do that to me?

  I picked up my hair brush and began to brush my hair. The message wouldn't go away. I kept reading it out loud in my head. 'It was nice seeing you again. I really enjoyed it. Not so long next time xxx'

  I kept telling myself it was innocent, it was just a friend he had run into. Yet, this nagging doubt that he could have betrayed me was haunting me constantly. Could he? Would he? Was I no longer what he wanted?

  I shook my head. I didn't even what to think of the thought of him not wanting me. My Mr Golden rule... What would I be without him? I couldn't bare it and then on the other hand I couldn't bear to be near him at the moment. I applied a little lip gloss and left my dressing room.

  The whole car journey to work I couldn't say one word to Jay. I was still lost in my own thoughts. Paranoia was beginning to take over me. Maybe I should go and check his office?

  There could be something like a recite, email or anything just to give me peace of mind. Yes, I had to go and check his office, fingers crossed it was all in my head and I wouldn't find anything.

  As soon as I got a quiet moment I made my way to my husband's office. I knew he was out in a meeting and his assistant had gone with him. At least that way no one was going to tell on me. I stepped inside and straight over to his desk.

  I began to search the big pile of papers stacked on his desk, then his computer and then I began to ruffle through his draw.

  NOTHING!!

  I wasn't sure if that was good or bad... Maybe he was just good at hiding his trail of deceit. I looked over at the picture frame sat on his desk and my heart sank. It was a picture of all four of us together just after Bailey was born.

  The tears began to pour out and I couldn't control them. Was my husband having an affair?

  There was a knock on the door. Shit! I wasn't expecting anyone to come here. I quickly closed the draws and cleaned up the paperwork I had scattered over the desk.

  “Come in” I yelled, my voice breaking in places. I quickly wiped away the tears and tried to gain my composure.

  The door opened and to my surprise Riley walked in. He seemed shocked to see me. He couldn't bring himself to make eye contact to with me which made me feel uncomfortable. He placed his hands in his pockets and wouldn't come any further into the room. He just remained staring down at the floor.

  “Hey” he mumbled.

  “Hey, what are you doing here?” I blurted out, sadness hit me hard. He was the only friend I had in this god forsaken place and now it felt like we were strangers.

  “I had a meeting with Maxwell and he never showed up. So, I thought I would come here and see what had happened.

  “You had a meeting with Maxwell? How come?”

  He looked up, stunned at my question. “He's my agent.”

  Great, now not only was he cheating on me but now stealing my clients without telling me. “And he didn't show?” I asked, I think my mind was beginning to get the better of me.

  “No,” finally his eyes met mine. “Something wrong, George?” He asked with concern. I shook my head, I could no longer remain strong and the tears began to fall again. “George.” He ran over to me and hugged me. This was really what I was just trying to avoid but I had the need to confide in someone.

  “I think Maxwell is having an affair” I cried, it hurt even more saying it out loud.

  “Seriously?”

  I nodded. “I found a text while we were in Paris. It was someone from the New York visit.” I let out a deep breath and reached for the box of tissues on the desk. “I just can't take any more. The endless fighting, his control of everything, his non existence at home and now this!” I wiped the tears away and began to play with the tissue.

  “This looks cosy” boomed a voice. My eyes looked over at the doorway and there was Maxwell leaning up against it. His face cold and his mouth tight. Riley jumped away from me as Maxwell strolled in. “Get the fuck out of my office!” Maxwell bellowed at Riley.

  “Mr Thomas, Georgina was just upset.”

  “If my wife is upset I will comfort her. Now, get the fuck out!” He smoothed down his navy suit jacket and glared at Riley. His eyes turned to me and his toned turned dangerously low. “Me and my wife obviously have issues to discuss.”

  Riley nodded and practically ran out of the room. Maxwell slammed the door shut and spun round to face me. Just by the look I knew I was in deep trouble. Then again, I wasn't the one getting mysterious texts.

  “You can be such a prick” I spat, giving the cold stare back at him.

  He shook his head and began to rub his thumb along his magical mouth. “What is it about him? Every time I'm not around you are with him!” He began to pace up and down in good old Maxwell Thomas fashion, his hands running through his red hair.

