CORAL - Fallen (A Romance Trilogy, Book 2) (25 page)

“Of course I will. It was nice speaking to
you Coral, maybe we’ll meet someday?” She sounds so friendly, so normal and
nice.
I wish she was the one training me, not Susannah!

“I hope so, I’d really like that,” I smile
easily.

“Me too, well I’d better get on.”
Inspiration
hits, maybe she can help me?

“Karen, can I ask you something?” I ask
cautiously.

“Sure, fire away.”
Ok here goes!

“Have you met Susannah?” The line is silent
for a long time.

“Yes, yes I have.” She finally says, but her
tone has changed, she doesn’t sound so happy and light anymore.

“Oh, ok.” I stare out to sea, maybe I’m not
going to get anything out of her, but I push anyway. “It’s ok. You don't have
to say anything. It’s just that she’s upset one of the girls in the office and
she’s not being great with me either. I just wondered if it was because she was
away from home, you know…a little pissed to be training me, missing her husband
maybe?”

“Well…I…” She seems hesitant to say
anything. “I don't like to gossip' – “Neither do I,” I interrupt, then continue.
“It’s just… I think she’s a little odd, I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t me
I guess.”

“It’s not you,” she says, her voice low and
quiet.

“Oh?”
Now I'm intrigued.

“Coral, I really don't want to talk about
this at work, especially on Mr Freeman’s mobile,” she says sounding a little
worried.

“Of course, I understand.”
Damn it!

“I take lunch at one. Want me to call you?”
She offers.

“Really, you would? I don’t want to take up
your lunch hour.”
Please say yes!

“No it’s fine, I’ll call you later.”
Bingo!

“Great thanks. Bye Karen,” I say
cheerfully.

“See ya.” Karen hangs up.

I stare out at the sparkling blue ocean,
feeling a little pissed I couldn’t talk to Tristan, but also wondering what
that conversation’s going to be like.

Shrugging it off, I decide to pop into the
gym and see if Will is in yet, I need to ask him something. When I ask at
reception they tell me he’s not in yet, so I leave my mobile number telling them
it’s urgent and request they get Will to contact me, ASAP, which I'm sure he
will, he hasn’t let me down before, and maybe he can give me some advice how to
deal with the situation if it happens again. And I need to let him know that I
panicked last night, so maybe we need to work on some other type of training,
some other technique?

Feeling satisfied that I’ve got control of
my emotions and the whole
‘someone tried to get into my studio’
situation,
I pop my headphones in and hit play. Halo continues where it left off, and I
stop myself from singing aloud. I really can't hit those high notes, and I
don't want to upset the commuters going to work. I'm sure the last thing they
want to hear is a squawking bird as they head into the office.

As I make my way into work, listening to
the Halo, it suddenly becomes so clear. This is me, and the guy in the song is
Tristan, he is my Halo. He is just like a ray of sunshine brightening up my
days, making me feel safe, and I am one hundred percent addicted to his light, his
warmth, his embrace, and I pray he will never fade away.

The moment I walk into work, I go straight
into Joyce’s office so I can tell her about my strange incident last night,
only to find she isn’t in yet. Heading back to my desk, I find a post-it note
on my screen – Be in at 11am, Joyce –
Well that’s just great!

SUSANNAH IS BEING STRANGELY
nice to me today. Very chatty – I can’t work out why? As our
mid-morning break comes around, she follows me into the kitchen for a coffee. I
feel a headache coming on from the constant chatter – she has not shut up.
Yesterday she was being weird with me, and today I’m her best friend.
It’s
very odd!

“So are you with anyone Coral, do you have
a boyfriend?” I decide not to lie. I'm smiling too much lately. I don't think I
can hide it.

“Yes,” I answer. “And you’re married I see,”
I say, gesturing to her wedding and engagement rings.

“Kind of obvious isn’t it.” She laughs, but
it’s off.

“How long have you been married?” I ask
smiling as I do.

“Two years.” She answers
humourlessly
this time.

“How did you meet?” I want to keep her
talking, keep control of the conversation.

“We’d known each other a long time.” She
answers gravely. It peaks my interest.

“Are you ok?” I can’t work out if she’s
being genuine.

Her lips twitch with a smile, but it
doesn’t reach her eyes. “We’re having…difficulties,” she says.
I can't tell
if she’s playing it up?

“Oh!” I look away from her. I don't know
her well enough for her to be sharing that kind of information with me. Then I
hear Tristan’s voice
‘she’s happily married’
I frown in confusion trying
to make sense of what she’s saying. “I'm sorry,” I mumble as I pour two mugs of
coffee.

She shrugs nonchalantly. “Sometimes it
works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
What? What does that mean?
I stop what I'm
doing and look up at her. “We’re getting divorced,” she whispers, her eyes
glistening over.
Fuck!

“Oh! Susannah, I'm sorry. That can’t be
easy,” I offer by way of condolences.

