CORAL - Fallen (A Romance Trilogy, Book 2) (29 page)

“Right,” I say as sarcastically as I can.
Coral,
be careful!

I realise I am right to warn myself, this
is not normal behavior, even for a crush, this is strange, totally loosing it
behaviour. In a flash she moves towards me and cricks her neck from side to
side, now she’s closer, I can see how her eyes have changed, her pupils are so
dilated it’s making her eyes look like black coal – Just like my Mother’s used
to, and in that moment I know, I can't feel it – She really
is
dangerous!
Shit!

“I wouldn’t mention this to anyone,” she hisses.
“After all, who will they believe? Me, or a freak like you that needs constant
therapy,” she adds.
Fuck! She knows I'm in therapy?

Moving closer to me, she tries to run her
forefinger down my cheek, but I slap it away and take a step to the side.
“Don’t touch me!” I hiss.

“You just broke my nail,” she growls
menacingly, her lip twisting up over her top teeth. She looks just like the
crazy Susannah from my dream –
Ok that’s it!

Stepping forward so I'm right in her face,
I take a deep breath and try to keep my voice steady. “You better get something
straight lady. You don’t scare me, and you’d better not even think about
threatening me again, or you’ll wish you hadn’t you crazy fucker.” Susannah takes
a step back in surprise. “That’s more like it. Oh and I see you anywhere near
Joe, I’ll rip your fucking head off, got it?” She starts smiling at me –
Fucking
Crazy Bitch!

I shake my head at her and stomp out of the
building with the force of a tornado. I'm so fucking angry right now; apoplectic
with rage is more like the right phrase to use. The adrenalin is still kicking
through my system, making me shake from head to toe. I can't believe she knows
where I live. And how the hell does she know I'm seeing George? The only one
that knows about that at work is Joyce, so how did she find out?

I really need to tell Tristan about her
behavior, but I don't think he’ll believe me. She’s worked with him for too
long, and she’s got him thinking the sun shines out of her arse. Once I clear
the corner, I lean against the wall and take a few minutes to calm down and
forget about
her –
it takes a while…

FEELING A LITTLE BETTER I
carry
on walking, I have no idea where I'm going. All I keep thinking about is the
fact that Susannah knows things about me that she shouldn’t, and I don't like
it, I don't like it at all –  And that’s when I get a light bulb moment, two
can play that game!

I hear those guys from Starbucks talking
‘Got
a P.I on it, she’s the one that found it all out for him’
and in that
moment I know that is what I have to do. I wonder if that’s what Susannah’s
done to find out about me?

Grabbing my mobile, I get straight onto the
web and search P.I’s in Brighton. Choosing the first one that comes up, I put
my bag down and plunge my hand inside to find my little notepad so I can write
the number down. I locate a pen, but no pad?

My tiny little notepad has disappeared? I
search again.
Nothing?
I see a bench nearby so I walk over to it, sit
down and take everything out of my bag. Nope it’s definitely gone….and so have
my keys? I feel all the blood drain out of my face.
This isn’t happening!

I swallow hard and try to think back to
this morning. I definitely put them in my bag after I locked up. So where are
they now? I feel the tears bubble up to the surface, but I push back at them. I
have to think logically about this.

Ok, as far as my notepad goes, maybe I
dropped it at Tristan’s or something? But as for my keys?…I feel a strange
tingling sensation start at the top of my head and wonder all the way down the
length of my spine –
Susannah has them!
– My inner voice says. I shake
my head at that thought. No, no way, I would have seen her take them out of
my....
Oh shit!
I had a bathroom break while she was still at my desk
.

I close my eyes and push the thought away,
I can't even bare to think about it.
I'm sure I’ll find them
, I tell
myself trying to ease the panic, but I know deep down inside, my suspicions
maybe right. Shaking my head, I shove everything back inside my bag, and get
back to the task in hand.

Re-awakening my mobile, I commit the number
to memory then check out the address, it’s not far at all. Calling them up. I
check to see if I can come straight over, I'm told I can but I’ll have a half
an hour wait. I put the call on hold and make a call to Joyce; she agrees to
give me the extra time. I thank her and hang up. Going back to the call I tell
them I’ll be there in twenty minutes. As I’m stomping through town, and trying
not to freak out about Susannah, and my keys, I get a call on my mobile – Tristan!

Oh, no, no, no!
Really bad timing! I actually feel reluctant to answer it. I'm
worried, and I don't want my voice to give me away. I know I need to tell him
what’s going on, but I’d rather do that face to face, so I take a deep breath
and press answer.

“Tristan,” I pant, as I'm walking so
quickly.

