Fates Tied (8 page)

Suzanne was amazed, she had forgotten how nice it could be to talk to someone and find out more about them without having to pry it from them. She found herself laughing at Brad’s jokes and enjoying his company more than she had ever expected when she first agreed to the double date. She kept catching Tiffany’s eye and seeing her satisfied smirk when the younger woman thought that Suzanne wasn’t looking. Suzanne supposed that Tiffany did have something to be satisfied about after all, she had managed to make sure that Suzanne enjoyed herself more than she had in a long time outside of the bedroom.

The more that Suzanne laughed and talked with Brad, the more that she found herself enjoying his company and the more attractive she found him.

The lust she felt was nowhere near the level that she had when she was around Edward but there was a slow and easy burn starting in the pit of her stomach. As the meal went on and they drank more and more wine she found her gaze falling to Brad’s lips more often, wondering if they were as soft as they looked.

She felt content around him, comfortable to be herself and willingly shared details with him that she had never dared to share with Edward.

She began to marvel at the difference between the two men but was quickly distracted by another hilarious tale from Brad’s work that had her practically crying.

At this point the bill had arrived and before Suzanne could argue Brad had pulled his wallet out and was paying for their half.

“You don’t have to do that really,” Suzanne argued after the waiter walked away. She wiped away a few remaining tears of laughter, “I’m perfectly happy to give my share.”

“Well what kind of gentleman would I be if I let you do that?” Brad said, smiling gently, “My mother always taught me to pay for my dates and I always listen to my mother’s advice. I might not always take it but in this instance I definitely am.”

“Oh a mummy’s boy are you?” Suzanne teased, “Should I be worried?”

“Nah,” Brad said, leaning closer, “like I said, I might listen but I don’t always follow through with what Mum says.”

“Is that so?” Suzanne asked, leaning closer to Brad.

“Indeed,” Brad said. “Besides, this is the most fun I’ve had with a woman in ages. I’d love to see you again sometime if that’s ok?”

Those words were like a splash of ice water on Suzanne’s good mood. In the space of a moment, with a single sentence, her happy feeling vanished, doused as she realised that she couldn’t say yes right now. She was with Edward, for however much longer and she wasn’t the sort of woman to be with two men at once.

But at the same time she wanted to see Brad again, she wanted to spend more time with him and laugh. She was torn.

“Suzanne?” Brad asked, placing his hand gently on hers, “Suzanne did I say something wrong?”

“See you later guys!” Tiffany called, standing to leave, “Suzanne I’ll call you tomorrow, ok?”

“Sure,” Suzanne said quickly, looking anywhere but at Brad. “Catch you tomorrow.”

The other couple disappeared and Suzanne was left at the table with Brad, alone. She grabbed her wine and downed it, gulping quickly to avoid having the awkward conversation that she knew was coming.

“Come on,” Brad said, standing and holding out his hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

He led her from the restaurant, her hand resting gently in the crook of his arm. As they walked down the street, enjoying the warm summer breeze in silence Suzanne began to calm down a little.

“So you’re seeing someone huh?” Brad asked eventually, “I can’t say I’m surprised. A beautiful woman like you must have men lined up around the block for the chance to take you out to dinner.”

“I am…” Suzanne stammered, “I am seeing someone… I think. It’s just... it’s a bit…”

“Complicated?” Brad finished. “I know the feeling.”

“I just…” Suzanne struggled to think how to say it without offending Brad. “He’s handsome, and intelligent, and rich and wonderful. But he just doesn’t seem to want to share anything about himself.”

“So it feels like he’s just using you for a good time?” Brad asked, “Suzanne, I know I’m probably a little biased in this but don’t you deserve better? Don’t you deserve to be with someone who wants to just be with you, whether it’s in the bedroom or on the streets?”

“I’m starting to think that,” Suzanne said slowly. “Tonight helped me to remember what a proper relationship is like, a real relationship based on more than just sex. Towards the end of my marriage that’s all it was as well, just sex and barely any other time spent together.”

“Sounds like you’re falling into an old pattern,” Brad said. “Sometimes it can be painful to break those patterns but we really need to if we want to grow as people.”

