Rise of the Day Walker----- Book 3 in the Consort in Blood Trilogy.

 

Chapter One

 

 

Sophie rolled over and gazed at the face of the man she shared her life with. Ethan was beautiful in the way only a truly handsome man can be. She loved to watch him sleep. But, as much as she would love to wake him and screw the fuck out of him, she had another more urgent need. A need that surpassed all others. She was hungry. Not hungry for food as such but hungry, for a man. Not for sex but to fulfil another baser need that Ethan could not fulfil. Actually, he could but she didn’t want to use him for this need. He was not for that purpose but for her other needs.

She had to find a man who was alone and vulnerable for tonight’s feed. Normally she would take her time and visit the clubs until she found one that appealed to her but, tonight she just needed to eat. She had been warned about the side effects of her power and its tendency to become addictive but, with training, she had managed to control it. Still, to maintain that control, she needed to assuage that addiction like an addict on methadone. She was careful to only imbibe in lesser amounts for fear that her control would weaken and someone innocent would pay the ultimate price. She had not fed for days and now needed to retain that control.

 She would begin her search where it would not be hard to find someone, in the darker parts of the city’s streets and alleyways. Any man would be sufficient to calm her hunger and get her mind back on track if he was clean and willing. It had to be a man because she needed the strength that was inherent in the masculine sex. She had found that feeding on women left her feeling unfulfilled and more likely to need more. This would be a problem in that more people could become aware that there was something out there feeding on them. Her feeding left the donor weak and sick even in tiny amounts and some even ended up seeking medical treatment. If this were to occur too often eventually someone would notice the pattern. She could not allow this to happen.

Grabbing a coat, she headed out of her apartment and on to the streets. She had never had a problem getting men into dark corners. With the way she looked they were practically begging her to let them go with her. She had skin like alabaster so pale it shone in the moonlight. Couple this with eyes as blue as ice and hair as red as flames and then add to this the body of a Goddess and you can see the attraction and the easy access, she had to fulfil her needs. So, tonight was not going to be a problem. In fact, even as she entered one of the darker areas, she found herself looking at a very promising sight. A man was standing in the glow of a streetlight not far from her. She couldn’t see his face because his head was down but, by the look of his body, he was fit and healthy. She headed over to him and, as she neared, he lifted his head up. Oh, fuck, she thought, he was not the vulnerable person she thought he was at all. In fact, he was the last man she wanted to see right now. He looked at her intently and she almost turned and ran but, she knew it would be useless and that she would never get away.

“Well, Sophie, fancy meeting you here!” he said in his smooth as silk voice.

She knew he was not happy when she went on these night searches but, in the depth of her need she cared not.

“Yes, Ethan, fancy that. Are you following me?”

“If I say yes, will you stop trying to give me the slip?”

Sophie screwed up her beautiful face and said,

“No, it is in my nature to be elusive. You know this, but you still complain when I manage to elude you. And I thought that I had crept out so quietly” her voice held a certain tone of playfulness to which he responded,

“This is not a joking matter, Sophie. I will continue to seek you out until you agree to stop doing what you are doing and come with me”.

“Ethan, I assume, there is a reason you have sought me out!”

“Yes, there is a reason. I can’t explain right now but, I have received a message from home and there is someone who wants to meet with you, and it must be tonight”.

She sensed that something was going on from the way his voice sounded. After all these years she could read him like a book, most of the time, and right now she heard urgency in his voice.

“What’s going on Ethan? And what do you mean a message from ‘home’?” she said confused by his talk of home.

“I will explain on the way” he said as he began to walk towards her then past her.

As she watched his long, lean body move in her direction her hunger grew in intensity but then it always did around Ethan. Her body took on a life of its own and she began to feel the magnetic pull his presence always caused. She almost gave in to this pull but, just as he stopped right in front of her, she managed to regain control. The last thing she needed to do was give in to this feeling he engendered in her which was as much about sexual attraction as it was about her need to feed. She needed to remain detached from him or, and this was her dread, she would fall forever under his spell and be lost. And a spell it was. One of his powers was to control people’s emotions though with her he could not make the spell stick. Tempt her, yes, but get her fully under, no. It was this power to control emotions that had saved her on many occasions.

Another reason for her to keep a certain distance from him was the fear that any relationship that developed, beyond that which they already had, could be dangerous. She could not let her feelings for him develop into love. It could prove to be an emotional distraction in times where they needed to focus on having each other’s backs in a fight Neither could afford to let the fact that they cared for the other beyond comradeship interfere in their ability to fight back when the need arose. It proved difficult, at times, to retain this emotional detachment but necessary for their survival. They had always worked on ways to protect themselves. Especially since she had realized that she was different to the humans that she observed and amongst which they lived. When her ‘needs, had awoken she had, at first, been scared shitless but, thanks to Ethan’s care and support, she had become used to them. Even, sometimes, reveled in them. She still did not understand why she was different and though she had asked him many times, in the beginning, he had always told her that when the time was right, all would be explained to her. She had learned quickly that no amount of asking would change the answer.

Now, she turned and followed him. Catching up to him she, again, asked him to explain here they were going and who they were going to meet. Maybe, she thought, she would now learn all that she needed to know. She would indeed but it was to prove much more difficult to understand and accept that explanation she had so desperately wanted.

 

 

In His Hands

A Short Story

By

Tara Thompson.

© 2018 by Tara Devaney-Thompson. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

WARNING:

This story has no chapter breaks. It is simply one long chapter.

This novels story and characters are fictitious.

Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.

 

 

Dedication

 

To my family and my best friend, I dedicate this short story to you.

