The Life Thief

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The Life Thief Page 11

by Cherie Mitchell


  “He’s supposed to be your biggest supporter too, Becks. The responsibilities of a relationship aren’t one-sided. Michael is a good listener. You should try to communicate more. Shoot for equality in all things and you can’t go wrong.” Sasha was using her hands a lot today, Becky thought idly. She was explaining herself now with wide, elaborate gestures and rapidly mobile fingers.

  Becky’s desk phone rang and Sasha turned back to her computer while she dealt with the caller. It was Jill, the pregnant client with the house in Aloha. “Hi, Jill. I was thinking of you the other day. You must be glad that the house sale has satisfactorily closed.”

  “Yes, I am pleased. Becky, I just wanted to give you a call to thank you. You were an enormous help during what was a hugely stressful time for me.”

  Becky felt a warm glow at her words. This was the reason she did the job that she did. “Thank you, Jill! I’m happy I was able to be of service. How are you, anyway? Are you feeling okay with your pregnancy?” Becky thought it was probably all right to ask. Jill hadn’t tried to hide it and she’d seemed quietly resolved to the fact that her baby was to be adopted by a family member who couldn’t have children of her own.

  “I lost the baby,” Jill said bluntly. “I guess it just wasn’t to be.”

  “Oh.” She shouldn’t have asked after all. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

  “It’s okay. It was probably for the best.” She paused and Becky thought she was about to say goodbye. “Becky… I think I saw your husband the other evening. Michael, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, Michael. He’s not my husband – he’s my boyfriend.” Becky had mentioned to Jill that her live-in boyfriend was a city councilor. She remembered now that Jill had told her she’d seen publicity photos of him and she’d commended her on her handsome, clever partner.

  “Of course. I was out for dinner with my mother and he was at another table.” She paused again. “He was with a woman and it wasn’t you.”

  A sharp pain ricocheted across Becky’s chest. Jill obviously thought Michael was cheating on her. Why else would she say anything? “Yes, that would be right” she said lightly, “He’s involved in a lot of PR meetings and networking at present. It’s a never ending job. I don’t expect it to die down any time soon, especially if he’s successful in the elections. It’s all part of the role.”

  “Hmmm.” Jill’s response was carefully non-committal. “Well, best of luck. Bye, Becky.”

  Becky hung up and stared thoughtfully at the phone. Michael had mentioned going out for drinks and dinner with people from the office or within his wider network, but he hadn’t mentioned anything about a one-on-one dinner with anyone. Of course she had to remember that they’d been passing each other like ships in the night over the past few weeks and he might’ve forgotten to mention it. Should she read anything more into Jill’s comment or let it go?

  “What’s up?”

  “That was Jill, one of my clients. She rang to thank me, which was lovely, but she also thought she should tell me she’d seen Michael out for dinner with a woman. Sasha, should I be worried? If this had happened just a couple of weeks ago, I would’ve thought nothing of it. However, after all that’s happened recently I can’t help feeling suspicious.”

  “Why don’t you ask him? Ask him directly if you think it’ll make you feel better.”

  “What, ask him if he’s having an affair?” Becky screwed up her nose and sucked air in through her teeth. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

  “Why not? He’s your life partner. You should be able to ask him anything. I’m sure he deny it anyway.”

  “If it had happened just a few weeks ago…” She picked up a pen and doodled blindly on her desk pad. “I genuinely don’t know what to do. I feel as if I’m losing control again. Just like I did after Tony’s arrest.”

  “Becky!” Sasha was back by her side in an instant. She stooped to envelop her in a warm hug. “This is nothing like that. You aren’t losing control. You’re a busy woman with a busy life and Michael is under a lot of stress himself. Don’t go reading too much into situations that are probably completely irrelevant to your relationship.”

  “You’re such a sweetheart.” Becky awkwardly attempted to return Sasha’s hug from her cramped position in the chair. “You always make everything seem so much better.”

