Loving Alex (14 page)

We’ve not quite reached the
Jaguar when the young girl that brought drinks to us calls from behind.

“Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Drake you left
this!” She shouts as she runs towards us.

I turn and see her holding my
portfolio.

“Oh thank you, thank you so
much.” I place my hand on the girls upper arm, my backs uncomfortable and with
Nial appearing to be a little drunk, not to mention unforthcoming, I’d
completely forgotten that I’d even taken it in with me.

“You’re welcome,” she says
before taking a big breath, “Mrs. Drake, Do you own half of Henry’s?” She asks.
Her voice is almost childlike, she must be eighteen at the most, certainly no
older than Anna.

“Yes, why?”

“Well, because, well it’s really
awkward.” The young lady is clearly embarrassed, flustered and uncomfortable.

“What’s awkward? I’m sorry, I
don’t know your name?” I’m intrigued as to why this young lady wants to speak
with me.

“Sorry, I’m Josie. And it’s
really awkward because when I spoke to Nial he shouted at me and told me not to
whinge or I wouldn’t get paid at all!” She blurts out.

“Say that again Josie, so that I
understand you correctly.”

“We haven’t been paid, none of
us and we were paid really late last month. I spoke to Nial but he shouted at me
and told me that I wouldn’t get paid at all if I moaned. Chris, he was the Bar
Manager, he left a couple of weeks ago because he couldn’t work for someone who
didn’t pay him on time.” She stops and fiddles with a ring on her finger, “ I’m
late paying my mum my board for this month, it’s not too bad for me, because
it’s my mum and I don’t give her a lot anyway, but some of the guys are paying
their rents late. It’s not fair and we didn’t know who else to talk to and then
one of the girls overheard Nial telling Clive that you were coming in and, well
one of the other guys behind the bar has been here since Henry’s opened and he
said that Nial had a business partner but no-one knew who it was.” Her words
spew out in a torrent as she recounts what’s been happening over the last few
months.

“Josie. I’ll sort it for you.
I’m going home now but I’ll make some phone calls. Can I give you my personal
number? If anything else happens, will you let me know?” I sound like I’m
talking to Anna in my best mum’s voice.

“Yes, Mrs. Drake. Please
miss-call me and I’ll save your number.” She gets her phone from her back
pocket and calls out her number which I input into my phone and let it ring
once.

I put my hand on her shoulder,
“I’ll sort it Josie, I promise.” I reassure her.

She turns and wanders back to
the club with her head down, James and I slide into the Jaguar.

“I knew he was a playboy Alex, I
didn’t have him down as doing, well whatever he’s doing! And he certainly never
drank during the day when I used to come here, in fact I don’t think he used to
drink a lot at all, always too busy banging some poor girl!” James tells me
about the Nial from five years ago, certainly not the man that I’ve just met
who, from first impressions, should not be running a night club.

“The thing is James, I don’t
know who the accountants are for the Henry’s. I’ll ring Gerald when I get back
home and see if he can help. Do you think that’s the best way to go?” I ask for
his advice.

“Yeah, I do Blossom. Was Gerald
Maggie’s accountant for everything or just the hotel?”

“Everything, all her tax
affairs, the hotel. Everything apart from this place!”

We’re soon home and I dash to
our room leaving a bemused James watching me as I all but hurtle up the stairs.
I want to change and I’m desperate to remove my bra so that the newly acquired
body art feels a little more comfortable.

I undress and use the bathroom,
returning to my bedroom I open my underwear drawer, what the hell’s going on,
no underwear only my old cotton knickers. I rummage through but find nothing,
no new lacy bra’s, thongs or knickers, all the new Elle McPherson sets that I
recently brought have gone. I check the other drawers, everything is as it
should be.

“Alex, are you going to be
long?” I hear James calling upstairs.

“No, just give me a second!” I
shout back.

I literally scratch my head,
where is all my new stuff? I know I haven’t worn this much underwear in the
last few days so I know for a fact that it’s not in the wash, but to assure
myself that I’m not going mad I check the laundry bin anyway –that’s empty.

