You Got It Wrong - Part Thirty Five

Chapter Thirty Five

Thanks for the feedback, I think everyone is right, this story may be lacking a little enthusiasm from me, and is slow coming. Will try for a few more chapters, hopefully get it back on track. I don't take constructive things personally, I rely on you guys to give me feedback. 

I think that I'm trying to make this story too big, and am struggling to keep all the story lines patent, if that makes sense? Over ambitious? Moi?!!! :)

                “Let’s go have fun.”

Nina opened her eyes and was relieved that he’d ended the kiss before it got out of hand. “Fun?”

He nodded, “all I really want is to drag you upstairs to any room and do unmentionable things to you...but the night is young. I have a babysitter I trust, I want us to go out. Dancing?”

She laughed, “dancing?”

Theo nodded, then shrugged, “or the movies...but I’d rather dance than make out in the back row...come on, let’s do it.”

With a nod of consent, she took the hand he offered and allowed him to drag her out into the night.

And an hour later she had no regrets. They were in a basement club, a dark room that buzzed from the thuds of the music to the glamorous and fairly exclusive clientele.

                “I had no idea this place existed,” she reached her mouth up to his ear and was rewarded with a smile.

                “Daniel likes places where he’s not recognised...or rather anonymous. And tonight it’s perfect.”

She glanced around, a lot of faces were familiar, but with the dark lighting it was hard to be sure. It was busy, busy enough that they were pressed against each other as they moved to the music but not that they couldn’t breathe.

                “I never saw you as a dancer Theo.”

Theo loved the sound of his name on her lips; she made it sound like a breath. A sigh...a moan. His libido was trying to dominate the evening, constantly reminding him that he had the most desirable woman draped in his arms, plastered against his body, and in the taxi on the way to the club she’d told him all the details of the room she had waiting at the hotel. But he wanted to do this, to show her that there was more to him than a sex depraved animal, he’d treated her so badly, judged her...he wanted to make her smile again. And she was as he swung her around.

                “I LOVE dancing, but it’s not overly PC for a man to say that these days.”

She smiled, “I think it’s incredibly sexy for a man to say that actually.”

It was his turn to smile, “god you are testing my every resolve today young lady.”

Was that an intentional deliberate rub of her pelvis into his? He couldn’t be sure, but he was never more tempted to swing her over his shoulder caveman style and march her out of the building. When he stared down into her eyes he knew that she was wanting that too, that she was pushing his every button.

He gave a little shake of his head before leading her to the bar and buying them both a drink.

Nina watched him as he got their drinks, he was confident, funny, everything about him was almost perfect, he’d hurt her more than anyone else had in years, but as he turned to smile at her, she realised that he’d given her so much too. She was happy with him, and was starting to look to the future. And that was good; being optimistic was a great thing.

                “What’s going on in that head of yours? Because THAT smile could undress a man at two hundred feet!”

She giggled, “but not the one at two foot?”

He groaned then lifted his eyes to the ceiling for a moment, “do you have any idea of how you are torturing me?”

She waited until his eyes met her again, then she reached out and ran a finger down his chest, abdomen to settle on the bulge below his waist, “I have a pretty good idea!” She stepped back and he gasped at her retreat, taking the vodka he’d just bought, she knocked it back in one go, then smiled, “I’m heading back to the hotel, not sure about you?”

He beat her to the door.

Nina stretched. The bed was SO comfy, but she didn’t know whether that was due to the bed, or the warm arms that surrounded her. She lifted her head from the pillow and looked down at the sleeping beside her. His eyes were closed, eyelashes fanning his cheeks, his full lips parted slightly and his chest rising and falling as he breathed. His body was perfection, she wanted to kiss and touch every inch of him. Unable to resist she flicked out her tongue and licked his nipple, it puckered under her touch and she could sense his breathing rate change. When she glanced up towards his face, his hooded eyes were watching her intently.

                “Don’t stop,” he breathed softly, “you were just getting started.”

She nodded, “I don’t intend to stop, not for a long time.”

But his baby sitter was only booked until nine am, and at half past eight he had to leave the hotel room. Nina dressed in just a robe saw him to the door.

                “When can I see you again?” she asked as he pulled on his suit jacket.

