by North, Avery
Tim: I’m calling you.
Fiona:DON’T, I won’t answer.
Tim: Fiona, please. I have no idea why you are upset. Didn’t we make a pledge, to be honest with each other?
Fiona:OH, you are a great one to talk. I’m turning off my phone. We’ll talk when you’re back tomorrow.
Turning off her phone, Fiona threw it onto the table. She had nothing else to say to him, and her head was pounding. Thankfully she was off tomorrow. Hating the thought of having to confront Tim the next day, she took a sleeping pill, knowing that sleep would not come easily to her tonight. She wanted to just forget about everything. Especially about Tim.
✽✽✽
Peggy juggled her purse and coffee as she opened the door of the laundry room to start her day. Her co-worker, Marion, would be in later in the morning, so she had about an hour to sit and relax before the maids began bringing down the linens for washing.
Putting her feet up on the table, she leaned back and smiled to herself and wondered if Fiona had passed what she had told her about Tim. She would show him not to mess with her. No man had ever turned down her advances, and she wanted to make sure that he paid for what he did. The look on Fiona’s face when she told her was priceless, and her acting had been superb. She was very proud of herself, tears and everything. If Oscars were being given out at the hotel, she would have gotten one for sure.
Squinting her eyes, she imagined Fiona going to Susan and telling her. She’d probably get called into Susan’s office, and she’d have to tell her collection of lies again. In the end, Tim would get fired, and he’d be left with no job, and once word got out about what he had done, he’d never be able to find work again. He’d be miserable and end up living on the streets. Okay, maybe not on the streets, but he’d end up having to work at some crappy store or something like that. All he’d had to do was screw her, and none of this would have happened.
Now all she had to do was wait for the call from Susan, and her second performance would begin − she couldn’t wait.
Chapter 8
“Fiona, please open the door,” Tim called from outside. “We really need to talk.”
Fiona stood on the other side, her heart racing. She needed to confront Tim, but the idea of being in the same room as him scared her. She wasn’t sure if she completely believed what Peggy had told her, but if she was honest with herself, she didn’t know him all that well, and they had moved quickly in their relationship.
Taking a deep breath, she unlocked the door and opened it wide for him to come in, not making eye contact with him.
“Fiona. Thank you. I need to know what happened,” Tim said, approaching her.
Taking a step away from him, Fiona said, “Let’s just go and sit down.”
“Why won’t you look at me?” Tim asked as he sat down on the couch.
“What did you do to Peggy?” Fiona blurted out. She had wanted to lead up to asking, but the words just burst from her mouth.
“Peggy? Nothing. Why?” Tim frowned then remembered the day in his office. “What did she say?”
Fiona looked at him and told him the story that Peggy had told her. The anger inside of her pushed the words out, and she fought desperately to keep herself calm.
“You tried to rape her,” Fiona finally said through gritted teeth, looking at him in disgust. “Why?”
Tim sat there, his mouth open in disbelief. "Fiona, that's not what happened. You have to believe me. Did she tell you that? Oh my God,” Tim could feel the anger building up inside of him.
“Well then, what really happened, Tim?” Fiona said, her cheeks wet with tears. “Enlighten me.”
Tim leaned forward on the couch, running his hands through his hair. “Yes, she came down to my workshop but not in the way she said. She certainly wasn’t there to talk. She was wearing an overcoat and heels. I just thought she was going out after work, but I found it strange that she would be standing there staring at me,” Tim said, trying to remember that day. “I can’t remember exactly what she said, but she undid her coat and let it fall, and all she was wearing was underwear – fancy stuff. She was definitely looking for something more than a conversation," Tim said, looking at Peggy. "I told her to put her coat back on, that she should leave and that I was seeing someone. When she became a bit bolder, I told her to go more firmly. She was upset because I didn’t give in and muttered something about I would pay for what I did. Then she left. That’s it. I never laid a hand on her. I wouldn't do that to you. I love you, and only you.”