 

 

 

                        📖✵‿➹⁀❤️‿➹⁀✵‿➹⁀❤️‿➹⁀✵📖

                                                 

Watching him from across the room she wondered how any man could be so beautiful and still be human. Surely heaven must be missing one of their angels. She had read that somewhere and thought that, at this moment, it was a perfect description of this vision of a man. She could not take her eyes off him. The way he looked, moved, and talked all seemed too perfect, almost. No living breathing man had a right to be so very beautiful.

He must have sensed her watching him because he turned, slowly, to look in her direction. At any other time, she would have turned away to hide her embarrassment but, not this time. She returned his stare unabashedly. His eyes held hers and with those eyes he said so much. Her heart began to race. Her hands shook. Soon her body began to rise as though drawn upwards by invisible strings. She felt as though she had lost all control. Without a coherent thought she walked slowly towards him.

He held out his hand to her and she went to him. Never before had she ever felt this pull towards a complete stranger. She gave no thought to the dangers it may pose, in fact; she had lost all power to think. She simply knew that she had to follow him wherever he led her.

He could feel eyes upon him. Not the kind that you felt as a matter of course when you are a well-known actor but ones that made his spine tingle. Slowly he turned to find the source of this feeling. He spotted her almost instantly. She stood out in a room of beautiful women. She shone like a solitary candle in the darkest night. Her gaze held his as she kept her eyes on his without flinching.

He was used to women staring at him but usually they looked away when he caught them. This woman did not. She returned his gaze steadily and with seemingly no embarrassment at being caught. He watched her rise from her table and walk towards him. He was mesmerized by her. As she neared him all sound from the room disappeared and the lights seemed to dim. All he could see was her. His arm rose of its own volition, and he held out his hand to her. She took it and he felt the warmth of her.

His heart skipped a beat as she leaned in towards him and he could smell her perfume. No expensive aroma but one of strawberry cheesecake. He fell in love with her at that moment.

Isabella took in all of him as she stood there so close that she could feel his heartbeat. Tall with shoulders built to lean on. His hair was black as night contrasting with the blue of his beautiful long-lashed eyes. She could feel his strength as he held her hand and yet she also felt great tenderness and gentleness about him. She knew in her bones that this moment was going to change her life forever. She could have turned and run away from him and all that he would bring to her, but she stayed. She was simply unable to let go of his hand and save herself from all that was to come.

She knew in her heart that this was going to be a forever love of the timeless and ageless kind. She was not a silly young thing with stars in her eyes. No, she had been around the block more than once and knew what this could do to her, but she simply did not care. Here, in this moment, he could do whatever he would with her, and she would simply love him.

Together and wordlessly, they left the hotel. Outside, in the cold winter night, with their breaths like steam in the air, they turned to face each other. Moving closer together they leaned into each other, and he placed his hands carefully and gently cupping her face, he looked deeply into her eyes. Then, still having not uttered a word he placed his perfectly formed lips upon hers.

Her heart stopped as she felt his soft mouth join hers in a kiss she had only ever dreamed of. She could never have imagined a mouth made so perfectly to fit hers nor a kiss so extraordinarily beautiful.

As snowflakes fell around them, they merged into one being. It was as though they had been created solely for each other. Neither wanted the kiss to end but knew that it must. When they finally broke, unwillingly, apart he gestured to the doorman for his car. They waited silently wrapped in each other’s arms. Both were desperate for the moment not to end and were afraid that if they spoke it would break the spell. So, they waited.

A long black limousine pulled up at the curb and he helped her into the depths of the back seat. Joining her there after he had given the driver details of where to take them. She had not questioned where they were going. She did not care as long as she was with him. Finally, alone in the car he spoke:

"My name is Cole Hampton and I think I am in love with you. And, in time I will convince you that you love me."

Isabella simply looked at him. In his eyes she could see the truth of what he said and, strangely, knew that he was right.

“My name is Isabella Gregory and I believe you” she replied.

The car pulled away and they began the ride that was to become their life together. Neither knew what this trip held in store for them but, at this point, neither cared. They both happily gave in to the urge that had compelled them to be together.

Again, they had fallen into a silence so comfortable it was as though they had been together a lifetime and not mere minutes. Isabelle moved her hand across the seat, and he clasped it in his. It felt so right, so perfect. Eventually, the ride ended, and they arrived at the destination he had given the driver. It was the hotel Cole had been staying at during his visit. She did not question the fact that he had assumed she would accompany him there. She simply followed him into the lobby and waited for him to get his key.

Once upstairs he took her coat and she moved into the living area. It was a very luxurious room as befitted Hollywood royalty. A fire had been lit and she moved closer to the heat. She felt, rather than heard, him join her. Though she knew she should feel wary since he was, for all intents and purposes, a stranger she found she was completely at ease. She could smell his after-shave and he smelled wonderful. Leaning back, she rested her head on his chest and felt his heart race. Her own heart responded to his closeness and sped up.

Cole stood behind her with his eyes closed. He wanted so much to wrap his arms around her but didn’t want to scare her. He could feel her warmth and, unconsciously, his body leaned forward. He was surprised when he felt her head rest on his chest. How he had hoped she would trust him, and she seemed to be doing so. He wanted nothing more than to hold her forever. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

Isabelle felt the lightest touch of his kiss. Her body turned of its own volition, and she lifted her mouth to his. Again, it felt as though their mouths had been formed by nature to be perfectly matched. Their mouths moved in unison with no need for exploration because they already knew each-other. And, when the kiss ended, their faces held that recognition and the surprise that it generated.

