Me Before You (4 page)

- I understand... - she said. - But ... the proof of my innocence would cause serious damage to your reputation, wouldn’t it?

- As far as the blame - he concluded discouraged.

During the time spent in prison, it was a rare night that Annie was not shaken by violent nightmares, but since she was in Richard's house, she sleep always calmly despite the flu.

That night though, Annie dreamed about Jimmy running from her, and every time she tried to reach him, Frank's figure was blocking her path. She struggled with all her strengths, but it was useless. Desperation in her dream let her to scream. Suddenly she felt two strong arms holding her. She opened her eyes and Richard's image suddenly appeared.

She still thrashed and he held her firmly.

- Wake up, Annie. It was just a nightmare.

Finally, she managed to control herself and realize that she was in bed. Richard was holding her.

- I'm fine - she said her voice still choked with tension.

- Are you sure? You were screaming...

- It was horrible! I tried to reach Jimmy and Frank kept me.

Richard sitting on the edge of the bed, still holding her, and when she wanted to rise still desperately to extricate herself from his arms, the unexpected happened: the baggy pyjama shirt she was wearing didn’t resist the abrupt gesture and bowed almost to the waist, exposing her a second her beautiful breasts.

Richard loosened arms and she came to herself, quickly grabbed the collar of her shirt rising up to the neck, where a slight blush was born, spreading after to the whole face.

He remained motionless for some time, sheepishly, then got up and left without saying a word. Upon arriving in his room, slammed the door shut. He couldn’t understand why he had almost run to get there and even the reason for the fine tremor that weakened his legs.

He was surprised and annoyed by the reaction he had when he saw Annie beautiful breasts. It was not just the fact itself, because in his profession was used seeing naked bodies of beautiful women with utter indifference.

Moreover, he never thought of Annie with sexual interest.

In fact, he loved his wife deeply and, after her abrupt disappearance, it was as if all his feelings had gone with her. In the past three years, he felt no interest in any woman and, as far as he could be aware, thought things would be like this forever.

But in an instant, everything changed.

He took a deep breath to calm his heart which was still beating wildly.

The memory of that night in the park, where he carried her to the car and how it felt to wipe her wet body after starting her nightgown back into his memory. Suddenly he realized that this wasn’t the first time that he was attracted to her.

Then he realized he had been struggling to ignore it until the desire suffocated, to see the lush bust she hurried to cover finally exploded. Simple Annie modesty gesture left in the air a provocative forbidden taste that unwittingly prompted her male instinct.

He almost laughed aloud with the discovery that he had just done: he wished with all senses the woman who hated him. "Could there be anything more ironic?" He thought.

Throughout the night Annie turned from side to side, unable to sleep. The noise she heard, caused by Richard who moved the house, troubling. That night, she clearly saw the desire in his eyes and felt his reaction.

It was easy for her to recognize in men the expression of lust and desire, since it had already been a high model sex symbol. And she couldn’t get the words of Massey out of her mind all the time: "If you could attract this man to our side ..."

At first she didn’t thought about the idea, but now she perceived as she wanted, she thought that this could be an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the situation ... Years ago she was incapable of such an attitude, but time in prison taught that it was valid, especially when it came to survival. And having her son back to her was her ultimate priority.

She sat on the bed, confused with her own thoughts.

- Enough, Annie! - She scolded quietly. - You always behaved as a victim. It's time to change things...

*****

And accommodating the pillow behind her, leaned heavy as she went into deep thinking: "That man ruined my life and made me missing my son now, I will get my son back, whatever the cost!"

Next morning, Annie got up very early. Already she had finished breakfast when the postman arrived with the mail. Eager, she opened one of the envelopes, which contained her name and pulled in a check. By examining its value, she screamed with indignation;

- This can’t be happening... just that?

The lawyer sent an explanatory note justifying that, unfortunately, it was just what the office could afford at the time, however, she should expect the release of the compensation soon, to which she was entitled.

Richard who had just entered the kitchen, he is surprised to see her so angry. And approaching her back, he said peering over her shoulder:

- Not much, isn’t it?

