Hard to Love

by S M Mala

  ‘I’ve never been annoyed with you,’ he replied, looking down at her.

  ‘Sometimes you get very grumpy and I’m not sure if you like me.’

  ‘Don’t say that.’ Alex’s eyes started to fill with tears.

  ‘Rose, my mum’s like that all the time. It happens when they get older,' piped up Jess, breaking another breadstick. ‘It’s like a form of old age illness.’

  ‘Really Jess?’ Mabel said, turning to look at her grinning child. ‘And are you happy for us or will you be doing your rebel hell later?’

  ‘Grandma says I should go with the flow and be grateful a lovely man like Alex is interested in you,’ her child replied, making Mabel frown. ‘And if you do that to your face, he’s going to dump you.’

  ‘Wine,’ Mabel said, taking a deep breath. ‘Get me lots and lots of wine.’

  ‘And be careful not to trip over the empty bottles when you stay the night,’ laughed out Jess.

  ‘Alex, you want to spend time with these kids?’ Mabel asked, watching Lottie and Rose grin. ‘I think you’re mad.’

  ‘I think I’m crazily looking forward to it,’ he laughed. ‘It’s going to be interesting.’

  ‘Sex is out of the question.’

  Mabel was laughing the following morning, seeing Alex grin. He was squeezing orange juice by hand. ‘Don’t get frustrated. Those girls are smart and wanted to know what we were up to.’

  ‘It was nice to lay in bed with you,’ he said, kissing her head as she stroked his back. ‘I think they fell asleep after us.’

  She couldn’t help but smile.

  For the first time in ages, she felt genuinely happy.

  ‘Mum,’ Lottie said coming down the stairs with Rose. ‘Jess is being a pig!’

  ‘She’s really funny,’ giggled Rose, running up to her dad to give him a hug. Mabel swore he looked shocked at the action. ‘Keeps burping her words out.’

  ‘Coke,’ Mabel mumbled as Alex did a double take. ‘She keeps cola in her room. Thinks I don’t know.’

  ‘Ah, I see,’ he replied, looking loved up when he admired his child. ‘Did you sleep okay?’

  ‘Yes, it was a very comfy bed.’

  Rose was put with Lottie as Mabel didn’t know what Jess would get up to.

  ‘Good morning Alex. Did you sleep well?’ Lottie asked, looking at him.

  ‘I slept very well.’

  ‘Did you get any sleep!’ shouted out Jess, stomping down the stairs, dressed in black with bright red lipstick smeared on. ‘I thought you’d be getting up to mischief, you oldies!’

  ‘Enough of the old,’ Alex smiled, glancing at Mabel.

  ‘Make-up at breakfast?’ Mabel asked as her child defiantly looked at her.

  ‘Grandma bought it for me,’ she cheekily replied.

  ‘I think it looks pretty,’ said Rose, walking up to her.

  ‘She looks like a vampire,’ Lottie mumbled, frowning at Jess then turning to her mother. ‘She’s just an attention seeker!’

  ‘Let’s have breakfast,’ Alex said, clapping his hands together and leading Rose to the table.

  Lottie followed, and Mabel gestured to Jess to come and see her. After a huff and a shrug, she walked towards her mother.

  ‘Red lipstick?’ Mabel noticed Jess was starting to blush. ‘I support you being individual but hold off on the flip remarks.’

  ‘Sorry mum,’ she said, looking down. ‘I was only having fun.’

  ‘Did you speak like that to your father and the giant?’

  ‘She’d have either sat on or eaten me if I had.’

  Mabel started to laugh and grabbed Jess, giving her a big hug and kiss.

  ‘Be nice when you’re home and nasty when you’re at Baba’s.’

  After feeling like she was a short stop cook, Mabel managed to sit down and join them for breakfast. The patio doors were open, and summer sunshine came into the room. There was a lot of noise and shouting across the table, as well as laughter.

  Mabel watched the four of them interact and smiled.

  Alex then turned and kissed her on the lips, grinning non-stop.

  ‘Oldies,’ Jess grumbled. ‘They’ve got no shame.’

  ‘Hi Sonia.’

