Hi Readers,

This is my first story ever. I hope you like it. Let me know, please. Since I am new to this I can use all the help I can get. So you can e-mail me if you feel the need to help me. I want to thank everyone who has reviewed already. It sure makes me smile all day. Thanks to all who read my story and especially thanks if you review it.

Sunny

Chapter Four - Truths or Lies

During the car ride to 10 Downing Street and through lunch in David's office it was all just idle chat. Harry asked about Natalie and David's work. David asked about Harry's trip to America and Daisy and Bernie's latest interests. After the dishes were cleared, David offered Harry a brandy and poured one for him.

David and Harry sat facing each other in two large comfortable leather arm chairs in front of the fireplace. Harry knew what was coming - an inquisition - but he was willing to face it. David had been a good friend as well as his brother-in-law. He took another sip of his brandy.

David swirled his brandy around his snifter, looked at Harry and asked, "So honestly Harry, what's the story with Mia?"

Harry took sip of brandy and a deep breath. He looked at David. "I'm going to be perfectly honest with you, David. I was a complete fool. You've seen Mia. She's young and beautiful and she kept throwing herself at me. At first I was in denial, but then it became obvious what she wanted and I admit I found it exciting. It just made me feel desirable for a while. I never acted on it until the day after the office Christmas party. I told Mia I was going out Christmas shopping. Out of the blue, she asked me if I was going to get her something. I hadn't even thought of getting her anything. Then I made the fatal mistake of asking her if she was going to get me something. She insinuated that I could get anything from her. I asked her what she needed and she said she wanted something pretty. I don't know why I did it. I guess I just liked the attention and wanted to keep it coming. I don't think I would have done anything more. I just bought the first thing I saw, the gold necklace. I have no idea how Karen found out about it. I hadn't even spoken to Mia and didn't even see her pick up the box off her desk. I had placed it there as I left early to get to the children's Christmas play with a card that said 'To: Mia - From: The Boss'."

Harry stared into his glass. David said, "Is that it, Harry? Nothing else happened? What about your gift from Mia?"

Harry sighed, "That's it, honestly. I was only back at work for three days before I had to leave for my trip to America. I tried to fend Mia off by telling her that the necklace was a gift from the company and if she thought it was from me personally that I was sorry for the mistake. I curse myself every day because of that necklace. I've been trying to avoid her as much as possible. She's very persistent. God, I wish I could sack her, but she'd sue for sure. My life is pretty much shit now."

"Why don't you let Karen see how much this whole affair is tearing you up?"

Harry face turned wry, "You know Karen. She is such a strong woman. She doesn't want to be around a crying wimp. In fact, she let me know that she told her friend Daniel after his wife died, that people hate sissies and no one would ever shag him if he kept crying all the time. Bloody hell, maybe she would rather be shagging him since they are together so damn much."

David set his glass down. "Harry, get a grip. Karen and Daniel are just friends. I know he has a new girlfriend, Carol. She looks just like Claudia Schiffer. I met her and they are really happy together."

Harry shrugged, "Right, the Claudia Shiffer obsession. Well, I'm glad for them. He really is a good guy. I'm sorry, that was a really stupid thing to say. I shouldn't have insulted Karen like that, she's done nothing wrong. I'm just an emotional train wreck. Nothing in my personal life is going right."

Harry downed the rest of his brandy. David said, "I think I have some good news for you."

"What would that be?"

"I've offered Mia a position in my office. She starts Monday and she's leaving her resignation on your desk as we speak."

Harry smiled broadly, "That's fantastic. I'll be in your debt forever."

David took Harry's empty glass and went to the sideboard. He turned his back on Harry and filled his glass again. He handed Harry his glass, sat down and said, "Let's drink to one success and to a hopeful reconciliation."

Harry brightened, "Then you believe me. You'll talk to Karen for me?"

David lifted his glass and said, "To making Karen happy, cheers."

Harry tapped his glass to David's and responded, "Yes, Karen's happiness and mine." They both downed their drinks.

David watched Harry closely. Harry's eyes suddenly slid shut and his head dropped to his chest. David reached out and took the empty glass from his hand. David said, "Harry I'm sorry I had to do this, but I'll do anything for Karen's happiness. I can't let her go on destroying herself with doubts."

He strode to the phone and beckoned someone in. He went to the door and ushered in a large man in a dark suit, carrying in a black case.

"OK Richard, I've given him the truth serum. Check him out and make sure he's all right."

