Her head clouded and throbbed as she lifted her head up from where it had rested on the carpet last night. Frank had appeared to have departed. Attempting to sit up resulted in screams of protest from her whole body, but she slowly made her way into the bathroom, the lights cutting into her clouds and clearing her head slightly. One of her eyes had closed and refused to open. Upon inspection, it was cemented closed with dried blood that coated most of her face, and still trickled from a deep gash on her forehead and cheek. She forced herself to slump against the toilet seat, to half-heartedly swallow the painkillers left on the counter. Stripping down to nothing was a slow and excruciating process, which ended in her curling up in the shower, water raining down on her battered body. She didn't care anymore, what she looked like. Frank had taken that away from her again. Her hands scratched harshly at the dried blood on her arms and stomach, trying to remove all traces of the man that left them. Her skin was raw, causing the hot water to burn her broken soul.
She knew she had to be at work today, the Hanleys order had to be out at 5, and the workers were behind. She couldn't afford to loose this contact, she was struggling as it is. The thought of her loosing the factory was unbearable, which snapped her into action. Fixing up her makeup as best she could, so the bruises were a little less prominent against her skin, and butterfly stitching the gashes, she grabbed her keys and walked authoritatively towards the factory. Looking over to the pub, she remembered that Michelle would be home later. She smiled down at the ground, and greeted her workers. They all stood fixated on the spot, staring at her when she waved them in. They wore worried looks that Carla hated. She cleared her throat and spoke unpaitiently. "We don't have time for gawping, the Hanleys order needs to be out for 5, so we're having lunch here, on me, and we will work tilll it's done. Okay?" Placing her hands on her hips, the reply came in the form of feet shuffling past her into the factory.
Carla stretched back into her chair, her back clicking satisfyingly. She flicked through the statistics sheets, noticing they were further behind than she initially anticipated. Sighing heavily, she called Kirk into the office. He stood rigidly by the door, until she beckoned him over to the desk. "It's alright Kirky, I only wants to know if this is correct, it's got nout bout your working". He visibly relaxed, and checked the figures before cheerily stating that they were right. He left the office, momentarily, before Sally burst in, clipboard in hand, her overly-enthusiastic manner causing Carla to cringe. "Sally, what do you want" Carla asked sweetly. Sally practically bounced up to the desk and sang "well Carl- Mrs Connor, I thought you seemed a bit strained so I took it upon myself to help keep the workforce in line" this caused Carla to do a slight double take at her tone, which was slightly accusing. "What I really need you to do Sally, for me" she stood up and put a hand on Sally's shoulder, which earned a hopeful smile from the mayor. She span her around and guided her out of the office. "I'd get back to your machine and work your little butt off, because we are way way behind on this order! Get it?" Carla said now addressing everyone. "If everyone can work straight until lunch, you can go out and 'ave lunch on me, if not" she paused "you'll be working here till the whole order is done, with cheese and pickle sandwhiches to eat" the workers all groaned, but returned to their machines all the same.
Carla sat herself behind a machine herself, and got to work seeing the order herself, god knew, she could sew knickers. This also earned baffled glances from the likes of Sally, Beth and even Hayley. "This" she motioned to her machine " is how behind we are with said order" bowing her head, and slipping one earplug in, mostly to drown out Franks haunting voice, that radiated through her ears.
Come lunch time, Carla kept to her word, and after checking that they were on track to finish on time, she handed out some cash, and sent the workforce on their lunch. They had, actually, earned it for once. Leaving Carla alone, left her with only her thoughts, and the tears fell once again. However this time, she refused to let them fall, roughly wiping them away and continuing to work. The image of the quarry reappeared in her mind, but she shook it away and placed the other earplug in.
The taxi slowly pulled round the corner, and the woman in the back beamed, glad to be back. Michelle pulled her suitcase out of the boot and Ceiran payed the cheery driver. They opened the door to the ever-bustly pub, eyes landing in the factory staff.
"Do you think she's found a man, abuse like?" Beth asked, worry actually lacing her tone about her boss. Sean shook his head, "nah, not our Carla, she's not the type. Never has been, at least not until.." he stopped, looking up quickly. "Frank, what if, he" Hayley cut him off quickly, scolding them slightly "Mrs Connor wouldn't appreciate your talk, t'was probably just an accident, always the clumsy one" she reassured the workers, but it didnt reach her face, she still wore a constantly worried expression. They wouldn't say, apart from Hayley and Sean, but they really cared for the rude, tiny factory boss as she had cared for each one of them over the years.
Leaving her suitcase behind the bar Michelle walked over to them, Hayley noticing her first. "Michelle, love, how was the cruise?" Michelle smiled again, explaining about the weather and the sites. It was true, the weather must have been good, Michelle had picked up a golden tan that complimented her lengthening raven hair. After explaining, she picked up on the staffs facial expressions, she mentally kicked herself for not noticing earlier. "What's up with all of you?" They all looked uncomfortable, as if they didn't want to be the one to say. Hayley stepped up first. "Michelle have you seen Carla yet?" At the mention of her best friends name, her heart race increased, and the familiar warm feeling settled in her stomach. Shaking her head, Hayley reached out and touched her shoulder. "I think you should" she looked sympathetic, which made Michelle feel a sense of unease. She knew something bad had happened, flying out of the pub and across the road.