  “He is my friend” I insisted, folding my arms and sitting back in his chair. “Let's talk about your little trip to New York
” My voice full of venom. He stopped and looked at me. His eyes narrowed and his mouth twitched at the corners. I had his full attention now. The table had turned, about time he was put on the spot and made to feel inadequate.

  “What about it?” He shrugged casually. Sometimes he really annoyed me. His poker face wasn't fooling me, in fact I could see right through him.

  I slowly rose from his chair and strolled casually over to him, my eyes never leaving his. “I saw THE text!”

  Instantly his attitude changed. “You’ve been checking up on me?” He laughed and then turned back into stone. “For fuck sake, Georgina! I actually thought better of you than that. How low can you get?”

  “Shut up with the righteous bullshit. I didn't check up on you. I was going to use your phone in the hotel.” Why was I explaining myself? Why did he always do this? I was not the one hiding anything and yet it was my entire fault. I shook my head and swallowed hard. “Who is the text from, Maxwell?” I asked calmly.

  “A friend” he replied.

  “Obviously female” I hissed, still he showed on reaction. “Unless you have male friends who like to send three kisses.”

  He let out a little air from his mouth and his eyes fell to his feet. “Yes, female.”

  “And?”

  “And what?” he screamed, I could tell he was beginning to get frustrated. Was that out of guilt or innocence? “Nothing happened, Georgina.” It sounded more like he was convincing himself more than me.

  I could see something written all over his face. Then my mind went back to the night he came back from New York and his over reaction to Riley kissing me.

  It all made sense now, his hiding away wasn't down to the fact Riley had done what he did. It was because he was remorseful of something but turned it round all on me. Prick!

  “So, something did happen?” I asked, trying to keep my tone all sweetness and light. His mouth tightened further and he just looked at me – blank. “What happened, Maxwell?” This time the anger and frustration filled my voice.

  He rubbed his brow, then his eyes and then trailed his index finger across his lip. He gave an awkward cough and shifted from foot to foot. God, why was he taking so long?

  “Before we got together there was someone else....” I rolled my eyes, of course there was, I wasn't that stupid. What did that have to do with anything?

  “Anyway,” he continued. “She happens to be the owner of the company I am trying to take over. I really had no idea she was even going to be there...”

  “And,” I urged him on.

  “And after the meeting we went for drinks and I guess she got the wrong idea.”

  “She kissed you?” He nodded and stared down at his feet. I froze, but I had to ask the next question. “Did you kiss her back?”

  “Yes” he couldn't look at me and now I knew I wasn't going crazy.

  What could I say? I guess the whole thing about gut feelings was true. My legs felt like they were going to buckle underneath me. I had been so forthcoming about what Riley did and he had to hide his dirty little secret. I wanted to cry again and never stop. He wasn't the same man I had married all those years ago. Right now, he felt like a stranger.

  “You never did rush back for me, did you?” I began to blink back the tears. “You came home because of you own guilt.”

  “No,” He cried finally looking up at me. “Jay called me and explained what a mess you were in.” He reached out for me but I backed away. He tilted his head to the side and some emotion filled his face. “I had to come back and see you.”

  I shook my head and gave a little laugh. “You made out it was because of me you hid away in your office.”

  “I know and I’m really sorry, Georgina.”

  “You lied to me, Maxwell and marriages can't survive on lies. I don't think I can get past this.”

  “What are you trying to say?” The fear spread across his face and this time he reached out and grabbed me, but I refused to move. His grip of my wrist got tighter. “Say it for fuck sake.”

  “We need space” I slowly replied. “I need space. I need to think and I can't do that while around you. I’m moving out.”

  He fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around my legs preventing me from going any where. “You’re leaving me?” He cried. “You can't do that. It was a stupid mistake and I have regretted it ever since. Don't leave me. I love you.”

  “I’m not leaving you” I hissed, finally he moved away from me and looked up at me with his beautiful blue eyes. I had to get out of here before I changed my mind. It was his turn to be punished and I didn't want to back out. “I really can't deal with any more dramas. I am sorry, Maxwell” with that I left the room without looking back.

  ***

  Maxwell

  I ran into the house and straight into the kitchen. I looked around she was no where to be seen. Maddy was cleaning and both the children were sat up at the table eating. Maddy turned round and looked at me stunned. I guess it was a rare occasions me being home at this time of day.