Fiona looked at Tim, biting her lower lip as she absorbed everything Tim had said. “Had she ever come on to you before that?”
Tim thought for a moment then nodded his head. “Actually, yes, but I never thought anything of it. I went to fix one of the dryers, and she unzipped her uniform, so her cleavage was showing. I told her I was seeing someone and just kind of ignored her. Fiona, please, I am not like that. I would never hurt or force a woman. Please believe me?”
Fiona suddenly looked at Tim in realization. "Oh, my God! It was you she was talking about!” she cried. “I told her to wear the overcoat.”
“What?” Tim asked, looking confused.
“She told me that there was a guy she really liked, but she didn’t know how to get his attention. I didn’t realize she was talking about you,” Fiona whispered. “I told her a little fantasy that I’ve always had about dressing in sexy lingerie and overcoat and surprising my boyfriend. She said she might try it. Tim, it was me − I told her to do that.”
“Well, she did and look what’s happened. I think she has issues,” Tim said, relieved that Fiona believed him.
“Okay, we need to report this to Susan,” Fiona said, standing up. “We can go and see her first thing in the morning.”
“Thank God you believe me,” Tim said, standing and holding out his hand towards Fiona.
“Just go, Tim. I need time,” Fiona said. “I’ll meet you tomorrow at Susan’s office at nine.”
“Fiona, please?” Tim pleaded.
“Go home, Tim. We’ll talk tomorrow,” Fiona said, opening the door and watching Tim walkout. Closing it, she took a deep breath. As relieved as she was about Tim, he had still kept this from her, and she didn’t know how she would ever get over that.
✽✽✽
“Peggy, please come to my office,” Susan said over the phone before hanging up.
Peggy looked at her phone and smiled. So, Fiona had gone to Susan, and now it was time to talk. “Okay, Peggy, time to turn on the tears,” she whispered to herself as she walked down the hall towards Susan’s office.
Giving the door a small rap, she pushed it open and stood in the doorway, looking at Susan, Fiona, and Tim, all glaring at her. Feeling her heart beat faster in her chest, she let the tears fill up in her eyes as she glanced at Tim, trembling slightly. “I’m sorry, I just can’t be in the same room as him,” she cried, making her body tremble.
“Oh, knock it off,” Tim snarled, glaring at her.
“Peggy, please sit down,” Susan said. “I want to know what happened. This is a serious situation.”
“I’m so sorry,” Peggy sobbed. “I didn’t want to get anyone in trouble, but the whole situation has scarred me.”
“Okay, Peggy, save me the bullshit,” Susan snapped. “What you seem to have forgotten is that all the hallways in the hotel are monitored, including the one downstairs where Tim’s office is.”
Peggy looked up in shock at Susan and then at Tim.
“Yes, that’s right. You told Fiona that you had just come down to chat, but, in fact, the cameras caught you walking up to my door dressed in the overcoat and heels exactly as I described it,” Tim said, glaring at her.
“Well, you must have known about that cameras and looked at the footage first to make up your story,” Peggy said defensively.
“I didn’t even know the cameras existed,” Tim replied.
Susan shook her head. “I have known Tim for almost seven years, and he has
always been an honest friend and employee. I wouldn’t believe for one minute what they told me you said he did, and when I checked the tape, it confirmed his story.”
Peggy began to cry, real tears this time. She realized she had been caught and needed to figure out a way to get herself out of this corner.
“I also did a bit of checking and found out that you had previously worked at the Emerald Hotel, and that you pulled the same stunt only you managed to get an innocent man fired before you left. Is that what your plan was for here?” Susan asked sternly. “Did you want to see Tim fired?”
“All men are pigs and deserve what they get,” Peggy growled, glaring at Tim.
“Well, my dear, if you were hoping to get me fired and leave me destitute, I hate to tell you this, but his job I have here is more of a hobby. I have enough money, and, most of all, I have friends who have my back,” Tim said, crossing his arms on his chest.
