Premier Deception (19 page)

They stood there, both of them just
looking at each other and smiling. Charlotte said,

“
I was so worried Max. Ronnie
told us that you had run away with Sylvia and I have so much to
tell you. I thought that I would never see you again and get the
opportunity to explain everything.” Max looked into her eyes and
said, “Charlotte, I wouldn’t have gone unless it was an emergency.
You are my priority and I am sorry to have let you down.” “You
haven’t let me down Max but after you hear what I have to say you
will probably think that I am the one that has let you down,” she
said sadly. Max shook his head. “You don’t have to tell me anything
as I already know. Come on let’s go outside and get some fresh air.
We have so much to talk about and much to do.”

They went out into the brilliant
sunshine. As they walked Charlotte noticed that the grounds were
truly lovely and were obviously well cared for. Once they got past
the pool they went through an archway and found themselves in a
walled rose garden. The flowers were in full bloom and a heady
scent filled the air. There were little pathways and benches
strategically placed at intervals throughout. Still they said
nothing and Charlotte wondered where they were going. Once they had
reached the end of the rose garden they went through another
archway and came out onto a huge lawn. To one side Charlotte could
see a huge lake with majestic weeping willows waving gently around
it. Max guided her over to the lake and they both stood there,
taking in the tranquil sight, which was a welcome respite after the
dramas of the past few days.

“It is so peaceful here,” said
Charlotte. “You would never guess that we were in central London.
Do you know who owns this house?” Max nodded and merely said, “I am
sorry for the secrecy but Gloria needed to tell you all of this
herself. I did get your texts but couldn’t reply until I knew what
was going on. Sylvia was in a bad way yesterday and Gloria couldn’t
get away until today so as to avoid any questions from Mitchell.
Sylvia stayed here last night but couldn’t risk phoning anybody to
let them know that she was ok.” He looked very tired and Charlotte
longed to run her fingers through his hair and hold him close but
realised that they were still so far apart. They couldn’t seem to
bridge the gap between friendship and something more and she was
unsure as to whether or not it was what he wanted. Maybe it really
was Sylvia that he wanted but she didn’t think so given Sylvia’s
reaction when she saw Luke.

Looking out on to the lake she said.
“Will you help me with what Gloria has asked? I don’t think that I
can do it without you and it would mean the world to me.” She
looked at him anxiously. “Of course I will help you; there is no
way that I am going to let those evil men get the better of you. We
will work together as Gloria said, and when we have found a way to
bring them down then we can look to the future,” he hesitated and
then added softly, “together.”

That was all that Charlotte wanted to
hear. She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her
shoulders and she could finally relax. Looking around she said, do
you think that this house could belong to the new man that Gloria
has met and wants to spend her life with? I mean who wouldn’t want
to spend the rest of their lives in a place like this?” Max laughed
and agreed saying, “it is truly beautiful, but it is not the only
thing that I am looking at with great beauty.” Charlotte blushed
deeper than a nearby red rose. Max laughed and grabbed hold of her
hand. “Come on, I will take you home to change.” She looked at him
quizzically, “I am sure that you will want to eat tonight,” he said
with laughter in his voice, “and I for one want this day to last a
little bit longer.”

He led her across the
well manicured lawn and around the side of the house where the
garages were. The Bentley was parked in front of a nearby garage
and he opened the passenger door for her.
“
Madam,
”
he said pompously; she
laughed as she sank back into the familiar interior and all of the
tension of the last few days drifted away.

They kept the
conversation light and joked all the way back to
Charlotte
’
s house. There were several
cars parked in the driveway and she said,
“
It looks like Mum
’
s got company.
Come in and I will make you a drink whilst I change. I
won
’
t leave you for long so
don
’
t worry.
”
They headed inside and could hear shrieks of laughter
coming from the living room. Charlotte dreaded what may be inside
but her mother had heard the door and called out,
“
Charlotte is that you? Come on in and meet
everyone.
”

“Don
’
t worry Mum,
”
said Charlotte.
“
Just
popped home to change before going out for dinner.
”
“
Come in and say hello,
”
said Mary. Mouthing
“
sorry
”
to Max and raising her
eyes she pushed open the door. The room was full of middle-aged
women all sitting around drinking tea and eating cakes and
biscuits. Her mother was in the centre of it all next to Trudy the
next door neighbour. As they entered silence fell on the gathering
as they spied Max in the doorway looking like he had just stepped
out of a film. Many jaws dropped and there were lots of nudges and
pointed looks to each other. Mary jumped up and warmly greeted
them.
“
Charlotte darling and this is Max
her lovely driver. Charlotte
’
s got a very
high up job in United you know so Max accompanies her everywhere.
You have joined us in the middle of the Willington bi monthly book
club. We are currently reading fifty shades of grey, have you read
it Max? If not we can highly recommend it can
’
t we,
”
she said smiling around
the room.

Everybody laughed and
agreed.
“
You look like you could be in it
Max,
”
said Trudy grinning at the lady
next to her. Charlotte blushed in horror, this was awful whatever
must Max be thinking.
“
Charlotte go on
and get changed you look a mess,
”
exclaimed her mother.
“
It
’
s 5pm and you have no make up
on and that grotty tracksuit. Everyone will think that you have no
standards! Max come and sit next to me and I will pour you a cup of
tea.
”
Max looked like he was trying not
to laugh and as Charlotte closed the door she was mortified to hear
her mother say,
“
Mick
won
’
t know what has hit him when he gets
in tonight after having read this book, I
‘
ve been wondering what to do with the spare room,
”
to screams of laughter and lots of
hilarity.

