Freeing Alex (The Alexandra Drake Series)

by Ashley, Sarah Elizabeth

  I pass the time of day with Monica, who now appears to have a new attitude, we actually get along quite well after our initial meeting. She’s told me a little about her job here at Reid’s, how long she’s been here, and that she really likes it. Then I wander around the foyer, taking in the luxury of the place. The public areas are in keeping with the rest of the hotel: it’s sheer and total luxury with sofas and chairs that are so deep and plump you feel like you’re sinking into them. It’s also very calming.

  I pick up a magazine from one of the tables and sit in a comfy soft leather sofa. Flicking through the pages, I’m engrossed in reading about some celebrity who is also divorcing her husband, the trials and stresses that are associated with the life-changing event that divorce is. Even though it’s high profile and by its very nature potentially more stressful than my own, it all seems so amicable. Why can’t Lewis just go away and leave me alone?

  As I read I’m unaware of someone standing behind me. “Hello, Alex.”

  I jump, startled. I know that voice instantly, the bastard. I turn around and I’m faced with the image that constantly haunts me, over and over again, the bastard’s ugly, fat red face. “Lewis, what are you doing here?” I gasp.

  “I’ve come to see my wife, to see if I can talk some sense into her!” he hisses, leaning forward over me.

  “Talk some sense into me, what the hell are you on about?” I’m frightened, I think it shows and I’m sure I flush.

  “Alex, do we really need to divorce? I mean, the marriage wasn’t that broken, was it?” His tone changes, his voice becoming soft.

  He’s delusional if he thinks it wasn’t broken, the guy’s a nutcase. I’ve had panic attacks, episodes, but with very good reason – I’m probably suffering from some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder – but this guy, well, he’s just off the rails! I stand, facing him.

  “Lewis, if you need to speak with me, please go through your solicitor, that’s what they’re being paid for. And anyway, what are you doing in London?” I try to stay calm and be firm, willing new, strong Alex to take charge.

  “I came to see you. I want you back!” he snaps.

  He moves around to face me and sits in the sofa opposite me. “Please come home, Alex, you don’t want all this.” He waves his hand around the hotel.

  “I beg your pardon? What do you mean, ‘I don’t want all this’? What do you suggest I want, Lewis, because in twenty-two years you never actually asked me what I want!” I raise my voice at him. I’m scared to bloody death and would never have spoken like this to him in the past, but I feel stronger, empowered, like something’s kicked in, making me stand my ground against the bastard.

  I stand to walk away but as I turn my back he grabs my arm tightly. “Alex!” He raises his voice. “You’re coming home now!” He’s loud and firm.

  “Let. Go. Of. Me!” I look around, looking for someone, anyone. Someone please see what’s happening, anyone, please. He’s a firm grip of me, I can’t just shake it off. I look towards the security desk and see Roger is back, but his head’s down looking at something on his desk, I need to get his attention. Lewis still has hold of my arm, he’s gripping tight, he’s going to bruise me, oh yes, I know just how hard he has to squeeze to leave his finger marks on my skin. I look at Roger again but he’s still not looking, then I glance at the reception, at Monica. I try to get her attention but a guest steps up to the long counter just in front of her, blocking my view. I look around. Is there anything I can do to get Roger’s attention?

  All of the time Lewis is holding onto me, trying to pull me, to steer me towards the main door, but I stand my ground, pulling back against him.

  “You’re a little conniving bitch, Alex. You’ve got all this cash, cash that I want, but no, you’re going to keep it all to yourself. You haven’t got a fucking clue how to handle this kind of money, Alex, you couldn’t even manage to feed the three of us with the money I gave you, you’re useless. What the hell was your dear Aunt Maggie thinking about when she left it all to you? You’ll lose the lot!” He’s snarling at me, his face is becoming redder.

  “NO, LEWIS!” I shout, in a last attempt to get Roger’s attention. “YOU would blow the lot on your women, I know about your trollops, I know what you got up to when you were away! Well, Lewis, you go back to them and see how far you get with them ironing your shirts – TWICE!” I’m shouting now, but still no-one seems to hear or see, or help.

  He raises his hand and slaps me straight across the face, hard. The sting is instant, intense burning across my cheek.

