A/N: Thank you SO much for your support and thoughts. I LOVE to read what you feel and think!
Klswhite...YOU DA BOMB!
Charles kissed Rosamund on the cheek, "Thank you Roz. I owe you one!"
She smiled and smoothed the shoulders of his jacket out, "Better hurry if you want to try and catch her at the restaurant."
He ran down the front steps to his car. "Charles," she called. "Don't let her get away this time!"
Waving over his shoulder as he opened the door to his car, "I won't!"
Charles raced through town to The Ledbury, typically a twenty minute drive. He made it in 10, pulling up just as Joe and Elsie are walking down the steps to the valet stand. As they waited, Joe's eyes looked around the car park, catching Charles' gaze from his window. Joe's jaw flexed with tension, why was the blasted man here? It only took him a second to make a decision. He walked around to open Elsie's door and without warning he pulls her into his embrace and kisses her soundly.
Caught off guard, Elsie stifled a slight scream before relaxing into him. She knew he was likely putting on for the new clients. Wanting to avoid a fight, she decided to indulge him for a moment and brought her hand to the back of his neck.
Charles watched with a woeful gaze, his confidence dashed. He rolls his window up, put the car into gear and drove away. He offered a silent prayer to the heavens that Elsie hadn't seen him. Joe watched the other man pull away and smiled to himself as he released his wife.
"So what's up with Roz and Charles? Did you know they were seeing each other," Joe goaded her. "Lucky man...she's a nice piece of ass that Roz!"
"JOE! You are disgusting! Is that all you think about," Elsie glared at him, crossing her arms defensively. "And no, I didn't know. I don't keep in touch with Roz, how would I know who she is seeing." She turned to look out the window, tears filling her eyes. 'Why was he with Roz," she asked herself. 'They looked awfully cozy."
"Poor bloke! Carson has never been able to make anything happen!"
"What does that mean?"
"Well darling, he's rather pathetic. I mean, come on, his wife leaves him, for another woman! He must be a real git!"
Elsie's face flush with anger, "No! He isn't! He's a kind and decent man, Joe! Just because he doesn't bed every woman he comes in contact with, doesn't make him a git!" She held her breath, knowing she'd made a mistake. She was too emotional had let her guard down. Hopefully, Joe was still too excited about the dinner to notice.
Joe ground his teeth together, rolled his tongue around his cheek. "Well it sounds like he's bedded one woman I know," he said coolly.
There was total silence, you could cut the air with a knife. Elsie jerked her head toward him and swallowed hard. She thought it best to stay quiet.
They didn't speak the rest of the way home. He pulled into the garage and got out, slammed the door and left her sitting.
Charles drove, the more he drove the angrier he became. He was now determined Joe was just an asshole who treated Elsie like an object. The more he thought, the more his confidence returned. He wanted her, there was no question, and if he didn't fight for her this time, he didn't think he could live with himself. He let Joe have her once but he wasn't going to let her go without a fight this time. Steering his car toward home, he made up his mind. The night would be miserable and probably sleepless but it would be best to go to her office tomorrow. As he parked his car he prayed she would want him.
"FUCK YOU JOE!" YOU'VE NEVER CARED ABOUT ANYONE BUT YOURSELF," Elsie screamed, tears pouring down her cheeks. She threw things from her dresser into a suitcase on the top of the bed.
"Oh haven't I? Look around this GODDAMN HOUSE ELSIE! I did this! I've given you more than anyone would've given you!"
Elsie stopped and glared at him, "That's just it. You think you are God's gift! I don't care about things Joe! You've never given me one thing I couldn't live without! You have no clue what it means to care for someone else!"
"Oh reallly? You've yet to turn down one thing I've given you, including sex. In fact, before you obviously started shagging Charles Carson, you had no problem with our sex life!" Smirking at her, confident in her need for him. He moved closer, a slightly menacing feel to him, "Seems I did give you something you wanted and couldn't live without."
His smugness was about to make her sick. She returned to packing, stormed to the bathroom.
He laughed as he watched her move around the room, "And where do you think you're going ? To Charles' place? In Finchley?" His tone became more incredulous as he continued, "You're going to go shack up with him there? "Oh I can see you now! Cooking, cleaning, gardening...isn't that his favorite thing to do...garden?!" His angry, bitter laughter filled the room.
Elsie choked out angry sobs, tears burning a path down her cheeks. She was determined not to play his game . He was a miserable bastard. She steadied herself at the bathroom vanity, closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. The sad fact was Charles didn't want her. She wasn't about to admit it to Joe. She just knew she had to get away from him.
She had to push past him now, as he was standing in the door way. When she did he grabbed her arm. "Let me go," she hissed in his face and jerked her arm to no avail.
His face was red now, his eyes darkened, "Make no mistake. You walk out of here and you will regret it for the rest of your life!" The pads of his fingers turned the tender flesh of her arm white as he squeezed harder, "You will get nothing from me; not this house, not the summer house...NOTHING! And I don't give a fuck if you are an attorney! You will lose everything you stupid cunt!"