“That’s very insightful for a mechanic,” Suzanne said, a hint of teasing in her voice

“I watch a lot of Jeremy Kyle at work,” Brad admitted with a hint of a blush on his cheeks. “It helps pass the time when it’s slow.”

“Plus it’s entertaining,” Suzanne said, wagging her finger at him.

“That it is,” Brad said, putting an arm around her shoulders. “It’s incredibly entertaining.”

The next day found Suzanne pulling up outside the spa hotel, late in the afternoon. Brad had ended up staying over at her flat, sleeping on the sofa after they watched some of her Jeremy Kyle recordings. It was the most fun that she had had in ages and she had felt so comfortable in his company that she had taken off her makeup and changed into her pyjamas. Brad had even given her a foot rub as they sprawled on opposite ends of the sofa.

They had shared a kiss and eventually admitted that there was no real chemistry between them but that their enjoyment of each other’s company meant that they may well have made a good friend that night. Now, as Suzanne sat in her car checking her makeup, hair and clothes one last time she couldn’t help but marvel at the difference between the two men. She always felt as though she had to be flawlessly put together around Edward, as though anything less than perfect would not do.

As she climbed from her car and looked up at the imposing Victorian gothic architecture that made up the hotel she made up her mind. This would be Edward’s last chance. If there was no intimacy, no casual sharing like she had had the night before then things would be over between the two of them. It would hurt, Suzanne knew that, but she also knew now that she was worthy of something better, a relationship that was more fulfilling for both of them.

Her mind made up she headed to the room, double checking the number in the message from Edward. She knocked on the door and waited, ready to tell Edward exactly what she was thinking. The moment the door opened though the breath was knocked out of her. She had forgotten how handsome he was, how much she wanted him and she didn’t fight when he dragged her into the room and began to kiss her, pinning her against the wall.

The door clicked shut, helped by Edward’s heel and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt his hands on her, moving so surely, so confidently. He knew exactly what to do, exactly how to touch her to get the fires in her body stoked high.

Suzanne felt him tugging at her clothes, quickly undoing the buttons on her shirt and shoving it away from her shoulders and breasts. He ducked his head and took one of her nipples into his mouth, his tongue teasing it into a hard nub.

She groaned, throwing her head back and wrapping one slender leg around his waist, her heel digging into the buttocks that she so loved to sink her fingers into when he was thrusting inside her. She could feel him, all that coiled muscle and strength, the hard thick ridge of his dick pressing against her. She couldn’t wait and began tugging at the dressing gown that he must have slung on to answer the door. They began to slowly back away from the wall, their feet stumbling together.

All the time Edward was teasing her nipples with his tongue, switching from one to the other and Suzanne was running her hands all over his torso, feeling the muscle beneath her fingers. They fell on to the bed together, twined around each other, their mouths locked together as their passion raged out of control.

***

“I was wondering whether you wanted to go to my son’s birthday party?” Edward said a few hours later as they lay together, sated, on the bed. “He’s turning five and I’d love for you to meet him.”

“You have a son?” Suzanne asked quietly, surprised by this unexpected volunteering of information, “How come you haven’t mentioned him before?”

“I just didn’t think the time was right,” Edward said quietly, rolling on his side to look at her. “Will you think about it? It’s next month.”

“I’ll think about it,” Suzanne said quietly.

Edward kissed her neck softly and scooted closer, wrapping his legs around hers. His breathing evened out and settled down and she could feel his entire body relax. He slipped into sleep but Suzanne didn’t find slumber as easily. Her mind was racing. Edward had opened up a little bit more, in fact it was a whole lot more for him.

But for Suzanne it wasn’t enough and it was too late. She had asked him to share things with her, to talk to her about things other than sex and time and time again he had refused. Now, as though he sensed that she was drawing away he had shared something. But it was too late.

Suzanne knew that she deserved better and despite the passion they had shared only hours before she knew that she probably would never find what she needed from Edward, not without a lot of work and a lot of heart ache in the meantime.

Her mind made up Suzanne quietly slipped from the bed, pausing beside it as Edward mumbled in his sleep and pulled a pillow close. She thought that she heard him say her name but knew that she was probably wrong. He would never think about her in his dreams. She pulled out the note that she had prepared and left it on the pillow beside him where her head had been. Placing one last kiss on the sleeping man’s lips she turned and left the room silently, tears streaming down her face.

