Learning to Fly - 23

Chapter 23 - Wanting the truth

Carly was furious, she wanted so badly to be seen as someone with promise, as an asset to this company. This opportunity was everything she wanted, and it had been snatched away from her. Jens needed to answer her questions. But since she'd declined a night out with him a few days ago he'd been difficult to find. 

She took out her frustrations on the treadmill. 

With adrenaline surging through her veins and perspiration soaking her body she managed for a few moments to be in a place where she forgot everything. But it had to stop, and as the treadmill slowed, the anger started to return.

"Wow! That was a bit punishing!"

Carly was bent over stretching out her over worked legs when she heard the voice, turning she saw Lucas stood by one of the cross trainers, he was stretching too.

"Are we the only people who use this place?" She couldn't hide her exasperation.

Lucas smiled, acknowledging the return of hostile Carly, "not everyone appreciates this perk of the job! So what's rattling your boat today? Or am I just back to being the bane of your life again?"

Carly wanted to laugh but couldn't, as usual she was taking out her anger and insecurity on him, and as usual he was taking it in good humour.

"Sorry Lucas." She tried to display genuine remorse on her face, but knew that the anger was winning.

"S'okay. What's got you in such a rip?"

Carly sighed, "not you! Sorry for being a bitch as usual."

He laughed, "an apology? This is a great day!" He saw her eyes widen, and realised she was struggling to maintain her equilibrium. "I'm a good listener...you know what they say, a problem shared is one halved too."

Carly paced across the room to the water fountain and took a few mouthfuls to calm herself. Turning back to Lucas she sighed, "I'm over reacting I'm sure. Hopefully I'm adding two and two and getting nine."

Lucas leaned against the wall, noting the turmoil ravaging her face. "You're no mug Carly."

The comment was met with a cascade of dramatic almost neurotic laughing. When she finally calmed herself, she looked at up, "I hate being wrong, I hate hearing 'I told you so', and I hate failing!" 

With an apologetic smile, she barged past him and out of the gym. 

After the quickest shower, Carly set off to find Jens, she couldn't wait another moment. He wasn't in any of the usual haunts around the town, and it was a busy night in this Austrian ski resort. She was dejected when she headed back up the hill to the hotel, she knew she wouldn't sleep until she'd confronted him, found out the truth. 

She was about to enter the staff door, when she had some sort of intuition. She'd not tried his chalet, after all  there was a chance that Mr Party might actually be relaxing at home on a Thursday night. 

Climbing the steps, blinking against the snow that was once again falling heavily, Carly rushed with purpose, but as she grew close to the furthest chalet, she could hear music. Slowing she turned the corner to see the lights on in Jens' place, several people were stood on the veranda drinking, the silhouette of many others highlighted on the windows. The man was having a party.

Carly took a steadying breath, then marched up to the house.

It was no casual party, there were dozens of people crammed into the house, it was rowdy, drunken, and in some rooms almost naked. Before she reached the kitchen, Markus, the only person she'd recognised, Jens' only discernible friend in the resort approached her. 

"Hey Carly!" His stunned face was tinged with nervousness.

"Markus. I was looking for Jens. I need to speak to him..."

Less stunned more nervous...Carly raised an eyebrow as she kept studying Markus.

"I think he's in the hot tub..."

Carly nodded, then turned for the back door. Jens' hot tub was down a few steps, completely isolated and completely hidden from the view of the house. When she emerged around the corner she stopped dead in her tracks, at least ten people were naked in the small round pool,  and she could barely work out where one ended and the other began. Of course she knew the word orgy, but she never thought when she'd lived in a small Scottish village that she'd witness something similar with her own eyes.

She couldn't tell if Jens was there, but didn't care either way. This was hideous and she wanted no part of it.

Climbing back to the house, she felt sick, repulsed. She hadn't thought she was a prude, but the evening's antics were making her decidedly nauseous.  Storming through the house, she bumped straight into Jens. Literally. 

Staggering to stay upright, her eyes lifted to meet his. 

"I was under the impression you were in the hot tub." He'd wrong-footed Carly, but it still didn't mean she was happy with the shenanigans she'd seen in the house. When she arrived she'd been gutted that he hadn't invited her to a party. Now she was relieved.

"Markus got it wrong! I was keeping a low profile." He swung an arm around her shoulder, "as you've been giving me a wide berth I didn't call." He attempted to lead her towards the busy lounge, but she resisted.

"I'm not just being dragged into this...party...I need to talk to you. Can we just go somewhere quiet? Upstairs?"

He grimaced a little but then nodded.

Once she reached the upstairs hallway, Carly turned to him, "you didn't consider me for the trainee management post?"

Jens closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, "there were two applicants...Karl was a strong choice..." he cupped her hand, "Look I didn't want to be accused of nepotism."

Carly felt the heat build in her body, her instinct had been to keep away from Jens. From the start. But he'd been so persistent, and now he was stopping her progress.

With fiery eyes she glared at him, "we have to be related for it to be nepotism, and there's no way we're that!"

Footsteps behind them on the stairs caused Carly to jump, taking his hand she pulled him into his bedroom. Slamming the door she looked at him again, there was no remorse in his eyes. 

"Carly, you're special, I really like you...I don't want to make things hard for you..."

"You gave no idea what hard is Jens, my home and family life is hard, working in a job that you know doesn't realise your potential is hard...if lines were crossed here they're your fault. I can't believe that you've just cut me out of the job without an interview, with no explanation..."