  “BIG MISTAKE!” I yell as the tears start to fall. People in the foyer are just standing, looking, but no-one comes to help. They’ve just witnessed a big man slap a woman across the face and they’ve all done nothing, what’s wrong with them? Why doesn’t anyone help? “FUCKING. BIG. MISTAKE. You bastard!” I yell. He still has my arm, is still trying to drag me out of the foyer.

  Roger has seen or heard the commotion. He and Thomas run across the foyer, jumping over the low coffee tables and knocking several vases over as they hurtle towards us. Thomas grabs Lewis and pulls his arms behind his back, rugby tackling him to the floor. It’s so quick and in the commotion I don’t see everything. When I turn around I see Lewis face down, being held by Thomas who is comparable in stature to Roger – big! The bastard’s struggling, trying to get free, he’s cursing and calling me all the names under the sun. Lewis is big but he’s not fit, it’s all fat and he’s no match for Thomas. Roger pulls me well away from the scene.

  “Are you okay, Mrs Drake?” He looks at my face, where the blow struck. I’m starting to panic, oh no, not again, I can’t have today written off as well. I think Roger can tell and he kneels down and takes me with him – we’re kneeling on a rug at the edge of the commotion, sort of tucked behind one of the sofas.

  “Deep breaths. Come on, take your time. Breathe slowly and deeply, that’s good.” He’s calm and talking to me quietly and gently. “Good, that’s it.”

  The concierge appears. “Anything I can do?”

  “Call the police, please,” Roger says calmly. “Tell them to make it snappy.”

  I try to look at what’s going on, I think Thomas is struggling to hold Lewis down. I’m still trying to control my breathing.

  “We’ve got him, Mrs Drake, he can’t hurt you now. We’ve got him on CCTV, it’s recorded,” Roger says quietly.

  “Oh,” I say between breaths.

  “That’s it, nice and slowly, look at me… Look at me.” He’s holding my forearms and I’m clutching like mad to his. We’re literally staring at each other. I’m aware of what’s happening and I’m trying to keep it together, I won’t let Lewis ruin another day.

  He points towards his face and breathes with me. “In and out… in and out… Good, that’s really good.”

  I feel myself calming. My face stings, really stings. I raise my hand to my cheek to feel where he slapped me. It’s hot, I bet I’ll bruise, I usually do when Lewis throws the punches and slaps. I’m still kneeling looking at Roger when I see the scar above his eyebrow. I hadn’t seen that before. I try and concentrate on anything other than the commotion behind me. He’s wearing his usual black suit with a black shirt. I can feel his well-developed arms.

  As I turn to look at Thomas I’m aware of blue flashing lights behind me, the police must have arrived. I can hear a further commotion, Lewis yelling to leave him alone. In all the years we’ve been together, all of the times he’s hit or beaten me, I’ve never called the police, he’s never been arrested and I’ve never reported him.

  I’m aware of more shouting. Lewis is yelling, “She’s a fucking bitch, she’s stolen all of my money, this hotel is mine, the old aunt got it wrong, it’s mine, she couldn’t organise a fucking piss-up in a fucking brewery, she’s mad. I couldn’t control her in twenty-two years, she’s barking mad, mad cow, that’s what she is, it’s mine… Mine, she’s mine! Look at her back… God damn you, she’s mine… she’s marked with my ini
tials, she’s mine… I own the bitch, she belongs to me.” The tirade trails off into the distance as, presumably, he’s carted off into the back of a police car.

  Oh my God, he’s lost it, he’ll end up being sectioned. He’s completely and utterly lost it.

  I try to look around but Roger holds me straight. “Look at me, Alex, don’t look anywhere else, just keep looking at me. Breathe… that’s it.”

  I look directly at him, following his instructions. I did what Lewis told me to do for twenty-two years, when he told me and how he told me. If I didn’t, well, half the time the consequences weren’t worth thinking about. Now things are different, my head is telling me so – I’m going to move on, I’m going to start a new life!

  I concentrate on Roger. He’s keeping one eye on me and one on the trouble to the side of us. Suddenly, I hear Anna run through the foyer.