Edward woke up and reached for Suzanne’s warm body, determined to wake up in style properly. His hand only met cold sheet and he lifted his head from the pillow and blinked blearily at where Suzanne should have been.

She wasn’t there, her side of the bed looked barely slept in and all of her things were gone; the suitcase, her handbag, her clothes. Most tellingly her car keys were gone from the dressing table where he had placed them beside his.

The only thing that was left was a note in her delicate handwriting, a cream envelope on the pillow where only the night before her head had been. He sat up and hands shaking reached for the note. He lifted it to his face and breathed in. It still smelled like her. He found himself trembling all over as he peeled the envelope open and began reading.

My Dearest Edward,

Although I care about you so very much and quite probably love you, the fact is that I need more. I can’t do this anymore, the nights together, the texts, the emails and yet no other intimacy. I would willingly give you my heart and soul but you can’t give the same to me in return. I need more than that and I can’t do it anymore, not without the hope that one day we will be more. I need and deserve the emotion and security that only a real relationship can give me and right now all we have is sex. I care so much for you my darling Edward but I can’t keep doing this to myself. I deserve better and I finally realised this with a little help from a few friends.

I’m sorry.

Your Suzanne.

Edward stared at the words in horror and felt something wet running down his face.

It hit the card, smearing the words and he realised that he was crying. He reached a hand up to his face and touched the tears that were now falling thick and fast. He realised that without meaning to Suzanne had somehow managed to change him and now the idea of not having her in his life any more hurt him more than he could ever have imagined. But the knowledge had come too late and he would probably never see Suzanne again. He held the letter to his chest and wept.

CHAPTER 7

In the past few months, ever since Suzanne had left with nothing more than a note to say her goodbye, Edward had imagined that he was seeing her everywhere. Each and every blond woman that he saw was Suzanne for a moment until he got a little closer. A few times he had found himself shouting after strange women, calling Suzanne’s name. Now and then he had even run after them, grabbing and spinning them around only to rush away babbling an apology. The hallucinations had been slowly dying away and Edward had believed himself almost completely rid of them. Every now and then though something appeared that reminded him of her and the memories would cascade through his mind, cutting him like a knife inside.

He couldn’t believe that he had been such an idiot, had kept her at such a distance. It had pushed her away, he had seen it happening and for some reason Edward just hadn’t been able to stop himself. He knew now though, now Suzanne was gone from his life, that he wanted to be with her despite all his original thoughts. He still found himself checking his phone every day, many times a day in fact and looking for Suzanne’s name in his email inbox. Whenever he saw an advertising campaign or an event that was going to be big news his heart would start pounding and he would wonder whether she had arranged it.

Edward often found himself wondering whether she was thinking of him, whether she missed him or thought of him at all.

Considering what he had done to her and how he had treated her Edward supposed that Suzanne had probably pushed him from her mind. A small part of him hoped though that one day she would get in touch with him, however small the words were.

He knew that she hadn’t been in love with him, not completely, but he also knew that the threads of love had begun to take root in her mind, just like they had taken root in his and he hoped, time and again that she would fall in love with him were they ever to see each other again. If she were ever to get back in touch with him though Edward knew that it would have to be on her terms and so he waited, hoping and praying that she would finally let him know that she wanted him once more.

“I’m telling you, this guy was going to come at me with a knife,” Suzanne’s date continued to drone on, “I could see it in his eyes, all crazy like, and I knew in that moment that I had to get this guy away from the kids that I was coaching. They didn’t need to see me kick the crap out of this guy after all.”

The blond that was on the arm of an older gentleman simpered and battered her eyelashes at Greg, Suzanne’s date, crying out at how brave and selfless he was. Suzanne didn’t care though, having heard the story seven or eight times already that evening, she just continued to sip her champagne and rolled her eyes.

She caught the older gentleman’s grin of amusement and the quick wink of companionship and smiled with amusement.

“Hey babe, go get me some more champagne,” Greg said, nudging Suzanne with his empty glass. “And get one for Christie here, she looks a little parched.”

Suzanne held her hand out for some money but Greg just looked at her blankly.

“I’m not paying for champagne for a total stranger Greg,” Suzanne said firmly. “If you want to get her a drink then give me the money.”

