Twelve Days The Beginning

Chapter Five

After delivering his argument so effectively, Vaughn stepped back abruptly, relinquishing all hold on Elise and she had to use every ounce of strength in her legs to keep from collapsing in a heap.

Vaughn had by now returned to his position behind his desk and was regarding her with interest as she struggled to get her breathing back under control. Turning, she gave him one last almost helpless look, as she really had no idea what else to say to him. The reasons that he had given were all true and she could see how he had drawn his conclusions based on the evidence. However she was not in the habit of airing her private life in public and he would just have to accept that, despite possible appearances to the contrary, she was in no way available to him or anyone. She was just about to exit the office when the phone on Vaughn’s desk rang, making her jump and momentarily halting her progress.

“Yes Annabel?” he was all businesslike, the seductive tones of only moments ago gone, to be replaced with a brisk and efficient manner.

“I see. Well, yes, she is here, I’ll send her out. Thank you, Annabel.” Vaughn replaced the receiver and glanced at Elise, a guarded expression on his face.

“It would appear there is someone in reception to see you. You have my permission to go but please remember that we do not encourage personal visitors during office hours.” He turned back to the papers on his desk and began to shuffle through them, studiously ignoring her. It was as if the last few minutes had never happened.

Realising that she had been dismissed, Elise headed out of the door and began breathing deeply in a bid to cool the heated blush that she knew was on her face and to calm her temper. His permission! Who did he think he was?? He was arrogant to the extreme and she had never met anyone so self-assured.

He may be her new boss but she was not a child and she did not need anyone’s permission to go to Reception and meet a visitor. She wondered briefly how Annabel had known that she was in Vaughn’s office but decided to file that question away for later.

She skirted around the atrium in the centre of the building and headed out to Reception, wondering who she would find when she arrived. No one ever visited her at work and she began to worry slightly in case there was some family emergency and she was about to be delivered some bad news.

Hastening her steps, she pushed open the doors and stopped in her tracks as she took in the man that was talking to Annabel. From the look on Annabel’s face, she could tell that the man didn’t smell particularly nice and she could see that the other girl was uncomfortable with how closely he was leaning over the desk. As her footsteps echoed on the floor, they both turned towards her and Elise immediately knew that her visitor was drunk – still.

“Dale, what the hell are you doing here?” She dragged him over to the group of couches set aside for visitors to wait and pushed him down, concerned that he would not be able to stand himself up for much longer. She knew that she was in for a scene and really didn’t want to do this here - particularly in front of Annabel who wasn’t known for her discretion - but given Dale’s state, she had little choice. All she could do was pray that she could diffuse the situation and deal with it later on.

Dale turned bloodshot eyes to her, “I was missing my wife.” he slurred, “When I woke up, you’d gone and you know we have unfinished business from last night.” He hiccupped and slumped further down into the sofa. God, this was worse than she thought. Totally unaware of his surroundings, Dale continued, “You are soooo sexy, baby and you know how much I need you. I was feeling very horny and I really needed my wife to help me out so I thought I’d come and see you. I’m sure you must have a stationery cupboard somewhere?”

Elise continued to stare at Dale in absolute shock. This was bad; way bad, way way worse than anything she had ever experienced before. Whilst he wasn’t physically assaulting her, he was completely embarrassing her in her place of work and she could feel herself reddening from head to toe, her anger rising to boiling point. She was totally ashamed. No one apart from Cole knew about Dale and his problems and she had always prided herself on keeping it that way. Andrews & Andrews was her sanctuary and she didn’t need him turning up uninvited and tainting that for her.

At a loss as for what to do, Elise tried to talk some sense into Dale. “Look, I really appreciate you coming to see me - you know I do - but this is really not a good time for me. I have lots on and if I spend time with you, then that will make me later home tonight and you wouldn’t want that, would you?” Maybe a little blackmail would work.

Absently Elise was aware of Annabel making a phone call but she stayed where she was, her eyes riveted to her husband, imploring him to leave without making any more of a scene. She watched as he started to focus and realise where he was and she was sure that when he was sober he would be mortified at what he was doing. He didn’t want anyone knowing their business any more than she did, although he visibly marked her skin on a regular basis. She had become an expert at using cover-up makeup; another skill, like lying, that she had never aspired to achieve.

As his eyes began to clear and he started to sit up, Elise allowed herself to release the breath that she had been holding, finally beginning to believe that maybe he would leave and that perhaps things would be alright. Behind her, a door slammed and angry footsteps rattled across the floor in their direction. Startled, she turned. Oh God no. Cole. Anyone else approaching them and she could have dealt with it but not Cole. Not the man who knew exactly what her husband did to her. Not the man that picked her up and patched her up. Not the man who knew all of her bruises almost as intimately as she. Not the man that hated Dale with a passion. Not the man who was the last person that needed to see this display from her husband. Shit. Cole.

A feeling of dread coursed through her as she realised that this was probably not going to end well. Why the hell couldn’t it have been anyone other than him approaching?

Seeing Dale still sprawled on the sofa and taking in Elise’s placating position beside him, Cole immediately swerved towards Dale and for a split second, Elise thought that he was going to punch him. Bracing herself, she waited but instead he stopped just short; anger radiating from his every pore, his hands clenched at his sides, jaw ticking incessantly.

His voice when he spoke was calm, measured and dangerous.

