This is a long one...
"I can't believe you two got matching tattoos!" Michelle cried, grabbing Carla's wrist and staring down at the newly inked rocket that was tattooed on her skin.
"Me neither…" Carla said, smiling down at it. It was now a day old and Carla hadn't regretted getting it once.
"So where's Peter? I want to see his?" Michelle said, picking up her glass of wine and sipping her freshly poured drink again. The date was December 22nd and Michelle and Carla were in the bistro having a drink together.
"He's out shopping with Simon… I reckon they are getting some last minute presents." Carla said already halfway through her glass of wine.
"Oh right, they should ave took Steve with em, cause by the sound of the things he hasn't got all his gifts either." Michelle laughed.
"Seriously? Oh what is it with these men? Why does everything have to be so last minute." Carla said shaking her head at the idea of Steve, Peter and Simon running around town looking to buy gifts for their loved ones.
"I dunno… I mean if Steve hasn't got the hint of what I wanted yet then I don't know what's wrong with him." Michelle sighed, putting her glass down and rubbing her forehead.
"You alright Chelle?" Carla asked, looking at how Michelle hadn't drunk much of her drink.
"Yeah… I think so… I just have a bit of a headache that's all." Michelle said truthfully. Carla nodded and then finished off her own glass of wine as if she was making up for it.
"So…" Carla began nervously, "I need to ask you a favour Michelle."
"What is it?" Michelle asked suspiciously because Carla looked as if she was onto something.
"Well, I'm gonna need you to make things up with Rich." Carla said, picking up the bottle of wine and pouring herself another glass.
"What?" Michelle exclaimed, "Carla you're gonna ave to say a lot more than that."
"Okay…" Carla said, putting the wine down and taking a deep breath. "I need you to make it up with him because I kinda need him around."
"You need him around why?" Michelle asked, "What are you up to Carla?"
"Well… I got a call from the police this morning." Carla began, "Long story short, they told me that a few girls came forward and said that Rich had spiked their drinks a few weeks ago which is why I'm guessing he showed up ere to keep a low profile... but anyways, without any proper evidence they couldn't do anything about it… So... I've decided that I'm going to give them evidence."
"Carla…" Michelle said, shaking her head and immediately thinking that this was a bad idea.
"Look Chelle… I feel really bad for not reporting him when he spiked me and the idea of him drugging other girls has been tormenting me for days." Carla explained. It was true because she had been thinking about just how many other girls Rich had maybe took advantage of and it genuinely made her feel sick. She hadn't told Peter about it of course because she didn't want him to worry about her. The dream she had about him drinking again was also weighing heavily on her mind and she really didn't want to stress him out so, even though in the end she knew Peter would probably have a go at her because of it, she knew she had to do something and she knew she had to keep it from him for as long as possible.
"But Carla how on earth are you going to get evidence?" Michelle asked,
"Well… I'm not exactly sure yet… but I'm thinking if I hang around him a bit more, maybe pretend that I've warmed up to him a little bit... maybe some of his old habits might start to surface…" Carla said, swallowing and biting her lip agitatedly.
"Carla!" Michelle cried, "Look babe I know you feel bad but you cannot put yourself in danger like that?"
"I won't be in danger…" Carla said, "I'm not stupid enough to hang around Rich alone… I'm thinking about the Underworld Christmas Party tomorrow, I was thinking if you tell him I've invited him as a way to make peace then maybe he'd come and then… well I don't know yet but maybe I can get a confession out of him or maybe… catch him in the act… I dunno."
"This is crazy Carla." Michelle said but Carla wasn't going to give up.
"Chelle I feel crazy... thinking about all of this has been driving me insane… I ave to do something."
"N what exactly does Peter think about this little plan of yours?" Michelle asked, sure that he wouldn't let Carla go through with something like this.
"Oh come on… I aven't told Peter… I'm not totally insane." Carla said with a raised eyebrow. "There is no way he would go along with it."
"You're telling me?" Michelle said as the meals they had ordered were brought over to their table.
"Are you going to help me or not Michelle?" Carla asked, one best friend to another.
"Of course I will... but Carla you are crazy if you really think that Peter is going to believe that you have just changed your mind about Rich?"
Carla didn't answer Michelle this time. She knew Michelle was right and that Peter wasn't going to let her even talk to Rich without him by her side, she chewed her lip as she sat in front of her best friend and was silent for a while.
"I'm right aren't I?" Michelle eventually said.
"Yes…" Carla sighed, picking up her wine glass. "But that doesn't mean that I'm still not going to try and make sure Rich gets his comeuppance. I'm serious Michelle… I'm going to do whatever it takes."