“I feel as though I have kissed you a million times” Cole said.

“I feel the same. I don’t know why but you are as familiar to me as the smell of cinnamon in this room. It is as though we have done this many times before though I know this is not possible”.

“Not possible at all and yet here we are basking in the glow of a love that cannot exist yet” he replied. “This makes no sense at all, but it does feel so right”.

“I am not going to question this but simply go with it and see where it takes us. I have a feeling that this Christmas we are both to receive the best gift we could ever hope for…each other” Isabelle had tears forming in her eyes and Cole reached out to tenderly wipe them away.

“My darling girl, why do you cry?”

“I don’t know. I just felt so very lucky all of a sudden. As though I had wished for this for a very long time and suddenly it is a wish granted”.

Cole looked deeply into her eyes and saw that she was being quite truthful. She returned his look with no trace of guile or fakery. He had a feeling that this woman was going to be the very reason for his existence. And, in his heart, he knew that she would bring him such happiness as he had never known.

  They stood before the fire wrapped in each other’s arms almost oblivious to the world around them then a knock on the door brought them back to reality. Cole reluctantly broke their embrace and walked over to open the door. Outside stood the Hotel Manager accompanied by a waiter with a trolley of food.

“I am sorry to disturb you Mr. Hampton but you ordered room service”.

“Yes, I did, you can bring it in and leave it in front of the fire” Cole told him.

“Very well, sir” the manager ushered the waiter forward to wheel the trolley over to the fire. Once the trolley was in place, he indicated for the young man to leave and, with a nod in Cole’s direction, followed him from the room. Just before closing the door Cole offered him a tip but the Manager refused so Cole gave it to the young man who had remained standing outside the door. The young man was suitably impressed by the amount and gave Cole a big smile and a little nod of thanks.

 Returning to where Isabella stood waiting, he indicated for her to sit at the table. Once she was seated, he removed the covers from the dishes to reveal what looked and smelt like a succulent meal of Chicken Chasseur. Luckily it was one of her favorite meals. Cole poured wine for her and then sat opposite her and raised his glass. She lifted hers to join him in a toast.

“Here’s to what I feel will be a beautiful future for us. I know that it will be one filled with joy and love”.

She clinked her glass with his and said,

“A future also filled with respect and honesty the two most important ingredients in keeping love alive”.

“I agree” He answered.

Toast made they ate what turned out to be a delicious dinner in perfect company.

When they had finished Cole wheeled the table out into the hall and returned to find Isabella standing in front of the window. Snow was falling again and the city looked just like a Christmas card.

“It looks so peaceful, doesn’t it?” Isabella said.

“Yes, it does. I love the city in the winter. The snow always seems to make the streets look so clean”.

“It is hard to believe that the city is full of crime and sadness when you look at it right now” Isabella sighed as she spoke.

Cole placed his arms around her as though to comfort and protect her. She felt so at peace in his embrace and so safe in his strength. Isabella couldn’t help but be surprised at how fast this was happening. Never before had she felt so safe and secure in the presence of a man she barely, literally, known. Yet here she stood in the room of a man whose name she had learned barely an hour before. Why she felt she could trust him she didn’t know but, trust him she did. It had been a long time since she had trusted anyone but here, she was placing her trust in a stranger. She was either desperate or mad she couldn’t decide which at the moment. And, truth be told, didn’t care.

  They stood quietly watching the snow fall. After a good half an hour she finally turned to him and said,

“Cole, I don’t know what you expect of me tonight, but I will not be staying”.

“I was not expecting anything Isabella. I am quite happy to wait for our love to develop in its own time. Tonight, I will take you home and tomorrow, if you will allow me, I will show you my city the way I see it. I know from your accent that you are not from here so, I assumed, you have not seen a lot of it. Have I assumed incorrectly?”

“No, you are right. I have only been here a few days and have mostly seen the inside of offices and the view from the windows. I would love for you to show me the city”.

“Good, I will pick you up at ten if that is okay”.

“That is perfect. I will be ready promptly at ten” she agreed.

“Dress for walking in the snow” Cole told her,” We will be doing a lot of walking”.

“It’s a good thing I brought warm winter clothing then” she laughed.

He discovered that he loved the sound of her laughter and wanted to hear it a lot. He leaned down and kissed her. He also discovered he loved kissing her and wanted to do it a lot also. So many happy discoveries he was making and hoped she was too. As much as he wanted to take things much further, he wanted to earn her respect more so, with great reluctance, he ended the kiss and stepped back.

“Isabella, if we don’t stop now, I will not be able to keep my word and will be tearing your clothes off. I very much want to make love to you right here and now but, and I am being very sincere, I want to wait until the time is perfect. With this in mind I think it is time for me to take you back to your hotel”

“I have to be honest with you too Cole” Isabella said “I would so very much like to make passionate love to you also, but I do not want to have it seem like it is just sex between us if that makes sense. I want it to be so much more. I know that sounds old fashioned but, it is how I need it to be> So, I am happy for you to take me back to the hotel”.

He reached out and softly ran his fingers down her cheek.

“It sounds just how I feel. We will have plenty of time to make love but making friends is more important to begin with too. I will get your coat and order the car”.

She watched him walk away and took a deep breath. He was so very beautiful that it was taking a supreme act of self-control for her not to rip his clothes off and ravish him here on the carpet in front of the fire. But she wanted it to be so much more than a quickie enjoyed and then over. She wanted this man to be in her life for the rest of her life. So, no matter how intoxicating his presence was she would refrain from sexually assaulting him until she could be sure he wanted to share his life with her.

