Angel (NSC Industries) (19 page)

I
could hear a whisper of a kind of whir but put it down to my alarm clock
playing up; next doors dog kept barking and made me sit up straight and pin my
ears back, and Matt was snoring so loudly that I was getting annoyed with him
in case I missed an important sound.

I
now wished I had let Nate stay over but I was adamant I kept my independence
and started looking after myself, although braving tonight was pushing those
things to the limit.

Eventually
I dropped into a fretful sleep, still jumping at every sound and was relieved
when the sun rose, even if it was before my scheduled time to get up.

Taking
a long soak and cleaning the house thoroughly it was time to set off to work; I
looked as awful as I felt and I secretly hoped I wouldn’t bump into Nate today
because he would be able to see the toil the night had had on me.

As
I left the house and locked up I was already on my phone arranging for a
locksmith to visit after work, informing him that I wanted new dead bolt locks
and replacement window security.

 As
I approached Betty I noticed she had a flat tyre. “For fucks sake” I exclaimed
already in a mood to freeze hell due to my lack of sleep.

After
desperately phoning for a taxi, I texted Grace to tell her I was gonna be late
when my phone rang in my hand and Nate’s name came up on the display. “Hey,
Angel” he sang as I answered.

 “Morning”
I replied sullenly.

“Oh,
dear. Someone had a bad night” he laughed down the phone.

“And
obviously someone didn’t” I sneered back.

“Everything
okay last night, Liv?” he asked, now getting a sense of my bad mood.

“Yes
apart from you working me into so much of a state that I jumped at every single
fucking sound all night” I moaned.

 “Hey
Baby, I’m sorry” he apologised genuinely “I was just worried about you.”

I
relented to his soft voice “I know Nate, ignore me I’m just tired and late for
work already!” I sighed.

 “Why
are you running late, baby?” he asked with interest in his voice. “Betty’s got
a flat” I told him grimly.

“Really?
She was fine last night when I left because I made a point of checking her over
what with everything that has happened” he said surprised.

“Well
she has now!” I informed him as the taxi pulled up. “I’ve gotta go Nate, my taxi’s
here” I said tiredly.

“Okay,
baby. Try and cheer up. I love you” he urged and I smiled “I’ll try. I love you
too, Nate” I told him as I ended the call and climbed in the taxi.

A
little after lunch I was sat at my desk when Josh came in. “Hey, Sweetie” he
grinned at me “Another delivery for Miss Adams” he wiggled his eyebrows as I
took in the 3 large white boxes in his arms with 
‘The Bunting Bakery’
 embossed
in expensive gold lettering on the side.

I
gasped at the offering; The Bunting Bakery was the most expensive and chic
designer cake shop in London and its baked goods were to die for. They
specialised in luxurious sponges with sumptuous toppings, cheesecakes so creamy
that your taste buds demanded more and homemade biscuits so crumbly that they
melted on your tongue.

“Wow”
I grinned at Josh “Let’s take a look” I gestured to him and he beamed back at
me, obviously wanting a sneaky look as he placed the boxes gently on my desk.

There
was an envelope attached to the first box and I decided to read it when Josh
had gone.

Opening
the first box I was delighted to find heaps of various mini cupcakes, all in
different colours and toppings and my mouth watered immediately. The second box
consisted of stacks of biscuit’s, cookies and a selection of chocolates and the
third one contained masses of tiny cellophane bags containing sugared fruit,
Turkish delight and gooey marshmallows.

“Bloody
Hell” Josh whistled at the delectable treats.

“Bloody
hell” I duplicated, my stomach groaning in anticipation, “Want some?” I grinned
at Josh and his eyes light up like a child’s at Christmas. “Do you really need
to ask Sweetie?” he laughed as he took a selection of the goods.

“Can
you run up a selection for Nate?” I asked him and picked out a few for Nate as
Josh nodded, already filling his face with a cupcake. “Hang on, I need to write
him a note” I told him and took out some paper from my drawer.

Nate,

You
are truly the most considerate and attentive lover a woman could ask for. You
have once again put a huge smile on my face and I will show my appreciation in
ways that will blow your mind. I will now sit and devour all the scrumptious treats
you have sent me and I hope you will relish dipping your tongue into my lush
goodies.