They finished their meal together and spent most of it racking their brains and thinking of how they could get Rich put away. They had come up with half a plan and whilst they were on their way home Carla linked her arm into Michelle's as she said,
"You sure you wanna do this Carla?"
"Yes… I'm sure." Carla said firmly, as they walked towards the pub. "Rich has to get what he deserves."
"Actually I was talking about the not telling Peter part… y'know he might be able to help?" Michelle suggested, but Carla shook her head.
"Michelle you n me both know that all Peter will do, is worry about Rich and I can't ave him worrying… I just can't." Carla said thinking about her dream again.
"Well…" Michelle said, stopping outside the pub and shaking her head. "I'll give Rich a call and try to talk him around but I really don't think that it'll work."
"Of course it will, Michelle you're family, you're a Connor and so is he… blood is thicker than water and all that." Carla sighed, "Just try eh?"
"I will… but I'm not promising anything." Michelle said before hugging Carla goodbye and going into The Rover's to call Rich.
"I ave a feeling I'm going to regret this." Carla said to herself, shaking her head as she stood in the middle of the Underworld Christmas party.
She had decided to throw it in the factory again because it was local which meant everyone could get to and from the party safely. After their last outing Carla didn't want to take any chances in hiring any sort transport to take them somewhere. She told her staff that the money that they saved on not hiring a venue they could spend on food… and a hell of a lot of drink so of course they agreed.
Carla closed the factory at twelve Pm that day and left Sean, Beth and Sinead in charge to decorate whilst she took care of some other important business.
All the sewing machines had been moved and There was also a dance floor and a bar which had been stocked up with endless amounts of drink. Someone had leant Kirk their DJ equipment and he was busy spinning some cheesy Christmas records as all of the Underworld employees became very very merry.
Simon and Santana were both at the party too after being so helpful over the past few days and they were stood in a corner giggling away at some of the hilarious dance moves that were being pulled on the make shift dance floor. They were having a great time and felt really mature due to the fact that they were at a proper adult party. The party was only an hour in and already people were starting to get slightly drunk and Simon and Santana were busy capturing some of the best moments. Carla was stood at the pop up bar helping herself to a drink as Peter walked inside the factory with Tracy in tow. He had been instructed to invite her by Carla and made his way over to her as Beth ran over to Tracy and hugged her tight.
"Hiya Babe!" Beth screamed, drawing Carla's attention over to Tracy and Peter. Her face lit up when she saw him approach her as she hadn't seen him since before going out with Michelle last night.
"Hey Handsome…" Carla said, wrapping her free arm around Peter and kissing him on the cheek. He was dressed in a black shirt and black trousers as he put both of his arms around her and pulled her close because he too had missed her throughout the day.
"Hey beautiful." He replied also with a kiss. "You look… very…" he didn't finish his sentence as Carla's lips met his ever so passionately. Before she kissed him, he was going to comment on how amazing Carla looked. She was dressed in skin-tight red dress that she had chosen especially for the Christmas party. She had matching Red high heels on but had stayed well away from the red lipstick for this very reason.
"Oh god…" Tracy sighed as she approached Peter and Carla, who were now lost in their kiss and almost pressed right up against the bar. "Can you two peerrrlease get a room?" She begged, nudging Peter in the side as she tried to get herself a drink. "Or at least take it into the office instead…"
"Hey… that doesn't sound like a bad idea." Peter grinned, dragging Carla over to her office before she could say anything. He closed the door behind her and made sure the blinds were closed before throwing himself towards her again.
"Peter…" Carla giggled, as he pushed her towards her desk.
"Carla…" Peter said back, kissing her again pushing his body towards her. "Baby you look so damn good…"
"Mmmm right back at ya." Carla grinned, "But you cannot be serious ere… your son is in the next room as well as my entire work force…everyone will know exactly what we are doing in ere, if we stay for too long."
"Oh… I know." Peter said, running a hand through Carla's long hair and letting it run all the way down her back. "I just wanted a moment alone with you that's all." He said, kissing her softly on the cheek.
"Awww… sweet," Carla cooed, wrapping her arms around him and cuddling him close. "I missed you today."
"Me too... how's your tattoo doing?" Peter asked, looking down at Carla as she rested her head on his chest.
"It's itchy as hell." Carla said, looking down at it and resisting the urge not to scratch. "I've been loading it up with that delightful nappy cream all day."
"Good." Peter said nodding and kissing Carla again on the head.
