Twelve Days - The Beginning

by Reyner, Jade

  As far as she knew, Vaughn was still single and that concerned her slightly, as she wondered what the reason for that was. Whilst she didn’t know exactly how old he was, she suspected he must be mid thirties and given his looks and money, he surely by now would have been snapped up? On the basis that he hadn’t been, she could only conclude that he wasn’t a forever-type of guy and she needed to realise that if she was going to change her life, she had to do it for herself and by herself. Because she wanted to – not because of anyone else.

  Besides which, she was married. Now even she was beginning to forget that fact.

  Vaughn glanced at her periodically but chose to remain quiet. Heaven only knew what he was thinking. As they turned onto a lighted street, she looked across at the play of light on his face. This was the second time she had been in a car with him and the second time she had been far too distracted by him. This was getting to be a bit of a habit. What had happened to the girl who only a few hours earlier had been planning to have a sensible conversation with him, sort out their differences and press forward with a working relationship, all the awkwardness forgotten? She had left the building – clearly.

  There was no way she was going to feel anything but awkward around him for a while considering that she had just cried more tears into his expensive shirt in one night than she had cried into cheap tissues her entire lifetime. She sighed and turned back to look out of the window. Everything was such a mess.

  After another few minutes, they pulled up outside a small but fairly exclusive looking block of flats. From what she could see in the dark, the building formed a U shape around a central courtyard, the open end of the U being gated. Vaughn pulled into a dedicated space out the front and came around to open her door, helping her out.

  As they approached the gates, she could see that the building was two storeys high. Each side of the U appeared to have two flats on the ground floor and one larger one across the whole of the first floor. She quickly calculated there must be nine flats in total, which corresponded with the numbers on the entryway intercom. Vaughn pressed a code into the keypad beside the intercom and the gates swung open allowing them access into the courtyard.

  She walked forward and stopped in her tracks; even at night she could see that the courtyard was absolutely beautiful. The centrepiece was a large waterfall which ended in a sizeable pond, all contained within a low walled area. Surrounding this were several raised beds with large oriental looking plants and concealed lighting giving the entire courtyard an ethereal quality. The whole centrepiece was encompassed in a stunning pergola which had roses, honeysuckle and clematis climbing all over it. Whoever had designed this courtyard had been clever with their planting; the choice of the three climbers ensured that there were flowers and fragrance most of the year round. At present the clematis was flowering but Elise knew that, come early spring, the honeysuckle would take over to be swiftly followed by the roses in the summer.

  A number of benches were situated at various points in the courtyard and she had to stifle a sudden urge to go and sit on one and just take in the whole ambience. She could imagine that this would be a quiet and peaceful place at any time of the day and really hoped that this wouldn’t be the last time she would ever see it. In her heart though, she knew that it probably would be.

  Vaughn lived at number eight; the first floor flat directly opposite the entrance and he rested his hand lightly on her back as he guided her to the stairwell that led to his front door. Taking a key out of his pocket, he opened the door and stepped aside to allow her to enter.

  The flat consisted of a long hallway that covered approximately two thirds of the length; the first door on the left led to a room that looked like a study. This room didn’t have a window but light was provided by the most stunning roof light, which allowed dappled moonlight to filter through. It gave the room a romantic hue and Elise found herself hurrying back out of the room before she became hypnotised by the imagery.

  The next door on the left of the hallway led to a modern kitchen that appeared to have all the mod cons. There was a large central window which overlooked the courtyard and an island in the middle with a slate worktop over a farmhouse-style cream suite. The remainder of the floor and eye-level cabinets co-ordinated, giving the room an overall cosy feel which Elise really admired.

  Aware that Vaughn was following her on her exploratory tour of his domain, wry smile firmly on his lips, she continued along, determined to see what was hidden behind each doorway. Her fascination with this man knew no bounds and she was shocked at how forward she was being in a total stranger’s home – pushing open doors, walking wherever she chose. Her manners had completely deserted her but Vaughn made no comment, silently following wherever she went.

  There were three doors on the right of the hallway which led to two bedrooms and the bathroom. The bedrooms both had internal connecting doors to the bathroom in the centre, giving the illusion of each having their own en-suite. The larger of these two bedrooms was clearly Vaughn’s and almost as soon as she entered she backed out, a flush of embarrassment creeping through her body at the thought of being caught in his most private space. She heard a low laugh from behind her and realised that her reaction had not been missed – damn him for noticing everything.

  The windows on this side of the flat looked out over the countryside beyond. Elise was surprised to see this given that they were still in the main town of Eastwood. Maybe it was built on the outskirts? She had lost all sense of bearing on the journey and it really didn’t seem important to find out right now.

  At its end, the hallway opened up into a stunning lounge/dining room that had views on two sides, both out onto the countryside beyond. A couple of standard lamps gave some muted light and Elise could make out a pair of functional sofas, a coffee table and a well-sized dining table with six chairs. In between the two windows and on the far side of the wall was a state-of-the-art flat screen television and Elise found herself smiling at the mental image of Vaughn sat here of an evening with the ancient countryside just outside of his door and every modern convenience inside. His home was perfect and it reflected the little that she did know about him. A modern man with old-fashioned values – with the exception of the sanctity of marriage it would seem.