Cole returned and helped her into her coat. His hand brushed the nape of her neck, and she almost lost all her resolve. Then, to make it even more difficult he brushed her neck with his lips in a deliciously slow kiss. She ducked away and turned to see him grinning like a schoolboy who had just stolen apples from the orchard.

“I can see that life with you is going to be quite difficult in some ways” she laughed.

“Oh, I can promise you that I will make it very difficult in some ways…difficult to imagine it without me, that is” he laughed.

He took her by the arm and led her out the door. They kissed again in the lift, and she almost begged him to take her back and bed her.

Once outside they found the car waiting and got in. The trip back to her hotel took only a little while and when they arrived, he offered to escort her to her room. She declined because she wasn’t sure she could control herself much longer. He took her in his arms again and, kissed her deeply once more in the falling snow before wishing her a good night’s sleep and reminding her to be ready by ten a.m.

She waved him off and, after watching his car disappear from sight, walked slowly into the hotel. Tomorrow seemed a long way off.

Before she went to sleep Isabelle arranged for an early morning wake-up call and checked her diary for any appointments. Luckily, she only had one and that one could be deferred until the following day. After leaving a message for her aide to change the appointment she made herself a coffee and stood at the window while she drank it. Looking out at the city she thought how beautiful it looked swathed in snow and Christmas lights. She had never expected that her visit to this magnificent city would result in such a life altering encounter.

Her life, she knew, would never be the same and though she should feel somewhat scared she was not. This, in itself, was surprising. She had always been fearful of great changes in her life and this man was going to be a very great change to everything. This she knew for a fact yet, she felt calm and secure in this knowledge. She should be questioning her feelings but for once she was just going to trust her instincts.

Isabelle finished her coffee and, after putting her mug back on the trolley, made her way to the bathroom to shower before bed. As the warm water flowed over her, she closed her eyes and was unsurprised when Cole’s face appeared in her mind. She again marveled at his beauty. She truly had never seen a man about whom she could use the word beautiful until now. His black as night hair contrasted so startlingly with his bright blue eyes, one of which had a curious brown fleck, Eyes that were edged with lashes that any woman would kill to possess. She knew the softness of his full lips and the tender way he held her face in his hands would never be matched by those of any other.

With these images still in her mind she finished showering and made her way to bed. As she laid her head upon her pillow, she knew that he would dominate her dreams tonight and, she predicted, all her nights from now until her death. Sleep was not long in claiming her as she was completely exhausted from this night of emotional surprises. As she drifted off, she wondered what Cole had planned for tomorrow. Then realized that no matter what they did she would be happy that they were doing it together. This Christmas was turning out to be the one that would see all her dreams come true.

As Cole’s car pulled away, he couldn’t resist looking out of the back window. He saw her wave and almost waved back until he remembered that she couldn’t see him through the tinted window. He watched her walk into the hotel and turned back around thinking that she had looked so beautiful in the light from the streetlamp. The snow had reflected the light up to her face and she had looked luminescent in its glow. He could not believe that such a short time before he had been utterly fed-up with this whole Christmas thing.

She was going to make this Holiday the best he could ever have hoped for. Before he knew it they had arrived back at his hotel. It occurred to him suddenly that it might be a good idea if he arranged for Isabella to have a room here rather than the one, she was currently staying in. Of course, it would depend on whether she agreed to this plan but, it would make things so much easier, and his hotel was much more comfortable too. He would broach the subject with her the next day and hopefully she would agree.

Thinking of the next day he had better plan where he was going to take her. He didn’t want to show her the usual tourist haunts but rather the places he had loved hanging out. He was now quite familiar with this city and it’s out of the way places. But before he sat down top plan the day, he wanted to see the Manager regarding a suite for her. Hopefully there was one close to his own. Although, thinking about that he wasn’t sure having her too close was such a good idea. It would make it incredibly hard to keep his word about letting their physical relationship take its time. Oh, well, he would just have to deal with it like a man.

The driver pulled up in front of the hotel and came around to open the door. Cole climbed out, thanked him, and went into the foyer. The manager, as luck would have it, was standing at the desk. Cole promptly asked about a suite for Isabella and was told that there was indeed a suite available on his floor. Making tentative arrangements to hold it open for her he thanked the Manager and went up to his own suite. He had work to do to organize the tour with Isabelle. Hanging his coat and scarf on the stand inside the door and dropping his keys on the table he crossed to the bar and poured himself a scotch.

What an incredible night it had been. He had only gone to the restaurant because it had been his friend’s birthday but had not really wanted to go. He had almost cancelled at the last minute but felt too guilty. Standing here in front of the roaring fire he breathed a sigh of relief that he had decided to attend after all. If he had not, he would have failed to meet the most fascinating woman he had ever known. This would have been a tragedy of Homerian proportions. At least to him it would have been. Now he stood here thinking of her and how she was going to change his life forever.

He moved to the bedroom and after showering got under the covers. As he closed his eyes and waited for sleep to claim him, he played back the kisses they had shared earlier. Her lips had been soft and pliable and made, it seemed, to fit his to perfection. Never before had he felt so much emotion tied to the kiss of a woman. But then she was no ordinary woman. She had looked at him across the restaurant and, in the moment their eyes met, she had captured his heart and soul. There would, no, could be no other for him. She was the part of him he had not known was missing. She was his past, present and future, his perfect partner, his greatest love.

As he drifted off, he had one last thought. This Christmas fate has given me the greatest gift of all….my forever love.  