  Gulping hard, she watched her walk into the room, smiling brightly as she sat down.

  Her mother had given her the ultimatum to start proceedings today. Joanna’s sign off line was, ‘At least they’ll have something to hate you for at work.’

  Joanna and Calum had got the meeting room for Keith, and Alex was going to use another room for Rodney.

  From where Mabel sat, she noticed each one being called.

  ‘Do you mind turning off your phone,’ Mabel asked, smiling at her though her heart was thumping hard in her chest. ‘How are you?’ The nerves were coming out in her voice.

  ‘Very well. It’s busy now, and the new accounts are just mental!’ she laughed out, looking truly happy.

  Mabel felt awful she was soon to change that. Sitting there and biting her lip, the last thing she wanted to do was get emotional.

  ‘Sonia, as you know the last few years have been tough. I know back then my head was all over the place.’

  ‘It was awful about your ex-husband dying,’ she said, sympathetically glancing at Mabel. ‘I know it has been hard for you.’

  ‘So how do you think it makes me feel when I know you’re a partner in Ignite Productions and Fire Films?’ She noticed Sonia’s mouth drop open. ‘I can prove it, and I know you’ve changed the figures to suit the inflated invoices coming in. None of us would be the wiser because the costings changed at the last minute, so it was obscured.’

  Immediately Sonia got to her feet.

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about!’ she said loudly. ‘That’s completely wrong!’

  ‘I’m the one that spotted Keith and Rodney, but I couldn’t figure out who S. Carshalton was. They’re so egotistical to put their names on it, but you? That was a kick in the teeth.’

  She noticed the woman faltered for a moment then picked up her phone.

  ‘Right now, I want to get to the bottom of this.’

  ‘I want to speak to either Joanna or Calum, not to you. It’s insulting! After all the hard work I’ve put in, how dare you say that to me?’ wailed Sonia.

  ‘Am I wrong?’

  There was a heavy silence in the room.

  ‘I’ll take you to the shareholders who are in a meeting right now.’ Getting up, Mabel walked out then turned. ‘I’d advise you not to touch your laptop or take anything that doesn’t belong to you.’

  Mabel stood by her desk and watched the woman storm off.

  Sonia was looking around, probably for Keith and Rodney.

  Mabel rushed in front and headed for the door, seeing her mother and Calum were there. Then she noticed Alex walk out of a room and Rodney followed.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Sonia asked, looking at Rodney.

  ‘Please, can you go in?’ Alex opened the door and waited for Sonia and Rodney to enter.

  All three of the accused looked shocked to see each other as Rodney and Sonia sat away from Keith.

  To say he had lost all colour would have been an understatement.

  The man looked drained of life.

  ‘Shall I go?’ asked Alex, looking around the table.

  ‘I think it’s best. Many thanks,’ Joanna said and looked at everyone in the room. ‘We’ll take it from here.’ Her mother turned to her. ‘Sit down Mabel.’

  The shocked expression from the three was priceless.

  ‘Mabel Drake is the one who discovered this. It is she you must thank for rumbling your wicked deed.’

  Alex smiled before walking out and shutting the door.

  ‘So, lady and gentlemen,’ Joanna said, opening her laptop. ‘Where do you want me to begin?’

  ‘I know it’s a shock.’

  Tommy and she were sitting in her office very early on Tuesday morning. She had forgone her morning tryst with Alex. �
�Sonia did it because she was in love with Keith. Can you believe it? And he has been cheating on his wife!’

  The aftermath of the sacking was still reverberating the following week.

  ‘I had no idea,’ he said and let out a low groan. ‘Anyway, how can I help you with the website?’

  ‘This sounds odd,’ she said, clearing her throat. ‘I can’t ask anyone else. Lee Appleton from ‘Love to Love’ contacted me directly, and it didn’t go through the site but straight to my email account. I don’t know how he did it, but he did.’

  ‘Lee Appleton? Are you sure?’

  ‘Perfectly sure now. Someone somewhere must be able to tell us if this has happened before.’

  ‘Like I said, you can trust me to sort it out. If my friend won’t help then-.’