  As they entered the lounge, Vaughn turned on a couple more lights and threw his keys on the table. He gestured for her to sit on one of the sofas and lit a gas flame fire she hadn’t noticed on first inspection. In front of the fire was a huge woollen lounge rug in a rich burnt copper shade, the pile so deep that Elise just ached to slip off her shoes and rub her bare toes into it. The warmth from the fire started to permeate the room and Elise felt herself relaxing a little; this really was a beautiful home and she was alarmed to realise how right it felt just being here.

  “I’m going to get a drink – would you like one, Elise?” Vaughn stood by the side of the sofa expectantly and she glanced at him, realising that he had asked her a question.

  “Huh? Oh sorry – yes please. Whatever you’re having would be great.”

  She watched as he disappeared into the kitchen, admiring the way he moved; the sway of his buttocks encased in perfectly fitting jeans, his strong shoulders, narrow waist and hips, the proud way in which he carried himself. The kitchen adjoined the lounge/dining area via an open archway and it wasn’t long before she heard clinking sounds and he reappeared holding two glasses of what looked like whisky. He passed one to her, their fingers brushing against each other for a second, and her hand lit up in flames at the infinitesimal contact. Tentatively she sipped her drink, pleased to find that it was indeed whisky and a good one at that, perfect for calming her overwrought nerves. Usually she preferred to drink wine but she definitely needed something stronger tonight and mentally she added it to her alcohol intake for the evening, realising that she would now be paying for a cab to get home.

  “Thank you.” She said, indicating her drink. She didn’t know what else to say. Absently, she watched the fl
ames in the fire flickering and dancing, wondering what it felt like to be that completely free.

  Vaughn took a seat on the sofa opposite to her and was silent for a while too, although she could feel that he was watching her. Eventually she looked away from the fire to find his eyes fixed on her face, watching her with an intensity that made her shiver.

  “Elise...” he said “I want to apologise for what I am about to say. I’m sorry, but I just can’t help myself.” he paused, as if weighing his words. When he finally spoke, although she was prepared, his words still shocked her to the core.

  “You are so fucking beautiful and so sexy. I don’t think you realise it. I can’t bear to think of how that bastard treats you. If you were mine...” he stopped, swallowed, and closed his eyes briefly.

  “If you were mine, I would look after you as though my life depended on it. I would never hurt you, never damage your beautiful skin and I would never want to see pain in your eyes. You would be my world and no one would ever be able to hurt you again.” He moved to sit next to her and took her hands between his.

  “Let me help you Elise. Let me help you to sort this out. I don’t understand why you haven’t left that low-life before now but maybe it’s time. Maybe this needs to be a turning point for you – for both of us. We can be good together, I know we can. It’ll be so fucking good.” He whispered as he continued to hold her hands. She saw the intensity and the belief in his words there, in his eyes.

  Elise wanted to believe too. She wanted to believe that it would be that simple but in the end when all was said and done, would it really? How did he know that? They had only just met and they knew next to nothing about each other – how on earth could she justify leaving Dale for someone she knew so little about? Sure they had intense chemistry and she found herself with feelings for him that she thought had long since been buried but what if that were all it was? What if there was nothing left when that burnt out? Where would that leave her then? It was the same questions going round and round in her head and she was beginning to get sick and tired of there being no answer.

  She stood and began to pace the room aware that his eyes were watching her every move, hoping that the movement would bring with it some clarity. As she reached the window, she noticed a small bookcase tucked in the corner and her eyes were drawn to a photo in a silver frame which was sitting on the top. Picking it up, she recognised a slightly younger Vaughn who was laughing into the camera along with Stephen and a very beautiful woman. Stephen? Why on earth would Vaughn have a photo of Stephen?

  It was then that she remembered something he had said earlier that night – that he had been at the club with Stephen celebrating a friend’s birthday. Obviously the two of them must know each other outside of work; another little fact of which she was completely unaware.

  “Stephen,” – she said out loud, “I didn’t realise you knew Stephen – other than from work?”

  Vaughn stood up and walked across to join her, looking at the photo in her hands.

  “Stephen and I go.... way... back” he hesitated, “We’ve been friends for a long time.”

  “Oh ..” she said not really sure of what else to say. Stephen had never mentioned the friendship either, which seemed odd. Why would they not be open about knowing each other? She looked back at the photo. Both men were stunning but so was the woman standing in-between them. She was unbelievably attractive; one of the most striking women Elise had ever seen.

  “This woman,” she pointed to the picture, “she’s very beautiful; she almost resembles Stephen.” The girl had the same blond hair and blue eyes as Stephen’s, very similar to her own in fact, but where Stephen had a typical surfer dude image, the woman was all cool elegance and she looked right at home tucked in-between Stephen and Vaughn.

  “Is she related to Stephen?”

  Abruptly Vaughn stepped away, his face becoming shuttered and closed and for a moment Elise didn’t think that he was going to answer her. Seconds stretched into minutes and the silence thickened. Eventually he spoke.