He rolled his eyes, not exposing Melody to his relationship with Nina was important, if it became serious...then that was different. “I want to say tonight, tomorrow...”

Nina smiled, “I know it’s difficult with your daughter.”

                “Daniel promised to take her to the cinema, it means odd hours here and there, but Sunday afternoon, I’ve got a couple of hours. Let me take you on the London Eye?”

Lifting an eyebrow she looked questioningly, “the. London. Eye.”

He laughed, “there’s more to me than sex! We could go to my home, or a hotel...but don’t you want to go have fun, do normal things? How about the theatre? I’ll get us tickets for Miss Saigon?”

She wanted to be with Theo, that much was obvious, but outside of the bedroom they seemed to spend more time arguing than anything else.

She reached for his tie and straightened it, “we get into trouble when we try and socialise, we don’t fight here...” She nodded towards the bed and gave her best seductive look.

Theo thought about that as he headed across London, she had a point; he kept putting his foot in things, kept hurting her. His distrust of everyone was always simmering under the surface, a mother who wasn’t overly maternal, a drunken father, his...wife, or rather ex. Everyone selfish and no one trustworthy. Daniel...Mansell...Tony...there were people out there, people who were looking out for him, but it was still new...and none of them were female.

She’d not done anything but give, nothing but support his family. Taking her out was meant to be his way of proving that he was worthy of her, attempts to be normal, his desire to show her that for the first time in years he was serious about her, that he WANTED this more than anything. Well, almost everything.

He thought about Melody, he’d do anything for her, and she had to be first, but if he put everything on hold then he’d never have a life himself. He sighed, standing as the tube reached Pimlico station. As he emerged back up onto the street into the early morning sunshine, he knew that a compromise was going to be difficult. But what in life wasn’t worth fighting for?

As he walked up to his apartment black he called Daniel, who answered almost immediately.

                “How was the party?”

Theo chuckled, “wilder than even you could imagine. You will never guess who James Willoughby’s sister is.”

That made Daniel laugh, “he’s got a sister? I don’t ever remember Jack having a daughter, is she as much of a drain on society as her brother?”

                “No. It’s Nina.”

Daniel was silent for a moment and Theo could only imagine his shocked face, “YOUR Nina? How the hell did you not know that? There aren’t thousands of Willoughby’s, didn’t you know?”

It was Theo’s turn to blush; he could describe every inch of her delectable body, knew his way around her house, but didn’t know her surname.

                “We didn’t make it as far as surnames and family links. Jeez, we’ve had less than a dozen dates.” A lot less. But he didn’t want to think about that.  Instead he was more interested in when he could next spend some time with the lady, and for that he needed Daniel’s help.

An hour later, he was back at his home with Melody, and she turned on Frozen...again, and insisted that they had milkshakes in a makeshift den on the sofa in the lounge, and who was he to not indulge her?

Nina had disappeared into the basement workshop once she’d got back to the house. And her pleasure, her fulfilment meant that she worked like a Trojan. Several designs complete for perusal by the clients, and some detail work on an almost complete ring. Theo Peterson seemed to be good for her work ethic whether being nasty to her or worshipping her. When she came out of her almost obsessive work state she spotted several messages on her phone, Theo couldn’t make it the following day as Daniel had been called to Manchester on some political thing. But he wanted to speak to her, make plans.

She needed something to drink, she’d been stuck in the hot basement for ages, heading for the fridge she grabbed a can of diet coke and popped it open, then downed half of it as she called Theo’s mobile phone.

                “Hey Nina!” He sounded pleased to hear her. And it was at that moment that she regretted guzzling her drink, she couldn’t fight the long and loud burp that broke free of her lips. Mortified all she could hear in the aftermath of that event was him laughing at her, chuckling uncontrollably.

                “Sorry,” she mumbled but he was too bust laughing to hear her properly. “You wanted to speak to me?”

                “Yes. Of course...sorry, but that was so funny.” She groaned so he continued, “I’ve managed to get Wednesday night free. Daniel is having Melody for the whole night. Will you come here for dinner?”

                “Not the theatre? Or the London Eye?”

