Authors: Marie Kelly
“Suicide?” she had breathed, her tone expressing the complete shock she felt.
“You are planning on killing yourself?”
Slowly Andrew had moved over to the sofa, sitting heavily on it.
Tessa had never seen him like this before. When they were growing up he had always been the self-assured one, the one who could think his way out of any situation, the joker of the group who had been able to find a silver lining in any cloud. When he had opened his own business and made a success of his small company, nobody had been surprised. When he had married Helena and had two beautiful children, it seemed to be the icing on his wonderful slice of life.
“I…I don’t understand Andrew………..why?” she had mouthed still in shock.
As he had burst into tears she had thrown herself into the seat beside him, taking him into her arms and feeling his body as it was wracked with loud sobs as he clung to her.
“Oh my God, Tess…….it is such a mess”
As he went quiet again she had held him, making soothing noises against his hair.
“Please tell me” she whispered softly “I want to help Andrew”
“I am going to end up in jail………..and there is nothing I can do about it”
He had finally replied, his voice miserable. Tessa had gasped
“Jail………….why… what happened?”
By now the sobs had subsided enough for him to look at her, his face almost emotionless, as he started to tell her the story.
Tessa had listened as he told her of his accountant, who had not filed tax forms for the past 5 years, hiding the fact from him with false documentation, keeping all the money for himself. He had fraudulently withdrawn most of the money from the company also, and only that week when the tax office had finally contacted him personally had the issue come to light. However, having also received a copy of the letter, his accountant had disappeared, taking with him all the money he had stolen. Looking so broken, Andrew had looked at her.
“Please Tessa just go, pretend you never came here tonight………..All the cheques had my name on them. I was so stupid……..I should have been more careful what I was signing…….but I trusted him. We will lose everything……….the house….everything and I will end up in jail for years, at least if I’m………”
His voice had cracked slightly.
“If I’m dead………..they won’t lose anything”
“Not lose…………” Tessa’s voice had been angry.
“How selfish can you be…Helena will lose her husband, and two little kids will lose their father, how the hell can you think that they would be better off Andrew?”
She had seen the tears once more rise to his eyes.
“I don’t know what to do Tessa”
Holding his hands in hers she had looked into his eyes.
“What if you put the money back into the business before they check ……………..? Then hunt for this guy and get your money back”
He had made a small noise.
“I can’t find that much money Tessa and they are coming in to audit me in a week”
“How much money is it?” she had asked, seeing the defeated look in his eyes.
“A million” he had groaned softly.
“He managed to get a million………..how the hell do you not see that….. I can’t get my hands on that much”
Looking surer she had sat straight.
“I can get it for you Andrew……….I will get the money”
Looking at her in surprise he had shaken his head.
“No Tessa ….. I can’t let you……..”
She had made a determined noise.
“So what are your choices, take my money or commit suicide Andrew…………..do you really have a choice?”
For the first time he had looked at her with hope in his eyes.
“I would get it all back to you” he whispered, as she had smiled back at him.
“I know you will”
She had sat with him for the next hour until Helena had appeared, so happy to see her. Feigning tiredness she had then taken her leave of them, more sure now that she had stopped his thoughts of taking his own life.
Returning to the present she had savaged her lip feeling the tear slide down her cheek. Now how was she to help, she had given him hope, promised him the money, how was she to tell him that she could not deliver.
Moving silently behind her, Alexis had held out a handkerchief, causing Tessa to start in surprise, her eyes flying open.
“I thought you might need this” he offered softly, seeing as she had looked warily at him before taking the handkerchief from his hand, a small thank you lost as she dabbed her eyes, before pulling herself up proudly.
“Thank you Mr………”
“Demitri” he had offered, his accent rich like honey as it trickled warmly down her back, making her shiver gently, before she had remembered how Marcie had only minutes earlier been draped around the handsome stranger.
“Please, don’t let me keep you, my cousin will no doubt be expecting you back” she had said, in an attempt to be free from the man who was inexplicably causing small tremors of awareness to pass through her, despite the misery she was experiencing.
“I was not with your cousin” he said softly.
“She seems the very friendly type though”
He had quipped, making Tessa chuckle.
“Yes, very”
She had returned, a small smile appearing on her face, before she had once more looked down.
“Well thank you for the hankie Mr Demitri” she had said, pushing herself forward.
“But I must be going”
Smiling charmingly, those dark eyes intent he had moved beside her.
“Then at least allow me to walk you to your car”
Tessa had smiled.
“I don’t have a car, I will call a cab” she had said firmly.
“In that case please allow me to drop you somewhere” he had continued, as a small furrow had appeared on her perfect brow.
“No that is not necessary”
She had returned, feeling as he had placed a hand on the base of her spine to gently direct her to the door, this simple action causing another tremor to instantly jolt through her.
“No really” she had said more forcefully.
“I’m sure that it would be out of your way, you have no idea where I live”
With a small grin he had continued moving, continuing to guide her as the butler had opened the door for them.
“Well you have no idea where I was going either, so who is to say that we would not have ended up in the same place?”
With a small laugh, Tessa had given in, suddenly just wanting to be as far away from the large house as possible, allowing herself to be guided to an expensive sports car. He had opened the door for her, ensuring that she was comfortably seated in the plush interior of the wonderful vehicle before moving to slide into the driver’s seat with the grace of a panther. His musky aftershave had filled the small space, making her fight the sudden desire to breath in the scent of him, causing her to once more frown at this sensation. He had smiled as she had given him her address, but not before she had caught the look in his eyes, surprised that she lived in the less affluent end of town.
As he had expertly manoeuvred the car out of the driveway, he had turned quickly to look at her.
