by Emma York
I stood up again and was about to put my hands on her when someone knocked on the door. “Food’s here,” she said quietly.
“Don’t move,” I replied, crossing to the door and opening it just enough to allow Carl to glare in at me. “One spag bol and I hope you choke on it.”
“I love you, Carl,” I replied with a smile, taking the tray from him. “Why don’t you take the rest of the night off?”
“You’ve never given me the night off.”
“You’ve never poisoned me. I think you need a reward for that.”
He turned away and I kicked the door closed, seeing Jodie hadn’t moved a muscle. I set the tray down on the bedside table before fetching the dressing gown from its hook, wrapping it around her shoulders. Much as I wanted to see her eat naked, I also wanted her to be comfortable.
“There’s only one,” she said, looking down at the tray.
“I only eat my own spag bol. I make an amazing one. Come on, eat. You said you were hungry.”
She sat at the dressing table with the plate in front of her. I sat to one side and watched her consume it. It was more erotic than stripping her, watching her enjoying her food.
I could have cut the tension with a knife yet I hadn’t said a word since she’d started eating. Every now and then she would glance up at me as if seeking approval. I’d give her a slight nod and she would continue.
Once she was done, she turned away from the plate, her eyes slightly glazed. “Carb coma,” she said, yawning loudly.
“You should get some sleep.”
“I don’t want to, not yet I mean. What if Gwyneth is still looking for you?”
“I can handle her. Listen. I’m going to be honest with you. I want you to stay longer than a week.”
“What?”
“I want you to stay with me permanently. Never go home.”
“Oh, Mr Stempel. I can’t. I’ve got people relying on me out there. I can’t just vanish forever.”
“I understand.” I got to my feet, crossing to the door. “I should go.”
“No, wait. You don’t get it. It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s-”
“Too big a question for this late at night. Thank you for a wonderful evening.” I kissed her, softly and slowly. “Good night, Jodie.”
I closed the door before she could say anything else. I’d scared her, I could tell. I wasn’t even sure why I’d mentioned it. I could have just kept her after the week was done, not give her any say in the matter.
With so many people working for me, word would get out that I’d kidnapped a woman. My philanthropic man of the people credentials would take quite a battering over that. The deal would fall through. It wasn’t worth it.
Better to get the paperwork signed. Then when Tomlinson couldn’t back out, I could do what the hell I wanted with her.
Taking my time would make it all the more enjoyable when I finally did it. She’d already let me strip her naked. Once I showed her what life was like with me, she’d be begging to stay.
“Nick,” a voice said as I crossed the landing. I turned to see Gwyneth at the top of the stairs. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“Listen, it was worth it.”
“What?”
“The painting. I know what you’re going to say but it was worth it.”
“I had no idea you were so shrewd.”
It was my turn to look confused. “About what?”
“Spending that much to get Tomlinson’s attention.”
I might have been imagining it but she sounded annoyed rather than pleased. “He heard then?”
“He’s so happy he’s brought the meeting forward to noon tomorrow. You’ve personally helped his fundraising efforts quadruple expectations.”
“Noon tomorrow.”
“I thought you’d look more pleased. You’ll be able to get rid of her sooner than expected, get back to business as usual. No more pretending to be a nice guy.”
“I guess so.”
I didn’t feel happy about it. I should have done. Something had changed in a very short space of time. Before Jodie had arrived, all I’d wanted was the deal to be done with, she was just a means to an end.
Now things had changed. The contract had said she would get paid a million but must never speak of what happened here and must never contact me again.
I didn’t want that anymore. I wanted her to stay with me. She had already rejected the idea. For now.
I didn’t sleep for a long time and the next day I was still groggy when Tomlinson arrived just after eleven. “You’re early,” I said, draining my fifth coffee of the morning.
“I couldn’t wait. I needed to thank you personally. You’ve made such a difference to so many people’s lives.”
“You appear to have a cat basket with you.”
“This? This is Mopsy and Flopsy. Your new pets.”
I frowned. “I don’t remember ordering any new pets.”
“The shelter? You said you could take a couple in.”
“I did say that. Gwyneth!”
She appeared in the doorway of the study. “Yes, Sir.”
“Take these cats and make them happy. Play with them or something. Get them some kind of cat sized house.”
“Of course, Sir.” She took the basket from Tomlinson and headed back out of the room.
“A hundred million,” Tomlinson said, shaking his head. “I never knew you were such a Flambert fan.”
“I thought it looked pretty. Plus it’s all for a good cause.”
“You know he painted it on the land I’m selling.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Mount Cragger. He carted the paints, the canvas, everything up to the top with a tiny little tent, stayed up there two weeks while he painted it, worked in the dark night after night, looking down at the lake. Isn’t that incredible?”
“I suppose it is.”
“That’s why I’m selling you the land. Flambert could walk up there today and the view would be exactly the same as when he painted it in 1821. Isn’t that an amazing thought? I want it to be untouched and I know it will be with you. You’ve proved that to me. If you want to know the truth I wasn’t sure if you’d really changed but after last night I think the old Nicholas Stempel is dead. Long live the decent human being you’ve become.”