In the morning Isabelle was ready well before Cole was due to pick her up. Dressed and ready to go an hour before needed she was busy killing time looking around the gift shop in the foyer. While browsing in the jewelry section she overheard two women talking. One was saying to the other,

“Did you hear about Cole Hampton?”

“No, what is it this time”.

“Apparently, he was seen leaving this very hotel last night with a mystery woman and a very beautiful woman at that. I dare say there will be some noses out of joint this morning” she said laughing.

“Oh yes there will be” the other woman replied,” Some very out of joint noses indeed”.

“I can’t wait to read the gossip columns and find out who she is. I dare say they will have all her details by now”.

“I feel sorry for anyone who falls for Cole Hampton. She will have to live with all the paparazzi following them everywhere. Not to mention the women saying awful things in the press”

“I know. Some women will be so hateful because they are not in her place. Cole is a very desirable man. Not that I am interested in that way of course. I just hope she is a strong woman and can handle being the center of all that attention. I know I couldn’t!”

“No! I couldn’t either dear. I have known Cole’s family for years and he is a very nice young man. I really hope this one is stronger than the last one. Such a shame that she left him because she couldn’t handle the life”.

“Those awful reporters and photographers follow Cole everywhere. They are no better than rabid dogs. Oh, Lord I hope she is a strong girl. Cole deserves to find love”.

“Yes, he does dear! Yes, he does”.

Isabella didn’t mean to listen in on a private conversation, but she was caught behind a display case and simply decided to stay put. Now that she had heard them talking, she was glad she had stayed there. So, people had described her as beautiful! She blushed at the thought but, in a way, felt flattered. She knew Cole was very popular with the ladies because she had seen them fawning all over him at the party. He had seemed decidedly uncomfortable in that situation, and she had felt sorry for him. That was when he had turned and seen her watching him and, well, here she was killing time waiting for him.

Just as that thought came to her, she spotted him through the window of the shop. Feeling like she was walking to the love of her life she made her way over to where he was waiting. He looked so very handsome in his winter coat and scarf. She saw flakes of snow caught in his beautiful black curls and couldn’t help smiling. He spotted her and walked towards her with a cat-like grace that almost made her swoon. How could she have caught the eye of such a man as he? This would remain a mystery to her for as long as she lived. As too would the feeling of utter gratitude to the fates, for bringing this perfect being into her life.

Cole turned and saw Isabella walking towards him and, for a second, forgot how to breathe. She was stunning. Her long black coat and fur hat were the perfect foil to her golden hair and green eyes. He wanted to kiss those full red lips, so he did. Right there in the foyer of the most popular hotel in the city. The fact that prying eyes were everywhere bothered him not at all. She tasted of cinnamon coffee and was delicious. He could have stood there all day kissing her, but he lifted his lips reluctantly from hers and stepped back.

“I could go on kissing you forever”.

“And I you” Isabelle replied breathlessly.

“I don’t think that this is the right place to do so though” Cole said.

“No”

“Then we had better leave and begin the tour of the city that I promised you. I have so much to show you so many places that I love and hope you will come to love too”.

“I am sure I will Cole”.

Neither of them questioned the idea that she was going to stay in the city. She, in particular, had not imagined that her business trip would end in her beginning a new life in a new city with a man she had met only the night before. Many would think her quite mad but, and this amazed even her, she knew deep in her soul that this was the right thing to do. She felt, beyond any doubt that Cole would never hurt her or give her reason to doubt him. There was no logic to what either of them felt. But, then again, when has love ever been logical?

This was, and of this she was sure, the beginning of something so rare, so precious that she could not, no would not, risk losing it. She felt her heart skip a beat as she looked at him and he smiled that devastating smile that was for her alone. She smiled back and, to those around them, it seemed as though they were sharing a wordless secret known only to them. She made a promise to herself that she would never give him any reason to stop loving her. This was her once in a lifetime love and she was going to make it last forever. 

Cole reached out and she placed her tiny hands in his big, strong ones and looked deep into her eyes. He knew that she was placing more than her hands there she was placing her trust in his hands. He vowed to himself that he would never break that trust in any way. She was far too precious to him to ever risk her love. She stepped to his side and together they walked out into the falling snow. More than this they stepped out into their future life together. As they walked along the sidewalk arm in arm a street choir began to sing, Looking Through the Eyes of Love. It seemed the perfect song for the beginning of what was perhaps the perfect day.

                               

                                  📖✵‿➹⁀❤️‿➹⁀✵‿➹⁀❤️‿➹⁀✵📖

 

Third Times A Charm

 

Bridget

 

 

Bridget Huntington stood near the window in her 10th storey office and looked out over the Melbourne skyline laid out before her. Below, cars, buses and trams ferried people across the city as they went about their daily lives, not giving a shit about her, what she was doing or the fight she was about to have. She sighed.

She liked Melbourne well enough but just lately, she would have rather sat at her desk and looked out the same window, only to see London or Paris. If her father came to the party and accepted her proposal, then there was every chance this would become a reality. The thing was, Donald Huntington was a hard man to please and even harder to get to accept ideas that weren’t his own; especially if they came from her.

While she was sure that deep down her father loved her, Bridget knew that wasn’t enough for him. No matter how hard she tried, anything she did was never good enough in his eyes. She worked harder than most of the other employees; her older brother included, brought in new clients, and went over and above what was required, yet Donald never gave her the credit due. It hurt to know that it all came down to the simple fact that he could not get past the fact that she resembled her mother.

It had always seemed to be a trigger, something that Donald couldn’t look past; losing the love of his life; to see that his daughter was her own person, with her own hopes and dreams and personality. He also seemed to forget that Bridget had lost a mother at the same time but then, he had always been a self-involved sort of man.