I
love you wholly

The
Angel of your soul

Xxx

Placing
it in an envelope and popping it in the box of goods I had sorted for him I
gave it Josh to take up immediately. Thirty minutes later Nate text me.

NATE:

Angel,
I am so happy that I have put a smile on your face again.

You
definitely needed it today after last night’s torture.

I
would scour this earth to see your beautiful smile.

I
am going to sit at my desk and run my tongue around your delicious goodies ;-)

ILY
xxx

PS
I am sooo looking forward to your appreciation.

I
can’t wait for tomorrow night.

Can
I see you tonight?

ME:

You
have definitely put a smile on my face for the rest of the day.

 I’m
sorry Babe but I have an appointment with Dr Greene tonight AGAIN!!

He
thinks it’s a good idea to have extra sessions now I’m in a relationship, extra
money more like!

But
I can’t wait for tomorrow either. I’m looking forward to having you to myself
for a few days.

Gotta
go now but I will be thinking of you all day with a huge smile.

ILY2
xxx

I
grinned as he texted back to say he enjoyed my ‘sweet things’ and that I should
fire Dr Greene because he was taking up too much of my time reserved for Nate.

Grace,
Leah and I enjoyed the cakes with coffee and I took the remainder home for my
last night with the kids after my appointment.

I
was going to miss Erin and Matt enormously but I also knew that they always
enjoyed their holidays with my mother so I was thrilled for them as well.

The
three of us slobbed on the couch in front of the television and made pigs of
ourselves for the whole night.

The
locksmith had turned up before I left for my therapy and I was now relaxed and
secure in my home once again.

Everything
was for once going well in my life but there was a niggle somewhere in me that
things just seemed
too
good.

The
next morning I stood on my doorstep hugging and kissing Erin and Matt as the
taxi containing my mother came to pick them up for the airport. “Have lots of
fun and I love you” I told them both as they fiercely hugged me back and said
their goodbyes.

I
blew my mum a kiss and packed up a few belongings; my laptop, other important
bits such as clothes and underwear, and secretly stashed my red dress and my
favourite red shoes, which I needed for Saturday nights award ceremony.

Work
dragged by and at 5 O’clock Nate text me to say he’d meet me in the foyer.

I
was to follow him in Betty, as I needed my car for tomorrow and Nate had decided
to go into work as I was busy all day.

After
saying goodbye to Grace and Leah and saying I would see them Monday, I rode the
elevator down in excitement, my enthusiasm to see Nate had my foot tapping the
lift floor and egging it to move faster.

As
I walked into the foyer he had his back to me and his head back, laughing at
something somebody stood in front of him was saying, his hand was rested on an
arm of someone that I couldn’t see properly… until she reached up and whispered
something into his ear and he nodded and laughed again.

Fucking
Eleanor!!
 

What
the hell was she doing here? Plastering a smile on my face I walked over to
them. I saw Bert peering at them through the main glass doors and he raised his
hand to me in a greeting and I waved back, glad that my friend had been keeping
his eye on my boyfriend and his ‘
EX
lover’.

“Hi”
I smiled widely and reached up and kissed him full on the lips, lingering for a
moment and I felt his arm slip round my waist.

Pulling
back I turned to Eleanor. “Eleanor” I nodded sternly and I felt Nate tense
beside me as if sensing my hostility towards this bitch.

“Olivia,
how are you?” she smiled so tightly I thought her lips were going to split.

“Well
as you can see,” I smirked, gesturing to Nate “I am still with Nate.”

Her
face paled as if she was surprised that I was going to mention our little
altercation in the pub toilets, in front of Nate.

“Yes.
That’s lovely. I’m really pleased for you both” she faked, “Nate and I were
just catching up, weren’t we Darling?” she turned to Nate, trying to fight for
his attention “He was just inviting me to the Awards Saturday night” she
grinned slyly then, a wicked gleam in her eye.

I
stiffened. “Oh?” I questioned, confused “I didn’t know you worked here
Eleanor?”

Nate’s
hand rested in mine and I felt him give a slight squeeze. “Oh Olivia, there’s
lots you don’t know about me,
love.
” she goaded and my temper rose “Oh,
I don’t know, Eleanor. Your types are usually all the same” I curled my lips at
her obvious surprise and shock.

