Notice Me (41 page)

“Shannon! Shannon! Wait!” The voice was becoming increasingly louder. It was definitely not in my head as I turned to see his beautiful face running towards me.

Charlie had pushed past all the security, which was easy when you had at least ten guards or police walking on the beach with you. What was going on, had he lost his mind?

I stopped half way down the aisle just watching his stunning face smiling at me. My heart accelerated faster as he drew nearer.

“Shannon,” Charlie grabbed me around the waist pulling me into him. “Thank God, I got here in time. It’s okay. You don’t have to go through with this. Everything is going to be fine.”

“Charlie.” It was almost a whisper. I was so shocked and confused. I put my arms around him protectively as the Field family watched us.

“Sweetheart, it’s fine Will can’t touch me. He can’t touch you either actually. Shannon, you won’t believe what…”

“Well, this is cosy,” Will had reached us in the middle of the aisle to interrupt Charlie.

“Will, don’t push me. I swear I will hit you,” Charlie shouted.

“Shannon, can you please inform Charlie who you wish to be with before he gets hurt. He is beginning to ruin my day!” I knew what Will meant, but Charlie didn’t let me answer.

“I know what you did to Shannon, Will. You can’t get to me,” Charlie gloated watching Will’s surprised face. “I also know why you did it Will. Or should I address this to your whole family?” Charlie turned his glare towards the Field family who stood closely behind Will, terror on all of their faces except Megan. Her eyes full of tears were directed between Charlie and I. Megan had obviously put it together. Why else would Charlie and I have our arms protectively around each other? I had never planned Megan to find out this way, but Megan wasn’t my priority right now.

“Charlie, what are you talking about?” I finally asked dazed by the Field’s expressions.

“Shannon,” Charlie turned me to face him. “We have found your mother.” I stood there confused. What did my mother have to do with any of this? Charlie could read my confusion. “Shannon, your mother isn’t dead.”

I could feel it register gradually in my head, but still none of this made sense.

“Charlie, I…” I was still speechless.

“Shannon, your mother is
Jennet Downing
.” Charlie touched my face caressing my cheek. His touch sent sparks through my whole body. “You have been tricked, Shannon. Field Organisation have used you to gain the upper hand with Downing International. None of them were even interested in you – just your birthright.” Charlie pulled me close into his chest as I began to shake and sob uncontrollably. It was too much. I knew none of it could be true, but if it meant I could run away with Charlie I would take it. Now he was here in front of me, I could never be separated from him. “I know it’s a lot to take in. I am so sorry. I was hoping to find you sooner but I had problems getting onto this island… I am so sorry, sweetheart.”

I carried on crying, my tears were uncontrollable. So many emotions overwhelmed me. Did I have a mother? It seemed too much to believe, perhaps Charlie was wrong. In this moment I would believe it if it meant I could stay with him forever.

“Wonderful story Charles but we have no idea what you are talking about,” Will spoke coldly. Charlie’s arms tightened around me as Will moved closer towards me.

“Will, this is over. I am taking Shannon home.” Charlie turned pulling me with him, as the police watched the Field family. “You have some explaining to do with the FBI anyway. Kidnap and blackmail is a serious offence. Not to mention forcing Shannon to marry you. I really don’t think Jennet is going to take this very well.” Charlie chuckled as he scooped me up in his strong loving arms. I just rested my head against his chest.

“Is this true?” A policeman asked me.

I turned to look at Charlie. Was it really safe for me to tell the truth? Charlie smiled stunningly at me. I knew I had nothing to fear as I became lost in his exquisite blue-green eyes.

“Yes it is true. William Field told me he would kill Charles Collins if I did not marry him.” I heard gasps from behind me, but I was too scared to look at them. I couldn’t face Megan’s pain stricken face again today.

“Thank you Miss Davis. We will be in touch. We have your forwarding address.”

“You do?” I asked confused.

“Let me get you out of here,” Charlie glared at Will. “If I have to look at his face any longer he won’t be the only one throwing death threats around.”

“You haven’t won this round, Charlie,” Will glared trying to get into his face. Charlie pulled me tighter against his chest protectively.

“Will, Jennet Downing knows. I have told her. I am taking Shannon to meet her right now.” I watched Will’s face drop in defeat. This couldn’t be true. How could I be Jennet Downing’s daughter it didn’t make sense. “So I think it is safe for me to say, if you ever come near Shannon again you will be sorry,” Charlie towered over Will even with me in his arms.

Charlie turned to carry me away to freedom when Megan finally spoke up.

“Shannon, are you being serious? You are going to ride into the sunset with the man I love?” I turned to look at Megan, tears were falling down both our faces.

“I love him Megan,” I sobbed.

“Come on sweetheart. We can do this another time.” Charlie began to walk away.

“No, we do this now!” Megan screeched following us.

Charlie turned to glare at Megan. I was sobbing so much I couldn’t even control my breathing properly. “We can do this another time Megan! Your family have done more than enough to Shannon for one day,” Charlie began to start walking again as something crossed his mind. “Did you know who Shannon’s mother was, Megan?”