‘Time for that to change’ Bridget thought resolutely as she backed away from the window and grabbed her phone. ‘My idea will not only save us money but bring in bigger and better clients. It’s a win-win’. The trick now was to get her father to not only listen to her proposal but actually give it some real consideration and not just dismiss it out of hand because it had come from her.

Bridget had taken the elevator up to the 12th floor to her father’s office, thoughts of Paris at Christmas time buzzing in her mind. How wonderful it would be to be in the city of love at her favourite time of the year. It would be even more wonderful if she had someone amazing to share it with but for now, it was all about getting herself there.

Some forty odd minutes later, she was storming back out of her father’s office, slamming the door for good measure. The fact that Moira Duncan; Donald’s personal assistant; and Billy Archer; the office gopher; were standing at Moira’s desk, both looking at her with a range of emotions on their faces didn’t help her mood.

‘Great; just fucking great’ she fumed, not even bothering to acknowledge either of them as she stomped over to the elevator. Moira had worked with her father long enough to know better than to spread gossip about what she might or might not have heard just now but Billy, well…given he was all over the business every day delivering mail or running errands, there was every chance word would soon spread that the Big Man and his daughter had had heated words.

Not that Bridget gave a flying fuck. She was leaving, something she had just informed her father of. He had laughed and thought it a joke, but the joke was going to be on him when she was gone, possibly taking some of his clients with her. If only he could see she was his best asset and not just think of her as a painful reminder; or even worse, just a girl; then this meeting might have gone a lot better. Instead, he had tried to fob her off, telling her it wasn’t the right time or maybe it was something David, her brother, would be better suited for. The only thing her big brother was suited for was spending the family money on booze and women.

By the time Bridget got back to her office, she so desperately wanted to punch something, or someone, preferably her father. It would achieve nothing, she’d likely come off second best and he wasn’t worth it, so she didn’t do it, but the thought never left her mind for long. Instead, she called for an Uber before having her assistant Kellie find a couple of empty boxes, so she could pack up only the things important to her. Things like a photo of her mother as a young girl, her laptop, some client files for the biggest commissions she had worked on and even the small plant sitting on the corner of her desk.

Once she was done, Bridget had Kellie help her take the two boxes downstairs so she could wait for her ride. The young girl hated to see her go but like Donald, assumed it was a temporary thing, which is why she didn’t get overly emotional at saying goodbye before heading back inside. As she waited for her ride, Bridget looked back at the building she had spent the last ten years working her ass off in. Part of her was sad at leaving but that part was overshadowed by the other part that was relieved. Finally, she had made the decision that was to change her life in a way she had never imagined. Finally, she had decided to take her life and future in to her own hands and begin anew. As the car moved away from the building and began its journey to her apartment she did not look back. Her mind turned to what she must do to begin a new life away from the pain and conflict that had formed her daily life at her father’s company. Never again, she vowed, would she be subjected to the belittlement and embarrassment that he had subjected her to for all those years. From now on any company, she gave her time and talent to would be her own.

Her mind was so caught up in these thoughts that she was surprised when the driver announced that they had arrived at her home. She thanked him and got out of the car. The driver came around to the back and aided her in getting the boxes inside. She thanked him and he left. The doorman greeted her and called for someone to help her get the boxes up to her apartment. Once inside she tossed her bag onto the sofa and went over to the bar. She got herself a stiff drink and made her way to the balcony.

Looking out over the city that she had spent her entire life in she tried to clear her mind of all that had happened in her father’s office. The mean and nasty words he used to belittle her efforts and the bitchy retorts that she had flung at him. She knew that all the cursing in the world would never be enough to express how angry and hurt she was. No amount of fighting with him would make him see that she was as good at her job as any male. He refused to see her as an equal to her brother. She knew that it was because he simply could not get beyond her resemblance to her mother. This would always be his trigger. When he had lost the love of his life he had never come to terms with that loss. Bridget was a constant reminder of that loss, and she knew it. Still, she could not forgive him the fact that she had lost her too. Bridget knew that brooding over this was not going to make things any different or any better. She had to get her mind focused on something more important. Right now, that was deciding what she was going to do next.

Once back inside she made her way to the kitchen and, rather than get another stiff drink opted for coffee instead. Cup in hand she headed for her computer and sat down ready to work. Knowing that the only possible direction for her to go was in starting her own business her next decision was where she would do so. In her mind she went over the possible states she could move to. She wanted to be somewhere as far away from her father’s influence as possible. The furthest from Victoria would have to be Perth. So, opening her search page she began looking at living and working options in that city. She was interrupted in her search by the sound of her phone ringing. Picking it up she saw that it was her friend Anastasia. She did not really want to talk to anyone tight now but, the distraction might be exactly what she needed.

Picking up her phone she answered the call with,

“Hey, Annie, how are things with you?”

“Things are great over here. How about you?”

For a few seconds Bridget did not know whether she should tell her friend everything that had happened but, they had known each other since their days at Melbourne University and, she knew that her friend would be able to hear it in her voice that something was up. She decided to tell Annie everything. After she did there was silence for a moment or two. Then Annie said,

“Well, you really have had a bad day. Okay, let’s put or heads together and see what we can come up with. You know they say two heads are better than one”

“Thank you, Annie. I can always rely on you to be there for me”

“Of course, I will be. You are my friend. Need I say more? So, what have you been thinking of so far?”

