by V, Krissy
I check my phone and see a few texts from Caleb and one from Felix. I read Felix’s text first.
“Babe I’m sorry about last night, I was being totally selfish and you looked so beautiful, I’m sorry”
I don’t know how I feel about that. I don’t want to think about Felix right now, I’m so confused. I read Caleb’s texts.
“Tasha are you ok? You didn’t return after I spoke to you; please let me know you are ok!”
“My Angel please let me know you are ok, I won’t sleep until I hear from you”
Surely he knew I wouldn’t be able to text him last night, it was far too intense between me and Felix.
“Tasha, please!” That last one was sent at 5am this morning.
“Caleb I hope you did go to sleep, I wasn’t able to send a message last night, things were a little intense. When I came out of the toilet he was looking for me because a client had told them they were not going to work with them again”
“Oh my god Tasha you don’t know how happy I am to hear from you. I was so worried about you and I had no other way of getting hold of you. I’m so glad you are ok. You are Ok aren’t you?”
“Yes I am ok Caleb, honestly. I was in pain last night but I’m ok now after a good nights sleep. Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me anything Tasha, I’ll always be honest with you ;-)”
“Were you the Client?”
“Yes I was, I hope that didn’t cause you anymore trouble but I couldn’t work with someone who treats a person the way you were treated. Yes, it did make a difference that it was you, but I would have done it to anyone. Are you mad with me?”
“No, I know you were looking out for me and I appreciate it. Thanks Caleb”
“Anything for you Tasha! I have a meeting now so I’ll catch up with you later. I know you have your check up later today, please let me know how you get on, my interest in coffee is depending on it ☺”
“I’m sure you’re a stalker ☺”
“Ha ha good luck”
I can hear Mum moving around, so I carefully climb out of bed and go down stairs. Mum asks questions about last night while she is making coffee and breakfast. I’m tempted to say something, but I know she won’t believe me.
Soon it is time to go to the hospital, Mum drives us in my car and then we go and wait in the clinic. Mum insists on coming into the check up with me, the doctor asks me to remove my top so that he can examine my bruising. I do as he says and just stare at the wall. It’s the same doctor that I had when I stayed overnight, I can feel that he wants to say something to me but doesn’t because Mum is there. Good I don’t feel like talking anyway. After he finishes the examination he tells me to get dressed, he says that I can go back to work but my ribs will be painful for another few weeks. He bandaged the ribs up and showed me how to ensure that the bandages were tight enough to keep the ribs from hurting.
I have to go back in two weeks for an xray and another check up, but I’m just happy that I can go back to work. The doctor asks to see me for a few minutes on my own, Mum says she will wait outside for me.
“So Natasha, how are you managing? Have you found it hard to do things?” he asks.
“Some things have been a bit difficult but I’ve had help. I went to a work function last night and when I was dancing I pulled my ribs a little, the pain was quite bad, but I had my pain killers to hand.”
“Hmm you don’t want to be taking the pain killers for a long time either, I want you to reduce the amount of times you take them in a day, if you can and see how you get on. How’s the situation at home? Any better?”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean doctor” I’m being coy because I’m not ready to talk about it.
“Ok Natasha, do you still have the numbers I gave you?” he asks. I nod “Good, now I’ll see you in two weeks ok”
I stand and shake his hand “Thank you doctor, I appreciate all the help you’ve given me” I turn and walk out the door to my Mum.
We get in the car and then head towards home. “So Tasha I suppose that means I can go home today, I get the feeling though that I’m still needed, what do you want me to do?” she looks at me, she’s very intuitive.
“I’d like you to stay tonight and then we can go home and see Dad and have lunch together. All of us” I don’t want her to go yet. I need my Mum.
“That sounds like a good idea sweetheart, I’ll ring your Dad when we get to yours and make sure he buys in stuff for lunch” she’s smiling so I know she’s happy.
We have lunch when we get home and Kammie rings to say she is on her way over. She didn't make it the other day when we went shopping. I hope she has some gossip for us, I can't wait. It will take the spotlight off me for a while.
I ring Felix to tell him how the check up went, and also to tell him Mum is staying the night and then we will have lunch when we take her home. He seems to be ok with that, we talk about the weekend and what we will do with the rest of the time. Next, I text Caleb to let him know that I'm ok and going back to work.
“Hey just letting you know that I'm going back to work on Monday. I'm bandaged up but able to move around ;-)”
“That's great news! Maybe we will get coffee one day. How are you after last night? How's the pain?”
“The pain isn’t too bad, I just needed the pain killers last night and I slept well. My friend is on her way over to have a gossip and a laugh, so that is great therapy in it’s self”
“Just don’t laugh too hard it might hurt! I’m glad you can go back to work on Monday Tasha, really I am”
“Thanks Caleb me too. She’s here now so I have to go. Talk to you later??”
“I’d talk to you all day if I could Tasha. Talk later x”
Did he just put a kiss at the end of his text? I hope he’s not reading too much into this. Am I leading him astray? Should I stop texting him? It’s good to talk to someone who is impartial to Felix, although I’m sure Caleb is slightly biased. I need to think about what I’m doing with Caleb, I’ll think about it later!
