Twelve Days The Beginning - By Jade Reyner Page 0,129

a reply?

Absently she tapped her fingers over the keys of her keyboard lightly as she pondered what would be the correct thing to do. It actually didn’t matter either way she supposed, it wasn’t as if they were going to be friends whether she replied or not.

In the end she decided that she wanted Olivia to know that she would not be bullied, regardless of whatever issues the girl had with her, so she quickly typed a response.

Monday 24th Dec. 9.21am

Olivia,

I very much appreciate your apology with regards to physically injuring me although as far as I am concerned, every aspect of your behaviour on Friday was completely out of order.

I have no idea what your issues with me are but I will continue to put any differences we may have aside whilst we are in the workplace. I would appreciate it if you could offer me the same courtesy.

Hope you too had an enjoyable Christmas.

Regards,

Elise.

Probably more than the girl deserved but hopefully it would show her that Elise was not affected by her threats. She knew from past painful experience that the only way to deal with bullies was to stand up to them and although Olivia clearly thought she had grounds for her grievances, the workplace was not the place to air them. Perhaps, one day, they could talk things through but for now, Elise was prepared to work with the girl and that was all.

Putting Olivia to one side, she turned her attention to the e-mail from Vaughn, her hand hovering over the mouse as she decided whether to open it or to delete it unread. She was tempted to do just that, given the mess that things were already in but curiosity got the better of her – particularly as Stephen had told her to read her e-mails – and so she opened it, her fingers shaking slightly as she clicked the button.

Monday 24th Dec. 07.40am

Dear Elise,

I am sorry that I didn’t see you again on Friday – things took longer to sort out than I had hoped.

I decided to start my break a little earlier than planned so will be on my way to my sister’s by the time you read this.

I need you to know that I regret how we parted on Friday and wish that we could go back to that beautiful evening at the conference when it was just the two of us together. I have never experienced a night like that and I have thought of nothing else since we parted. Somehow you have got inside of me, right down deep inside and I feel like I am drowning in emotion. I need time to work out what that means for me and how the hell I cope with my feelings, when the rest of the world becomes involved.

I can’t deal with what your bastard of a husband does to you and the thought of any other man touching you completely destroys me. It is not an emotion that I am used to.

You need to understand that I am not running away but the way I reacted to Edwin Dunn at the conference was a wake-up call for me. Shit, I was in control then Elise but despite what I said to you afterwards, it was only just. The more I see you, the more I need you and the more that I need you, the further from me my control slips. My cock is hard every time I think about you and I feel like I can’t see straight any more.

I can’t stop thinking about you, Elise – you are so fucking beautiful and even just typing this to you now is driving me insane. You are there, in my head, every minute of every day. There are so many things I want to do to you and with you and I can’t bear that I have no right to feel like that.

I have left you two presents in your drawer, both of which I have given to you selfishly for my gain. Please read the notes.

I need to be with you Elise, my body needs to be with you and in my head I need to be with you; I guess I just need a little time to catch up.

Open your presents for me now, my beautiful angel – I am imagining your face as you do. Yours as always,

Vaughn.

By the time Elise got to the end of the e-mail, the words had become blurry through the tears running