Notice Me (30 page)

As the cab crossed the Brooklyn Bridge my stomach turned. I was so anxious I was beginning to feel sick. I took deep breaths opening the window trying to calm my breathing down at the same time.

As the yellow cab pulled up at my apartment Will’s car was already there waiting. I took one last breath as I paid the driver and got out to face my judgement.

Will stood motionless against his car. Even in the uneven light of the sidewalk I could see he was still angry.

“Hi Will,” I said timidly.

“Get inside,” Will replied harshly. This was going to be bad, really bad.

We were silent as we entered my apartment. I switched all the lights on as I made my way to the couch waiting for Will’s fury. Perhaps Megan was on her way too it wouldn’t have surprised me.

Will caught sight of Charlie’s guitar leaning against my wall.

“Well, Charlie has certainly made himself at home,” Will spat at me.

“Will, just say what you came to say,” I raised my voice glaring at him. “I know what I have done is wrong, but I am not sorry.”

“How can you say that. Just think what you have done to Megan… to me. My whole family. We have been nothing but good to you. This is how you repay us?” Will was pacing back and forth in my small living area.

“Megan is the only one who I have to explain myself to. I have always made it clear about you and me”.

“But you haven’t. You know how much I love you. This stupid crush won’t last Shannon. Charlie will throw you out like the trash. Look what he did to Megan. Why the hell can’t you see that?”

“I don’t care what you say Will… I love him.”

“You love him enough to destroy everything you have worked so hard for?” Will was in my face now inches away from me watching my reaction closely.

I squared my shoulders and replied with confidence. “YES!”

“Ridiculous. You cannot be that sure of him,” Will laughed.

“Can’t I?” I smirked at Will. This made him see red as he smashed one of the glasses on my kitchen work top. I suddenly wished Charlie was outside, being alone had not been the best plan. “Will please calm down,” I pleaded, but he carried on smashing my plates, cups anything he could get his hands on. I moved to the end of my couch trying to edge towards the front door. Will could see what I was trying to do and grabbed me hard against my shoulders. The pain of his grip sent tremors down my body. I began to shake, scared, wondering what he would do next.

“You’re not going to him. I will not allow it. Do you hear me Shannon? It ends now!” Will was shaking me, tears were falling down my face. I was petrified. “I’ll kill him. Do you understand, if you stay with him… I WILL KILL HIM?” Will looked crazy, he had completely snapped. I stared into his eyes. The ocean in them had turned into a deep maddening fire. Will was being serious. I was sure of it. My whole body crumpled from the pain. Will’s grip no longer bothered me, it was my heart. I couldn’t contain the pain as I sobbed. “You really thought you could stay with him didn’t you Shannon?” Will was laughing now. “I thought you were smart. I told you I would never give you up. You are
mine.
” I was still sobbing. I couldn’t even look up to tell him I belonged to no one. “You go to Charlie’s tell him it is over. I will pack your things, you are coming home to London with me, tonight!”

“But my job I can’t just…” I tried to argue, but he put his hand over my mouth to interrupt.

“I don’t care about your job Shannon. All I want is you back home where you belong. Or do you really want Charlie
DEAD
?”

I could feel my lips quiver as I tried to speak. “You wouldn’t really Will. I mean you would be arrested. You couldn’t do that to…”

Will began laughing a deep dark chuckle. “Silly girl. My family have people who take care of things like that. Especially when money is no object. I really wouldn’t call my bluff Shannon. It would only take one call… Then poor Charlie. I can see it now ‘
Famous photographer commits suicide jumping off a balcony or something like that.
” Will was still chuckling with his grip on me. The anger filled me again as I slapped him hard across the face. “I have to say Charlie has made you rather feisty. I like it,” Will laughed.

“I hate you,” I spat back at him.

“Doesn’t change anything. You better run along, say your goodbyes. Oh, I wouldn’t try running away either. I have a man watching Charlie already… like I said one call.” Will tapped his phone.

My heart sank even deeper into my chest. Charlie wouldn’t let me go. How would I be able to make him understand? I loved him so much. I would not put his life at risk. I needed to find the strength from somewhere. The thought of Charlie no longer breathing even if I didn’t get to spend my whole life with him was unbearable.

“How long do I have?” I replied wiping my tears.

“An hour,” Will smiled gloating. “Which I think is fair.”

“Are you going to tell Megan?” It didn’t bother me. I just wanted to be able to tell Charlie so he could watch his back. I had never realised how cunning the Fields could be. I guess I should have realised. How else did they get everything they wanted?

“No, this is going to be our little secret. I want everything to go back to normal. You and Megan best friends. You and me together.” I looked disgusted at him. I could never go back to that not after what Will had done. “Shannon, you really have no choice. After what you have done to my family you will do as you are told. You will obey me Shannon no matter what I ask… or Charlie is dead.” Will opened the door for me as I scowled at him. I had given him everything. What more could he want from me? “You are going to
marry me,
Shannon. I haven’t decided when yet.” I froze, this was not happening. I felt as if I had been thrown into some old Austen book. This sort of thing didn’t happen anymore surely? Why would Will want to marry me? Did he hate me that much because I had hurt him that he wanted to ruin the rest of my life? “Actually thinking about it I want you to tell Charlie that you are marrying me. I am sure he will love it,” Will laughed at his new plan. “It will break his poor heart.”