“Coral is everything ok?” he asks.

“Um...yeah. Why?” I ask.

“Susannah just called me’ – my heart sinks
and a lump forms in my throat – ‘she’s gone back to the hotel.” I clear my
throat.

“Really, why?” I ask trying to sound
nonchalant.

“Migraine, she gets them now and again’ – I
feel myself instantly relax – ‘but she did say that your training isn’t going
too well?” he adds –
Cheeky Bitch!

“Well maybe if she had a little more
patience’ – I stop myself from going on a rant – ‘I'm tired Tristan, I haven’t
been sleeping well,” I say hoping he’ll believe me.

“Me neither,” he says. “Can't stop thinking
about my beautiful wife to be.” I smile for what feels like the first time in a
long while. “I miss you,” he says all huskily.

“Me too,” I croak feeling melancholy again.

“Don't cry baby,” he soothes.

“I'm sorry,” I choke again, pushing back
the lump stuck in my throat. “I'm just...I want you here with me,” I whisper.

“I know. I wish I were there too baby.”
Tristan softly says.

I stop walking and close my eyes. “Where
are you?” I ask.

“Leeds, hold on baby’ – I hear him talking
to someone in the background – ‘Gotta go, I’ll call you tonight,” he tells me.

“Actually I’ll be at Gladys’s, I don't know
how late it’ll be,” I say.

“Call me anyway,” he says. “I want to know
you got home safely,” he adds.

“I will,” I answer softly.

“Bye gorgeous,” he croons.

“Bye baby,” I croak. I hear the line go
dead.

Taking a deep breath, I carry on walking,
determined to complete my mission...

AS SOON AS I’M BACK AT WORK
I run through reception, up the stairs and along the hallway. The
only thing I have on my mind is searching for my keys, as I reach my desk, I'm
about to wrench open the top draw when I spy a post-it note, underneath the
note are my keys.

Found these on the floor. Susannah.

Yeah right!
I rip the note of them, and place the keys inside my bag. Just at
that moment, Joyce comes out of her office. “Susannah’s gone home,” she tells
me.

“I know,” I answer. Joyce cocks her head to
the side. “Tristan called me,” I add.

Joyce smiles warmly at me. I try to smile
back and sit at my desk, expecting Joyce to go back into her office but she’s
hovering.

I look up at her, she seems miles away.“Joyce.
You ok?” I ask.

Joyce nods once. “Susannah was acting
really oddly again today. Came in a couple of minutes after you left, said she
was going on lunch, twenty minutes later, she was back telling me she was
leaving for the day? She looked all worked up, she really is an odd ball,” she says
with her hands on her hips, staring down the hallway. “Well, she gone for now,
I suppose.” Joyce adds.

I nod silently as I half listen to Joyce.
I'm too busy thinking about my keys, and trying to work out how they magically
jumped out of my bag onto the floor.

“Are you alright Coral?” Joyce asks,
pulling me from my musing.

“Of course.” I answer. “Can I get you
anything?” I quickly add as Joyce is gazing quizzically at me.

“Yes. Tea please Coral.” I nod in reply and
watch Joyce walk back into her office.

As I'm in the kitchen preparing her tea, I
wonder if my keys really did fall out of my bag. Maybe I didn’t do the zip up
properly or something? Sleep deprivation can do that to a person. I shake my
head at myself, no good trying to work out what happened, point is, I have them
back safely.

The rest of the afternoon goes by
swimmingly without Susannah here. I decide not to tell Joyce about Susannah threatening
me, I think she will freak out about it, and I don't want her to. If Joyce is
right, and Susannah is playing some sort of game, the last thing I'm going to
do is let her get one over on me. I stay past finishing time, all this training
has meant I’ve gotten behind with my usual work, and I like feeling as though
I’m on top of things –
Control freak!

FINALLY FINISHING UP FOR THE DAY
, I decide to get a taxi and head straight over to Gladys as it’s
already 6.30pm, there’s no point going home. I must remember to have it out
with Gladys tonight. I want to know what’s being hidden from me. I will find
out tonight, by hook or by crook, she will tell me.

In a daze, I head out of work, walking up
St James’s street I locate a taxi and head over to Gladys’s. As I reach the
front door I knock three times, I don’t want to catch Gladys and Malcolm at it
again.

The door flies open, Gladys beams brightly
at me and throws her arms open wide.

“Darling!” She gushes, pulling me into her
for a bear hug.

“Hi,” I squeak.

“Come on in. Why didn’t you use your key?”
she asks, I cock one eyebrow up at her and grin.

“Oh, well, yes. That was a little
embarrassing I suppose.”
She supposed right!

