Gary thought about it, “Do it before I chicken out, I trust you, I don’t think I can go there on my own, and if this is the only way, let’s do it.”
“Alright here we go!” said Alex.
Gary began to feel very sleepy and closed his eyes.
As they opened the door it was no longer Gary, it was Alex. She had full control.
“Right let’s get there quickly. I’m not sure how long I can do this for,” said Alex, but only to herself.
Chapter Forty Three
Alex, in control of Gary’s body, pulled up at the club and got out of the car. She looked up at the building, it was weird being there again, she wondered how Gary would feel. She wanted to get them both safely inside and in the office. She walked around the back and in through the side entrance past the kitchen and up to the office, no one was around.
As soon as she was in the office she left Gary’s body, and she went weak and collapsed to the floor. Gary opened his eyes and grabbed her.
“You ok? Here, sit down,” said Gary helping her to the sofa.
“I’m fine, it just took it out of me, I’ll be ok in a minute,” said Alex.
“How are you feeling?” asked Alex.
“I’m great, it was like I went to sleep and woke up here,” said Gary, and he sat down by her and held her hand.
Alex could read the concern on his face. “Gary don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” she said.
Just then the door opened and in walked Melissa. Gary froze but Melissa smiled at Gary and walked over to sit by him. Alex moved quickly out of the way. Melissa couldn’t see her.
Alex went to the desk and sat at the computer, waiting for Melissa to leave. Gary looked at Alex, and then back to Melissa, his heart was pounding.
“Ray said you were coming in today, glad to have you back, it’s just not the same without you here,” said Melissa.
“Mel, I’m just here to work in the office, nothing more, I’m not ready for anything else yet,” said Gary feeling uncomfortable.
“Come on, you can’t stay away from it too long. It’s in your blood, it’s your life. If you’re worried I can easily help you back into the swing of things,” said Melissa as she ran her fingers over his shoulder and tried to pull him closer.
“Melissa, I just lost my wife for God’s sake,” said Gary pushing her away. Alex watched, not making a move.
“Yes, I know but she’s gone and you’re still here, you have needs too,” said Melissa trying again.
“For fuck’s sake Melissa, when will you ever learn? I will never sleep with you,” Gary shouted, he was embarrassed as he knew Alex was watching.
“You had sex with me and Alex, so why not now she’s not here? You need someone with experience,” said Melissa.
“That was the one and only time Melissa, and you know it. We hadn’t before and never will again, you belong to Ray, not me,” said Gary.
Alex was surprised, she thought they’d had some sort of relationship while at the club.
“Ray isn’t you. He can’t control me like you can. You would make me a better dom,” continued Melissa, she wasn’t letting up.
“Then Melissa, in all the years you’ve been here, you haven’t learnt a thing,” said Gary.
“That’s what I’m trying to say, I need you as my dom, my master, to control my ways. I need someone to dominate me.”
“This is what I’m getting at. You should know by now that in a dom/sub relationship the real person in control is the submissive because they can always say stop. Now leave, Melissa, that’s the end of it,” said Gary standing up and opening the office door. Melissa stormed out of the room, Gary closed the door behind her and turned to Alex.
“Sorry Alex, you didn’t need to see that,” he said.
“It’s ok, she is very full on when it comes to you, I didn’t realize you’d never had a relationship with her while you were here.”
“That’s right, Melissa is very good at some things here, but how the relationship should work between her and her master is never going to sink in. Sometimes I don’t know what Ray sees in her.”
Gary locked the office door, “Ok, so show me your ideas for updating the security here,” he said.
“First things first, you need to get a team who can watch the cameras around the clock here, ask John to help get you people you can trust. You will need four shifts and maybe two people per shift.”
“I can see the benefit in that, I’ll get Ray on to it with Briggs,” said Gary.
“Then there are the cameras in the rooms, you can get tiny ones now, so your clients won’t see them and feel uncomfortable. They can cover all the angles of the rooms, you’ll need to update your computer system to cater for this, plus security cameras in the corridors and the back and the kitchen. The whole place needs to be covered, that will stop anyone coming in through the back of the building. I can give you the number of a good friend of mine in the business, he is very trustworthy, we went to uni together,” said Alex, going for it all guns blazing.
Gary sat back and smiled, “Good friend, or more than that?”
“No way, I told you there was only ever you, but you chose not to take it to the next level and left to go on your travels, while I stayed and studied,” laughed Alex.
“Ok, I believe you. Thousands wouldn’t,” said Gary.
“There’s one more thing you need: cameras in yours, Ray’s and Melissa’s rooms, you all need to be safe,” said Alex.
Gary looked away and walked over to the window.
“I suppose, but I don’t think I can ever go back in that room again,” he said. He just stared out of the window.
Alex went over to him. “Gary, why not? We had some great times in there, don’t let one little thing spoil it for you,” said Alex.
“Little! Alex are you mad, you died in my arms in that room. That is not little.”
