The town had been full of tourists, but that hadn’t stopped him claiming her as his desert.
The farmhand’s son, had no qualms about pulling the millionairess into a sitting position on top of him and, despite her initial embarrassed protestations, making her climax in full view of the passing public, many of whom didn’t even notice the rocking car, or the moans coming from therein.
It was this simplicity, this spontaneity that Elisabeth loved and wanted forever.
“Aye, you enjoy slumming it with me, don’t you princess?” he had asked her that day.
Her response was to kiss him passionately, “I do. I love you.”
However, things began to change.
More specifically, they changed the moment Elisabeth asked told Craig to give up his bar job.
To her, it was the natural next step, but to him, it meant giving up a way of life and a job that he had come to love.
It complimented everything about his personality. He loved meeting new people, he adored rubbing shoulders with the celebs, and he had no intention of packing it in.
Thus, the personality that began as an endearing accolade, quickly became a major irritation. It was inconceivable to Elisabeth, that Craig should want to continue working in the meat market that was the club. After all, they were happy together, weren’t they?
And so, the accusations of infidelity and ingratitude began. These brought on late nights from Craig, who stayed out purposefully to avoid further confrontations, and, although he was bedding down at his friend’s house, his absence fed Elisabeth’s suspicions.
She became obsessive, ringing him all the time and checking for background noise to establish where he might be.
In two months, she had thrown him out more times than there were weeks, only to beg him to return.
Elisabeth wrongly believed, that Craig belonged to her, as much as she wanted to belong to him. But the truth was, Craig was still very young, and he didn’t believe he belonged to anyone, but himself.
Eventually, after she had choked to death whatever feelings he had for her, she kicked him out and told him never to return.
He didn’t.
A few days later, during which Elisabeth had kept herself busy with professional engagements, she, and her companion, alcohol, had her convinced; kicking Craig to the curb was the best thing she had ever done. However, it was on the third night, when her dinner engagement was cancelled and she found herself alone in the apartment that the reality of the situation hit home.
She hated drinking alone.
It was only after she had demolished nearly a bottle of vodka that she decided to go to the club where, with titillated anticipation, she had pushed her way to the bar only to see, with bitter disappointed, that Craig was not there.
Eventually, she managed to get the attention of his colleague who, over the din of the music, gestured at the fire doors at the back of the building.
Elisabeth pushed her way through the crowd, and eventually reached the door. It was with trepidation, that she pushed on the bar handle and swung it open.
Night’s cold, damp air smacked her in the face. The wet brick walls swayed and blended with the blue of a nearby skip. It reached out to her with its big yawning mouth, but she pulled back just in time to tune into the echo of nearby sounds.
She strained to focus, but she didn’t need to, she knew who it was. She recognised his grunts of pleasure, but did not recognise the squealing that accompanied them.
Oh, God. No.
The wall across the alley reached in once more, the music throbbed inside her skull, and the nearby moaning pierced her ears and her brain like an ice pick.
“NO,” was all she could moan, as the gaping mouth of the skip reached up and swallowed her, whole.
A cleaner found Elisabeth the next day. The first blurry image that came into focus was the hairy mole on the woman’s chin as she gaped down at her.
Slowly, as bright daylight registered and the overhung cogs of her brain began to grind, the memories of the night before began to dribble into her mind; a bitter cocktail of dread, sadness, anger and embarrassment.
Elisabeth had to muster every bit of strength, and what remained of her dignity, to crawl out of that skip and on with her life.
A few days later, she began to bleed...
…“ Elisabeth!” Adam was calling to her.
She looked at him.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Stop fussing.”
“It’s just you spaced out. I was calling and you’d disappeared somewhere.”
Elisabeth rolled her eyes. “What does that tell you?”
Adam pressed the intercom button.
Seconds later, they had identified themselves, and were walking through the garden, towards the entrance, as the moon emerged from behind the veil of a rain cloud, and creepily silhouetted the towers, high above them.
They had traveled in the lift for a while before Adam spoke, “So, are you planning on making an effort tonight, or should we expect more of the same?”
Elisabeth let out a short cackle as she admired herself in the full-length mirror. “Are you giving me a pep talk?”
“Yes I am, Elisabeth. It isn’t fair to our hosts.”
She turned on him and said through gritted teeth, “This is my cousin we are talking about. I grew up with him. I love him. I shall be how I please, and you shall stop talking down to me as if I were a child. When I want your opinion, Adam, I shall give it to you,” she said, with flashing eyes and waited for a reaction, but none came.
She sighed and turned back to admiring her slender body in the mirror.
That’s the problem with you, beautifully built with so much promise, but then you leave me wanting. Like a pre-packed chocolate cake; delicious, mouth-watering, but you taste like cardboard.
There was no doubt in her mind; she had settled for Adam. But then, although she’d never admit it, he was the only other man she actually cared about beyond her cousin and, of course, the man who would have been her husband.
She honestly believed that if Adam was just a tad wilder, feistier, more passionate, he actually had the potential to become the future Mr Harrison.
