Nothing sold in Ladieswear, not one single thing, and Moray was growing more and more anxious. He spent the days as usual working in the store, but talked to Dudley much more frequently. He shared his anxious thoughts with his friend and they tried hopelessly to come up with a plan to sell the things in Ladieswear. Meeting after meeting they plotted and schemed ways to woo the customers and sell to them, but still nothing. In the evenings, Moray met with Denise, and he put on a brave smile and laughed and joked with her like everything was ok. Not once did he mention sales, not once did he mention the prices, not once did he mention the fact that nothing had been sold. The last thing he wanted was for her to worry. Instead, he talked to her about the other things going on in their lives, or talked to her about his childhood and what life had been like for her in Peebles.

It was Thursday morning. Moray had done his morning inspection of the store and was in his office with Dudley and Jonas, having yet another meeting.
"Not one thing, not one single thing since Monday morning!" Dudley said, his eyebrows lowered and pulled together, the skin between them wrinkling.
"The morning Catherine doubled the prices," Moray added, pressing his lips together.
"What are we going to do?" Dudley asked, looking at both Moray and Jonas.
"Sir, if I may," Jonas asked, and continued as Moray gave a nod, "No one will buy anything at this price now, no one ever will. I say we should just put the prices back to normal. At least things will sell."
Moray sighed and perched on the front of his desk, "we can't do that. Thing how the Westons might react!"
"Moray's right," Dudley added, "we don't want to risk making them angry."
Moray's face displayed an angry expression, "We-"
There was a knock at the door, a timid knock.
"Yes!" Moray shouted, irritated they were being interrupted. The door opened slowly and Denise peered round it. Standing up, Moray quickly adjusted his face to a smile and all the irritation that had filled his body just moments ago was lost, as his eyes met Denise's. She closed the door behind her and Moray noticed her eyes were filling with tears, "Denise?" he asked.
"Please could I have a word with you Mr Moray sir," she asked, praying she could hold in the tears, at least until she was alone with Moray. Moray nodded and turned to Jonas and Dudley, silently asking them to leave. They did.

When they closed the door, Moray was immediately at Denise's side. Without questioning, he wrapped his arms around her, and she buried her face into his chest letting the tears flow, soaking his silk, brown and gold waist coat in the proccess. As her tears slowed, he brought his hand beneath her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Sweetheart," he asked, "What is it?" He spoke softly and stared into her bloodshot eyes.
"Mrs Weston came to me and relieved me of my position just a few minutes before I came here," she sniffled. Anger coursed through Moray's body. How dare she do this! But he quickly calmed himself, before Denise continued. "I'm sorry for interrupting, I just didn't know what to do," Denise sobbed.
"Ssh," Moray said, "Don't be sorry." He pulled her closer to him.
"I have to pack my bag," Denise said, wiping away the tears, "she wants my room free by this afternoon."
Moray sighed, "I'm going to sort this out Denise."
"Can I leave my bag in here, please?" she asked, having lost all hope of ever getting a position working here again while the Westons were running the store.
"Of course," Moray replied, giving her a quick kiss.
Denise made her way out of his office and to her room, to pack her bag. She couldn't believe this was it. She was leaving. Blinking away the tears, she tried to shut out the thoughts of not working alongside Moray anymore, but she couldn't. She knew they'd stay together, nothing would ever come between them, they had vowed that to each other. It just wasn't going to be the same. She loved the fact that she worked alongside Moray in the store. She loved the meeting they often had to plan their latest promotion. It didn't feel like work at all. She wasn't quite sure what she was going to do now. Her Uncle had left her his shop when he'd married Audrey and moved away, but she wasn't sure how she was going to make any money. She knew Moray would help her out and support her, however she didn't want to solely rely on him, especially considering the problems he was facing with Mr Weston now owning the store. Not quite sure what was going to happen, Denise focused all her attention on packing her bag, in an attempt to distract herself. It wasn't really working, but at least she was getting it done.

Whilst Denise packed her bag, pacing up and down the length of his office, Moray soon found himself so angry he couldn't bear it anymore. When he reached his desk he pulled the piles of paper from it threw them in the air. Pages and pages of important documents fluttered the floor around him and littered the floor. He moved onto the pens, then the figure books and then the letters, until his desk was empty. He then threw a chair over, onto the floor of paper and pens. He threw another and another, releasing his anger, until he felt a soft hand on his arm. Denise. He stopped. He didn't want to hurt her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"I'm sorry too," Denise said. Moray looked up and into her blue eyes. He was confused as to why she was sorry. She wasn't the one throwing things around the office.
"Why are you sorry?" Moray questioned.
"Because I got us into this mess," Denise said, starting to cry for the third time.
"Denise," Moray said, bending his knees slightly so he was staring right into her eyes. "None of this is your fault. I don't want you ever to think that." Moving his head closer to hers, he planted a kiss on her lips. He was angry at the Westons for everything they'd done to him and the store, but most importantly to Denise. He was angry at himself for not managing to shield her as he had promised himself he would. But standing here, right now, holding the woman he loved more than anything in the world in his arms, all of that drifted away. All he felt was love. Denise buried her head into his chest, and Moray placed a kiss on her head. He smoothed her hair and rubbed her back, calming her and making her feel safe.

As they stood holding each other among the mess Moray had made, they were suddenly both startled. Moray gripped Denise tighter in a protective manner, he couldn't stand it if she came to anymore harm. Denise didn't object, but she lifted her head slightly, and even though her vision was blurred from all the tears that had fallen from her eyes, she saw the door swing open, and a figure stride in.

AN: Who will it be?
Just wanted to say thank you so much for all the reviews! I really love hearing what you think about the story and what you liked and want to happen! Please keep reviewing - it really makes me smile!