Kammie walks into the kitchen and sits herself down, “Any tea going?”
“Make yourself at home Kammie” I laugh. She chuckles too and Mum stands up and pours her a cup of tea.
When Mum sits down she looks at Kammie and says “Sooooo, any news or gossip Kammie?” typical Mum to get straight to the point.
“Well I met Luca the other day for a drink and we talked about a lot of things, we also talked about you and Felix telling us that we couldn’t’ take our relationship any further because it could have implications down the line if we didn’t work out. I like him though and I know he likes me. I sometimes wonder whether we would be able to make it work or not.” She sighs as she obviously isn’t happy.
“Ah Kammie that is bullshit, if two people like each other then they should be together, never mind what will happen in the future. We are all adults and can deal with break ups and friends hanging together, I think you two should be together, you are both amazing people and just imagine what you could have, don’t pay attention to what Felix and I said to you all that time ago, we didn’t have the right to keep you and Luca apart” I say as grab her hand and start rubbing it.
“Yeah Kammie I have to agree with Tasha on this one, you both need to stop being scared of any kind of commitment and take one day at a time. You make a perfect couple, just like Felix and Tasha.” I take my hand away from Kammie and look at the floor. I can’t look at either of them.
“Yes Kammie, you look like a perfect couple.” I stand up and make my way over to the coffee machine to pour another coffee just so that I can avoid her eyes, which I know are searching and understanding there is a problem with Mr. and Mrs Perfect. Kammie knows me too well to not see that there is something wrong. I look at her then and hope she knows not to say anything in front of Mum.
"Well we did have a good night the other night and I did get a goodnight kiss that absolutely blew my socks off" she laughs.
"
Ah! So there is more to this story!" Mum says. "You know if it's meant to be then it will happen. Fate is something you can't avoid. I believe whole heartedly in fate, you know that Tasha don't you?"
I nod, that's twice I've heard about fate this week. "Yeah you certainly do Mum" I smile at her. I know she met Dad when she bumped into him on the street and his papers blew away. That was fate intervening! Maybe there's more to this fate thing than I think.
We sit and gossip for another couple of hours and then Kammie has to go, I walk her to the door and she takes me into a hug and says "You look very unhappy Tasha and I know there's something wrong with you. Luca told me to keep a close eye on you, that he has been worried about you since the accident. I can see what he means! We need a night out or a night in together, just us girls. Let me know when suits" she kisses me on the cheek and then disappears out to her car.
"Yeah Kammie I'll arrange something" I shout after her.
I close the door and walk back to Mum, who is preparing dinner for us. I hear my phone beep and check my messages.
“Hi Tasha, how are you now?”
“Hi Caleb, I'm good, my friend just left so I've had a good afternoon”
“That’s great, you need something to make you smile. You looked so unhappy last night and I just wanted to sweep you up and take you away x”
“Thanks but I'm not that light LOL”
“I'm sure I could lift you easily my Angel”
“Hmm we'll see about that ;-)”
“I'd definitely like to try!”
“Ok this is not where I envisaged this conversation going. I hope I'm not encouraging you too much. You know my situation!”
“Tasha, unfortunately I DO know your situation and I don't like it but I want to be your friend. Yes, I think you are the most beautiful creature who ever walked or fell into my life, but more than that I want to be your friend”
“Wow, that's good because I want you to be my friend too. I love getting your messages and being able to tell you anything. Caleb, I want to thank you for helping me through to this terrible week ;-)”
“Anytime Tasha anytime. I hope you don't have anymore weeks like this one but I'm here if you ever need anything ok?”
“Thanks Caleb, thanks so much. You make me want to cry you are so nice to me”
“I'd like to be nicer to you ;-) but I know that's not where you want to go. I'll settle on just knowing you!”
I don't reply to that because I'm not 100% sure that I don't want it to go that way and I'm married and I shouldn't be thinking like that.
My phone rings and I look at the number, it's a number I don't recognise. I answer the phone and it's Helen about the Administration Manager’s job with Blue Eye.
"We were really impressed with your attitude to work particularly under the circumstances and we would like to invite you in to meet our CEO Mr. Hunt on Friday at 8.00am" she says.
I need to take a breath. This is the job I really want and they want me to meet their CEO wow! “That’s great news, yes of course I’ll be able to meet Mr. Hunt, I’d be delighted. Thank you”
I hang up the phone and then tell Mum, she is delighted for me, I can’t wait to tell Felix, so I ring him, he seems excited for me “That’s great Tasha, is that the one you had on Monday?” he asks.
“No it’s the one I had on Tuesday Felix, I haven’t heard from the first one, maybe I won’t get any further with that interview.”
“I’m not sure that’s the best job for you to take Tasha, you’re good with facilities and that is what the first job is about. You’ve never worked in marketing before” now he doesn’t sound happy at all.
“Felix that’s why it would be good to do this, it would be challenging and I’m ready for a challenge” I tell him strongly.