And the fact that she’d even allowed herself to contemplate such a thought was a significant milestone considering that she had sworn off men a long time ago.
This, coupled with the fact that he put up with her whims, didn’t make any demands, listened patiently to the pains of her past, and indulged her in almost everything, actually made her pause for thought. There weren’t many gorgeous men like him that would put up with that kind of shit.
Behind all the bravado, Elisabeth knew this. That’s why each and every time she told him to get out, a part of her, rooted for him to pass the test, to stay and not give up on her.
And so far, unlike Craig, he had not.
The bell sounded and the doors slid open.
Adam rang the penthouse’s doorbell.
Seconds later, a fresh looking girl in a black and white uniform, opened the door and smiled at them.
”Good evening,” she said.
“Hello,” Adam replied.
Elisabeth just pushed passed her.
Behind them, the elevator responded to the press of the call button; it was Jason and Rachel.
He was immaculately dressed in a new black suit whilst she was wearing a cross-back dress to match.
The dress was clingy, and hung temptingly close to her every curve. Her hair was tied loosely into a bun, from which carefully planned strands had escaped, and draped themselves across her eyes and down to her luscious red-coloured lips.
“You look stunning,” Jason said, admiring her. It was the second time he had said that tonight.
“Thank you, kind sir.” she beamed, “you look pretty handsome yourself.”
And he did in his suit, gelled hair and eyes that sparkled in the overhead light.
The disappointment from the event that had taken place in
side the department store, earlier in the day, was still with Rachel, but she pushed it to the back of her mind. She rationalised that it may have been difficult for him to consider both their needs in such a confined space, although she did plan to address this at the right time, but this wasn’t it.
Therefore, she reached over, kissed him on the mouth and then dabbed his lips with her finger, ensuring they were lipstick free.
The elevator arrived, the bell sounded and the door swished open.
They stepped inside, and Rachel derived much pleasure in pressing the button marked, Penthouse, followed by the special pin number Ashley had sent her.
She smiled broadly as the lift began its ascent.
“So, how many other toffee-noses do you think are going to be there tonight?”
“Toffee-nose? They aren’t like that.”
Jason shook his head. “Remind me why we’re going again.”
“Because it’s going to be fun, besides, I’ve never been in a penthouse before.”
“It’s just another apartment. Only bigger,” Jason said, subconsciously checking his looks in the mirrors.
Then, he shifted his weight, admiring one side of his suit and then the other, as Rachel brushed lint from his shoulders.
“Relax,” she said, sensing that he was working himself up. “They are our friends; you aren’t going for a job interview.”
Jason blew air from his mouth as Rachel wondered why he was so nervous.
She hadn’t seen him like this, but then they’d never been to a millionaire’s penthouse before either. It was then that she caught his bug, and the butterflies began fluttering in her stomach.
They are just ordinary people. Ashley isn’t like that anyway, and nor is he for that matter.
Suddenly, the whirring stopped, the lift shuddered and the lights dipped.
“Fuck! What the hell was that?” Jason exclaimed.
“It’s alright, it always does this,” Rachel said brightly.
“What?”
“Don’t worry; it will start again in a sec…”
And sure enough, the whirring recommenced and the light returned.
“See?”
“I’ve never noticed that before.”
“Oh yeah, it’s been doing it ever since I got here.”
“Yeah, well it shouldn’t and they need to fix it,” Jason grumbled, shrugging inside his suit as if his manliness had just been tested.
The bell sounded and the elevator doors opened. In unison, they both took a deep breath and stepped out.
When one of the hired help opened the front door, Rachel’s mouth dropped open.
“Amazing,” she uttered, as they stepped into the entrance lobby, where all of the paintings shone under their respective lights. Above them, the moon beamed through the dome, like a giant searchlight.
They heard talking and laughing as they were led into the lounge, where Rachel suppressed a gasp; the entire opposite wall, a construction of black steel and glass, offered an unprecedented view of the city.
Rachel was awestruck when she walked into Jason’s apartment, but this was something else. Oatmeal rugs, leather sofas, and a granite coffee table that sparkled under the light from the glass chandelier, that hung from a ceiling, that sprouted into two towers, like horns!
To the left of the room, was a small bar, decked out in mahogany, complete with optics. Most of the guests had congregated here, each holding a drink, as the strings of Vaughan Williams filled in any silences.
The Harrison penthouse was an exquisite blend of gothic meets twenty-first century décor.
And it was awesome!
Neither Rachel nor Jason had ever been in anything like it, that wasn’t a public building.
“Hi, so glad you could come,” Ashley said, moving over to the new arrivals, and kissing them on both cheeks.
“Good to see you again,” Rupert said, shaking Jason’s hand and kissing Rachel’s cheeks.
“I, I’m lost for words,” Rachel stuttered, still gawping at the splendour around her.
“It’s alright. Bit ostentatious, if you ask me,” Ashley said. “Come with me, I’ll introduce you to the others, and give you the grand tour, if you like.”
Ashley led Rachel away.
“Wow,” Jason said.
Rupert smiled. “You wouldn’t mind taking your shoes off for me, would you?”