“Alex, I’ve made you a cup of
tea. What are you doing?” I hear James call again.

I ignore him and go back to my
room and check my back in the mirror, the melolin pad is still in place and
looks secure, but the big scar, well I feel ready to start making inquiries
into getting it fixed, somehow.

I pull on my yoga pants and a
soft t-shirt before going downstairs to the kitchen.

“What took you so long?” He
walks towards me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“All my underwear has gone! From
my drawer!” I look up at him, I must look totally confused.

“Your underwear?” He’s smiling
at me, almost laughing.

“Yes, all of it. It’s not funny!
All the new stuff I bought, every bit gone. All that’s left is my old cotton
stuff and frumpy bras. It’s not you is it?” I frown.

“No, what would I want with your
bras and knickers?” He scowls.

“I don’t know, but it’s all gone
– every single piece, I’ve looked in the laundry bin and that’s empty. I’ll
check the utility room, but Muriel’s up to date with the laundry, and anyway
some of it I haven’t even worn yet, it’s still got the labels on!” I go through
to the utility room, laundry baskets empty.

“Don’t worry about it now. You
can always get more.” He pulls me close as I move back into the kitchen,
holding me tight around the waist he bends towards me his lips brushing mine so
firm and yet so very soft, his tongue flicks my bottom lip and I open for him,
our tongues battle as our passion heats, I run my fingers through his hair, through
his curls, holding on so tightly. I can feel his erection straining through his
black trousers, hard against my leg.

“God, I want you Alex.” He
breathes heavily.

He lowers his hands until
they’re under my backside and pulls me up towards his body “Wrap your legs
around me!” He orders, and as usual I do whatever he tells me to.

He carries me through to the
living room and sits down on the sofa, I’m still wrapped around him, my hands
still holding his head, he pulls me close again, he breathes into my neck, “I
love you so fucking much, you have no comprehension of just how much Alex, none
at all. You are my world Alex Drake.”

“I love you too, I really do!” I
whisper.

“Really?”

“Really, really and, do you know
what James?”

“What?” His voice is husky, wanting.

“I can’t wait to be Mrs. Aconi,
and I’ve got a special present for you Bossman.” I whisper in his ear.

“Oh yes, and what’s that?”

“I’ll show you later. But first,
I need to practise this!” I say quietly.

Extracting myself from his lap
and his hold I kneel on the rug between his legs, my hands on his hips I work
my way around to his zip. Pressing against his hard length I gradually take
hold of the pull tab and slowly ease it down, I look directly at him as I do
biting my bottom lip. He tilts his head back into the sofa as I unbutton the
top of his trousers and move the two sides of the fly aside. “Lift up for me!”
I order as I slap his thigh. He lifts his fine arse up just enough for me to
pull the fabric down slightly, I drag his boxers down at the same time, his
length springing free, standing proud waiting to be lavished.

I take his manhood in my hand
and gently clench it whilst leaning forward to take the end of him in my mouth,
“Oh god Alex, fucking hell that’s so good.” He grumbles as I twirl my tongue
around the head of his manhood and suck hard up and down his length, I swish my
tongue around his fine head again and as I reach the end push myself back down
again taking his full length into my mouth before drawing my lips back to the
end again, over and over.

“Stop, Alex, Stop!” He shouts.

I pull away quickly, “What’s
wrong James!”

“Nothing! Nothing. I need to
make sure that you’re not left out, that’s all!” He moves from the sofa and
joins me on the rug losing his trousers as he does. He pushes me back so that I
am sitting on my backside with my knees bent to my chest. He slips his thumbs
into the elastic waistband on my yoga pants, it’s him now asking me to lift up
so that he can wriggle me out of my clothes. They come down easy and he casts
them and my knickers aside.

Bending between my legs he blows
softly on my so sensitive sex, “You said you were going to wax.” He grumbles.

“I will, I just haven’t got
around to it yet!” I say defensively.

“Umm.” He blows again and then I
feel little licks across my clit, he licks and nips and sucks, his fingers join
in the fun as he gently brings me gradually to the teetering edge of my climax,
his tongue exploring every inch of my so private place.

