Notice Me (31 page)

Charlie’s doorbell rang just at the second I heard his heart crack.

“Well, you better go to him then,” Charlie whispered furious turning his back to me watching the New York night sky.

I walked towards the door opening it to Will’s driver. He was a big guy dressed all in black. I could tell he wasn’t just a driver as he briefly gave me a wink as he pounded his fists together watching Charlie.

Charlie suddenly appeared at the door pushing me against the wall. I lost my breath and concentration for a short second as he placed his hand forcefully, but tenderly on my face.

“Please Shannon. Don’t do this. I love you,” Charlie begged stroking my face.

“Goodbye Charlie. It was… fun.”

“Shannon, please.”

I pushed Charlie away walking out of his door. “Just get over it Charlie. This is over. I never loved you, move on. Don’t be such a fool with your heart next time.” I left Charlie with tears trickling down his face, pain imbedded deep in his eyes.

My hearted stabbed me deep as I made my way back to my incarceration.

Chapter 22

Will was waiting for me when I returned with a sick sadistic smile on his face.

“So how did it go?” Will asked still packing my belongings.

“How do you think?” I glared as tears filled my eyes.

“Get upset Shannon, but you made this mess yourself, remember that.”

“Will, you are blackmailing me how is that my fault?” I asked angry.

“This
is
your fault. I told you in London I wasn’t sure how I would react. I surprised myself at how I reacted, but it still doesn’t change anything. If I ever see you anywhere near Charlie Collins again it will be the last you ever see of him,” Will replied coldly.

“But my job…”

“I have already informed them. You will work with me at Field Organisation. Downing International will be so furious that we stole you. I mean you made quite a name for yourself in the marketing department,” Will interrupted.

“Will, please don’t do this,” I pleaded touching his hand. “If you loved me you wouldn’t do this.”

Will flinched from my touch, angry. “You have had your fun with Charlie Collins now you have to face the consequences for your actions.” The driver came in and began to take my belongings down to the car. “You have no idea how Megan would feel. What if she had seen you two instead of me?”

“I am sure Megan wouldn’t have threatened to kill Charlie unless I leave him.” I felt a sharp pain hit my face. It didn’t take long to realise Will had slapped me across the face. My face ached with the stinging sensation.

“You need to learn some respect, Shannon.” Will looked at me. He wasn’t affected by slapping me at all. “Just get into the car, Shannon. Our plane leaves soon.”

I moved speechlessly downstairs into the car. Was this my new life now? Being a punch bag every time Will was angry with me?

I sat alone in the back seat as we made our way towards the airport. I found a small compact mirror in the bottom of my handbag. My cheek still ached. I was sure I was getting a bruise. As I held up the mirror my thought had been right. My check was still red, but a faint yellow colour was beginning to appear.

It was too heartbreaking to watch New York disappear in the distance. I focused on my hand bag, playing with the zip opening and closing it.

I was escorted into the VIP’s lounge with speed as we arrived at the airport. Will said nothing. I was sure he had noticed my face and regretted his outburst now.

The lounge was quite busy. A few business men sat reading their newspapers. A group of people were making their way through the complimentary bar. It looked as if it was a singer with his groupies but I couldn’t be sure. I didn’t recognise any of them.

“Do you want a drink?” Will finally asked as he noticed me watching the groupies.

“No,” I said coldly.

“I am sorry about earlier,” Will whispered.

“Are you referring to the blackmail or the bruises on my face?” I spat back.

“Shannon, please.”

“No Will, I have done what you have asked, but do not expect me to be happy about it.”

“My family will be able to tell something isn’t right. I do not want them to suspect anything.”

“I will act perfectly fine with them Will. Just do not expect me to be fine with you because at this moment in time I have never hated anyone as much as you.” Tears were beginning to swell in my eyes.

“I have done this for you. Why can’t you see that? Charlie is not the sort of man you can build your life around. Look at how he treated Megan. I guess the woman he left her for didn’t last either?” Will laughed to himself. I remained silent with the words on the tip of my tongue to wipe the evil smile off his face. “You know I am right. Guys like Charlie are predators. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was using you to get back at Megan seeing as her career has taken off so well.”

“You do not know him,” I whispered.

“Well, he hasn’t made any hero attempt to come and get you. He can’t love you that much.” Will laughed.

“I broke his heart. Why would he come?”

“Shannon, if it was the other way round I would run over hot coals to get to you.”

“Don’t underestimate Charlie’s love. I have just broken his heart like you asked,” I glared at him. Will was about to speak, but something in my eyes made him stop.

Will remembered he needed to make a phone call, he disappeared into the check-in area. It was obviously a call he did not want me to hear.

I sat in the lounge dumbstruck. How had this happened? Yesterday morning I was completely and blissfully in love with my whole life ahead of me. Now I was trapped in a never ending nightmare I would never awake from.

