A/N: Kind of think of this as a prologue...
The mind was an amazing thing, it had the ability to teleport back in time and remember the most loving and happy memories. A small smile graced Carla's face as she basked under the raging hot sun, a distinct pout to her lips as she thought about all the times she was happy. But her mind always had to ruin it didn't it? Liam then entered her thoughts and the anger bubbled beneath her skin but somehow she was able to remain calm and collected on the surface. Soon enough her mind was teleported back to reality as a cool Margarita was placed beside her, her eyes immediately glancing up and her sunglasses sliding down her nose as she peered up at her husband and he just knew she was going to moan about him blocking her sun so hastily he moved out of the way and laid down on the sun lounger beside her.
"Is there anything you want to tell me?"
"Should there be?" she turns to face him, pocking her sunglasses down so he could see her raised eyebrow
"You can speak to me about anything you know that right?" Tony's voice echoed through her mind and she frowned softly
"I know, I didn't get married for no reason" she chuckles and Tony narrows his eyes, "I think it's you who wants to get something off your chest"
"Not at all," Tony says "I'm happy as long as you're happy"
"Hmm good, now just relax Tony, enjoy the sun before we have to go on that long plane ride tomorrow because trust me I'm dreading it"
"I never did ask you...how does it feel being Mrs Gordon?"
"I couldn't feel any better" she comments, a part of her slowly dying inside at the fact she was no longer a Connor, something that she was so sure would stick with her forever but not having the name made her feel as if she couldn't prove it "But there is one thing I would love which would make me feel better"
"And what is that?" Tony raises his eyebrows, his expression full of intrigue and she turns to look at him
"For you to just love me forevermore," she says quietly and Tony smirks at her, she smirks back at him before they share a soft kiss
"Well that I can do"
"I still can't believe what you did though" Carla shakes her head in disbelief, Tony frowns "I mean getting Liam to run the factory whilst you screwed him over when buying the place off him, you need your head testing mate"
"I have you know my decision was thought out enough"
"And your logic of this?"
"He knows the business, saved us having to get a manager in or even worse having Rosie being mauled by the staff, at least she would have Liam on her side"
"I suppose you have a point it would have cost too much time and effort let alone the amount of money we would spend on a manager"
"Maybe I'm the one with the brains"
"Be careful I could march you down to the solicitors demanding a divorce if you carry on like that" she teases and Tony smirks "I can't believe we're leaving this place, it's been so nice to just relax and spend time together"
"The tapas was amazing last night"
"Not as good as you" she smirks and Tony smirks back her "But soon enough we'll be back to the grindstone unless, of course, you're whisking me away somewhere else?"
"You'll just have to see" Tony hums and Carla narrows her eyes "Maybe we should get Liam something, a thank you for running the business?"
"Seems like a good idea" Carla shrugs and Tony nods "Maybe not wine though, he wouldn't be able to share it with Goldilocks"
"Maria?" Tony enquires and Carla nods "Why so?"
"She's up the stick, I didn't tell you that though, loads of revelations happened when I went out with Leanne, Michelle and Maria"
"Revelations?" Tony raises his eyebrows and Carla hums thoughtfully "Other things happened as well?"
"Me and Leanne made up, life's too short isn't it? It's nothing special Tony" Carla rolls her eyes and Tony smiles at her "Why do you always look at me like that?"
"Because you're the love of my life and I worship the ground you walk on, need I say more?"
"No that'll do otherwise I may end up with a few dozen roses like last time" she quips and Tony chuckles "Now I was thinking we go out for a meal tonight, what do you say to that?"
"I think that's a great idea" Tony confirms and Carla nods with a wide smile "I love you, Carla"
"And I love you too" Carla whispers, Tony smiling widely at her and Carla returning the same expression even if it didn't feel entirely sit right with her...
