Home > Tainted Love(3)

Tainted Love(3)
Author: Jaimie Roberts

He turns to me, placing a hand on his heart. “I didn’t want to say that word in front of a real lady.”

Oh, I’m no lady, I think, sadness temporarily hitting my chest. If Freddy ever became aware of my dark secret, he would be disgusted with me. Anyone in the right mind would.

“That’s very noble of you.” I offer him my most sincere smile, forcing those dark thoughts deep down into that little box of something bad. I refuse to let my personal life interfere with my job, and today will be no exception.

Freddy leans forward. I match him, so I can listen to whatever it is he has to say.

“You never answered my question.”

For a moment, I’m confused. “What question?”

He exaggeratedly rolls his eyes. “Why don’t you like people calling you by your full name?”

I let out a breath and lean back, my eyes darting to the sound of the bell ringing on the door. My boss is back looking gorgeous as ever. Le-sigh. “Oh, that. I’ve never liked my full name. It sounds common. At least Bri sounds more sophisticated. Like cheese.”

A rumble of laughter echoes, making me jump. “You prefer to be likened to cheese,” Charlie says, sniggering still.

I fake pout at my boss as he moves to stand behind me. “It’s not just any old cheese. It’s French.”

Charlie rolls his eyes. I turn my head away to face Freddy, who has a glint in his eyes. “I’m partial to a bit of cheese.”

Charlie groans and when I glance up at him, he points to the back door. “I’ll be in my office if you need me.”

I nod my head and turn to deal with Freddy again. Immediately, I get up and wander around the counter. “Are you really interested in the crystal lady?”

Freddy stands tall and inhales, puffing out his chest. “Of course. Every time I come in here, I keep telling myself if she’s still here next week, I’ll buy her, and I never do. She reminds me of my old lady.”

I glance at the crystal lady, taking in her elegant, heart-shaped face, long eyelashes, and luscious hair that flows for miles, and say, “Wow, she must be beautiful.”

“She was,” he replies sadly.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not,” he chuckles, shocking the hell out of me. “She was a fucking witch.” He then sighs at himself. “Excuse my language.”

I giggle before responding. “You’re excused.”

“It was an arranged marriage, of sorts,” he explains, walking over to the crystal lady, his eyes dancing over her. I follow after him, listening intently. “I loved another woman, but she was from a poor family. My parents said all she was interested in was my money. I didn’t believe them, not until I saw a letter from her agreeing to my parents paying her off to stay away from me. Bitter and hurt, I went along with marrying a woman I didn’t love out of some kind of revenge. It was only after my father died many years later that my mother told me my dad had the letter forged and had blackmailed Bethany. That was her name.”

This is the first time Freddy has ever opened up like this about his private life. I feel bad for him, but I also have empathy. I, of all people, know what it’s like to feel trapped in something there’s no escape from.

“That’s awful,” I finally say. “Did you ever try and find her?”

He shrugs both shoulders. “What was the point? At the time, I had been married over ten years, and a couple of years before that I had heard she was married with twin boys.”

My shoulders sag for him. “I’m sorry.”

“Ah, it is what it is,” he replies, taking another step towards the lady.

“So why do you want to buy something that reminds you of your ex-wife?”

He turns his head towards me, a slight glint in his eyes. “Because, my dear. Despite the lack of love, there certainly wasn’t a lack in passion, if you know what I mean.” He taps his nose and winks. “She was part Sicilian.”

“Well, that explains everything,” I respond on a giggle.

“How much is she?”

“She’s two hundred and twenty quid, but I’m sure Charlie won’t mind giving it to you for two hundred.”

He sharply nods his head, decision made. “I’ll take it.” He digs into his wallet, takes out some cash, and starts counting.

I take that as my cue to walk to the counter and start writing out a receipt for him. Once all done, I look up to him with a smile. “I can deliver it later, if you want?”

“I can take it …”

“No, I insist. She’s a lot heavier than she looks.”

Freddy jokingly shakes his head. “Typical. I’ve only just purchased her, and she’s already causing trouble.”

I laugh out loud before handing him his receipt. “Thank you for your order, Freddy.”

He takes the receipt with my hand and kisses the back of it before giving me a wink. “Enchanté.”

He then turns and heads for the door. “See you later, Freddy.”

He offers me a wave but doesn’t turn. “I will look forward to it, sweetheart.”

I hear the ring of the door and watch as he walks out. I’m smiling as I sit down before suddenly realising what’s been on the counter this whole time without me noticing.

Picking up the foil wrap, I start undoing it and salivate once the smell hits me.

A bacon sandwich.

Charlie must have popped out to get me one.

Quickly gorging on the sandwich, I sit on my little stool wondering…

How much more could I possible fall in love with my boss?

 

 

I had forgotten to mention that part. I’m in love with Charlie and have been for around three months. I can’t for the life of me understand why as he doesn’t show an ounce of interest in me. Despite all of this, I still fantasise about us being together, regardless of the fact that I belong to another. Guilt constantly flares inside of me whenever I think about Charlie, but my mind still wanders there. No matter how much I attempt to push my feelings for my boss aside, they still taunt and tempt me like a shiny, gold carrot on a stick.

Chris is my sickness.

Charlie is my path to redemption.

As per usual on a typical day at work, I use the massive amount of free time when clients aren’t there to do the bookkeeping. I like it because in those few moments of doing nothing but number crunching, I’m free. I’m free, and I’m numb. I don’t have to worry about Charlie or my life outside of work. In those few precious minutes, I get to lose myself. Not because I’m made to, but because I want to. I don’t belong to anybody or anything. I know that sounds crazy and dumb, but it’s the truth.

This is the life of Bri Wilkinson.

“Are you looking for overtime, because I’m not giving you any? You may as well stop now and call it quits.”

My pen stops midway through jotting a number down from the receipt in my hand. I hadn’t realised I’d been engrossed this long until I glance up to find darkness creeping up upon us. My eyes flit down towards my watch, my eyes widening in shock.

“Holy fucking shit!”

It’s after seven.

“Are you cursing at the fact I’m not paying you extra, or because you’ve realised how late it is?”

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