He took her hands, "Carly, it'll work out, we've got some time to see what's happening with us, and there'll be another one in a few months, it's got your name on it!"

"For God's sake Jens! That's not the point. I don't want to be shoehorned into a job at your favour. I've never asked for that! I just want to be treated fairly. It seems strange that within a couple of days of me turning down a date with you I'm pushed out of being considered for my dream opportunity."

He sighed, "You think it's because I was angry with you? Do you think I'm that petty?"

Carly shrugged, "I don't know anything anymore Jens." Stepping away from him she wrapped her arms around herself. It was all so confusing, so annoying. She wanted to lash out and didn't trust herself after her recent outburst with Lucas not to hit him, so she walked to the window. Looking back across the room she hadn't notice the turbulence in the room. Jens bordered on OCD, and rarely left his bed unmade, clothes tossed over the side table.

She glanced at Jens, he was looking anxiously at her. It was only then that she saw a pair of champagne glasses on the floor beside the bed.

"Oh!" The exclamation escaped before she'd even processed the finding. 

He'd been here with someone, fairly recently. All this talk of their future...glancing around the room, her eyes flew to the chink of light coming under the door to the en suite bathroom.

As she moved towards it quicker than she thought possible, Jens tried to cut her off, "Carly?"

Ignoring the question in his voice, she threw the door open, and burst into the small bathroom. There sat cross legged on the sink in just a shirt...one of his, was a tall leggy blond. Carly didn't know who it was, but suddenly everything else became clear.

Markus knew...he'd sent her out there to give Jens time to get dressed,  to distance himself from all this.

Turning to him slowly she stared at him, "what I don't understand is why you're bullshitting me about our future? If you want to screw anything female, then that's fine. But why promise me that I meant more?" When he didn't answer, she pushed her face close to his, "WHY? And why all that shit with this management job? I don't understand your games Jens."

He had the decency to look bad, but he wasn't forthcoming with any answers. As she stormed past him she elbowed him in the stomach whilst she raced down the stairs and out of the building, he was doubled up winded, and fighting to regain his breath.

It was hard to run in such heavy snow, but all Carly knew was that she wanted to put as much space between her and that horror party as able. She'd almost reached the hotel when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning she watched Jens catch her up.

She wasn't afraid, if anything her anger had increased, she had more questions and needed more answers since she'd left him a few seconds earlier. 

"If you're not going to explain yourself I encourage you to keep running as I have nothing to say to you!"

He slowed in front of her, "it's not as you think..."

Carly shook her head at the futile attempt at an excuse. "You should be begging my forgiveness, instead I get that? I don't care about the woman in your bed...I really don't. Though I do care about disease...I'll be visiting a doctor tomorrow...thanks for that. What I don't understand is why you'd hamper my chances to progress in this company. Can you tell me why you think you have the right to act like God over my life?"

He was flummoxed struggling to find an answer.

"I can't see any reason why you'd not want me to get a promotion. Nothing logical. So that makes me think instead of there being a reason for me not getting promoted, there must be a reason why you want me to stay as I am."

He met her eyes for a brief moment then he glanced away, "I don't know what you mean."

But Carly knew she was onto something.

"Either you were planning to use the promotion to keep me sweet? Keep me in your bed?" She looked at him watching for any sign of guilt, "or you knew that as a trainee manager I'd have more authority..." She shook her head, "I don't care enough about you to let you influence my career Jens. I don't know why this happened, but let me remind you, there is nothing like a woman scorned. Whatever your reason Jens, you can be sure, I will not take this lying down. I deserved to be treated fairly. And I wasn't! Your mistake!"

She rushed away before he could reach her.

Learning to Fly - 22

Chapter 22 - Topsy-Turvy World

Later that day Jens called wanting to meet in the evening, but Carly declined. The last thing she needed was to complicate things further. Jens was very persuasive, but she stuck by her guns. After her shift finished, she headed to the canteen and got two meals to take away, Camilla rarely ate normally, so there was little chance that she would have eaten amongst all this drama.

When she arrived at the room, Camilla was lying on the bed, her face still puffed from crying.

"I brought schnitzel...it was the special int he canteen!"

Camilla chuckled, "it's the only special they do in the canteen!"

Carly sat on her bed and handed the polystyrene container and plastic fork, "true, but it's edible, that's the bonus."

Camilla opened the container and forked up some of the corn that came  with it, "I'm starving!"

Smiling, Carly opened her own carton, "I knew you would be."

They spent the evening sat on opposite beds talking, not really about the problems between them, but more about the future. Their desires, their need to prove to their families and friends that they could succeed on their own. It was an early night, but as they lay in their beds in the same dark room, Camilla disturbed the silence.

"Thanks Carly. For everything."

"No problem."

- - - - - - - - - - - - 

"So are you avoiding me or something?"

Carly glanced around sure that everyone in the cafe had heard Jens' angry voice. "Jens? I'm not avoiding anything!"

He sighed a little more sarcastic than she thought was necessary, "I've taken to sending you emails as you're not replying to my calls. I've offered three dates and you've turned them all down!"

Jens had no idea how close to a breakdown Camilla was, and even less idea of how much he was at fault for it.  The whole sorry story had come out over the last three days, Camilla had instantly fancied Jens, on so many levels. Almost immediately on arriving at the resort she'd wormed her way into his bed, a feat that was not as difficult as she'd imagined. The problem had been staying there. Her desire to stay with him, to mean more to him than a one night stand had seen her do all sorts of things which she swore were out of character for her. Throwing herself at him, becoming a party animal just so she didn't miss any opportunity to intervene where he might meet another woman. 