  “It’s what I do. I’m Sasha the Red-Headed Super Fixer.” She stood back and grinned down at her friend. “Why don’t you duck out to Victoria’s Secret and buy something sexy and saucy? That little ploy always revived Chad’s interest in bedroom activities.”

  “I don’t know if I want to do that. It might make me feel as if I was bribing him to be attracted to me.”

  Sasha’s eyes sparkled. “Men live for bribes, trust me. Get yourself something peek-a-boo, buy a nice bottle of wine, and lay a trap for him when he gets home tonight.”

  Becky laughed at last, amused by the imagery. “Like a black widow spider?”

  “That’s the one.” Sasha shaped her hands into claws. “Grab him and don’t let him go until he succumbs to your irresistible womanly wiles.”

  Becky giggled. “You’re a crazy nut job and I love everything about you.”

  “Right back at you.” Sasha stared out the window that looked onto the street. “I think that’s our Alice dashing between the cars now. Her hair looks darker again. Maybe she’s started dyeing it but I liked it better when it was blonde.”

  Alice burst through the door a few seconds later, the draught she’d created sending Becky’s papers flying off her desk. Alice’s cheeks were pink, her hair was in disarray, and she was clearly in a state of high excitement. “Have you guys seen today’s newspaper?”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “They can’t discredit you like that.” Becky reread the paragraph in the gossip column again, unable to believe what she was seeing. “Sasha, who could’ve written such a thing?”

  Sasha shook her head, her gingery freckles standing out in sharp relief against her pale face and her loose red waves bouncing. “I have no idea. It’s all lies, too.”

  “They haven’t printed your name but it’s obvious that it’s you. ‘Who’s the gorgeous, married redheaded realtor sneaking around town with the dashing and debonair Jerome Saunders?’ Who makes this shit up?”

  “There’s something about your boyfriend there too, Becky.” Alice reached between them to point out another paragraph further down the page.

  “Yes, but that’s not a nasty rumor. It says he’s doing a lot to help the city’s homeless people. He’ll be pleased to see it there. He needs as much good publicity as he can get.” Becky gently touched Sasha’s hand. “Are you okay? Do you have any idea who could’ve told the paper about this?”

  “We went for a drink once, nothing more. And it was all business – we spent the entire hour talking about his marketing plan. I have to call Chad before he sees this.” Sasha snatched up her phone from her desk and walked out through the door leading to the kitchen area and bathroom.

  “Poor Sasha,” Alice said glumly. “Maybe someone has been stalking her.”

  Becky looked at her sharply, wondering at her use of the word. “Stalking? Why would you say that?”

  “Whoever reported this to the newspaper obviously saw her out with Jerome a few times. One meeting with a property realtor wouldn’t raise any eyebrows.” She glanced at the door Sasha had just walked through and lowered her voice. “I don’t know if she’s being entirely honest when she said she only went for one drink with him. There’s been a few times when she’s dashed away from office after giggling on the phone with some guy. You haven’t been here to see it happen.”

  “She didn’t say she went for one drink. She said she went for a drink with him once and I believe her. Anyway, I’m not prepared to sit here and gossip about Sasha with you, Alice. She’s my oldest and dearest friend. Haven’t you got some work that you need to get on with?”

  Alice shrugged indifferently. “There’s always
work to do. Do you know how much longer you’ll need me here? I need to let the agency know. They said they have more work for me once this contract has ended.”

  “Uh, can I have a think about that? I know it’s fairer on you if you have some idea of how long each contract will last but to be honest, I thought we would be further ahead of our backlog than we are by now.” She gritted her teeth as the phones began to ring again. “I shouldn’t complain but it would be nice if people decided to take a break from selling their homes.”

  “No problem. Let me know when you’ve decided. I’m glad to have the regular work so don’t go thinking I want to leave. I’ll get the phone.” She went back to her desk and Becky got up to go and check on Sasha. She threw the newspaper in the trashcan on her way past – Sasha didn’t need to see that vicious article again.

