Loving Alex (8 page)

“This is lovely Alex, really, really lovely.” She gushes.

“Shall we go and see James?” I suggest.

“Please.”

I lead Gia through the foyer and the
Staff Only
door,
up the four flights of stairs, which she struggles with, and along the corridor
to James’ office.

I knock and enter with Gia following puffing and blowing,
James is sat behind the big old desk with the usual stack of papers.

“Alex, Gia. What a surprise!” He stands and walks around
hugging Gia first and then me, “It’s lovely to see you both. Did you have a
good shop?”

“It was great James,” Gia replies, “Alex treated me. She’s
very kind!”

“Oh, that’s good. So what did you buy?” He asks me, raising
his eyebrows and smiling.

“I got a new handbag, one that my phone won’t keep falling
to the bottom of, a lovely new dress for when you take me clubbing again and
some perfume because I was running low, that’s all.”

“We’re clubbing again are we?” He frowns.

“Yes. You know I spoke with Nial a few weeks ago, well I
need to meet with him, we need to sort a proper meeting. You should come with me
and then I want to spend a bit more time there one evening when it’s open.” I
look at him, I know he remembers the night that he was awkward with me and our,
or rather my, evening was cut short.

“Yes. We’ll have to make some arrangements.” His tone is thoughtful,
I can see the cogs turning in that tatty head of his, he remembers that night
very well I’m sure.

“We will, we must.” I acknowledge his comment and turn to
Gia. “Gia, James won’t have told you but he’s stepping down from the General
Manager role here. I’m appointing him as a director of Reid’s, he’ll still
run
things but be able to spend more time, especially evenings, at home.”

I can see from James’ face that he’ s still not entirely
happy about this, but as far as I’m concerned he’s agreed.

“That’s wonderful news!” Gia gushes, “Well done James, well
done son!” She walks around to the man she took under her wing all those years
ago and hugs him tightly. “Well done, your dad would be so very proud, proud of
everything
James.” She says quietly.

He pulls away from Gia’s embrace, a little embarrassed and
uncomfortable I think!

“I saw Muriel outside Harrods, or at least I’m pretty sure I
saw her!” I say as I flick though some invoices on his desk.

“I thought she was sick?” He questions.

“Well, I’m pretty damn sure it was her, no doubts really.
It’s the really fair hair, but the way the woman we saw held herself, even her
gait was Muriel. I’m convinced it was her!”

He returns to his seat, running his fingers through his
curls he looks up at me, “Keep an eye on it. Do you pay her when she doesn’t
work?”

“I pay her a set weekly amount, so yes I suppose so.”

“Just keep a note of it then Alex, it’s all you can do. What
are doing now?” He asks as he returns to his side of the desk.

“I’ll get Archie to drop Gia back and then take me back
home. I’m going to have a long soak before tonight. What time will you be back?
Table’s booked for seven-thirty don’t forget!” I rapid fire my intentions as
Gia just stands smiling a the man who claims to have adopted her.

“I’ll be back for just after six. Robbie won’t be here until
later but Marcus is going to cover for a couple of hours.”

“Any progress on your replacement?” I ask. I’m not letting
this go now that he’s agreed to step down, or step up?

“No, I’ve not spoken to anyone yet but I did wonder if
Robbie might consider the position?” He suggests.

“I thought he liked working permanent nights?” I frown.
James told me ages ago that Robbie prefers permanent nights, why would he want
to take on this role?

“He does because it fits in with family arrangements, but
it’s worth talking to him first – right?”

“Whatever you think best. Just keep me in the loop. I’m
happy for Robbie to take over from you and take on a new relief or deputy, but
if it’s someone totally new I’d like to be involved in the selection process.”
I add.

“You should!” Gia pipes up, “It’s your business Alex!”

I ask James to call Archie for us and once we’re downstairs
at the main entrance he’s already there waiting. We run Gia home quickly and
then he drops me back to Cheyne Row. Opening the car door for me and smiling as
he does, he’s happy! I thank him and grab my bags walking up the few steps to
my front door. Once inside I drop my bags and kick off my shoes before picking
up the post which I take through to the kitchen. Tea, post and bath that’s what
the afternoon has in store, oh and the groceries which I must order on line, in
fact, that really should be done first!

I make myself a mug of tea while I flick through the post,
there’s the usual junk mail and the odd utility bill and a handwritten
envelope, looks like Lewis’s writing. I open it straight away and just as I
thought it’s from Lewis.

Alex,

I’m so sorry for the trouble I’ve caused. I really never
meant to hurt you, at all. If I could do anything to put things right I would,
I’m sure you know that, I am so desperately unhappy without you at home and
miss you and Anna very much.

