The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone (5 page)

I gulped and nodded before I lifted myself up and walked over to the kettle. I plastered a smile on my face before I looked over my shoulder to them. “I’m fine, who’s for coffee?”

* * *

The day turned out to be very pleasantly surprising. I enjoyed my work, got on really well with everybody else and Peterson wasn’t offensive again.

At 5 o’clock, I shut my computer off, stood and stretched my aching arms above my head. I heard a slight groan and spun around to see Peterson leaning on the wall, watching me intently. “I’m off home now Mr Peterson, is there anything you need me to do before I go?”

A smile played on his lips as he sauntered over to me, putting me on edge immediately. Grace had already gone and I was sure we were alone. I started retreating stealthily. Placing his hands on the edge of my desk, he leaned towards me. “There are some things I
need
you to do for me Olivia, but unfortunately they are not in your job description.”

Gasping, I picked up my bag from under my desk and quickly made for the main reception area.

Certain he was stalking after me, I increased my speed and as I entered the reception, Leah raised from her chair. “You off now, Olivia? Hope you had a good first day.”

“Yes,” I spluttered at her as I made a run for the elevator, waving and smiling as I passed her. “Got to run, kids! You know how it is? See you tomorrow.” She must have thought I was crazy but she didn’t say anything to me as I shot past her.

As I punched the call button at the elevator, I silently cursed at the damn thing to hurry up when I heard Leah talking and then giggling with Peterson.

“God does she actually like him?” I thought but silently thanked her for occupying him as I hurtled into the lift when the doors swung open.

As it started to descend I grabbed the walls and took steadying breaths. “For Christ’s sake Liv, he’s not gonna attack you, you stupid cow!”

For ten long years I’d dreaded these moments when men came onto me. I’d started kick boxing and self-defence classes and was pretty damned good at kicking ass, but the thought of been pursued by a man made me physically tremble.

As the lift touched the ground floor I trampled out and rushed out to the car park, only feeling safe the moment I clambered into my beloved Betty.

I pulled out of NSC building and made my way to Hot Woks, the local Chinese takeaway. Whilst I quickly picked out a few of the dishes, I offered them an extra tenner tip if they rushed the order; amazed to say it worked and as I left the restaurant I got a few choice words flung at me from other customers.

Arriving home twenty minutes later, I dumped the food on the table, kissed Erin and Matt on their heads and swiftly grabbed the wine from the fridge.

As I poured a large glass I heard the text alert on my phone.

Lexi:

Hey sweetie, hope your day was a good 1

Xxx

Hitting the reply button, I texted back:

Me:

Yh, creepy boss tho,

Beth & wine arriving at 8, u joining us?

Xxx

“Plates or out of the cartons, Mum?” Erin asked, holding up the Chinese.

“Oooh cartons darling, can’t be bothered with pots tonight,” I said winking at her. “Good day? You off to Brad’s tonight?”

She shifted slightly in her chair and put her head down, lowering her eyes and wiping an imaginary piece of lint off her jeans.

“What’s wrong, Erin?” I lifted her chin with my fingers and looked into her tear filled eyes. Shaking her head and turning away she proceeded to open all the Chinese cartons, trying desperately to occupy herself and ignore the question. “Come on, sweetheart, what’s happened?”

Withdrawing from the table, Matt made an excuse and took his dinner upstairs, giving Erin a slight smile and tiny nod of his head as he exited the room.

Erin looked at me with eyes full of unshed tears and sighed. “I think he’s seeing someone else, Mum.” Twiddling with her fingers in her lap, a single teardrop fell onto her t-shirt. That solitary tear broke my heart the moment it fell.

Erin and Brad had been together for just over two years and I thought their relationship was rock solid. Brad seemed to dote on her and was always respectful to her wishes. I knew they were having sex. Erin had come to me the moment they were considering taking their relationship further and asked for my advice. Grateful for the knowledge that my sixteen year old daughter was mature enough to ask for my opinion, told me everything I needed to know that she was ready for it. She arranged an appointment with the family planning clinic herself and after my lecture about making sure she never missed a single pill or used extra protection when she had vomited, she had been tenacious with taking her pill regularly.

All in all, I was proud of my children; each one.

Taking her hand in mine, I delved for more information. “How do you know, Erin?” I asked, wiping a tear away from her cheek.

