When Past & Present Collide: WP&PC (3 page)

How could someone do this to us?

It was the only question that was constantly repeating in my head.

Why us?

Did I do something wrong?

Did Ella?

I sniggered as the thought crossed my mind. Did Ella? More than bloody likely. But damn, nothing to earn this much redemption. Heck she was a feisty, stubborn madam but she was my feisty stubborn madam. The fucker who had done this to us was going to fucking pay, you can mark my words.

I’m not a nasty man.

But bitter I am.

Ella glanced up “what are you sniggering for
?” she whispered.

Shit
, I couldn’t have her this way, her voice was slowly fading. I shook my head, “nothing sweetheart, just relax and let me take you to bed.”

I
had finally got her to snuggle into the crook of my neck as she tried to whisper the one word I had dreaded, and the one word no fucker would dare say to me. “What if…” I cut her off before she could carry on. I couldn’t even consider the what-ifs. They weren’t even on the table. “Shh, sweetheart. Rest okay.” Ella just nodded but I knew she wanted to ask.

Instead she came out with something I never even imagined. “Tell me why you kept coming back,” she whispered.

I smiled; I couldn’t believe she wanted to talk about this, but anything that would help take her mind off the last question.

“I don’t know sweetheart, maybe I was a looking for punishment,” I laughed as she tried to hit out
, but to no avail.

“Tell me,” she whispered more hoarsely. Her body was cuddled into
mine; I could feel all of her ribs prodding into me. I felt sick to my stomach. Heck, I need to sort out my family. I need to be the man Ella so much deserves.

I hope to G
od they find him.

“I just couldn’t get you out of my head. The first time I met you inside my office
, I knew I wanted you. Boy, did you give me a run for my money though. You just wouldn’t date me. No matter what.” I noticed her lips budge up slightly as her mouth wanted to smile, but even that was too much for her.

“I wanted to,” she whispered.

It was times like this that I wish we could turn back the clock, but I know that’s never a possibility. Heck, I would have done things differently. If my eyes hadn’t been so clouded over by her, I would have seen what was before my very eyes and the outcome could have been so much better.

“I know sweetheart. I didn’t at the time but I do now, trust me I know,” I said as I kissed her forehead. “Do you
remember that day you were supposed to come to the meeting and Joan turned up instead of you?” she nodded.

“Boy was I mad. I had specifically told you that you w
ere to bring the work up to me. Well you could imagine my surprise when Joan was sitting there; ravelling off a load of bullshit that I definitely knew wasn’t her work. After that I put two and two together. I never realised I was nowhere near the conclusion I needed to be at though. I really thought Joan was the culprit.”

“
Anyway, after work I put on my running gear and headed to the park but I couldn’t see you anywhere. So I went back to the office, did some work and headed on home. Low and behold, when I finally left, there were you and my assistant, pissed, I might add, and looking all adorable and sweet. Within seconds you had fallen into my arms and you just blew me away. I couldn’t believe my luck and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

*****

Ella.

     I smiled to myself as I knew that day very well. I’d just returned from my holiday to Italy, where I had to sign the final papers to get my full inheritance. My parents had died when I was 21 and as they were Italian, I had to go and sign the documents over there.

My first day back to work was a blast. Not really. Actually some parts had been
, especially winding Taylor up with my new mug was funny. I can still picture his face now.

I was in the kitchenette making a hot drink as I had arrived
early that day due to bad nightmares to be confronted by Taylor, mine and Beth’s great gay friend. I was just picking up my mug when the fully clothed man on the front of it turned completely naked; well you could picture Taylor’s eyes when this happened. They lit up like a child in a sweet shop; he nagged me for days for my new cup. Anyhow, while Taylor and I were there he explained that some things had been going on. My boss, Joan, and I had been called into a staff meeting as someone within the company had been over-charging our clients and we had lost a lot of them to a competitive company. Everyone was a suspect and Mr Green was meeting all the staff.

After that day
, I had gone for a jog and bumped into him. Jacob decided it wasn’t safe for me to jog alone, how could I argue with him on that? Lucky for me I got to jog with his yumminess. However, things never turn out how we want them to.

He had given me work to do
, but my boss; Joan was a total bitch and decided to steal my work. What could I do? Yes I know, I could have gone to Jacob but I didn’t want him to talk to her. I never needed the job as I had just received my inheritance, but I loved it. I was fucking good at it. But no matter what, I needed this job. I needed to do what I had to do to survive.

Once my
boss came back with that stupid big grin on her fucking face, boasting about how well Mr Green had praised her work, well bugger me, I was beyond pissed. I gave up my jog and went out on the piss with Taylor, his assistant and one of my best friends.

The only problem was I never intended to bump into Jacob and boy will I
never forget that meeting.

Me and Taylor had just left the Teignbridge bar and crossed over to head into Hyde Park. Once we stepped off the pavement we collided straight into
Mr Green. I was stunned to see him so late. He had his work suit on so I presumed he had given up on our run as well.

“Good evening
, Taylor, Ella.”

He gave me an infuriated nod which made me snigger and snort
. As I tried to stand up straight, I ended up catching my heel in the grid and toppling forward straight into his path.

Jacob dropped his briefcase and quickly caught me with his big
, strong arms. I touched his chest and slowly inhaled his delicious scent as he lifted me flat against his torso. I noticed his disposition seemed to change and his appearance softened. He looked down and realised I must have hurt my leg, so he scooped me up with ease and carried me over to the bench.