Carly also learnt that the night she'd arrived, Camilla had thrown herself on the birthday boy Lucas who was very drunk. Apparently he rarely drank, and she'd teased him into accepting some extra birthday shots, in the hope that he'd accept her advances and make Jens jealous. Carly's presence had halted their amorous plans...something Camilla was ultimately glad about, but the original plan to make Jens jealous had not worked one little bit.

As they talked through how ridiculous these plans were, it became so much more obvious to Carly that Camilla was struggling to deal with her demanding family, and that her feelings for Jens were misplaced. She saw him as freedom and independence, two things she now realised a partner of Jens' would never have.

This phone call was tantamount to that.

"There have been some real difficult things going on Jens, I thought you knew that!"

"Is this still about Camilla throwing her toys?" he asked with contempt. And it was at this that Carly saw red. She had always been a quiet and fairly meek person, but flying the nest, finally, seemed to have given her confidence and authority.

"Jens, there is more to my life than just you! We're don't belong to each other and the way you're acting I'm less inclined to spend time with you than I was. Will you please stop pressuring me?"

Her anger seemed to have hit home, the voice that replied was meek, "I just want to see you!"

Carly sighed, "ok, you mentioned skiing. I'm off tomorrow. Do you want to give me a second lesson?"

His gratitude seemed out of character, but he agreed to meet her with kit...last time she'd had to hire her own, at the ski lift.

That evening Carly dragged Camilla to the quiet bar next to the hotel. It was away from the chaos of the town, but a break from the four walls of their room. The only time Carly'd been there  had been to talk to Paul, Millie's dad. She hadn't thought about them for a while. But she had had an email a few days earlier from Millie, saying they were due back in a couple of weeks. As if things weren't complicated enough!

As with the previous time, the bar was really quiet. A few older men sat along the bar sipping dark wheat beers that were so typically European. Ordering a bottle of wine, she led Camilla to a nearby table and waited until the barman brought it over.

"So what are you doing for your day off?" Camilla asked as they sat down. It was the question that Carly had dreaded all evening. She'd agreed to the ski date to keep Jens quiet more than anything. But she also knew it would hurt Camilla. She was finding juggling life hard.

"Don't be angry..."

Camilla gave a teary smile, "you're meeting Jens?"

Carly shrugged, "he promised me another ski lesson, I can't put it off any longer, and part of me thinks I need to get to grips with these slopes whilst I'm here!"

"Then you should've asked me!" A familiar voice spoke from behind, "and it won't be the prissy skis that get you to grips with the snow, it'll be the board!"

Lucas. He'd been such an ally thorough the last week, Carly honestly knew she'd not have coped without him. Since he'd intervened in the office when Camilla was about to lash out Lucas had been completely involved in this amateur counselling that they were working through. He pulled up a seat and sat between them, nodding to the barman for a beer. 

"Lucas," Carly put her hand on his arm, "this is all about Camilla, it's not the time for the snowboard/ski debate!"

"I'm ok with it Carly. I swear!"

Lucas scoffed, "well I'm not. He's a shit, and he'll only cause more problems, and boarding IS superior!"

Camilla giggled as Carly shook her head, "I don't even like you Lucas Slater, so please do not go there!"

It was Lucas' turn to laugh, they'd come a long way from the animosity of the first few months and he knew that she now thought of him as a friend.   

"I am serious though Carly. I don't trust Jens, can't you at least delay the lesson? I'll teach you anything you want!"

Carly shook her head, "I'm going on the lesson, and that is it! Now please, let's enjoy the evening, ok?"

  - - - - - - - - - 

"Wow! You're a natural!" Jens' voice carried across the slope as she slid past him as speed. He was a great instructor, she had to give him that, he knew exactly how to verbalise things, and she was able to adjust her balance, transfer her weight, loosen her knees just enough to allow her to ski. And HOW she loved it. She remembered in college someone describing the kinetics of walking as a controlled fall. But she had to disagree, this exhilarating slide over the snow on her well waxed skis was the closest thing she could imagine to that description. Each time she stopped she wanted to go higher, further, faster and longer. 

Jens spent the day sat on the snow laughing at her enthusiasm, helping her up when she fell, and talking her through every second. A real brick. 

Eventually she collapsed in a heap next to him, "enough, enough, enough! I remember how sore I was last time...for above ten days!"

Jens chuckled, all hint of the aggressive and possessive man had disappeared since their call the previous day. When he was like this she found him fun, attractive, but the emergence of his more sinister side had definitely sullied her real opinion of him.

"So do you want to come to Toto's tonight?"

Toto's was a nightclub in town, Carly'd been there once and found it awful. Scantily clad women dancing on podiums, awful dance music and extortionate prices, even for bottled water! It was the last place she wanted to go.

Shaking her head she shielded her eyes from the blaring sun, "it's awful there! I'm actually going to the cinema, a few of the girls are wanting to see the new Tom Cruise film. He's not my idea of a leading man, but it's about nice food and company of an evening!"

She saw his face fall and reached out to lie her gloved hand over his arm, "you don't want me cramping your style...you and your mates. I'd only whinge about how expensive the beer is!"

"As if money is an issue!" he spat as a retort, an ugly grimace distorting his face. Suddenly Carly regretted getting involved with Jens. 

"It's one night out Jens, and just because you have more money than me doesn't mean that I appreciate it being wasted on over hyped prices." She stood from her position on the floor. "right I'm going to try once more, then I'm DEFINITELY calling it a day!"