Richard removed Harry's glasses and lifted his eyelids shining a light in each one. He pulled out a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff. He removed Harry's jacket and rolled up his sleeve. He checked his pulse and blood pressure. Richard stated, "Everything is in order. Do you want to start questioning him?"

David cleared his throat and ran his hand through his dark hair. "Yes, let's get it over with."

Richard gently slapped Harry on both cheeks and spoke in a commanding voice. "Harry! Harry! Can you hear me?"

Harry's eyes opened but they did not seem to focus as he stared blankly ahead. He answered dully, "Yes, I can hear you."

Richard commanded, "You will answer each question completely and truthfully. Do you understand?"

Harry's monotone responded, "Yes, I understand, I will answer each question completely and truthfully."

Richard turned and said, "Go ahead Prime Minister."

David's brows creased as he asked, "Harry, have you had sex with Mia?"

"No, I have not had sex with Mia."

"Harry, have you kissed Mia?"

"No, I have not kissed Mia."

David leaned in, "Harry, are you in love with Mia?"

"No, I am not in love with Mia."

"Harry, do you regret giving Mia the necklace?"

"Yes, I regret giving Mia the necklace. It is the biggest regret of my life."

"Harry, are you disappointed that Mia no longer works for you?"

"I am not disappointed that Mia no longer works for me. I am glad to be rid of her."

"Harry was everything you told me at lunch earlier the whole truth."

Harry, eyes still glassy, answered, "Yes, everything I told you at lunch earlier was the truth."

"Harry, do you want out of your marriage to Karen now or in the future?"

"No, I do not want out of my marriage. I want to be married to Karen forever."

David leaned back and templed his hands in front of his chin and asked thoughtfully, "Harry, if you could tell Karen right now how you feel about her, what would you say to her?"

Harry still starring ahead responded in an even speech. "Karen, darling, I am so sorry for all the pain I've caused you with my stupid impulses. I hope you can forgive me. I need you. I need our family together. Karen, I love you more than life itself. If you will just let me, I'll prove to you how madly devoted to you I am. Please Karen, I'm dying a little every day. I keep worrying that you are going to leave me. I want to hold you in my arms again and kiss your beautiful face. Please give me another chance. I beg you, love me again and let me love you." Harry was quiet and then his eyes slid shut and his head dropped as if the speech took every bit of strength he had.

Richard checked his vital signs again and stated, "He's all right, but he's going to be out for the night. He should wake up tomorrow and think he had too much to drink. He won't remember the questioning at all. He'll have a slight headache, but a couple of aspirins should put him right on course again."

David said conspiratorially, "Now, not a word about this to anyone. How soon can I have the tapes from my visit to Fairtrade and here ready to play on DVD?"

"The Fairtrade lapel camera tape is almost done and this tape should be ready in about 10 minutes."

David stood up and started pacing. "Good, great. When can we take Harry home?"

"He's fine to go now," Richard replied. "You're going to need help carrying him to the car and he should be put straight to bed when you get him home."

"I do appreciate your help, Richard. This is going to mean so much to my sister."

Richard gave an it's my job shrug and questioned, "So, you would have destroyed the tapes if he had been screwing his secretary right?"

David replied, "Quite right. I was pretty sure I knew Harry better than that. Karen is just an emotional wreck right now. This should put her fears at ease."

David rang Natalie up. "Natalie, can you come down to my office and bring your gift for Karen?"

Natalie squealed, "Oh David that means good news."

David laughed, "Yes, the best. Come on down and I'll tell you everything."

Natalie replied, "I'm on my way."

David called his sister and said, "Karen, it's David. I don't want you to worry, but I'm bringing Harry home. He's all right but he's passed out and not able to talk or walk without help right now."

Karen shrieked, "Oh my God, why aren't you taking him to the hospital?"

David said, "No he's not sick, just under the influence of something."

Karen shouted, "You mean he's pissed, passed out drunk?"

David said, "Um not exactly but basically that condition. I'll explain when I get there. Can you take Daisy and Bernie to mother's house for a few hours? I don't want them seeing him like this."

Karen was screaming into the phone now. "What is going on? Did you get him drunk or did you find him like that?"

David held the phone away from his ear and tugged at his collar, "Well yeah, you could say it's my fault. Just take the kids to mum's. Natalie and I will pick them up there and take them to our place tonight instead of tomorrow and keep them for the rest of the weekend."

Karen was furious, "You had better have a good explanation for this. I'll call mother and drop off the children. When will you be here?"

"About an hour. See you then Karen." He hung up the phone before she could yell any more.