  ‘Who is this friend? I don’t want to get them into trouble.’ Then she noticed he smiled. ‘Is there something I don’t know?’

  ‘My twin sister.’

  ‘Jemima?’ Mabel smiled and noticed he looked sheepish. ‘Why didn’t you say?’

  ‘She’s one of the programmers and you know you’re not supposed to have relations with a client. I thought it would look bad.’

  ‘Right now, Tommy, it looks brilliant. And who am I to talk about relationships with a client?’

  ‘You weren’t to know.’

  ‘But I do now, and how badly do you think that makes me feel?’

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  Mabel looked at Calum, Alex and Joanna waiting in the room. ‘I can see you three have been discussing something.’

  ‘Sit down,’ her mother said sharply, as she fell to the seat. ‘Your presence in the company is going to jeopardise everything with ‘Love to Love.’

  ‘Is that all you care about?’

  ‘He could pull the account.’

  ‘I didn’t want to have that account on our books so let’s drop it now.’

  ‘We’re a bit compromised. He also found out we put people undercover on the website. That didn’t go down so well,’ Joanna said, frowning. ‘From the company’s point of view, you have broken a rule we have clearly set out and-.’

  ‘What do you mean from the company’s point of view?’ Then she clicked. ‘I see.’

  ‘Effectively, you are suspended on full pay until we decide if your behaviour was appropriate.’

  ‘But I need to be here!’ she protested, knowing Tommy was helping her investigate ‘Love to Love’.

  ‘Never in my days would I have thought that would come from your mouth,’ gasped Calum. ‘You pick your moments, don’t you?’

  ‘Don’t get angry,’ her mother said sternly. ‘We know you’re partially innocent and-.’

  ‘Partially!’ Then she thought twice. ‘I didn’t know who he was when I went to his flat and …’ She hesitated. ‘And he never said he was married, let alone the owner of ‘Love to Love’.’

  ‘Mabel, this could tarnish our reputation,’ Calum added. ‘All of Alex’s good work, since he got here, will be wasted.’

  Standing up quickly, she walked out the room and straight to her office. Alex was following. Mabel packed up all her things and took her laptop. He closed the door and went towards her.

  ‘You’re not allowed to speak to me,’ she said, knowing what the procedure was. ‘It compromises your position.’

  ‘Mabel?’

  ‘I can’t believe I was so stupid and needy!’ she angrily said, looking over at her mother’s office. ‘I know this is my fault. I’m so sorry Alex. How did I end up in this mess?’

  ‘I should have never volunteered you for this. I wasn’t thinking straight.’

  ‘You thought it would be funny.’

  ‘I thought it would be a chance to get to know you better. And it worked but it wasn’t supposed to backfire like this.’

  ‘I’m not going to risk this company getting a bad name.’

  Mabel noticed Tommy was looking at them then diverted his eyes.

  ‘Something doesn’t make sense,’ Mabel said, glancing out at the office.

  ‘You on gardening leave means that you’re going to have a lot of spare time on your hands, doesn’t it?’

  ‘They’ll make me work,’ she sighed.

  ‘They’re not going to be the only one.’ Alex let out a little laugh. ‘You’ll have more time to be nice to me.’

  ‘Get the phone.’

  Mabel was hanging off the edge of his bed, her hands dangling over the side as he was humping her. The sun was streaming through the window, and she looked at the world upside down, smiling. He squeezed her breast. ‘It won’t stop ringing.’

  ‘Later,’ he panted while grabbing her arse and pushing himself further in.

  Then he picked up her thighs, pulling her back onto the bed so he could go in deeper.

  She looked at his hair falling onto his face.

  Alex was a sex god.

  But still his phone wouldn’t stop ringing.

  ‘Just answer it,’ she groaned.

  ‘Mabel, Mabel, Mabel,’ he said, bending her knees as she gasped. ‘Somethings can wait and this can’t.’

  Alex then fucked her so quickly; he smiled through his orgasm.

  The phone stopped.

  Leaning forward and putting his hands either side of her head, Alex looked down. He was sweating.

