"Max, please can we talk?" Zoe asked as she entered the staff room to find him there alone.

"Will you get the hint Zoe, I don't want to talk to you." Max snapped back.

"I know you don't want to and I don't deserve it but please? Not here, come home, tonight, 8pm? It's up to you. I need to see you." Zoe responded sadly.

"Has he not already told you, he's not interested!" Robyn had overheard as she was walking by.

"With respect Robyn, this is between Max and I." Zoe shot back, "please think about what I said." She turned back to Max before leaving the room.

"You can't seriously want to see her after what she did Max?! She slept with someone else on her hen do or had you forgotten?" Robyn asked incredulously.

"How could I forget Robyn? You won't let me, you're as bad as her, I just want to move on! Come to think of it, this is all your fault, you all knew Zoe wanted a quiet hen do, a meal and a couple of drinks, but no, you arrange a big piss up and then invite my mother making Zoe more uncomfortable! On her hen do! I will never condone what she did but don't keep banging on about it like you're an innocent party!" Max ranted before throwing his arms in the air and storming out of the room leaving Robyn gobsmacked.

Zoe looked up as there was a knock on the door of her office. Charlie.

"Charlie! What are you doing here?" Zoe asked hugging him.

"Couldn't keep away, just getting a feel for he place before I come back. I wanted to see how you were doing?" He asked.

"Did Connie send you?" Zoe asked suspiciously.

"She's worried Zoe. Last we heard you were getting married, now you're both at work avoiding each other and no one knows why." Charlie explained.

"Oh Charlie." Zoe broke down, "I've done it properly this time, ruined the only good thing I had in my life. I don't even know why I did it, I cheated on Max, the love of my life, I've thrown it all away for a stupid drunken mistake. Max hates me, I don't blame him. What am I going to do?"

"Zoe, Zoe, Zoe" Charlie sighed. "You don't make things easy for yourself do you?"

Zoe shook her head, tears rolling down her face.

"I'm an idiot Charlie, you know, I had doubts about the relationship from the start and it's only now I realise it was for keeps. I'm scared , what if he never forgives me? I miss him so much Charlie, the only man who truly loved me for me and I've ripped his heart to shreds."

"You need to talk to him Zoe. Not here, away from it all."

"I know, I've asked him to come round tonight, I wouldn't blame him for not." Zoe told him. She slammed her fists on the desk. "Why do I always do this?! Why do I believe I can't be happy? I could have been with Max, you know, I even told him about not being able to have children, you know what he replied? He said I was more than enough. How could I have been so stupid? He could have any woman he wants, someone his own age who can give him a family but he wanted me! Me! Now he's realising it was the biggest mistake of his life. He rang me that night, and what did I do? I ignored it, I was too busy being chatted up by some stranger, when I should have been thinking about Max and how much I loved him, I was being me, the proper messed up Zoe, scared of the commitment when my whole life it's been what I wanted, and needed."

"Come here." Charlie pulled her towards him for an embrace.

"No Charlie, I don't deserve any sympathy. Max hasn't even told anyone what I did, well apart from Robyn who's having a field day playing the protective sister, that's how much he loved me."

"He still loves you Zoe, he can't just stop. He's hurting, big time and you need to let him come to terms with it. He'll come tonight I'm sure of it." Charlie reassured her.

"I hope so, I can't bear this, I know I brought it all on myself but Max is my life."

"I hope it works out Zoe, I really do. If anyone deserves happiness it's you. You need to talk to Max properly, make him listen to you." Charlie advised.

"Thank you Charlie. Oh god, I didn't even ask how you were?" Zoe said.

"Don't you worry about me, it'll take more than a heart attack to kill me off!" He smiled. "I'd better get going, let you get back to work. You know where I am." He winked.

"What would I do without you Charlie Fairhead?" Zoe asked.

"Remains to be seen! See you soon Zoe."

Charlie walked down the stairs, desperately hoping things would work out for Zoe, she was like a daughter to him, he'd seen her through her roughest times and never seen her as happy as she had been with Max.

He said his goodbyes in reception and headed outside. He saw Max in his smoking spot and went over.

"Hi." He said.

"Hi Charlie, how are you?" Max asked.

"Not as bad as Zoe." Charlie responded.

"Look Charlie, I know you're only looking out for her..." Max began before Charlie interrupted.

"It's not my place, I know, but I've never seen her like this, she's distraught about what happened, whatever you decide is up to you, no one could blame you for being angry Max, but please talk to her. Give her a chance then make your mind up. You'll regret it if you don't. I know how much you love her and that doesn't go away, she will never forgive herself for what she's done, I thought you should know." Charlie patted his arm, "take care Max, see you soon."

"Yeah, bye Charlie." Max sighed as he put his cigarette out. Why did this have to happen, he'd never felt so conflicted. He couldn't hate Zoe which made his pain more unbearable.

Zoe drove home and showered, she dressed and poured herself a glass of wine, Dutch courage, would he come?

At exactly 8pm there was a knock on the door.