TRAPPED (Breaking Free Book 2) (21 page)

“
I get that, but i
t’
s not his decision to make. I have a right to know these things
.
”

Diane pushes her chair back
,“
Yep, you do have a right to know, and you obviously need to discuss this with hi
m
… rationally thoug
h
… and I also need a wee, so can you order me the lasagne with a side salad and I will be right back
.
”

Without waiting for me to answer, Diane makes her way to the restrooms.

I’
m sat contemplating how to discuss the issue at hand with Hunter, when the one female voice that could make my blood run cold interrupts my musings.

“
Well, well, well, if it is
n’
t the little slapper my husband has himself shacked up with
?
” I roll my eyes, and attempt to act nonchalant. Inwardly, my heart feels as though it is about to burst from my chest.

“
I could
n’
t help but overhear that Hunter has been keeping secrets from you. You do realise that will never end do
n’
t you? Why do you think our marriage fell apart
?
” No way, she cannot be implying that their marriage broke up from his lies, she ca
n’
t, surely.

Spinning to the side on my chair, I take in her vivid red hair, porcelain skin and bright green eyes. I ca
n’
t help but look at her feet, diaman
t
é stilettos, that
 
are really quite tacky for someone s
o‘
class
y
’ as she sees herself. I know they are th
e‘
in thin
g
’ at the moment, but to me they look cheap and nasty. Do
n’
t get me wrong, I love pink diamantes, I just think they lose their cuteness when you cover your whole feet in them. Pair them with the pink and white maxi dress she has thrown on, and the woman looks like a giant bit of candyfloss, although the hair clashes with the outfit, in which case
I’
d say she looks more like a clown
.“
Really, and you think you can talk to me like shit when you look like that, and you were the one having sex with other men, and Hunte
r’
s own uncle. Now do me a favour and get lost, I have nothing to say to a gold digging whore such as yourself
.
” I say it all in the sweetest possible tone, finding it hard to stamp down on the anger that is threatening to explode. God I hate this bitch.

Watching Ashle
y’
s nostrils flare, and her face flaming so red it matches her hair, gives me immense satisfaction in knowing I have hit the target and pissed her off with my words. Of course, life could never be so simple as she just leaves without another word though.

“
How dare you, the woman sleeping with a married man, judge me.I come from money, and have a right to take what is rightfully mine. And pay up he will,
I’
m the wife he has ditched and left alone without support whilst he is out sleeping with other women and throwing his money at them. And I do
n’
t know why you are sitting there sneering at what I am wearing, my husband bought this outfit for me about a week in to meeting you, I wondered why he was being so generous all of a sudden, guilty conscience. Keep an eye on that, if he starts buying you extravagant gifts, then you can bet he is sleeping with another woman
.
” The words come out on a smirk.

“
Why are you even here? Are you that desperate to be near a man that does
n’
t want or love you? Do yourself a favour and sign the papers, you were stupid enough to try and screw Hunter over for your own selfish gain, and karma came and bit you in the ass, this is all your own doing. Now if you do
n’
t mind,
I’
m having lunch with a friend before I go back to my man, and fuck his brains out
.
” I offer up the sweetest smile I can, hoping she just walks away. The woman is a nut job, and
I’
ve got enough on my plate without worrying about her.

She has to be lying about the clothes, Hunter got rid of her before he met me, no way would he be buying his soon to be ex-wife presents after catching her in bed with another man.

I watch in amazement as she starts to lower herself in to Dian
e’
s seat
,“
Is everything okay here
?
” I glance over at Tony, who is standing beside Ashley, with his hand on her shoulder and glaring at her in such a way it sends shivers down my spine.

“
Er, Ashley was just leaving, is
n’
t that right
?
” My eyes do
n’
t leave Ton
y’
s face, myself wondering why he is always so hard in everything he does.

Dian
e’
s chair scrapes back, and Ashley straightens up, brushing down her dress and fixing a sneer on me
,“
whatever, just remember
I’
ll always be the first Mrs Jacobson, anddo
n’
t forget all those secrets he likes to keep
.
” And she turns and stalks off to a table with a couple of older, equally as snooty women sat on the far side of the restaurant.

“
All good
?
” Tony looks to me.

“
Yeah
I’
m fine
.
” He nods, turns on his heel and walks away without another word, pulling out his mobile and walking away.

