Fates Tied (9 page)

“Let. Go.” Suzanne spat out.

Everyone was looking at the two of them now and two larger than average waiters were making their way through the crowd towards their table. Greg looked around for a moment with fear in his eyes before he steadied himself and began to drag her towards the door.

“Come on,” Greg slurred. “We’re getting away from these sad sacks.”

“I think you’ve had a bit too much to drink there mate,” Brad said, standing up. “How about you just sit down and have some water?”

“No!” Greg snapped, “Come on Suz, let’s get some privacy and I can show you how much of a man I am.”

“How about we get some air first,” Suzanne said quickly, stalling, “I’m feeling a little queasy, I think it’s all the wine.”

“Fine…” Greg said, nodding uncertainly. “Air’s good.”

The two slowly walked from the room, Suzanne practically holding Greg up as he swayed from side to side. Claire watched them go, sharing a look of worry with Brad before turning to her husband.

“We’re going back to the room after this,” Greg said, backing her up to a wall outside. “We’re gonna go back and I’m gonna show you who’s the better man.”

“I don’t think you’ll be able to get it up,” Suzanne said harshly, pushing him away. “The amount you’ve had to drink I’m surprised that you’re even standing.”

They’d come outside, the cold air hitting Suzanne and sending the little bit of alcohol that she had had straight to her head. It made her bolder, more willing to say what she was thinking and unfortunately Greg was making her think very bad things. And not bad in a naughty way.

“I can get it up alright,” Greg said with a grin, reaching for his trousers and trying to undo the zipper. “I’ll show you how much I can get it up.”

His hands fumbled and Suzanne stepped away from him with a sigh, sitting on a nearby bench and just watching him.

“Stupid fucking zip,” Greg swore as he continued to paw at his crotch. “Stupid zip.”

He looked up at Suzanne, “I’ll show you what a man I am when I get this stupid thing undone, you’ll see. Stupid tight trousers.”

Greg continued to fumble with his zip, pulling and shoving at the fabric. Eventually Suzanne got tired of watching it and stood up.

“Look Greg, you may as well give up,” she said firmly,. “Even if you got your zip undone I still won’t be sleeping with you.

You have been rude and self-absorbed all night and I have no interest in being with you. Not once have you asked a single thing about me and you’ve spent most of your time talking to other women or eyeing them up. No woman wants to be treated like that and I deserve much better.”

“Are you saying that you won’t fuck me?” Greg said, blinking at her blearily.

Suzanne rolled her eyes and sighed with annoyance.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying,” she said.

“Bitch,” Greg spat at her. “You fucking bitch. You’re just a fucking cock tease, leading me on all evening in that dress. Now you’re turning around and saying no?! No woman turns me down, I’m a real catch and you’re never gonna get better than me.”

“Oh I think most men are better than you,” Suzanne hissed. “Now get the hell away from me.”

“Fucking bitch,” Greg shouted.

Suddenly, before Suzanne knew what was happening he had drawn back his arm and swung it at her. The back of his hand slammed into her face, sending her sprawling to the ground. Greg shouted at her a little longer, swearing and using language she rarely heard in her circles.

Then, as suddenly as it had begun, it was over. Greg turned and stormed away, muttering about getting more to drink. Suzanne watched him go and as the door shut behind him she burst into tears. She climbed to her feet, the side of her face burning where Greg had hit her. She ached and her heart felt as though it was going to burst. She wanted someone with her, someone to just hold her. But there was no one around that she could turn to and she didn’t dare go back inside to hear Claire worrying. She reached for her phone, found the number that she should have long ago deleted and typed out a message.

Edward raised his head from his pillow, blinking sleepily as his phone lit up and vibrated intensely. He reached for it and saw a message. It was from Suzanne. Edward put his head back on the pillow and began to nod off again. It was probably one of those strange dreams, he decided, the ones that seem really vivid but turn out to be full of crap. Then the phone vibrated, right in his hand and he woke up a little more. It was real. Edward sat bolt upright and turned on the light, scrambling to read the message properly.

I need you

That was all that it said.