He chuckled, “if you like. But I quite fancy a take away, a bottle of wine and a movie. Or we could go out?”

                “I’m just teasing; the first sounds perfect, what time?”

So three days later, after a long phone call to a surprisingly upbeat and positive Lilah, Nina got the train to London. She’d arranged to meet Theo in a pub near his house. They’d planned to have food there, then head back to his with said bottle of wine a little later. She knew that she would stay at his, Melody was spending the night with Daniel, so she’d thrown a tooth brush and clean undies in her bag. She was travelling light rather than bringing an obvious overnight bag. How embarrassing if they argued and she had a huge bag at her feet whilst she stormed off.

She was wearing a dress, she’d never worn as many as she had since she’d met Theo, but it was one that would be passable in the day when she made her way home. Nina felt herself blush; she was planning everything so that she could have a night with this man. So sordid...but so exciting.

She emerged from the tube station and smiled as she saw Theo striding towards her.

                “I thought you were meeting me at the pub?” She said as he pulled her into his arms and his lips descended on hers. And she melted, loving this direct approach, the intention in his actions.

                “Got here earlier than I thought,” he finally replied when he put her down...at some point he’d lifted her five foot two frame clean off the floor.

                “I’m glad!”

He stared down into her eyes and Nina’s legs felt like jelly. She never believed a man could make her feel like this, so desired, so special, and so excited. She’d never been so desperate to get her hands on someone as she was with him.

                “Pub,” he gave a firm nod of the head, “the Slate does THE greatest food. Come on.”

Taking her hand he led her through the crowds and she had to skip to keep up with him. But he was right, food, socialise, be normal and NOT argue. That was the agenda for the next hour. They could do that, couldn’t they?

You Got It Wrong - Party Thirty Four

Chapter Thirty Four

 A/N Sorry for the slowness of this story, I'm in a kind of half block half not 

happy with how this is going. I'm re editing a lot, not sure I'm happy

but hope you enjoy...would love to know how you are finding it. 

As she marched up the road, wobbling in her awkward heels, eyes scanning the horizon for a taxi, Nina wondered what the hell had just happened. SHE was the one who’d had a hard time, not Theo, when she’d spotted him there, in her peripheral vision she’d been so glad, almost happy. He was the silver lining to the dark cloud of the day, that was for sure. Instead...she shook her head. She had no idea what he was so aggrieved about, she hadn’t lied, she honestly thought of Lilah as her family, it was a long time since she’d thought of James as her brother. That was the truth.

Tony was staring in a bewildered way at Theo as he appeared in the aftermath of Nina who’s waltzed past him hanging on to her dignity, so obviously fighting tears.

                “What the fuck Theo? Please tell me you didn’t...” When his friend groaned he shook his head, “what is WRONG with you? Three years you’ve lived like a saint, not drifting from a position when you protect yourself. Finally a feisty and might I add extremely hot woman...”

Theo could feel his face redden at Tony’s surmise of Nina, then scowled when his friend laughed, “you don’t talk about her. Ok?”

Tony laughed again, “Me? I think I can talk about her, but you, YOU have just thrown ten tons of your quite frankly pathetic insecurities on her, in a room full of what she would describe as the enemy. You ever thought she hasn’t mentioned her brother because she hates him? Or is ashamed of it? He’d tick both of those boxes if I was his sibling.”

Theo was fighting nausea, anxiety, when had the form sold ground under his feet moved, he felt as though he was in a nightmare where his feet were sinking into the ground, the room threatening to engulf him.

                “Swallow your pride, get over and go get her before she disappears you clot!”

He turned to look at Tony for a moment, then grunted. He almost knocked over three waiters in his need to escape. 

It was cold outside which surprised him, it was early autumn, but there was an icy kick in the air. Looking frantically up and down the street he once again cursed the volume of traffic that seemed to occupy London’s streets even at night.

Then he spotted her, a hint of black between cars further down the road, slowing a taxi.

                “Nina...NINA...wait!”

She glanced up; she looked at him, but still disappeared into a taxi. Theo had moments to react, and like a Hollywood Hero, he threw himself in front of a black cab that skidded to a halt, almost hitting him. Ignoring the curses of the petrified driver, he turned to him, “FOLLOW THAT CAR!”