Before things move along any further please will you
reconsider? I so wanted you to come and see me in hospital, the nurses said you
were too busy. Alex, you shouldn’t be working, you’re too precious, you should
have someone to do this all for you.

Please, think again before it’s too late.

Lewis

Huh, what the hell’s he on about? “Sorry”, I didn’t think
that word even featured in his vocabulary! It goes straight in the bin and I
decide to ring Shauna. I’m feeling very proud of myself, for not getting into a
flap about it. Therapy must be working! Although, it wouldn’t surprise me one
bit if he doesn’t find some way to drag his heels, to delay the finalisation of
our divorce as long as possible.

I sit at my laptop and do my groceries on line and whilst I
select my purchases I make a call to Shauna, my solicitor. She assures me that
she’s heard nothing from Lewis’s solicitor and that as far as she is concerned
everything is moving ahead just fine, which reassures me slightly although I
won’t be totally relaxed until I know it’s finished. She tells me that we’re
just sitting and waiting for the six weeks and one day to pass.

Feeling a little better about the whole thing I sit back and
continue my selection of foods, including an attempt to corner the global
market in British strawberries, which seems achievable with the amount of the
damn things that we seem to buy each week! Gia’s right, it’s a wonder James
isn’t red! After all, they say that you turn orange if you eat too many
carrots! I wonder if the same applies to red foods?

Once I’ve finished the groceries and arranged for delivery
tomorrow morning I go upstairs and run a bath, adding a huge dollop of my
coconut bubbles. I hang my new dress and sort out my new handbag. Rooting
through my wardrobe I pull out some comfortable trousers to wear this evening
whilst waiting for the bath to fill. Eventually I step into the warm water, the
scent taking me to places that I’ve only ever dreamed of, tropical beaches,
turquoise seas lapping gently against the shore and warm, warm sunshine. I have
the most wonderfully long soak.

I’m just drying my hair when I hear
James come in. “I’m up here!” I call from my bedroom.

“Okay Blossom – You want a drink?” He shouts back.

“Please, water will be fine!” Because I know we don’t have
anything else and I don’t want any more tea!

I put the dryer away and root through my drawers for my new
black bra and matching knickers. I’m standing over my chest of drawers naked
when he walks into my room, “You look hot!” He murmurs, smiling. “Water for
Blossom.” He says as he grabs me around my waist. “You smell good too! Coconuts
again!”

“Umm, you know I’m a sucker for anything coconut flavoured,
well bubbles and soap anyway!” I mutter.

“Yes, I had noticed.” He pulls me close so that my back is
against his stomach, he trails little kisses down my neck, his hands move up
from my waist until they find my breasts, he caresses them and stokes my
nipples so gently his fingers on my bare flesh, that touch of his, so
exquisite, so electric.

“What time’s the table booked for?” He growls in my ear.

“7.30. Look, I got you something today, an impulse buy. I
saw them and thought of you.” I hand him the small Paul Smith box, “I haven’t
wrapped it.”

“It’s 6.30 now.” He says as he opens the little box. “Wow
Alex, these are great, absolutely great. Thank you,” he kisses me, “thank you
so much.”

“Well, I know you’re not totally British, but I liked them
and I get fed up seeing you with the same ones all the time.” I lift his hand,
looking at the silver champagne bottle cufflinks holding his double cuffs together.

“They’re great, really.” He kisses me again, holding me
close. “Do you think they’ll hold the table for us, if we’re a few minutes
late?” He asks.

“Why would we be late?” I smile, of course I know exactly
why
we will be late.

“Because Blossom I want you, so badly, now!” He turns me
around, I’m facing him he lets go of me and hurriedly undoes his shirt,
throwing it on the floor, he kicks his boots off and undoes his trousers and
boxers stepping out of them with lightening speed. I wrap my arms around his
neck, my fingers winding their way through his unruly hair as leans into me,
his big body naked against mine, his soft firm lips touching mine, desire
explodes within me, I feel helpless completely overtaken by lust and wanting
and he’s only has to touch me! That electric little touch starts me on my way,
my way to bliss. I hiss through my teeth, he kisses me again his tongue
exploring, battling with my own.

I run my fingers down his back, my nails raking his skin, he
gasps. God, how I want him, now! I feel so loved, so wanted and so very, very
hot.

“You’re so fucking fuckable Blossom.” He growls, pushing me
back onto my bed, our bed, he moves and to lie beside me, just holding me, his
hands gently touching my waist, my stomach, my breasts. He moves his leg
forcing it between mine, his hand gripping the outside of my knee, light
touches from his fingers travelling towards my hip. “James,” I moan aloud, “Oh
God James!”

