Whiplash Hotel

by Christine Crean

  ‘Who’s retiring’ she asked Adam ‘he must be someone really important. This is absolutely amazing!’

  ‘About that’ he curled his lip with a little smile looking at her from under his eye lashes ‘It’s my Dads!’

  ‘It’s your what?’ Mild dread at first turned into a full-blown panic attack, once he walked her over to meet his family.

  ‘I can’t believe you didn’t warn me about this’ she smiled through her teeth.

  ‘If I told you, you wouldn’t have come’

  She didn’t need to answer him because he was right. There was no way on this earth she would have gone, had she known what she was about to face. Trying to hide her mild nervous breakdown, she walked shyly behind him.

  ‘Amy, meet my Mum and Dad’

  Adam greeted his mum and dad, shaking his dad’s hand and kissing his mother on both cheeks.

  ‘My oh my, my son did not do you justice. Not one little bit, you are stunning’

  Mr Staunton took both Amy’s hands and kissed her lightly on them both. Alarmed at the gesture, she reddened a little.

  ‘It’s so nice to meet you both’ she gushed not really knowing what else to say.

  ‘Mrs Staunton, you look beautiful’

  Amy beamed at Adam’s mother. She was truly a beautiful woman. Striking black hair to her shoulders with a wide mouth and high cheekbones, she could see now where Adam got his good looks.

  The years had been very kind. She guessed that a surgeon might have had a hand in keeping a few of those years at bay.

  ‘Pleasure, I’m sure’ she nodded without even a smile and turned to her husband ‘Darling, get me a vodka would you?’

  ‘You’ll have to excuse my wife, she doesn’t get out much’ Mr Staunton rescued her by taking her by the arm and taking her away from the cold woman to his left. Adam was not joking about his mother’s drinking. She could really knock them back. Also understanding why he really got on with his father, he was a delightful man. Unfortunately for Mr Staunton but fortunately for Amy, his daughters were not able to be there. She breathed a sigh of relief when Adam’s dad informed her, not sure she could handle any more Staunton women. One was definitely enough.

  The night went very well for Amy, seeing as she had not been out of the house to anything other than a shop in weeks. She found herself chatting away to Mr Staunton’s work colleagues and indeed Mr Staunton himself for a lot of the evening. As Adam would soon be taking over the family business, he had no choice to entertain the guests and staff of the family business. For one day, the responsibility for everything would be on his shoulders. Amy watched him as he said the right things, spoke to the right people and made the perfect speech almost making his dad cry in the process. Adam’s mother on the other hand, didn’t seem bothered by what was being said but was more concerned with the lack of alcohol in her glass. Amy found herself at one stage in the evening face to face and one on one in the ladies, with the queen herself.

  ‘So tell me how did you and Adam meet?’ Mrs Staunton eyed her up suspiciously, as she washed her hands at the marble sinks. Amy could tell that Mrs Staunton had no intention of ever getting to like her and wondered if she looked at everyone the way she was looking at Amy now. She concluded that it didn’t matter who she looked at, she probably looked down her nose at them.

  ‘I met him at work’ Amy answered sweetly not getting into the details of it all.

  ‘Work...right...’ she went to dry her hands on the expensive individual linens lined up at the sink.

  ‘Adam tells me you interviewed him for a job?’

  ‘That’s right, yes’

  ‘Hymph’ she replied not very impressed at all.

  ‘Now, that’s hardly good business acumen is it? Going out with a potential employee?’

  ‘No no, you see he was never going to be our employee. We interview for...’ Adam must not have explained that she worked for a recruitment agency and the only reason she would be interviewing him was for other companies.

  ‘No no! Daaaaarling...no need to explain...I see where you’re coming from. Adam is definitely quite the catch...Don’t be fooled though my love!’

  ‘Sorry’ Amy replied confused. The last thing she needed was an old cow like this giving her grief. She was tempted to ask her if she would like help getting that pole out of her rear end but thought differently when she had a vision of Adam’s reaction. He had been working really hard all night and she wasn’t about to go ruining it on him. Boy, was she tempted to give this stuck up woman a piece of her mind.