A few days later, Carly was joined by a few people at breakfast, the longer she worked there, the more friends she seemed to make. This morning two of the table staff, a French and a German guy Pierre and...she was racking her brain for the name when she picked up on their conversation. 

"So has he got the job? Or is it a shortlist?" Pierre asked.

The other man, she still couldn't remember his name, sighed, "apparently there aren't that many applicants. They were expecting a lot more."

"I suppose that everyone imagined there'd be a cat fight for an opportunity like that. Apparently the whole company only creates half a dozen trainee management posts a year, that's across more than twenty venues."

"So instead, no one goes for it and Karl walks straight into it?"

Carly felt as though all the air was sucked out of her lungs, she'd been virtually offered a chance to apply for that. The management were letting her know when the applications were out. Suddenly she felt sick, this was her chance, this was why she was working so hard. Leaving her breakfast, she stormed up to the management suite, taking the stairs two at a time. 

Danica was sat at her desk absorbed by something on her computer screen, she looked up when Carly tapped the door.

"Hey Carly. How are you?"

Carly couldn't hide her anger, frustration, disappointment, "not great really Danica. Was I wrong in thinking that you were going to recommend me for the trainee manager job, if or when one came up?"

Danica nodded, "I and all the department managers were asked to recommended someone, you were my suggestion, but apparently there was only one other candidate. I'm not sure..."

"Karl from the restaurant?"

She shrugged, "you know more than me."

"He's been offered the place apparently. No interview required as there was no other applicants."

Instantly Danica paled, "I did recommend you Carly. I promise."

Suddenly Carly felt sick, Jens, the decision stopped with him.

Learning to Fly - 21

Chapter 21 - making it all right

So, she had to make good with Camilla. Carly knew that was the right thing, but unfortunately Camilla wasn't making that easy. She was back at work now, and that meant for the first week they were on opposite shifts. On her day off Camilla didn't come home. And so it continued! 

Jens was pestering her to do things together, and whilst she loved basking in his attention, she had to make things right. Ten days after talking to Danica, Carly was no further along in her quest. So she deemed it her day to act. After breakfast she made for reception, she had to find out where Camilla was. 

As she stepped into the foyer, the large desk was manned by one person - Lucas. Carly steadied herself, time to exorcise all those demons in one fail swoop! As the elderly lady moved away from the desk, Lucas looked up and Carly spotted the look of surprise. They'd avoided each other since Christmas, and he wasn't expecting to arrive in front of him on a Monday morning.

  "Hi Lucas." She offered a greeting. 

He shrugged very noncommittal, but then what did she expect.

"Look I'm sorry I've been so short with you. Sometimes, not often, but sometimes I'm wrong..." She was aiming for humour hoping that would break the ice, but he didn't seem that interested. 

"What do you want Carly?"

Sighing she had to realise too much had happened between them, all instigated by her. resigned she finally spoke, "I wanted to know when Camilla would be in the office today. Do you know?"

He raised an eyebrow suspiciously, "I shouldn't give out roster information..."

"Lucas, please. I know you hate me, I don't blame you, but I need to start to make things good. Will you please help me?"

Lucas stared at her for a long moment, and then she saw a chink of light in his steely gaze, "OK." He reached for a large file, flicking through the pages until he came to a chart. Running his finger along various columns until he offered, "she starts at ten."

Carly didn't realise she was holding her breath, but it released in a long exhale of relief, "thank you."

As she turned to leave reception she heard him call her name.

"Carly!"

She slowly turned to look at him.

"Her colleague's lunch is at twelve. She'll be alone..."

Carly beamed a smile, maybe things weren't completely unreachable with either of them.

"Thank you Lucas." 

His smile was the last thing she saw before she made for the stairs.

"We need to talk." 

Carly burst into the office to see Camilla sat at the rosters computer tapping away in a bored fashion. When she looked up her face contorted into an ugly scowl. She made to stand, escape, but Carly locked the door.

"You can't avoid me forever Cam, come on!" 

Camilla slumped back into the seat and groaned, "I've got nothing to say to you Carly."

Carly shook her head, "come on! I had no idea that you'd been involved with Jens. You have NEVER mentioned his name, and I've never seen you together. I'm not a mind reader."

As she watched her roommate's face, Carly could've sworn that she was about to cry, seconds before she reared up in front of her.

"You're just a typical bloody woman, using me to get close to him, just so that you can snatch him from under my nose." Just as she was about to pound at Carly with her un-plastered curled fist, the door that Carly presumed she'd locked burst open and Lucas flew between the women as Camilla made her first punch.

Carly reeled from the blow to her left shoulder, the shock more than the pain. Standing back she watched Lucas overpower Camilla.

"You women and violence! Cam, do you have any idea how bad that could've been? If you'd hit him with your cast you could've caused a bloody brain injury. You need to chill out. go home, I'll tell the bosses that you're unwell."

There was a big come down from Camilla, suddenly the realisation of what she'd done or almost done sank in and she started to cry. Lucas looked between the two women shaking his head. Carly backed out of the room and ran. Away from them, away from the hotel, away from everything. 

Sitting on a bench high up in the resort beyond the furthest chalets, she finally sat, panting to calm her racing heart. Trying to understand how she came to be the victim when she was just attempting an apology seemed unbelievable. Had this made her living situation completely untenable? Carly sighed, despite her sore shoulder and her sudden fear when the other woman almost became possessed, she felt sorry for her. She always had, her family were so uncaring, she was a pawn in their world, she'd set her sights on Jens rescue her, and he was almost a knight in shining armour. He was rich enough to appeal to her family, handsome, popular, he ticked every box. 