They stayed in each other's arms for a moment before there was a knock on her office door. Carla looked up as Michelle walked in with her eyes closed.
"At the dangerous risk of interrupting something…" Michelle began comically, scared that she was walking in on Peter and Carla in a compromising position.
"It's fine Michelle." Carla laughed.
"Yeah… we're decent." Peter chuckled as Michelle opened her eyes.
"Good…" She said, taking a sigh of relief. She looked at Carla intently and said, "He's ere."
"Oh… alright… thanks Chelle." Carla said, as Michelle left her office.
"Who's ere?" Peter asked, watching Carla as she took a deep breath.
"Rich." Carla began, Peter suddenly looked infuriated but before he could leave the office and tell Rich were to go, Carla stood in front of him. "Peter… let me explain things..." Peter wasn't happy with Carla's explanation, in fact it almost enraged him but he listened to Carla and he knew that she was right, Rich did have to get what was coming to him. They left the office and Carla didn't hesitate before she walked over to Michelle and Rich, who was still carrying the black eye that Peter had given him.
"Hiya…" Carla said, trying not to be too cheery but also trying not to be too distant either, she didn't want to make Rich suspicious.
"Hi…" Rich said, unable to refrain from looking Carla up and down.
"Look…" Carla began, "I erm… I feel bad for what happened in The Rover's the other day. I spend a lot of my time thinking about my past and sometimes it's hard for me to let go of things… anyways as it is Christmas and as you are Michelle's cousin... I'm willing to be civil."
"Really?" Rich asked, surprised. He looked at Michelle for validation who nodded.
"Yes." Carla nodded. "I mean whatever happened with us two back in the day is unimportant, What is important is the ere and now. I wanted to clear the air which is why I asked Chelle to bring you ere tonight."
"And what does your thug of a husband ave to say about this?" Rich said, looking at Peter who was stood with Simon and Santana and who was trying not to let his pure hatred for Rich show.
"Well he's not pleased about it but this isn't about him." Carla said, trying not to make it obvious that Peter not being pleased was the understatement of the year. "So… are we… being civil?"
"I suppose we are." Rich said, nodding again and smiling at Carla enthusiastically.
"Good." Carla said with a false smile, Michelle smiled too as Simon watched from a distance.
"Why is Carla talking to him?" Simon said to his Dad, staring at Rich and shaking his head, Simon was unintentionally dressed similarly to his Dad in a black shirt and black jeans. Santana in a green velvet dress and black tights.
"She's… trying to make friends." Peter said, hating using the word friend where Rich was concerned.
"Who is he?" Santana asked, watching Simon's outraged expression.
"He's that guy… the one I told you about… the one who drugged Carla." Simon said.
"What?" Peter said, stunned. "Si… how on earth d'ya know about that."
"It was talked about in the pub Dad… everyone knows." Simon sighed, holding a coke in his hands and shaking his head at his Dad.
"Well it shouldn't have got back to you." Peter said, angry that idle pub gossip has got to his twelve year old kid.
"Yeah but it did didn't it and that guy is seriously weird." Simon said, "Why on earth is Carla trying to be his friend?"
"She says she has a plan." Peter said, "She says I just ave to go along with it… which means so you do too, I don't want any of your lip d'ya understand?"
"Yes." Simon nodded. Eventually Carla had managed to get Michelle on her own and when she did she wasted no time in asking,
"So… how did you get him over ere?"
"Well… if I'm honest… I didn't have to try too hard." Michelle said, sipping a drink that she had helped herself to. "I just called him up and told him what you said, blood is thicker than water n all that."
"Really? I mean I know I said it but I wasn't actually thinking it would work… I just thought you'd managed to talk him round." Carla said, watching Rich and then turning back to Michelle. "You… don't think he knows do ya?"
"Carla knows what?" Michelle said, shaking her head. "He might think you're up to something but he doesn't know what, I mean he doesn't know that the police are on to him."
"You're right." Carla nodded, trying to tell herself that Michelle really was right and that Rich had no clue that she was trying to catch him out. A hour or so later and Peter was stood chatting to Kirk who was still DJ-ing when a drunken Beth came over to them both, clutching a bottle of champagne.
"Peter!" She exclaimed, grabbing hold of Kirk so that she could stand upright as I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday played through the speakers.
"Yes Beth." Peter said amused and with an orange juice in his hand, he was also smiling at Carla who was on the dance floor without a care in the world.
"Can I ask you a question?" She slurred, as Kirk struggled to stay upright because she was putting all of her weight onto him.