“I want you so badly Alex.” He shifts himself between my
legs, resting on his elbows, placing little kisses across my jaw, down my neck
and across my collar bone. I look into those dark eyes and he smiles at me,
“Alex…you drive me insane!” He grumbles as I feel the tip of his erection at my
core. “You are so ready! You’re always ready, you’re fucking amazing.” I feel
him push gently into me, filling me, he thrusts over and over. “Wrap your legs
around me Alex!” His voice is husky, I bring my legs up and clasp my ankles
around his back as he thrusts over and over.

“Oh Hell.” I gasp.

“I know baby, hang on.” He
grumbles.

He thrusts again and again,
harder and harder, I cry out as I cling onto him my nails surely leaving
indentations on his back as I hold on so tightly. “Alex” He growls against my
neck, I feel him shudder over and over as he finds his release. I stay, locked
to him not wanting the moment to end turning my head I glance at the clock
“James, James darling. It’s seven.” I whisper.

He rolls to my side, “They’ll
hold the table, call the bistro, let them know we’re on our way.” He mutters as
he climbs off the bed and strides over to the bathroom. I hear him turn the
shower on.

I follow him through. I’ll need
to shower again after that amazing encounter. As I walk through to the bathroom
he’s cleaning his teeth, I sneak into the shower, with the intention of being
really quick but my plans are soon scuppered as he joins me, holding me around
my waist and pulling my back to his stomach.

“Don’t get my hair wet!” I
shout, as he turns me towards him.

“Oh…it’s not your
wet
hair I’m worried about Blossom!” He purrs in my ear.

I look up into that beautiful
face and with both hands slap his chest playfully, “Get off, we’ve no time!” I
laugh, even though nothing would give me greater pleasure than to cancel the
damn table and stay here, in the shower, with The Bossman!

“Okay, okay – you win!” He lets
me go letting me step out of the shower and dry off, quickly check my hair and
freshen my makeup. By the time I’ve dressed and sorted myself out he’s out of
the shower and towel dried his curls.

He dresses really quickly, it’s
so much easier being a bloke!

We leave the house and are soon
in his Audi, he
drives to the little bistro the
roads, although still busy are much quieter than during the day, Simple Minds
are singing about not “forgetting me”. I feel so relaxed as I sit back in the
quilted leather. "I'm glad you went shopping with Gia," he says,
"I'm pleased you have another friend - even though she's really your
aunt!"

I
smile, "I'm pleased too, I like Gia very much." I gaze out of the
window. “I had a letter from Lewis today – practically begging me to not
divorce him.”

He
takes a hand off the steering wheel and slams it back down again, making me
jump. I watch the road for me as his anger swells. “Why can’t the
bastard
just leave you alone?” He spits, “I hope you binned it?” He looks at me and
frowns, his face is harsh.

“I
have – he’s delusional. I wish he’d leave me alone too!” I look down at my
hands in my lap, part of me wishing I’d never told him that I’d received that
letter.

“You’re
telling me! I won’t allow you to be hurt any more by that fucking moron, you
understand me? I will
not
allow it!” His tone is brittle, so harsh, he
means it and I certainly would not like to be Lewis if ever he came face to
face with James, or worse still James and Benito together. Hell, it’s not worth
thinking about, it would surely be carnage!

We
sit in silence listening to the music when our peace is interrupted by my phone
ringing. I reach for my new bag and find my phone easily, I already love this
bag, nothing falls into its depths or becomes consumed. Looking at the screen I
don't recognise the number I answer formally, "Alex Drake."

James
turns towards me and mouths “
who’s that?”
I shrug my shoulders; I have
no idea and don’t recognise the number.

"Hi
Alex its David Deykin, sorry to bother you in the evening but I was ringing to
see how Lewis is now? I’ve tried your home but there’s no answer." I look
at James and cover the mouth piece of my phone, I whisper, “Lewis’s business
partner.” I shrug my shoulders again.

The
call takes me very much by surprise, I haven't spoken with David or his wife,
Carol, for months and months, in fact I think the last time I spoke to them was
at the Christmas dinner, eight months ago!

"I'm
sorry David, Lewis clearly hasn't told you." I state, hoping that David
has some idea of where I am and why.

"Told
me what Alex?" He sounds curious.

"That
I left him in early July, during the first week to be exact!”

"Oh.
I'm sorry, and no he didn't say a word. Only that he'd come into lot of money and
well, he said how wealthy he was going to be!" David recounts what Lewis
has clearly told him, a pack of lies!

"Did
he? Well that doesn't surprise me one bit. You should probably know that I’m
divorcing him, the decree nisi is through and with any luck the absolute will
be in around six weeks time, but the inheritance is mine, absolutely
nothing
to do with Lewis. My mother's will is very clear. Lewis is not mentioned in it
at all, only in a negative sense." I explain, trying to sound calm and
keep the conversation professional.