“So, can I assume that your business with your grandfather was not satisfactorily completed?” he had asked, seeing how her mouth had set in a hard line at the mention of John Jones.
“You could say that” she had murmured noncommittally.
“Was yours any more successful?” she had asked, seeing how his mouth had twitched again.
“Actually, he was after something from me……..not the other way”
Tessa had looked at the man beside her with a small frown on her face.
“It may not be my place to say this Mr Demitri” she had said carefully.
“And possibly not very loyal to my family, but I would be very careful when dealing with my grandfather, he can be ………. ruthless” she had added, her voice more than just a little bitter.
He had once more looked at her, his expression thoughtful.
“Perhaps there is something I can do to help”
He had asked gently, seeing how she had looked uncomfortable, before raising her chin more proudly, her voice firm.
“That is very kind of you Mr Demitri, but I am sure that everything will work out, but thank you anyway” she had added looking out of the window.
Deep down she felt sick, knowing that without the money from her grandfather there was nothing that she could do to help Andrew, suddenly feeling so tired.
For the remainder of the journey they had travelled in silence, until he had pulled his car to the side of the kerb outside the building of her small apartment. As she had pulled her seatbelt off, she had been surprised to see him do the same.
“Thank you for the lift Mr Demitri, goodbye” she had said her voice firm and polite, the implied message clear.
He however, had only smiled back at her.
“Perhaps you could make me a coffee”
Tessa had groaned inwardly, another of her grandfather’s friends hitting on her was something she could do without and she had shaken her head firmly.
“I don’t think so…..I have had a busy day, a bad evening and am just wanting to grab something to eat and then go to bed”
Alexis however had continued smiling the charm so easily falling from him.
“Well that sounds like a plan”
He breathed softly, as she had frowned at him.
“Excuse me”
She had said in disbelief, hardly believing the blatancy of the handsome man before her.
“Getting something to eat” he had smiled, understanding her interpretation of his statement.
” If you change quickly we could grab something to eat, I am more than a little hungry myself“
He had added, his dark eyes twinkling mischievously.
“I really don’t…”
She had begun.
“It is the least you can do, no coffee…….no food….I may not have the strength to make it home”
As he had looked at her with a mock hurt expression crossing his face. In spite of herself, Tessa had giggled gently, sighing softly, feeling her stomach rumble.
“Fine” she smiled.
“But it would be quicker if you waited here…… and safer for your car too” she had added, seeing the attention the magnificent sports car was attracting, as she moved nimbly from it.
In her apartment, she had quickly pulled on a green silk shirt which flattered her lovely eyes, matching it with a plain but classy black skirt which showed her legs off to their best. Finally she had pulled her long hair free from the restraining bun, allowing it to tumble down her back, securing it from falling over her face with an ornamental clip.
Quickly looking herself over, she had then moved back out of her apartment, and in less than 10 minutes was back down at his car. As she had slid back in beside him, he had whistled gently.
“Wow, I have never met a woman who could change so fast”
Tessa had giggled gently, a broad smile covering her wonderful face,
“I used to model when I was younger” she had grinned.
“Believe me you learn to change even faster in that line of work……..”
Alexis had smiled back, seeing that she was indeed beautiful enough to be a model, before directing the car back into the traffic.
“I know a good restaurant nearby” he had said looking over at the woman beside him, seeing how she had nodded with relief.
“Thank you, I have an early start in the morning” she had said, hoping that her message was clear to the man beside her, seeing as he had given a small smile, his voice laughing, as he turned quickly to face her.
“Do you always give a time line for every date” he had asked his voice full of humour.
“Well we are not on a date” she had replied quickly, trying hard not to laugh in return.
“Quite right” he had grinned,
“So let’s just enjoy a meal between two very hungry strangers”
With that she had laughed nodding and flashing him a grin.
“OK”
Still smiling as they had pulled up to the restaurant of his choice, the best in the area she had noted, the valet taking the key from him as they moved into the wonderful space.
The concierge had recognised Alexis Demitri instantly, moving forward to welcome him and to personally lead them to one of the best seats in the house.
Tessa had giggled as they were finally left alone.
“Well it is good to be you” she had smiled, as he had laughed back with her.
“Oh yeah”
“So, my cousin Marcie seemed to be having a lot of trouble keeping her hands off you” she had said wickedly,
“She will be mad that you left, she’s not used to not getting what she wants”
She had seen how he had smiled.
“Mmmm……I was finding her ‘I’m so good with children’ act a little hard to swallow”
Tessa had laughed, “Marcie and children”, before looking thoughtful.
“Oh I’m sure she loves them”
Adding with a small glint in her eye.
“Although I’m not sure that she could eat a whole one”
Causing him to laugh out loud, the sound so pleasant to her ears, before he had become more serious, his eyes watching her thoughtfully.
“You, though I think do love children”
Seeing as Tessa’s eyes had softened slightly.
“Yes, kids are great, there is no falseness about them” she had added, stopping as their orders had been taken.
As they were once more alone, he had looked quizzically at her.
“What did the little girl Angela mean about dancing?” he had prompted softly, Tessa smiling.
“I run a dance studio for kids” she had laughed.
“Keeps me fit”
Across from her, Alexis seemed to be watching her with eyes which were accessing.
“I see”
His eyes sliding appreciatively over her,
“Yes, it certainly seems to, your boyfriend is a lucky man” he had added, as she had chuckled.
“That was the worst attempt to find out if I have a boyfriend I have heard in a long time” she had giggled, seeing as he had grinned back.
“Busted”
He laughed, while noticing that she did not answer, before turning the conversation around to ask more about him.
Tessa had found herself really enjoying the meal, the easy way that he seemed to make her laugh, his ease of charm and charismatic personality making her relax in his company, and as they had finished, she had felt almost disappointed.