  The kitchenette was empty and Becky went to tap on the bathroom door. “Sasha? Do you want to talk?”

  Sasha sniffed from behind the door and then the toilet flushed. She pulled the door open and gazed out at Becky with a bleak, tearstained face. “Chad is furious.”

  “Why would he be furious? It’s clearly rubbish. Someone has just put it in the paper to be vindictive. He doesn’t believe it, does he?”

  Sasha reached back to unravel and tear off a loop of toilet paper. She scrunched it up and blew her nose loudly. “I didn’t tell you before, but I should have. Chad and I are having problems too.”

  “No! Oh, Sasha. You definitely should have told me. What’s wrong? I thought the two of you were rock solid, despite that little hiccup six months’ ago that you also forgot to tell me about.” She couldn’t resist making a little dig.

  Sasha shook her head, looking worn out and miserable. “I think the long hours I’m putting in are beginning to take a toll on our relationship. Chad wants me to look at getting another job, something that frees up more of my time but I love being so busy. He’s really keen on becoming a father and he thinks the amount of work I’m doing is contributing to my inability to fall pregnant.”

  “What? He’s blaming you? That’s despicable.”

  “We’ve been arguing for weeks now. I’m focused on my job, even if it does tire me out. This is what I’ve always wanted and I have so many plans for the future. I don’t believe in putting a cap on my career goals but it seems that Chad does.”

  “I know about your goals but I didn’t know things were so bad between you and Chad. Why didn’t you say anything before now?”

  “I haven’t said anything to you because I know you’ve been dealing with your own problems.”

  “Now you’re making me feel like a terrible friend.” Becky grabbed Sasha’s arm and hauled her out of the toilet cubicle. “Come here. I need to give you a hug. You’ve been so wonderful and kind, listening to me while I’ve been blathering on about my own life.” She embraced her friend, rubbing her hand soothingly in circles across her back. “I’m sure you and Chad will work it out.”

  “He moved out on Saturday, although of course we’re still talking.”

  Becky stood back, holding Sasha at arms’ length and scrutinizing her face. “Are you serious? You’ve been through all that and you didn’t say anything? How can I help you if you don’t talk to me?”

  “He’s staying at his parents’ house. I’m sure it’ll blow over. We’ve been down this bumpy track before. That newspaper article won’t help things but I wanted to tell him before he saw it for himself.”

  “You need to take some time off,” Becky said firmly. “I don’t want you in here working when you should be at home sorting out your private life.”

  Sasha was already shaking her head. “This business is important to me, Becks. You know that better than anyone. Besides, Chad is still going to work. We can sort out our lives after hours. We’re having dinner together tonight to talk about where we’re going from here.”

  “Do you have many appointments this afternoon? Can you cancel any, or can I take some of them over for you? You should leave early. It will give you time to prepare.”

  “I don’t need to prepare. Really I don’t.” She lobbed the balled-up toilet paper into the toilet and flushed again. “But I might finish up what I’m doing and leave for the day anyway. I have a brief meeting at 1.00 and then I might take myself off for a walk to clear my head. Do some serious thinking. I need to be sure about what I want.”

  “You mean you aren’t sure? Do you think the break with Chad might be permanent?”

  “I really don’t know.” She smiled bravely. “You go back out there and get on with whatever it is you need to do. I’ll have a drink of water and a quiet sit down before I go back to my desk. I’d prefer not to let Alice see how upset I am. She’s a bit hyper-sensitive sometimes.”

  “She is? I hadn’t noticed. You do whatever feels best.” Becky left her and walked back out to the office. Alice was on the phone as she walked by her desk and she couldn’t help but overhear the conversation. She went to sit down and stopped, not sure at first if she was hearing correctly.

  “Yes, Miss Lowry. That’s right. We can organize professional photos of your house and garden. We do recommend that you use a staging company if your budget allows it as we’re currently experiencing a very competitive market for properties in your price range. We need to do all we can to get the best price for your house.”

