The Braille Club (The Braille Club #1) (14 page)

Desperate to work for him, she sensed he would bring out the best in her work. And she badly wanted to get to know him better. He was so aloof; she knew he was single and had a little sister because everyone in the office had told her, and that he was a twin. She found that hard to believe, and wondered if they were identical. The car moved forward, crawling through the London traffic, but they were making good progress and would arrive hopefully within the next fifteen minutes.

Chapter 27

THE BRAILLE CLUB

Braille Club, London, Present Day: All E Key Holders are demanding, famous, and extremely rich. They splutter and complain about the inflexible booking system and timed access codes. Spoiled and pampered, they are used to getting what they want…when they want. The Braille Club is a shock to their system. Benedict’s response is to shock them further…termination of membership and a full refund should they fail to comply. Outraged, they toy with the idea, but with the taste of Braille on their lips, they ultimately acquiesce.

London, 2012

Siena

Siena saw Benedict arrive, driven by a stunning girl, and gasped as she leaned over him, thinking she was about to kiss him, but instead she popped the door open. Siena was the private investor. She had been working on the project for over six months now and hoped to become Benedict’s future partner. GFH Limited was her company; a broker had introduced her to Benedict’s proposal. He needed funding and a financial partner, and she needed a new venture. She hadn’t connected Benedict with the project as he had formed a new company. Her interest was aroused when she received the plans of the proposed redevelopment of the large building to a private members club. Braille was also on her mind. The design was remarkable, and Siena felt excited by the project. She employed the best risk assessors to compile viability reports; it was feasible, but the build had to be competitively priced.

Benedict had expanded into construction over the last few years and his track record for bringing builds in on time and on budget was the best in the industry. Nervous and unsure, Siena wondered what would happen when Benedict saw her…well, she’d soon find out. The empty building was chilly, and she wore a long coat to keep her warm. Her phone started to vibrate, and she saw with annoyance it was Nick; this was the tenth time he had called her today. Between that and randomly dropping into her office, she was beginning to feel like he was checking up on her. Her voicemail kicked in, and after a couple of seconds, another vibration indicated a message. With a sigh, Siena clicked on her phone to listen, but couldn’t make out what he was saying as his voice kept breaking up. She put her phone away in her bag. She felt her stomach flip over but steeled herself to continue, her hand outstretched.

***

Benedict

Benedict was also a little nervous about today’s meeting. He would prefer a finance partner going forward, to give him continuity and reliability as opposed to dealing with various banks and financiers all looking for different sorts of criteria. Today was his first face to face meeting, and he wanted to make a good impression. He noticed the figure at the end of the room and was a little surprised it was a woman. How did he feel about that? Very positive in fact, he enjoyed working with women; but felt his smile falter as the figure turned around and approached him. Surprise made him freeze.

“Benedict, how lovely to see you again,” she said. When he took her hand, a shock passed through him, such was his reaction.

“Siena, you didn’t tell me you were involved with this project.” His voice was stiff and brittle.

“You never gave me the chance,” said Siena coolly. “You made a request, and I followed it,” her voice sounded hurt.

“What’s your role within GFH Ltd.?” Benedict asked coldly.

“It doesn’t matter, I can see working with me would cause problems for you,” Siena replied angrily.

It was at that moment Ava strode into the room holding three large coffees, stopping in front of Benedict. The atmosphere in the room was extremely tense, and Ava hesitated before giving Benedict his cup. Smiling, she turned towards Siena, proffering the coffee. Siena didn’t return the smile and didn’t take the coffee.

“I won’t take up any more of your time, Mr. Harrison,” she said, reaching for her bag as she tried to ignore her crushing disappointment. She turned and strode towards the exit, her face burning; she could feel tears threatening, and it took every piece of control not to break into a run.

Benedict stood there, his brain unable to process what’d happened. He quickly tapped GFH Ltd. into his phone, but his signal was weak, and the internet wouldn’t load. The broker he had been dealing with was meticulous in protecting the investor’s identity, assuring him that full disclosure would be forthcoming if all went well with the face to face meeting. In fact, the company name had only been revealed to him today, when the meeting had been scheduled. Benedict felt angry; almost six months of work for nothing. He was back to square one, and he wasn’t happy.

“Er, Benedict, are we waiting for anyone else?” asked Ava nervously. She could tell something had gone badly and her boss was in a foul mood.

“No,” he said tersely. He glanced around at the shell he hoped he would be refurbishing and felt another surge of anger. “Let’s go back to the office.”

Ava helped him gather up his drawings and lifted his laptop. They left and made their way to the car in silence, Benedict barely noticing the traffic as he searched the internet for any information on GFH Ltd. As he read, he couldn’t get Siena's hurt face out of his head. Ava navigated the car through the traffic. Benedict was preoccupied and moody. They rode together in silence. She covertly looked at him whenever she could. Ava pulled up at their building and Benedict got out and slammed the door, not even saying thank you or goodbye as he walked inside. She was left to park the car and lug all the kit upstairs. Her face like thunder, Ava staggered out of the lift, her arms full.