  “Mum… Mum, are you okay? Dad?” She’s next to me, kneeling down. “Mum, oh Mum…” She places her hand on my cheek. I look at her. I’ve still got Roger’s arms but I look at Anna. “It’s okay, sweetheart, it’s going to be okay.”

  James appears behind Anna, “The fucking bastard!” He hisses as he kneels down, “Shit.” James kneels in front of Roger pulling me into a hug, “Oh Alex, baby. I need to go and speak with the police, will you be okay for a minute or two?”

  I nod, “I’ll be fine, I think.” I shake my head, a little bewildered I think.

  “You’ll be fine with Rog. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Okay?” He kisses my forehead lightly before slapping the top of Roger’s arm and making his way back to the police officers.

  Anna looks so shocked, “Look at you!”

  “Sssh,” Roger says to Anna. “Your Mum can look later, let’s keep it calm.” He looks at her from the corner of his eye, his eyebrow raised, his look says it all: Don’t say another word.

  “Has James gone to get Katie?” I whisper, slightly confused with the commotion.

  “No, he’s here, he’s talking to the police. I’ve phoned Katie, asked her to wait, told her we’re running late. She’s okay.” Anna waves her phone around.

  “What’s James saying?” I start to panic again.

  “Alex. Look at me, at me. Don’t worry about James, he can look after himself. Look. At. Me,” Roger says, bringing my attention back to him.

  “Anna, will you go and get your mum some water, please.” He sends Anna off, out of the way. Bless her, she’s never witnessed her dad in a rage, we’ve always managed to keep her sheltered from it.

  I’m aware that the commotion has died down behind me, although Roger insists that I continue to look at him.

  “He’s gone,” Roger says, still focussing on me. “Do you want to sit now? I don’t know about you but my knees are killing me.” He laughs.

  “Mine too… Please, I’d love to sit.” I like Roger, he looks like he could be dangerous but clearly behind that Action Man exterior there’s a big softie, certainly one that can take control of a situation. He stands and helps me up, not that I need any help. He continues to hold my arm and guides me over to a vacant sofa. I sit and place my hand on my cheek.

  “I’ll get some ice for that,” he says as Anna returns with a glass of water, which she hands to me, and he leaves to get some ice.

  As I sip the water I see James and Thomas speaking with two police officers. There’s no sign of Lewis, hopefully he’s locked up! James is pointing over towards me and the officers nod; from their body language I can sense that they’ll be over in a moment or two.

  “How’s my face?” I look at Anna and she winces at me, that bad?

  “A bit red, I’m sure it’ll be fine. The ice is here.” She takes the ice, which Roger has wrapped in a napkin, and holds it to my cheek. It stings and feels huge, although I don’t expect for one minute that it is.

  “Will I have a black eye?” I ask them both.

  Roger shakes his head. “More your cheek than your eye, but I think you’ll have a nice bruise. Hold the ice on it. Have you got any arnica or witch hazel?” He looks at Anna. What a thing to ask!

  “Arnica?” Anna questions.

  “Yeah, Arnica – excellent for bruises, used to use it all the time. It’s a natural thing but it’s always worked for me!” He’s clearly trying to distract me, make random conversation.

  “No.” Anna looks at me. “Never heard of it. Have you, Mum?”

  “Umm, sorry, Anna.” I am momentarily distracted as the two police officers walk towards me.

  “Arnica, Mum? Or Witch hazel, do we have any, have you ever heard of it?” She’s impatient, I think she feels the effects her dad has had on me. Not only is she witnessing his outbursts first hand, he’s also caused the delay in the collecting of her friend.

  “No, sweetheart, I don’t have any, but I have heard of it. It’s good, we should keep some in. What about Katie, can someone else fetch her? Roger, can you arrange it, please? Anna’s friend is waiting at Euston to be collected. Whoever goes will have to take my Audi, that’s what Katie’s been told to look for.” I’m rambling, my coping mechanism, organising everyone.

  “I’ll go,” he says. “Thomas will have to stay, the police will probably want to speak with him as he’s the one who restrained that motherfucker.” He shakes his head. “You know, Mrs Drake, I would never have had you as putting up with some arsehole like that!” Roger smiles.

  I return his smile, but he doesn’t know the whole story, the fact that I felt I couldn’t leave, the feeling of hopelessness and of being trapped.

