Till Death Us Do Part

by V, Krissy

  “I don’t want us to be strangers for ever Tasha, but fate will intervene. I hope your day gets better Tasha.”

  “Thanks Caleb, have a good day doing whatever it is you do.”

  I ring Dillon. “Dillon, can you come over tonight or can I come to you? I need to talk to someone.”

  “Yeah of course you can, come out to mine, I don’t spend much time there so at least if you come over then I’ll feel like it’s worth the mortgage I pay on it.”

  “You won’t be saying that when you settle down, it won’t be big enough for you.”

  “That won’t happen for a while.” I laugh at him.

  “Make sure you get some beers in, I think we are going to need them. Got to run I have a meeting to go to, I’ll see you later.” I hang up.

  All through the day I keep thinking of Tasha and I want to message her but I know that I shouldn’t. I hope she is ok, I hope he doesn’t do anything to her again. I hope he has realised what he has done and what he could lose.

  I drive over to Dillon’s house, yes he has a house and it is huge and absolutely gorgeous. It’s not as nice as my beach house, but if I was to buy a house closer to the City then it would be like this one.

  He lets me in and he has already ordered an Indian takeaway, which arrives about ten minutes after I do. We set the containers out on the table and each take a plate and a bottle of beer.

  I tell him all about what Tasha had said to me and how it made me feel. We talk about it all night and Dillon keeps telling me to stay away from her. I will only make things worse and I really don’t want that. After we have finished the Indian food we sit in the lounge and watch a football match, when that is finished I go upstairs to bed. I’m not drunk or anything but I am relaxed.

  When I wake up the next morning, I drive back to the apartment and I just can’t help myself, I text Tasha.

  “Morning Tasha. How are you feeling? I didn't hear from you yesterday so I left you alone but I just needed to know you're ok.”

  I don’t expect to hear from her for a while so I jump in the shower then get ready for work. When I have finished getting dressed, I pick my phone up and am happy to find I have a reply.

  “Morning Caleb. I feel a bit better today, I’m not as stiff and sore. I have a check up in the morning and I'm hoping to go back to work on Monday.”

  “That's great. How are things at home? Any better?”

  “Nothing much going on, but my Mum is here until the weekend. What have you been up to this week Caleb? Anything exciting which can take my mind off me!” She obviously wants a distraction from everything going on in her life and I am glad she chose me to give her that distraction.

  “Well other than having you fall into my life and totally upending it, my week has been pretty boring. Lots of meetings, evening functions and a lot of thinking about you. Especially after yesterday! Are you sure you're ok?”

  “Lots of evening functions sounds like fun not work!”

  I leave and walk to the office, it’s not far, it’s only down the road.

  “Believe me Angel it's not fun being nice to people all night when you don't want to be there.

  “You must have a good job if you're schmoozing all week lol.

  “You could say that, it'd be more fun if you were going with me. Sorry I know that's inappropriate but it would definitely be more fun!

  “Now, now Caleb! Are you working right now? Where are you?”

  “Changing the subject again I see! Yeah I'm sat in my office, it's on the top floor and I'm looking out over Bristol City Centre. It's gorgeous. What about you Tasha?”

  “I'm laid in bed getting the energy to get up and start my day.”

  I can’t believe that she has just told me that she is laying in bed, doesn’t she know what that will do to me?

  “Wow! I'd say that view is better than mine any day. You shouldn't tell me you're laid in bed, that's hard for me to hear and not picture. What are you doing to me?”

  “Sorry I didn't think about it like that. I'm laid in bed with 10 layers of clothes on and a face pack on ha ha. Is that better?”

  “Ha ha no! Now I can only imagine it's like pass the parcel peeling off a layer at a time lol.”

  “Ok stop! Get that picture out of your mind, I can't talk to you if you start picturing things like that.”

  “Sorry Tasha but to me you look like an angel sent down to tempt me.”

  No response. Damn me and my big mouth, why did I say that? I don’t want to frighten her off.

  “Tasha sorry did I scare you by saying that. I promise to restrain myself, please talk to me.”

  “Caleb you embarrassed me there and I was thinking maybe I shouldn't encourage you. Maybe you shouldn’t be sending me messages, but they make me feel good and you make me smile.”

  “Tasha you've made me a very happy man. I hope you realise that. I know I shouldn’t be texting you, I know you have problems at home, but you feel like a part of me and I need to know you are ok!”

  “I'm blushing now and my Mum is calling for me. I'll talk to you later Caleb. Enjoy your day!”

  “I'd enjoy it more if I could have coffee with you!”

  “Soon, when I'm back at work, I promise.”

  “I'll hold you to that Tasha ;-)”

  I can’t wait for her to go back to work, I really want to see her again and just talk to her.

  I have another meeting with a customer on the other side of town so I take the company car, it is so much easier for us to have a car and a driver than to keep ordering taxi’s. When I pull up outside Blue Eye I get out of the car and hear a woman laughing, it’s almost hypnotic and when I turn around I see her. She is standing there with an older woman, who has to be her mother. She is a beautiful lady and they are both staring at me. I wonder if she has realised who I am yet, I hope not, I enjoy the anonymity which I have at the moment.

