Waves of Betrayal (The Isabel Marsh Trilogy Book 1) (21 page)

W
hen Isabel wakes up again it is morning and Marcos is not there. She sits up slowly and swings her legs over the edge of the bed. She stays like that for a few minutes, trying to remember exactly what had happened. She tries to run her fingers through her hair but it is dry and matted. Suddenly, she remembers being under the water, she saw Leanne’s legs and there was no doubt in her mind that she was
not
trying to save her. She screws her eyes tightly shut and tries hard to forget what could have happened to her, if Marcos had not returned when he did. Surely Leanne wouldn’t have
actually
drowned her? She swallows hard, her throat sore, as she realises the sort of person that she is messing with. As far as she can see, it will do her no good whatsoever to try and convince Marcos. He is totally blinded by Leanne’s acts of kindness and innocence.

For the time being, however, I am in Marcos’s house
, she thinks as she wriggles her toes.
Surely this isn’t the way that Leanne expected things to turn out? Ha!

There is a polite knock on the door and Marcos lets himself in, carrying a tray of tea and a variety of breakfast options. ‘Isa, how are you this morning? I brought you everything as I wasn’t sure what you’d feel like... toast, eggs, sausages, yoghurt, fruit...’ she turns to face him, curling her legs up onto the bed.

‘Oh, thank you so much,’ she says, before a sudden panic hits her, ‘but my classes?!’ She clasps her hand firmly over her mouth, ‘I’m supposed to be at work today.’

‘Isabel,’ he says, sitting down on the bed beside her ‘it’s covered, don’t worry. The doctor said to take the rest of the week off, to rest. You’ve had a shock. Anyway,’ he adds, smiling, ‘I’m the boss so you have to listen to me.’

He is dressed casually in linen, knee-length shorts and a shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair is wet and he smells of musky shower gel. ‘You’re going to stay with me for a couple of days until we are sure you are well again,’ he says, looking down at her with concern. ‘Do you want to call anyone?’

‘No, no it’s ok,’ Isabel replies quickly, ‘if its ok with you I’d rather keep this from my parents. They’ll have me on the next flight home otherwise.’ A weak smile appears on her face.

‘Of course, whatever you think,’ he replies, formally. ‘Now, I’ll leave you to have breakfast. The bathroom is just through there. Come out onto the terrace when you’re ready. Oh, and your clothes from last night are on the chair, over there. I thought we could go back to your apartment later to collect the things you may need.’

‘Thank you so much, Marcos,’ she says, feeling a slight awkwardness between them, ‘you really are a life saver... literally.’ She smiles, takes a sip of her tea and rubs her throat.

‘Oh, and Leanne called earlier,’ he adds, on his way out of the room, ‘to ask how you are feeling.’

Isabel simply smiles and takes another sip of tea...
I bet she did!
‘Oh, Marcos,’ she shouts, as he is about to close the door behind him, ‘is it alright to use your computer? I’d like to email Rachel if that’s ok?’

‘Of course,’ he replies, striding across the room to the small desk in the corner and logging in to the computer for her. ‘Take as long as you like. I’ll be catching up on some paperwork on the terrace,’ he smiles, ‘call me if you need me.’

Isabel picks at her toast, trying to work out the change in Marcos.
He is acting very business-like
, she wonders.
Was it something I said? But, then again, he did speak to Leanne this morning! Maybe he’s just in work-mode...? Aaarrghh don’t be so silly Iz, stop overthinking it!
She slowly gets up and makes herself comfortable on the padded office chair.

She opens her email and notices that she has one from school, from James Lapthorne. She is relieved to read that he is simply wishing her a speedy recovery and is looking forward to seeing her at the beginning of the new term, in September. Nothing from Paul and nothing from her parents. She decides that this is a good thing, as it means that she won’t have to lie to anybody. She starts to compose a new email to Rachel.

Hi Rach,

I haven’t got long to tell you everything. I’m at Marcos’s house using his computer. It’s just quicker than using my phone and I can’t call you as he’s here, in the house with me.

Don’t get too excited. It’s definitely not what you are probably thinking right now!