Bridget told her that she had decided to open her own PR company and where she had been thinking of. Like Perth. Annie asked why Perth? Bridget told her she wanted to get as much distance as she could from her father. Annie paused for a moment and then said,

“Look, I know everything has happened so fast and your head is probably spinning so, what about you come over here to London and take a couple of weeks break. It will give you the time and space that you need to get yourself sorted out. You can stay here with me”.

Bridget had to admit that it sounded tempting. In fact, the more she thought about it the better it sounded.

“That sounds like a great idea, Annie. I am going to take you up on that offer”

“Great. Okay, I will message you with my address. Let me know when you are coming,

and I will meet you at the airport. I am so glad you have decided to visit here. You and I have not spent any close time together since Uni. I am so looking forward to having you here with me. What do you think about getting into some of the mischief we used to back in the day?” Annie laughed.

“Oh God, I think not” replied Bridget. “But I am definitely up to having some fun, I will let you know as soon as I have organized things over here. I would like to get there as soon as possible”.

After chatting for a few more minutes Bridget hung up the phone and leant back in the chair. It seemed to her that the call from Annie had come at a most opportune moment. Now she had something to spur her on. And now all she had to do was get her packing done, book a flight and let her building manager know that she would be away. First things first. Picking up her phone again she almost punched in the number for the hangar of her father’s private jet but, stopping just before dialling she realized that, since she had quit the company using that jet would not be an option. This was just one of the things she would not be able to take for granted. She would not be staying at The Londoner Hotel nor would she be using the driver service to get around. Well, she thought, this is what my independence is going to cost me. And it is a price that I am more than willing to pay.

In the next hour she had booked a flight, informed her building manager and organized to have the apartment protected, and had packed what she thought she would need. After calling Annie and letting her know her flight arrival time she took one last look around the apartment to ensure that she had done everything she needed to then she called an Uber and left for the airport. She had no idea that this visit to see her friend would be the trip that changed her life. Nor had she any idea of in what way it would be changed.

Jack

Jack Easton was just getting ready to change so he could go for his normal morning run when his mobile rang. For a moment he thought to ignore the call, wanting to take the run while he had his chance, but the ringing persisted, so he gave in. He had no way of knowing that this particular call was going to be the initiator in a string of events that were going to change his life; for the better. He picked it up just as it rang for the fourth time, noting the name on caller ID was that of his agent, Peter Anders.

“Hey, Peter; you’re calling early. What’s going on?’

“Morning Jack” came a voice that was usually a lot more jovial. “I realize it’s early, but something has just come up and I need to meet with you, sooner rather than later. Any chance you can come down to the office today?”

“Of course; when do you need me there?”

“Sooner really would be best. It’s important.”

It was likely to mean missing out on the run, but Jack knew that Peter wouldn’t call just for kicks. Maybe he could cab it downtown and then run back here, at least getting some running done today. Almost with a sigh of resignation, he replied “I guess I can come down now. You don’t mind if I wear my running gear, do you?” he half joked.

Peter laughed. “Not a problem; it’s only going to be you and me here, so no need to dress formally. Just let Jackie know when you’re here and I’ll come down and join you in my office.”

Jack wondered why he wouldn’t already be in his office, just not enough to ask. “Okay, I’ll see you shortly.”

“Thanks Jack, I appreciate this.” With that, Peter hung up.

Although he had joked with his agent about showing up in his running gear, Jack was still a little to set in his ways to show up to a meeting in casual clothes; even if it was just going to be him and Peter; which is why he changed into a nicer pair of slacks and a jumper, stopping on his way out to pick up his jacket. After hailing a cab on the street, he was soon on his way.

While the driver weaved in and out of the mid-morning traffic, Jack tried to think what could possibly be so important. There was no point getting worked up about it but that didn’t stop the nerves all the same. In the early days of his career, getting a call like this meant he had either been re-cast into a lesser role, fired or the job had just been cancelled. He certainly hoped it was none of these options today.

It was a fairly short trip and before he knew it, Jack was downtown and heading into the building where Peter held his office, away from the main studio. Jackie was there to greet him and after the usual pleasantries, she paged her boss, who appeared five minutes later.

“Good morning, Jack; thanks for coming in. I do appreciate it.”

“Not a problem. What’s this all about, anyway?”

“Let’s go into my office and I’ll explain everything.”

Peter placed his hand on the younger man’s shoulder and ushered him up the hall a little way towards his office. Once inside, he ushered Jack to a chair and then proceeded around the desk to sit in his own. Despite having said the meeting was important, Peter still took a moment to gather his thoughts before he spoke.

“Ok. I have some news for you, about Eye of the Beholder. You’re not going to like it but before I tell you, let me just preface it by saying that I did argue for a better alternative, only I was outvoted.”

Jack’s hackles were raised almost instantaneously. Was that a hint of fear in Peter’s eyes? Surely not. Just how bad was this news, anyway? Rather than keep speculating, he waited for his agent to finish.

“I found out late last night that Rose has had to withdraw from the film.”

“Why? Is she okay?”

“Yes, yes; she’s fine. It turns out that because this movie was brought forward a couple of months, she can’t do it because she’s booked elsewhere. Her agent had signed her on, believing there was going to be enough time between that one ending and ours starting but now there’s too big an overlap. If she hadn’t started the other movie, it might have been ok, but she’s already invested at least six weeks, so…”

Jack sighed. It’s not unheard of that things like this happen; the movie business was notorious for not running like clockwork 100% of the time.

“Ok, so if Rose can’t be here, what happens now? Please tell me they’re not going to cancel the movie?” He hoped not; it was a role he had been looking forward to playing for months now.

“No, the film is going ahead as planned. They just re-cast the lead female role.”

