When Past & Present Collide: WP&PC (5 page)

I stood there gobsmacked, mouth wide open.
Loved me, loved me after all he did to me, if that’s love then I’m never giving my heart to another man.

“If you say you loved her
, then why did all the reports come out after the accident?” Richards asked.

Matthew shook his head. “I was greedy and wanted
to get back at my best friend, he stole my entire world from me back in university. Ella.” He said as he waved towards the glass, “well she was just perfect. I knew he would accept her within the company. Who wouldn’t? Her eyes light up any room she walks into, her smile is breath taking and her body is sublime. Little did I know, he wasn’t involved with anyone and he would want my Ella. She was just to do her job for me and come back when it was complete? We were to marry this fall.”

I moved
back until I fell flat against the back wall. I couldn’t breathe; I wasn’t getting enough oxygen into my lungs. Taylor placed his hand on my shoulder and placed a brown paper bag by my mouth. “Big deep breaths, Ella, in and out slowly,” Taylor said.

I inhaled a few times as the anxiety was setting in. I knew I had forced Tim’s hand into allowing me to be here. I knew
there was going to be tough questions. Did I expect this? Fuck no. 

“So
, did Miss Jamison know about your plan, Matthew?” Parks asked.

About time he asked a question that was worth asking
, I could answer that my bloody self but trust me I was dying to know his response.

“Sort of; s
he knew I wanted his business deals. I obviously didn’t tell her how much I loved her because I needed her to hate me to do my dirty work. She was so fragile at the time due to her parent’s death, if I told her how much I loved her I don’t think she would have done it. However the blackmail worked, she was scared of the pictures coming out. I never realised why she would be scared until I knew of who she was, then everything clicked.”

“Remind us again about the blackmail
, Matthew.” Richards asked.

Matthew looked at Richards. “I’ve gone through this with you time and time again.
I don’t want to repeat myself. Yes, I blackmailed Ella with indecent pictures, which I’m ashamed of. Yes, she spied on an old friend’s business for me and yes, I deliberately hurt them both. But I’ve done nothing wrong at the moment, so unless you have some evidence, I’m certain you can’t hold me any longer without charging me.”

Matthew stood
, shook his lawyer’s hand and was free to leave. Apparently he was a suspect and could not leave the country, but he was free to go home.

As we left the police station
, security surrounded me to keep the wolves at bay. Before I even realised it Charles’s right hand was around my waist. “I’m here little lady, I’ve come to help.” I turned and gave him a small nod as we were hounded by flashes of light and screaming questions. “Thank you, Charles this means so much to me.”

*****

Jacob
             

    
“Was Sammy good for you today?”

My eyes widened for that split second before she looked up
to me, and out of nowhere I gave her the best smile I could find.

“Yeah baby, he was great, just like any other day I have him.” Seriously
, I need to change this conversation. Now.

Can’t
she see her asking this is destroying me? There was no way on earth I could handle this. I would break and flip out on her. I can’t do that, I love them both too much.

“Hey sweetheart, how was today?”

Her face fell.

“I had dipstick one and two. How do you think it went?”

I smiled at her names. “That bad huh, if it makes you feel any better I had a crap time of it too.”

She looked up with
an irritated look on her face. “A crap time, honestly, Jacob. Mine wasn’t crap, mine was horrendous. They ridiculed me like I was a piece of meat or their new toy. I felt humiliated sitting there in that dirty prison cell.”

I felt awful. Jesus, I only wanted to change the conversation not make matters worse. “
I’m sorry baby; I never meant it like that.” I couldn’t finish my sentence before she was off again.

“Do yo
u know what it’s like to be taken into a police station and questioned about your entire day, and to add insult to injury them actually showing me the footage of me arriving at work and then leaving with those twits?” By now her tears were falling. I couldn’t handle this, knowing I had put those tears there, it broke my heart. “Shh baby, I’m so sorry.”

