‘I was twelve when I decided I’d had enough.’
‘O my God,’ I exclaimed, tears flooding my eyes at the thought of Tristan living rough at the tender age of twelve. It was horrendous. ‘Luc, I …’ I stalled as I choked and had to grab a tissue to blow my nose.
‘Please, do not cry. I have dealt with this, I was angry as a child, but this is why I have a need for control and the preservation of my finances. I do not intend to ever lack for anything again and neither will you or my son.’
‘How did you manage to …’
‘Mummy!’ yelled Tristan from upstairs, making me jump.
‘Sorry, give me a second,’ I asked Luc. ‘What, darling?’ I called back. It wasn’t his yell of pain, or I’d have hung up and flown up those stairs in an instant.
‘Mummy, please come here, I need you,’ he shouted.
‘Go,’ ordered Luc. ‘We can talk tomorrow. I will phone from Paris when he is asleep so we can speak freely. I should be leaving for the airport now anyway.’
‘I’m so sorry, but if you’re serious about wanting me, he comes as part of the package and often at the most inconvenient times.’
‘MUMMY.’ His voice sounded more insistent and he actually sounded upset.
‘I am serious about you, both of you. Je t’aime, ma belle. Toujours. Bonne nuit.’
‘Merci, bonne nuit,’ I replied and quickly hung up and raced upstairs. ‘What’s wrong?’ I called, as I rushed to his door and flung it open. I gasped, it looked like there’d been an explosion, you could barely see the carpet for Lego and toys. ‘Tristan McQueen, what have you done?’
‘I emptied all my toys out and I don’t have enough room for the zoo,’ he moaned, his bottom lip wobbling as he sat in the middle of it all.
‘O, darling,’ I smiled as I carefully meandered my way to him, avoiding treading on anything. He had so many toys that we had a rule, if a new one came in, an old one had to go and it always broke his heart to give something away. But it was a rule I always enforced, I didn’t want him thinking he could have whatever he wanted handed to him on a silver platter. Whenever he finally chose the item he was giving away, we went together to the local children’s home to give it to a boy who wasn’t lucky enough to be spoiled. Just like my poor Luc. Thinking about what he’d been through had my heart breaking, it was even more amazing to think of the man he’d become, given his rough start in life. I never wanted Tristan to think he’d been abandoned, maybe I was being too cautious keeping them apart. Maybe he was at that age when he’d just accept things, as long as they weren’t forced on him. I ruffled his hair as I stood next to him. ‘There must be something here that you don’t play with very often, you have so much.’
‘But I love it all.’
‘I know you do, but I thought you wanted the zoo kit with the elephants.’
‘I do. So badly,’ he nodded as a tear trickled down his cheek. I cleared some space and sat down, putting my arm around him, wishing the redistribution of toys was the only hard thing he’d ever have to deal with in his life.
‘Come on, you’re tired and it’s past your bedtime. Let’s put it all back in the boxes until the morning and we’ll go through them all one by one tomorrow and make a decision then, ok?’
‘Ok,’ he sighed, sounding as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
‘Race you, last one holding a toy doesn’t get a hot chocolate.’ I forced myself not to laugh as he perked up in an instant and scrambled to scoop a load up. When his hot chocolate had been drunk, teeth brushed and pyjamas put on, he was so tired he was stumbling, so I scooped him up and carried him to his bed, gently tucking him in. There wasn’t going to be any Elmer tonight.
‘Mummy?’
‘Yes, darling.’
‘Will I have to go and live at my daddy’s house sometimes, like Amber does?’ he asked, as he peaked up at me over the edge of the duvet, with a worried look on his face.
‘O Tristan, no, I’m not letting you go anywhere. Amber only stays with her daddy because he doesn’t live with her and her mummy anymore and he misses her.’
‘But my daddy doesn’t live with me.’
‘No he doesn’t. But that’s because I lost him remember? That’s not your fault. I’m sure if I hadn’t lost him we’d have all lived together happily, just like Bryce and his parents,’ I nodded, stroking his hair, wondering what was going on in his little head. He stayed quiet, so I did too. I could see the cogs whirring, so I gave him some time to process his thoughts.