  ‘Oh, you don’t know...silly me!’

  ‘Adam’s girlfriend will be back next year so I wouldn’t...how do the young folk say it....’ she was pretending to play dumb ‘go getting hooked on him! Celia is gone to South America for the year working as a doctor and I’m pretty sure they plan on being married this time next year. I thought it was only fair that you should know. He shouldn’t be stringing you along. It’s simply not fair and I can’t watch him hurt you like that’ she lied.

  ‘Is that right’ Amy didn’t even bother to say anything else and walked with as much dignity as she could out to the main hall. She promised herself that she wouldn’t say anything to Adam at least not yet.

  13

  On their way home in the car, Adam smiled continuously. Finally, in a position to take over from his father he felt that he was moving into the next stage of his life.

  ‘My Dad loves you. I better be careful ...’ he chuckled.

  Trying to forget about what Adam’s mother had said to her, Amy's tone was flat and uninterested.

  ‘Yeah, well he’s a great guy. He’s very proud. It must make you very happy’

  He still hadn’t realised that something was amiss.

  ‘Yeah, it does’

  His proud expression said it all. Adam was definitely more than happy to finally take over the family businesses. His family meant a lot to him and that meant taking care of what his father had built.

  ‘I’ll have to spend a lot of time in Dublin and London but hopefully I won’t be gone too much. Dad won’t be gone for another month or thereabouts so it gives us time to do a hand over...he really likes you though. I’ve not seen him react like that before...’

  ‘Oh, really’ Amy thought, not wanting to stir anything. ‘Is that how he reacted to Celia?’ She wanted to ask. Amy knew that Mrs Staunton was looking for a reaction. She didn’t care anymore. That woman was evil she concluded.

  ‘I’m not so sure about your mother, she can’t stand me’ Amy added.

  ‘What are you talking about? She doesn’t like anyone!’

  ‘Ah’ she looked out the window ‘That makes me feel so much better’

  ‘Never mind them. Did you have a nice time? You looked absolutely stunning’ He glanced over at her, still driving ‘The most beautiful girl in the room!’

  ‘Thanks’ Amy could not pretend anymore and wondered why Adam hadn’t even noticed that she had barely spoken to him for the past few hours.

  ‘How are you feeling? I hope it wasn’t too much for you?’

  ‘No, no, not at all’ she lied. She was exhausted.

  ‘I’m sorry for not telling you whose retirement party it was. I really wanted you to be there and I knew that if I opened my mouth, I’d be going by myself!’

  ‘You’d be right’ she replied curtly.

  ‘Huh?’ Adam really was clueless. ‘What’s wrong?

  ‘Oh, nothing’

  There was definitely something wrong.

  ‘Seriously Amy, what’s the matter. You’ve been really quiet for the past hour or two...did I do something wrong?’

  If she wasn’t so annoyed at him for omitting a very important piece of information, she would probably feel sorry for him.

  ‘Well, that’s debatable really!’

  ‘What are you on about?’ he was really confused now.

  ‘Who the hell is Celia? And why in the name of God does your mother believe that she is coming back to you next
year when she gets back from Outer Mongolia or wherever the hell she is?’

  Amy had no intention of keeping quiet any longer. She was taking the bull by the horns. She didn’t quite know why she was getting upset. She barely knew him but since her breakup with Frank she promised herself that she would never tolerate such lies again in any way shape or form.

  ‘Oh, good God!’

  ‘So, she was right then’ Amy crossed her arms and pursed her lips.

  ‘Well, not really....em well no...well I was...’

  ‘Jesus Christ Adam...spit it out. Either you are or you aren’t waiting for her to come back...What’s this then?’

