Bless This Love

by S M Mala

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Something like this can jeopardise me working elsewhere!’

  ‘You should have thought of that beforehand. Why did you say he was interested in me?’ Denise asked, narrowing her eyes. ‘He kept calling out your name a hell of a lot when he was blind folded. What were you up to that night?’

  ‘Erm.’ Suri got up and walked around the office, not knowing if she should say. Whatever came out of her mouth next would surely land her in trouble. Though, right now, she was tempted to thump Denise and take all the consequences. ‘Ted and I had a thing.’

  ‘A thing?’ Denise repeated, turning up her nose. ‘With you? What was it? A one night stand?’

  ‘Yes, so to speak. Approximately 547 days but divide that into three about 183. I counted the waste of my time.’ Her boss expressed sheer horror at the information as Suri shrugged. ‘I didn’t know he was married, and when I found out, after we had been together eighteen months, I ended it.’

  ‘You and Ted?’

  ‘Not common knowledge and I didn’t even know he had a reputation. Thing is, when do I speak to the sales lot? How would I know?’

  ‘Oh my God!’ Denise screamed into her hands. Then she looked angrily at Suri. ‘You set me up!’

  ‘How could I set you up when you’ll deny all involvement? You’ve also landed me in further shit!’ she said, seeing her boss was wound up. ‘I need to see a full list of his accusations and what you said.’

  ‘You know, I’ve been seeing him on and off for twenty years?’ she said, staring straight at her. ‘He always told me he’d never leave his wife and look what he did?’ A hand was pointed in Suri’s direction. ‘He was fucking you!’

  ‘What did you say?’

  ‘Ted was fucking with you.’

  ‘No! About the twenty years? He said it lasted a fortnight.’

  Denise looked like she was going to explode, her face going beetroot red even under the layer of thick, fake, suntan.

  ‘I’ve said enough,’ Suri said, getting to her feet.

  ‘Sit!’ screamed Denise and Suri could see people from outside had heard. ‘Please!’

  Slowly she sat back down. Denise got up from behind her desk and sat opposite her.

  ‘Are you really going out with a Vicar?’ she said, looking confused. ‘Does he know what you did?’

  ‘He doesn’t approve but Ted thought he could take me to bed even after I told him I was with a man of God.’

  ‘But you led Ted on?’

  ‘I was going to leave him high and dry.’

  ‘You didn’t take any pictures of your bondage display did you? I, personally, thought it was a little amateur.’

  ‘That’s not how I get my kicks,’ Suri sniffed. ‘I’m on my own on this; no thanks to you. I’ll see what happens.’

  ‘You know this could lead to your dismissal?’

  ‘I bet you can’t wait, can you?’

  ‘In here, now!’

  Edgar didn’t look happy as she was summoned to the boardroom after her meeting with Human Resources.

  It had been brief.

  She laughed at Ted’s sexual harassment allegation and refused to tell them anything.

  Now Suri meekly walked into the room as Edgar slammed the door shut.

  ‘What have you done?’

  ‘Before you have a go at me, I’ll resign. That’ll make it a whole lot easier,’ she said, flinging herself down on a chair. ‘It’s been a tough week and I don’t want that piece of scum thinking he can get one up on me.’

  ‘You do know what he’s accusing you of?’

  ‘Sexual harassment my arse!’

  ‘He says you lured him into a hotel room, tied and gagged him, leaving him to be found the following morning by the cleaning staff.’

  Suri was a little confused.

  ‘I didn’t gag him.’

  ‘Oh, so you admit to tying him up? He’s talking about pressing charges against you for sexual assault.’

  ‘Oh fuck!’ she said, knowing Denise had set her up. ‘Are you sure it’s me?’

  ‘Suri, Suri, Suri,’ he sighed, sitting down at the other end of the board table. ‘We are a highly respectable broadcasting company. I can’t afford publicity like this to get out.’

  ‘You won’t! Believe me, I’ve been set up.’

  ‘Tell me everything. Now.’

  Seeing she had nothing to lose, other than her job and knowing Edgar wouldn’t write her a reference based on his current expression.

  Or even worse.

  He’d tell her mum and his ex-wife if she told him everything.

  But she had no choice, so spilled the beans.