He pulls back and from my
position sprawled out on the rug I gasp, I can see that thing pointing directly
at me. “You taste too good Alex.”

He bends towards me, his
forearms either side of my shoulders as I feel his hard nub at my entrance, he
thrusts forward, hard and continues to pound into me. “Hard and fast baby!” He
grumbles. “Wrap your legs around me Alex.”

I can feel the pressure on my
new ink, it hurts, not so bad that I want him to stop. Oh Lord I don’t want him
to stop, ever! But it’s bad enough, I grit my teeth and bear the discomfort
which is far, far outweighed by the pleasure that James brings as he pounds
into me, over and over again. I moan and cry out.

“Are you ready?” He asks.

“Yes!” I yell, moaning and
whimpering partly with pain and partly with pleasure.

“Now!” He growls as he releases,
I shudder around him, my muscles clenching him, drawing every last bit of his
release from him.

He thrusts again, one last time
before collapsing on me.

“Ow!” I gasp, unable to bear the
pain any longer.

“What’s wrong? Alex, have I hurt
you?” He lifts up so quickly, he’s a horrified look on his face, shock and
fear. All I’ve done is said “
ow!”
I would hate to think what he would
look like if he, or someone else, had hurt me.

“No, you haven’t but – my
surprise hurt, that’s all!” I wince as I sit up and adjust my t-shirt which is
now all rucked up around my waist.

“You’ve lost me completely
Alex.” He says as he reaches for his boxers. He stands, all he’s wearing is his
shirt. He bends to step into his boxers, I get a full view of that bloody arse
as he pulls his boxers up and adjusts his tackle as he stands up straight.

“You’d better show me what this
surprise
is!” His tone harsh.

“You promise you won’t be mad?”
I ask sheepishly. Somehow I think he’ll blow his stack when he sees what I’ve
done. “Sit down.” I tell him. He moves to the sofa and sits, I crawl across the
rug and sit on the floor between his legs. “You ready?” I ask, my back towards
him.

“Just get on with it Alex!” His
tone is clipped, impatient. I feel a little scared, what if he kicks off, what
if he hates hit. What if he hates tattoo’s? After all, it’s a subject we’ve
never discussed.

I lean forward and lift my
t-shirt to my shoulders. “Move the dressing.” I hear him sigh, I think he knows
its ink. I feel his soft fingers at the edge of the melolin dressing as he
peels away the tape I flinch slightly.

“What have you done?” He
whispers.

Oh shit, he hates it. I turn my
head towards him, looking over my shoulder. “Look. LD has gone!” I say, my tone
hushed.

I’m aware that he’s removed the
whole dressing completely. I feel his hands lightly on my shoulders. “Oh Alex!”

“What!” I’m close to tears,
“Don’t you like it?”

“It’s beautiful, absolutely
beautiful. But why didn’t you say what you were doing, I’d have come with you,
held your hand.” He stands and moves in front of me, dropping to the floor,
kneeling in front of me. He clasps my shoulders in his big hands and pulls me
to his firm chest. “It’s stunning Blossom.”

“I haven’t seen it properly.” I
say quietly to his chest.

“Come with me.” He stands
offering me his hand and pulling me up, he guides me upstairs to my bathroom
and my full length mirror. He stands in front of me, my back at the mirror,
“Look!”

I look back. There, covering the
L.D brand that was so cruelly left by Lewis I see a fat strawberry with a
bright green stalk. The artist has done a brilliant job, even the little
strawberry seeds are showing. He’s worked on the L.D brand and somehow changed
these into a J.A beneath the red, it’s so subtle.

“Wow!” I gasp, “I never thought
it would be so good. Oh James, he’s going, bit by bit.”

James holds me tightly, his big
arms wrapped around me. “If you want, we’ll move away from here. I know you’re
not keen on the place. We’ll go, when everything’s settled. Then eventually
he’ll be gone forever, a few more weeks, that’s all you have to wait.” He holds
me so close, we stand wrapped in each other. I feel so very, very safe and
protected in James’ arms.