‘Now you’ve found him, does that mean he’s going to come and live with us too?’ he eventually asked.
‘Would you like to live like Bryce does, with both of us?’
‘Dunno,’ he shrugged, with another frown.
‘Well, I think that this is what we’re going to do. If you want to meet him, I can ask him to come over for a roast dinner, maybe chicken with Yorkshire puddings and …’
‘Chicken?’ he piped up. I smiled, I figured if I could get him to associate his dad with his favourite things, it might help.
‘He loves chicken, just like you. Especially with Yorkshire puddings.’ I added, thinking if Luc didn’t, he was going to have to suck it up. ‘Does that sound good?’
‘Yeah,’ he nodded, stifling a yawn.
‘Well, if he does come over for dinner, we can all play with your new Lego set and if you really like playing with him, we can let him come and play again. Do you want to know a secret?’
‘Ok,’ he whispered.
‘Mummy really likes him because he loves reading stories. I think he’d really like to help me read Elmer to you.’
‘He likes Elmer?’ he asked, not even bothering to hide his yawn this time.
‘He’s so cool, because he loves Elmer. Come on, it’s time to go to sleep. How much does Mummy love you?’
‘To the end of your life and beyond,’ he smiled as his eyelids started to droop.
‘Further than the eye can see,’ I whispered, as I kissed his forehead and waited for him to fall asleep. I couldn’t help some tears rolling down my face. My poor little confused boy and my poor man, treated so badly as a child, not having any love in his life, no wonder he wanted a bond with his son so badly.
Lulu
Monday
It was nice to finally drive my car again, given she knew where I lived and that I was seeing Luc, there wasn’t any point in all of this cloak and dagger stuff anymore. I’d even tapped on her investigators car window this morning, to ask if he’d like a close up shot of me. After dropping Tristan at school, I headed into work, my mind racing with my upcoming meeting with Myrtille this afternoon.
‘That was a very big wink,’ I laughed, as I took my coffee off Violet.
‘I had a very big weekend. I’m surprised I can walk.’
‘I’m sure Mike would love to purchase a Motability scooter that he could fix up to go really fast, you could ride around the office in that,’ I suggested.
‘I need to take yoga classes I think, learn how to be a bit more flexible. How was your weekend with Mr. French.’
‘It wasn’t,’ I replied, resisting the urge to let out a heavy sigh. ‘He’s in Paris, so I haven’t seen him, though we’ve spoken on the phone each night.’
‘Is it always going to be a long distance thing?’ she asked, as we took our usual places in my office.
‘I hope not, he’s looking for offices in London and doing up his house, with the view to living here Thursday night to Tuesday morning, then having three days and two nights in Paris. It really all depends on what happens today.’
‘Well she’s due at two o’clock, but you have a busy morning to keep your mind off it.’
‘Hit me with it,’ I nodded.
‘Mrs. Blakely, who said her husband was smelling of perfume, is in at quarter to nine. Here’s the report and invoice.’
‘I take it we were right about the PA?’
‘Sure were, I’ll check there’s plenty of tissues in your
box as I think she’ll need them. He’s got his PA shacked up in an apartment near to the office for lunchtime and after work specials, and we have receipts for flowers, clothes and jewellery and I’m sure it’s not all for his wife.’
‘Poor woman,’ I sighed. Much as I loved the fact finding element of our work, telling the wife that they were right was never nice. Particularly not the ones who came hoping to be proved wrong, the ones who kept making excuses for his odd behaviour, change in style and those unaccounted for hours, for those it hit home hard. I quite often had to call a friend to come and get them, as they were in no fit state to drive home. Such a comparison to the ones that wanted him to be caught, that needed the proof for their solicitors to conjure up an even better settlement. They virtually skipped with glee out of the office with my report.
‘Quarter past nine is Mrs. Beasley.’
‘The one who bit her husband’s balls?’
‘You got it. Two visits this week to a gay S&M club. Henry says you owe him big time for having to go undercover in there.’
‘Henry went in?’ I nearly spat my coffee all over the desk.
