I Promise You (8 page)

I went to say
something but he cut me off.

“She has been
briefed on what she needs to do.”

“But”

“No buts” he
said, this time even sharper.

“I have
arranged for you to stay at my lodge where you will have total bed rest and no
one to disturb you if that’s ok with the doctor. You will be checked over, and
if the consultants say you’re ok to leave, I will drive you there myself”

“But that was
your break? I can’t do that to you Frank, thanks but I will be fine once I get
home, Rebecca can pop in and check on me after work”

“Rebecca
cannot look after you”. His voice was scary now. “So unless you are happy to
stay in hospital, and I’m sure that they will need the bed sooner or later then
my offer is the only one you’ve got”

“I am already
on leave as you know and will stay out of your way I promise.”  His tone was
softer now.

“The lodge is
more than big enough for us both. I will get Rebecca to pack some of your
belongings and bring them to the hospital for you to take with you.”

“Is that ok
doctor?” The doctor nodded

“Good, then
that’s settled”

“I can’t leave
my home”

“Yes you can,
it will be sorted by the time you get back I give you my word.”

Those last
words that he spoke made me feel even more ashamed of how I had behaved.

My boss
looking after me, how could I feel lower than I did right now?

He offered and
I had no fight left in me to argue and Rebecca had now left to get my things.

I was tired
and all I wanted to do was sleep, forever if possible, and wake up later for
someone to tell me it was all a bad dream.

Can
you ever repay true kindness?

After leaving
the hospital, Frank carefully put me into his car as I waved Rebecca goodbye.

How would I
survive the journey, what would we talk about?

I turned and
looked at Frank as we drove off, and again he must have sensed it as well and
turned to look at me.

“Are you
comfortable?” he asked in a soft tone.

I replied
“yes”

The journey
was not that long really, just over an hour. I did not remember most of it as I
kept slipping in and out of sleep.

I felt a warm
hand on my shoulder as Frank told me that we had arrived.

My first
impression was that it was indeed a lodge.

Not a bad size
from the outside with a golf buggy on the drive which seemed to fit him
perfectly.

“It looks
nice”

Wait until you
get inside.

“There are a
few creature comforts to make it feel more homely”

Frank took my
bag and we headed inside. As I entered I could see cupboard spaces to the right
which Frank opened before explaining that this was where the ironing board and
other appliances were kept.

Walking a
little more into the lodge I noticed that just to the left was a door which had
a toilet and off that was a shower room.

This one had
the latest gadgets, a massive shower head and all down each side of the cubical
were smaller shower heads which continue all the way down to around your knees
with different colours depending on what mood you wanted to be in,
nice.

Next to the
shower room was a glass door. On opening it, I saw that it was a sauna, not big
but you could fit around four in comfortably.

Walking back
to the hallway we then continued straight into the living space.

“Wow”
The view as I looked straight ahead through the two big open windows was
amazing. I could see the balcony and the golf course.

The living
space itself had a well proportioned kitchen, white marble worktops and cupboards,
American fridge, toaster, kettle etc., but no microwave,
interesting?

It hosted two
big leather sofas, both of which were chocolate brown, together with a flat
upright CD player and a huge TV,
yep a man pad
with a large dining area
to hold eight.

We descended
down some wooden stairs which matched the flooring upstairs and there were
three different doors off the hallway.

‘This is the
master bedroom’ he said.

It had a big
window again overlooking the golf course, king size bed, walk in wardrobes and
a flat screen television on the wall.

The en-suite
bathroom however was big; it was bigger than you expected it to be with double
sinks, separate shower just like upstairs, toilet and a Jacuzzi bath that you
could have a party in.

The other two
bedrooms were of the same layout but one had twin beds, the other a double and
both rooms only had a shower.

Frank showed
me to the second bedroom and put down my bag.

‘If you would
like to settle in, I will call you when the food is ready, and if you need anything
just press the intercom on the wall.” Wow I did not even see that as I was
looking around, there must be one in each room?

‘Thanks, I
think I will rest for a bit’ and with that I was alone.

This would be
my new surroundings for at least the next week. I unpacked all my clothes and
cosmetics, settled into the bed, and before I knew it I was fast asleep.

I was on a
night out with the girls and having a good time.

We were all
laughing and dancing all fully loaded with alcohol.

My feet had
started to hurt which is what happens when you wear new black four inch shoes
and by the time we left the club my feet were so numb that when I took my shoes
off, “big mistake” the throbbing I felt meant I was quite willing to cut off my
own foot.

The pain
didn’t matter much though, as it was the best night out in a while.

When the
taxi came, Isabelle and I were sharing as she was staying over for the night.

We had a
spa day booked in the afternoon. Jack was also staying over which he did most
weekends and Isabelle and Jack got on well.

We stumbled
into my apartment at three a.m. making so much noise I was shocked the
neighbours did not come out into the hallway to tell me to be quiet.

With shoes
in hand, I said my goodnights and went to bed.

The next
morning when I finally woke up at eleven a.m., Jack and Isabelle were already
in the kitchen.

I could
hear them laughing and I could here Isabelle screaming.

I walked in
and they were play fighting.

“Afternoon
Autum thought you were never getting up”

“Morning” I
said back with my morning after breath.

“We have
made some breakfast just help yourself”

I startled
myself and woke up,
they acted like I was the guest in my own home.

How come I
never thought anything back then? Could that have been the start of it?

 I just
thought they got on really well?

How stupid can
one person be?