"Oh,
I see,” David pauses a little, I hear him huff. “Well he’s been making all
sorts of plans, on a personal level and with the business, hell Alex he’s
spending like it’s going out of fashion, one of the reasons I wanted to see how
he was doing. He’s supposedly been working from home dishing jobs out left
right and centre the problem is we’ve no cash to pay the contractors!" He
sighs again, giving me the impression that all is not well with the business
that my fucked up husband is a partner in.

"Well
David, I would strongly suggest that you rein him in, and quickly. He’s
accepted a handsome settlement and of course I’ll be paying the mortgage off.
What I will say is that I think he has some…some significant mental issues, in
fact I'm sure. But the inheritance is absolutely nothing to do with him. I
assume you know about his other women as well?" I like David and Carol and
I’m so sorry that Lewis is clearly dragging the business down to his miserable
level.

I
hear David sigh loudly again. "I had an idea Alex. I could never
understand why he stayed away in the week. I always came home to Carol, the
hotel bills alone must have been crippling to you both. Anyway, where are you
living?" He tries to lighten the conversation.

"I'm
in London with my new partner, James and I’m very happy, happier than I've been
for the last twenty-two years." I smile as I speak.

"That’s
good. Well I'm sorry to have bothered you, if I'd have known I wouldn't have
called, if it's of any comfort I'm not surprised, in fact I thought you would
have gone before now. Lewis was,
is
always very open about your
relationship and Carol and I always felt so sorry for you, I know he can be
short tempered, your mum used to talk Carol when they met in town about him,
about you. She felt helpless, you know that don’t you?" He drops the
bombshell, is that how my mum knew about Lewis, was it her and Carol gossiping
in the town that gave her the missing information she needed? Is that what she
told Maggie? My mum never said she knew Carol, but if it was Carol, as the
information source, I don’t think my mum would have given her up easily,
wouldn’t have told me.

"David,
you don't know most of what went on behind the scenes, even Anna didn't know,
but, well most of it is in the open now, Lewis showed his true colours only a
few weeks ago in public and ended up in Police custody – but if you haven’t
seen him, well you wouldn’t know that would you?" I sigh.

"I
didn’t know, and I haven’t seen him since the day before he was assaulted. I
know he was meeting someone, and it was a woman I think, he left the office
early and then we got the phone call the next day." He explains.

"I
knew he wouldn’t have said anything, like I said, he’s delusional, it’s like
he’s living in a parallel universe where none of this is happening and he
totally disbelieves that the inheritance is mine and not his. David, he’s not
even mentioned in the will only to say that he
mustn’t
have anything!” I
feel so sorry for David being lumbered with Lewis, the miserable excuse for a
man. I take a deep breath. "Look David, I have to go. We've just arrived
at a restaurant and we’re already late. Give my regards to Carol and maybe I
might see you again if I'm up that way. Or if ever you’re in London give me a
ring and we can meet for coffee or something?" I suggest
.

"That
would be great Alex. I'm really, really pleased that things are working out
well for you anyway. You are so much better off without him, if what he’s told
me over the years is true you deserve a bloody medal, you really do!" His
voice is soft and kind. How the hell did Lewis and David ever become business
partners, they’re just
so
different from each other.

“Thanks
David, I appreciate it. Maybe I’ll talk to you or Carol soon, take care and if
you can back out of the partnership I think it would be best, for you anyway! I
really do have to go now. Bye.”

I
cut the call as James pulls up outside of the bistro. I fill him in really
quickly about the call, what Lewis has been doing and saying and what David has
said about my mum and his wife talking.

We walk into the bistro forty
minutes late, Gia and Roberto don’t seem to mind, the place doesn’t look too
busy this evening anyway. Gia shows us to the same table we’ve sat at before,
“I’ll fetch some wine.” She says as she disappears to the back.

James smiles at me and reaches
for my hand across the table, “So I’m your new
partner
am I?” He says,
referring to the conversation I had with David on the way here.

“Umm, well you are – aren’t you?
I thought you were a fling, but maybe a bit more now, I hope. It is more than a
fling, isn’t it?” I frown.

“I hope it’s more, a lot, lot
more Blossom.” He rubs his thumb across my knuckles.

“So do I.” I whisper.

“Yeah, I want to be your lover,
your best friend, your soul-mate. I’ve found the love of my life. I look at you
and I smile for no reason. I want to spend the rest of my life worshipping you.
I want to marry you Alex, I want to spend every possible minute and second with
you, I want to be a father and if I can’t, then I want to support Anna as best
as I can,” he pauses, looking directly at me, “Alex, marry me?” He lifts his
other hand and holds mine completely between his two, his thumb continually
rubbing gently over my knuckles.