It wasn't the threat, it was that word. Without thinking, she slapped him hard. He stepped back, shocked at her reaction. Moving quickly she moved to the suitcase, closing and zipping it quickly. She turned to him as she lifted the bag, ice slipping through her veins, "Don't ever touch me again!"
Charles sat on the side of the bed, sick to his stomach. He stumbled to the bathroom. Rummaging through the medicine cabinet he found a bottle of antacid and popped a couple in his mouth. Worry filled his thoughts, he hadn't even spoken to Elsie yet his gut told him she was not okay. He cursed himself for not getting Elsie's phone number from Roz. He considered calling her to get it but then thought better of it. It was only 5 AM, he doubted she would be awake. He crawled back in bed and closed his eyes, thinking of Elsie, her beautiful face, clear blue eyes and her smile. He ached to touch her and wondered if it would ever happen again.
Elsie pulled into the drive of the summer house. It was 5 AM, she was exhausted but just being here eased her ache. The memories of her time here with him soothed her. She cried when she thought about him, ached to hold him, just hear his voice. She dropped her bags just inside the door and went to the bedroom. It had only been a few weeks. They had made love here, been happy here, how had it all gone so wrong. She curled into the bed pulling the pillow into her. She closed her eyes, imagining it was him.
Charles made it to 10 AM before driving to her office in Camden. He entered the beautiful building and walked to the front lobby reception desk, "Hello. I would like to see Elsie Burns please."
"Your name please?"
"Charles Carson."
"Just a moment," the young girl picked up the phone. "Charles Carson here for Mrs. Burns." She sat silent for a moment, listening. She returned the phone to its cradle and smiled at Charles, "I'm sorry but Mrs. Burns is out today. Could another associate help you?"
Discouraged and a bit worried, Charles shook his head, "Um...no but thank you." He walked away. got into his car, lost as to what to do next. "Do I go to her house,' he wondered silently. He knew the consequences if Joe was there. It was a risk he was willing to take.
"Why in bloody hell can't you?!" Joe Burns was a man on a mission. He was already drinking and pacing heavily around the kitchen.
"Mr. Burns it's a joint account. I can't freeze the assets without your wife's signature." The woman on the other end of the phone tried to explain as calmly as she could.
"I have a multimillion dollar business account with you. In fact, I have more than one account with this bank! If you want to me to continue patronizing your establishment, you will do as I say this instant!"
"Mr. Burns, maybe my supervisor could explain this a little clearer. Hold one moment."
"FUCK!" Joe screamed into the phone. His efforts to freeze bank accounts and stop Elsie from getting any money were proving futile. Joe had insisted on them signing a pre-nuptial since he came from money. Elsie didn't necessarily have a problem with it and it meant absolutely nothing to her now.
Joe was panicked. He called his accountant who was not available. Unbeknownst to Elsie, Joe had been floundering financially for a long while. He was living off credit and client's money and he was desperate to keep her from finding out. The truth of the matter was he needed Elsie's money. She had always kept a spending account and let their financial advisers and banker take care of the rest. Joe always oversaw it and she was none the wiser to his extravagant playboy lifestyle. He had squandered much of their wealth on lavish travels and women; getting farther and farther into debt.
Charles turned into the drive at the Burns' residence, took a deep breath and held it. The same Rover he and Elsie had taken to Woodhouse Eaves was sitting in the circular drive. He closed his eyes for a moment then opened his door, walked up the front steps and rang the bell.
"Well well, what do you need now Carson? You need my wife to come and show you how to satisfy a woman? Hmm?" Joe was clearly inebriated as he stumbled onto the front steps.
"Where's Elsie?" Charles clenched his fists at his sides.
"Oh you mean your slut," he laughed.
"WHERE IS SHE?!"
"I don't know! You're not too bright Charles, but surely you are smart enough to know you aren't her only one?!"
Boldly, Charles pushed past Joe and stepped inside, "ELSIE?" he called. "ELSIE ARE YOU HERE?"
Joe followed him in and pulled at Charles by the shoulder, "Get out of my house you bloody bastard before I call the police!"
Charles shoved him almost making Joe fall, "Elsie?" He took the stairs by 2 and looked around the upstairs all the while shouting her name. Joe followed, continuing to hurl insults mostly about Elsie. Charles' adrenaline was pumping now, his face red and eyes wild as he glanced in each room.
At the top of the stairs, he came face to face with Joe. Joe smiled maliciously, "I told you I didn't know where that cunt is!"
Without a pause, Charles drew back his arm and cold-cocked Joe. The only sound on the landing was Charles hitting Joe and Joe hitting the ground. Charles glanced down at his limp body feeling slightly triumphant. "Fuck you," he stepped over him and descended the stairs.