Edward double checked the time and realised that Suzanne was in trouble. She hadn’t contacted him in so long, he had seen her typing when she was drunk and there was something, a feeling in the pit of his stomach that was telling him over and over again that something was very, very wrong. He hit the reply button.

I’m coming

The moment that the text sent Edward sprang from his bed and began to shove on some clothes. He knew where she was he realised as he raced to his garage and climbed into his car. He remembered her mentioning an event that she had actually invited him to and he had put a reminder in his phone. When they had gone their separate ways he had forgotten to remove it and now the event was flashing up on his car’s Bluetooth interface with his phone.

As he drove he was so happy that it was late at night. The roads were clear and he seemed to hit only green lights as he rushed to help the woman that he cared about so deeply. He saw the bright lights of the venue appearing in his windscreen and had to pull his foot of the gas pedal to meet the speed limit. The last thing that he needed was to get pulled over when Suzanne could be in danger. He still skidded to a halt in the car park though, sending bits of gravel and stone flying around the place.

Edward looked around as he climbed from his car and saw a shape near the front of the hotel. It straightened and rose as he stepped closer. It was a person. More importantly it was Suzanne. He began to run, racing towards her.

Suzanne’s heart was pounding as Edward drew closer. She was so relieved to see him, so happy. Without even realising it she was racing towards him and threw herself into his arms. She held him tightly, burying her face in his chest and digging her nails into his back. His arms wrapped around her, gripping her and holding her. She felt safe at last and she began to shake.

“Are you ok?” He murmured to her.

“I… I think so,” Suzanne said, still shaking.

“Here, you’re freezing,” Edward said as he ran his hands up and down her arms.

Edward shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around Suzanne’s bare shoulders.

“What happened?” He asked eventually.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Suzanne said firmly, “I just want to forget about it and sit with you for a while. Can we do that?”

“Of course,” Edward said, looking down at her fondly. “Come on.”

He gently led her to the benches and sat down, pulling her on to his lap and holding her tightly. He rocked her in his arms and she sat there, finally beginning to feel calm and secure. She sighed and closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of the man who had come to her rescue, no questions asked.

“I’m sorry,” Edward said suddenly, loudly.

Suzanne looked at him in shock.

“I’m sorry if I ever hurt you in any way,” Edward said, looking at her intently. “If I ever hurt you like I think some guy hurt you tonight I’m sorry. Whether it was because of what I said or what I didn’t say I can’t begin to say sorry enough to make it up to you.”

“You mean that.” Suzanne said in amazement, “You actually mean that don’t you?”

“I do,” Edward said. He swallowed and looked around. “I am so sorry for how I treated you. And while I wouldn’t take back our time together, not for anything, I wish I could go back and change how I behaved, how I treated you. I was an ass, and I didn’t think about how what I did made you feel, what it did to you.”

“I did tell you,” Suzanne said a little coolly, “I told you time and time again what I wanted and what I needed.”

“I’m an ass,” Edward said quietly. “And I have awful listening skills. My ex-wife used to complain about it all the time. I hear but I don’t listen and that’s exactly what I did with her and then it’s what I did with you.”

“So you’ve changed?” Suzanne said, disbelievingly, “Somehow I doubt that.”

“I didn’t realise I was wrong,” Edward said, “I didn’t realise how stupid I was and I didn’t realise what I had until it was gone and when it was gone I couldn’t get it back. I’m sorry, I should have been more open with you, more honest. About everything. Seeing you tonight, getting your message, it was more than I could ever have hoped for.

I’ve missed you so much and when I got your text I knew that you needed my help. I just wanted to come and get you and sweep you away to look after you and keep you safe.”

“Look after me?” Suzanne said in disbelief, “You mean lock me away in the bedroom to use each and every night?”

“No!” Edward said, “God, I can’t believe that I did that to you. That I treated you like that.”

“You made me feel cheap,” Suzanne said, her anger growing. “You made me feel cheap and used and worthless.”

“You are not worthless,” Edward said fiercely, cupping her face in his hands, “And you are not cheap and you are not someone to be used and thrown away. You are someone to be treasured and loved and worshipped.”