“Did you need us, Susan?” a burly security guard asked from the doorway.
“Yes, Sam. Please escort Peggy out of the building once she has gathered her belongings,” Susan said, smiling at Sam, then looking over at Tim. “Do you want to press charges, Tim?”
Tim glared at Peggy then shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. I think Peggy has learned her lesson here.”
“Well, that was an exciting morning,” Susan said after Peggy and Sam left. “I’m glad you came to me.”
Fiona smiled at Susan and picked up her purse. “I have to go. Thanks, Susan,” She rushed out the door, leaving Tim and Susan looking bewildered behind her.
Chapter 9
“What was that about?” Susan asked Tim after Fiona left hurriedly.
Tim looked at Susan and leaned forward in his chair. “I guess, seeing as honesty is the best policy here, I should tell you that Fiona and I have been seeing each other.”
“Really? That’s wonderful,” Susan said. “You deserve to be happy, and I’ve always liked Fiona. When Rachel left, she really stepped up and took over that job like a pro.”
“Well, we kept it a secret because we knew the hotel frowned on employees seeing each other,” Tim said, relieved that he had finally told Susan.
“But you aren’t an employee. Well, you are, but you work on a contract which isn’t the same thing,” Susan said, shrugging. “So, you aren’t breaking any rules.”
Tim smiled at her. “That’s good to know. Now I have to just convince Fiona. This thing with Peggy really upset her, and I know she’s been hurt in the past. I’m just glad she believed me.”
“Well, what are you sitting here for? Go and tell her,” Susan asked. “Let’s turn today around and make it a happy one. GO and save your relationship!”
Tim jumped up and gave Susan a small salute. “Yes, Boss,” he said with a grin before turning and running down the corridor.
Finding Fiona sitting at her desk, Tim stood in the doorway, looking at her. When she glanced up at him, he could see that she was crying.
“Oh, Fiona, please don't cry. I thought everything would be okay now that the truth is finally out,” Tim said, slowly approaching her desk.
Fiona sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Yes, Tim, the truth is out, but the fact is you still didn’t tell me about it. If you had just told me what happened that night when you came home from work, this could have all been settled sooner. You kept it from me.”
“Fiona! No! It wasn’t like that. I knew how you felt and how you have been hurt in the past. I stayed quiet to protect you,” Tim said, pleading with her. “I didn’t want to hurt you, and I figured that Peggy would just move on. I never in a million years thought she would accuse me of anything. I also didn’t want to get her in trouble and make her lose her job. She’s young, and I figured she would learn from it.”
“So you thought that just because Peggy’s story turned out to be a lie, everything would be fine between us?” Fiona asked, leaning back in her chair. “You still didn’t feel comfortable enough to tell me what happened. You lied to me, and you broke the boundaries that you knew were so important to me. How can I ever trust you again? I will always be questioning your honest every time you say you’re fine when I sense there is something wrong. You have no idea what this has done to me. I thought I was on top of the world, had finally found a man that loves me and would be honest with me. No more games, no more lies – and then this happens.”
“What do you need from me to make this better? You want me to step away for a while and give you space: I will. You want me to sell everything I have: I’d gladly give up everything for you. Fiona, I love you more than I love life. You have to believe me. I’m so sorry. Please, I beg you. Give us another chance.”
Fiona looked at Tim, her heartbreaking. She wanted to forgive him. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and tell him everything was going to be okay, but she couldn’t. “I need time, Tim. Just give me time.”
✽✽✽
The candle’s flame flickered in the darkness as Fiona sat in the quiet of her living room, slowly sipping on a glass of wine, lost in her thoughts.
