Leah saw the glow of his cigarette as he drew on it in the dim yard.
"I don't see what it has to do with you, but, yes, Elizabeth and I have had a casual affair on and off for some years. We were entitled to a last time together."
"It has to do with me because Lucy is my friend, and you've only been married a few months. How can you treat her like this."
"Lucy has no idea," Sam stated coldly.
"So you betrayed her. And with Elizabeth – what about James, he's been so good to you!"
"James? James?" Sam swayed slightly towards her, "Oh! I see, he's had you. Good old James, anything in a skirt," Sam sneered.
It was then that Leah realised he was drunk.
"Let me enlighten you. Robbie was my friend, and Mrs Willoughby was good to me, but I was always the outsider. The boy who had nowhere else to go in the school holidays. They thought I led Robbie on, but he was just as wild as me. The night of the accident, he could have killed us all. He was the one who insisting on driving when he was wasted. There were two girls in the back of the car and I was in the front. He was killed when we hit a tree and the rest of us were all injured."
It was cold and empty in the small yard, no-one else around. Leah began to feel uneasy, afraid of being alone here with Sam, but she needed answers.
"So you resented the family?" she asked.
"After Robbie died and then his father, too, well James inherited everything. He made it clear that I wasn't as welcome at the Manor as I had been. So, later, I thought it would be good to have something that belonged to him, and Elizabeth was always willing." Sam moved away from the wall, towards Leah. She recognised his obsession with the Willoughby family, but he had wanted to strike back at them.
"Anyway, I asked you what it has to do with you," he growled. His voice held a menace that hadn't been there before.
"Why did you marry Lucy? Do you even love her?" Leah whispered.
"I married her because she's beautiful and charming. When I met her I knew straight away that she'd fit into the new life I had planned. New country, new job, new wife."
"Please don't hurt her," Leah said quietly, her voice trembling.
Suddenly Sam moved across the space between them and grabbed Leah's arms, pushing her back against the brick wall, his fingers like a vice.
"Don't tell me what to do,” he hissed. “Lucy belongs to me and I'll look after what's mine. She's crazy about me. So what will you do, Leah?" As he spoke, his fingers dug into her, hurting her. He shook her and her back grazed against the rough brickwork. He leaned down towards her so that she could smell the beer on his breath.
"If you tell her, it will break her heart, and I'll break you."
Sam let go of her, dropped his cigarette to the floor, ground it out and strode away back to the party, leaving Leah bruised and shaking.
§
That night Leah tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Sam was so sure he had the upper hand, and he was right. If she told Lucy about Elizabeth she would be unable to control what might happen next. Lucy, heartbroken, not knowing whether to give Sam a second chance and go to Canada, or stay behind alone. James and Elizabeth, caught up in the aftermath, as everything came out. And she would be the one to break it all apart. She wished she had never gone to the park, never seen the scene in the trees. She wished that the clock could be turned back and that Lucy had never met Sam.
With a heavy heart, Leah decided that she would keep quiet, let everything happen as planned, and hope that no-one would be hurt.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
A few weeks after Lucy and Sam left for Montreal, Emma received an excited e-mail from Lucy describing the tiny apartment near the large hospital where Sam was working. Lucy was trying to find a job, but was not having any luck, and she thought that she might try for temporary Christmas work in one of the large department stores. She sounded fine and Leah was partly re-assured.
It was getting really busy in the Flower Garden: more offices were wanting arrangements in the Reception areas and they’d had lots of enquiries about supplying flowers for Corporate dinners in the time leading up to Christmas.
Leah sent the statement of finances to James, after going over it several times. Charlie took a look, too, and was pleased with their progress.
She guessed that James must still be abroad on the tour of the Centrax holdings in the Far East, and felt uneasy when she realised he might soon be returning.
She had to be clear that she would not see him again, other than for business; if he even needed to, of course.
§
One morning, Leah was delivering the flowers to the Centrax offices when the receptionist called to her.
"Can you hang on a minute, please. Clare wants to speak to you." This must be James's new PA she realised, and she took a deep breath.
Clare appeared in the Reception area and smiled.
"Mr Willoughby is out, but could you spare a moment? I have a message for you."
She led the way through the back open plan area and into a large, glass-fronted office, with an expansive desk, coffee table and leather chairs. Leah gazed around, unable to hide her mounting curiosity.
"Is this James ... I mean, Mr Willoughby's office?" she asked.
"No, it's mine," Clare said, gesturing to one of the soft seats, and Leah sat down surprised.
Clare was dressed in a classic black suit, the skirt just to her knees, fitted jacket and a soft, grey silk blouse underneath. She wore dark tights and medium heel shoes. Discreet, efficient looking, with a mature manner; a very different look from the confident, young Amanda.
"Mr Willoughby asked me to thank you for the financial report," Clare said.
"Oh, yes, I hope it was what he wanted."
Leah felt a little uncomfortable; she wasn't sure how much Clare knew about the loan, and she definitely didn't want to say anything out of place.