  She moves her head, like she is shaking her innermost thoughts away, I can see her blushing from here. I nod my head at her and walk into the office, hoping that she doesn’t put two and two together. She might think I am a customer of Blue Eye, I hope that’s what she thinks.

  I speak to the receptionist and then I go up to my office, I look out of the window down onto the street. She must have gone into TGI’s and when I look closely I can see her sitting in the window with her mum.

  I can’t resist and I quickly type a text before I change my mind.

  “I see you are feeling better today Angel. I'm sure I just saw you in town with another gorgeous woman. Hope you're treating yourself, if not then you should. You've had a tough week. Wish I could have stopped to say hello, but I know you're not ready for that.”

  I chuckle while I wait for her to reply.

  “Where did you see me?”

  “Ah now that would be telling lol. You'll have to work harder than that to find out.”

  I’ve laid the challenge down there, now just to see whether she takes the bait or not!

  “I know you're that fat, ugly man standing on the corner with the “All you can eat” buffet sign!”

  I laugh so much I can feel the tears coming to my eyes. Not only did she take the challenge but she came back at me with more than I gave her. I really like her, she is feisty.

  “Ha ha I nearly fell of my chair laughing there Tasha, you are so wrong! Maybe I'm in TGI's looking at you!”

  I wonder whether she will reply to that one.

  “Should I be freaked that you know where I'm eating lunch? I looked around and there's no one in here that I remember bumping into. Maybe you're just forgettable! ;-)”

  “Oh now they're fighting words. I am a little disappointed that you don't remember me I will admit that, but it means I can talk to you and you can get to know ME and not what I look like.”

  “Tasha?”

  “Sorry Caleb I have to go, I like what I've learnt so far, although you sound a bit like a stalker because you keep seeing me and I don't see you - only joking ;-)”

>   I don’t like to be referred to as a stalker. Maybe what I am doing to her is being a stalker. I promise not to stalk her anymore, I promise myself. I don’t text her back, I need to digest what she just said.

  Chapter 5

  I HAVE A REALLY busy day and I don’t get much chance to think about Tasha’s message, but it is niggling me at the back of my mind. I think it’s fun her not knowing what I look like but if I was her then yes I would think I am a stalker.

  It saddens me because I know that I need to leave her alone but I really can’t. I have an evening function to go to tonight, maybe I will have a lot of drink and see if I can find another woman to take my mind off Tasha. Maybe then I will stop thinking about her all the time.

  After work I change into my tuxedo in the bathroom just off my office, it makes it easier than having to go home first. The function is in the Bristol Marriott Hotel and I just know it is going to be one of those really boring dinner with speeches that make you want to fall asleep, but they are great for making new contacts for new business so I know that I can’t give it a miss.

  When I arrive, I quickly scan the room to see if there is anyone I know here. I see Peter Frost, he is the CEO of a company I work with. They organise any new offices I need, in Bristol and anywhere else in the Country. I nod at him and then go off to find my place at the table. I am approached by Celine Smyth, the wife of one of my customers. “Hey Caleb, you are looking good tonight. Do you want to keep me company? You know David will go off talking to everyone tonight and leave me on my own.”

  She is really whiney and I do not want to be sitting with her let alone talk to her all night. She keeps making passes at me at these events and I can only be polite for so long. Tonight I don’t need to be making small talk with her.

  “I’m actually sitting at a different table to you tonight Celine, sorry.”

  She huffs, shakes her head and walks away. I chuckle and sit down at the table with my name card on it. When the table is full we start chatting about business and I relax and start enjoying the evening. I look around the room when they are bringing dessert and that’s when I see her. Tasha is here. My heart stands still while I take her in. It’s so different being this close to her, watching her smile, she looks stunning. She has an amazing blue dress accentuates her whole body. It’s like no one else exists, she is all that I can see.

  I don’t know if I will be able to stay away from her tonight, then I see her lean over next to the man she is sitting next to and whisper in his ear. He nods his head and then she stands up. I see her leaving the ballroom so I quickly send her a text, I can’t resist.

  “I thought I saw an Angel tonight wearing a beautiful blue colour?”

  “Now you have intrigued me Caleb. I didn’t think I wanted to know what you looked like or who you are, but knowing you are in the room with me changes everything”

  “Really!! I didn’t think it would change anything for you. Is that your husband with you? I’m finding it hard not to come over and talk to you and introduce myself. I’d find it harder not to punch him for treating you the way he does”

  “How cavalier Caleb!”

  “I know, I never experience these feelings and it’s very strange Tasha. I would like nothing more than to introduce myself, however, I don’t think you really want to yet!”

  “True, you know me already! However, I would like a clue, I’m going to be checking all the men out to see if I can work out who you are.”

  “Oooh now who has fighting talk lol. See you on the dance floor Tasha.”

  I don’t get a reply and I don’t expect to. From my place at the table I see her walking back to her table and I see her talking to a man, the same man as earlier so I only assume is her husband. I study him and when he turns to her after the coffee and whispers in her ear, I see him stand up and it’s at that point that I recognise him. I don’t like him. I have had a lot of dealings with Felix Phillips and I have never taken to him.