“Will, please don’t do this, if you ever loved me, you wouldn’t do this,” I pleaded one last time trying to free myself from this nightmare.

“Don’t you dare use that on me. I am doing this for you. We are meant to be together, Shannon.”

“Will, please I love him,” I sobbed unable to control the pain in my eyes.

“You go to him and break his heart. Maybe then you will realise what you have done to me and my sister. That is why I am protecting her from this mess of course. Megan is so fragile at the moment.” He stared at me ruthlessly. “Not that you have noticed. You abandoned her to pursue the one thing that is destroying her.”

“Will…”

“Go now. You only have fifty five minutes now. Do not tell him his life is in danger either. Tell him you don’t love him. You never did. You just wanted to have what Megan wanted, but that you have always loved me. I want to be able to see his broken heart in his eyes.” Will pushed me out my door. “Have fun, my driver outside will come and get you in fifty four minutes. You better run.” The smirk on his face was unbearable, but I knew I had no time. I had to get to Charlie to save him.

I hailed down a taxi trying to gain some control of my emotions. My whole body was shaking. I couldn’t stop crying. What I was about to do was impossible, but I had no choice. Charlie meant that much to me that I would happily destroy my whole life just to protect his.

Charlie was waiting by his door eagerly. His expression changed as he caught sight of me. He rushed to my side putting his arms around me.

“I knew I should have come with you. Sweetheart, you’re shaking what’s wrong?” Charlie wiped the tears away with his thumb. I looked into his beautiful eyes knowing this would be the last time. Fresh tears fell down my face. He tensed as he spotted the bruises on my arms. “Where is he? I swear.” Fury filled Charlie’s eyes. “What happened?”

“Charlie, we need to sit down.” I regained some control brushing off the bruise of Will’s fingers on the top of my arm. I needed to do this right. To make sure Charlie would stay away from me. It didn’t matter how much this was going to hurt me. I had to do it for Charlie. “I don’t have long.”

Charlie’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?” He asked wary.

Charlie followed me into his apartment. I sat on the edge of his couch looking down at the floor wondering how to start. Charlie sat beside me taking my hand. His touch sent tingles all through my body. I had to gain the strength from somewhere to keep him safe.

I took a deep breath. “Charlie, I am going back to London with Will tonight. In half an hour exactly,” Charlie just looked at me like he didn’t believe me. “Charlie it’s over. I have let this go on for too long it was wrong of me,” I said softly hoping it sounded truthful.

“What has he said to you, Shan? I’m not scared of him.” Charlie touched my face. It felt so good. I closed my eyes so Charlie wouldn’t see the yearning in them. “I am not losing you Shannon Davis. I love you remember?”

“Charlie, I was never yours in the first place.” My heart stabbed in pain as the lies came out. “I have to be with the Fields. They are my family. I became lost in this little world with you thinking it was good for me. But truthfully Charlie. I hate the person I have become. You turned me into someone I don’t even recognise.” Charlie dropped his hand from my face his eyes became wounded as he took in what I was telling him. “I can’t do this anymore. Will hasn’t told Megan so it will be fine. I can go back to my life with Megan and Will. You can carry on your life here, or wherever it will lead you. It is better this way. No one gets hurt.”

“Apart from me,” Charlie muttered getting up to watch the New York skyline. I could see his reflection in the glass. His heart was breaking like mine. “When you say your life is going back to normal with Will. What do you mean?” Charlie whispered turning to look at me.

“I am going to marry him someday.” The words were like a whisper that travelled straight to Charlie’s heart knocking him down like a bullet from a gun.

“Marrying him?” Charlie asked confused. “I don’t get it Shannon. You told me I was everything to you.”

“Charlie, you think you know me, but you don’t. I used you this whole time. I have been lying to you. I never loved you. I liked that you had written me those letters, but the truth of it was I liked that Megan wanted you. To finally have something Megan couldn’t have. I mean look at you. You’re gorgeous. I never realised I could have someone like you, but it has gone on long enough. I don’t want you to contact me. I would be grateful if you could stay away from Megan too. I just want my old life back.” I winced away from the torture on Charlie’s face. It was too much to take. Tears fell down his face as he watched me motionless.

“You used me,” he whispered. “All this time you used me?”

“Yes,” I replied strong knowing I was setting him free.

“But you… you were so convincing. That can’t have been an act.” Charlie watched me so confused by my words.

“I have lived my whole life acting Charlie. It’s not so difficult.”

“You love me. I know you do.”

“No Charlie. I don’t. I can’t love anyone. I have told you before. I am damaged. It was fun, but
this
meant nothing to me.”

“Shannon, you love me. I know you, something is wrong. I can tell. You are being so cold.” Charlie reached for me. I couldn’t resist the closeness. I knew we only had minutes left.

I unfolded myself from him pushing him away as I felt his grip become protective. Charlie could protect me no longer. I had to stand on my own two feet now to shield him from Will.

“No Charlie you are wrong. I used you to get Will jealous. Now my plan has worked. I am going to be a Field. After all I am a business woman. It’s what I have always wanted. I mean what sort of life would I have had with you? Will gives me
everything
you can’t.”