‘Wait until you see the outfit Hilda made him wear Saturday night, he was not happy, but he got photographs.’
‘Of him in fetish gear I hope,’ I giggled.
‘Sadly not,’ she grinned, ‘though he said once he got used to the feel of the rubber trousers, they were actually quite comfortable.’
‘Stop, I’m getting visuals,’ I laughed. ‘We need to look at hiring a few men I think, it’s not fair to send in Henry or Mike when they’re not fully trained.’
‘Speaking of hiring, Jackson Barrett is in at quarter to ten to go over the terms of his contract for the IT job and I have the architect in at eleven-fifteen, after the staff meeting, to walk through the plans for altering your bedroom and en-suite, to make a smaller guest cloakroom for you and your clients, then a good sized office and server room for Jackson, leaving the separate access out to the staff room, to give you privacy.’
‘Ok,’ I nodded. Jackson had been top of my shortlist when we’d reviewed the files, before we even put them through a skills test with Ian and then whittled down for interviews. Ian assured me that he had all the capabilities to pull off most of what we required and that if there was ever anything more complex, Ian could step in and work with him.
‘Twelve is Mrs. Ashton.’
‘Husband with crabs?’
‘Yes and no, we were wrong. Turns out he’s been wearing his wife’s expensive lingerie around the house while she’s out, doing dusting and hoovering and it appears that he’s allergic to the fabric softener she uses for her delicates. Pictures and invoice are in the folder.’
‘Wow, I don’t think a pair of my knickers would even get above Luc’s thighs.’
‘I’d say, he has the build of a rugby player.’
‘He does,’ I nodded, quickly snapping myself out of the image of him naked that Sunday night we went to his house.
‘Twelve-thirty you have a Mrs. Alexander, new client. Says her husband is being “too nice,” which has raised her suspicions.’
‘Late hours, last minute excuses?’
‘No, nothing out of the ordinary other than telling her how beautiful she looks, bringing her more flowers and gifts, taking her out more often and an improvement in their sex life.’
‘Someone lock him up now, appalling behaviour,’ I commented, with a gentle shake of my head. ‘Maybe he’s just realised how lucky he is.’
‘That would be nice wouldn’t it? We haven’t had one of those cases for a while. I’ve left you half an hour for lunch, I’ve already ordered. I’ve taken a new booking request appointment myself at three, as the dragon is in at two and I thought you might want to get out of the office when you’re done with her. I’ve collated all the information you gave me on Thursday, plus the extras that you emailed in over the weekend. All copied for our files, paper and computer and I emailed an extra copy to Arthur Finch at Austin, Turner and Finch this morning, in the event that you need him to issue an injunction. He’ll be on standby this afternoon if required.’
‘Perfect. Can you book an afternoon out next week for you and I to meet as well?’
‘Sure, anything in particular, so I know what to prepare?’
‘I’d like to discuss your advancement. Excellent as you are as a PA and receptionist, I think your talents aren’t being fully utilised. I’d like to take someone on to replace you on reception and to do some of your PA duties, then have you working with me, rather than just for me.’
‘Are you serious?’ She looked at me wide eyed with her mouth ajar.
‘I am. It would mean additional responsibilities, but would come with a substantial raise with extra benefits and we’d need to revise the plans for the offices. I’d suggest Jackson’s proposed office becoming yours, leaving the connecting door through to mine, then converting the loft into a number of additional offices. Jackson could go up there and we could move HR and Accounts upstairs as there’ll be room enough to give Sandra some extra help. I’d like you to think about it and jot down any ideas or concerns you have and we can discuss at our meeting, along with the package. If you’re not interested, that’s fine, though I really hope you will be.’
‘I’m interested,’ she confirmed quickly. ‘More than interested. Lulu, I don’t know what to say, I’m so … damn it,’ she moaned as she fluttered her hands in front of her eyes, which were tearing up. I quickly grabbed her a tissue.
‘Violet, you are amazing, you totally deserve this and I need to start thinking about being home even more for Tristan, I’d love to be able to clock off at three every day to pick him up from school and there’s no one I trust more to look after my business.’