She pushed me away. “You’re n
ot, Jacob. You don’t get it. I’m Ella Jamison. I don’t get put in police cars and sent to dirty police stations and get treated like a common criminal. I have the best of everything and now I just feel dirty.”

Damn, what do I
say to that? There was nothing I could say; all I could do was cuddle her into me.

It felt like forever before she looked at me, her beautiful face was all blotchy and red from all her crying.

“What did they ask you?” She asked.

I smiled. “Nothing, sweeth
eart. What could they ask? Just where was I, but they already had the footage from work.”

“Did you have Parks and Richards
interview you?” she asked. I nodded to her, “Yeah I did.” “I hate them,” she said in her sulky voice. I cuddled her closer to my chest. “I know baby, I hate them as well.”

Chapter Four

The past

Ella
.

    
“Miss. Miss.”

I felt my entire body being shook as I could hear the calling in the distance
, but I was just too comfy to be disturbed.

I jumped up alert as someone nudged my shoulder
, hard.

“Ouch.” I said
, as I placed my arm over my now sore shoulder.

I glared at the culprit who
had thought it was okay to disturb me.  “What the hell?” I said to the arrogant arse that I had to sit next to for the entire flight home.

I could hear a light cough as I looked up and noticed the flight attendant trying to gain my attention. “Erm
, ma’am,” she said, looking sheepishly at me and then to the other passenger. “We are due to land any minute, so we will need you belted up.” I smiled politely to her as I reached to buckle myself in, while I shot the man a dirty look.

Once I had
my bag and was headed on out of the terminal I noticed a big sign with my name on it. “God damn it Charles. Did Frank send you?” I said once I reached him.

He sniggered. “B
oy did he, little lady.”

“Why
?” I snapped back.

Charles just smil
ed, “Why does Frank do anything?”

“Fuck knows
, Charles, but I don’t want this kind of attention. Tell him to back off.”

Charles laughed as he escorted me to the
range rover. Thank fuck he didn’t had the limousine or the Mercedes.

Looks like me and Uncle Frank are going to have another chat
, very soon.

“How was your journey?
” Charles asked, as he drove me home.

“Shit. I had some arse next to me, the dick woke me up. Fucker better not see me again in this lifetime.” Charles laughed. “Did they forget how to teach you to talk correctly in Italy
, little lady?”

I smiled. “Yes
, Charles. Especially when I’m cranky, tired and haven’t slept in over a week. Oh and to top it all off, I’ve been having some disturbing nightmares while I was away. To be honest, I think it was sleeping in a strange bed.”

“Did you manage to sign all the documents?” I nodded. Yep
, I was officially a millionaire thanks to my parents.

“Were
there any surprises along the way?” I shook my head and glared at Charles. “What do you mean surprises, Charles? It was all a surprise. I never expected them to be so rich. Seriously, I can’t believe they left it all to me.” Charles just smiled and drove me home.

What was
that all about? I shook my head as my mind had been playing so many tricks as of late.

Home
isn’t the word I would use to describe my living accommodations. Yep, it’s a home but its Beth’s home. My bestie from many years ago.

Wh
en the dick Matt and I split up, Beth asked me if I wanted to stop at hers while I found somewhere else to live. Well, that was now officially 6 months ago and I’m still here. I love living with Beth, we have a fantastic time together. She is my 6 foot tall, blonde, striking bomb shell. She is everything I am not. She’s tall, I’m average. She’s skinny, I am definitely not and she is drop dead gorgeous while I’m the girl next door. But we get on like a house on fire. We have a blast and that’s all that matters after everything Matt and I went through.

Yup
, I was now officially single and staying that way.

Or
that was my plan, until Jacob Green decided I was the key to his heart. And boy, did I want to be.