“You really have changed,” Suzanne said, staring at Edward in awe. She cupped his face in one of her hands, “You actually did change.”

“Probably a little too late though,” Edward said with a smile, “I just thought I should tell you is all. If I could I’d take it back, you know that. I just see us together, taking walks, decorating the house, playing with my son, having children of our own, cuddling up by the fire. All that romantic stuff you see in films, all the happily ever after crap - I wish I could have that with you.”

“I don’t know Edward,” Suzanne said, hesitant. “You hurt me, really badly. I don’t know if I can trust you again.”

“I understand,” Edward said, his hands dropping away. “I treated you terribly, in a way that no man should ever treat the person he loves. I’d like to see you again, I really would. But it needs to be on your terms, when and where you want to go. Just…”

Edward faltered for a moment, looking at Suzanne before he continued.

“Just call me,” Edward said. “Call me when you’re ready to talk to me, even if it’s just as friends.”

“Ok…” Suzanne said quietly. “Ok, I think I can do that.”

Suzanne stayed sitting on Edward’s lap, just letting herself feel safe and realising that he really had changed and he really would change the world for her.

CHAPTER 8

A few days later Suzanne got a message from Edward. It wasn’t that unusual, since the awards evening where he rushed to her rescue he had been calling her and texting her almost non-stop. It was a wonder that they had managed to get any work done. This message though was much different to the usual ones.

For one thing it came in the form of a written invitation. For another it was delivered by post to the office where Suzanne worked. The envelope was thick, soft paper and Suzanne’s name was typed on it with nothing else. She glanced at it as she was sorting through her mail and decided almost immediately that it was simply junk, some sort of advertisement circular being sent out to a lot of women all at once. She cast it aside, completely unopened and left it to Tiffany to sort through.

Tiffany sauntered into the office just after lunch to take care of all the trash mail. As usual she perched on the edge of Suzanne’s desk, opening each letter and providing a running commentary.

“Flyer for 50% off at a furniture sale,” she muttered. “Flyer for 25% off at a new store, I think I’ll keep that one. Invitation to a grand opening of that new pizza place around the corner. Why they’re doing that now I don’t know, it’s been open for like… three weeks already.”

“Tiffany,” Suzanne said sharply as the commentary continued, “must you do that?!”

“Well yeah,” Tiffany said sarcastically. “The last time I didn’t I ended up throwing away a payment cheque remember. Besides, you enjoy it.”

Suzanne glared at her friend for a moment before eventually shrugging and turning back to her computer to fill in a spreadsheet.

“Ooh this one’s interesting,” Tiffany said after a few more pieces of junk mail had been read out. “Are you sure this is junk? It looks fancy even if I can’t understand it.”

“What’s it say?” Suzanne said, still focused on her computer screen.

“Dear Miss Jones,” Tiffany read out. “You are cordially invited to a team building corporate retreat. Ooh the date’s for next weekend, ‘It is our aim to truly get the best we can from our employees and you are one of our most prized colleagues and friends. Please put the following post code into your sat-nav and follow the directions given.’ It sounds like it’s for a place out of town, completely different post code.”

“Sounds like a weird post code treasure hunt,” Suzanne said, turning to Tiffany at last. “Who’s it from?”

“Doesn’t say,” Tiffany said, flipping the invitation over and examining it. “It looks hand written though. Oh! There’s a letter here, just at the bottom. ‘We look forward to your attendance, E.’ You should probably have this to be honest.”

Suzanne took the invite from Tiffany and turned it over in her hands. The younger woman was right. It was hand written and on very expensive looking card. The handwriting was crisp and clear although she spotted a bit of shakiness in the first few words. Whoever had written it had clearly been nervous when they began writing it. She looked closer and began to realise that she recognised the script. She was sure that it was from Edward when she spotted the watermark embossed on the paper. It was from Genesis Research. Their logo was embossed on the paper, showing up only when it was held at a certain angle. The clicking of keyboard keys drew her attention back to what was going on in her office.

“What are you doing?” she asked Tiffany.

Tiffany didn’t reply, just continued to type something in to the computer, leaning over the desk and peering at the screen.