  “Mr Thomas, are you okay?” She asked in her Spanish accent.

  “Is Georgina here?”

  “Yes, she is upstairs. She came home early in tears. I don't like seeing her cry.”

  I agreed watching the woman I loved cry was heart breaking. I dropped my brief case to the floor. “Make sure the kids stay down here” I ordered and disappeared upstairs to try and talk some sense into my wife. Hopefully now she had calmed down and forgot all about this stupid moving out shit.

  I stood in the doorway of our room and watched her pack things into a case. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces, she hadn't forgotten and she was going through with it.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, not actually sure how I found the strength to speak. I walked into the bedroom and her tear stained face looked up at me.

  “I told you” she huffed, carrying on picking things up and placing them in her case. “I’m moving out.”

  I sat down on the edge of the bed and placed my hands over my face. “Please...” I cried the pain was getting worse. “Stop being stupid. You can't seriously walk out on me over some stupid fucking kiss.” I finally looked over at her beautiful face and her eyes glared at me.

  “Stupid fucking kiss?” She laughed and shook her head. “Must of meant something to you, after all, you gave the stupid fucking kisser your telephone number.”

  I couldn't argue with her, she was right and now I felt even more stupid and unworthy of her. I loved my wife and kids, why had I done it? I had really messed up this time.

  “George,” I sighed. “Please don't leave. I am truly sorry and I should have told you. I really don't know what got into me.” I let out an agonizing sigh and my eyes pleaded with her.

  “It is too late” she sighed, her own agony filling her voice. “I can't live like this anymore. You’ve changed into this controlling, cold business man. You always put me last and now this whole double standard shit.” She looked up at me with her loving face. My beautiful Miss Dawson. I had changed again. My heart skipped a beat as her love for me filled the room.

  “I just need to think” she smiled sweetly. She closed her case and picked it up. “I'll book into a hotel for tonight and as soon as I'm settled I'll collect Bailey.”

  She walked pass me and I grabbed her free hand. “Does this mean you don't love me any more?”

  She stepped closer to me and leaned over. Her intoxicating scent filled my body with need for her. “No, it means that I love you too much…” she moved some of hair away from my face. “That I'm willing to do anything to hold on to my husband.” Her lips briefly touched mine and then she was gone.

  I lay down on the bed and realized I had allowed the best thing to ever happen to me walk away. I punched the mattress... FUCK! What sort of dickhead was I? I had destroyed another family with my constant need to control, work and selfishness.

  No, I wasn't going to allow history to repeat it’s self. I was going to get my wife bac
k and turn this family around. What ever she wanted I was going to give into. She was mine and she was always going to be mine. She was the drug I couldn't live without.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Georgina

  I don't know what I was thinking, I should of gone straight to the hotel, but for some unknown reason I had given the taxi driver Riley's address. I sat in his room and looked around, I knew deep down I should just go home to Maxwell.

  Yet, the constant feeling of betrayal was unbearable and I couldn't face being in the same room as him. My lips still tingled from our departing kiss. God, I loved that man, but what he did to me was unforgivable.

  Riley had insisted we sat in his room, he said he had a guest staying with him insisting it was a male. Like I would care if it was a female.

  Maxwell would freak if he found out I was here. Did I care? Not really, I no longer cared what he thought about me, just like he didn't give a toss about me.

  FUCK HIM! Yelled the voice in my head.

  It was true... Why should I care for him? He had gone to New York on my birthday and had some cheap frill with some whore he once fucked. He had changed. The man I married would have never given a glance at another woman.

  Riley came back into the room carrying two glasses. He handed me one and sat down next to me on the bed. “Where are you going to stay?” He asked, as I began to drink the wine. It tasted refreshing and was well needed. “You can stay here if you want? I can always crash on the sofa.”

  “I should really head to a hotel” I insisted.

  “Georgina, you shouldn't be alone right now.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked. Something deep within me actually wanted to stay. I looked over at Riley, his dark hair and stunning grey eyes. A little smile sprung to his lips as he took a sip of his drink. He was my best friend and I couldn't think of being anywhere else right now but here. “Okay” I agreed.