"I don't know Beth… can ya?" Peter grinned, Beth laughed an over the top laugh and nodded at him before saying,
"Well… I get why your ere… n I know she is me bezzie mate but what is Tracy actually doing ere? I mean she aint worked at underworld in years."
Peter glanced around the room so that he could found Tracy, just to see what she was doing and he was very disturbed to see her talking to Rich, with a large glass of wine in her hand.
"Erm… give me a minute will ya?" Peter said, but he didn't even look at Beth as it said it. He marched over to Carla who was dancing with Michelle, he put his orange juice down on the table nearby and suddenly took her by the hand.
"Peter…" Carla cried, as he pulled her towards the door of the factory and led her right outside. "Peter what is going on?"
"I should ask you the same thing?" Peter said, "Why is Tracy talking to Rich?"
"Eh? Why are you asking me?" Carla asked, "She's your sister."
"So she's not involved in this little plan of yours then?" Peter said, shaking his head and trying to stay calm. He didn't mean to snap at Carla but the idea of Rich hurting anyone was making him nervous and he wondered if Carla had maybe asked Tracy to help.
"No course not… she has no idea about it." Carla started but then she couldn't understand why Tracy would be standing there talking to Rich after everything she had heard about him.
"Well that's even worse isn't it?" Peter said, "I mean if she knew what you were trying to do I could understand it but the fact that she is just casually chatting away to the man has me slightly worried."
"Look Peter… nothing is going to happen to Tracy okay." Carla assured but Peter didn't look to assured as he said,
"It better not… because if he lays a finger on her or anyone else for that matter… Carla I swear I will kill him."
"I know baby... trust me... I know what I'm doing okay?" Carla said, Peter nodded at her and they headed back inside and into the party hand in hand. Michelle who had obviously been there and seen how troubled Peter had looked before taking Carla outside, said,
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah it's fine…" Carla said, looking over at Tracy who was still talking to Rich with a glass of wine and looking as if she was truly enjoying being in Rich's company. Michelle followed her gaze and then bit her lip as Peter who still had hold of Carla's hand said,
"I really hope you two know what you are doing." Carla wasn't sure anymore as Tracy and Rich started laughing at something but she tried to stay calm and enjoy the party. It wasn't until later on, when Tracy let Rich pour her a drink that Carla looked incredibly angry and wanted to go right over there and slap Tracy silly.
"Is she insane!" Simon suddenly said, Carla, Peter and Michelle all spun around to see Simon and Santana stood behind them with their gaze fixed on Tracy.
"Simon…" Carla said, looking at Peter who sighed,
"Oi... what did I tell you about keeping it shut?"
"Peter?" Carla asked, knowing he was keeping something from her.
"Oh yeah… I meant to say, Si knows." Peter said.
"What?" Carla cried, her arms going up in the air and then back down again in frustration. "How?"
"I overheard people talking about it in the chip shop." Simon said with an eyebrow raised. "Everyone knows… including Auntie Tracy… so what the hell is she thinking?" Simon had his fists clenched and looked angry as Santana took in a deep breath. "Is no one going to do anything?" Simon cried, looking over at Rich in disgust. "You're all gonna stand there whilst Auntie Tracy drinks a drink he has just given her?"
"Simon calm down." Santana sighed, taking his fist and opening it out so she could hold it. Carla rolled her eyes and walked over to Tracy and Rich, leaving Peter stood with Michelle and the kids.
"Hey… Tracy can I ave a word." She said, as nonchalantly as she could, keeping half of her gaze on Tracy's freshly poured drink.
"Go on then…" Tracy smiled at her, obviously slightly intoxicated by this point and obviously not getting the fact that Carla didn't want Rich there. Carla didn't want to make things too obvious but luckily for her Michelle suddenly called Rich over and said she wanted to get a picture of them both.
"I'll be right back," Rich smirked, at Tracy and not at Carla before walking away. Carla sighed and took the drink off Tracy before saying.
"Tracy what are you doing?"
"What are you on about?" Tracy frowned.
"What are you doing talking to Rich?" Carla asked because she didn't have the time to beat around the bush.
"Hold on…" Tracy said, "I thought you two were trying to be civil with each other."
"We are…" Carla began but she couldn't seem to think of anything to say to Tracy other than. "Tracy I told you that the man spiked my drink and you're standing there letting him pour you a glass? Are you crazy?"
"Carla you are the one who invited him ere not me?" Tracy swayed, letting the amount of alcohol in her system show and letting Carla see that she clearly wasn't think straight.
"I know I did but it wasn't for you to go n get yourself involved with him." Carla said shaking her head despairingly.