He couldn’t relax, he was pensive leaning forward pointing the other taxi out to the driver, geeing him along from the back seat. The driver dodged through the traffic obeying Theo’s instructions, but also negotiating just how expensive this trip was going to be. Theo didn’t care. He’d been a bastard...again; the money for the fair was a drop in the ocean compared to what he owed Nina.

Her cab disappeared for a moment, but then reappeared as it stopped outside a large hotel in Kensington. As the taxi pulled up across the road from where she alighted, he tossed a wad of notes at the driver.

                “Thank you SO much, you are the best!”

Then he dived out of the vehicle and started to dodge his way across the road.

Nina had never been more glad than to enter the hotel. She had so much to do, and all she needed was a drink. Detouring from the reception, she made for the bar nodding to a waiter as she found a seat in the corner away from everyone. Sat at the table, she ordered a whisky, she wasn’t in the mood for beer or wine, she needed something far stronger. Then she got her phone out and called Larry, her father’s lawyer.

                “He’s going through with it.”

Her words sounded cold even to herself, but here she was about to turn the screw on her brother’s demise, she had to be sure that SHE was ready to go through with this.

                “I didn’t think he’d back down Nina, that isn’t his way. He’ll sink trying...” They paused, and then Larry asked, “so you really want to sell?”

                “There’s no other choice, he’ll lose my part if he’s not careful.”

She could hear Larry rifling papers along the phone line before he said, “well even if they block it you’ve got both legal power of attorney, and the majority of the capital.” She knew that, every time that her brother and Imelda took money from her father’s estate, Larry arranged for it to be released from the equity in the house. Now Nina owned more than ninety percent of it. In fact the last three years they’d been living there on her goodwill. They had no plan B, she was sure they had no money saved, no secret stash, and as she listened to Larry agree to sell the house, she realised that without the facade of a beautiful and large house, her brother could not pretend to be wealthy, powerful, and this whole farce of an engagement would fall apart. But she reassured herself in case there was any hint that she might feel guilty, some young girl didn’t need to find her fiancé sleeping with his step mother, because that WAS happening, and it could ruin the other woman for a long time, like the sight of Josh writhing under the naked Imelda had haunted her for years.

But not for ages.

No, she shook her head, now she was haunted by the way Theo had snubbed her, looked at her as though she was dirt, judged her...the only man she’d let in since Josh.

The whisky appeared in front of her, a ten year old malt that was extravagant, but had the capacity to warm her to her toes with just a sip.

Placing the glass down on the table, she leaned back in the chair, and it was then she spotted the two feet planted in front of her. Nina groaned, she didn’t need this, not now.

Slowly she lifted her eyes over the immaculate black trousers, the ice white shirt that moulded to a body she remembered like a glove, the strong shoulders, every inch of him conjuring up a zillion memories of a delightful and intimate time. He was a handsome man, in a slightly unconventional way, his collar length unruly hair the contrast to his full lips and soft features, but it was those piercing eyes that made her breathless, all seeing, studying her right back.

                “I know that words are useless. But I was out of order...again. I’m sorry.”

She shook her head, “once too many Theo. I have SO much shit going on in my life; I can’t deal with YOU adding to that.”

He lowered himself into the seat opposite her, “that’s a fair comment. I was shocked. I’m truly sorry.”

                “Shocked at what? That I hadn’t explicitly shared the dirty details of my so called family. I never lied; everyone I cared about IS dead. That man trying to rip off a young girl and her family whilst sleeping with his step mother ever day...THAT is not something I associate with, that is not a person I care about, and it is NOYT my family. And you are not qualified to question me, to judge me on that, on them...on anything.”

She was aware her voice was rising and the exclusive bar was quiet, so she relaxed back from her tense aggressive position.

                “We spent two days together; we had sex...that will never give you the right to have any judgment over me, or any right to question me. We are not having another conversation and you are NOT worming back into my good books, so you can quit now.” She glanced to her left and realised that several people had heard her raised voice, with a groan she returned to a hushed whisper. “I have no obligation or duty to you.”