“Ready,
Darling
?” I turned to Nate and gave him a stiff smile and pulled him
from the foyer, giving Bert a smile and wave as I stormed towards my car.

“What
the hell was that all about, Liv?” he asked when he caught up with me. I was
fuming and it was evident as Nate grabbed my arm and pulled me to a halt.
“Liv?” he probed.

“I
don’t like her, Nate!” I stated “She’s a bitch.”

He
frowned at me and dropped his hand into mine “Baby, you don’t need to be
jealous. It’s over between me and Eleanor, we’re just friends” he said softly,
running his thumb over my chin.

“Well
would you like to tell Eleanor that then?” I huffed and he frowned again, no
idea what I was going on about. “She collared me in the toilets at Bob’s
retirement and told me it was only a matter of time before you went running
back to her!” I informed him, my lips pursed.

His
eyes widened “What the fuck! It was always just sex with me and Eleanor Liv,
nothing more and I definitely mean nothing else. She’s just trying to wind you
up, baby” he soothed and kissed my lips but I kept them firmly closed, he
continued to plant little kisses along my mouth.

“Open
up, baby” he pouted “my lips are lonely.” His lips turned down and he wore huge
sad eyes.

I
gave in when my lips twitched and he gave me a huge grin. “That’s better. I
don’t wanna fight, it’s our first day together” he smiled and kissed me again,
this time I kissed him back passionately. I didn’t want to fight either, I
wanted to enjoy the time we had alone.

“You
ready to go home, baby?” he wiggled his eyebrows, “cos’ I fucking am. I haven’t
been inside you for two fucking days” he moaned, pouting again.

I
swung my hips provocatively as I walked towards my car, knowing he would be
watching and groaning to himself. “Come on, Mr Carter, I wanna see where you
live” I shouted over my shoulder.

 “You
only need to see the bedroom, baby” he shouted back with a smirk as he slid
into Virgil.

Twenty
minutes later I pulled up behind him in front of a fucking mansion. He rolled
down his window and punched a code into a little box outside some huge metal
gates before they opened wide.

I
followed him up a long driveway and came to rest in a huge semi-circle of
gravel situated in front of the biggest house I’d ever seen. I sat motionless
in Betty, my eyes wide and my stomach lurching as I took in the vast building. 

Jesus!!!

It
was like something out of a movie
.
Massive white walls spanned the
house, while there must have been over 20 windows situated on the front.
Circular steps led up to double front doors that were flanked by enormous
pillars.

My
door opened and Nate leaned in. “Okay, Liv?” he asked shyly as though he was
embarrassed by his wealth.

I
turned to look at him and opened my mouth to say something but shut them again;
I really didn’t know what to say.

“Come
on, baby” he said quietly giving me a soft tug and I climbed out of Betty still
staring at him.

He
gave me a nervous chuckle and led me up the steps and opened the door, still
pulling me gently behind him. We passed the threshold into a massive entranceway;
two grand stairways bordered the room and joined onto another huge entranceway
on the next level. It was all light wood and the furnishings were pastel and
soft, not what I was expecting for the interior of a mansion.

I
had been anticipating big chandeliers’, dark wood and musty antiques but I was
pleasantly surprised to see it was quite homely and warm.

“Okay?”
Nate asked, even more nervous than me and I managed to nod and smile at him.
“Don’t let it overwhelm you Liv, it’s just my home and I want you to treat it
as yours too” he appealed tentatively and I nodded and smiled again.

“Come
through to the kitchen and I’ll cook us something” he smiled and I nodded and
smiled, not quite capable of any other movement.

The
kitchen was as I expected; a huge room with black and white fittings, a centre
island and expensive kitchenware, but what caught my breath was the view from
the immense French windows.

Walking
over to them I pushed them open and stepped onto a huge patio, gaping at the
vista that opened up.

It
was utterly breath-taking; a colossal landscaped lawn opened up into a meadow
of colour, a rainbow of florae bordered by woodland and an actual babbling
brook.

The
whole scene was enclosed privately by towering trees and high lush green
hedges, an utterly secluded Garden of Eden.  

I
gasped as I felt Nate’s arm encircle me, “Beautiful, isn’t it?” he whispered in
my ear.

“Stunning”
I breathed, unable to remove my view from the scene.