“What the f*ck are you doing here? You are not welcome and, I need you to leave.”

When Dale made no comment but merely continued to regard Cole with a somewhat amused expression, Cole continued. His voice low, his threat veiled.

“You are a waste-of-space piece of shit and I do not want you cluttering up my Reception area. Now get out, you bastard, before I throw you out.”

He had spoken relatively quietly and although she was straining to hear as much as she good, Elise was thankful that Cole had judged his tone right and that Annabel had not managed to understand anything.

Dale focused his bleary vision on Cole. “Well, if it isn’t pretty-boy,” he mocked. “You need me to leave, do you? Well I know what you need,” he was sneering now, “you need to get in my wife’s panties don’t you? I’ve seen the way you look at her. You probably get rock-hard every time you’re around her.” He laughed almost humourlessly.

“The thing is ‘pretty-boy’, I do too and I know that it messes with your head to know that she is mine. She is my wife.” He punctuated the last three words and then rudely gestured towards his crotch. Elise flinched.

“And it doesn’t matter how hard you get or how messed up you get, you will never be in her panties. And I know that f*cking kills you.” He chuckled loving that, in his mind, he had the upper hand.

“I am not going anywhere, pretty-boy. I came here to f*ck my wife and that is exactly what I am going to do!”

Elise looked at Dale in absolute horror. She could not believe that he had spoken to Cole like that and she couldn’t believe that he had come here with the sole intention of having sex with her. This was her workplace, for Christ’s sake. What the hell was he playing at? She knew that he was drunk but he must have had something in mind or he wouldn’t have said anything at all. Frantically trying to work out what to do and noting that Dale was still lounging on the sofa, a huge smug smile on his face; Elise helplessly glanced up at Cole and began to feel the first frission of fear running through her. She could tell that Cole had gone beyond angry now and she didn’t know how much longer he would be able to hold it in. Silently, she willed him to stay calm – nothing would be resolved if he lost his temper.

“I am asking you one last time, a*shole. Please leave this building immediately.” Thankfully Cole had remained calm – just – but his words were dripping with ice, the threat now unmistakable.

Dale’s eyes flickered recognition at the menace underlying Cole’s words but in his drunken state, it seemed like he was choosing to ignore it. Elise could feel the situation rapidly getting out of control but, before she could contemplate how to diffuse it, Dale spoke again, continuing to add fuel to an already well-burning fire.

“I’m good here thanks, pretty-boy.” Sarcasm from a drunken Dale was not good.

“This sofa is really comfy. Maybe I could just do the missus here, you know, get it over and done with. Bit of an audience but I don’t mind if you don’t.” Dale’s smile was sickening as he looked at her and Elise could not prevent the cry of shock from leaving her mouth.

This was beyond disgusting and he had stepped over the line a hell of a long time ago. To suggest that he would have sex with her on the sofa in the main reception area of her workplace, in front of her best friend and the biggest gossip in the office belied belief. She launched at Dale in the hope that she could get him up and out of there before anything else happened and he made the situation any worse than it already was.

Cole moved at the same time though and was quicker, landing a punch square on the side of Dale’s face. He reeled but was seemingly too far-gone to feel any pain and quickly retaliated, standing up on unsteady legs and slinging a punch back to Cole. Elise looked on in disbelief, struggling to believe that the two men in her life were standing in the reception area trading punches like they were going out of fashion. Even though Dale was unstable, he had no fear and was laying into Cole like a deranged animal. Cole was holding his own and managed to land a punch here and there, the two of them continually shouting abuse as months of rage on Cole’s part was vented onto her husband.

She pleaded loudly for both of them to stop but her voice fell on deaf ears. Neither of them looked to be ending this fight any time soon and the large open area resounded with the echoes of the punches being thrown.

Belatedly, she became aware of Annabel screaming and then suddenly a huge shout came from the door leading back to the main office area.

“Stop! Now! What the hell is going on here?!”

It was Vaughn, striding out of the door and down the reception area towards them a look of absolute murder on his face. He grabbed Cole from behind and hauled him back, pinning his arms to his sides and rendering him helpless. Dale continued to sway, his face starting to swell where Cole had landed some of his punches.

“And who the hell might you be?” Dale slurred, finally finding some semblance of balance, and squaring up to Vaughn.

“Can’t believe pretty-boy needed someone to rescue him!” He laughed. He was the only one finding anything remotely funny in the whole situation.

“Well, this has really made my day. I knew pretty-boy was sweet on my girl, but you, whoever the hell you are, you come out here all macho like you own the place. What is it? Do you want to f*ck my wife too?” Dale continued his manic ramblings and Elise could barely watch as Vaughn took in and considered her husband’s words. She could see him stiffening, anger beginning to radiate from him and she wondered which of the men she should now be more afraid of.

Taking a measured breath, Vaughn slowly released his grip on Cole who was in another stratosphere of anger and he immediately moved forwards; ready to launch at Dale again and to pick up where he left off.

He was too slow though and Elise watched in horror as Vaughn straightened himself up, uncoiling almost like a viper about to attack its prey. With a look of complete murder, he pushed Cole to the side and landed one last final blow himself - straight to Dale’s jaw.

The whole room was suddenly deathly quiet and everything began to happen in slow motion as Elise watched Dale stumble, momentarily stunned. His eyes briefly connected with hers and then he lost any pretence at balance and fell backwards to the floor, landing with a sickening thud.