6 months I had
worked at Greens before I officially met Jacob Green. I had always wanted to meet the boss, as I wanted to put a face to the name I had heard great things about. But boy was I in trouble. The day I met him was the day I fell for him, straight away. He had the softest voice I had ever heard. Then he called me sweetheart and let’s just say I was hooked and doomed all at once.

I knew Jacob Green would destroy my resolve and he had the power to break me.
Little did I know I would break him in the process.

Our
first official meeting didn’t really go as planned since I made a show of myself. Then we had our first kiss and I pushed him away. I did try and make it up to him the next time we met, which was the following Monday evening. I’d gotten out of work late so I chucked my running gear on and headed over to the park. I did some simple exercisers as I’d done enough running around that morning, thanks again to my stupid mistake. I headed on to do a fast walk when I heard Jacob calling me from a distance; he was out of breath when he caught up to me.

I stopped to l
et him regain himself. “Hey sweetheart,” he whispered in his soft, delicate voice. He inhaled deeply a couple of times and took a big gulp of his water, “Did you get my messages?” We started walking. “Erm no, I broke my phone last night. I need to pick a new one up before work tomorrow. Was it important?”

It was cold this evening so we walked a little faster. “No sweetheart
, I was just checking if we were still on for our jog? I see we are. How long have you been out for?”

I glanced down. “Oh I only just got here
, this is my first lap, I’m doing two tonight as I’m walking, plus I need to burn some added energy. It seems I’m indulging tomorrow, courtesy of you.” He laughed, “You could dine tonight courtesy of me, if you want, sweetheart?”

I grinned. “Professional only
, Jacob.” He gave me a small nudge. “Fine, but jogging and fast walking are still all right aren’t they?” he glanced over and had a pleading look in his eyes. “Yes, that’s all right,” we carried on and headed for our second lap.

I asked Jacob a bit about his family, “
So are you an only child? Any siblings? Parents? Big or small family?” He appeared to glow. “No, I’m an only child, Ella. I still have both parents; they have been together since meeting as childhood sweethearts. They are both in their early sixty’s. Mum had a sister who passed away last year, and Dad was an only child, so we’re a small family as to speak.” I stopped and gazed over “I’m sorry Jacob, I didn’t mean to pry,” he seemed fine and carried on, “you’re not, and I want to let you in.”

I studied him carefully
. What does he mean by letting me in? He had said that the first night we had kissed. “Mum’s sister had four children but I don’t see my cousins very often, we’re not close but I’m close to my mum, she's the best. She fusses over me still and refuses to let me do my washing and cooking. She goes over to my apartment every afternoon and leaves me a meal for the evenings. I honestly tell her I’m old enough to fend for myself but she won’t accept it.” We both laughed, “You’re very lucky, Jacob,” we stopped for a drink.

He went to say something
but quickly changed his mind, “You can ask me anything, Jacob, I don’t mind. I lost them just over four years ago. Mum passed away from cancer and Dad followed six months later. They were soul mates. I'd say Dad died of a broken heart, as my parents had never been apart from the time they met as teenagers. If Dad went away on business, Mum was always by his side. The coroners said Dad died of a heart attack but I know deep down he couldn’t carry on without Mum. She was his rock.”

A small lump formed at the back of my throat, Jacob gently put his arms around me and brought me into his chest for a snuggle
, he was all sweaty, but I didn’t mind. A strong surge of electric current passed through me, I placed my head to his neck and inhaled his scent, he smelt of aftershave and soap, and it was comforting.

I gave another small inhale
, trying to distinguish the aftershave, he laughed. “It’s just shower wash Ella, just so you know,” I went beetroot as he noticed my intention.

After a couple of minutes I removed myself from his arms wiping a small tear that
had run down my face. “So you speak Italian. When did you learn that?”

He changed the subject
, obviously so I didn’t get any more upset. “Dad was Italian but my parents both spoke it, I learnt bits from them but I had a tutor most Saturdays. Dad travelled and wanted me to be able to learn the language. He always said it was the language of love. I hated learning it, but my parents were strict for out of school activities.”