  ‘It can’t have been that urgent,’ he said, catching his breath. Kissing her forehead, he rolled off, gently removing the condom. ‘And you’re my priority. How have your two days gardening leave been?’

  ‘I’ve done quite a lot of housework,’ she replied, knowing that all her spare time was spent searching for bad things about ‘Love to Love’.

  ‘I’m thinking of renting this place out.’

  ‘What?’ Mabel said, turning to look at him. ‘Why?’

  ‘Like I said before, it’s not suitable for Rose. She calls it the ‘Love Pad’ which isn’t nice. I think her mother told her that.’

  ‘Where will you go?’ She started to panic, wondering if this was a hint that he wanted to finish with her. ‘How will I see you? Is this because of work? Are you mad with me?’

  ‘Needy,’ he said, smiling, then kissed her nose before walking off to the bathroom.

  She was needy.

  He returned with a bottle of water, an orange and a napkin.

  ‘Alex, you have to tell me if things are changing. Don’t leave me hanging.’

  ‘Take a sip, you look hot.’

  Opening the water, she felt scared he was going to end it.

  That was the last thing she wanted.

  Mostly because she was totally and desperately in love with him.

  Alex took the bottle from her hand and gave her the orange.

  ‘Can you peel it for me? You should have improved since you did it in my car.’ He grinned as she held the fruit. ‘May Day, I’m not going to go far. I like the area and the local pubs. Rose is close, and it’s easy to get to work.’

  ‘That it?’

  ‘Peel away,’ he said, lying back and putting his arms behind his head.

  Mabel turned around, taking the duvet to cover her naked torso, and then crossed her legs. Carefully placing the napkin on her lap, she started to peel his orange.

  Every so often, she flicked him a disgruntled glance and was met with a wide smile.

  It was irritating.

  ‘What about me?’ she said, removing the thick layer of skin then peeling off the pith.

  ‘Can you divide them up into individual segments?’

  Again, she flicked him a hurt look before doing as she was told.

  ‘What were you saying?’ he asked with a grin, closing his eyes.

  ‘Doesn’t matter,’ she mumbled, practically scraping off every bit of white from the segments until all you could see was the orange of the orange. ‘Here.’ Mabel handed it over. ‘Don’t criticise my peeling.’

  He put a segment in his mouth and smiled then let out a little laugh.

  ‘Do you want some?’ h
e asked, holding out a piece for her.

  ‘As you know, my last dealing with fruit might be featured in a low life porno channel. And I don’t like oranges due to the acid.’

  Alex started to laugh and put a segment between his lips before sucking on it and popping it into his mouth. Then he put another one in and moved forward, pulling off the duvet.

  ‘What are you doing?’ she asked, seeing him crawl up the bed on his hands and knees.

  He went up to her face, still grinning.

  Then he got the orange segment and glided it across her lips and down her chin. In a straight line he travelled, then put it against her clit.

  Slowly he circled it with the fruit segment as Mabel watched him smile as he did it.

  Suddenly she found herself getting turned on, leaning back on her elbows, feeling him massage her with his piece of fruit.

  ‘Oh goodness,’ she said, her face starting to get hot.

  She was close as he massaged, but then he pushed the segment inside her hole and started eating it.

  Mabel was going to come as his mouth covered her nub, chewing slowly on the orange.

  She collapsed backwards onto the bed, as she came in a silent and shocking gasp, shuddering into his lips.

  Slowly he kissed all the way up her body before stopping to look at her.

  ‘And here’s you Mabel, saying you didn’t like oranges. Didn’t I say you’d love them only if you tried?’

  ‘That’s awful!’

  Mabel was sitting with Tommy in a café, not too far from work where they couldn’t be spotted.

  ‘It’s really bad,’ he said, looking genuinely upset. ‘Jemima wants to resign now she knows more. There have been complaints and nothing has been done.’

  Staring at the information on Tommy’s laptop she took a deep breath.

  ‘Lee’s using it to meet people? And he would know about sexual preferences and all sorts of intimate details. I never put that on my page.’

  ‘Did you ever get a proper look?’

  ‘I thought you said it was okay.’

  ‘The picture and the opening information was good, but it was the other information.’

  ‘What other information?’