Twelve Days The Beginning - By Jade Reyner Page 0,22
appreciate you stepping in and breaking those two meatheads up”. Not what she wanted to say at all but she had no idea how to refer to the other ‘thing’ that had just happened between them.
Vaughn turned, startled, almost as if he had forgotten she was there. He ran his eyes up and down her body almost as if checking for injuries and heat coursed through her everywhere that his eyes lingered. Finally he settled on her face.
“It was my pleasure.” he said smoothly, “I just did what any other sane person would have done. I’m not in the habit of condoning fighting on the premises, particularly when one of my most senior employees is involved. It was not the time or the place for whatever was going on with those two.”
Elise doubted that he was right about doing the same as anyone else. She hadn’t come across too many people in her time, who would jump into the middle of a fight.
She was a little concerned that Vaughn had so far made no reference to the comment that Dale had aimed in his direction; the one about wanting to ‘fuck’ her, the one that had sent him over the edge himself. It was strange how everyone seemed to be brushing this under the carpet. Either no one really knew what had happened or they just didn’t know how to broach the subject. Deciding that ultimately it really didn’t matter either way Elise turned to leave, crossing in front of Vaughn as she headed to the door. There didn’t seem to be any point in staying – there was nothing left to say and if he was now regretting their kiss, then she needed to be as far away from him as she possibly could be.
As she passed him he put a gentle hand out on her arm, momentarily stopping her.
“Elise, why don’t you let anyone have your phone number or allow them to phone you?”
She frowned at the strange question. It was one of the last things she had expected him to say although she had by now come to realise that he was far from predictable. He was also very observant, not missing anything in the exchange between her and Celeste. At least it was a safe question and one to which she had a ready answer.
“Because I’m on a rubbish contract,” she said, “it’s really expensive to use.” The practised lie rolled off her tongue without her even thinking about it. Usually most people accepted the ‘rubbish contract’ line without argument. The truth – the reality - was just far too ugly to own.
“Oh” he seemed to consider for a moment and then continued “but surely you know that if people phone you, it doesn’t actually cost you anything. Unless they’re phoning from another country of course.” Yes, definitely very observant.
Elise knew that. Of course she did! Even her limited grasp on technology recognised that fact. However, she wasn’t able to admit to anyone that Dale monitored her phone and, as such, she never gave the number to anyone. On the one occasion she had given it to a girlfriend, Dale had found out and had been convinced that she was plotting to leave him. He had then proceeded to make her stay. Pay. Forcibly. The only way he knew how.
If Vaughn picked up on her hesitation, he didn’t let on as she stumbled through a response.
“Erm.. well.. I really only use it for emergencies. It’s not even charged most of the time.”
“Not much use in an emergency then.” He stated wryly and arched his brows at her as she began to wither under his gaze. Instantly she knew how he had got to the position in life that he was evidently now in. One carefully arched brow was all it took to make her feel like she had two left feet and a dunce’s cap. She pitied anyone he went up against in business. She decided on a change of tack.
“Look...thank you for what you did today. I understand what a difficult position this puts you in but I would appreciate it if we could keep all of this as quiet as possible – although with Annabel things may not be all that quiet.” She murmured ironically as she continued. “I need to get to the hospital to check on Dale and see what is happening. I would appreciate it if I could take the rest of the day off to... sort things out and then