“Gary, what I’m trying to say is that what happened is over and I’m still here. We can still go in that room and be how we used to be, as if nothing happened. But let’s take it one step at a time,” said Alex.
“I know, but I can’t get that image out of my mind. It will take time, I know I shouldn’t think like you’ve gone, but I can’t help it.”
Alex held him in her arms, “We’ll take it one baby step at a time, there is no rush, soon it will all be a distant memory.”
Gary turned around to look at Alex, “Come on give me that number. Let’s get the ball rolling, and set up a meeting with that special friend of yours.”
Alex gave Gary a gentle push. “Shut up! Go on, call him, his name is Steve.”
Chapter Forty Four
Gary called Steve. Steve said he would drop everything and come over to discuss what was needed, anything for a friend of Alex’s. Gary arranged for Briggs to pick him up and bring him over.
Gary waited for Ray to come up to the office so he could sit in on the meeting with Steve. Alex had decided to leave them to it, she’d written down everything that was needed, some details that Gary didn’t quite understand, but Alex said to give them to Steve and he would.
Gary had decided to say it was something that Alex had been working on before she died so as not to confuse matters. Alex said she would go to Marie’s and then meet him back at home, but if he needed her, she would know and she’d be right there.
He was determined to do this part on his own, try and get back on track, he didn’t want her thinking that he was a wimp and couldn’t do anything without her.
Ray came into the office and gave him a hug, then stood back and looked at him.
“Well, I have to say, you look well enough, you’re getting through the worst of it, Marie has been a big help then?” said Ray.
“Marie has been great, she gave me the kick up the butt I needed,” said Gary handing Ray a whisky.
“So Alex left some plans for this place then?” said Ray watching for Gary’s reaction to the mention of her name.
“She’d been working on them fo
r a while, just never got round to putting them into action,” said Gary trying not to catch his eye.
Ray began to read through what Alex had written, down, “This is great, makes perfect sense really. I’m sorry mate, pity, this might have been useful. . .” Ray stopped. “Sorry my mouth runs away with me, as well you know.”
“It’s fine, I thought the same thing myself when I read them,” he wasn’t lying this time, he wished Alex’s plans had been put into action sooner.
“Are you sure you’re alright? It’s like you’re hiding something from me,” said Ray.
Gary knew Ray would question him like this but he remained guarded, he wasn’t about to tell him the truth.
Just as Ray was about to ask Gary another question, Briggs walked in and nodded to both Ray and Gary, and then showed Steve in.
Steve was a large man, looked to be in his thirties, with dark hair tied back in a ponytail, and very attractive. Gary thought that there was no way that he and Alex were ever just friends.
“I’m so sorry to hear about Alex, she was a great girl, always made me smile,” Steve said, shaking Gary’s hand.
I bet she brought a smile to your face, and more than that, Gary thought. He needed to stop this, why was he so jealous for God’s sake?
Ray offered Steve a drink and showed him over to the table which they had never really used before for meetings.
Steve sat down and Ray handed him the details Alex had written down. Steve read through them.
“This is brilliant, but then I wouldn’t expect anything less from Alex, she was at the top of her game, she created the best security systems I’ve ever seen,” said Steve with a smile.
“She’s planned everything down to the parts and labour,” said Steve. “I can have this completed in about two weeks, you have all the infrastructure already here, so there won’t be too much disruption either.”
“That’s great, when will you be able to start? So we can advise our clients and move our staff out while the work is on,” asked Ray.
“Let me make a few calls first,” replied Steve. Ray said he could make the calls in the room next door, and Steve went in there to sort out the details.
Ray looked again at Gary, “What’s the matter, I thought this was what you wanted?”
Gary looked away from Steve, “What? Yes it is!” he said.
“Then what’s the matter?”
“There are so many things I didn’t know about Alex, that time we were living apart while she was a university, and I was, well you know what I was doing, and this Steve seems to know her very well,” said Gary trying not very successfully to hide his jealousy.
“Gary, she loved you, what she was like with you is all that matters, don’t go over what ifs and don’t be jealous of that guy,” said Ray with a hint of a smile.
“I’m not jealous!” said Gary.
Steve came back just as Gary was about to continue.
“They can start this weekend, but if that’s too early. . .” said Steve.
“No, that will be great, the sooner the better,” answered Ray.
“So, did you and Alex hang out at university a lot?” asked Ray giving Gary a quick glance.
“Well, yes we were great friends, always there for each other,” said Steve.
Gary gave Ray a look telling him to shut up.
“I bet you were more than just friends!” said Ray.
Steve looked at Gary and then back at Ray, “What? No. Friends and that was it,” answered Steve.
“You’re telling me you hung around with Alex, a beautiful girl, and never once made a move on her?” asked Ray. Gary was ready to punch Ray, but waited for Steve’s answer.
“She’s not exactly my type. I’m gay, it was always men all through university, I never once looked at Alex like that. We shared a flat and she would always be home alone while I went through, well God knows, how many boyfriends,” Steve said laughing.
Ray grinned at Gary.