“Yes, why else would I befriend a loser like her?” Megan screeched.

“Megan shut up,” Sir Philip Field stared coldly at his daughter. I was stunned, had the last four years really all been a lie?

I turned to look up at Charlie. He tried to comfort my pain by kissing my forehead. “Take me home, Charlie,” I whispered.

“Of course sweetheart,” Charlie whispered in my ear. He turned his glare to Megan again. “Megan, I loved Shannon from almost the first moment I met her. I only stayed with you so I could be close to her.” Megan stood motionless watching him as fresh tears fell down her face. “I wrote all the letters to her. I had to tell her somehow. You have no idea what Shannon and I have. Shannon is everything you are not. She has inner beauty as well as outside. ”

“Can’t she speak for herself?” asked Megan sarcastically.

“She can but I want to get her to safety so if you will excuse me, I think it’s time for us to leave,” chuckled Charlie. “You are all going to be busy answering questions from the FBI and I wouldn’t want to be you when Jennet Downing gets her hands on you.” Charlie was still laughing as we walked off. I could hear Megan screaming, but for the first time I couldn’t have cared less.

Chapter 31

I had no idea how long we had been walking. It can’t have been very long. As I noticed the Downing International helicopter I looked up at Charlie’s face, shocked.

“Shannon, it is true. Jennet Downing is your mother,” Charlie whispered as he set me on my feet.

“You are being serious?” I asked amazed.

“How else do you think I managed to find you, get the FBI on my side, and have a personal helicopter? I am only a photographer you know,” Charlie teased taking my hand leading me to the red and white helicopter.

“I really hope this isn’t a dream,” I sighed getting in and strapping myself up.

I saw Mrs Gray in the distance waving me off. I waved frantically at her. I knew I would get my chance to thank her one day. It seemed miracles really could happen.

“Who is that?” Charlie asked.

“Mrs Gray she posted your letter… and she was the wedding coordinator.”

“You might have to explain that some other time, Shan,” Charlie laughed confused as the helicopter took flight.

“I will,” I sighed leaning into his chest content.

“I know you don’t want to hear this. But Shan, you look so beautiful in your wedding dress. When I caught sight of you on the beach you made my heart weep. I thought I was too late.” Charlie’s eyes were softly pouring into mine.

“I can’t believe you came for me,” I reached for him remembering every perfect line of his gorgeous face. Charlie rested his head against mine and closed his eyes.

“Of course I did, Shannon. I would rather die than be without you. You are my life.” Charlie opened his eyes. Our lips were inches apart. I could feel his soft breath on my skin. “I will never ever let you go, Shannon. My heart can only beat for you.”

My lips found his the moment Charlie’s beautiful words finished. As we kissed my body curled into a frenzy of pure, blissful joy. My hands found his hair pulling him closer to me. His hands traced my face then glided to my waist pulling me closer to him. It seemed unfeasible, but I loved him more than I had ever realised as I felt his lips moving tenderly against mine.

“Where are we going?” I asked resting my head on his shoulder.

“A secret location. We need to get you out of this dress and I think a nice relaxing bath will do you some good too sweetheart. Tomorrow we will meet your… mother there.” Charlie watched my expression knowing it was all a lot for me to take in.

“She is coming to meet me?” It felt surreal that tomorrow I would meet
my mother
for the first time.

“Well, she is flying there as we speak. She was in China when Lorna got the call she had been waiting for. Jennet desperately wanted to come with me to get you, but she was too far away. So she lent me one of her private jets and a helicopter so I would hopefully get to you in time.”

“Lorna helped you?” I replied bewildered.

“And Bradley. When all the pieces came together we couldn’t believe it. Me especially, but it is true. You are the only child of Jennet Downing sole owner of Downing International Organisation. The most difficult part was trying to find out where you were getting married. The Fields were taking no chances in anyone finding the location. Lorna pulled a lot of strings with the help of Jennet Downing.”

“It sounds impossible.”

“But it is true. You have your mother’s emerald eyes.” I was stunned, my eyes were pretty unique, but it didn’t mean just because we had the same eyes that Jennet Downing was my mother. “Lorna had a DNA test done too just to confirm. We were lucky my mum works for her. She told Jennet the sample was for the new super bug going around,” Charlie laughed. “Lorna had your sample already but the results were unmistakable, as far as these things go. There is no way you can’t be a Downing.”

“This feels so surreal. I have no idea how to react.”

“There is no wrong or right way, sweetheart. You take as long as you need to adjust,” Charlie was right. An hour ago I was about to become doomed, forced into a life I never wanted. Now I was free with Charlie and a mother. How did I get my head around that?

We settled into what I could only describe as a private hotel on a remote island. I had no idea where we were, but it didn’t bother me. All I wanted was Charlie at that precise moment.

The release of freedom I felt as Charlie helped me out of my wedding dress in our large suite bedroom took my breath away. I had cringed putting my undergarments on, imagining having to finally give myself freely to Will, but as Charlie stood in front of me with his breathing accelerating as his hands ran over my body, my life had meaning again. My hands glided towards his shirt undoing each button as his lips traced along my neck and chin.