Benedict was on the phone in his office, desperately trying to contact the broker. GFH Ltd. was not only highly successful, but cash rich, a developer’s dream, and he had just sabotaged his chances of funding. As it was now after five p.m., Benedict reluctantly put the phone down. His office worked eight-thirty till five, his staff happy to work later when needed. He had seen himself working till after midnight if deadlines were looming, ordering take out for any employees who had stayed on to help. This didn’t happen very often; he wanted his employees fresh and motivated, not drained and exhausted. The office began to empty, and Ava popped her head round his door.

“Fancy a drink? A couple of us are heading round to the local,” she said breathlessly.

She had changed out of her office clothes. Benedict admired her skin-tight jeans, killer heels, and the chiffon blouse that revealed the lacy bra he had spied earlier. Her lips coated in gloss, her dark hair loose around her shoulders in soft waves, she was stunning. He hesitated, but office affairs were not a smart move, even he knew this, although his attraction to Ava surprised him. He declined the offer, real regret in his voice; he could do with a drink right now. Disappointed, Ava mustered a weak smile.

“Well, you know where we are if you change your mind.”

“I might just do that,” said Benedict, smiling, knowing he wouldn’t.

Ava beamed at Benedict. She couldn’t stop smiling as she turned and closed the door, pausing to check her reflection before joining the rest of the team.

Benedict lifted his mobile and scrolled through his contacts until he found Siena’s number. He owed her an apology; he had been shocked to see her at the meeting, especially after the complications of Marbella. But if she was a genuine investor, he would have to overcome their issues. Why did she keep popping up in his life?

He needed to speak with her, get everything out in the open, though still furious about her treachery—could he even trust her? He had so many unanswered questions. He sighed as he heard her voicemail, and he left another short message asking her to call him but felt instinctively that she wouldn’t.

An idea was forming in his head as he walked through to Trish’s domain. He knew her system; she had three trays marked high priority, priority, and low priority. Old fashioned, no one he knew even had mail trays anymore, but Trish swore by it, and to date it had never let her down. He started to rifle through the low priority pile until he saw the cream envelope and pulled it free from the rest of the papers. He left a note telling Trish he needed it after all and slipped it into his pocket. Turning out his office lights, he locked up and headed into the elevator, missing Ava by seconds.

Chapter 28

THE BRAILLE CLUB

Braille Club, London, Present Day: Elysian members benefit from a complimentary shuttle service, the blacked out windows of the executive car obscuring their identities as they travel to Harrison’s. Unless they arrive with a partner, they are alone in the car park as they make their way to the lift. Inserting their card, they are whisked upwards to the Elysian reception and the E-Suites. They must use their card again to open the double doors that greet them. The bells ring as they enter and approach the desk. They anxiously look around them in case of discovery, but they are alone as they hold their card and key tightly in their hand.

London, 2012

Siena

Siena burst out of the building and started to run. She was desperate to hear Benedict behind her calling her name, but as she reached her car and sat inside, she could see the road was empty. She was in traffic within ten minutes but found she had to pull over as the tears streamed down her face, making driving impossible. Her mobile was ringing persistently, so she turned it off. It was some twenty minutes later she felt composed enough to start the car and drive slowly home.

Her eyes still appeared red and swollen after she’d repaired her makeup, and she dreaded seeing Nick with his all-knowing eyes and accusatory sulk. She gave a silent prayer of thanks when she turned into her road and noticed the mews’ driveway was empty; it was still early, after all. Siena parked and let herself into the house. Moving towards the bathroom, she started to run the taps on the tub, a bath was the only way she could relax and think. In the soothing water, she let the tears slip down her face. Her life was a complete mess, her marriage hanging by a thread, her business deal in tatters and it was all her fault. She had pursued him, putting both the villa project and the building renovation in jeopardy. All that work for nothing, but what she hadn’t bargained on was putting her own heart in danger.

The pain welled up inside her, recalling Benedict’s look of utter horror as he realised it was her at the building. The card and its message couldn’t have made his feelings any clearer. She probably looked like a desperate stalker to him. On and on, she twisted the knife until, exhausted, she crawled into bed and picked up the phone; she needed to speak with her mom. It would be mid-morning there, but she needed to hear a friendly voice. Her mother, always a late sleeper, answered on the fifth ring.

“Hello,” she said sleepily.

“Mom,” said Siena, her voice catching.

“Siena?” Her mother was now fully awake and alarmed. “Are you okay? What’s happened?”

“Mom, I’m fine, please don’t worry. It’s just Nick and I are having some issues.”

“Should we come early? We can be in London day after tomorrow?” Her mother’s voice was firm and loving.

