"I slept with Robert"

There. It was out there. She had said it.

Nick stared at her, saying nothing.
"Say something. Please." Carla begged, tears in her eyes.
Nick still just stared at her.
"Nick.. Scream, shout, hit me.. Do whatever. Please just do something" Carla said.
"When?" He asked.
Now it was Carla's time to be silent for a moment. "New Years Day.." she whispered.
"Where?" He asked.
Carla sighed. "Does that matter?"
Nick slammed his hand down on the table, making Carla jump. "Yes Carla!" He shouted. "It matters! Where was it? Was it here?!"
Carla shook her head and looked at the floor. "Of course it wasn't here. It was at.. the casino"
"How much did you lose?" he asked.
Carla raised an eyebrow. "I've just told you I slept with him.. and you want to know how much money I lost. Nick, it wasn't just money I lost that day. I'm going to lose you now too.." Carla said, sadly, tears starting to fall from her eyes again.
Silence.
"I stopped at £500." She told him.
"Why tell me this now?" Nick asked.
"Because.. Because he's been blackmailing me" Carla said, quietly.
"He's been what?!... How?!" Nick said, clearly angry at the fact his chef had been threatening his fiancée.
Carla began to cry even more. "He was so horrible, Nick. He grabbed me in the street. He said he could make my life hell. Whatever opportunity he got. When we were talking about wedding menus and you went to the bathroom, he threatened me again. The other night, I was walking along the street and he came up behind me and pushed me into an alleyway. He pushed me up against the wall and... It reminded me of.. Him." Carla sobbed, referring to Frank.

Nicks heart broke at how scared Carla would've been. He walked towards her and wrapped her into a hug. She cried into his shoulder, making a wet patch on his shirt.
"I didn't want to sleep with him, Nick. It was a mistake. It was right after I'd found out about Johnny. I went to the casino and got drunk and he was just there. When I'd sobered up and realised what I'd done, I left straight away." Carla cried.

Nick held Carla at arms length. "I think we need some time apart. Just till I can get my head around all this.." Nick said.
"I'll stay at mine and in a few days time, we can talk.."
"Are we finished?" Carla whispered.
Nick shook his head. "Not finished. Just on hold. I need some time, Carla.."
Carla nodded. "Okay.. Nick, just please remember I love you and I didn't mean it." Carla said as Nick headed for the door.

Later that night, Carla's phone buzzed.
It was a text from Robert. How he had gotten her number, she didn't know.
Bistro. Now. Or else. R
Carla didn't know why but she felt as if she had no other option but to go. Yes, Nick knew but that didn't stop Robert from hurting her or Nick if she didn't go. She found herself reaching for her coat and heading towards The Bistro.

Robert was sat at a table with a bottle of whisky when she arrived.
"Sit down" he said.
"Right. I want 50% of this place."
"I've already told Nick about what happened.. There's no way you're getting half this place." Carla said.
"And? I want my share or else Nick won't ever forgive you. I'll make sure of that."
"I'll give you 24 hours" he said, before walking out.

Carla sat in The Bistro, stunned. How he had the nerve to ask for half Nick's business, she didn't know. She was just about to leave when the door flung open and she was faced with two masked men.
They were carrying baseball bats. They yelled at Carla to stay exactly where she was.

"Money!" They yelled.
"There is no money.." Carla said, petrified.
"Now" one threatened.
"There's nothing on the premises. There's nothing in the office either" Carla said.
"Well we aren't leaving empty handed.." the other one said, looking at Carla's flashing engagement ring.
The other man realised what he meant.
He lunged himself at Carla and held her down in her seat, sitting on her knees with his legs draped at either side of her. Carla tried to scream but he forcefully put his hand over her mouth tightly. She tried to get herself out from underneath his grip but he was far too strong.
The other man grabbed her hand and slid her engagement ring off her finger. The other man then got off Carla and threw her off her chair and onto the floor. She realised what they had taken as they ran out the door.

She got up and ran after them, screaming and crying. She needed her ring back.
They were climbing into their car and she caught up with them. She threw herself into the car trying to get her ring back but the man was too strong. He shoved her out of the car just as the other sped off.

Carla was lying unconscious on the cold, dirty cobbles and there was nobody else around.