No, Carly took a few more steadying breaths, she couldn't let this get out of hand anymore. they still needed to settle their differences. She felt sad that they'd never be the friends she hoped they would be, but that was no longer an option, not really. But she'd show Danica and the others that she could rise above this. maybe she could get some extra work in one of the bars in town, then she could afford to rent a room in an apartment. That would be best.

Rochelle and Marta didn't say a word when she returned. After a few minutes of supervising a treasure hunt, Carly turned to them.

"You know?"

they nodded and Rochelle sighed, "Lucas came looking for you. Camilla's going home, she doesn't feel she can stay."

"Shit!" Carly's response was instinctive and Rochelle's knowing smile confused her.

"I knew you'd want to go and make it right, you're a good person. Go talk to her."

Carly looked between the two women, "you sure? I've been AWOL the last hour."

When they both nodded, she made for the staff quarters.

Camilla was packing when Carly opened the door. Tears dripping onto her hands as she stuffed things into a suitcase. She didn't notice the door open and Carly stood there for a few seconds before she spoke. 

"Don't leave!"

Camilla spun around shock stopping the flow of tears.

"Look Cam, it's been a bad few weeks, but let's not be rash. Stay and sort this out."

She shook her head, "I could've hurt you...They'll sack me anyway for what I did. My father's right, I'm useless!"

Carly groaned, "I'm not going to tell anyone, I know Lucas will keep quiet. You don't need to abandon ship."

Camilla slumped on to the bed and looked at her, "that's generous..."

Carly held up a hand and stopped her, "look, we're similar me and you, I would never have believed it before, but we're both here to prove that we can be a success, and I'm as unlikely to want to see you fail, travel home with your tail between your legs as I would want to. So unpack, relax, then we'll start a fresh tomorrow."

Camilla was crying freely now, "I know I have no claim over Jens, I just thought he could be the answer to all my problems..."

"You don't want a marriage arranged by your parents, so why think about throwing yourself at a man who may not love you. Cam you're beautiful, you deserve the best. OK? Please say you'll stay!"

She could tell that the other woman was too traumatised to make a reasonable decision, so she stood from the opposite bed.

"I'm going back to work. We'll talk tonight...or not if you'd rather...but if you leave make sure it's a rational choice, promise?"

When she mustered a nod, Carly left.

Lucas was on the phone when she walked into reception, chatting fluently in German. Whilst her German was poor, she could tell from the intonation that it was a difficult call. So she waited patiently.

Eventually he hung up, and lifting his eyes met Carly's. She was propped on the counter smiling.

"Thanks for earlier."

He shrugged, but there was a new peace between them, "I'm just glad I walked in when I did."

"Burst in!" She laughed. "But seriously, I don't want this to go any further, OK?"

"What do you mean?"

For some reason despite everything she couldn't stop smiling, "I mean, nothing happened in the office, Camilla's upstairs because she has a headache, I'm going back to work...and it's all good. OK?"

Suddenly there was admiration in his eyes, "that's very generous Carly."

Carly shook her head, "not at all. we've got to look after each other, haven't we?"

Without waiting for an answer, she marched away and back to work.

Learning to Fly - 20

Chapter 20 - Facing up to reality

Carly snuck out of Jens' bedroom at six, it gave her enough time to rush home to get changed and eat breakfast before her eight am start. There was still a confrontation with Camilla. Jens had been evasive on the issue of her all night, he admitted that he had slept with her, but he gave no more detail than he promised Camilla nothing. The question as to what he promised  Carly was never addressed, but when she was quietly contemplating just that the night before, Jens had tugged her back under the duvet assuring her she was different to all the others. 

"Why?" she asked pulling her lips from his.

"Why what?" his hands ran over her naked spine as he looked at her questioningly.

She sighed, "you say I'm different. But I don't get it. Camilla is beautiful, rich..."

He silenced her with a finger over her lips, "you are funny," he nipped at her shoulder, punctuating each word with a little bite, "witty...angry...you make me think...you're passionate." He raised an eyebrow, "do I need to go on?"

She didn't feel any of those things, but she liked the attention he lavished on her. Carly's only fear was what might happen when this ended. He was her employer after all. 

Her dress finally on, she was trying to pull on her shoes in the hallway when he emerged from the bedroom in just a pair of boxer shorts, his thick dark hair ruffled into a bed head style the catwalks of Milan would love. 

Stretching, he looked at her out of one sleepy eye, "where you going?"

"I was sneaking out!" She laughed. "I need to get changed, breakfast..."

He reached out and pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms around her, "for a start my bathroom is bigger and more private than the staff quarters, secondly I have a new delivery of uniform in the garage, I can find you some work clothes."

She smiled and kissed him on the lips, settling her hands on his broad chest, "I'll take the shower, but unless you run to ladies underwear, I'll need to go back."

Raising an eyebrow he looked down at her, "sorry, I can't manage that, but I'm liking the thought of that shower." As he spoke he was unzipping the dress that she'd only just fastened.

When she emerged from the shower a little while after she'd forced him out, Carly found Jens making breakfast. The chalet he lived in was perfect, a modern kitchen, huge bathroom and two large bedrooms. She'd loved to have lived there with the small veranda overlooking the slopes complete with hot tub.  