Jason looked surprised but started to comply, “Oh, of course…” he replied, about to reach for his shoes.
Rupert laughed. “I’m only kidding, Jason.” He put his arm around the lad’s shoulder, “Come on, let’s get you a drink. I get the feeling it’ll help.”
Rupert led Jason over to the bar where a barman served him, at his request, a beer.
To relax his guest, Rupert joined him.
Meanwhile, after giving her a brief tour, collecting an orange juice on the way, Ashley introduced Rachel to Julie Emerson who was enjoying the view of the city. Then, she excused herself explaining that she needed to check on the caterers and dinner.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Julie said, gazing out of the glass.
“Absolutely stunning; the view from our apartment is spectacular, but nowhere near as good as this,” Rachel said, peering down at the city.
“You live here?” Julie asked.
“Yes, a few floors down.”
“Wow, you lucky thing. Am I the only person who can’t afford a place like this?”
Rachel smiled, “Well, it’s my boyfriend’s place, really.”
“Oh,” Julie said, knowingly, glancing across the room, “you mean that hunk over there with Rupert?”
Rachel nodded.
“Oh, he’s gorgeous. It’s just my luck isn’t it, three dreamy men in this room and each of them taken. The only available guy is the bartender and,” she leant in closer and whispered, “Between you, me and this column, I think he’s gay.”
Rachel laughed.
“So, what exactly does your Jason do besides looking lovely in that suit?”
“He’s a software developer. He’s just started up his own business.”
“Really? What kind of programs does he write?”
Rachel thought about this and it occurred to her; she had no idea. She said, with a laugh of embarrassment, “I don’t actually know. Finance, I think. ”
“Oh, I like that. As long as he brings in the dough, you don’t particularly care what he does. Girl after my own heart.”
Rachel sipped from her glass and then asked, “How long have you known Rupert and Ashley?”
“Oh, ages now. Since I joined Harrison, and that was many years ago, more than I’d care to remember. They are so good together,” she added, as they watched Ashley slide her arm around Rupert’s shoulder, and say something amusing to Jason.
“Yes, they are,” Rachel agreed. “And he is so down to earth.”
“Oh, he’s wonderful. He’s just the same at the office. You wouldn’t have thought he owned the place. If anything, Ashley seems to be more at the forefront of things. I can’t believe she’s finally decided to move in here.”
“Really? She’s only just moved in?”
“Yes, she’s always had a thing about keeping her own independence but, luckily, it looks like she’s caved.”
“Right,” was all Rachel could say; the similarity between Ashley and her own outlook on independence was not lost on her. Although, unlike Ashley, she had surrendered everything and moved many miles to be with the man she loved.
It was the right decision.
“How about you? How long have you and Jason been together?”
Rachel didn’t get a chance to reply and was grateful, for she suddenly felt uncomfortable verbalising that she’d given up everything to be here.
Ashley asked, “What’s going on over here then?”
“I was just asking Rachel if there’s any chance of sharing her gorgeous boyfriend,” Julie said.
Ashley laughed, “Julie, you are bad.”
<
br /> “Hey, it’s alright for you. You’re not sexually frustrated.”
“And nor are you. You’re just sex mad. Now come on, Elisabeth has already dropped hints that dinner is running late.”
“Ash, remember, whatever you do tonight, please don’t sit me next to her,” Julie said in an urgent, hushed tone.
“What’s it worth?” Ashley teased, leading them away from the window.
“Anything, oh please, Ash, I have enough of her at work.”
Rachel smiled, “Why, what’s wrong with her?”
The other two women exchanged glances.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Ashley said, taking her arm.
The guests filed into the dining room, where a banquet-style table had been downsized, and covered with a pristine snow-white tablecloth. It was adorned by china crockery and silverware.
Overhead, modern tubular lamps hung low, casting pools of light that made the whole table gleam in a haze of brightness.
The seating arrangements had been determined according to custom: boy-girl, boy-girl.
Rupert, at the head of the table, then Ashley, Adam and Elisabeth on one side, with Rachel, Jason, and then Julie on the other.
There was one empty place setting for James.
Rupert explained that Isabella wasn’t in the country, and then joked that she had probably been scared back to Poland after her weekend with them. He then added that James, his lawyer and chum, was hoping to attend, but was running late, would be over as soon as possible, but that they should start without him.
On cue, a duo of waitresses served the entrée: Poppy seed-crusted seared tuna, with ponzu dipping sauce.
The dinner had begun.
45 Discovery
In the Harrison Publishing building, James was dictating the last paragraph of a letter, when the phone rang.
His desk clock told him that he was running late. No doubt, this was Rupert calling to find out where the hell he was, so he picked up the receiver, “Yes, I know, I’m on my way…”
But the call wasn’t from Rupert. It was a long distance call from the United States where, on the East Coast, it was still the middle of the afternoon.
Jerry Blenheim had just got back from a long lunch with some of his buddies. The American asked James if he was sitting down, and proceeded to lay out news that made the lawyer’s stomach turn over.
Unspeakable Page 31