"Look… he is the first guy that has shown me any attention since Tony." Tracy began, "I asked him about the drink spiking thing and he said he thinks that you just got your wires crossed or something."
"Oh Tracy for goodness sake!" Carla cried, wanting to slap her hard and knock some sense into her sister in law. "The man is liar and I want you to stop talking to him now, d'ya understand."
"No…" Tracy said confused, "No I don't understand. You invited him ere and said that you were going to be civil, I heard ya, I'm just talking to him and there is nothing you can do to stop me!" Tracy then pushed past Carla and walked back over to Rich, who was chatting to Michelle.
"Come on… where were we?" Tracy said to him, before pulling him away from his cousin. Carla tutted at her and made her way back towards Peter. As she did she had to walk past Tracy and Rich who smiled at her sickly and said,
"Hey…"
"What?" She stopped, with a blank expression.
"You don't ave to be like that." Rich said, as Tracy leant over to the bar and poured herself another drink. "I mean that's not very polite is it?"
"I said I'd be civil to you not polite." Carla said, rolling her eyes at Rich, unable to be nice to him any longer. "Now if you'll excuse me…"
"I don't know what you said to Tracy…" Rich said because Tracy was now out of earshot, going further up the table to get some more coke. "But it obviously didn't work." Carla sighed and shook her head at Rich, trying to pretend she didn't know what he meant. He laughed cruelly at her and then continued, "Look… I don't know what you're up to but I'm guessing your little invite to this party wasn't because you wanted to make up with me."
"Well done Sherlock." Carla nodded because she was completely done with trying to catch Rich out. She felt defeated to know that he wasn't stupid enough to fall for her plan and was about to walk past him when he asked,
"Who's the girl with your annoying little step son?" Rich asked, stopping Carla in her tracks. She turned to him as he looked menacingly at Santana and said, "Y'know she looks just like you did… way back when... it's funny cause she's come to Christmas party that she is way too young for… just like you did… it would be a right shame if she ended up like you did when you did that night… wouldn't it."
"What?" Carla said as Tracy returned holding two cups with drink in them.
"I'm just saying…" Rich said, sipping his drink and then smiling. "It would be shame if you didn't turn around and leave me and Tracy to it… wouldn't it?" Carla wasn't sure if Rich was just trying to disturb her on purpose or not but she quickly backed away from him and continued walking back over to Peter and Michelle. They could both tell that she was slightly on edge but they didn't even have a chance to ask because she spoke first.
"Peter, take Santana and Simon home." Carla ordered, unable to even think about the fact that Rich had just compared her and Santana and what was going through his mind. There was something about the grin on his face as he had said it, that made Carla sure that he was just trying to bother her and that he really didn't mean it but she still wasn't taking any chances.
"Why?" Simon moaned.
"Because you shouldn't be ere… " Carla said, remembering Simon's hate filled gaze over to Rich and knowing that he wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut for much longer. He took after his Dad way too much and Carla knew it.
"But I've calmed down now." Simon said, knowing what Carla was getting at.
"Well you still need to go." Carla sighed, trying not to let how sick she was starting to feel show.
"Carla it's fine…" Peter began, because he knew that Simon and Santana were having a really good time and that they had been looking forward to the party all day.
"This has nothing to do with you Peter…" Carla snapped, "Get your coats, you're going home." She said looking at the two twelve year olds now. Santana and Simon both nodded obediently and ran off to get their jackets as Peter stared at Carla.
"What's going on?" He asked but Carla just shook her head, knowing if she told Peter what was going through her mind that he would go completely crazy and would probably hurt Rich even more than he had done the other day.
"Nothing…. I just want promised Santana's Mum I'd ave her home early, it's Christmas Eve tomorrow and she has a lot to do." Carla said because it was true, She had told Juliana that Santana would be brought home safe and sound so she could have a good nights sleep before doing their last minute visiting family run.
"Why don't I believe you?" Peter asked, watching Carla who was breathing rigidly.
"Just take em home Peter." Carla sighed as Simon and Santana returned in their jackets.
"No…" Peter said, "I don't want to leave you ere… not when you're in this kind of mood." He could tell Carla's mind was now going a mile a minute and that Rich had definitely done something to wind her up and get her agitated. "We'll get someone else to take Santana home."
"Like who?" Carla asked, "Peter everyone ere is half cut and has been drinking except you so would ya just do as you're flaming well told!"