  “Yes...” he said hoarsely, “his sister, Natalie.”

  The pain in his reply was obvious and Elise registered that this wasn’t a topic that she should pursue and so she replaced the photo and headed back to the sofa. His reaction intrigued her. In the few days that she had known him, she had never felt him less than in control. But a simple photo seemed to have the power to almost bring him to his knees and she wondered what the story was. And if it was so painful, why did he keep the photo? She knew Stephen of course but Natalie? She had never heard Stephen talk about a sister and yet he obviously had one. Who was she? What was she? A skeleton in Vaughn’s closet perhaps? Part of his past? Or maybe his present? But then who was she to judge? She had a whole graveyard lurking in hers.

  Vaughn was by now standing in front of the fire watching the flames and he appeared lost in memories, the shadow of pain that she had seen once before etched onto his features. She watched the glow reflecting on his face as he tried to bring whatever emotion he was feeling, back under control.

  She sat back down on the sofa quietly, almost feeling as if she was intruding on a private moment and crossed her legs, reaching for her glass again. He turned at the sound and his eyes travelled the length of her legs, his face changing almost instantly; a wicked smile forming as her watched her dress slide higher up her thighs when she moved. She nervously tugged at the hem of her dress and Vaughn laughed lightly. Relieved that his dark moment seemed to have passed, she glanced back up at him to find his eyes once again on hers.

  “You haven’t answered me.”

  Elise hesitated; she really didn’t know what to say...It was all just too confusing. The way she was feeling about him, the emotions he seemed to bring out in her, the physical attraction between them, his offer to help her leave Dale – she had no idea what to make of it all. Too much had happened too quickly and she felt like her head was struggling to catch up.

  “I don’t know, Vaughn “she said “You have to understand that this for me...this is a big thing. I’ve been married for ten years and despite our...differences...he is my husband ‘til death do us part. Clichéd, I know, but I didn’t take those vows lightly and part of me still believes that this marriage can work. Dale just needs to get....”

  “He needs to get the fuck out of your life.” Vaughn almost shouted, suddenly angry, cutting off the rest of her sentence. “He doesn’t deserve anything from you, not one single thing and I couldn’t give a shit about your vows! He broke those the moment he first touched you in anger. How far has he gone, Elise? How far?!” His eyes were dark pools of anger, spitting flames at her as he stood above her, dominating her, scaring her. She had been here before – she did not want to be here again.

  “What the hell do you mean?” she shouted back, “Who the hell do you think you are, bringing me here, demanding things, passing judgement on my life and then trying to intimidate me? I DO NOT NEED THIS.” She almost screamed and went to get up from the sofa; to get out of there, to go somewhere, anywhere that she could be alone.

  Vaughn quickly closed the distance between them and knelt on the floor in front of her, placing a gentle hand on her thigh; the heat transferring between them in that one touch, effectively rendering her helpless. He visually calmed himself and took a couple of deep breaths, his eyes imploring her to stay.

  “I’m so sorry. Please. Stay. We need to talk - I need to talk.” he said, “I don’t want to scare you – shit, that’s the last thing I would ever want to do.”

  “Look at me, Elise” he said and gently used his other hand to raise her chin, allowing their eyes to connect.

  “Look at me...” Slowly she raised her eyes to his, “I would never, ever hurt you – I promise that with all my life. I may get angry, but believe me I would never take that out on you. Never. Please believe me.” He ran his hands absently through his hair. “Christ, I am so far out of my depth here, you have no idea.”

  She continued to gaze stea
dily at him, watching as he struggled with whatever it was that he wanted to say.

  “Do you believe me, Elise?” he asked softly and she nodded, realising in that moment that whatever else happened she did trust this man - implicitly. And that scared the life out of her. “I want to be in your life, Elise, and I need to understand. I need to know how far he has gone, how much he has hurt you and what exactly he has done to you. I have to know.”

  Clasping her hands between her knees to stop them shaking, she looked down at the floor, absently noting the weave of his trousers as she tried to work out what to say. She knew that she owed this man the truth – wherever their future lay, it wouldn’t amount to anything unless they built it on truth.

  “He has hit me,” she said quietly, “A lot – but never anywhere visible. Up until Friday he had never done anything in public. I have no idea why he came to the office; I guess that’s something I’ll have to try to work out with him.” She stopped, glanced back up at Vaughn and then dropped her eyes again, her voice even smaller now. “He’s restrained me too. At first I used to fight it but that just hurt more so, now I just let him get it out of his system.”

  It was so hard talking about all of this. If she kept it locked up inside, part of her could almost believe that it wasn’t happening but now, talking about it openly and not just to Cole anymore when he was patching her up, to someone else of her own free will; that suddenly gave it all a life, made it become real and she was amazed at how calm and matter-of-fact she sounded. The numbness inside, her almost clinical delivery of the truth – she guessed that the years of abuse had done that to her and she hadn’t realised quite how accustomed to it all she had actually become.

  On top of her leg she felt Vaughn’s hand stiffen and she could almost feel the anger that he was trying to hold in check.