  “I’ll go and get your friend. What’s her name?” He looks at Anna.

  “She’s Katie. She’s the same build as me but dark, her hair’s almost black, she’ll probably be wearing a shabby denim jacket and jeans.” Anna describes Katie perfectly: scruffy!

  “You won’t miss her, Roger, I’m sure. She’ll probably find you, knowing Katie. Bring her back here once you’ve got her, they’d planned on going shopping – you are still going, Anna?” I ask.

  “Will you be okay if we do?” Anna sounds concerned and shaky.

  “Anna, I’ve got all of these people around me and your dad’s been carted off by the police. I think I’ll be fine, don’t you?” I frown, shaking my head.

  She sighs. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

  “I’ll get off, then. Does James have the keys?” Roger asks.

  “Yes, and thank you.” I look at Action Man, who has brushed himself down, straightened his suit and frankly looks like nothing has happened.

  “You’re welcome.” I watch him walk over to James and the two police officers. They exchange a few words and James backslaps Roger before he disappears out of the building. I continue to watch James, Thomas and the police officers. Anna is gently holding my hand.

  “Will they want to speak to you?” she asks quietly.

  “I’m sure they will.” I’m trying to stay calm, to pull myself together.

  “What will happen to Dad, will he go to prison?” she asks.

  “I don’t know, sweetheart, and honestly, I really don’t care as long as he leaves us alone.” And it’s true, I really and truly don’t care. He’s hurt me again and this time publicly, I can’t hide it now, but more to the point, neither can he. It truly is out in the open, for the whole wide world to see what an absolute bastard he is.

  Sure enough, James is heading towards us with the police officers, one male and one female. The man looks friendly and approachable, she looks the complete opposite, hard.

  “Mrs Drake,” the female officer says.

  “Yes.” I stand.

  “No, stay seated, you’ve a nasty bruise developing. Do you need to be checked out at the hospital?” Maybe she’s not so hard after all.

  “No, I don’t think there’s anything broken, just a bit sore.” I place my hand against my cheek.

  “Maybe not, but it looks like you got a fair whack, I would be happier if we ruled out any concussion,” she says.

  I sigh. “I really don’t wa
nt to go to hospital.” New, strong Alex emerges. “I’ve plans for today and I don’t want to change them, really, I’m fine.” I’m firm. I will not have that bastard ruining any more of my plans or my life.

  “Plans?” James sounds surprised.“What plans?”

  I shake my head again. What it is with all these people, do none of them want me to get on with my life? “I need to sort a new car out!” I snap at James. “You said you would come with me, help me!” I look at the Bossman.

  “Oh Alex! Be sensible, I don’t think you should be walking around looking at cars today, not after what’s just happened.” He sounds cross and probably thinks I’m a bit deranged too.

  “But I’d planned…” I say through gritted teeth. I feel like I’m behaving like a spoilt child, but I wanted to go out today, with James, I wanted to sort a new car out. For once in my life I feel like I’m not having to answer to anyone, yet Lewis is still ruining everything. I feel the tears well, I can’t stop them, I don’t want to stop them.

  “My day’s been ruined again,” I splutter through the tears. “When will he understand that we’re no longer together, he has to leave me alone!” I wipe the tears away with the back of my hand, I must look a mess.

  “Your colleague’s told us who it was and a brief outline of what’s been happening, but we will need a written statement from you. Can you do that for us now?” The male officer sits opposite me.

  “I suppose so,” I grump. It’s not their fault, I know.

  I spend the next hour and a half giving my statement to the male police officer with the kind face. He’s patient and asks relevant questions as he goes along, his note-taking appears meticulous. Once he’s finished with me he thanks me and spends the next half an hour with Thomas, taking what I assume will be a similar statement of the events surrounding Lewis’s outburst.

  There are several witnesses, particularly from the point where Lewis hit me. Prior to that it appears that we blended in with the crowd and little attention was paid, which is a great shame as if anyone had seen us before that point they would have seen that Lewis had hold of me before he hit me. James assures me that the CCTV recording has been checked and the whole incident, from the moment that Lewis walked into the hotel, is recorded and will be handed to the police.