  From how her affair started to the hotel incident but leaving out Denise and Leila’s names. Deep down she would have loved to land Denise in a pound of poo but knew Leila would get pulled into it, which wasn’t fair.

  He listened without a flicker of emotion.

  ‘Are you dating the Vicar?’ he asked eventually.

  ‘Which one?’

  ‘Suri!’

  ‘I was seeing a Vicar. I’m still seeing a Vicar after a little hiccup,’ she replied, looking down at her feet. ‘That’s all you need to know.’

  ‘Can you name him? Do I know this man? Does Janet?’ he quietly asked. Suri bit her lip hard, not wanting to answer. ‘It was you in Reverend Isley’s bedroom, wasn’t it?’

  ‘How do you know that?’

  She was caught out by the roar of laughter rattling from his throat. It was loud, and he looked at her, his face lit up through sheer amusement.

  ‘I’m putting you on gardening leave. You’ve been out of sorts for a few weeks, and I realise added pressure might have made you go off the rails a bit.’

  ‘I’m not mad.’

  ‘Please plead some sort of insanity about this,’ he chuckled. ‘This isn’t one of your wisest moves.’

  ‘Ted thinks I’d drop my knickers, like that!’ She clicked her fingers. ‘He needed to be taught a lesson.’ Suri thought hard for a moment. ‘Is it full pay?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘How many weeks?’

  ‘Two.’

  ‘And what can’t I do?’

  ‘Work for another company,’ Edgar said, narrowing his eyes. ‘He has only come back in, and Ted's very good at what he does.’

  ‘A slimy, shifty, sales man.’

  ‘And you won’t tell me who else is involved?’

  Suri shook her head from side to side.

  ‘You’ve been watching the adult channels, so are you sure you don’t know more about this bondage thing than you’re letting out.’

  ‘I have problems tying up my shoe laces, let alone trusting him up like a turkey.’ She hesitated. ‘Have you got any pictures?’

  Edgar started to laugh again.

  ‘I missed you at the memorial, though I did catch you hiding behind a tree,’ he smiled, getting up to sit closer. ‘You heard what Reverend Pinter said about you? I wish you’d tell me what happened that day.’

  ‘Two people died. There’s nothing else to talk about.’

  ‘It changed your carefree attitude.’

  ‘Not totally,’ she half smiled and looked at Edgar. ‘I’ve said my goodbyes and have to move on but…’ This she couldn’t hold onto. ‘I hate Janet Peters with such a passion. For looking down at my mother and bad mouthing me. Don’t tell her anything.’

  ‘If she finds out you’re meddling with that new young Vicar, who she seems to have taken a shine to, you won’t come out of this in one piece.’

  Then he laughed even harder.

  ‘Reverend Joe Isley? God help him, and God help you!’

  ‘What gardening?’

  Her mother looked confused as Suri arranged to meet her, that same Wednesday after Edgar happily evicted her out of the building, for lunch. ‘You don’t know what a weed is.’

  ‘I know about some weed,’ Suri laughed and noticed her mother wasn’t impressed by her jok
e. ‘It’s a term for laying someone off as they do some investigations.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  They were sat outside the Italian restaurant opposite the church.

  Suri thought it might keep her mum calm.

  She’d got it wrong.

  ‘Someone has accused me of doing something to them. And-.’

  ‘Did you?’

  ‘Sort of.’

  ‘Suri!’ her mother said, shaking her head furiously. ‘You have a good job, and you’ll end up losing it.’

  ‘I don’t care,’ she honestly replied. ‘They’re making me watch porn.’

  ‘Pardon me?’ her mother hissed, looking disgusted. ‘Why?’

  ‘They think I write good continuity.’

  ‘Oh, the shame!’ Mary said, shaking her head. ‘Can’t Edgar help?’

  ‘He’s the one that told me to take gardening leave. Fully paid, of course.’

  ‘For how long?’

  ‘A couple of weeks,’ she said, internally happy at the thought of not going to work and to avoid the beast, and her slimy ex-lover. ‘It’s going to be tough.’

  ‘You can help me at the church.’

  ‘I will not!’