  I do business with this man. He has helped me to find a few offices, he isn’t a pleasant man to do business with, he’s always pushy and wants an answer straight away, I don’t work like that.

  I see him extend his hand to Tasha and he takes her to the dance floor. Is he stupid? It’s obvious she is in pain. I watch them intently, I can see her whispering to him. They obviously dance a lot together, they are a very well suited couple. I’m jealous. I want to be holding her that close and I want to dance with her, but I know I can’t.

  All of a sudden I see him twirl her around and I hear her gasp as the pain obviously cuts across her ribs, I go to stand up but I think twice about it. It’s not my place to interfere. I watch them for a further five minutes and then they walk off the dance floor and I see her go to the toilet, so I follow her. I’ve had enough of this, I can’t watch this and not do anything about it.

  I can hear crying in the disabled toilet and knock on the door, hoping she is inside.

  “Just a minute, I’ll be just a minute” she says, obviously thinking I want to use the toilet.

  “Tasha is that you in there? Are you ok? I saw what happened, it’s me, Caleb.”

  “Yeah it’s me, I’m hurting so bad physically and also emotionally, why me? I’ve never done anything to hurt anyone ever, I’m not a bad person Caleb.”

  “I don’t know why Tasha, I can’t help you with that. Is there anything I can get now to help you? I want to just come in and hug you, but I know that won’t make it any better.” I’m whispering because I don’t want anyone else to hear us.

  “I’ll wait for you to come out if you want me to, but I think your husband is looking for you. I’m going to go but I will be keeping an eye on you ok!” I stand with my hand on the door to the disabled toilet, imagining that she is stood on the other side and our hands are touching.

  As I am walking back into the ballroom I see Felix laughing with Peter Frost so I walk over to Peter and ask if I can speak to him. He stands and walks with me to the other side of the table. “Sorry to do this here Peter, but we won’t be able to work with your Company anymore. I just feel that I can’t do any more business with you, I have had a few Companies approach me and I am going to give one of them a chance. They are a new start up Company and that is what my Company is all about. We will be doing Marketing for them, so we have decided to use them for our facilities and accommodation.”

  He looks at me, stunned. “Caleb, I don’t understand why you feel you can’t work with us. Has something happened that I don’t know about?”

  “No, I just think that our working relationship has come to an end. I want to give someone else a chance in just the same way we were given our first break. I’m just sorry for doing it here but the opportunity presented itself to me and I took it.”

  “I’m sure I can’t change your mind Caleb, you are known in the business industry as being head strong.”

  “No I won’t change my mind.” I hold my hand for him to shake, he takes it and then I say “It was good doing business with you Peter.”

  As I walk away I hear Peter going over to Felix to tell him what has happened. I hear him start to shout at Peter and I can hear he is really annoyed. For one moment I think I have made a mistake and that he will take it out on Tasha, but I can’t do anything about it now. He is an obnoxious, arrogant salesman and I don’t understand what Tasha would be doing with a man like that.

  I walk up to the bar and order a neat brandy and knock it straight back. I order another one immediately.

  As the night comes to a close I make a promise to myself that I will do whatever it takes to look after Tasha. I know I am extremely attracted to her but I also know that I just need to make sure she is alright at all times. So if I can have her in my life as a friend, then I will protect her as much as I can, for as long as I can.

  I hold my glass up as if I am going to make a toast.

  “Tasha be brave, I’ll watch over you.”

  I down the brandy down in one and then I get up and leave the
ball.

  Acknowledgements

  I have my own angels who run around after me and tirelessly pimp me out in the book world. Without these angels I wouldn’t be able to operate and no one would know who I am!

  My Beta readers as always, who read my ramblings and help me to make my books into something that is worth reading.

  Natasha and Meg, I can’t say enough to prove how much I am indebted to you both – thank you from the very bottom of my heart!

  Mum and Dad, thank you for believing in me. I hope I have made you proud. I love you both so much!

  I want to acknowledge my husband, Alan and my children, Kiera and Rhys. Mummy loves you all!

  To all my readers and to those who may read my work in the future – thank you so much. Without you I wouldn’t be able to keep writing my stories.

  Sneak Peek into the Future

  Some on the projects which I am working on to look out for in 2015!

  Anthology – When Destiny Calls – April 2015

  One woman. One phone call. Five different directions. Find out where five authors, all of different genres, take Faith. When Destiny Calls, you answer.

  Cassie - My One Regret!

  When you meet “the one” take my advice and keep hold of him! Cassie didn’t do that and she regrets that every day of her life!

  Jordan came into her life and turned it upside down and inside out and then just as quick she made him leave her life! Turning her life upside down and inside out all over again!

  What happens when your life has moved on but you haven't? Regret - that's what happens!

  Sunshine in Amsterdam

  Can true love be found in the most erotic city in the World? This is a story of six wonderful women who travel around the Cities of Europe having fun and living life to the fullest. Join the Sunshine Tour to find out!