“Alex was dedicated to her studies, and she always said there was one person for her but she’d let him slip away, so the only thing left was her career,” said Steve.
Gary put his glass down and smiled at Steve, “Thank you.”
“I’m just going to be following Alex’s wishes, she did all the hard work!” answered Steve.
“No, I mean, I never really knew anything about what Alex did after we left school. I went off on my travels and she went to university, I just thought she wasn’t interested, I’m learning more about that now than I did when she was alive,” Gary looked at the window.
“So you’re the one! She never told me your name but she always talked about you. That was when she wasn’t sorting out some kind of mess with my latest boyfriend. I was all over the place back then, but listening to her talk about you, made me think there had got to be a Mr Right for me out there, instead of a Mr Right now!” Steve laughed again.
Ray stood up, “Well I think we’d better get moving and start arranging things at our end. Ready for our man Steve to start work, don’t you Gary?”
“Yes, thank you again Steve, and it was very nice meeting you,” said Gary, and shook Steve’s hand.
Steve thanked them both and left, Briggs was waiting outside to take Steve back to his office. Once the door was shut, Gary turned to Steve.
“Don’t ever do that again, it wasn’t funny, I nearly smacked you one,” said Gary.
“Sorry, but I was trying to lighten your mood, you were jealous of Steve and now you know the truth,” said Ray.
Gary didn’t reply. Ray was right as usual.
Chapter Forty Five
Alex was at Marie’s, she wanted to leave Gary to it, give some control back to him. Plus she’d had a funny feeling there, she’d sensed something was not right but wasn’t sure what exactly. At first she’d put it down to travelling using Gary’s body, but it was something more than that, and she thought she’d talk to Marie about it.
Marie listened to what had happened. She looked concerned.
“What is it?” asked Alex.
“It could be that you were having after-effects of taking over Gary, but I think you might have been sensing something in that building,” said Marie.
“Like what?” Alex was really anxious now; did she need to get back to Gary and risk people seeing her?
“I don’t know, you could be picking up on what happened to you there, maybe the house is holding on to the pain,” said Marie.
“Or?” said Alex, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.
“Another spirit.”
“What do you mean? I didn’t see another ghost! Wouldn’t I have if there was one?”
Marie looked at Alex calmly. ”You’re right, I’d have thought you would have seen something.”
“Anyway, Gary must be getting his confidence back,” said Marie changing the subject.
“You could say that. He’s beginning to accept me, in more ways than one,” Alex began to laugh.
“Well, I don’t want the details, but I’m glad for you Alex, I was worried, but true love always shines through.”
Alex looked at Marie, Marie was always alone, never even mentioned a boyfriend, and yet she was so into love.
“Marie, can I ask you something?”
“Ask away.”
“Why have I never seen you with someone? Someone who is your true love!” asked Alex.
“There was someone once, he loved me in all my weird and wonderful ways, but he had to leave, and that was that,” said Marie.
“You can’t just stop there. I need more details. What was his name, how long were you together?”
Marie went quiet for a moment. “His name was Nick, I met him when my mother was still alive, he was at one of our monthly meetings for all things magical, if you get my drift.”
Alex nodded.
“We got talking, and we both had the same interests, and so on and so forth, and we fell deeply in love.” Marie gave a little smile as though she was remembering som
ething very special.
“And?” asked Alex.
“He had to go away, he said he would return one day, and I’m still waiting” said Marie wistfully.
“He went away. Why? If you were so deeply in love, why did he leave?”
“Something happened to him, and . . .” Marie stopped, not sure what to say next or how much to reveal.
“Marie, you can tell me anything you know.”
“I know, I just don’t think I’m ready to talk about it, all you need to know is that he went away because something changed in him and he was worried he wouldn’t be able to control it and would hurt me, so he went away. But he said he’d return one day when he knew it was safe, and to this day I’m still waiting.” Marie got up and went to the kitchen and began to wash up.
Alex knew not to push any further. “Do you want any help with that?” she asked.
“I’ve got it thanks, shouldn’t you be getting back to Gary? It’s getting late” answered Marie.
Alex knew she’d opened up an old wound and Marie needed to be alone. “If you’re ok, I will, but. . .”
Marie turned to Alex. “It’s ok Alex I just need some time alone,” Marie hugged her. Alex gave her a kiss on the cheek, and then disappeared.
Marie sat down at the kitchen table and began to cry.
Chapter Forty Six
Gary was home when Alex appeared. He was wearing his linen trousers and white V-neck shirt. He was drinking again, Alex was worried that he might be drinking a bit too much, but didn’t want to hassle him about it, he’d already been through so much. Alex sat down beside him and gave him a soft but lingering kiss on the lips. Gary felt alive each time Alex kissed him, he would never tire of the feeling.
“How was your meeting?” asked Alex.
“It was good, Steve is starting work this weekend, the men you suggested for him to use were happy to drop everything to help, you’ve made a good impression on a lot of people,” said Gary, sounding a bit strained.
“What’s the matter, has something happened?” asked Alex.
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