I’m overwhelmed and delighted
that James likes my new body art and that another bit of Lewis has been chipped
away from my life. I feel the tears pricking my eyes and I bury my face in
James’ shoulder, “I love you.” I whisper. He pulls me closer.

I sleep so well, despite feeling a
little uncomfortable from the artwork that I’ve recently acquired. It feels
like James has held me in his arms all night, I feel so loved and protected,
despite liking this feeling it is also a little alien, not that I’m
complaining.

I wake early and concerned that
my underwear is missing I rummage through every drawer quietly, so as not to
disturb my lover. I go through the laundry bin again, although I know for a
fact that it’s empty and through the utility room. It’s completely gone.

I make a pot of tea and prepare
breakfast for James, all the while making a mental note of what I need to do
today.

Talk to Gerald, my accountant
about Henry’s, priority number one. Buy new underwear, this would be priority
number one if I didn’t have any concerns over Nial and talk to Gia and Roberto about
arranging for Ramiro to come over and stay for a few days. In an ideal world I
would like him to come over at the end of next week. Oh, and Anna comes home
tomorrow so I need to make sure we’re all planned for that!

James joins me as I fuss around
the kitchen. I’ve bagels in the toaster, a box of Weetabix on the island and a
bowl of freshly rinsed strawberries, he can eat them whichever way he wants!

“How are you feeling?” He asks
as he sits at the island and reaches for the cafetière.

“I’m fine, great in fact. But
James, you really haven’t taken my bras and knickers have you?” I ask in all
seriousness.

“No, absolutely not.” He insists.

“Well someone has. I’m going to have to buy more today,
all
of my new stuff has gone, apart from the things I was wearing yesterday. I want
to know where the hell it is.” I snap, I’m angry.

“Have you spoken with Muriel?” I can tell that he’s making
light of this but deep down me must be as concerned as me.

“No, but I damn well will do. She’s the only person that
comes into the house, apart from you, me and Anna when she’s home. I know it’s
not Anna because she’s the other side of the bloody world!” I’m fuming.

I know that James is concerned but not showing it. I’m not
stupid, I know that if he shows his concern he thinks I will get more agitated
and more wound up, I know what he’s playing at.

We sit and eat our breakfast in relative quiet. James puts
away a couple of bagels, a bowl of Weetabix and nearly all the strawberries,
offering me a couple as he leaves. He takes delight in kissing away the
strawberry juice.

“What do you do when they’re no longer in season?” I ask.

“Then I have to make do with the imports and pray for
forgiveness at the carbon footprint I’ve created by buying them.” He laughs.

By eight we’re both showered and dressed. Him in his usual
black trousers and white shirt, he’s wearing his Paul Smith cufflinks again and
looks, well wonderful as he always does. His unruly hair tamed as best it can
be.

“Are you coming to Reid’s today?” He asks.

“No, too much to do. Have to sort the underwear business
out, talk to Gerald and I want to shop for when Anna comes home tomorrow, I
thought I’d do a roast. Oh, and I want to speak with Gia about arranging for
Ramiro to come over. I thought next week?”

“Sounds good. Don’t do too much though!” He kisses me fully,
passionately as he leaves the house, down the steps and to the Jaguar.

Once he’s gone I go through the paperwork for Henry’s, so
that I’ve got everything I need in front of me when I call Gerald, I arrange
for Archie to pick me up at 11’ish and run me into town and then to Tesco and I
need to look at some flights for Ramiro.

I make another pot of tea and have just poured myself a cup
when Muriel arrives.

“Morning Muriel. How are you feeling this morning?” I try and
engage her as she walks through the hall to the kitchen, hopefully today I’ll
get more than a two word answer!

“Fine Mrs. Drake.” She sorts herself out putting her bags
down on the floor.

“Tea?” I ask.

“Please.”

She fumbles around with something in her bag and then sits
on one of the stools.

“Muriel, have you seen my underwear? It’s all disappeared,
completely!” I ask her outright, because if James hasn’t had it and I’ve not
removed my own stuff then she must have, unless we’ve been burgled and the
stupid burglar has taken nothing but my underwear.