“He’s been acting really weird, Mum.” Her choked voice broke my heart a little more. “He keeps looking at me weird, he’s always talking to his mates and when I enter the room, they all shut up quickly and today’s the third time in a fortnight that he’s cancelled on me. I sneaked a look at his mobile earlier and he’d removed all his texts, every single one. Now why would he do that unless he’s got something to hide?”

Her tears were flowing freely now as she fought against the distraught little sobs. “Sweetheart, I don’t know the answer to why he’s being like this but I really think you need to talk to him,” I spoke softly. “It could be something really innocent or something trivial he’s done and thinks you’re gonna blow off at him.”

Timidly looking into my eyes as she took a sad breath, she asked, “But what if it’s something I don’t wanna hear, Mum? What if he’s found somebody else? Or he doesn’t love me anymore?”

Stroking the back of her hair as she placed her head against my shoulder and cried softly, I spoke to her tenderly. “But Erin, wouldn’t you rather know the truth than the hurt of not knowing like this? Even if it’s bad news at least you’d know, then you can start dealing with it and sorting it out between you both?”

She lifted her head to look at me and nodded as she lifted from her chair. “You’re right, Mum. I’m going to ring him and ask him to meet me to sort this out. I need to know. I love him so much but I’m not gonna let him treat me like this.”

As she bent to kiss me she said, “I love you mum, you’ve been through so much shit in your life but you’re always willing to put it behind you and carry on. I hope I got those genes from you because I have a feeling once I’ve spoken to Brad, I’m going to need the guts you have.”

I stroked her arm and smiled at her. “When the hell did you get so grown up and smart Erin? I’m proud of you, sweetheart. You make sure you stand up for what you believe in, and drain every bit of life out of this world you can.”

Walking to the room door she turned to look at me but stared straight into my soul. “Mum, if life had been different for you, I reckon you would have been the fun, loving girl you so desperately want for me. I think it’s about time you starting thinking of yourself now and try to find the love you deserve from a man. They’re not all like my dad you know, there are some good ones out there,” she smiled and winked.

“Oh, I know that Erin, just because your dad was like he was with me, don’t for one minute think I haven’t loved or been loved by a man who thought I was once his world, his life and his very soul.” I shrugged my shoulders at her puzzled glance and winked before I added, “But, shit happens, darling and we all make catastrophic mistakes.”

Laughing she left the kitchen and climbed the stairs, pausing to shout, “You know it, Mum.”

* * *

As soon as I pressed the ‘end’ button on my phone after talking with my mother and giving her an update on my day, Beth came bounding through the back door, closely followed by Lexi who was carrying a bottle of champagne.

Presenting me with the expensive, already chilled bottle, she grinned at me. “Courtesy of my wonderful hubby, on the first day of your amazing high-profiled job. His words not mine.”

Chuckling, I took three glasses from the cupboard and filled each one with the sweet, bubbling liquid. “Cheers!” Beth declared, chinking her glass with ours.

Walking through to the lounge, she looked over her shoulder to me. “Fill us in then, Liv. What’s it like? What are your colleague’s like? Any fit hotties?” she probed, raising her eyebrows.

“Bloody Hell Beth, gimme chance, I’ve only been there for twenty four hours and already you’re trying to hook me up. We’re not all tarts like you,” I snickered.

She stuck her tongue out at me as she filled her glass and taking a quick, sly glance at Lexi she continued with her ‘Get Liv a man’ harassment. “Lexi’s with me on this Liv, you need a man. We both think it’s about time now. What’s your boss like?”

Spluttering my champagne all over my once pristine shirt, my eyes bulged. “No way, Beth. The man’s marmite . . . he spreads every inch of himself all over you, he’s disgusting. Everybody in the office feels the same about him so don’t look at me like that. Do you know what he said to me?” I carried on, regardless to their tittering. “When I was leaving, I asked him if he needed anything doing before I went and the cheeky bastard said ‘Oh Olivia, there’s plenty I
need
you to do but they’re not in your job description.’ I mean what sort of sleazebag would say something like that on your first chuffing day?”