Great, no doubt he is going to call Hunter, and the overprotective arse is going to be blowing up my phone.

I do
n’
t believe a word Ashley said, I know she has picked upon what Diane and I were saying and twisted it to her advantage, but then it also happens to be my biggest worry and insecurity with Hunter, I know he did
n’
t tell me things to protect me, but how many more things are there.

I shake off all thoughts Ashley and Hunter as Diane approaches the table, opting to enjoy my food, my time with my friend, pick my daughter up and head home to my man. We have some talking to do.

Hunter:

“
Are you kidding me
?
” How on earth was Ash even able to get close to Connie? If she was able to then Dan could have too.

“
No sir, your wife took advantage of
,
”

“
She is never to be called my wife
.
” I bellow out, cutting Tony off.

“
Sorry sir
,
” he replies
,“
she took advantage of Conni
e’
s friend leaving the table for a moment, and caused a scene
.
”

That bitch, can she not just leave us alone, she has caused enough problems, without making things worse.

“
Where did this happen and who was Connie with
?
” I knew she was busy this morning, but I did
n’
t realise she was meeting a friend, but then I have been kind of distracted with these divorce papers and Ashle
y’
s demands for money.

The line is silent for a moment, and I can tell I am not going to like what Tonyis about to say, he is hesitant to tell me
.“
She met Diane at
Arabell
a’
s
for brunch, and Ashley saw a brief window of opportunity to talk to Connie and took it
.
”

Fuck, just what I need. She is going to ask why I did
n’
t tell her about Dan continuously threatening Diane, the shits about to hit the fan, I should have been informed of this the second Tony knew who she was meeting.
“
And you did
n’
t fancy picking up a phone and informing as to who Connie was meeting, or getting to Conni
e’
s side the second Ash stepped in? What if that had been Dan, would it have taken you that long to get to her
?
”

I’
m furious, Ashley should never have even made it to her table. As for the Diane situation, well I have just got to hope Connie understands why I did it, her safety is my number one priority, and I am not risking that over her having the hump with me.

“
I know, and I can only apologise. I did
n’
t recognise Ashley at the time, and stupidly assumed it was one of their friends. It wo
n’
t happen again
.
” He sounds apologetic enough, still does
n’
t help calm me down though, I am majorly pissed off and ca
n’
t help but wonder what that bitch said to Connie now.

I grunt down the line
,“
It better not happen again, I want Connie watched closely, and any situation quashed before it even has a chance to develop, understand
?
” I sound like a dick, but Conni
e’
s safety is not something I will compromise on, Tonyand the team are being paid to do a job, if they are
n’
t doing it properly then I will have to find someone else.

“
Of course, and I apologise again
.
”

I cut the call off and pace the office at my gym down the road, contemplating calling Connie, but wanting to give her some space to spend time with her friend. I need to know she is okay, not just physically, I can only imagine the nasty crap my ex has been spewing.

The papers have been signed,
I’
m just awaiting confirmation from my lawyer that I am a free man. With the evidence I had on Ash, she did
n’
t have a case to fight and had no choice but to walk away.

My phone sits on the desk, urging me to pick it up and call Connie, but I choose the cowards way and send her a simple text message instead:

             
Call me when you get this, or meet me at home after you pick Lily up please baby. I heard you had a run in with Ashley and want to make sure you are okay. Love you xx

The phone sits on my desk, not a sound emitting from it, and worrying me further the longer Connie goes without replying, I know she is probably pissed at me, and now
I’
m worrying at just how pissed.

Looking to the clock on the wall I see it is almost time for Connie to pick Lily up, so I make the decision to meet her at the school, and garner just what kind of mood she is in. I ca
n’
t talk to her about this there, but I just need to see her and know everything is going to be okay, I am going out of my mind with worry.

A knock on the door startles me, and I drop my keys on the floor with a curse leaving my mouth
.“
Come in
.
” I shout, sounding somewhat irritated.

The newest member of my team, Scott, comes walking in, carrying several new gym memberships in his hands. He offers me an apologetic smile, and I ca
n’
t help but groan, knowing he is going to want me to sign these off.

“
Scott there are plenty of floor managers that can assist you with the paperwork, I have somewhere to be
.
” I collect my phone and stalk around the desk and to the open door.