“Oh my god!” She eventually said, “The postcode is for some fancy country hotel like two hours away. It’s right by the sea! Look at this place.”

The two women leaned towards the screen and looked at the website for the hotel, taking in all the pictures and the complete lack of prices for the various packages that they offered.

“It’s from Edward,” Suzanne eventually said.

“Oh my god!” Tiffany cried, “That’s so romantic. First he comes and saves you like some white knight and then he books you a fancy weekend away and gives you just a few clues. I wish Dale would do something like that for me.”

Tiffany sighed and looked at the computer again, gazing at the pictures dreamily. Suzanne looked from the site back to the invite and then back again.

“This can’t be real,” she said. “He’s not asked me or anything. Maybe he sent it to the wrong person.”

“He’s giving you a surprise!” Tiffany cried, “You said he was trying to be a better man, trying to turn himself into a good boyfriend, right?”

“Yes…” Suzanne said slowly.

“Well in my book this is definitely good boyfriend behaviour,” Tiffany said, trying to sound wise but her excitement was overwhelming her. “Hell, this is amazing boyfriend behaviour!”

Suzanne just hummed her agreement but she wasn’t really paying any attention to her colleague and friend. She was just staring at the invitation as though willing it to speak to her. Tiffany eventually shrugged and walked back to her desk, deciding to do some of her own work for a change. Suzanne watched her leave before she scrambled in her bag for her mobile.

‘Is this invite for real? S x’
she sent the text to Edward.

‘Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be? xx’
Edward replied.

‘It’s just a bit out of the blue is all xx’

‘Well you said you were feeling stressed and I thought you could do with a break to get away from everything and relax. Xx’
Edward text back.

‘You didn’t even ask if I was free though or if I wanted to go. Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of a weekend away together but it’s a little surprising, especially after what you’ve said before Xx’

She sat, staring at her phone as she waited for the reply. She kept looking at the clock and as time passed she began to get worried that she’d said the wrong thing. She waited for an hour for a reply, eventually returning to work and twitching every time her phone beeped. Usually it was Tiffany asking about the weekend or an email from another colleague or client. Her head began to ache as one hour turned into three.

Eventually though, just as she had begun to give up hope of getting a reply and reached for her phone to call Edward and tell him it didn’t matter, her phone vibrated, showing Edward’s name clearly on screen.

‘Yeah… I sort of peeked in your diary when we were having lunch a few days ago. I saw that weekend was free and wanted to do something nice for you. I’m sorry if I overstepped and if this weekend is bad timing I’ll rearrange it, just let me know when xx’
he text.

Suzanne smiled as she read the words. Then her phone beeped again.

‘Sorry for the delay in replying by the way. I was about to send it but something happened in one of the labs and I had to go clear it up before being dragged into a meeting. Please don’t be mad at me xxx’
he text.

‘I’m not mad,’
her text said in reply,
‘I was worried I’d said the wrong thing. I’d love to have a weekend away with you and this one is completely fine. The hotel looks gorgeous and I’m really looking forward to it. The invite was lovely too xxx’

Suzanne smiled and returned to work, the minutes seeming to fly by now that her worry was gone.

‘I just can’t believe that you’re actually doing this for me xxxx’
she text again a few minutes later.

‘For you Suzanne, I’d do anything xxx<3’
Edward text back.

Suzanne spent the rest of the day practically floating as she went about her work, a big smile on her face.

“Go ahead, don’t listen to me!” Claire cried, “It’s not like I’ve been happily married for 15 years or anything. Oh wait I have!”

“I’m sorry but I just don’t get why we’re going into every single shop,” Suzanne whined. “Or why I have to get myself waxed. I hate getting waxed. It hurts!”

“But it’s a better finish,” Claire said. “Besides, this place is fancy and you deserve to feel fancy. And he’ll like it too. Consider it a reward to him for saving you.”

Suzanne sighed and followed her friend through the department store, carrying the many bags that they’d managed to accumulate in just a few hours. When Suzanne had told Claire about the invitation to a weekend away Claire had squealed down the phone, hurting Suzanne’s ear a little, before going on to make a list of what they had to get done. Suzanne had zoned out while her best friend had talked but now she wished that she had paid attention.