He gave a nod, “I can’t argue with that, you don’t owe me anything, but I just want to tell you that I’ve been like a hormonal teenager, since you left the hotel two weeks ago. I have been desperate to see you again, I’ve missed you more than I thought possible, I don’t remember ever being so frustrated. Not that I am asking for reasons, wanting to know where you’ve been. It’s not that...but when I saw you walk in to the room earlier.” He placed a hand on his chest across his heart, “it hit me here, and it scared me. YOU scare me. Then I heard you...your family...it felt like a kick in the teeth. For a very selfish moment I saw me as giving everything, my heart and soul to a woman who...I don’t know.”

She stared at him, not sure which part of the speech stunned her more. “Heart?”

He nodded, “me, the most hurt, the most undone, the least trusting man in the world, funny hey?”

She reached for her glass and nursed it for a moment before looking up at him, “more like ironic.”

That made him smile, a little hint that she didn’t hate him. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, not just like that.” He clicked his fingers, “but I just ask that you think about it. Please?”

He stood before the waiter came to take his order, and with a nod made to leave, and it was then she spoke.

                “Theo...stop. At least have a drink...something to eat; you’ve just walked out of that party. You must be hungry.”

It was a neutral request, not giving anything away of how she was feeling, what she was thinking, but for Theo it was another small sign that maybe, just maybe she’d give him another undeserved chance.

They ordered steaks, she assured him that the chef there did the best, and they ate them with a bottle of red wine as they talked more neutral topics, weather, work...anything but feelings, each other, or what happened after the meal. Nina was still livid, he’d made her feel so worthless, so dreadful that she wasn’t sure she could get past it, but then he was charming, interested and very humble over the whole thing.

She wasn’t good at these things, judging people, situations, that was where she missed Lilah; she was the opposite, so worldly, so intuitive. She thought about her crumpled traumatised friend and then wondered how she’d ever recover from what happened. Someone who was usually so clued in got caught out, and that was as devastating to Lilah as the actual assault.

                “You seem preoccupied...”

Nina sighed hearing his voice, “it’s been a weird day.”

                “Before me going all psycho on you?”

She nodded, “I’ve just condemned my brother to possible poverty...and I should feel victorious, but...”

He leaned back and let out a deep exhalation, “wow, that’s...wow. So you’re really not close to him then?”

Shrugging she reached for her glass of wine, and took a drink for a moment, “I wasn’t lying when I said I have no family, I really don’t class him as that.”

                “My friend Tony said he’s an ‘unusual’ character.”

Laughing out loud Nina nodded, “unusual, that’s one way of putting it. My father...” she hated that mentioning him made her choke up. “We never saw eye to eye, James was always the apple of his eye, but then he’s a lot older than me.” She wasn’t about to share all her demons, but she couldn’t ignore the issues, “I fell out with them all over my brother, my stepmother...they were horrid. My father defended them...so I left home. I didn’t come back from my travels until I heard my father died.” She sipped at her wine again blinking at the tears that threatened to fall, “alone...they put him in a nursing home miles away when he got Alzheimer’s, apparently it was aggressive, he went downhill quickly.” She looked up at him, “he left me a letter, telling me he was sorry he didn’t believe me about how conniving James and Imelda were...he caught them in bed together...just as I predicted. But he was too proud to let people know, and to proud to tell me.” She hated that a tear fell down her cheek, “so he died...alone.”

Theo had been on the back foot all evening, and as he watched the complex, beautiful and extremely honest woman in front of him, he hated that she was falling apart, that she was unravelling in front of him. He liked her strong, and he wanted her to accept him on her terms, not like this. He wanted to reach out, show her he cared, but he didn’t think she’d cope with that.  So he watched her drop her head, wipe at a tear, try to hide her emotion from him. Before he knew what he was doing he’d reached out and placed a hand over hers.

                “That’s why you volunteer. That’s how you met my grandfather...god I am SUCH a dick. How the hell can I do this to you?”

That made her look up, and she offered a half smile, “you do right by Mansell. I did wrong by my father...no amount of volunteering can make up for my OWN flesh and blood dying lonely and alone...” she angrily swiped at her tears. “So please don’t sit there making out that I’m such martyr. I left him to the actions of two of the most selfish and self-centred people that exist. I KNEW that, I KNEW that they were lying to him, and I went off, abandoned him. I’m such a heartless bitch!”