When Peter stopped and didn’t look like he was going to offer up the rest, Jack was a little pissed off. The man really knew how to draw something out, rather than rip off the band aid quickly.

“For fuck’s sake, Peter; just tell me already. You did have me rush down here because this was important.”

Despite already having a sense of what his client’s reaction was going to be, Peter did in fact tell him. 

“The studio has picked Mariah Wilkerson to play the part. I seriously tried to offer up anyone else, but I was always shut down.”

“Like fuck they did!” Jack almost roared. “Please tell me you’re not serious.”

“I’m afraid I am, mate.”

“Jesus fucking Christ” he cursed again before getting out of his chair to start pacing the room. It took a lot for him to be pushed into pacing and swearing but Mariah Wilkerson was just one of those people that pushed his buttons – all the wrong ones.

The agent thought to try and calm his client, but he had known Jack a lot of years now and let him pace and vent. As a rule, the man was usually slow to boil over, preferring to instead keep it all in. This self-control helped make him into a fine actor but at what cost? Peter was surprised his friend hadn’t had an aneurysm up to this point in his life.

While he still paced and his face was still twisted in anger, Jack said “Peter, this is a fucking joke, it must be. You know the trouble she caused the last time we worked together. That movie tanked quicker than the Titanic. Who was the bright spark that decided she should be Rose’s replacement?”

Remaining in his seat; more to give Jack room to pace than a need to be comfortable; the older man sighed. “I do remember, actually. Cost me a pretty penny, it did. First time I invest in a movie and that bitch does what she did. But like I say, it was out of my hands, no matter how many times I pointed out all the things that were likely to go wrong.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“Richard.”

Jack didn’t need for his agent to spell it out; Richard Wesley was on board to direct this movie and was also an executive producer. The man knew what he was doing and had the Oscars to prove it, but he was also a man who let his dick make a lot of his decisions, hence, Mariah.

“Right; now I understand. I’m guessing if she got the part that they’re still dating, then? I thought he had come to his senses after she slept with one of the stunt guys on her last movie?” The look his friend gave him spoke volumes. Calming but only slightly, Jack sat back down.

“This is why I was reluctant to sign on for this movie when you first presented it to me; the chance that they were together, and she’d be on set all the time. Well, now she is but as an actor, not the director’s piece of arse. I should have followed my gut.

” With a sigh that seemed to come from his boots, he added “Fine; I’ll do the job and I’ll do it to the best of my ability. Just be warned; how I’m going to react to her usual shenanigans is up for debate.”

Peter smiled.

“You’re better than that Jack and you know it. Mariah is going to do her best to push your buttons because she knows she will get a reaction. Don’t give her the satisfaction. Besides, you get paid for as long as it takes to make this movie and if she’s going to drag the filming out with all her carry-on, then all the better for you. The Studio clearly has money to burn” he added, under this breath but Jack heard him and smiled back.

Now that the bad news had been delivered, Jack decided it was time to go. He really wanted to punch something and if he didn’t leave it was likely going to be Peter, for giving him the news. Best not burn that bridge.

“I appreciate the heads up, Pete. At least it will give me a couple of weeks before principal photography starts to wrap my head around things.” He stood up and headed for the door, stopping to turn around and shake the hand of the man who was now behind him.

“I’m still going to see what I can do to get them to reconsider but I don’t like my chances” Peter offered. A moment later, he stopped and added “You know what; I just had a thought. With this change, maybe I can renegotiate your contract. I’ll have a stipulation put in that if Mariah does anything to disrupt the normal flow of filming; like being late, not showing up, deliberately tanking her scenes, etc; then you are free to walk away without repercussion. I can’t see why you need to suffer because Richard let’s his dick make major decisions.”

“Thanks for that. Knowing I have an ‘out’ might be the only thing that gets me through.”

Once more they shook hands and then Peter walked his client back to the elevator bank. As the doors closed behind Jack, he wondered how to best begin this renegotiation process. He was getting a headache just thinking about it.

The minute the lift doors were closed, Jack lost his smile. He was practically vibrating he was so angry. It wasn’t unusual for a last-minute replacement to be called in to a movie; it was the nature of the beast. No, what got him so worked up was the fact that Mariah Wilkerson was the replacement. The only reason she got work in the business was because she slept her way up the ladder. Everyone knew it but she didn’t care.; she was working when other, more qualified women weren’t.

Or not working, as the case usually turned out to be. The last time they had worked together, about five years ago, Mariah was often late to set and usually half-cut and when or if she did make it on set, it would take several takes to finish a scene. When she had flirted with Jack and he didn’t reciprocate, she had refused to come out of her dressing room for an hour until he apologized to her. Getting one of the makeup staff fired because she was prettier than Mariah had been the last straw for a lot of people.

It really amazed Jack that she got work at all, costing production a lot more money they had budgeted for with her antics. He just hoped that Peter was able to get his new contract done and signed, so he would at least have a little more protection for when; not if; something happened. He had worked too damn long and hard to get where he was, and he wasn’t going to let someone like that upstart Mariah take it all away from him.

By the time the lift arrived in the lobby, his mood was no better. Jack was also so focused on how he could get out of this movie and save face; he didn’t see the woman trying to get onto the elevator as he was walking out. In his current state, he bumped into her a little more forcefully than a slight bump, knocking her into the control panel.

Any other time on any other day, he would have bent over backwards to apologize to her, make sure he hadn’t hurt her and apologized again. Today, he gave the poor woman a look as though to suggest it was her fault, not his, and kept walking out of the building. Whether she meant for him to hear it or not, the name “Wanker” followed him out.