We walk through the hallway, our arms
linked and into head the kitchen. Malcolm stands and walks over to me.

“Hello Coral.” He leans down and kisses my
cheek. He smells good, which makes me think of Tristan, my stomach twists in
response. I miss him so much.

“Hi Malcolm, how are you?” I ask.

“Very well thank you, your nose has cleared
up nicely,” he says, smiling broadly.

“Yeah, I know,” I say feeling tired and
weary – Last night’s nightmares and today’s shenanigans have exhausted me, plus
I haven’t really been able to relax since Monday night. I keep picturing
someone breaking in, and walking up my stairs and I'm trapped and – “Sit down
darling, drink?” Gladys asks, pulling me from my musing.

“Yes please,” I say, taking a seat at the
kitchen table.

“Coral you look pale. Aren’t you sleeping?”
Gladys asks, looking concerned. I shake my head too tired to answer. “Well you
should go to the doctors,” she tells me.

“It’s nothing,” I say, waving my hand.

Gladys sighs at me. “Alright Coral, have it
your own way.”

I roll my eyes at Malcolm who smiles in
return. “Coral, what would you like. Wine? Juice’ –“Wine please,” I interrupt. I
think I need the alcohol. Malcolm hands a large glass to me and I take a couple
of gulps, I want to feel it swishing around my system, relaxing me.

Looking up I can see Gladys looks
apprehensive and a little sloshed, her cheeks are very pink, then I look at
Malcolm, he smiles tentatively at me; they both look nervous.

“How’s work?” Malcolm asks.

“Great,” I answer sarcastically. Malcolm
nods and purses his lips together. They both sit in unison at the table, Gladys
with her wine, Malcolm with his G&T.

“Now, we have something very important to
tell you,” Gladys says, then takes a gulp of wine, Malcolm takes her hand and
squeezes it. Seeing him do that is reminding me of Tristan, of the way I feel
when he takes my hand in his – I really miss him, the dull ache in my stomach
blooms to a full blown empty crater; I glug more wine to try and make it
disappear.

Gladys takes a deep breath in, slowly blows
it out then turns to me. “So I suppose you’re wondering why we asked you here?”
she says. I nod. It’s all I can manage.

Gladys
takes my free hand in hers
and pats it gently, fighting
back the tears, she pulls her
hanky out and dabs her cheeks. “The house has sold,” she manages to chokes out.
What!

“Sold?” I repeat breathlessly, blinking
rapidly at her. I shouldn’t feel shocked, I knew this was coming. I feel like
all the blood is slowly draining from my body. My head feels foggy and my ears
are ringing…
Sold!

“Oh darling!” Gladys pulls her chair closer
to me, and hugs me awkwardly around the shoulders.

“It’s ok,” I assure her patting her hand,
my mind completely blank.

She kisses me hard on the cheek several
times. “We have to be out in two weeks, so we’re renting for a while until we
find what we’re looking for,” she squeaks, hugging me tighter.

I nod, throw in a fake smile for good
measure, pull out of her hold and take another drink.

“Malcolm,” she says holding her hand out.
He passes her a small white envelope, smiling broadly as he does. “This is for
you darling,” Gladys softly says, and hands me the envelope.

I have no idea what it is. Which is why I
don't understand why my heart has started banging rapidly against my chest?

I swallow hard and put my wine down. “What
is it?” I ask.

“Open it up Coral, we’ll explain everything,”
Malcolm suggests kindly.

I frown slightly and rip open the seal.
There’s a thin piece of paper inside, it’s a little bigger than a cheque. When
I pull it out, I see it says Bankers Draft. On the first line is my name, then
I read the second line – Two Hundred & Fifty Thousand Pounds – I blink
twice, then re-read it.
Nope ,that’s definitely what it says!

I look up at Gladys, then Malcolm, my mouth
pops open to say something, but no words come out.

“It’s for you,” Malcolm explains.
I
already gathered that part.

“Why?” I gasp.

“Why not?” Malcolm retorts.

I shake my head, unable to comprehend
what’s going on.

“This is my gift to you darling.” Gladys
explains.
Huh?

“I don’t understand?” I whisper staring at
the slip of paper in my shaking hands. Malcolm and Gladys exchange a look. I’m
immediately suspicious. “Why are you giving me this?” I ask.

“Well as you know we’ll be moving away, and
I wanted to make sure you are taken care of darling. You’re all on your own,
you don't have a husband to support you like Debbie, and I just can't stand the
thought of you struggling…” Gladys sniffs and dabs her eyes again.
Husband?
That may come sooner rather than later!