Last night was a disaster, exactly as I knew it would be. Leanne was dressed like Little Miss Innocent, all sweetness and generosity in front of Marcos. She plays the game very well. We know that she has him wrapped around her little finger. The topic of Paul came up and, predictably, the little bitch leapt on the opportunity to accuse me of coming to Spain to steal her fiancé. Oh Rach, you would have been proud of me. Very subtly I made it clear to her that we know about her dirty affair and I could see that she was scared, guilt written all over her face.

I should have gone home while things were going my way. We ended up drinking loads and the three of us went swimming. You won’t believe this, but I am convinced that Leanne tried to drown me. Something or someone yanked my hair under the water. They had to call an ambulance. Rach, she could have killed me! She lied to Marcos that my hair had got trapped in the filter and now she is being heralded as the bloody heroine. Since when did I become the bad guy?

Marcos is so sweet, but so naïve, he believes every word she says.

Rach, I need your advice urgently. Can you please email me back as soon as you get this?

Miss you,

Izzy xxxx

Isabel logs out of her Hotmail and, collecting her folded clothes from the armchair, she heads into the bathroom for a long, hot shower.

By the time she emerges from the steamy bathroom, she feels refreshed and less shaken. She logs back in to her email, Rachel has already replied.

Izzy,

I cannot believe that bitch. Are you sure? Listen, we’ll figure out a way to let Marcos know what sort of a girl he’s planning to marry, trust me. For now, play the game. Careful not to criticize Leanne in front of Marcos. That will just turn him against you... as tempting as it may be!! You said yourself, he believes every word she says.

The decision will have to come from him. You have an advantage Iz. You’re with him. Just be yourself and things will fall in to place. Do you think he feels the same way as you? Has he given you any signs?

Don’t do anything rash Isabel. You haven’t done anything wrong, please remember that.

I’ve got to get to work. I’ll be in touch. Call me when you can.

Lots of love

Rach xxx

L
eanne walks as quickly as she can in her tight pencil skirt and three inch heels towards the glass doors of the hotel reception, zipping her car keys into her handbag. She glances up and sees that Lucy is already there waiting for her.

‘Thank goodness you got my message last night. Sorry it was so late,’ says Leanne, guiding her friend roughly by the elbow and greeting the receptionist as they pass. They make their way out into the empty courtyard where the guests will be served their breakfast in an hour’s time. She catches a waiter’s eye who is polishing cutlery on the other side of the patio and orders two coffees.

‘Leanne, what’s going on?’ asks Lucy, watching her unusually nervy friend shuffling in her chair, glancing around her frantically. She looks rough, she notices. Her hair is tied back into a simple pony tail and she is wearing minimal make up. Lucy is surprised, and a little scared, when she realises that Leanne is actually on the verge of tears. Leanne has always been the confident one, daring and fun-loving. Lucy cannot for the life of her imagine what has happened to cause her to be so out of control.

They wait, as the coffee is placed in front of them by the young, smiling waiter who, thankfully, does not engage them in conversation. As soon as he is out of ear-shot Leanne leans in towards her friend, holding her cup with both hands. ‘I nearly killed someone Luce!’ she whispers, glancing around her again, nervously.

‘What?’ asks Lucy, smiling, thinking that this is another one of Leanne’s jokes.

‘Isabel,’ she says bluntly and pauses to take a sip of coffee, ‘in the pool.’

‘What?? When?? What do you mean?’ stammers Lucy, realising from the wild look in her friends’ eyes that she is actually telling the truth.

‘She knows I’m having an affair. The bitch let me know that her and her busty friend had seen me. She had me over the ropes... I
snapped.
’

Lucy places her cup carefully on the table in front of her. ‘But... how...?’

‘We were in the pool and Marcos went inside to get another towel and I just did it... I grabbed her hair and pulled her under,’ she says, her hands shaking, spilling coffee into her saucer, ‘I was just
so
angry.’

‘Woah, Lea, hang on. You let her go, though?’ asks Lucy, pushing her cup away from her.

‘Only because Marcos came back... I told him that her hair was caught in the filter. She’s ok. Shit Lucy, I was just so desperate... it’s obvious that he likes her. I don’t know what to do,’ she says, hanging her head as tears begin to fall on the linen table cloth. ‘They’re even going for a cosy walk in the mountains on Saturday,’ she hisses and pulls a tissue from her handbag.

‘Well... why don’t you go too?’ asks Lucy, gently.

‘Because I don’t
like
the fucking mountains and well, I sort of said you and I were going to a spa,’ she answers, ripping her tissue into shreds and piling it up on the table cloth in front of her.