"Oh well at least me alcoholism is good for summat then." Peter said irritatedly, shaking his head and turning to Simon and Santana. "Come on you two… lets go." He said because he knew he had to get Santana home and he really couldn't send her with a stranger. Simon and Santana reluctantly went with Peter, who hadn't even said goodbye to Carla before leaving. She ignored how him walking out like that had upset her and turned to Michelle who had been watching the whole thing.
"This was a mistake wasn't it?" She asked, Michelle shook her head and shrugged at Carla.
"I did try to warn ya babe." Michelle said. "What did he say to ya?"
"He knows I didn't invite him ere to be civil." Carla said, trying to ignore the Santana part of the conversation because it was still making her feel sick.
"I thought so… but Carla I really don't think that taking it out on Peter is a good idea."
"I wasn't…" Carla sighed but then she stopped talking because she knew she had snapped at him and that he didn't deserve it.
"Maybe we should just call this whole thing off… I mean maybe after all these years, Rich is just too smart to get caught." Michelle said, Carla shook her head at her with tears in her eyes and said a very stern.
"No!" She walked towards her office and Michelle followed her as the oblivious factory workers started a conga line.
"Carla… darling I know you want him to pay but maybe this isn't the way." Michelle started, closing the door behind her.
"No! you don't know." Carla cried wiping her cheek. "Michelle you couldn't know how much I despise that man… the fact that he almost raped me… and the fact that I did nothing… kills me. The fact that he's probably done it to loads of girls because of me is imbedded into my soul…. I was too frightened of what might happened to do anything back then but I just ave to do something now."
"Okay…" Michelle nodded, "Like what? I mean he's obviously not going to do anything tonight is he? If he knows you're on to him." Carla nodded hopelessly at Michelle and wiped her eyes as she said, "Maybe tonight is just not the night eh? And don't worry about Tracy we'll make sure that we keep an eye on her… nothing will happen… he's probably only hanging around with her to annoy you, the police will get him Carla... I promise." Carla eye's suddenly widened as if she'd had an epiphany.
"You're right." She said with a tearful nod. "Michelle do me a favour…"
"Oh what another one?" Michelle said with half a grin.
"Yes… get Rich in ere… I want to talk to him… alone."
"No way Carla..." Michelle began but she eventually did what she was told, even though she wasn't happy about it. She tried to stay calm as she walked over to Rich and wondered just what Carla had up her sleeve. She told Rich that Carla had wanted a word and pointed him towards her office and when Rich closed the door behind him she hoped their chat would be done before Peter had got back… or there really would be trouble.
"So… what did ya want?" Rich asked with a raised eyebrow as Carla sat on her desk chair with a glass of brandy in her hand. She had poured her self a stiff drink from her secret stash to try and steady her nerves about being with Rich alone. It wasn't that she was frightened of him because she knew he would never be stupid enough to do anything with a factory full of people but it was more because she really really wanted him behind bars and that this was her only chance to do so.
"Sit down." She said, pointing to the chair opposite her. He laughed silently to himself but he sat down anyway and said,
"What was all that about with your husband earlier?"
"What?" She asked, intrigued because he must have been watching her and Peter.
"Well I saw you n him and it seemed as if you were arguing… trouble in paradise is it?" He asked smugly.
"It sounds as if you were watching us… watching me." Carla said, taking a large swig of her brandy and staring Rich down to show him that he couldn't intimidate her.
"Maybe I was…" Rich began, eyeing Carla up and down shamelessly and smirking. "But can you blame me when you look like that?"
"Spose not." Carla said, finishing off her brandy and then getting up to pour another.
"Don't suppose I could get one of those?" Rich asked, again with no shame. Carla shook her head at him and said,
"No… no this brandy is way too good to be wasted on someone like you." It was a bottle of special brandy that Ken had given her and she was definitely not going to let Rich anywhere near it.
"I'm sorry…" Rich said, standing up and shaking his head in confusion. "Did you call me in ere just to insult me? because if you did then…" He went to walk out of Carla's office but she stopped him by saying.
"No… I called you in ere because we've not talked just us two in a very very long time… and I ave something I want you to do." Carla said, pouring herself another brandy.
"Oh yeah… n what's that?" Rich asked, intrigued and going back to the chair he was sat on.
"Well it's just me n you in ere now… no family no friends… no one but us... I want you to admit that you spiked my drink so I can finally move on from this." Carla said, sitting back down on her chair too.
"Really?" Rich scoffed, glancing around him and then back at Carla. "What?... Are you wearing a wire or something? Have you got your phone lying about somewhere, waiting to record my secret confession?" he mocked.
"No... I don't need any of that…" Carla sighed, shaking her head at Rich. "I don't need any of that because the police are already on to you."