“No pet, not at all. There was some in the last laundry I
did, I put it on your bed.” She’s looking away from me as she speaks, fumbling
with that bloody bag of hers.

“Umm, I know and I put it away but it’s all gone, all of my
new stuff anyway. Nobody came here yesterday did they?” I quiz her.

“No pet, only me.” She drinks her tea and appears
unconcerned that some of her employer’s personal possessions have disappeared.
I have to say, if it were me in her position and something had gone missing I’d
be so worried that they would think it was me that had taken them.

“Well, I’ve looked everywhere, all of my drawers, laundry
bin, utility room. It’s nowhere to be found.” I’m sure my tone’s becoming
angry.

“I’ll keep an eye out, shall I?” She snaps. “Do you have any
plans for today?” She changes the subject and her tone.

“I’m doing some work from home this morning and I need to
pop out, to buy new underwear, but otherwise no, I’ll be at home.”

“Umm,” she mumbles, “Well, I’d better get on. Did you say
your daughter’s home tomorrow?”

“Yes, tomorrow lunchtime.” I take a drink from my mug.

“Well, I’ll do her room first. I’ll make sure it’s all nice
for her when she gets back.”

She puts her tea down and goes through to the utility room
returning with a carry box full of various cleaning materials, dusters and
sprays. She walks through the hall and up the stairs. Now she’s gone I reach
for my handbag and my phone and take it through to the study where I can shut the
door.

I search for Gerald’s number and tap his name. Within a few
moments a young lady has connected me to Gerald.

“Morning Alex, how’s my favourite client this morning?” He
booms, Gerald can’t seem to do quiet!

“I’m fine Gerald, just fine. I need you to do something for
me though. I meant to call yesterday, but well, I didn’t have time in the end!”

“Oh, and why’s that?” He asks, a question I ignore.

I recount my meeting with Nial yesterday, how he didn’t have
any balance sheets available and seemed vague when discussing the business in
general, how Josie the young girl had caught up with me and told me that their
wages were not being paid on time and that some staff had even left because of
it. I tell him that I know he’s not the accountant for Henry’s but the reason
for my call is to find out if there is anything at all he can do.

“Alex, I’m sure we can look into this for you. It’s not good
from what you say. What’s odd is that you receive an income from the place
every month, and a good one at that. Maggie did too, never any problems. Leave
it with me, I’ll get one of the guys onto it now and hopefully I can come back
to you in an hour or two. Is that okay?” He suggests.

“Great Gerald, thanks.”

We end the call and I move from the study and start
upstairs, I’m only on the bottom step but as I look up I see Muriel standing by
the balustrade on the gallery, she’s just standing there. I don’t think she
could have heard me but I could swear she was at the very least trying to
listen to what I had been talking about.

I move up the stairs slowly and once she hears me she
scuttles back along the gallery and into Anna’s room singing some tune or
other.

I go to my room to refresh my makeup and fish my flat pumps
from my wardrobe before I go through to Anna’s room. “I’ll be off in a little
while Muriel, I expect you’ll be gone when I get back. I’ve just one more call
to make, Archie’s picking me up at eleven. I’ll see you on Monday, okay?”

“That’s fine Mrs. Drake. You have a nice weekend with your
daughter
won’t you?” She sounds off again, the way she says
daughter
.

“Are you okay Muriel?” I huff, I’m starting to get a bit fed
up with the attitude.

“Yes,
I’m
fine.” Her tone acidic again.

I shrug, “Well, I’ll see you next week.” Although deep down
I hope I don’t!

I make my way downstairs and call Gia when I get back to the
kitchen. I tell her about the flights that I have seen online and ask if her or
Roberto would telephone Ramiro and ask if he would like to come here for a few
days, I don’t even know if my birth father has a passport, but I’m sure we
could have his cousin, Franco, help sort it quickly if necessary. She agrees
and asks when we are going to see her again, I suggest Sunday for lunch at
ours, she and Roberto can meet Anna then. She’s delighted with the arrangements
in a way that only Gia could be.