Lucy stares pointedly at her friend, suddenly feeling less sorry for her. ‘David?’ she asks.

‘Well, yes, but I told you, I’ll finish with him as soon as Marcos and I are married,’ she says innocently, flattening the pile of torn tissue with the palm of her hand in frustration.

Lucy stands abruptly, taking her bag from the back of her chair and stares down at Leanne, ‘Leanne, you are my friend, but what you are doing is wrong, way beyond wrong. Marcos loves you, we all know that, but you need to take a good hard look at yourself and work out what you want because you are out of control,’ she hisses, pointing a finger in Leanne’s face.

Leanne has never seen her friend so angry.

 ‘He is not some sort of toy you can pick up and put down when you feel like it. I may not be a fucking saint either, but even
I
can see that what you’re doing is
wrong
and you’re actually scaring me... I won’t have any part of this Leanne, it’s not fair on
anybody.
’ Lucy straightens her jacket, spins around on her heels and starts to walk away.

‘Lucy, wait,’ pleads Leanne, ‘what should I do?’

Lucy stops in her stride and turns back to look at her friend. ‘Stop the affair or leave Marcos,’ she says simply and walks off.

Leanne gathers up the shredded tissue, makes her way through reception and locks herself in a toilet cubicle. She sits there for a while, staring down at her shoes and then sends a text message from her mobile to her boss telling her that she is ill and won’t be in today.
I really don’t care if anyone says that they have seen me and, anyway,
she thinks,
I’ve been locked in these toilets for the last twenty minutes.

She starts her car and, gripping the steering wheel, she realises that she has no idea where she is going to go. She hasn’t the energy for any more confrontations with Isabel but, as she pulls down the sun visor and wipes away the mascara from under her eyes she decides that she most definitely is not going to mope.

‘First, you have to tidy yourself up,’ she mutters to herself,
and then I’ll call David.
She smiles triumphantly as she pulls out of the carpark, turning the volume up on the radio.

‘M
y parents just called,’ shouts Marcos from outside as he sees Isabel through the patio doors. She is in the kitchen, pouring them some cold water from the fridge. ‘Apparently your mum is worried as you haven’t been answering your phone,’ he smiles as he shuffles the papers in front of him and files them away in his briefcase.

‘Oh no!’ says Isabel, offering Marcos an ice filled glass of water, ‘I expect the battery is dead. I haven’t looked at it since I got here yesterday afternoon,’ she chuckles, shaking her head. ‘They do worry!’

Isabel takes a sip of water and suddenly a hint of panic passes across her face, ‘you didn’t tell them anything did you? I mean about last night?’

‘Of course not! No! I just told them to tell your parents that you are fine and that you were here with me and had accidently left your phone at your apartment.’

‘Phew...’ she sighs, sinking into the sofa, ‘good thinking Batman! I’ll collect my charger later.’

‘You can call them from here if you like?’ he offers.

‘Hmmmm, to be honest, I’d rather wait a while until I think of a good cover story,’ she smiles cheekily, as little dimples appear in her cheeks.

‘Isabel Marsh, I never saw you as the lying sort,’ he laughs as he sits back and crosses one tanned leg over the other.

‘Surely a little white one now and again is alright? And I
am
doing it so that they won’t worry.’ There is a comfortable pause as they both look at each other, happy in each other’s company. ‘Thank you so much again for last night, Marcos,’ Isabel says sincerely.

‘You had me worried, that’s for sure. The paramedics nearly had to revive me as well,’ he laughs, trying to brush off her gratitude.

‘You’re so lucky living here.’ Isabel looks out over the garden and up at the mountains, shimmering in the heat, ‘it’s going to be strange to go back to my little village in a few weeks’ time,’ she sighs. She slips off her shoes and rests her toes on the edge of the coffee table. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but after experiencing this... life outside of Cartheston, well, I can’t imagine being able to settle there.’

She looks sad for a few moments, as she rubs her thumb over the condensation on her glass. ‘Of course I was settled for a while. I thought that I was going to marry Paul and we’d buy a big house overlooking the sea... but now that that dream is gone... I don’t know. I’m just not sure I can imagine living there as a single woman. I’d have to get a cat of course!’ she laughs, not wanting Marcos to pity her.