How Many Chances (11 page)

“Okay, Nick,” Cole sighed. “I will be right there.”

“You are leaving?” Ally asked unable to hide the disappointment from her voice.

“I have a couple of meetings I need to attend at the office,” Cole explained.  “And I have a couple of errands I need to run.”

“Oh, okay,” Ally smiled.

“I was thinking though,” Cole said, still not releasing her from his embrace. “I would like to take you out to dinner tonight. Somewhere special.”

“That sounds great,” Ally replied, but she couldn’t help feel disappointed he was going out again and she was once more being left alone.

“Don’t freak out,”
Cole said nervously. “I would like you to go and buy something special to wear. Nick will accompany you and he will pay for everything so you needn’t worry about price. Just worry about being ready for seven o’clock.”

“Okay,” Ally nodded and glanced at Nick and he smiled at her.
She wanted to protest but she decided for once to just go with the flow.

“So go get ready,” Cole instructed Ally with a relieved smile.  “And he will be back to collect
you once he has dropped me to my meeting.”

Ally nodded again and kissed Cole once more before he followed Nick out of the gym.

Ally made her way to Cole bedroom. She quickly showered and dressed and waited for Nick.

She was excited about her night ahead with Cole.  She was going to relax and enjoy her night out with her fiancé. Her fiancé Cole Bloody Thomas.

Cole
reached out and took Ally hand as she stepped out of the car. She was breathtaking. When she emerged from the bedroom earlier, dressed in her full length red Christian Dior dress, he was speechless. She had insisted she wanted to surprise him with her dress and it made him smile as he remembered the night he took her to the Four Seasons in Dublin and she had done the same thing.

It was the first time she had told him she loved him. He had been told it so many times before. But this was the first time it
truly meant anything to him.

Even when Charlotte had told him, he didn’t feel the inner joy and unquestionable love he had when Ally had whispered it to him.
She was, without question, the love of his life. They were soul mates.

She smiled brightly at him as she took hi
m by the arm and he led her through the door of the building they were stopped in front of, across a marble foyer and to the lift on the back wall.

“Where are we going?” she asked as the lift door closed behind them. Cole reached across and pressed the button for the seventh floor. He looked up and smiled at Ally.

“Babylon,” Cole said likes she should know exactly what he was talking about
. Ally hadn’t a clue. She stared blankly at Cole. “It’s a very exclusive restaurant. Has the most breathtaking views of London and the food is superb.”

“Oh, okay,” Ally said shifting nervously and instantly began to pull at her dress.

“Stop!” Cole exclaimed. He knew what was going through her head and it frustrated him. She was simply stunning yet she could never see this. “Ally, you look beautiful and you belong here. Please don’t ever doubt yourself.”

Ally smiled and kissed Cole softly. He gave her a reassuring smile and took her hand o
nce again as the doors of the lift pinged open. They stepped out into another lobby and Cole led her towards a set dark chocolate double doors with frosted glass panels inserted in to them.

When they reached the
m, Cole pulled open the door and stepped back to let Ally walk through. The restaurant was beautiful. It’s was a mixture of neutral colours and wood, with an apple green and black theme running through the whole restaurant. It had a classy yet intimate atmosphere.

The tables were cover
ed in crisp white table clothes and on each were several little glass candles, giving it the perfect touch. The whole place said elegance and the atmosphere was intimate and romantic.

“Mr Thomas,” a middle aged
man dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit, white shirt and green tie, greeted Cole brightly as he walked towards them. “What a pleasure to see you again Sir. It has been far too long since you last visited us.”

“Good evening, Sabastian,” Cole
greeted the man in a friend voice as he causally draped his arm around Ally waist. “And please allow me to introduce you to this beautiful young lady. This is Ally Brody. She is very special to me and as it’s her first time here in your beautiful establishment. I would like you to make her feel very welcome.”

“Of course sir,” Sabastian said as he turned his attention to Ally, taking her by the hand
and kissing it softly on the back. “Welcome to Babylon, Ms Brody. I hope you enjoy your evening.”

“Thank you,” Ally blushed as he released her hand and she quickly glanced at Cole who simply smiled at her.