- I bet I can get more social assistance - she said, turning on her feet and stared at the front.

- It might be. But I'm sure if you do have the entire press interested in your history.

- And what can I do? - She asked, gesturing with open arms.

Richard stared uncertainly. An inner voice told him that he was entering dangerous ground and that the best thing would be to let her go. But before he heard the reason, lips parted and he was heard offering:

- You can stay here as long as you want.

She lowered her eyes, pretending to be studying the offer. In fact it was all she needed to hear. She had to carry the plan she draw in her mind overnight.

- And then, you say? - He insisted, with disguised anxiety.

She shrugged.

- All right - confirmed last. - But I'll need some clothes. Would you get the money for me?

He nodded his head and took the check from her, shoving it in one of his pockets.

She didn’t had anything decent to wear to go to the mall, he hastened to fetch some clothes that belonged to his late wife.

- That's all I have left from my wife - said with a sigh, showing a brown sweater and trousers in beige color. - It's a little out of fashion, don’t you think?

- Don’t worry. I don’t really care much about that. - She admitted, recalling the prison uniform she used for so long.

Richard took her to a mall across the city in which he was sure that no one would recognize her.

Annie ran three floors full of sophisticated and well-stocked shops, getting marveling at the tastefully decorated environments. However, it was stunned by the high prices and concluded that she couldn’t buy even half she had planned. Discouraged, she returned to the cafeteria where Richard waited patiently and said:

- Didn’t thought living cost had risen so much in the last three years!

- Didn’t you buy anything? - He pointed out seeing that she wasn’t bringing any bag in her hands.

She sighed despondently:

- With that I would only buy a pair of boots...

Annie ordered a coffee and while she took it, she reminded that when they came to the mall had seen a huge shop selling clothes and second-hand items. With hesitation, Richard asked confused, and couldn’t understand why she wanted to go back the way they had done to get to the mall.

- But why? - He asked, surprised.

- Because I saw a store that sells used clothing – She said - You can make great shopping in a place like this, if we are able to choose.

- Are you sure?

- Of course! You can’t imagine how there are people who give away clothing with just a few hours of using it.

Reticent but he eventually agreed. Basically, he was only admiring the versatility of this woman, who years ago was dressed with modern and expensive clothes and now subjected, without embarrassment, use second-hand items.

Without further ado, they left the mall in search of such store. He has parked the car at the location. She selected some sweaters and pants that could easily be combined with each other, and two social dresses, socks, shoes and two pairs of shoes.

When finished, she still had a small amount.

- Gives for another pair of tennis shoes - he noted. She shook her head.

- I have something else in mind - she said.

Leaving him alone in a male section where he was feeling the fabric of a tie, she disappeared. She didn’t want Richard seeing her buying perfumes and cosmetics. After all, they were the greatest weapons that she would use to entice Richard...

When they got home, she wanted to give him back the borrowed clothes, but he refused, explaining that he had decided not to keep them anymore.

It was late afternoon, Annie was wearing jeans and a shirt with a high collar. In her face, she had discreet makeup, it had seemed quite natural. When she finished, left the room and walked down the hall. The video room door was closed, but she could hear sounds coming from inside, which meant that Richard continued examining the tapes repeatedly. Without making much noise, she went downstairs and went to the kitchen, where she prepared a light meal arranged on a tray.

- I brought you something to eat - she said, knocking on the door of the room where he was.

Richard brought the tray in after thanking Annie, he savored in silence the appetizing snack. She watches him while he kept his attention on food. She couldn’t understand the man who had been so determined to incriminate her and now was spending grueling hours reviewing every file and all information instructed in the process. When he finished, Annie took the opportunity to ask:

- Some progress with the tapes?

- Not much - concluded discouraged. – There is a lack of information in those statements. - And, looking up at her, said: - There is only one way I can help this woman.

- What are you thinking?

He got up and paced the room before answering:

- Interrogate her again.

- Oh no! - She said, putting a hand on her forehead and shaking her head. - You have everything you need in those tapes...

No I haven’t - he stated vehemently. - The interrogations were misguided. Let me do them differently now. - And approaching her, he insisted: - What do you have to lose with it?