Oh my God she thought
taking two steps at a time, the quicker I get ready the sooner I
can get him out of here. She quickly showered and threw on a pretty
floral dress with a wide belt and a matching pink cardigan. She
brushed out her hair which had gone wavy from having it up all day
and quickly applied her make up and perfume. She hurried downstairs
and flung open the door to find Scruffy sitting on
Max
’
s lap looking very pleased with
herself. She heard her mother say,
“
what
a lovely accent you have. I love accents, my favourite is that
lovely chef Gino de something. I could hear him speak all day long
and I don
’
t mind the look of him either.
Mick got me the dvd for Christmas and I
’
ve watched it several times; but I
couldn
’
t tell you one recipe from
it.
”
Everybody shrieked with laughter
again and Charlotte was mortified. Max suddenly saw her and his
eyes lit up. Charlotte saw the smiles on
everybody
’
s faces as they witnessed the
look that passed between the two and Mary said in a softer
voice,
“
Get down Scruff, Max has to go
now. Charlotte you look lovely darling. What time will you be home?
Not too late I hope.
”
Once again
Charlotte was embarrassed.
“
No
I
’
ll text you if I
’
m going to be late. Goodbye everybody it was lovely to meet
you, enjoy your book.
”
Max also
said,
“
Thank you for the tea, it was a
pleasure to spend time with so many lovely ladies.
”

Charlotte pulled him
away before they could answer. As they headed out to the car she
said,
“
You flirt Max, you were loving
that attention.
”
They laughed and headed
off to the town.

They decided to eat
in Mario
’
s Italian restaurant and quickly
secured a booth in the corner. They didn
’
t want anyone to see them from the road given that
Charlotte
’
s picture was in nearly every
newspaper after her supposed fling with Luke. Once they had ordered
they talked about what had happened with Gloria that day.
“
I feel so sorry for her,
”
said Charlotte.
“
Imagine being
married to a brute like that, I bet she can
’
t wait to leave him.
”
They
pondered this as they knew that it would mean their jobs were
over.
“
We must help her and do as much as
we can to keep the share prices up. Luke can concentrate on the
game and try to keep us from losing as much as possible but we have
got our work cut out.
”
Suddenly Charlotte
heard her name being called and turned to see Allison and her
husband coming towards them.
“
Charlotte,
Max are you ok? said Allison.
“
There
’
s so much talk at the club
about you, Luke, Ronnie and Sylvia!
”

Charlotte
said,
“
It
’
s all
lies though, Luke and I are just friends and colleagues and Sylvia
had a row with Ronnie so Max helped her by driving her to a
friends. I think that she is back now though.
” “
Oh thank goodness,
”
said
Allison.
“
I was so worried for you all
and when you didn
’
t come in after
training I thought something must be wrong.
”
Charlotte looked at Max and said,
“
Max do you mind if we ask Allison and Dave to join
us?
” “
Not at all,
”
he smiled.
“
It
’
s just that we have a lot of work to do and we need ideas
as to how to raise the profile of the club. Dave
you
’
re in advertising
aren
’
t you? Would you be able to give us
some ideas? I am sorry to ask and I will of course pay for your
meal.
”
Charlotte suddenly realised how
cheeky it was but Allison ever the professional said,
“
of course we would love to help.
”

They spent a couple
of hours all discussing ways to help promote the club and bring in
revenue. Dave suggested that they launch a social media campaign to
encourage the younger fans. Charlotte liked the sound of it.
“
We could offer them a free ticket to the match
and to meet their favourite player if they send us a picture of
them wearing the Zodiac Sports kit. We could choose about six
random entries every home game and make a real fuss of
them,
”
she said. This was just one of
several ideas to gather interest and they all really felt that they
had made some headway. After they had finished their coffee Allison
stood up and said,
“
See you tomorrow and
we can start the ball rolling, no pun intended,
”
she laughed. Charlotte thanked them both for all of their
help and then they were alone again.
“
I
hope that you don
’
t mind me inviting
them, it seemed like a good time, but I feel that I have spoilt a
good evening,
”
she said with
regret.
“
Max leaned over and squeezed her
hand.
“
No you didn
’
t there will be plenty more of those. The priority now is
to do our job. Come on I
’
ll pay the bill
and take you home.
” “
No you will
not!
”
said Charlotte earnestly.
“
I will pay the bill, it
’
s the least I can do. After all they are paying me far more
than I could have hoped for after leaving university and I
haven
’
t had a chance to spend any of it
because of the job, at least let me spend it on you all as a thank
you for helping me out.
”
Max smiled and
gave her another gentle look.
“
It is not
right for the woman to pay in my country no matter how much money
she has. I insist that I must pay otherwise I will be
offended.
”

Charlotte
couldn
’
t say much after that so
grudgingly allowed him to settle the bill. On their way back
Charlotte received a text.
“
It
’
s from Luke,
”
she said and read it out.
“
Hope you are back safely please text me back to confirm.
Gloria and Sylvia are both at home despite me not being that happy
about it. See you tomorrow at training. Oh and delete this text
just in case - Luke.
”
Charlotte
laughed.
“
Anyone would think we were on
mission impossible, but then again maybe we are.
”
Max laughed and said,
“
nothing is impossible for those that dare to dream.
”
Charlotte looked at him in surprise.
“
I never had you down as a poet Mr?
That
’
s funny I don
’
t even know your last name.
” “
What
’
s in a name?
”
said Max,
“
it
’
s irrelevant.
”
Charlotte was surprised; she wondered why he was
so secretive about his name and indeed his whole life really.
However she shrugged it off as she had more important things to
worry about than a surname.