  ‘If Janet Peters finds out she’ll never let me forget it. It was only on Saturday I got some support for you, after all these years.’ Mary looked close to tears. ‘Why can’t you stay out of trouble?’

  ‘Hello there.’ Joe was standing beside Suri, making her jump. She instantly went bright red. ‘Hello, Mrs Thomas, what a beautiful day.’ Then he turned to Suri. ‘And this must be your daughter.’

  ‘Oh yes,’ Mary said getting flustered. ‘This is Suri whose company is forcing her to take up gardening.’ He looked confused. Suri couldn’t help but grin. ‘It’s not funny. You might lose your job.’

  ‘I’m not laughing,’ she replied sweetly, putting out her hand. ‘Hello.’ Joe gave her a firm handshake. ‘You’ve got a grip on you.’

  ‘I’ve not had many complaints,’ he smirked.

  ‘Would you like to join us for coffee?’

  ‘If you don’t mind,’ he said, taking a chair and sitting opposite.

  She could tell he was trying not to smile.

  ‘And you’re taking up gardening? Is that right?’ he asked while Suri gestured to the waiter.

  ‘I’m being put on gardening leave because someone has accused me of doing something that I sort of didn’t do.’

  ‘Sort of?’

  ‘I did it but not all of it, if you get my drift.’

  ‘She has always been strong headed,’ her mother said, stirring her coffee frantically. ‘Her father called it curious.’

  ‘I’m partially innocent.’

  ‘Then tell me what you did.' Mary asked, looking straight at her. ‘And you can’t lie because Reverend Isley is from the church.’

  ‘Like a sort of community worker, are you?’ she said, watching him smile.

  ‘Sort of,’ he said, starting to laugh. ‘What did you do?’ He flicked Mary a glance. ‘Was it bad?’

  ‘He thinks so,’ smirked Suri.

  ‘He?’ her mother said, looking confused as Joe raised his eyebrows. ‘You did something to a man.’

  ‘Mouse would be a better description,’ Suri sighed. ‘Can we change the subject? I’m being laid off work, on full pay, until they investigate further.’

  ‘For how long?’ he asked as a waiter approached. ‘Can I have an espresso?’

  ‘And I’ll have a large glass of house red,’ Suri said, smiling brightly. ‘I can get drunk as I don’t have to go back to work. And who said there wasn’t a God?’

  ‘Suri, do you mind? This is the new Vicar, and you’re not exactly making a good impression, are you?’ Mary got to her feet. ‘Please behave while I go to the ladies. Excuse me, Reverend Isley.’

  They watched her rush away at high speed.

  ‘Ted reported you?’ said Joe, shaking his head from side to side. ‘What a wanker!’

  ‘Man of God, you can’t swear. It says so in the bible,’ she sighed, slumping in her chair. ‘Denise told me she’ll deny everything, vouch for Ted and I don’t want to get Leila into trouble. He said I tied and gagged him, leaving him humiliated.’

  ‘And your lady friends didn’t tell you that bit?’

  ‘Leila said she left him with Denise,’ Suri suddenly remembered. ‘Bloody Denise has done this. I knew she hated me, but this is an all-time low.’

  ‘And what you did wasn’t?’

  ‘I’m sorry if she said anything out of turn,’ Mary interrupted, rushing back to the table and sitting down, obviously scared Suri would put her foot in it. ‘You need to do something, my child, to make sure you don’t lose your job.’

  ‘I don’t like my job,’ she shrugged and looked at the church. ‘It’s not fulfilling.’

  ‘You want fulfilment?’ her mother asked. The coffee and wine turned up. ‘Getting drunk for a fortnight isn’t going to help anything.’

  ‘It might.’

  ‘Reverend Isley, Joe, needs help with all sorts of things. As a punishment for letting your mother down, you can assist him.

  ‘I won’t!’ she said, putting her glass back on the table. ‘You can’t punish me?’

  ‘I do need some help,’ he said, nodding and she knew he was going to laugh. ‘My writing skills aren’t up to scratch, and I hear you’re very good at that sort of thing. Maybe you could help me with a few leaflets and some other bits I’m working on.’

  ‘Really?’ Suri said and noticed her mother was now starting to smile. ‘I can’t write religious stuff.’