I watched Taylor trying to free my wedged heel
, while Mr Green concentrated on checking me over for any injuries.

“Hey sweetheart.”
He had said in the most delicate voice I had ever heard.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

He seemed very anxious in case I injured myself, me on the other hand, I felt ridiculous.

“No
, Jacob I’m okay, thank you for helping me. I’m just feeling a little foolish, we best let you go back to wherever you were heading. Taylor and I will sort my shoe out and if not I will just get another pair.”

His shoulders slumped and he looked
devastated.

“Don’t be stupid
, Ella; I’m not leaving you in this condition.” His voice came across as if I had insulted him. Heck, I remember him being extremely annoyed.

Taylor came swaying and giggling over with half
of my shoe in one hand and the heel in the other, trying to put them together, and completely missing with no luck. “I’m sorry angel; it’s the best I could do.”

Jacob took my shoes from him then turned
and gently lifted my chin so our eyes locked onto each other’s.

“What size are these
, sweetheart?”

It took me a few seconds to take i
n the entire scenario I was in.

“Size 5,” I mumbled.

Jacob observed the both of us with an anxious stare.

“How many have you two had?” he ro
ared which made us both giggle.

I went to answer but Taylor had gotten there first
. “Only a few bottles of wine to share and angel here wanted two double brandies. Apparently, she had a shit day in work.”

I stiffened and glared at Taylor, I really didn’t want
to discuss my day with Mr Green, especially after what they had conversed about me.

“Is that so
, sweetheart would you like to elaborate further?” I placed my head down and quivered, “no its fine, Jacob, just another day at work.”

I remember glancing up towards hi
m and wondering why, even when I am drunk, could he still make me feel that way around him.

I looked
around until I locked eyes with Taylor.

“Taylor
, please can we go home? I’m cold, hungry and hurt.”

Jacob
’s eyes widened in shock and shot straight to me.

“What?
”

He quickly knelt back down and started examining my
leg.

“Hurt. What do you mean
? Are you in pain anywhere?”

I glanced direct
ly into his eyes and whispered.

“I’m sorry
, Jacob.”

Taylor leant over and lifted me up into his arms. “It’s okay
Mr Green, I’m staying at Ella’s and she only lives across the way. I will get her home safely; we don’t want to disrupt your evening.”

With that
, Taylor picked me up and started to head us home. I glanced back to Jacob and the look on his face devastated me.  I knew he wanted to help me, but it was better we kept apart for more reasons than one.

When I had got home that evening I was gutted.
Jacob’s eyes while Taylor had carried me away held a life time of hurt. I had done that to him but trust me when I say this wasn’t the last time. Fuck, why did I keep hurting the one person who truly loved me?

The next time I hurt him nearly broke my heart though. I had dodged my run for an entire week
, so the next week I changed my days, but unfortunately Jacob had the same idea as we bumped into each other. He asked whether he could join me, so we walked and talked, it was silly really, as we never knew much about each other so we discussed our families. Jacob told me all about his parents and I told him about mine. Not that I had many, Uncle Frank, Charles and my two best friends. Jacob had walked me home, but if I could turn back time I just wish things could have been so much different.

We just weren’t
right together, too much was against us. We tried the friend route, but even then we were drawn to each other too much. I had invited him in; knowing what I was doing to him would destroy him. I provoked the situation and he got destroyed.

*****

Jacob
.

    
Once I arrived back downstairs, I went back into the lounge. Frank was reading his paper, I knew this was hard on him; he had tried and offered all the money and man power he could, but the police wouldn’t accept it which I think he struggled with.

He was a proud man
, but his family was hurting and he wanted to take Ella’s pain away. Unfortunately, he wasn’t very forthcoming with affection but his heart was in the right place.

Tim was doing what Tim does
best; he was talking to one of the men going over any surveillance cameras they could collect from any businesses in the area. I knew the police had loads to go over so Frank had hired extra men to do it from home.

“Frank, Tim,” I said
, as I walked back out and over towards Ella’s office. They both stood up and followed.

Once inside
with the door shut, we all sat down. I could feel the tension in the room before I even spoke; I think they all sensed the same as me. Since Constable Jones left, no one had spoken.

“Son,” Frank stated and I knew this was his way of telling me to talk.

I took in a deep breath and shook my head. I hated discussing Ella behind her back but it needed to be done. “I’m worried about tomorrow and about Ella’s health, she hasn’t been able to stand and support herself all afternoon. What do either of you suggest?”

“I think we need to call in her doctor again
, to get her assessed,” Tim said. “She’s not managing well at all. She has refused all meals and the weight loss can be seen. I think she might be hallucinating slightly and I’m worried if it continues then she might end up seriously ill.” We all nodded in agreement, we knew this was what needed to be done as she wasn’t eating or drinking.

I placed my hands over my face as Frank placed his hand on my shoulder, “we are here son
, don’t put all this on your shoulders, share the burden with us.” I moved his hand, stood up and glared at them. “There is no burden, Frank. This is my damn family and I will fight for what is mine. What I won’t accept is that this fucker is ruining Ella. She is destroyed, heck, you saw her earlier with Beth. When have you ever seen her flip out on Beth? They’ve been best friends forever and never once has Ella raised her voice to Beth. Fuck, I know she has to every other fucker. But not Beth.”