“
I was told to ask you if you could help me, all of the other staff are busy doing inductions, and taking on one to ones
.
” His voice is hesitant, and I feel sorry for the kid, they are fobbing him off and treating him like a pushover.

He needs to grow a backbone and stand up for himself if he is to be able to make it in this environment. I
t’
s hectic, we are rushed off our feet and there is always something more important that someone needs you to do, but he has to put his foot down and insist they help him learn the ropes
.“
Mate, I know this is all new to you, but they are there to train you. This is
n’
t my only gym, and I do have other commitments. If the staff are refusing to help you then you put your foot down or they will walk all over you
.
” I ruffle his hair as I walk past him, he is just a kid, a good one at that and one I know will be a hard worker, he just needs to be more assertive.

“
Okay
,
” he nods, a determined glint forming in his eye
,“
thank you,
I’
ll ask the staff that are on a break to help me once they have finished, and I wo
n’
t back off until someone does
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s the way i
t’
s gotta be kid, they will have more respect for you putting your foot down, then they will if you tuck your tail between your legs and scurry off. Any probs, my number is behind reception, call me and
I’
ll sort it
.
” He needs to at least try himself first though, this could be the staf
f’
s way of testing him, seeing how well he will fare working here. If they still refuse to play ball, then I will step in and make them. They were all young once after all.

Approachingreception, I turn and take in the three staff members sat chatting and typing away on computers, with zero enthusiasm, and clearly only doing so to look busy
.“
Are my members going to be on the system by the end of the day
?
” Their heads all snap to me, a reddish tint sitting on all of their cheek bones from getting caught.

They all stutter, and sit up straight, immediately giving me confirmation that they will in fact do their jobs.

“
Stop giving them a hard time, they are playing with the new kid. You know as well as I do that they will have this gym running as best it can, regardless of having him chasing his tail
.
” I knew it, I bite back on the smile trying to make its way to my lips, and raise my eyebrow questioningly at an old friend of mine, and one of our longest standing members.

“
You in on this too
?
” I already know the answer, but ask anyway. The kid will soon realise this fool is always around and up for practical jokes.

“
Maybe, we wanted to see how long he would go round in circles asking for help. We even have a bet going..Want to wager
?
” He gives me a devious grin, he really is a sly old fox. For a thirty one year old man, with a wife and three kids, and his own business, you would think he would be a respectable business man, but oh no, you have to watch your back around this five foot seven, dwarf of a man prankster.

“
Yeah, I bet five hundred that the kid demands someone helps him in the next thirty minutes
.
” He stares at me thoughtfully, and I try my hardest to remain blank to him, I ca
n’
t give away that I have spoken to the kid already.

“
Hmmm
,
” I look to my watch, appearing bored, when inside I am laughing my arse off
,“
done
.
” We shake hands and I turn on my heel, shouting over my shoulder as I go
,“I’
ll expect a check on my desk by the time I get back, the kid has caught on to your game
.
” I walk out the doors hearing Tony the prankster cursing behind me. He does
n’
t give a crap about the money, he just cares about saving face.

He would have had poor Scott running from staff member to staff member, getting no help and panicking about not having his job done all day, before eventually cutting the kid some slack. More fool him, one nil to me.

Reaching the school gates, I spot Conni
e’
s parked car with her sat in the drive
r’
s seat, and Ton
y’
s behind it.

The looks she is receiving from some of the women at those gates is one of pure envy, I would say it was over the car, but my girl is some seriousness hotness, and I can guarantee some of these women hate her just for being good looking.

I pull my car in to the car park of the pub opposite the school, making a quick detour to the bar and throwing the landlady a twenty pound note to stop her trying to give me a ticket for using her grounds and not purchasing a drink. She snatches the note and tells me to make it quick, muttering beneath her breath about parents of the school taking advantage and leaving her customers with nowhere to park. I very nearly tell her to give me the money back and
I’
ll buy a cheap glass of orange juice instead, but I refrain, the woman is a jobs worth and I cannot be bothered to get in a row with her over it. You could park about twenty cars out the back, the pub is dead.

The women at the school eye fuck me as I cross the road, coming round the back of Conni
e’
s vehicle and chin nod to Tony. The frowns and glares they were throwing Connie are not sweet and flirty smiles offered to me instead. I could gag with the state of half of them, as if
I’
m going to be interested in them when I have her.

I think I am about to give them another reason to hate her.