She shrugs again, as though she doesn’t give
a fuck. “Thanks, but I guess when it’s over, it’s over.” I nod in agreement,
then I think about where she lives – London – she’ll meet someone new. Then I
wonder whether she actually wants to. Then I wonder if Tristan knows about
this?

“There’s no way of working it out?” I ask
tentatively. Susannah shakes her head at me. “So what are your plans?” I ask.
“I take it you live together?” I add.

“No, well, yes. Sam kept his house, rented
it out and moved in with me. I guess he’ll go back there. We haven’t really
worked stuff like that out yet. We only made our decision this Sunday gone.”
Ah, maybe she’s not being herself because of what’s going on in her love life?

Then I think about Karen’s odd reaction
this morning. None of it is making sense, in-fact I’m starting to feel very
confused. Plus, it isn’t helping that every time I look at her I keep seeing
the crazy, deranged Susannah from my dream.

Susannah continues. “Although, I am
thinking about getting out of London altogether, make a fresh start,” she says
wistfully.
What?
My throat instantly goes dry, why do I get the feeling
I know where this is going?

“I don't blame you, got anywhere in mind?”
I ask brightly as I reach for the milk out of the fridge.

“Actually, funny you should say that...” My
heart sinks to the pit of my stomach. “Being here, down by the coast has made
me realise how much I need a change, I think it would do me good, you know
fresh air, walks on the beach…” I reluctantly hand her coffee to her, avoiding
eye contact.

“I guess so,” I answer artlessly.
Come
on Coral, be brave!

Meeting her eyes, I smile purposely. “So
you might move here?” I ask brightly, taking a sip of coffee. She instantly
blushes –
Gotcha!

“Maybe, I don't know yet,” she says,
smiling down at the floor –
Liar! You know full well what you’re doing! –
She
looks up at me and smiles wearily. I make myself smile sympathetically at her,
then I nod and walk out the kitchen heading back to my desk with Susannah
following me.

I feel like throwing up! She’s moving here
because Tristan is, I know she is. Then I think about her job, she’ll have to
get a new one...unless...unless she’s after my job? Or maybe she’ll convince
Tristan we should work together? I don't know, but either way I don't like it,
I don't like it at all. I feel all the blood drain out of my face.
Damn it!

Of all the weeks for Tristan to be away,
why did it have to be this one?
I need to talk to him,
and I need to talk to him now!

“Coral are you ok, you’ve gone very pale?”
I put my coffee cup down, and rub my stomach as though I'm in pain.

“Yeah, just not feeling too great, must be
the curry I had last night.” Lie, lie, lie that’s all I seem to do nowadays.
“I'm going to the ladies,” I say. Turning swiftly on my heel I march away from
her...

FUCKETY, FUCK, FUCK!
I have not stopped looking at the clock
on the wall, I want lunchtime to come round, and I want it now. My leg keeps
trying to jig up and down with nerves – I don't want Blondie to see that. And I
wish she would stop smiling at me like that, like I'm her new best friend.
Finally, after concentrating on the new emailing system she is showing me,
12.30pm comes around.

Leaping up from my chair, I say goodbye to
Blondie, grab my bag and head out the building. Just as I reach the end of the
road, I realise I haven’t asked Joyce if she wants anything, which I always do
if I'm heading out, so I call her mobile.

“Coral?” Joyce answers sounding concerned.

“Joyce, I'm outside the building. Did you
want anything picking up?” I ask sweetly.

“Actually darling, if you have the time and
you don't mind. I really fancy one of those Frappuccinos from Starbucks.” I
smile to myself Joyce is rarely naughty.

“Yep, that’s no problem,” I answer. “Oh
Joyce, while I’ve got you can I have five minutes when I get back?”

“Of course you can. I’ll call you through when
I'm free.”

“Thank you,” I answer and hang up.

Walking into town, I make my way over to St
James’s Street. I go straight to the place I need for Tristan’s present, and
get that organised. I'm surprised it only takes a few minutes to do then I head
over to Starbucks.

I can’t help checking my mobile for a call
from Tristan or Karen –
Nothing?
I hope Tristan’s ok? As I step inside
the coffee house, I see there’s a queue, so I stand next in line. I'm about to
try Tristan again, but the conversation going on in front of me has
side-tracked me.

They are evidently a couple of gay guys,
the one is telling the other about his friend finding out that the guy he had
been seeing for five years had, in fact, been secretly married for ten years to
a woman and had three kids.

“How did he not know that?” the one says to
the other.

“I don’t know, but Kevin is well and truly
cut up about it. I'm just glad he found out now and it didn’t drag on any
longer.”

“That’s awful! How did he find out? I bet
that wasn’t pretty?”

“Funny you should ask, he thought he was
shagging someone else, but he didn’t want to start going through his phone or
following him, he thought that was a bit desperate and stalkerish…”
Yes, it
is!

“So what did he do?” the other asks.

“Got a P.I on it.” He says.
My ears
prick up!

“You’re kidding?” The other chokes.