“I’m not sure I deserve that much praise.”
“A hundred million is worth a word of thanks. Just promise me you’ll look after the land, Nick. It means a lot to a lot of Flambert fans and to all those people looking for a bit of peace up the top of a mountain.”
“Of course I’ll look after it.” The words rang hollow and something new entered my mind for the first time in years. An emotion I thought long dead. Guilt.
ELEVEN - JODIE
I woke up late and the first thing I did was think I was back home. It was a strange feeling and like yesterday, it took a few seconds to remember where I was. That was where I’d eaten the spag bol last night with him watching me the entire time. I’d never felt under such scrutiny and I had wondered what he was thinking while he watched.
That spot was where he’d undressed me. Just thinking about that made me shudder. His hands running down my body, the kisses he’d planted on me. I’d been so sure he would go further but then nothing.
Was it my fault? He’d asked if I would stay longer than a week and my instinct was to scream yes. Almost at once the more rational part of my brain kicked in. Say no. He’s only using you for what he wants.
I doubted he meant it anyway. It was just his way of being nice to me. He couldn’t want me that much, he just wanted to sleep with me.
Would that be so bad though? My first time would be with a billionaire. It’d certainly be a good story to tell Annie when I got back.
I headed downstairs when I was dressed. The gown was where he’d left it, pooled on the floor. What would the dress agency think if they saw it looking like that?
I went hunting for the kitchen
, hoping to find Carl and get a cup of coffee out of him. I managed to get lost again, pushing open one identical door after another. The corridors all looked the same. They were filled with statues and potted plants and paintings by long dead artists of long vanished landscapes.
I pushed open yet another door and found somewhere I recognized. It must have been a servant area as the walls were plainer, the carpet thinner. I could hear someone talking so I thought if I wasn’t going the right way, at least I’d be able to get directions back to the kitchen from whoever was down there.
The closer I got, the more clearly I could hear. The voice belonged to Gwyneth and she was obviously talking to someone on her phone. She would pause while the other person spoke and then continue. What was she saying?
“If it doesn’t then this whole thing has been a huge waste of time. What do we do, just wait for the old age pension?”
Pause.
“Good.” She laughed. “We split it fifty fifty like we agreed. I just can’t believe Tomlinson fell for it.”
Pause.
“He’s a naive old fool, that’s why. Did he not wonder why we were buying it?”
Pause. “
Of course we’re going to drill for oil. What does he think protection is worth? Who buys land and does nothing with it? As if anyone cares about Mount Cragger. Bit of old rock, that’s all it is. You’d think he’d at least be a bit suspicious but nothing. The man’s a grade A moron.”
I backed slowly down the corridor. I didn’t want to hear anymore, nor did I want her to realise she was being listened to. So that was what this deal was. Mr Stempel was buying land from Mr Tomlinson and by the sounds of it, he was going to exploit the resources of Mount Cragger.
He must have known that was where Moonlight on Water was painted. Was that why he bought the painting? Trying to assuage his own guilt about what he was going to do to the place where it was painted? Tomlinson clearly knew nothing about that part of the deal.
Guilt and shame rose up in me as I backed down the corridor and through the first door I found. I was in the main entrance hall of the house and here I stopped. I had helped. That was the part of this that overwhelmed me as I stood there. I had made Mr Stempel look good and been part of this whole scheme.
That left me in the middle of a huge dilemma. I either kept my mouth shut, continued with the contract, earned my million. Or I walked away, refused to be any part of something so underhand.
It was one thing to pretend Mr Stempel was a decent human being. I’d made the mistake of thinking he was one under the shell of arrogance and anger. Finding out he had done this with his secretary’s help? That was something else, that was beyond the pale. I couldn’t stay. It might be a million pounds but I couldn’t continue to lie, not after what I’d heard, not now I knew the truth about the whole plan. Exploiting land was bad but exploiting an honest man into selling land for a lie was much worse and I would be worse still if I remained involved.
I could hear Mr Stempel in his study. He was on the phone, presumably still talking to Gwyneth, laughing about my gullibility alongside Tomlinson’s.
I was going to tell him I was leaving. I would at least do him that courtesy. I walked into the study without knocking but before I could say anything he started talking. “Ah, Jodie, I’m glad you’re up. You’ll be happy to know the deal is done.”
“I see you’re happy about it,” I said, keeping the emotion out of my voice.
“Very happy.”
“Now the contract is over I wondered if you’d had time to think about my offer? Would you be interested in staying here longer?”
“No thank you,” I said coldly. “I think it’s time I go home.”
“I thought you’d been evicted.”
“The lock was changed. That’s not the same thing.”
He frowned, looking at me differently. “Well, if you’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“I’ll have Michael take you home.”
“Fine.”
“Then I guess this is goodbye.”