“Look, I know it’s slightly boring,” Claire said, turning to Suzanne and taking some of the bags from her. “But think about it. This is a proper weekend away for the two of you.

Even when you were with Dickhead you didn’t get these sorts of things. The hotel is super fancy, you really like Edward and from what you’ve said it sounds like he’s really trying to change. You want to show him how much you appreciate that don’t you?”

“Of course!” Suzanne said, “But I just feel like we’re going a little overboard.”

“Overboard, shmoverboard,” Claire said dismissively. “If you show him you’re happy by making yourself look gorgeous for him it’ll let him know he’s doing good. You look pretty and happy and he’ll realise he’s on the right path. It’s like training a dog.”

“True,” Suzanne said as Claire began to hold up different bras to her chest. “If a little simple.”

“Men are simple creatures babe,” Claire said. “They enjoy simple things and think simply. They don’t get all stuck in their heads like we do. If you’re smiling he’s doing good. Hell, Duncan said as much to me last night when I was talking to him about it.”

“You’ve been talking to Dunc about my love life?!” Suzanne cried, “How’d he take that one?”

“He was happy actually,” Claire said, smiling smugly. “And he gave me some pointers from the perspective of a male. And I think it gave him an idea for our anniversary.”

“Ooh.” Suzanne said with a giggle, “Maybe I should give Edward a thank you from you and Dunc then.”

“As long as it’s not a blow job I don’t care how you thank him,” Claire said, waltzing off through the clothes. “In fact don’t thank him for us with anything sexual, that’s just heading into Freakytown. Buy him a bottle of wine or something for us.”

“Will do,” Suzanne said laughing before Claire bundled her into a changing room.

A little while later, laden down with more bags, the two women headed off to the hair salon to get their hair done.

“Now I really feel like we’re going overboard,” Suzanne said. “He really isn’t going to notice my hair that much.”

“Maybe not,” Claire said, shrugging as the hairdresser washed her hair. “But he’ll see that there’s something different and if we do this right he’ll like it.”

“But I...” Suzanne started to say.

“But nothing,” Claire snapped. “You are going to look and feel fabulous and you are going to have a romantic weekend away with the man most of us can only dream of having now that you’ve cured him of his stunted emotional growth. Besides, when was the last time you really pampered yourself like this?”

“I… I can’t remember,” Suzanne said after a moment of thinking. “Oh wow, I can’t even remember the last time I did this.”

“There you go,” Claire said, smiling. “It’s not just for him, it’s for you. This is well overdue, don’t you think?”

The hairdressers working on the two women nodded enthusiastically and the conversation turned away from Suzanne’s weekend with Edward and onto the importance of looking after oneself.

It was dark by the time that Suzanne finally left the city behind and started heading towards the country hotel that Edward had booked for her.

Her bags were in the back seat and the invitation was on the passenger seat beside her. She kept glancing at it as she drove, unable to believe that she was actually on her way to a romantic weekend with a completely changed Edward. Claire had come to help her pack the night before and there had been much wine drunk and many laughs had.

Tiffany had also turned up and Suzanne had ended up putting on a fashion show with all of her new clothes. Some had had to be left behind though, practicality making Claire realise that there would have been nowhere near enough time that weekend to wear everything. Suzanne had headed into work that morning a little tired and a little hungover but really happy and looking forward to seeing Edward again.

She had been held up though when she tried to leave earlier in the day. Client after client had rung her with urgent problems that needed to be fixed yesterday. Suzanne had almost despaired of ever leaving and Edward had clearly started to think that she had changed her mind because of the number of times that she was forced to text him that she would be late. Eventually Suzanne had grown fed up of having to tell him time and again and had ended up keeping Tiffany with her at the office just to reply to the texts and the single phone call that Edward had made when Suzanne had insisted that she wasn’t changing her mind and wanted to prove it.

Tiffany had ended up speaking to Edward on the phone for an hour while Suzanne did a few more things.

She had begun to think that there was some sort of conspiracy going on though. Whenever she had finished something for one client and begun to get ready to go to meet Edward another client had rung with another problem that needed to be fixed.