‘You’ve no idea what this means to me, Lulu. Honestly I’m so touched that you think so highly of me.’
‘You’ve earned my trust, Violet and I don’t just think of you as an employee, you’re a friend,’ I stated sincerely, as I reached over to squeeze her hand.
I angled the wall mounted flat screen TV to ensure it could be seen clearly from the sofas and headed into my en-suite to check my appearance. I’d teamed a white tuxedo jacket with a pair of skinny fit, black leather trousers and my highest black leather heels. I’d gone bare chested under the jacket, showing off my pierced midriff and the diamond necklace from Luc. My hair was in a smart ponytail, draped over one shoulder and I’d made sure to keep my makeup natural looking, while enhancing my cheekbones and eyes. I had on a pair of diamond stud earrings and a large silver cocktail ring with my favourite chunky bangles from Coco. I wanted Myrtille to be envious of me. It was ridiculous but I felt jealous. He may only have slept with her once, while he was drunk, but he’d slept with her. He’d proposed to her. I hadn’t been jealous since I’d caught my first boyfriend cheating on me in that car park. I hadn’t allowed anyone to get close enough to me to get under my skin. Not even Greg. But Luc had done it and so fast as well. I gripped the edge of the sink and closed my eyes as I thought of him. He’d hoped to return from Paris this morning, but I’d not heard from him. I walked back to my office and halted in my tracks as my heart rate spiked and my stomach fluttered. He was here, standing with his back to me, looking out at the view of London, his hands deeply embedded in his suit trouser pockets.
‘Luc,’ I cried, feeling so happy. He spun around and in a second his face changed from one of serious contemplation to instant joy, as his smile creased his face.
‘Lulu,’ he breathed, his voice low and husky. We collided somewhere in the middle of the room, him lifting me up onto his hips as I clasped his face and we poured seven days of no contact into a fiery and passionate kiss that sent waves of heat crashing through my body. I knew I’d missed him, but until I felt his body pressed against mine, his hands clutching me to him tightly, the strong beat of his excited heart against my chest, I hadn’t realised quite how much. ‘Ma belle, how I have missed you,’ he moaned against my lips.
> ‘Me too. Why are you here? How long are you staying?’ I asked, searching his beautiful brown eyes for answers.
‘Regrettably only for a few hours, I must return to Paris. I came only to offer my support, to face her with you, to end this once and for all.’
‘Thank you,’ I whispered. ‘I really appreciate you being here.’
‘Is all in order?’ he asked between kisses that had my lips tingling.
‘Yes, perfectly. You?’
‘Yes, it took some convincing, but both banks will continue to offer me facilities. They are sick of the Bouchons strong arming them and stealing their clients and my track record in financial and investment management speaks for itself. Enough of this, kiss me again,’ he ordered. So I did, only breaking away when I needed to gasp for air.
‘I can’t believe you’re here,’ I uttered, as I stroked his prominent cheekbones with my thumbs. He was the most handsome man I’d ever seen, though he had dark circles under his eyes and a hint of stubble. ‘Are you resting enough? You look tired.’
‘I have been up all night. I arrived in London early and have been with my solicitor getting the divorce contract drawn up, I’m sorry I did not have a chance to ring you.’
‘You need to look after yourself. Are you eating properly?’
‘You are worrying about me?’ he smiled.
‘Yes,’ I blushed. ‘I’m a mother remember, we fuss.’
‘As long as you do not see me as your child, because what I feel for you is positively sinful. My cock has been aching to be inside you again,’ he whispered in a sultry tone. I grinned and shifted on his hips, feeling his swollen erection rubbing against my suddenly overheated pussy.
‘I’m aching just as badly for you to be there and trust me, I’m having pretty sinful thoughts too. I have a bedroom back there,’ I advised with a flick of my head as I bit my lower lip.
‘Then why are we wasting time with idle chit-chat about me and not in there having crazy hot sex?’
‘I was just thinking the same,’ I laughed, taking in more oxygen at the look in his eyes, as they ran down my chest to where the swell of my breasts could be seen through the gaping jacket.
The Temptress Page 31