“We will talk about it over the weekend Tasha” and with that he dismisses me and hangs up.
What now? He doesn’t seem to ever be happy with me these days. Something to look forward to I suppose, an exciting discussion over the weekend. I can’t help but be sarcastic because I just can’t do anything right!
Just before Felix is due home, I receive another call, this time from Debbie in HR at the Clifton Associates “Hi Natasha, hope you are well, we were very interested in you after your interview with Mr. Wolfe and would like to invite you to a further interview with the CEO on Wednesday at 8.00am. Is that suitable?”
Wow another interview, this day is just getting better “Thank you I’d love to come along on Wednesday, thank you.”
We finalise the plans and then I hang up.
“Mum you are never going to believe this, but that was the other company and they were inviting me to another interview too.” I’m really happy and feel like things are coming together for me.
We talk about the two jobs and I tell her I would prefer the one on Friday, but that I would actually take either one. I get excited about it and can feel the adrenalin buzzing through me. The night flows along very nicely with the three of us talking about the two jobs and which one would be best for me.
Chapter 17
BEFORE I KNOW IT, it's Saturday and time to take Mum home.
When we get to my parents house, Dad has lunch ready, so we go straight into the dining room.
Lunch was lovely and I spend the time telling Dad about the two interviews that I have lined up.
When we leave Mum and Dad's, Felix takes my hand and holds it while he is driving.
"I can't wait to have you to myself so that I can look after you" he tells me. I just look at him and smile. I don't trust myself to say anything.
On the way home my phone beeps with a text so I take it out to read it. I see it is from Caleb and I can feel my heart racing because I know if Felix saw it he would be angry! I know I need to stop texting Caleb, I just can’t!
“Hey Tasha hope you are having a good weekend. I was just thinking about you and thought I'd let you know”
I turn the ringer off and put it in my pocket without replying, I'll do that later. Felix asks "Who was that?"
“It was Kammie she wants to know if I can go over for a girls night next week, we haven't done that since I got married" how easy a lie came, what am I doing? My heart is in my mouth, I’m sure Felix can hear it beating really heavy.
"I don't want you to go! I want you to stay at home with me in the evening. I need you, you're my wife." Did he just say that? I can't keep quiet and he's driving so he can't get too mad.
"Felix when you we married I had friends. I still need my friends and I want to go and see her. You didn't mind before we were married what's the difference now?" I'm fuming.
"I didn't like it then but I put up with it because I love you and wanted you to be my wife. Now you are, you only need me, no one else!" he is shouting really loud and I can see he is going red in the face. I also notice that we are pulling up to the house. He stops the car, almost abandoning it in the drive, and gets out, he comes over to my side and opens my door, he reaches in and pulls me out, twisting my ribs at the same time.
"Ow Felix you're hurting me. Stop! Please!" I shout at him, I hope the neighbours aren't watching.
"No Tasha, you don't get to talk to me like that and get away with it, I am your HUSBAND and I demand respect! You will do and go where I say you can and I'm telling you I don't want you to go over to Kammie’s house, not this week, not next week, not ever. She is a bad influence on you and I want her out of your life" what the heck? Where has this man come from? Where is the man I loved and married?
He opens the front door and turns around and locks it, then he pulls me to stand facing him and then all of a sudden he punches me in the face. I feel the pain and I stumble backwards and then fall to the floor sobbing hysterically "Felix what has got into you recently? You were never like this, what happened to you?"
"You! You happened to me, you came into my life and turned it upside down. I want you so much, I have you forever and I don't want to share you with anyone including your family and frien
ds. Tasha I can't share you!" he is leaning over me and I can see he's crying. My life is so surreal right now. What is going on with him? Why does he feel like he can’t share me? I just don’t understand what is going on in his mind!
"Felix you have me and you don't have to share me but you need to understand that I will need other people in my life. You're the one who takes me home and keeps me safe." I'm pleading with him, the pain of my cheek is horrendous, I think he must have broken a bone and I can feel the hot sticky blood running down my face and mixing in with my tears. I now realise that after today that I need to talk to someone, I need to talk to my Mum! She is the only one who can help me now, she has to believe me. She needs to believe me!
"No Tasha YOU don't understand! You are not going to leave this house unless it's with me or going to work. I can’t run around wondering where you are? Who you're with? And what you're saying to them. I know you'll tell Kammie that I'm not who you thought I was. I just know it!!" and then he grabs me and pulls my hair so that I'm standing and pushes me against the wall and attacks my mouth with his. He forces his tongue inside and all I want to do is bite it to get it out of my mouth. I turn my head to try and get away, he doesn't like that so he puts his two hands on either side of my head and holds it in place.
This is obviously turning him on because I can feel his cock through his jeans rubbing against me. He moves one of his hand down to undo my jeans and I struggle even more, he can’t do his and get away with it surely? He pulls my jeans and panties down and then unbuckles his belt, he quickly pushes his jeans and boxers down and then pushes me up to the wall, he takes both of my hands in one of his and holds them above my head, tightly.