“I you could please, follow me,” Sabastian chirped brightly as he led them through the restaurant. “I have your favourite table ready for you Mr Thomas.”

Cole took Ally’s hand and followed
Sabastian to their table. Ally was surprised how many people stood to greet Cole as he passed them by. And equally how many whispered when they saw him holding her hand. She could feel almost every eye in the room on them. Ally could feel her skin burn from head to toe with embarrassment and discomfort. All she could do was repeatedly chant in her head
. Stay calm! Stay calm! Stay calm!

“Madame,” Sabastian’s voice made Ally jump with fright and bring her back to the here and now. He was hold
ing her chair for her and looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to sit down.

Ally took her seat and looked over at Cole. He was watching her and when her eyes meet h
is, he gave her one of him famous breathtaking smiles. But he looked nervous and Ally wasn’t really sure why.

Sabastian told them to enjoy their meal and that Claude, their waiter for the evening
, would be with them shortly. Then he excused himself and left.

“Are you okay, gorgeous girl,” Cole said leaning forward in his se
at and reaching for Ally’s hand once they were alone.

“I’m fine,” she forced herself to smile
but he wasn’t buying it.

“No you’re not,” he smiled and ran the pad of his thumb over and back across the back of her hand. “What’s wrong?”

“Everyone is watching us,” she whispered as she leaned in towards him. She felt so uncomfortable and out of place.

“No,” he smiled. “Everyone is watching you, because you are most beautiful woman in this room. You are truly breathtaking.”

Ally blushed and instantly felt better. She honestly loved this handsome, amazing man sitting in front of her.

The waiter arrived and Cole order
ed their dinner for both of them at Ally’s request.

When the waiter returned with the wine C
ole had chosen, he poured Cole a glass to taste and when he approved, he filled both their glasses and left them alone once again.

“To us,” Cole said lifting his glass up to Ally’s. She lifted hers to meet it and repeated. “To us.”

The waiter arrived back with their entrees, placed them in front of them and once again, left them, alone.

“So I was thinking that maybe tomorrow evening we could go see my parents,” He said before bring
ing his fork to his mouth. He looked up at Ally expectantly, waiting for her response.

“That would be lovely,” Ally agreed honestly. “I would love to meet your Mom and Dad.”

“They are dying to meet you too,” Cole said with the biggest, relieved smile on his face.  “I have told them all about you.”

“Hope they aren’t disappointed,” Ally joked, but she was being honest too.
She was excited to meet his parents but was a little worried they might not think she was good enough for Cole.

“They will love you almost as much as I do,” Cole said reaching out once again and give her hand a reassuring squeeze.

They chatted about their plans for the rest of the week. Cole said he had a few more meeting he needed to attend but for the most part he would be all hers.

Halfway through dinner Ally looked up and stopped eating.
Cole looked at her questioningly.

“Oh my God!” Ally exclaimed and quickly looked back at Cole. “That’s Patrick Darcy.”

“Who?” Cole asked looking around to where Ally was nodding with her head.

“He is a writer,” Ally explained. “He
’s from Dublin too. I have read all his books. I love his writing.”

“Cool,” Cole said stealing another look at this guy. “Any good?”

“Very,” Ally smiled at Cole.  Then with a laugh added. “But not sure they would be your thing.”

“I see,” Cole said
with a knowing grin before he sipped his wine.

After the main course was finished the waiter cleared their plates away. Ally watched Cole
carefully. He look strange, nervous even. And he was nervous. He was about to drop down on his knee in front of the whole restaurant and ask Ally to marry him once again. But this time he was going to do it properly. This time he had a ring.

He looked at her and gave her a nervous smile
as the waiter returned with an ice bucket with champagne in it and two champagne flutes. Then his eyes fell behind her and his whole expression changed and Ally felt a bubble of panic come alive inside her. Something was wrong.

“Damn it,
” Cole growled under his breath as he placed his napkin down on the table.

“Cole
, what is it?” Ally asked nervously.

“Just an asshole I have the misfortune of knowing,” Cole replied very quietly
. “Just ignore whatever he says. He and I have butted heads on more than one occasion and he never comes out on top. He would like nothing more than to bring me down.”