"What?" Rich said, his smug expression being wiped of his face in a instant.
"They know exactly who you are and what you do. Now granted their not a exactly the smartest bunch because they've let you get away with it for this long and yeah… they might not catch you today, tomorrow of even in a week or two... but trust me Rich… they will catch you."
"Will they now?" Rich asked, looking as if he wasn't quite sure if Carla was telling the truth or not. Christmas songs could still be heard in the background and there really was nothing around her that could look like it was recording their conversation, so he played it cool for now.
"Yeah… they will. You'll slip up eventually… men like you always do." Carla said, sipping her brandy and then continuing. "But this isn't about the police… this is about me and I just cannot seem to get past the fact that you never admitted what you did to me."
"I never admitted it because I did nothing… you were just a stupid drunken mess who couldn't handle whatever drug you had foolishly taken." Rich said bitterly.
"So you're still going with that story then?" Carla sighed, shaking her head and putting her glass down.
"It's not a story… it's the truth." Rich said, leaning back on the chair he was sat on casually, as if he truly believed what he was saying. Carla sighed heavily and put her head in her hands as it looked like she wasn't going to get her confession after all. "Let me ask you something Carla." Rich then said, Carla looked up at him and moved her hands down as he said, "If you were so upset at what I so supposedly did, why didn't you just report it?"
"What?"
"You heard me? If you were so convinced that I spiked your drink then why didn't you just go to the police?" He asked, he had scary grin on his face as he spoke and Carla couldn't stand it.
"Because I had no proof… I didn't think people would believe me and I was right wasn't I? but believe me… I wish to god that I had reported you… I wish I had of stopped you because from what I hear, you're still going around putting your filth into innocent peoples drinks." She said with disgust.
"You shouldn't listen to gossip Carla…" Rich warned, shaking his head at her patronisingly.
"Is it classed as gossip when the police tell you it though?" Carla replied with her head titled.
"What do the police know eh?" Rich said, "I mean it were you who said they weren't a very smart bunch after all." There was a slight silence as Carla quickly finished her drink and Rich just sat and watched her. She wasn't completely sure that this idea of hers was going to work but she knew she had to give it a go.
"You know what I'm finding so difficult…" She said, "I mean you're not bad looking as it goes… in fact if I'm honest with ya, you are ridiculously good looking so why do you feel the need to drug girls to get em into bed with you?"
"I've had enough of this." Rich snapped standing up but so did Carla.
"Yeah well I avent." Carla said, "I want you to admit that you put something in my drink that night and I want you to admit it now!"
"I didn't…"
"Yes you did and you're only lying to yourself Rich… y'know that right?" Carla said shaking her head in anger.
"I already told you that it was your own fault… you just couldn't handle your drink and decide to go out n cry date rape rather than deal with the consequences!" Rich laughed as if this was all some big joke, still trying to play it cool just in case.
"Oh I should have reported your sorry ass when I had the flaming chance!" Carla spat but then Rich shook his head at Carla again and delivered one hell of a line.
"And what good would that ave done eh? It's not like it helped you the second time around is it?"
"What?" Carla stammered, not entirely sure what Rich was getting at,
"Well you went and called the police on that Frank when he attacked you didn't ya? And look what happened there… then again some of us are not entirely sure that was even true anyway." Rich said, and he had used air quotes on the word attacked to make it even more upsetting for Carla. She took a deep breath, unaware that Rich had even been made aware of what Frank Foster had done, it was as if she had forgotten that Michelle was his cousin and that gossip can travel around families like lightening.
"Oh it were true alright!" Carla cried her body shaking now because she was so infuriated, "It were true and so is the fact that you spiked my drink… and so is the fact that you are still doing it now!"
"Well guess what!" Rich said, taking Carla by the wrist and pushing her towards her desk alarmingly. "He got away with it… n so will I."
"Let go of me now!" Carla cried angrily, "Now!"
"Or what?" Rich said he had a very tight grip on Carla, one that she couldn't get out of. She glanced over at the blinds of her office and wished that she had opened them so people could seen in and see what Rich was doing. She thought about calling for help but she remembered that there was still music playing and that no one would hear her… she looked down at her desk and then she remembered something else. Something that made her bravely say,
"Y'know what… do your worst." Rich looked at her puzzled and licked his lips in a way that she hated, before he said,
"What?"
"If that's what its going to take to get people to realise what a disgusting piece of work that you are then fine." Carla said shaking, "Do it… do what you were planning to do that night when you spiked me." There was suddenly a frightening look in Rich's eyes, one that made her scared that he make actually take her up on here offer. Carla was feeling brave but her chivalry was starting to wear thin now. "Rich…" She begged but he meant business, he really wanted to teach her not to mess with him so he continued to stare at her for a while.