At that moment a delicious smell was emanating from the kitchen and she'd dashed in hungrily to find Jens with only a towel around his waist scrambling eggs. Moving behind him she slipped her arms around his waist and linked them, "I could get used to this Herr König! Are you trying to tempt me?"

Laying down the spatula, he turned in her embrace, "not at all Fraulein, if anything YOU were trying to tempt me! I know that show in the bathroom was deliberate!"

She blushed. She'd been in the shower for a few minutes before she realised that Jens had walked into the bathroom, suddenly simply washing herself seemed like an erotic show. He'd joined her within seconds of her spotting him, and it was an intimacy she wasn't really prepared for.  It had been a relief when he'd entered the cubicle a exposed as her, but it was more than she was used to, and as she recalled it now, the memory was still a little raw, difficult to deal with, though definitely not unpleasant.

Warm lips brushed hers as she internally debated the issue, and soon the sexy, dare she say romantic Jens took over. He was so encompassing, he overtook everything, with his enthusiasm and his ability to do whatever he wanted.

When she reciprocated, opening her mouth to accept his tongue, he melted against her, and it was only the smell of burning toast that caused them to both separate, and then remember that they were on deadlines for work. 

"You'll make me late for work you hussy!" Jens grinned pulling her into his arms for a final brief kiss, before rescuing the breakfast.

After eating the beautiful breakfast he'd prepared, compared to the canteen meals anything home made was a treat, plus there was fresh juice and coffee - she felt so spoilt, Carly had to leave.

At the door he kissed her once more, "I've got to go to Salzburg tonight, meet a new supplier. I won't be back until late...if things are awkward, let yourself in and I'll see you when I get back." He saw the doubt in her mind, and added quickly, "I'm not trying to be territorial, I'm just thinking things may be difficult, and I'm not objecting to being that port in the storm!"

Carly raised an eyebrow, "You make it sound like you're such a martyr!"

He giggled, "oh yes! It's such an inconvenience sharing a bed with you Miss!" 

Blowing him a kiss she scampered across the snow, not wanting anyone to witness her morning-after 'walk of shame'!

Camilla was layering on her makeup in the small mirror in their bedroom when Carly opened the bedroom door. The look that Camilla passed to her was pure evil. Carly shook her head, then swiftly changed into clean underwear and her uniform. As she was about to leave the room, she turned to Camilla.

"I can't believe that we're arguing over this Cam. I thought we were better friends than that. I had no idea..."

Camilla's interest in the conversation was over, and when she turned back to the mirror with a 'huff', Carly knew she wouldn't get any further.

"Sorry that it's going to be like this!"

With that Carly left the room.

After a busy morning, Carly went to the canteen for lunch on her allocated late lunch. It was deserted. Several times a day the place was rammed but at two pm like this most staff had fed and were back to duty. 

So she selected some cold fish, fresh salad and a large glass of orange juice. With the pick of the seats, she took a corner pew, away from anyone who might join her, then had time to her own thoughts. Not a great place at the moment. She had a lot of guilt. To Lucas. She'd misjudged him, presumed that he was the wrong-doer in all this. But really all she'd done was catch him in flagrante with Camilla. The rest, the possible pregnancy, Camilla's fear of telling the father...none of it was him. The fact that it was Jens, he was the perpetrator in all this. And she didn't feel the same level of animosity. 

Then there was Camilla herself. Carly hated bad feeling, well between friends anyway. And that's exactly what she did have. All the facts pointed to her dumping him, and making everything else good. But for the first time in her life, someone special, outside of her social status, desired and wanted her. She knew it sounded selfish, but she'd had a life of just never being good enough, but now someone, someone popular, good looking...perfect, someone like that desired her. And that was something she wanted to enjoy. 

The rest would sort itself, wouldn't it?

Work was hectic, as usual. The New Year was bringing a drop in temperature and with that came lots of snow. So for the next three days there was little actual ski time. That meant that the resort was full of bored tourists, the creche was full, the bars busy, everyone worked harder. And for Carly that was the best thing. Jens was absorbing a lot of her free time, and Camilla was ignoring her, which was awkward. So much so that she had arranged a meeting with Danica to request a change in rooms. It was kind of avoiding the issue, but she hoped that she could bull shit herself through the situation. She knew she could have discussed it with Jens, but she had to stand on her own two feet. 

That was the new Carly McLellan.

"Hey Carly! How was your Christmas?" Danica asked offering a seat.

Carly smiled nervously, slipping into a seat opposite her direct boss. "it was strange, very busy...then very quiet. Odd. But I enjoyed it. You?"

Danica grinned then flashed a hand in front of Carly, the fourth finger was adorned by a large diamond solitaire, "I was in Norway...where...well you can see..." Suddenly she was a little embarrassed at her over enthusiastic greeting. "Anyway, I'm still hearing good reports. Are you here to discuss the junior management position?"

Carly shook her head, then explained that her living situation was untenable. She knew that by making this stance it was probably make the relationship her and Camilla irreparable. But she had to think of herself didn't she?

Danica took all that she said in silence, then nodded, "I don't like moving things around. I think this will make things worse for all concerned Carly.  I'm not trying to sound like a parent here, but running away isn't going to solve things. Has this feud got anything to do with..."

She didn't need to say the word, Jens, realisation hit Carly between the eyes, she was making herself look trivial and immature over a man. Sighing Carly looked at Danica, "yes, it does seem that the fact that Jens and I are friends is influencing this. I know it probably looks stupid, childish even to come to you like this, but if I could afford to move into an apartment in town I would. I don't have the background support that others have here, it's all I have."