Cole
’s face changed once again and Ally knew the asshole guy was approaching them. Cole stood up and forced a fake smile and reached out his hand.

“Sean,” he said as the man reached their table. “
It’s been a while.”

“Cole,” the man said in a cold, harsh tone. Ally could feel the blood drain from her body. She could feel her head spin and her palms
sweat. It has been a long time but the voice was so familiar that Ally knew immediately without looking at the man, who it was. “I heard you had a child. Congratulations. Children can be a blessing.”

Ally could feel her stomach lurch
at his words.

“Thank you,” Cole said as he pulled his hand away
. He turned to Ally and smiled, completely unaware of the train wreck that was about to happen.

“Sean,
I was like you meet Ally,” he said but suddenly, he noticed the expression on Ally’s face and he knew something was very wrong. He continued with a little less conviction in his voice. “Ally, this is Sean Fitzmaurice.”

But Ally didn’t miss a beat
, she turn around and gave the biggest smile she could manage. And came face to face with her past.

“Lovely to meet you,” she said brightly but she couldn’t bring herself to offer her hand. He turned and smile
d but his smile soon faded, and it was his turn now to look as white as a sheet.”

“Alexandra!” he exclaimed then turned to Cole who was now standing with a look of sheer confusion
on his face.  “Well Thomas, you really are a low life scumbag. I knew you had no heart or morals. But even for you this is a new low.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Cole demanded stari
ng at him in complete disbelief. He turned and looked questioningly at Ally. And was surprised to see tears dancing in her eyes. But she wasn’t looking at Cole. She was staring at Fitzmaurice.

“Ally,” he said reaching for her hand. She jumped with fright when she felt his hand on hers. “Sweetheart, do you know him?”

Ally knew if she tried to speak she would cry and she refused to let him see her cry, so she simply nodded her head.

“Oh like you don’t already know, Thomas,” Fitzmaurice snarled at Cole. “What was it? You got tired of fuck
ing me over. So you decided to fuck my daughter instead.”

“Your daughter?” Cole exclaimed in complete disbelief. He turned to Ally
, who had finally turned to Cole and the tears broke free and trickled down her face. “Is this true?”

Ally nodded, still unable to speak.
She could feel her head spin as her heart was hammering so hard in her chest was thought it was trying to burst free.

“I don’t understand,” Cole said, completely and utterly shocked. “Your name is Ally Brody.”

“HA!” Fitzmaurice laughed loudly. “Is that what she told you, Well looks like my little princess grew up to be a lying, money grabbing, little bitch, just like her useless mother was.”

Without even thinking Cole drew back and punched him square on the
face, sending him crashing to the ground.

“
I can’t do this,” Ally cried out before she grabbed her clutch handbag and hurried straight towards the door.

“Ally wait!” Cole called out but she didn’t even slow down. Cole look at Sean Fitzmaurice lying on a heap on the floor and then around the restaurant at all the
people who were now on their feet and craning their neck to see what was going on. The restaurant was suddenly buzzing with chatter.

He looked back at Fitzmaurice still sprawled on the ground with blood now trickling from his mouth.

“This is not over,” Cole growled down at him. Before he took to his heels and chased after Ally.

When he got out to the Lobby there was no sign of her. He ran to the lift and pressed the call button and the doors opened immediately
, so he knew she hadn’t taken the lift. He ran to the stair case but they were completely empty too. He could feel the bubble of fear rise inside him quickly.

The only place she could be was in the ladies. He rushed to the door and burst in without a
moment’s hesitation. There was one lady in there and she was standing at the vanity unit applying lipstick. She looked at Cole and then to Cole surprise she pointed at one of the cubicles. Then she picked up her bag and left them alone.

“Ally,” Cole said as he knocked softly on the door.

“Go away,” Ally sobbed.

“Ally, I am going nowhere till you talk to me,” he rep
lied with determination in his voice.

“Cole Just leaving me alone!” Ally cried out.

“Not until I see you,” Cole insisted. “So either you open the door and let me come in or I will climb over the top of the cubical.”