He scooted across the seat to be closer to her, “don’t think like that. You’ve already told me that he didn’t believe you, he picked them over you...” He didn’t know half the story, she was feeding him emotional ramblings, but seeing her brother, the confrontation they’d had had obviously triggered all this off. “Why do you think he wrote you a letter? To tell you that HE was wrong, never you.”

Nina felt Theo’s fingers touch her jaw, tilt her chin so she had to meet his eyes, those bloody hypnotic eyes, she wanted SO much to hate him, but instantly he understood, he was making her belief that she didn’t need to carry that guilt around with her, not anymore.

When he offered a nervous smile, and suggested, “maybe you need to go a little easier on yourself?” she lost it. Sliding her arms around his neck, she lifted her lips to his, and for the first time in days, she felt at home, relaxed, for that moment trouble free. How could something so special be wrong?

You Got It Wrong - Part Thirty Three

Chapter Thirty Three

Short notice a dark cocktail dress was as good as it got, Nina hung it on the back of the bedroom door, then made for the shower, she was no makeup artist, but she had a couple of hours to make herself as glamorous as she could, because she knew that tonight’s event was going to be lavish.  She’d booked a taxi to arrive fashionably late, after all she still had to decide what she was going to do when she got there.

Her shoes glowered at her from the doorway; it had been ages since she’d forced her feet into torture items like the spiky heels that rested elegantly on the carpet. She giggled; they wouldn’t be elegant for the rest of the night, that was for sure.

Theo tugged at the tie at his throat and groaned, he was beginning to hate all the pomp and ceremony of life. He owed Tony, and this wasn’t the greatest favour he’d ever done, a posh party, but as with them all, there were the predatory mothers, eyeing up single and eligible men for their ‘darling’ daughters like the Bennett’s did centuries earlier, time moved on, but in some sections of society marrying well was still the most important thing for parents to ensure for their child. Fortunately he didn’t have fame, a name or the reputation to put himself on their map, but he’d seen how different things were when Daniel arrived, a known political player, a known family name, people conveniently forgot that their father was a first class bastard, a drunk, a womaniser.

Tonight the room was full of dignitaries and wannabes in equal amounts. For Tony there was a huge chance to network, but for him it signified boredom.  As he grabbed a whisky from the bar, he noticed a message blinking on his phone, Daniel.

His brother was invited tonight, after all the man getting married to London’s most well known society daughter was the son of Jack Willoughby an infamous political big voice from the last generation and the old boy’s club meant that the current political army would be automatically invited to any occasion. But Daniel had shirked it at the first opportunity; apparently Willoughby junior was an arrogant bastard, a chancer and a loose cannon. Even more reason for Theo wanting to be anywhere but there.

He thought of Nina and the flop their liaison had become, after their secret afternoon of love she’d disappeared like an enigma and other than a few “Sorry, but I have to go away” messages he knew nothing else. Almost two weeks had passed and he’d started to doubt he’d see her again, which was a disaster as he’d really enjoyed their time together...more than enjoyed.

Tony swaggered across the room towards him carrying two drinks, whisky he presumed, a beam of satisfaction on his face.

                “What made you so happy?”

Tony shrugged, “the whole ridiculous of it all. I’m just had to witness the signing of a PRE-engagement prenup, can you believe that?”

Theo shrugged, he was disinterested and disillusioned, he’d used up a rare babysitter opportunity for what was a farcical flop of an evening. Tony was definitely back in the debtor role in their friendship, “why marry if you have to do that?”

                “There’s a lot of money involved on both sides...” When Theo shook his head in amazement, Tony added, “love doesn’t always work better.”

                “Touché! I just thought society arranged marriages were a thing of classic Bronte novels.”

Tony laughed, “the upper echelons of society are a complete confusion, don’t ever forget that.”

They were all milling around in the restaurant prior to sitting for the dinner that was being prepared, large groups of people, the noise of multiple conversations causing an uncomfortable din, when a kind of hushed silence took over the room. All heads turned to look at the doorway and Theo gasped. Stood there looking the epitome of classy in a dark cocktail dress and heels, hair smoothed into a pixie cut, eyes wild with fire, was Nina, the subject of his dreams.