She shrugged.

- Whatever I do?

- Come with me - he asked and led the way to the living room.

Accommodated her on the sofa, he pulled out a chair and sat in front of her:

- Let's pretend that we are three years ago – He suggested it, coughed a little bit to clear his throat. Then he asked:

- Do you remember our first meeting?

- Of course I do. I had made a trip to agency where I worked, and when I arrived at the building where I lived, I noticed the police and some people commenting that Tom Phelps had been found dead and, according to the investigation, he was killed the night before. - After a brief pause for breath, she went on - So I went to my flat and soon after I arrived, the bell rang it was you wanting to talk to me.

- And I communicated to you the death of Tom Phelps, asking you to enlighten me about the fight you had with him, in the night he was killed. Do you remember?

She nodded her head and continued.

- I would like you to tell me about that discussion. - She thought for a moment, and then said slowly:

- He had come to the door to warn me that I was late with the rent and I explained that I was a little bit flustered that month, but soon I would pay my debt. That's when he suggested that I could be a good girl...

- And he said exactly what he meant by a good girl?

- No. And it was not even necessary. He had suggested it before. He lived always giving me meaningful glances and weaving malicious comments. He was an abominable man, but I was forced to have contact with him.

She sighed to ease all she had been trough.

- If so, why didn’t you rent a flat elsewhere? - He asked curious.

- I tried, but there was none that I could afford. Phelps was a cheap rental so I cheer to stay. He never lost hopes of conquering me. So ... - And ended with a lament: - It left me no alternative but to continue living there.

- What about your husband?

- He never helped financially and he acted that way to force me to give him Jimmy.

- And where was your son the night of the fight with Phelps?

- He was in a schoolmate house and stayed there the next night too, because I needed to travel.

- What kind of trip?

- What I have to do as a personal assistant on a business trip.

- Personal assistant executives? - He asked with an air of reproach.

- Let me explain before you misunderstand it - before taking a short breath. - My service consisted only of socially accompany clients in meetings, nothing else. I never accepted extra services that were offered me if we can call them that.

- And wasn’t there a different work you could do?

- Like what? I lost my parents very early and was forced to abandon my studies. The only thing I learned was to be a model, when I had my son, I took the first opportunity that arose. I really didn’t care what service was provided it was honest and I won enough to keep Jimmy. Oh - she recalled – there was also a nozzle in a fashion magazine.

- You're forgetting that we are simulating this interview as if it were three years ago? It is important that we pretend we had just met.

- It's what I would not? - She teased glaring at him. – That’s your entire fault things disappeared so suddenly, as if by magic?

She didn’t want start crying again, but the suppression of those three years of bitterness, she suffered in that horrible place, made her feel start again.

- But it’s important and we need to go back in the day, as if nothing had happened. We don’t need to put blame on anyone. I want to clear my mind and maybe even discover some details that have been omitted at the time. For this, we need to pretend that nothing happened and that I'm just running out to meet you. Do you get it now? - He shouted, his voice coming through the half-closed teeth.

- Oh, it's that so ... So in this case, there are some important changes should I do... Wait a minute.

And she was gone from the room to reappear half an hour later, fully transformed into a dress and glued to the body that showed her perfect curves. The daring neckline allowed a partial view of the bulky and stiff bust, pronounced make-up, and the exquisitely combed hair on her head, give her the touch of a desired glamour.

- That wasn’t necessary - he protested, with open lips, caused by her the wonderful appearance.

- It was yes. You said you wanted to repeat everything from the beginning? - She joked, as she sat on the couch and crossed her legs, up a little dress bar and leaving the shows black nylons and extremely provocative. - If you wanted to faithfully reproduce the interview from that day, we needed to bring back Annie Pearce. The woman you hated from the first moment...

"I hated?" He repeated in thought. Hating was at that time the whirlwind of emotions she teased him. At that time he had been indifferent to that stunning beauty because his heart was buried. But now, the mere presence of that woman seemed to invade him unmercifully in every way, turning up his strong desire that he could suppress only at cost.

*****