She wanted so badly to forgive Tim and move on, but she didn’t know if she could. All her life she had been lied to. Her parents had lived on lies, telling her everything was okay until, one day, Fiona discovered it wasn’t, and they were all living in their car. She had always thought that if her parents had been honest about their financial situation, she could have helped. Her last boyfriend, who she thought was the love of her life, had told her he would never hurt her. She believed him until the one day she found the texts from the other women, so detailed, and when she confronted him, he blew into a rage and beat her. Making her believe it was her fault until she finally got enough strength to walk away. All lies. All her life.
Tim knew she had been hurt, which was why he hadn’t told her what happened with Peggy. That was Tim, always looking out for people.
“So, he didn’t want to hurt me or get Peggy in trouble,” Fiona said out loud. “He really hadn’t done anything wrong, so why am I being so hard on him? He’s a good man, an honest man. Peggy was completely to blame, not Tim. If I should be mad at anyone, it should be Peggy, not Tim.” She sat up; she needed to tell him that. He loved her more than anyone had ever loved her in her life, and she loved him too. She would be a fool to let him go because of a misunderstanding.
She needed to go see him and apologize, and she knew exactly how she was going to do it.
Chapter 10
Tim sat nursing his beer, staring out at the horizon. He usually loved the view from his condo, but tonight it felt cold and lonely. In fact, everything in his life felt lonely without Fiona in it. Why had he been so stupid and not told her what happened? He was so desperate to save her from being hurt; he had never thought that his silence would hurt her more.
“Oh, Fiona. If I could only go back in time,” he murmured to himself just before there was a knock on his door. Frowning, he put his beer down on the table and went to answer the door. Opening it, he stood staring at the person who was standing there smiling at him.
“Fiona?” he said. She was dressed in an overcoat, and as he looked down, he saw black lacy stockings and stiletto heels. “Wow.”
“Well, aren’t you going to invite me in?” Fiona asked seductively.
“Yes, please come in,” Tim sputtered, caught completely off guard. Moving to the side, he watched as Fiona walked in and continued down the hall, stopping in the living room before turning around to face him.
“First, I want to say how sorry I am for not believing you. I should have known right away that you would never be capable of doing something like that,” Fiona said urgently.
“Fiona … ” Tim started to say only to be hushed by Fiona.
“Second, I want to say how sorry I am for not realizing right away that you did what you did to protect me. I know that now and, although I wish things had been handled differently, I think we both learned a valuable lesson for our relationship.
“Well, I know �
��" Tim started to say, but Fiona hushed him again.
“And thirdly, I realized that you are the most important person in my life and I need you to make it whole, so I think we should put this all behind us and move on, making sure we never break our boundaries again,” Fiona gave Tim a seductive smile. “Oh, and this is my way of saying I’m sorry,” she added before untying the belt of her coat and letting it fall to the ground.
Tim gasped as he looked at her wearing a see-through red teddy with black lace stockings. He felt immense love for the woman standing in front of him, especially after what she had just said. Reaching out, he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him, crushing his lips against hers. Fiona felt his hunger and responded enthusiastically, roughly trying to get his T-shirt off.
“Oh, Fiona, I’ve missed you so bad,” Tim breathed heavily into her ear and nibbled on her earlobe. He needed to feel her skin against his; he needed to explore all of her body. He wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her harder against him as he kissed her neck, pushing her against the couch until they both fell onto it. His mouth left a hot, tingly trail on her skin as he moved his way down, stopping to take one of her nipples gently in his mouth.
“Ohhh yesssss,” Fiona groaned, pushing her chest against him, running her hands through his hair, guiding him to where she wanted him to be. After their time apart, his touch was arousing her more than ever, as his lips and tongue went between her legs, making her cry out even louder.
Sensing Fiona was ready for more, Tim stood up, undoing his jeans and pulling them down. Fiona moaned in anticipation as his erection sprang forth, making her hunger for him even more.
Laying back down over her, he caressed Fiona’s face, gently kissing her as he moved into her, and they slowly became one. They lay there for a moment, looking into each other’s eyes.