Siena hesitated; she hated to worry her parents, but had learned from all her therapy she needed to share when things got on top of her. Bottling it up had led to her doing the only thing in her life that she bitterly regretted, and she had paid a high price as a result. She shuddered at the thought.

“Could you? Is Dad coming too?” Siena could hear her father talking in the background and then her mother handed over the phone.

“Honey, give me ten minutes, and I’ll have those flights booked. Here’s your mother; you hold tight, we’re coming,” said her father.

Siena started to sob, alarming her mother even more.

“I’ve messed everything up, Mom,” she sobbed.

“Siena,” her mother’s voice was sharp now. “You are strong; you will get through this, I know you can.”

Siena heard the front door open. Fear spiked through her, and she knew she couldn’t talk much longer.

“Mom, Nick’s home, and we need to talk. Get Dad to mail me your arrival details and hotel. We’ll speak when you get here. I'll explain everything, please don’t worry. I'll see you both soon,” said Siena in a rush.

“Okay, see you soon.” Her mother sounded reassured. “Call if you need to talk.”

“Bye, Mom, bye,” said Siena, putting the phone down as Nick came into the room.

“What’s wrong, are you sick?” He sat on the bed beside her, touching her head with his hand. She tried not to flinch, but he saw her recoil from his touch and he grabbed her by the arms.

“Siena, what the hell is going on?” His eyes bored into hers.

“Nick, let me go, you’re hurting me,” she gasped, twisting her body to free herself. He let her go but remained standing over her.

“You’ve been upset for weeks now, ever since you collapsed in Marbella,” Nick said. “Have you been having nightmares again? I think the collapse and hospital stay has triggered some regressive memories, Siena. You haven’t been yourself, and I’m worried about you.”

Siena was worried too, as she knew what ailed her, and no amount of counselling by Nick would mend her this time. Benedict was the only drug she craved, his touch her therapy and his kiss her cure.

“Have you taken your medication?” Nick asked.

God, he treated her like a child. Of course she had taken it; Marbella had scared the shit out of her too.

“Yes,” she said, exasperated. “Nick, I’m going to bed early, it’s probably just a bug,” sighed Siena.

“Have you been crying?” Nick was immediately suspicious.

“It’s an allergy, started this morning,” Siena lied quickly.

“Let me get you an anti-histamine,” he said, bustling out of the room.

Siena closed her eyes; she couldn’t stand Nick fussing over her, and she wanted all the lies to stop. Benedict floated into her mind; she wanted him so badly, but he had made it clear he didn’t want her. A wave of tiredness pulled at her, and she realised she didn’t feel good.

***

Nick

When Nick got back to the bedroom, she was asleep. He stood studying his wife, wondering what was going through her head. Things were very strained between them; in fact, they hadn’t made love in several weeks. Siena had been keeping him at arm’s length and, conscious of her fragility, he hadn’t wanted to push her.

He put the tablets and water at her bedside and looked at her. She was his life, but over the last few years he could sense a restlessness in her. They had been through this before, but their introduction to a certain party had breathed new life into their marriage. This restlessness seemed to be different. When she sold out her share in her father’s business, Nick saw his chance to realise his dream of a London practice. Siena had been excited and completely on board. She also had several projects and more in the pipeline.

She undertook the design for the villa, Nick was too busy with the clinic to have much input. Maybe she had been overdoing it; her collapse would suggest she had, he would have to insist she slow down. Nick realised he didn’t know much about her projects. Siena didn’t bring her work home, and in fact, now that he thought about it, she never discussed it with him. That was their rule, no shop talk, and it worked for them.

Nick missed being close to Siena, his body was desperate for her touch. She knew him so well, knew what he wanted…what he needed. Nick felt desire flood through him and closed his eyes. It had been a risk introducing Siena to the parties. If it had backfired he would have continued attending without telling her, but she had surprised him by being a natural. Their sex lives from that moment on had never been boring. She kept things exciting, and he never knew what she would come up with next. A delivery from her at his clinic had him trembling with excitement as he opened it. Or sometimes it was just the blindfold and ribbon. She was his addiction now; he hadn’t been to one of their parties in years. He didn’t need to, he was hooked on his wife, and like any junkie suffering withdrawal he needed his fix!

Nick turned out the light and padded downstairs. Still worrying about Siena, he thought she should see a doctor for a check-up. He felt tired, having been through a full scale of emotions himself. That phone call from Benedict Harrison about Siena’s collapse…he could feel his anger rising. Why had he hung up? He’d spent the next ninety minutes frantic with worry until he’d struck lucky with the hospital. They’d confirmed Siena had been admitted, and he’d left for the airport. It was the longest journey of his life, yet he still sensed there was something Siena wasn’t telling him. He looked forward to meeting Benedict Harrison in the flesh. One way or another, he would make it happen. His gut told him it was all lies. She was different, he could sense it. He would know more when he met this Harrison. In fact, he intended to find out as much about him as he could. With that thought in mind he entered his study.