“No, she’s the one that found it all out
for him.” He says.

“Never would have thought to do that,” he says
shaking his head. “Bet that cost a fortune,” he adds.

The other shakes his head. “She didn’t cost
that much actually, which I was surprised at, and they were really quick
apparently. He made the call and within a couple of days he got the answer he
needed.”

“Well, I suppose it’s better than snooping
around yourself,” he says.

“Yeah, I guess,” says the other, nodding in
agreement.

“Hello Miss?” I look up and see I'm next in
line, moving forward I stare blankly at the menu. My stomach is rumbling at me,
but I really don’t feel that hungry. Then I spy the Sticky Chocolate Brownie
Swirl in the pastry section.

“Miss, can I take you order?” The staff
member looks a little annoyed. I guess I'm holding the queue up.

“I’ll take Mocha Light Frappuccino a
regular Cappuccino and a Chocolate Brownie Swirl to take out.” She nods in
response and I pay for my order. The two chaps who were talking have gone to
sit down. The conversation they had has got me thinking...

“Miss, heellooo?” I turn and look up.
Damn
it!
She’s talking to me
. “Your order?” she says a little
sarcastically.

“Thanks.” I take it off her and walk out
the coffee house. Just at that moment, my mobile starts ringing.
Damn it!

Stuffing my swirl into my bag so I have a
free hand, I answer the call. “Hello?”

“Hi Coral it’s Karen.”

“Hey, thanks for calling me back.”

“It’s no problem.”

“Are you sure you want to talk about this?”
I don't want her to feel like I'm
pressuring
her.

“No, really it’s fine. So who’s she upset?”

“The receptionist Joe, don't get me wrong
she is a little bit ‘nice but dim’ at times but she wouldn’t hurt a fly. She
certainly didn’t deserve to be belittled like that.”

“No, well that’s Susannah for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look, between you and me, I can’t stand
her, and Claire in Birmingham doesn’t like her either.”

“Why, what’s she done?”

“It’s not really what she’s done. It’s how
she is. You see, we all keep it zipped when it comes to her, because for some
reason Mr Freeman – with all due respect to him, he’s a brilliant boss – for
some reason he seems to think the sun shines out of her arse. I’ve seen it
first hand, she is so different with everyone when he’s around, then the moment
he leaves she goes back to being...I don’t know....just weird,” she huffs.

“Yeah, weird seems to be the right word.” I
have a thought. I decide to put it out there, question it see what Karen’s
reaction is. “You know, the way she talks about Mr Freeman, you’d think she’s
in love with him, not her husband.” I say artlessly.

“Coral
everyone
knows she’s is in
love with him, it’s written all over her. It’s a little bit freaky to be fair,
but it doesn’t seem to bother Mr Freeman so...did you say husband?”
Oh My
God! I’m right and I'm not the only one who’s thinking it either!

I swallow hard. “Yeah, why?” I say, trying
to sound casual.

“You know, none of the girls believe she’s
actually married?”

“What?” I chuckle.
That’s a little odd.

“No, seriously they don't. Everyone thinks
she’s made him up. Ask her about it, she instantly clams up. She doesn’t talk
about him at all,” she says.

“But she’s got rings on?” I blurt.

“Coral,” she chuckles. “Anyone can wear a
ring and pose that they are married.”

“Well…yeah I guess, but why would she do
that?” I mumble trying to get my head around it all.
That’s weird?

“No idea,” she says. “When she
supposedly
got married all the girls in the London office we’re waiting for her to
bring in her wedding photos, but she never did. The last person that asked
about them, she snapped their head off and it all got dropped, which we all
thought was odd. Most women can't wait to show off their wedding photos, so why
didn’t she?”

That’s true, I remember when one of the
secretaries got married, she went on about it for months and she did bring
photos in, in-fact I think she brought a video too?
Ok this is getting
weirder by the minute.

“Ok, so you’re saying most people think her
husband is fictitious?” I ask hardly able to believe my own words.

“Yes.”

“But why would she do that? It doesn’t make
any sense?” I ask, frowning deeply.

“No idea, like I said she’s weird.” I get
the feeling Karen and Susannah have had a run in at some point.

“She told me this morning that she’s
getting divorced. And that she wants to relocate,” I say quietly.

“Careful there Coral, she’ll be after your
job,” she says.

I try not to panic. “You think so?” I ask
squeakily.

“Look, I know Mr Freeman is relocating down
there, he told me this morning. It doesn’t make any difference to me, I’ve
still got my job, which I love. Claire’s cool about it too, but I can’t imagine
Susannah being satisfied with only seeing him once a month, if that!”

“No, I don’t suppose she would be,” I
whisper racking my brains for a logical answer to all this. Ok so married women
are women of value. They must be a good catch if a guy has snapped them up.
Maybe she is playing that card to make Tristan jealous? I shake my head at
myself, that doesn’t make sense! Ok so she pretends to be married so she can
fake a divorce and....and Tristan will comfort her in her time of need, console
her...
No!