We walked on
until we got closer to my place. “Every evening was ballet, dance, piano lessons, extra homework, Italian lessons or other out of school activities. I hated it all. My friends just got to hang out watching television but my parents wanted me to have the best.”

He smiled and his eyes lit up in a magical way
, like he was reminiscing his childhood. “I understand. My parents were similar, but not as strict. If I decided I didn’t fancy guitar lessons that week, they just let me off. Can I walk you to your door? I would feel better.”

I smiled and we carr
ied on, “yes, that would be nice.” Why did he always make me feel so shy around him? “So, Ella do you have any siblings?” I shook my head as we crossed over heading to mine. “No just me. My parents were both only children as well so when they passed that was all my family gone. I have a sort of Uncle Frank, but really I know we’re not related, he just worked with my Dad, I was told to call him Uncle out of respect. I don’t mind really though, I like to keep it just me.” We arrived at my door, “would you like to come up for a drink before you head on back? It’s freezing out,” the smile beamed across his face. “I’d love to.”

We headed on up. “Wow
! Great place you have here. I love the old charm you have got going on.” I laughed lightly, “oh it’s not my choice really, this is Beth’s place, but it is peaceful.”

Beth came bouncing down the stairs, “pizza and garli
c bread is ordered, Ella,” she stopped in her tracks. “Oh sorry, Jacob, nice to meet you,” she gave her hand for a shake but he pulled her in and kissed her cheek, “you too, officially, Beth,” she laughed. “Oh, I’m glad you’re here, saves half our pizza going in the bin. We always order the big one to see how much we can eat but we never get past half way. Can I get you a glass of wine?”

He nodded, “Y
es please, as long as Ella doesn’t mind,” he turned to me. “No I’m fine, I did invite you in. Come, let’s sit. Red or white? I’ve got some Chardonnay, if you prefer?” He grinned, “Yes please, sweetheart.” We headed over to the sofa and Beth came in with three glasses and a bottle of wine, two minutes later the door went and she went to get our pizza.

Jacob stopped her, “I will get these
, you get the plates,” Beth stopped and we both laughed, he shook his head and headed on down to collect the pizza.

When he came up he noticed just a pizza slicer on the coffee table and me and Beth on the floor
, he joined us. He gave me a nudge, “plate’s, sweetheart.” I laughed, “Jacob, we cop-a-squat pizza night and use our fingers, nature’s way.” He looked disgusted, “really Ella, pizza and fingers?” I nodded and laughed. “Do you mind if I wash up then?” Beth and I both giggled. “No, there’s a wash room at the top of the stairs, you’re welcome to use it, Jacob,” he got up and went to wash his hands.

Beth nudged me. “O
h my God, Ella, he's so into you, I thought you weren’t going there. What changed?” I picked up my wine. “I’m not, we’re just colleagues. We were exercising in the park, he walked me home and I invited him in for a drink.” She looked sad. “But, why? You two look so great together,” I went to answer but Jacob came back down, he sat on the floor next to me, leaning back on the sofa.

“So ladies
, how does this work?” Beth and I laughed, “Well, Jacob, you pick your pizza up in your fingers, place it in your mouth and chew.” We all sat there in a fit of giggles, he glanced at me, “I know how to eat, sweetheart. I meant, why the floor? What’s the meaning behind it?”

I sat up straigh
t, “There is no meaning behind it, and it’s our Monday night routine; pizza, floor, good wine and a film. Tonight we’ve got Rocky Balboa, we just watch the 9pm movie from the box, and you’re welcome to join us.”

His eyes shone bright but his expression quickly
faded and he shook his head. “No I can’t. I will have some pizza though, but then I better get off. I’ve taken too much of your time this evening.” I felt like someone had just kicked me in my gut. I could see Beth turning her head slightly away, he must have changed his mind about us, he looked over to Beth.