                “What’s she doing here?” He hissed under his breath.

Tony looked at him, “is that?”

Theo nodded, it was a long time since he and Tony had bumped into her in that hotel months back, but it seemed that it wasn’t just he that found Nina unforgettable.  

As he started to march towards her torn between wanting to shout at her for being SO absent, and smothering her in passionate kisses when he felt Tony’s hand on his arm restraining him.

                “Look...”

They both, with the rest of the room, watched as James, the betrothed and host of the party reached for Nina and secreted her off through a door to his left.

                “What’s he doing to her?” Theo turned to glare at Tony, “if he hurts her I’ll kill him.”

Tony was shaking his head, “there’s something going on here.” He wanted Theo to calm down...but Theo was having none of it. Storming across the room, he threw the closed door open, aware that everyone in the room was watching him now. But the sight he saw in the other room stunned him, Nina had her hands on her hips and was definitely the one in control of the situation. James was staring at her, pale worried. And another woman, one he didn’t recognise was stood between them all three talking at the same time.

At the sound of the door opening all three looked in his direction, but whilst two didn’t know him, he saw the hint of recognition, the hint of a smile, but then she turned back to the others, dragging their attention from him.

                “I’m not letting you do this, I’m not letting you lie...does she know about you both?”

Theo was bemused, as he watched the other woman a staggeringly attractive woman gasp, “NO. There’s nothing too know Nina.”

                “If that is the case darling Imelda, then why wouldn’t my darling brother and dear step mother invite me to said engagement party? Huh?”

As the two looked po-faced, unable to answer that, Theo was desperately trying to decipher all that he was seeing. Nina was the sister of this man? She’d said she had no family, but then there appeared to be no love lost between them all, then there was the second realisation that Nina was the daughter of Jack Willoughby...he placed a hand to his head, he’d not realised, but then why would he? She’d not told him...if anything she’d avoided any talk about her family, her life.

He stepped back, suddenly realising he knew very little about the woman he’d come so close to letting into his heart. Women, with their lies, their subterfuge...he groaned, he’d just about had enough of conniving women, lying and cheating. He wouldn’t succumb to it again. The argument in front of him wasn’t as colourful as the one in his own head, so he turned and made for the door, leaving the three alone once more.

Nina could feel Theo retreat in her peripheral vision, but that was not her battle tonight, staring at her brother she watched him trying to find an answer, “James, I thought I’d seen you reach the depths of depravity many years ago,  but I have to say, that this...” She gestured around her, “you’ve now drawn another family into your shit. And I suppose the money you desperately needed was to pay for this? Your last grab at my father’s estate was to pay for a farcical engagement party.”

                “Nina, it’s not like that.”

Imelda’s plea fell on deaf ears, “it is EXACTLY like that! You two...” Her anger had reached fury level.  “You railroad through life uncaring WHO you hurt. And now another chunk of the fortune our father spent his life working for has been burned, literally. But then what do I expect of the people who put a sick man in a nursing home miles from any family or friends. You two are despicable and disgraceful.”

Neither looked sad or ashamed, but the fact that after she left home at eighteen days after finding Imelda in bed with her then boyfriend, and hours after her father laughed, refused to believe her and told her to “grow up and stop making up stories”, her father was taken ill, possibly Alzheimer’s, but instead of him being diagnosed, managed, treated...he was literally abandoned to a home for mental health patients. Left to die in solitude. When Nina found that out, AFTER he’d passed away, she’d been consumed with guilt. The letter he’d left her outlined that he knew everything, Imelda was a bitch and guilty of all that Nina had accused, James was a selfish bastard who had no time for anyone but himself, and that as a father he was interminably sorry that he’d not listened, not been there for her, never listened. She had cried when she read it, huge body wracking sobs, that all fell several months too late to count or be heard.

And now she was expected to watch and listen when the only family she had made a farce of their name and squandered their future.

Theo was livid, he’d never felt so usurped, so overthrown. Was everything that he knew a lie? Tony must have spotter him because he came across the room to meet him, leading him to a corner.