I stomped out
of bed too quick and felt the room spinning and let out a scream.

Before I knew
it I could hear Frank’s footsteps thudding down the stairs and into my room,
his arms were around me in less than three seconds.

 “Are you ok?
I heard a scream?”

“Err yes; I
got out of bed too quick and felt light headed that’s all’

‘Would you
like some water?’

“Thanks, but I
think I just need to go upstairs and get some fresh air”

It was only
when I had reached upstairs that I noticed that Frank still had his arms around
my waist.

As I watched
television on the sofa, I heard a knock on the door and jumped.

‘It’s just the
chef coming to prepare our dinner.’

‘You have a
chef that comes here to cook for you?’

‘Well yes, I
have been using José for years, he’s very good.

A bloody
chef, whatever next a maid to run his bath?

Frank did the
introductions and José made his way into the kitchen to prepare our dinner.

I think deep
down I was jealous. Why? I have no idea and no reason to be either.

Frank was the
perfect host, making sure that I had enough pillows to prop me up; he kept
asking if I was ok and if I needed a drink but then I would just snap at him so
loud that even José looked up.

I could feel
myself blushing and apologised.
Why was I being such a bitch, after all that
Frank was doing for me?

We were having
steak, asparagus, boiled potatoes and a mixed bean salad, it smelt divine.

I helped Frank
lay the table and asked José if he would be joining us.

Frank and José
laughed. He said that he wouldn’t be, but thanked me for the invitation.

As the food
headed towards the table the aroma hit me and once we had settled in to eat, I
thanked José for what he had prepared then dived in.

“Wow, this is
amazing.” The sauce that José had made complimented the steak perfectly. “So
you like it then?”

Frank chuckled
to himself. “And you have not even tasted his pudding yet”

“Pudding” I
said like a child getting a treat for being good. “What is it?’

“Finish your
meal first; it will be worth the wait”

The meal went
down a treat and all I could smell was the pudding. At first I thought it was a
chocolate cake which in a way it was, so I was not far wrong.

It was
chocolate soufflé and all I thought about at that selfish moment was that this
was going to be the best week off sick I ever had.

I tried to
gather all of the empty dishes but Frank, and especially José, was having none
of it.

I felt
helpless as I just wanted to show them, in some way, that I could earn my keep.

Once the kitchen
looked spick and span José said his goodbyes and I heard Frank say that he
would see him in the morning.

We settled in
for the night, watching some cheesy chick flick. I think he did it more for my
benefit than his and we said our goodnights to each other at around midnight.

I sat up in
bed thinking how lovely today had been and how awful I had spoken to Frank
earlier. He didn’t even complain, and in that split second thinking of Frank I
felt that churning in my stomach again, that instant pain.
Why are you
fighting what you feel?
I dismissed it instantly and went to bed, my mind
playing me up again.

It was eight,
thirty in the morning when I woke up and made my way upstairs in my PJ’s.

Without
thinking I was greeted by Frank in his casual black slacks with a white polo
shirt that fitted him perfectly and José who was putting the finishing touches
to breakfast fit for a queen,
of course
.

I noticed
Frank give me the quickest once over whilst trying to be discreet, but again I
had forgotten that this was not my apartment and I could not stroll around it
half naked as my PJ’s consisted of a skimpy top and shorts.

I quickly
turned and headed for the table.  ‘Did you sleep well?’

‘Yes thanks,
was out like a light, the bed is really comfortable. And you?”

“I slept well
thanks”

We both tucked
into José’s breakfast which matched any all inclusive buffet and then I excused
myself and headed for the shower.

As the water
hit my skin I felt totally relaxed, refreshed and ready for the day ahead.

I planned to
ask Frank if we could leave the lodge so that I could take a look at the
village. When I had finished, I headed back up the stairs and I could hear
Frank talking to someone.

As I crept
upstairs and remained hidden at the top, I realised that Frank was speaking to
the office.

He was telling
his PA to make sure that Isabelle was moved with immediate effect to the 1st
floor in administrations. He said that Thomas was expecting her and that she
should report to him straight away.

I smiled,
serves
you right bitch.

Then he asked
to speak to Rebecca. I could hear him saying things like, “did you sort out the
colour scheme she likes? Are the decorators booked to start tomorrow as
planned?” He also asked her to confirm with him later when the furniture was
going to be delivered and to make sure that she was there to oversee it all.

They were
taking about me and my apartment. Frank said it would be sorted out by the time
I got back but I never thought anymore about it whilst I was in the hospital or
here. I had forgotten all about my place and the state I left it in.

Then I
heard the word Jack which jolted me back to the present.

He was asking
Rebecca if Jack had been in touch,
he must have rang the office to find out
if I had been in?

He then said
to Rebecca “thanks for not saying anything. You have been a good friend to
Autum even though she possibly thinks there are none left out there, I know you
have only become closer colleagues since the trip to Miami, but she couldn’t
ask for more right now”

He then asked to speak to his PA again and went through his work
schedule.

I then came up
the stairs; Frank continued to talk to his PA whilst I was on the sofa and
finished talking shop around five minutes later.

When he looked
at me, he possibly realised that I may have heard the conversation beforehand.

“Did you want
to do anything special today?”

“I would love
to take a ride into the village” I said.

“I would love
to take you there” he said whilst smiling. It was a short ride, no more than
fifteen minutes.

When we parked
the car, there must have been some international fete on, showcasing cheeses
from all over the world along with other produce from that country.