“I guess it is.”
This was his chance to tell me the truth. He knew I was waiting. I could tell by looking at him. He said nothing. I turned and left, not looking back.
The car was already by the front door when I stepped out. He’d obviously already arranged it. To have the audacity to ask me to stay after what he’d done? I couldn’t believe that. As if I’d stay with someone who intended to ravage a landscape I loved.
He knew how I felt about the place. We’d talked about it in the car on the way back from the auction for long enough before his hand had begun wandering up my leg. He had even suggested taking me up Mount Cragger sometime, going climbing together.
It was all a tissue of lies. The real him was the man who’d lied to me, who’d lied to Tomlinson. Clearly, all he was interested in was money. Well, it would be his companion forevermore and I hoped they were happy together.
His driver dropped me off in front of the apartment block. I thanked him before heading upstairs.
Luckily, Annie wasn’t working and was laid on the sofa, a book in her hands. “You’re back early,” she said as I walked in. “ I thought you were away for a week.”
“You should lock your front door, you never know who might walk in.”
“A woman who looks like she’s got the weight of the world on her shoulders. What the hell happened?”
“It didn’t work out?”
“So the money you were going to get?”
I shook my head.
“Only Ryan’s still asking for it.”
“Oh.”
“Come on, Jodie. This isn’t like you. Where have you been?”
I told her a condensed version. I saw no reason to keep back anymore. When I was done she was silent for a moment before getting to her feet. “I think I should put the kettle on.”
When she came back, she brought two mugs of coffee with her. “What’s to stop you taking the million? You did your part and you might as well do some good with it.”
“Well, I just breached the contract by telling you.”
“Who’s to know. Why not go see his lawyer? Tell him you want your money or you tell this Tomlinson guy the truth about his plans to drill for oil.”
“But it’s dirty money.”
“So? You can do so much good with it. I know he lied to you but we’ll never get another chance like this, Jodie. It’s either that or you’re homeless and jobless and then what?”
“All right,” I said, putting a hand up to silence her. “I’ll go see the lawyer but I’m not saying I’ll take the money. He didn’t even mention it when I left. What’s to stop him lying about that as well? I’ve no proof of anything.”
“You’re thinking too much. Here’s twenty quid. Get a cab to the lawyer’s. Want me to come with you as back up?”
“I’ll be all right.”
I made it to Senior and Senior an hour later. “Have you made an appointment?” Richard’s secretary asked when I reached his office.
“No, I just want a quick word with him.”
“I’m not sure he-”
“It’s all right, Rachel,” Richard called out from inside the office. “I’ve got time. Miss Harris, what can I do for you?”
“I wanted to talk to you about the contract,” I said, walking through the open door to his private office.
“Ah yes. I heard. You walked out before the seven days were up. You get nothing.”
“I get nothing?”
“We paid your bail and you had a free stay at a mansion. You should be grateful for that.”
“But the million? The company I was going to set up? He promised me.”
“I don’t know about any verbal promises. They’re generally not worth the paper they’re not written on. Here, take this.” He reached into his wallet and handed over three twenty pound notes. “Do me a favor and don’t come back here anymore. I’d hate to have to get security involved.”
&nb
sp; I glanced down at his desk. It looked like a map of Mount Cragger laid out in front of him. “Already making plans for the place,” I said, ignoring the notes and turning away.
I didn’t know why I’d come but I couldn’t fight a high priced lawyer or a billionaire. I’d been outplayed on every level.
Annie was waiting for me when I got back. “How did you get on?” she asked.
“I get nothing. He screwed me.”
“From what you said, that seems to be the only thing he didn’t do.”
“That’s not funny.”
“Hey, never mind. Don’t worry about it. Something will show up.” The doorbell rang as she said it. “There, I told you. You wait there and that’ll probably be a check for a million just in time to save your bacon. I’ll go down and get it.”
TWELVE - NICK
I delivered the painting myself. It was a gift to her and she was going to keep it whether she wanted to or not.
I had been so sure she’d say yes to staying. I needed to know what had made her change her mind.
I didn’t get chance to tell her about Tomlinson’s land, about how I was going to rename it after her. I wanted to take her up the mountain, sit and look at the view with her by my side.
I didn’t care about drilling for oil anymore. I cared about making her happy.
I wanted so much more than that. I wanted a family with her. I wanted lots of babies and a marriage and a life together. All that wasn’t easy when she’d run from my house without even telling me why she couldn’t look at me properly anymore.
It felt quite strange driving from my house to her apartment with a hundred million pounds worth of art spread across the back seat. It had only just fitted in and every bump in the road made it judder in place, knocking a few hundred thousand off the value.
I parked outside and looked up at her place. It wasn’t the roughest area of the city but it also wasn’t where she deserved to live. She’d left before I even had chance to arrange paying her the million. It was like she’d suddenly become disgusted with me and I needed to know why.
I hit the bell but there was no response. I hit all the bells. Someone had to be in.