Danica smiled, "I like you Carly, you know that. I don't think it's childish, but I don't think it's a wise move. Try and sort it out with her first, you'll regret it if you don't. I always believe that you should never leave loose ends untended. I've mentioned the junior management position to you earlier. It'll be advertised to staff this week. I think you should go for it. It may be the answer to all your concerns, and I will recommend you. You don't want any warring friendships to sully that."

Carly digested her words for a moment, "thank you Danica. I appreciate your confidence in me, I will deal with this."

Smiling the older woman saw her to the door, and Carly returned to the underground world of the under-eight's.

New Chapter! Finally!

Still haven't dealt with all my connection problems, but I'm getting there. So hope you like this chapter. As you've probably guessed, I'm trying to make this a longer novel, so there's still a LOT more to happen! May breach 30 chapters this time!!

So as I told you recently, I'm posting He'll Come Through on Booksie, and have just started to edit, alter and strengthen (I hope) my first story Business Deal, I've not changed the storyline, but heavily edited the text. Am now reposting it on Wattpad (thanks to nessa) as MmaroZ. Hope you'll all glance over it and give me renewed opinions! 

As I've said already, this will always be my first place to post, but would be nice to increase my audience on these other busy sites!

Thank you all for your comments and reads. There's mixed reaction to Jens, and Lucas...and for that reason I've not replied to comments for last few chapters. Want to just let all the relationships grow a bit more, then will comment! :)

MZ

Learning to Fly - 19

Chapter 19 - Love and Pride 

Carly felt her jaw drop open, this was more than embarrassment at walking in on her and Jens.  Camilla was genuinely angry. Carly suddenly felt sick.

"What's wrong?" 

Camilla stopped and glared at Carly, "What's wrong? Shit Carly! What is it with you and this bloody false innocence? I've been confiding all my thoughts and fears in you, and all the while you were scheming and plotting behind my back!"

Carly raised a hand to stop the tirade of abuse, "Camilla, I have absolutely NO idea what you're talking about! We are friends - now, I've done nothing to change that, and I'm not faking anything!"

She shook her head as she dramatically tutted returning to her anger fuelled march, "you are always the perfect one aren't you? Wonderful worker, friend to everyone, and now what? Screwing the boss?"

Carly slumped onto the bed in defeat, "Cam, I don't get it..." Carly hadn't fallen into bed with Jens without a lot of thought, in fact she'd mentally debated it on so many occasions. Now her room mate was berating her for...for what? Suddenly the penny dropped, "you want him yourself is that it?"

Camilla's face was a picture, a mixture of shock, indignation and anger, "who the hell do you think you are? You only walked in here five minutes ago, and you are the one to challenge me?"

Carly took a steadying deep breath, looking up at the ceiling, "will you give me a straight answer?"

Through a very sarcastic scoff, Camilla finally hissed, "he was seeing me...he said he needed some time, but that was all it was a temporary break. I should've known that you'd jump in to my grave."

A million thoughts careered through Carly's brain. At no point had she discussed whether Jens was dating anyone before she'd dived into bed with him, htough in the last three weeks that he'd been flirting, chasing her, she'd not seen him with anyone else, and the staff gossip wagon hadn't revealed that he was involved with anyone, let alone Camilla.

Still is was obvious that Camilla was devastated, and Carly felt sorry for that. Sorry but not responsible. 

"Cam, I didn't know. And he never mentioned it..."

The hurt was etched in line across the older girl's face as she snapped, "did he even have time as you threw yourself at him? And you DID bloody know! I cried on your shoulder when he cooled things. For god's sake, you held my hand as I waited to see if I was...."

Pregnant...Carly didn't need to hear the final word, Camilla had thought she was having JENS' baby. Lucas wasn't the possible father. Carly suddenly felt sick again, she'd treated him...badly, worse than badly, and it wasn't his fault.  He was still having sex with Camilla the night she'd arrived. 

Now Carly was confused, there were far too much convolutions to this story and she had work commitments. 

"I'm sorry but at no point have you ever mentioned Jens to me, and he's never mentioned you. I'd never deliberately hurt you, and if you think I would, then you really don't know me. I'm working in an hour, maybe we can discuss this later?"

She didn't wait for an answer, instead, she grabbed her uniform and made for the shower. 

Mid morning Carly was still struggling to get her head around the revelations, Marta and Rochelle hadn't passed comment yet. But she knew they were concerned. The life and sould of the party no more. Well not today anyway. 

"Coffee!" Rochelle announced at just after eleven. "Enough! The temporaries can look after things for a few minutes. Come on Marta!" 

The two girls followed Rochelle into the small adjacent staff room. Handing them both a mug, she turned to Carly, "so...what's happening! What's wrong?"

Carly sighed, saying things aloud made them real, and she ahd no intention of making this nightmare reality did she? There was also the adage that a problem shared was a problem halved.

"I slept with Jens last night."

She didn't expect enthusiasm or whoops of joy, but she wasn't sure she was prepared for complete silence. Eventually Marta spoke.

"It was what you wanted?"

"He didn't force me!" she snapped a response.

Rochelle soothed the situation, "I think what Marta means, is that you seem so sad today, we were concerned something very bad had happened. You should be smiling at new love!"

Carly nodded, a little relieved that her friend's support wasn't deserting her, "Camilla came back this morning, foudn us...she went crazy!"

Marta nodded knowingly, "she has chased after him for a long time, they were apparently close over the autumn weren't they Roch?"

Rochelle nodded, "Franz sees a lot, in his bar. She threw herself at him quite a bit. But not recently."