"You always used to walk around like you were something really special..." He said, raising a hand to her face and stroking her cheek. "You really thought you were some prestige little princess and I really really liked you." He said, taking his free hand and running it down Carla's body whilst he still had a grip on her. She gasped at his touch and tried to wriggle away from her but she simply couldn't.
"Don't" She said, trembling.
"I really did like you... N I could have given you everything you ever wanted but you always said no… which is why I had to take matters into me own hands in the end… which is why I had to put that little white pill into your cup and speed things a long a bit. Now… there's a party out there full of people… people who could walk in ere at any moment… it would be flamin stupid to do anything other than let you go…" Rich begun, "and it would be really really stupid to pull down your underwear and let you get what's coming to you… and I am not that stupid." Carla couldn't help but smirk as she had got his confession after all. "What are you smirking at?" Rich asked, watching Carla as she closed her eyes.
"Oh Rich…" She said, shaking her head in mock pity before opening her eyes. "You know you really are that stupid."
"Am I really?" Rich asked, still holding on to her tightly.
"Yeah... you're stupid because you honestly believed me when I said that I wasn't recording you right now." Rich glanced at Carla and then shook his head at her, he wasn't sure what do next but he didn't let Carla show how suddenly worried he was.
"They'll never catch me." He said, tightening his grip on Carla in a way that she didn't think was possible.
"You wanna bet?" Carla asked, she went to say something but she got irrupted by Rich.
"Well it's gonna take you a while to get this confession down to the station and I'll be lone gone but not before I tell you to watch your back… not before I tell you that this isn't over and that one day I promise you I will finish what I started all those years ago… I will fuck you one day… whether you like it or not." Rich said, letting go of Carla's hand and moving away from her. She took a huge sigh of relief, which Rich had assumed was because he had let go but it wasn't. "Not so brave now are ya." he said with laugh, "Not when it's just us two… not when haven't got your precious husband around."
"Oh but she has got him around!" A voice said, Rich turned around but before he could even register a furious Peter had him by the collar and trusted him against the wall. Michelle was stood in the door way and so was Tracy who watched in horror.
"Let go of me!" Rich cried, but Peter was a hell of a lot stronger than him especially after what he had just heard him say to Carla.
"Not on your life!" Peter said, angrier than he had ever been in his life and shaking as he stood in front of the man who had just threatened his wife but then Peter was suddenly dragged away from Rich by the police. Rich was stunned to see them and so was Michelle, Tracy and Peter.
"That's what I was trying to tell you Rich…" Carla said as Peter was let go and as he took hold of her, and wrapped his arms protectively around her. "I didn't just record what you said, the police where on speakerphone the entire time."
The police arrested Rich and dragged him out of the factory with everyone watching. Carla explained how she had phoned the police officer who was in charge of Rich's case before he had come into her office. She had told him how she was going to get a confession out of Rich one way or another. The police had sent some officers down immediately in case things had gotten out of hand and they had burst into factory's christmas party just in the nick of times by the look of things.
"Alright you lot..." Carla said to her employees, shortly after the police had left the factory and taken Rich with them. "I know this party has come to a rather abrupt end and I am sorry so to make it up to ya all, there shall be drinks on me in Rover's tomorrow night at six pm."
There was a round of applause from everyone and a lot of "Thanks Mrs Barlow"s as the Underworld staff started to leave the office as it seemed the party was well and truly over. Michelle eventually went too and took a drunken Tracy with her leaving Carla and Peter in the factory alone.
"I know you probably think that I am crazy..." Carla began, shaking her head at Peter in an apologetic way. "I just had to do something."
"Not crazy..." Peter said, shaking his own head and putting his arms around her admiringly. "Brave... incredibly brave." Carla took in a deep breath and also took in Peter's familiar scent as she stood in his arms.
"I'm only brave because I ave you." She said, pulling him tightly against her and then looking up at him before yawning. "I'm also exhausted... I barley got any sleep last night." She told, because she had been thinking about Rich all night.
"Well... let's go eh?" Peter said, kissing her on the head. Carla smiled at him and nodded, sure that because she had managed to get Rich arrested tonight and because he was now off the streets, that she would get a goodnights sleep after all.
Apologies for the late update, I meant to post earlier...
Don't forget to review and let me know what you thought of this chapter.
I know it was a little intense but I promise the next few are going to be a lot more cheerier.