“This
is the reason I bought the house” he smiled into my neck, “Do you know when I
came to the viewing, I stood right here looking at the landscape like we are
now and I thought ‘Liv would love it here’.”  

He
sighed and I turned into him, my arms slipped around him as I reached up to his
mouth. “I Love you, Nate” I murmured before I kissed him with a tenderness that
actually hurt.

The
thought of him craving me for twenty years, looking for me and missing me just
as I had done, throbbed at my heart and a tear slipped down my cheek as I tried
with all my inner strength to show him how I felt in this one kiss.

He
pulled back and rested his chin on my head breathing hard. “I know, Angel” he
whispered in my hair, as he understood everything I was trying to convey.

We
stood looking at the view for a while before he pulled me back into the kitchen
while he prepared salad and steak and I sat at the island, watching him relaxed
and happy as he worked and talked.

My
phone rang and I reached in my bag. “Hey mum” I said as I heard her distant
voice through the line. “We got here okay Olivia” she shouted loudly, as though
she was on the bloody moon.

“You
don’t have to shout mum, I can hear you fine.”

Nate
chuckled and went to the fridge to retrieve the wine. “Oh, okay” she still
shouted, “Just letting you know that we got here okay.”

Rolling
my eyes, I shouted back at full capacity “THAT’S GREAT MUM!”

Nate
laughed loud as she shouted to me “You don’t have to bloody shout Olivia, I can
hear you.”

Watching
Nate in hysterics had me creased up. “Are you having an attack, Olivia?” she
shrieked worried and Nate doubled over, holding his stomach in agony. “No Mum,
I’m just laughing at something on the telly” I said, trying to calm down and
laughing even more when she shouted “Anything good on love? The telly’s crap
over here, I’m missing corrie.”

Nate
snorted and dropped the wine. Jumping off my stool, I shouted down the phone
“Gotta go Mum.”

I
threw my phone on the worktop and went over to pick up the broken glass before
Nate cut himself… just a maternal instinct.

“My
God, I forgot how classic your mother is” he said, still laughing as we scooped
up the poor, poor wasted bottle. “Mmmm she’s a classic alright. She owes us a
bottle of wine” I pouted, giving the bottle a withered look.

“Don’t
worry, baby, there’s more in the fridge” he chuckled as he checked on the steak
“Nearly ready.”

“I
need the bathroom” I told him, a little worried about finding it in the excess
of rooms. “There’s one in the Hallway, just to the side of the left staircase.
I’d show you Baby but I’ve gotta keep an eye on the steak” he sympathised.

“It’s
fine. I’ll find it” I smiled and went in search of the loo.

I
was rather proud when I found it without any problems and made it back to the
kitchen just as Nate was serving up.

He
smiled sheepishly and had a guilty look on his face.

Strange.

“Find
it?” he asked a tad too chirpily. 

I
nodded and sat at the island, “You okay, Nate?” I asked frowning.

“Yeah,
why?” he smiled, giving me a quick flick of his eyes.

I
shrugged my shoulders “No reason.”

I
beamed when he placed my plate down in front of me and it looked delicious.
“Wow, this looks good. I’m famished” I said and tucked in, groaning when the
steak melted in my mouth. “Babe you
can cook
” I complimented him as I
chewed slowly on another piece of steak.

“Did
you say ‘
cook’
or ‘
fuck’?
” he asked, a wicked twinkle in his eyes,
“watching you eat turns me on, Liv” he breathed and he methodically put his
knife and fork down, stood and walked round to me.

 Gulping,
I laid my cutlery on my plate and rotated my body round the stool as he opened
my thighs and positioned himself between them.

He
propped my head back with a finger on my chin “In fact just watching you turns
me on, Angel” he said as he put his arms under me, hitched up my skirt and
lifted me onto a clear part of the island as he positioned his body back
between my legs.

Running
his finger over my breast and down my stomach his lips parted and he pulled in
a breath “You are so fucking beautiful, Liv” he muttered as he started to
unbutton my shirt, slowly popping each button open, his gaze never leaving his
own actions.

He
hitched a breath as I clamped my legs round his waist and pulled him closer,
grinding my hips against him and his pupils fired as he ripped my shirt open.

He
observed my erect nipples beneath my bra, trailing his finger around the curve
“So fucking beautiful” he sighed.