  She pointed from him and then back to herself, annoyed at his indecision

  ‘Am I a little bit of fluff for you to mess around with, until little miss perfect, whom mammy loves by the way, comes home’

  ‘Look Amy I meant to tell you before now but it just didn’t come up. I was with her for a long time. We broke up before she went away and my mother seems to think that we’re still together. I swear I’m going to kill her when I get my hands on her, I really am’

  ‘Chance would be a fine thing’ mumbled Amy sarcastically ‘Whatever... I just don’t like being lied to’

  ‘I wasn’t lying’ he pleaded ‘I just didn’t get a chance to tell you. I admit it looks bad but I promise you there’s nothing to even tell. Honestly’

  Amy didn’t know whether to believe him or not. Was it the fact that his mother really disliked her and wanted Adam to give her the boot or was Adam lying? She didn’t know what to think. Yet again, the previous drama of the past few months had left her distrusting and suspicious. She had every right to be after what had happened but when she met Adam, she thought that this might be the beginning of something special. Maybe she had been wrong. She hated the single game, with its mind games and the pretending. She might be better served to stay single and alone.

  Arriving at the house, Adam helped Amy out of the car. Opening the front door and walking her inside, he sat her down on the couch. She winced as her injured leg hit the ground a little too hard. Noticing that she was in pain, he bent down to take her one shoe off. Cupping her uninjured foot in his hand, she shivered as he used his other hand and traced his fingers by her ankle around her calf and up to her knee. Barely able to hold her composure even though she was still angry at his lack of information, she let out an unsteady breath.

  Helping her to take off her coat, he continued to lay his hands on her bare skin. His hands were cold from the night air but she didn’t care. Her body didn’t seem to notice the cold. He sat beside her, both of them saying nothing. She had dreamed about this, what it would be like with Adam. His face tightened his jaw locking as if all he wanted to do was go for her like a crazy animal. He had a look of want in his eyes. Her heart was about to beat out of her chest. Unable to stand it any longer, both of them kissed each other. The force at which they kissed hurt Amy’s lip. She didn’t care that she was annoyed; she had never been kissed so hard before. It was as if she was the last piece of chocolate on earth. He moved closer again, his body hard and lean against her. She could feel the heat from him coming through his shirt. He ripped his jacket off and went to unzip her dress.

  ‘Ahem’ Sean had been in the kitchen the whole time. Not knowing whether to jump or run.

  ‘Sorry, I’ll just leave you to it’

  He tore past them, wanting the ground to swallow him up whole.

  ‘Sorry Sean, sorry’ Amy gathered her clothes, Adam jumping off her.

  ‘Oh my God, I’m mortified’ Amy squealed.

  Sean didn’t stick around to listen to her. All he had heard was ‘Sorry’. Adam, not knowing why Amy had reacted so strongly, told her not to worry, that it was no big deal. Amy didn’t know why but it was. It was a big deal.

  ‘You should probably go Adam, I’m so sorry’ Amy cried. Hobbling up to get her crutch and nearly falling over the clothes strewn across the floor.

  ‘Please, Adam’ she had to repeat herself, as Adam stood there confused.

  ‘Ok, Amy. It’s ok. I’m telling you it’s no big deal. He was lucky he didn’t see more than he did’ Adam laughed a little.

  ‘He saw too much’ she whispered as she rubbed her forehead with her fingers.

  Walking Adam to the door, she told him goodnight and that she would see him the next day. Still annoyed about what had happened during the course of the evening, she kissed him on the cheek.

  ‘Don’t think I haven’t forgotten about little miss goody two shoes!’ she preached.

  Knowing that she would come around, he flashed her one of his best charming smiles. Very happy with how the evening had panned out in general, he was more than a little frustrated as he hopped in his BMW and was gone. His damn Mother was always waiting, lurking in the shadows ready to pounce and make trouble.

  ‘Jeeeesus’ Amy groaned, locking the door. Annoyed, she nearly tripped going up the stairs. About to go into the bathroom, Sean came out of his room.

  ‘Sorry about that’

  He lowered his eyes to the floor. She couldn’t help but be annoyed. Although, why she was annoyed at Sean, she didn’t really know. He was minding his own business and sitting in the kitchen, not bothering anyone. It was herself she should be annoyed at.

  ‘Don’t worry about it’

  About to keep going forward into her bedroom, she changed her mind and turned to face him

  ‘Although you could have picked a better time’

  ‘I said sorry Amy. What more do you want me to say?’ His eyes flared at her now. She wasn’t the only one who was annoyed.