"So I haven't trodden on her toes? I mean she was so angry..."

Rochelle smiled as she ran her thumb over the brim of her coffee mug, "you never know with him Carly, but you knew that he was a player...or was. He may have changed...some men do."

Carly nodded, she could see a hidden 'I told you so' in her eyes, but appreciated the lack of verbalisation. "I don't want to upset her, but he's fun..."

Marta smiled, "you've known them bith a couple of months, I don't think you should be picking sides, at the end of the day you have no obligation to anyone."

Carly groaned and covered her eyes, "she was with Lucas from reception the night I arrived,  I really had no idea..."

Rochelle laughed, "I can't believe Lucas went anywhere near her, he's not her type, and she's DEFINITELY not his type!"

Lucas! The sudden reminder that she owed him an apology to didn't settle well on her stomach. This day was going from bad to worse!

Carly found she was dreading the end of the day. Whilst she was at work, she didn't have to deal with Camilla, but she knew that once she left, she'd have to speak to her, try to rectify things. Camilla was determined and stubborn and she knew that wouldn't be easy. It was times like this that she missed home, her parents, their small home and the village that knew everyone's business. 

But she wasn't home, she was here, so she had to get on with things. Climbing the steps to her room her heart was heavy and nausea churned a rolling boil in her stomach. She hated confrontation like this, but she wasn't at fault here. Carly groaned wishing she knew what to say to Camilla to make things good. Give up Jens? She literally froze in her stride.

No. She had no intention of doing that. Carly realised that straight away. She wanted to spend time with Jens, he may not be the love of her life - who knew? Romances succeed and fail. But she wasn't sacrificing anything to make someone else happy. She'd see how things went with him. She knew that may cause problems with her room mate, but...

Jogging the last few steps, she strode confidently into the bedroom then there was the come down...it was empty. Carly sighed, she'd built up ready for the fight, now there was the anti-climax. Adrenaline was still surging in her veins and she coudldn't just lounge around. She was about to change for the gym when her phone rang. Glancing down at it she smiled. Jens.

"Are you about to spirit me away somewhere? Take my mind off things?"

His surprise at her keeness caused him to laugh, "well how can I refuse an offer like that? I was about to suggest the cinema. But I can just as easily kidnap you, take you away!"

Carly chuckled, "the cinema sounds good, but no horror?"

Jens deliberately paused, "OK, but that is not giving you the chance to drag me into some sort of dreary chick-flick!"

Carly gave a knowing tut, "we'll see about that."

Jens, as with their other dates, was the perfect gentleman. The nearest cinema was an hour away on the outskirts of a fairly big town, the complex also boasted a few well known fast food chains, and Carly after a few months living on Alpine menu's did go a little mad! Jens chuckled as he helped her eat the feast she'd bought, but was obviously amazed when she still had room for popcorn.

The film was a compromise, a thriller with a Jason Bourne type character was evading mutlipe groups of criminals. It was exciting and fun and there was nothing more natural than linking her hand through Jens as they made for the car. The drive back in the complete darkness was precarious, and it added to the other distractions that meant she hadn't discussed Camilla.

As she'd left her room to meet him earlier, Carly had run head on into Camilla and the atmosphere was so frosty she could almost have cried, the last thing she wanted or needed here was an enemy, especially one sharing the room with her.

When they had travelled along the winding, yet long road between the two places, Jens turned to her, "so what's making you quiet? Normally you don't stop talking to even eat!"

"Is that a veiled insult Mr König?" Her comment and side glance were accompanied by an endearing smile.

"Is that an attempt to change the subject Miss McLellan?" 

Carly loved the way he struggled to utter all the syllables of her name into one word, a sign that the multi languaged adonis wasn't completely perfect. but analysis of him aside, he'd given her the 'in' to a conversation she wasn't that keen to have.

"I argued with Camilla before we left. I'm not looking forward to going back to more of the same!" It was only a half truth, but it gave her chance to gauge his reaction to her name. 

He seemed unpeturbed, "she's a funny one Camilla, I wouldn't worry about her really."

Carly took a deeep breath, honesty was always the best policy, wasn't it? "It was over you...that we argued."

"Ahhh!" It was a knowing sound, not particualrly guilt laden, but a knowing sigh all the same. "Camilla..." He slowed the car down and pulled to the side of the road. "Look, it's a fairly isolated hotel, people know me...we did have a brief fling...But that's all it was. if she thinks it was more then that's her imagination. I swear to you Carly."

Carly was reeling, she didn't know what to say. He was so blaze about it all, yet people's emotions, realtionships...you couldn't just brush things under the carpet and pretend it hadn't happened. Life and consequences.

Jens spotted her down turned face, "Carly, hey, look at me!" She lifted her eyes obligingly. "it was nothing more than a brief fling. I've had a lot, I admit, but I like you..."

Carly laughed, "you're different to the others!" She mocked him. "Don't bullshit me Jens, I look at her, at all the other girls at the hotel and I have no idea why you've singled me out, I'm so pale in comparison to them. I can't help but thinking this is some huge joke and I'm the punchline!"

Jens leaned over to cup her cheek, "I can't promise you forever Carly, who can? But I don't want anyone more than you."

It was a line, probably a well rehearsed one, but she wasn't looking for life long commitment, all she wanted was fun, and for the moment the uncertainty of Jens was far more favourable than the uncertainty of her small shared room. So when he leaned in and kissed her gently, asked her to come back to his chalet, she didn't decline. 

Better the devil you know!