  Becky froze. Alice was giving a client a sales pitch! She knew that was outside the boundaries of her job. In cases like this, she was supposed to listen and take a message. Nothing more.

  “Of course, Miss Lowry. Call back at any time. I’m always here. Have a lovely day.” Alice hung up and Becky was appalled to see the smug smile on her face.

  “Alice! What do you think you’re doing? I’ve expressly told you not to talk to clients about their properties. Your job is to take messages and have either Sasha or myself call them back!”

  Alice stared at her, her expression sullen and unrepentant. “I’ve picked up more than you think about house sales since I started working here. I’m not an idiot.”

  “I never said you were an idiot. However, you had your instructions and you’ve disobeyed them. You’re not a realtor, Alice. You don’t have a property license and you don’t have years of experience in the trade to back you up. I do not want you speaking to our clients about selling their houses. Is that clear?” She could hear herself and she was reminded of her ferocious old history teacher, Mrs. Beadle. No wonder Alice was looking at her like that.

  “It’s clear,” Alice said at last, although she didn’t sound as if she meant it. She bent her head and began to scrawl furiously in her notebook. “It won’t happen again.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Becky picked up her phone as it rang from the sofa beside her, frowning at the unknown number that flashed up. She didn’t generally answer unknown numbers after hours but it could be Michael calling from one of the office’s desk phones. He sometimes did that if his mobile was out of reach or switched off. He’d said he’d try to make it home for dinner tonight but she’d been half-expecting him to phone to say he’d been held up. “Hello? Becky Monroe speaking.”

  The line remained silent and Becky was about to hang up when a woman’s voice spoke. “Your man could be dancing with danger.”

  “Who is this?” She didn’t recognize the voice but then again, she spoke to hundreds of different people every week.

  “You don’t need to know who I am. Let’s just say he should take care where he’s putting his fingers.” She hung up abruptly, leaving Becky staring at the phone. Unable to sit still, she got up from the sofa and began to pace around the room. Take care where he’s putting is fingers? What was that supposed to mean? The phrase sounded grimy, filthy in fact. Was this proof he was having an affair? And ‘dancing with danger’ was probably the most over the top phrase anyone had ever uttered to her. Angry now, she dialed Michael’s number. She told herself that if he laughed it off, she would too. She didn’t need these kind of random prank calls
in her life. It was probably yet another crazy with a grudge against the council.

  Michael’s phone went straight to voicemail but she didn’t bother leaving a message. He hardly ever checked them anyway. She continued pacing, still thinking about the call. Could it be the person who broke into the house? This was turning into a nightmare. Her life was turning into a nightmare. She’d woken again last night with her night terrors. Michael hadn’t been as understanding as he usually was, grumbling about being woken up yet again. She probably needed to make another appointment with Dr. Saunders. Perhaps she needed a course of sleeping tablets. She’d used them before, after her suicide attempt, but she was cautious of becoming hooked on any kind of medication. She’d come dangerously close to that when doing drugs with Tony.

  The Beechfields’ dog began barking and Becky walked over to the window to look out the curtains. It was dark now and rain was due later. The dog barked all the time, at seemingly everything, so it was probably nothing to worry about. She stared out at the shadowy pool house, thinking back to the summertime when everything in her world was still so good. The pool house was fully equipped and self-contained and Sasha and Chad or Jack and Ellen often stayed there following the excesses of an all-day, alcohol-infused pool party. Those carefree times were just a distant memory now. Even Chad and Sasha were no longer together. How could so much have changed in just a few short months?

  She dropped the curtain back down and went across to the wall unit to light her new candles. She’d chosen patchouli this time, a scent about as far removed from apple pie as anyone could get. She’d enjoyed her day out shopping, despite the bad start. The massage session had also been sublime although she’d skipped the walk. Dinner out was wonderful too but Michael had begged off making love afterwards, claiming tiredness and a sore back.

 

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