I looked at both my friends and waited for their reaction. They were both gawping at me, eyes wide and eyebrows in their hairlines. “Jesus, honey,” Lexi professed horrified. “How the hell do you attract these idiots? You’re stunning, great figure, sensitive, brilliantly clever and funny. Why can’t you get an equally smart fella? Who also has a pert little bottom, just the way you like them!” she finished with a sparkle in her eye.

“Oh yes, don’t forget Liv’s fondness for the ‘extra tight man cheeks’ Lex,” Beth scoffed. “And she says I’m a tart!” she finished with a snort.

Narrowing my eyes on her, I feigned offence then swat her arm and swiped her glass from her, “Apologise now or the champers gets it, Davis.”

Beth clutched at her chest as she pouted and faked a sob. “Anything but the booze, Liv. My beige dress? My cute red heels? I’ll even let you feel me up, but please not the champers. Poor Pete spent a week’s wages on that.”

Full on belly laughing, I reached over and squeezed her boob. “Oooh definitely worth the trade,” I stated. “You have fine, fine tits, Miss Davis and I feel very honoured to have embraced them.”

Giggling, Beth held her chest with both hands. “Don’t ever forget it, babe,” she beamed. “To say we’re all forty girls, we still look damn hot . . . Everything still in its rightful place,” she added with a wink. “Anyway, enough about my breasts. What you gonna do about your boss? He sounds a right perv!”

Nodding at her and stating that yes, he was a pervert, I shrugged. “God knows, but he gives me the creeps and I don’t trust him at all. His name rings a bell though, Simon Peterson, you heard of him?”

Now it was Lexi’s turn to splutter on her drink. “Sod me, Liv. You remember Slutty Sarah from uni? It’s her older brother!” she announced, downing the rest of her champagne before anymore could spill or I stole it from her. “I remember going to a party with Sarah one year and he was there. Slimy git was all over me like a rash, even backed me into a corner and put his hand up my skirt and groped my arse! Pete beat the shit out of him. Looks like twenty years hasn’t changed him much then.” She exhaled loudly. “You’re gonna have to watch him Liv, especially with him being your boss, he’ll think he has certain rights.”

Looking at the most supportive friends I’d ever had, I couldn’t believe how great they had been through my rollercoaster life. After things started to go wrong in my marriage, I pushed them away, not seeing them for over four years. But then, when I needed them the most they were there like a shot, picking up every broken piece of me and helping me get back on my feet and carry on.

I shook my head, mostly at myself. “Why does life keep dealing me this shit, eh? When am I going to get a pissing break? Well I’ll tell you now, he touches me inappropriately again and he’ll find his bollocks shoved so far up his arse he’ll be able to lick his own fuckin’ sac!”

Raising her glass Beth proclaimed, “To Ms Olivia Adams and her ass kicking, sac licking new life!”

“To a new me,” I agreed.

Chapter Three

MY FIRST WEEK flew by and before I knew it Friday had arrived. Grace had informed me that Fridays were my ‘cake run’ day, hers being Monday and Leah’s was Wednesday.

I decided that I would start tradition by making my cake run a ‘breakfast rolls’ run. I had called at the bakery on the way and purchased croissants, rolls and pastries, but by the time I arrived at NSC, the smell of the warm baked goods had my stomach rumbling loudly and my taste buds salivating furiously.

My arms were full of the goodies and paperwork that I had taken home to work on as I ran up the steps to the front doors of NSC Industries, desperate to make it inside before they hit the floor.

“Good morning, Miss Adams,” the big, burly doorman said to me with a huge grin. I had nicknamed him ‘Beef’ because I still didn’t know his name yet but he was the most jovial man I had ever met. He always had a welcoming, toothy grin and was beyond polite whenever I approached him.

“Morning,” I grinned back to him, handing him a pastry that I had bought just for him.

Taking it from me, he seemed stunned, looking at it for quite a while. Removing his gaze from the pastry and looking back at me, he smiled with a blush creeping up his neck. “Well Miss Adams, I have worked here for over six years, but you’re the first person who has actually acknowledged me or spoken properly to me, and you’re definitely the first person to buy me anything.”

Cocking my head to one side, I gave him a puzzled look, not quite comprehending how anybody could ignore this huge, brawny giant. “Well . . .” I replied. “You have always been a perfect gentleman to me, and may I say that I always look forward to your wonderful, warm smile every morning.”