I was so deep in concentration I almost didn’t hear the banging and shouting behind me.

As I turned to see what all the commotion was about my heart burst. What was he doing? Hadn’t I made it clear enough? If Will saw him I didn’t know what would happen.

Charlie was the other side of the glass divide in the waiting area. His hands pressed hard against the glass. I put my face in my hands to force the strength from somewhere. My body had already said goodbye to him. Having to saying it twice I really wasn’t sure my mind would cope.

I got up slowly. Will was still deep in conversation, he hadn’t noticed Charlie yet.

I walked towards the glass divide. Charlie’s hands were still pressed firmly against them as if he was trying to get closer to me. If it was only this glass that was keeping us apart.

“Charlie, what are you doing here?” I pleaded noticing his blotchy blue-green eyes. They were lifeless.

“Shannon, I can’t let you go. None of this makes sense. I know you, remember?” Charlie looked closer into my eyes before he studied my face. “What’s that on your face?” Charlie’s eyes widened in anger.

“Charlie, just go please,” I begged closing my eyes. I needed him to leave. This was so hard every cell in my body wanted to run to him.

“Did Will do that? I am not leaving without you now, Shannon. Something is wrong. What has he done to you?” Charlie shook the glass in anger.

“Charlie, stop this. I am going back with Will. I love him.”

“I don’t believe you. You told me you wanted me forever Shannon. That cannot have changed overnight.” Charlie’s eyes were burning into mine through the thick glass. I could feel the tears begin to appear. Charlie noticed them. “Shannon, please. Let’s talk about this. Just come out of the lounge. I can’t get in. I tried. I haven’t got a boarding pass. They only let me this far.” Charlie leaned down to watch my eyes even closer. The tears began to trickle down my face. I didn’t know what to do. “Shannon, I love you don’t let
them
ruin this.”

Suddenly the glass divide was too much. I needed to be in Charlie’s arms. I didn’t even think about it as I moved towards the glass doors watching Charlie outside waiting for me with a look of hope in his eyes. We could run away now. Jump on a plane anywhere as long as Charlie was safe. Once he knew the whole story Charlie would know what to do.

Before I even reached the doors a tight grip grabbed my arm. “Where do you think you are going? The plane is ready to board now.” Will glared. I could tell he hadn’t noticed Charlie yet. “You weren’t thinking of making a run for it were you?” Will laughed.

“No, I was…” I tried to distract Will, but Charlie was making a lot of noise trying to break through security.

“I did underestimate him,” Will muttered to himself. “You stay here. I’ll get rid of him.”

“Will please,” I touched his arm. “Don’t hurt him. It’s not his fault I…”

“I won’t hurt him. I just want to warn him off myself. It is allowed, seeing as you are
mine
now.” Will touched my face with an evil smirk.

My heart sank as Will walked towards Charlie and the five security men holding Charlie down. I could hardly watch. I had no idea what Will was saying, but Charlie was breaking from the inside by the look on his face. The security men kept hold of Charlie as Will spoke to him. Charlie flinched trying to lurch to hit Will. I ran through the glass doors before it got out of hand.

“Oh, Shannon darling. Please explain to Charlie that you are in love with me not him. He is under some illusion you want to be with him,” Will replied wrapping his arms around me. Charlie saw red, struggling in the security men’s arms.

“Don’t you touch her Will!” Charlie shouted before looking at me softly. “Shannon, please.”

“I’m sorry Charlie. Will is right. I was only coming to tell you to stay away from me.”

Charlie struggled almost breaking free from his hold by the security men as Will led me back into the lounge.

“Shannon! Shannon! NO!… NO,” Charlie shouted his voice breaking. I couldn’t turn to look at him.

“Get over it Charlie. The better man won,” Will chuckled over his shoulder.

“I won’t give up on you, Shannon.”

“Then you are a fool Charlie Collins. If you can’t see that I do not want you and never loved you.” I had to spit the words at Charlie imagining he was Will instead. I turned my glance towards Charlie for a slight second before we disappeared into the departures lounge wishing I hadn’t. Charlie’s tortured face would give me eternal nightmares.

I slept most of the plane journey to numb the throbbing pain in my heart.

We were only an hour from London when I awoke. Will was sat in the seat across from mine watching me.

“Do you have to watch me like that?” I moaned.

“Sorry, it has been a while since I watched you sleep. You looked so peaceful and beautiful of course,” Will smiled.

“It will be the only time I am peaceful. At least in my dreams I get what I really want.” I smiled as I watched Will cringe.

“We used to be happy before Shannon. I am sure we can get it back.”

“Will, what planet are you living on?” Will put his finger to my lips. I knew I was talking too loud, but I really didn’t care. “You have destroyed everything. We can never move on from that.”

“We will have to. I want to marry you, Shannon.”

“You are delusional.”