“Hey!” Greg hissed quietly, stepping away from Christie and grabbing Suzanne’s upper arm. “You’re the one that invited me here, I’m your date. As your date I should be happy and it’s your job to make sure I’m happy. So… go and get us both champagne. Now.”

Greg threw Suzanne’s arm away from him and turned back to Christie all smiles and charm. Suzanne glared at him but turned and headed towards the bar.

As she walked, she rubbed her arm where she could still feel Greg’s fingers gripping her tightly, too tightly. She knew that in the morning there would be bruises where his fingers had been. She wondered to herself why she had even asked the man to come with her, concluding that it was a fit of madness and as she drew closer to the bar she spotted the responsible parties. She sidled up beside them both and smiled.

“Remind me again why I listen to you three,” Suzanne asked.

“Because we’re amazing?” Brad suggested.

“Because we only want what’s best for you?” Tiffany said.

“Because we’re always right and no one else tells you how it is,” Claire said matter-of-factly.

“Wrong, wrong and definitely wrong,” Suzanne said, pointing at them each in turn. “That man is the most obnoxious man I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. He’s just ordered me to get champagne for another woman who is with someone else.”

“Oh give him a little credit,” Brad muttered, gulping a mouthful of beer, “It’s been a long week for him at work and to be fair that girl is gorgeous!”

“That girl is also my granddaughter,” the older gentleman said, appearing at Suzanne’s other side. “And a sillier creature I have never met, I’m ashamed to say.”

Brad spluttered and started choking on his beer. Tiffany helpfully pounded his back and Claire began to clean up the drink Brad had spilt on himself. In the meantime the gentleman leaned towards Suzanne and handed her a glass of champagne.

“It’s my suggestion that after tonight you never see that man again my dear,” he whispered in her ear.

“You’re far too good for him and he has no respect for women whatsoever. I can see it in his eyes.” He continued in a louder voice, “Now if you’ll excuse me I have a granddaughter to collect and more people to talk to. Ladies, gentleman.”

He bowed his head before turning and walking away, passing Greg and Christie as he did so who seemed to be very intimate in a darkened corner. Suzanne smiled as he gently but firmly took the young girl by the arm and pulled her away. The look of anger that Greg sent after the pair wiped the smile from her face very quickly. With a sigh she returned to her date, sending one last look of annoyance at her friends. Some help they were. It had been the three of them, conspiring together that had led to Suzanne attending the awards dinner with Greg, a blind set up that had all but ruined her evening.

It had been Brad’s suggestion. Suzanne had continued to spend time with him, even though there was no chemistry or attraction between the two of them. Brad had been sweet and thoughtful, attentive and had even, somehow, managed to pull the truth from her about Edward and the entire mess that had been. He had sympathised, comforted her and then made it his mission to find someone better than Edward who would treat her like the princess that Brad kept insisting that she was. It had been him in fact that had introduced Suzanne to Greg, meeting him through the garage where Brad worked.

Suzanne had eventually agreed after much cajoling from Brad as well as Tiffany and Claire when they discovered what was going on.

That was why she found herself with the most unpleasant man that she had ever met for the first time at the industry awards show for marketing and events companies.

At first glance Greg had seemed charming enough, handsome and smooth with an air of sophistication that was lacking in many men. Within moments of meeting him Suzanne had begun to think that there was the potential for a future there with him. But the evening had worn on and Greg had never once asked Suzanne anything about herself. He had even gone so far as to interrupt her when others began to ask about her.

The more that Suzanne was forced to listen to the same stories over and over again, the more that those stories grew and changed with each telling and the way that Greg always seemed to be the hero in them was starting to wear thin. Suzanne was beginning to realise that Greg was nothing more than a child who wanted to be the centre of attention at all times. Thankfully the awards dinner was almost over, dinner had been served, desserts devoured and plates cleaned away. Now all that the attendees were waiting for was the arrival of the final speaker, the main event.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” came the voice of the compere over the microphone, “Ladies and gentlemen please return to your seats. It is now time for our final award of the evening.”

The hustle and bustle of the room quickly died down as people began to return to their tables, Greg meeting Suzanne halfway and guiding her with a hand on the small of her back. He even pulled her chair out for her to sit down. She knew that he was looking around though, just to see  which women, were watching him. Eventually all the noise died away and the compere at the pedestal in the centre of the stage smiled at them all.