  ‘Ah, never mind’ he turned around to leave her standing there.

  ‘Don’t walk away from me! What’s your problem?’

  Who was he to be annoyed at her in her own home?

  ‘Seriously Sean, you’re always flippin mad at me for something or other’

  ‘I don’t have the problem’

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?

  ‘It means that I AM NOT THE ONE WITH THE PROBLEM’ he was shouting now.

  She had no idea what he was talking about.

  ‘I’m sorry’ she laughed sourly ‘Clearly it’s you who has the problem. You walk in on me and my boyfriend and you are the one annoyed at me! THAT makes a whole pile of sense’

  Unable to hold back one minute longer, Sean raised his voice and almost ran to her.

  ‘Yes I’m bloody well annoyed Amy. YES I AM. Woopedy FUCKING do! You are so blind’ he spat ‘You are making a massive mistake there and you have absolutely no idea. That guy is looking for an ornament Amy. Something for his arm to take to parties and show off to his rich friends. You don’t know him’

  ‘What? Oh and I suppose you do?’ Amy shouted back at him now.

  ‘I know people like him. He is all business initially. Treats his women perfectly. A proper gentleman with all the trimmings. Six months down the road and all he’ll want you for is to sit there and look pretty. Mark my words Amy. Mark them’ His tone lowered now.

  ‘What do you know about Adam, you’ve met him what…three times now!’

  ‘Well kettle and pot! Seriously, Amy wake up. You are blind to it. You can’t see it. You were hurt so bad before’

  ‘Oh and you are the expert now are you? You can treat women like shit and that’s ok then, is it?’

  ‘Hold on’ Sean interrupted.

  ‘Let me guess. That’s different right’ Amy snapped ‘No it’s not different. You're all the same’

  She was breathless now and her leg hurt from standing up.

  ‘No, we are not all the same’ He cried trying to change her mind. Although he feared there was no use in trying.

  ‘What, Sean?’ she was callous now ‘What’s so different about you then. What’s so great?’ she knew she would regret her words in the morning but she couldn’t help them escaping her mouth.

  ‘One thing’ He thrashed around his room gathering his things throwing them roughly
into a bag.

  ‘Just the one then!’

  ‘Yeah’ he passed by her to get into the bathroom grabbing his belongings and tossing those in with his clothes. One step on the stairs and grabbing his coat he turned to her, his voice low.

  ‘The only difference is Amy’ he took a breath ‘is that I love you’

  He stopped and looked at her.

  ‘I have loved you for a long time. I loved you before you got married, while you were married and after you were married. I still love you…although sometimes God knows why’

  Without another word, Sean stomped down the stairs, threw a key on the hall table and banged the door behind him. He was gone.

  14

  Standing at the top of the stairs, her vision started to blur. She blinked a few times to stop them but the tears rolled down her face uncontrollably. Not three months ago, she had stood in the very same spot after a man had done the very same thing to her. He had left her. This time she felt worse. She had deserved it. Steadying herself with one hand against the banister and lowering herself to sit on the top step, she felt a wave of nausea coming over her. Confused, she wondered how she had not seen this coming. Had she seen this coming? Afraid to answer her own question, she thought back to their few days in Dublin. It had just been a kiss. She didn’t think anything would come of it. Sean of all people would know how that type of thing works. She asked herself if she was being unfair and then dismissed the thought again. For far too long she was carried away with a relationship that she had thought would last forever. She had been wrong. She had been with that one man for ten years. She had given her life to him and he disregarded it like an old newspaper. She deserved to live a little. On the other hand, she thought, Sean was a good friend, her best friend these days. She had been so wrapped up in her grief, that she hadn’t seen what was in front of her eyes. How could she have been so stupid to let it go this far? She had been hurt and now unaware of it, she had inadvertently been hurting someone else. He had just told her that he loved her. Unable to process it, she sat there looking at the door. Did she love him? She was with Adam now. She had been falling for Adam since she met him and now this.