"Mr Willoughby has told me all about the arrangements with the Flower Garden," Clare said.
"Right." Leah waited.
"He's been abroad for the last few weeks, but he's gone over the figures you sent. He asked me to say that there are a few small queries. He would like to discuss them with you, either alone or with your partner at the shop present, if that suits you better?"
"Queries?" Leah asked.
She felt a rising tide of panic.
James wanted to see her and possibly Charlie. Oh God. What if it was bad news? Surely he wasn't going to withdraw funds? He hadn't contacted her since he came back. He must have come to the same conclusion as she had, that anything personal was over between them.
"Only a couple of small points, and also a suggestion about the layout," Clare added.
Leah tried to keep calm, to remain business-like. After all, this was possibly the future of the shop at stake.
"I could meet him for a coffee one morning,” she offered. “Away from the shop might be better."
Clare moved over to the desk and consulted her laptop.
"There's a space in his diary on Friday morning, between eleven and eleven thirty. If that suits you I'll book it in."
"Fine, there's a small cafe near the Flower Garden, just around the corner,” Leah replied. “It's called Franco's."
"That's arranged then, Miss Grainger," Clare said.
She stood and Leah followed her out, back to the reception area.
As she waited for the lift, Leah thought back over the report that she’d sent to James. It must be correct. She’d checked it over several times, and Charlie had read it, too.
So what on earth could James possibly have to discuss?
If he had any problems with the funding she decided that she would fight him every step of the way. Her personal life might well be in turmoil, and the weekend in Norfolk had ended badly, but even so, she was going to hang on to her share in the shop, whatever it took.
§
Back at the shop, she told Charlie what had happened.
"Small queries?" he said, cheerfu
lly. "Well, that doesn't sound too bad."
Then he looked at her, and took in her pale face.
"Or is this something personal, Leah? How far have things gone with this guy?"
"Oh, Charlie,” Leah sighed. “I was involved with him, yeah, and maybe I've messed everything up."
"No, he's a business man, and the figures are good. We're improving. Just hang on to that and keep your personal feelings under control. You can do it."
Leah wished that she felt as confident about the meeting.
§
She got there early, bought a coffee and took it to a small table at the rear of the room, secluded, away from the window. She became aware of him the moment he came through the door. James. Tall, fair, immaculately dressed in a dark business suit, with a black cashmere overcoat hanging open and a red scarf loosely around his neck.
Leah watched as his eyes glanced over the room, he nodded in her direction, then went to the little counter to order his coffee.
Her heart flipped, her stomach churned and she tried desperately to get control of her feelings.
He sat down opposite her, took off his coat and hung it over the back of his chair.
"Thank you for coming," he said, his tone cool, his manner detached.
"Clare said there were a couple of issues?" Leah replied, holding on tight to her cup to stop her hands shaking. Why did he have this effect on her, every time, no matter how hard she tried to stay composed?
James leaned back confidently in his chair.
"Just a few points, and don't take this as criticism ..." He paused. "For a start, well, you seem to have spent all the loan money."
"That's what it was for, wasn’t it?" Leah replied, surprised at this opening statement.
"What about contingency money? Something put aside in case of any emergency? Someone puts a brick through the window and you have to get a replacement fitted immediately. Or if the van breaks down, what then? There should be money you can get at quickly."
He was watching her carefully as he spoke.
"Insurance?" Leah replied. “We must be covered.”
"Are you sure? Have you actually read the policy carefully, even the small print? Do you need to increase your cover? Or were you planning to ask for more money?"
Leah knew that he had a point, and she shook her head, unable to meet his gaze now, her cheeks blazing.
"Get it sorted."
She nodded.
"Next, the layout of your presentation. It gave the facts, but it isn't very professional. If you go on the internet you can get examples of spread sheets, how to set things out. It might be an idea to see if there are any evening classes you could go to – just simple accounting, business studies, that sort of thing."
"Why do I feel like I'm back at school?" Leah groaned. She couldn’t stop herself; he was just making her feel more and more uneasy with each passing second.
"I told you, it's advice not criticism, Leah,” he shot back. “On the whole you're doing well at the shop."
"That's all?” she asked. “You're not going to withdraw the loan?"
"Of course I’m not,” he replied. “And anyway there doesn't seem to be any actual cash left to withdraw, now, does there?"
At last she looked at him, into those steely grey eyes, but his expression was closed. She had absolutely no idea what he was thinking.
"James ..." she blurted out.
Suddenly she wanted to bring the business conversation to an end. Something more was going on behind his uptight manner, and surely they must have something else to say to each other.
"When were you going to tell me about Elizabeth and Sam?" he cut in, before she could speak.
Leah was shocked. It was totally unexpected, and she quickly tried to gather her thoughts.
"I only found out when you were away, just before they left for Canada,” she said. “Anyway, how could I tell you?"
"You knew the truth, it should be easy enough." He sounded angry now, and she could tell that he was just about controlling himself.