“Thank you so much ladies and gentlemen,” he said when all eyes were on him. “Now, our final award is for Best Partner Engagement. Now this was a close category, with many nominations and I don’t have to tell you that the judging was particularly hard. Many of you work closely with clients in order to meet their needs, carrying out research and communicating directly with those in charge of the companies that you are working with. The company who has won this award however went above and beyond in their duties to please their clients, sending one of their own on a research trip to truly see how the company operates in order to tailor their events perfectly to the client. And so, it gives me great pleasure to announce the winner of Best Partner Engagement: Southern Star Events Management for their work with White Star Cruises.”

The room erupted into applause and cheered happily as Suzanne, Tiffany and Catherine stepped on to the stage, waving and smiling.

The cameras flashed as Catherine gave her acceptance speech, hastily prepared earlier that day when she discovered that they had been nominated. Suzanne contented herself with looking around the room at the gathered event’s organisers. They were all pleased for her, for the company and they were listening intently to what Catherine was saying as she praised the importance of tailoring services to clients. Then Suzanne noticed Greg’s face, as he sat at their table beside Brad, scowling with his arms crossed over his chest.

He was glaring daggers at them all and kept looking around as though trying to find someone who was looking at him instead. Finding no one Greg reached for a glass of wine and downed it, reaching for the bottle and refilling it within seconds. Suzanne decided there and then to end the evening with him as soon as possible, even though they had booked a room.

Tiffany nudged her and she looked around, realising quickly that Catherine’s speech was over and done with and they were all now leaving the stage. The audience began to talk amongst themselves as the women returned to their table.

“Congratulations Suzanne,” Brad said, standing to hug her and kiss her cheek. “You did fantastically.”

The group sat down while Greg said nothing, choosing instead to drink glass after glass of wine. The conversation turned to Suzanne’s work with White Star Cruises very quickly after that.

“Didn’t you meet Edward on the cruise?” Brad asked innocently enough.

“Edward who?” Tiffany asked in confusion, breaking away from whispering in Dale’s ear.

“Edward Connor,” Claire said quietly. “The scientist guy.”

“Eurgh,” Greg said loudly, a little too loudly, “I’ve heard of him. He probably got by on Daddy’s money, using it to start everything up and didn’t have to earn a penny of it.”

“Don’t you manage the London branch of your family’s company?” Suzanne said, trying to sound innocent.

“That’s different,” Greg muttered, “I worked my way up to management. I didn’t just appear one day ready to lead the company.”

“From what I heard Edward did much the same,” Claire said. “He’s actually a brilliant man who worked his way through several companies until he set up his own with his business partner Christian something.”

“Christian Large,” Suzanne said without thinking.

“Oh my god,” Tiffany said, a little too loudly.

People turned to look their way, shushing the young woman, “Isn’t that Edward guy the one that you were dating a while back? The one that you never left the bed with.”

“Oh they left the bed,” Claire said with a grin. “How do you think she got those grill marks on her legs?”

The two women burst into giggles, trying to calm themselves as more people looked at them disapprovingly before bursting out laughing again. Suzanne just glanced at Brad out of the corner of her eye before looking at Greg.

He was glaring at her with disappointment and disgust.

“Did you really date that guy?” He asked sharply, “Seriously? I bet he doesn’t even know what his own company does. He probably sits at home watching TV all day while others do the work.”

“Actually he often works late,” Suzanne said snootily. “He carries out most of the initial research that steers the direction that Genesis Tech heads in.”

“Learnt all this during pillow talk did you?” Greg said with a sneer. “I hope I’ll be getting to share some of that pillow talk with you tonight. I better be getting some.”

The others stopped laughing and looked at the pair with worry and a little fear. Suzanne stared at the man in disgust for a moment before standing and pushing her chair back loudly.

“I wouldn’t sleep with you if you were the last man on earth,” she said firmly, no longer caring who heard.

Greg reached out and grabbed Suzanne by the wrist, rising to his feet as he did so. He pulled her towards him, almost yanking her arm out of its socket as he did so.

“Sit down you stupid bitch,” he hissed in her ear. “Sit down now before you embarrass yourself any more than you already have.”