                “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Theo reached for a drink then downed the whole thing, “sure feels like that.”

                “That was Nina? From the hotel?”

He nodded, “Nina who I thought wanted more from me...seems that I know NOTHING about her. Nothing at all.”

                “What do you mean?”

He ran a hand through his hair, “James is her brother, she’s Jack Willoughby’s daughter.”

Tony’s eyes widened, “that’s a turn up for the books, forgot old Jack had a daughter. You didn’t know?”

Theo laughed, “and there it is! I ASKED her about her family, she told me they were all dead. I trusted her with my daughter, with my life...and all the time she was lying?”

                “Don’t over react Theo, would you admit to that wastrel being your brother?”

He laughed again dryly, “I admitted that my bastard of a father was just that, I’ve always been honest. Why can’t women be the same?”

Tony laid a hand on his forearm, “take stock for a minute, she’s NOT Sadie, not everyone has an agenda like that...”

Theo wasn’t convinced, shaking his head he reached for another drink, hating that he’s led his guard down. What was he thinking?

                “You can’t change things.” James had changed attack, “no one will believe you.”

Imelda to his left nodded suddenly looking pleased with herself, and that caused Nina to laugh, “you think that I need them to listen? Cos I don’t! I called our solicitor earlier; apparently you have mortgaged the house to over ninety thousand pounds! Far more than you could ever manage. So now...I’m the one in control, and by eight am, the FOR SALE sign will be up over the front door to Dad’s house, so any bargain you’ve made based on the house...well, you don’t need me to spell out what that means.”

                “But you can’t!” James stood mouth agape. And suddenly Nina realised how this was working. He needed the house to keep up the facade to his ‘fiancée’s’ family, he needed the wealth of his in laws to be to survive. She should feel sad that she was bringing him to his knees, but she didn’t, not at all. Instead she gave her head a sad nod, and turned and left them to their own hell.

Theo.

That was her priority, she’d not acknowledged him when he’d burst in on them a little earlier, she should have stopped what she was doing to speak to him, but it was arguably the most vital conversation she’d ever had with her family, closure, the final point in a horribly long and until now one sided relationship. She’d had to put them to bed, it was time to move on, once and for all, and selling her family home wasn’t a pleasant thought, because that truly WAS closure. The end of her childhood, the end of her family. With a sigh, she perused the room. She had to find Theo.

A waiter walked past her carrying a tray laden with champagne, and she reached out to take a glass, she should feel a million dollars, finally moving on, and finally having some sort of comeuppance but she felt hollow, empty. Pasting on a smile, she ignored the eyes that watched her; no one knew who she was, ironically, so she was like an outsider as she made her way through the restaurant.

Theo was stood at the far side, talking to a man who was vaguely familiar, when he glanced in her direction, saw her approaching, his face contorted into a scowl. And taking a deep breath she walked up to him.

                “Theo...”

He gave a nod of recognition, but a silence sat between them that was more than awkward.

                “Can I talk to you?” When he shrugged, she added, “in private?”

With a reluctant “excuse me” to the other man, he took her elbow and led her in the direction of the bathrooms, once they were away from prying eyes he pulled her to stand in front of him and scowled, “what?”

She shook her head for a moment, then offered, “I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch...there’s a lot going on...”

He shrugged, “you obviously don’t owe me any explanations.”

That stopped her in the tracks, “what?”

He gave a sardonic laugh, “your brother...” he spat the word out, “you made out that all your family was dead, we may not have had a lengthy relationship but I liked you, I let you in to my world, you met my daughter...all the time you were keeping what you were, who you are a secret. You made out that your family were all dead. What else are you hiding?”

Nina took a step back, she’d had a traumatic day all things considered, the last thing she needed was recriminations and accusations, especially unjust ones. She had to get outside, take stock, and breathe fresh air. Taking a step back she looked up at him, “if you know anything about the man hosting this party you’d know that I don’t think about him as family, he is nothing but a leech to me, to society and to the air we breathe. Same for her...” she spat out the words. “But YOU. I thought you were different, I thought you cared. This...” she waved around herself gesturing at the air between them, “this is ridiculous. Pity that I wasted time and my heart on you!”

With that she spun around and marched out away from him.