  ‘Who are you currently writing for? I hear you’re an editor for continuity in television. Is there a certain channel you’re working on considering the vast amount of choice?’ he quietly asked.

  ‘A lot of ‘oh my God’ is said on a regular basis, while people do some interesting yoga positions,’ she whispered back, making him laugh.

  ‘What did she say?’ her mother asked, looking at them.

  ‘I said I’d be delighted to assist him in his heavenly duties,’ she smiled as Joe looked away. ‘Starting from today but after I’ve finished my wine.’

  ‘Reverend Joe, I hope she’s not a handful.’

  ‘I don’t mind,’ he said, looking at her mother before glancing at Suri. ‘I think I can handle it.’

  ‘You’re gorgeous!’

  Joe had pushed her forward, over his small desk, after pulling off all her clothing. Suri was naked, and he only had his shirt on. ‘We can say it was your mother that introduced us.’

  ‘She’ll flip if she knew what you were doing to me, right now.’

  ‘If you only knew what I want to do to you next.’

  His hand was between her legs, playing with her nub as his other hand caressed her breast. Joe’s lips were tracing her neck. He was due at a meeting in half an hour but diverted her to his flat on the pretence he was giving her a job.

  The man was certainly giving her a hand job and a half.

  ‘I’m going to come very quickly,’ she groaned, buckling as her thighs became taut, and he rubbed her even harder. ‘I can’t take it! Is the door bolted?’

  ‘I changed the locks so no one can get in!’ he groaned.

  ‘Oh, that’s … that’s… Joe!’

  Then she came, grinding herself onto his fingers.

  Joe swivelled her around and made her sit on the desk, paper sticking to her bottom. He then held her thigh up and pushed himself in, looking at what he was doing.

  ‘Oh my!’ she said, her body jerking to the next orgasm and the remaining ones.

  ‘Hold on,’ he gasped, smiling as he pulled her leg up higher, and she leaned back on the desk.

  ‘My poor leg can’t stretch any further.’

  ‘But I can go in deeper,’ he groaned. ‘And I want to go in deep. Ah!’

  And he was as she held her breath, feeling her face get very hot, hoping he wouldn’t thrust too hard, or she’ll fall off the
not so sturdy desk. Joe was moving so fast, she kept gulping to catch her breath.

  ‘It’s perfect!’ he groaned. ‘This is wonderful! You … oh… you can work with me and… you’re so hot!’

  ‘Yes, but don’t boss me around.'

  He laughed at her comment.

  Suri grabbed his shoulders, holding on for dear life and kissed him. He groaned, nearly biting off her tongue in the process, before finishing it off with a passionate kiss.

  Joe panted as he pulled away and out, taking off the condom and bending down to kiss her nub gently. Suri shuddered and thought she’d lost all ability to breathe.

  She was, in the meantime, semi stuck and couldn’t move. He realised and gently helped her, guiding Suri towards his small sofa. Once she’d sat down, he hugged her, wrapping his shirt around her body.

  ‘I love you,’ he whispered into her ear. Suri was trying to get the feeling back to the leg that he tried to put behind her head, and only managed to get to the same height as her boob. ‘And with you volunteering, it might-.’

  ‘Are you serious?’ she said, looking at his flushed cheeks and bright pink lips. ‘I thought you were joking.’

  ‘This is a perfect way for us to spend time together and to strike up a friendship.’

  ‘It’s a little too late for that, considering the amount of sex we have.’

  ‘And bless the Lord for that,’ he grinned, rubbing his nose against her cheek. ‘How else are we going to explain it?’

  ‘Are you saying what I think you’re saying?’

  ‘It’s time to start making it public but we’re going to have to back track a bit.’

  ‘How?

  ‘We’ll show them we’re falling in love.’

  Suddenly she dreaded the idea of Janet Peters, let alone her mother, knowing she’d been seeing the Vicar.

  From the smile appearing on Joe’s face, she realised he might be getting more fun out of it than she ever could.

  ‘Who’d have thought?’

  Jack said when she walked into his house mid-afternoon on Monday. ‘Suri Thomas coming to help the church. Oh, this is a divine day!’

  ‘Bugger off,’ she hissed as he pushed her into his office, laughing all the while.