"No, it wouldn't be easy," Leah shot back, feeling her own anger beginning to rise. She wouldn’t be blamed for this.
"If you remember, you made it very clear when we were in Norfolk that anything to do with Elizabeth was out of bounds as far as I was concerned. You can't go around treating people like that, controlling what I can and can’t say and then expect me to go crawling back to you with that sort of information, James."
With this, she stood up, crashing against the side of the table and spilling James's coffee into his immaculate lap.
"I was going to say this anyway,” she said, her voice shaking, “but you've just made it clear. It's over, whatever was between us. I don't ever want to see you again."
She picked up her bag and flew out of the cafe.
§
Leah managed to keep herself together when she got back to the shop. She told Charlie about the first part of the conversation, the need to keep some money in reserve and to look again at their insurance. Then she went out in the new van, delivering arrangements, threading her way through the traffic in the crowded London streets. And at the end of the day, she locked up and made her way home.
She went into her room, sat down on the bed and allowed herself to think, at last.
It was all over. James would be a distant business investor, and Sam would probably try to restrict Lucy's contact in case Leah said anything about his affair.
She still felt that she couldn't confide in Emma about Sam. Emma would worry too much. She was alone with this.
She went across the room and opened the wardrobe, and took out the bundle that she’d taken from the bathroom at Thorley Manor – James's robe.
In spite of everything that had happened she held it to her and buried her face into the soft, expensive material.
She still needed him: his hands, his mouth. Her body cried out for him ...
But after today it was definitely over.
It was an obsession that she just had to overcome.
CHAPTER THIRTY
James
When Leah knocked the coffee over me I had to go home and change. I couldn't go to a meeting like that.
And when I got back to Belsize Park it was quiet and calm. Mrs Andrews, my housekeeper, was in the kitchen ironing and offered to make me something to eat. I could tell she was surprised to see me there in the middle of the day.
I had a long shower and tried to settle down a little, to control my anger. I had intended to keep the meeting with Leah on a business level, but she began to do that usual thing of being defensive and stroppy at the same time – something I find difficult to handle. Then I mentioned Elizabeth and Sam and she stormed out.
I’d found out when I came back from Japan. I spent the night at Elizabeth's apartment, and in the morning, as I was getting dressed, I noticed she'd left a small suitcase in the bedroom. It had a label for Charles De Gaulle Airport and I asked whether she had stayed at our favourite hotel in Paris. She was jumpy, quickly moving the case and tearing off the label and she said, no, they’d stayed on the Left Bank ... They.
So, it all came out. Sam and Elizabeth snatching two days in Paris before he went to Canada. Meeting again in London, and being seen by Leah. She assumed that Leah had told me and was going to tell Lucy eventually.
I wasn't upset about Elizabeth having a casual affair. I mean, we've both done it, haven’t we. But not with Sam. That felt like a betrayal and Sam has only been married a short time. How could they do that?
I've always had problems with him. He was Robbie's friend, but he was always around, even after Robbie died and I thought he took advantage of my mother's feelings of loss.
He probably wanted Elizabeth just to get back at me when I didn't make him welcome. It was my mother who asked me to have the wedding reception at my house.
I wonder if they got together this summer, too, when we were all at the villa in France?
I'd only let them have the villa because
Lucy looked so tired. Sam and Elizabeth making love, in the sand dunes, the boathouse, or even one of the attic bedrooms perhaps ... Is it even over between them now?
I sat down on my bed and thought how one small incident led to my organised life erupting. An unknown woman falls down in a beauty salon, Lucy takes her to Accident and Emergency, meets Sam, and marries him. Then, on the night of the wedding, I find Leah there on my bed. I want her but she distracts me. Sam and Elizabeth probably got together again after the wedding; I not sure how long it had been going on before that.
So, it all falls apart.
I've finished with Elizabeth and now Leah's finished with me, too.
I need to resume my normal life, get things back in control. Women cause me too much trouble, and Leah really got under my skin.
I have a flashback of her against the tree in the woods, her jeans around her knees and her arms around my neck. I hadn't wanted to hurt her, but obviously I have.
I think I'll buy a yacht next year, sail to Crete in the summer, take Jake and his family around the islands for a simple holiday.
§
I get back to the office just before my scheduled meeting. I call Clare in and tell her that she will be taking over supervision of the Flower Garden account from now on. Any contact with Miss Grainger is to go through her and she will just keep me informed if necessary.
She gives me a look and I think she guesses about Leah, but if she does, she's very professional and makes no comment.
I take the meeting and decide that we’ll buy some of the smaller factories we saw on the tour and expand others – several million pounds worth of decisions made in an afternoon.
It's what I do best.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Emma and Simon had dragged Leah out to the local wine bar. She'd been working hard for weeks and they thought she needed to give it a rest. She had confided in Emma about her decision not to have anything more to do with James, and that she had heard no more from him.
Obsessed (BBW Billionaire Light Romance) Page 13