Being halfway across the world meant for a horror plane ride and after a night of passionate lovemaking contrasting their attempts to forget it last night. Somehow a month in hot weather was something Carla was slowly becoming accustomed to but now she would be going back to dreary Manchester. After that nightmare plane journey and a detour to London as Tony promised her an all-inclusive shopping trip and a five-star hotel, they finally arrived home a couple of days later whilst she had to listen to Tony joke about how Liam would be so unhappy with running the factory two days past their scheduled return. Every mention of Liam cut her deep as it was but now she was married to Tony she was even more determined to forget about him and move on with her life even if it did cause a slight amount of pain when he was mentioned by her shiny new husband.
"Mr and Mrs Gordon!" Sally gasps as Carla and Tony walk into the factory, his arm protectively around Carla to shield her, in a way, from all the overexcited factory gaggle
"Hi Sally" Tony nods and Carla smiles up at him
"How was the honeymoon?" Sally asks and Carla nods "I've always wanted to go somewhere hot, exotic-"
"It was great Sal, we had a lovely time" Carla nods and peers into the office where Liam was pacing around on the phone "I hope you've all been good for Mr Connor"
"The best" Sean beams twirling a pair of knickers around his fingers "He's onto a deal-breaker that one, been on the phone all morning"
"Well we shall see what he's up to, back to work you lot" Carla orders and Tony guides her to the office and they enter "Hi"
"Um, hi" Liam starts before smiling "Yes Brad, it's a great deal really...mhm yeah well what can I say, unfortunately, she's not back to tomorrow..."
"Pass it here" Carla orders and Liam shakes his head "Liam!"
"Yeah, no that would be great, I would be more than happy to go through the figures with you this afternoon. I could do over a drink?...ok that's great Brad, really...alright then I will see you at six...see you then, bye!"
"What did you do that for!" Carla snaps and Liam just laughs slightly looking at Tony who had a disapproving look on his face
"I just got you one of the best deals Underworlds had in years" Liam states passing her the order sheet, she frowns and Tony peers over her shoulder and nods "You're welcome-"
"I could have done that" Carla protests and Liam scoffs at her
"And Tony definitely would want you working after you've just come back from your honeymoon, wouldn't you?"
"I mean we don't start working until tomorrow" Tony shrugs and Carla just rolls her eyes "Thank you, Liam"
"How was the honeymoon anyway?"
"Better than yours" Carla bites back and Tony just raises his eyebrows "At least I didn't go to McDonald's"
"Oh ha, ha" Liam rolls his eyes and looks at Tony who was smiling "Very quiet of you Tony"
"I've worn him out" Carla winks and Liam grimaces at her words, his face scrunching up slightly "I guess we best get back home, there's a bottle of red with our name on it plus I'm cooking tonight-"
"You're cooking, bet poor Tony wishes it was yesterday"
"You're so annoying you know that?" Carla snaps at Liam and Liam just laughs slightly as he grabs his jacket "Where are you going?!"
"Home for my lunch break, spending time with my lovely wife" Liam smirks and Carla narrows her eyes "Then I'm going to come back here, focus on getting the facts and figures ready for Brad before working on the LadRags stuff with Tom if that's ok-"
"Uh, excuse me" Carla grabs him by the arm and Liam sighs in exasperation "You're meant to be doing work for Underworld, that's what Tony is paying you for"
"Carla, I'm trying to run two businesses here, would you tell her?"
"I think she has valuable points" Tony pipes up and Liam rolls his eyes dramatically "How is Maria anyway?"
"Why are you asking that?"
"Nothing you want to tell us?" Tony puts to him and Liam just shakes his head and Carla smirks slightly enjoying her husband winding up her ex-lover "Right then, well you get off and make sure you're back here by the end of lunch, Rosie will fill me in on everything and if you have been doing work for your own company on our company's time then I will dock your pay"
"It's the last time I do anyone a favour even though the five grand you swayed me with was tempting-"
"Five grand?!" Carla's eyes widen knowing they had spent so much on their wedding "Are you having a joke, Tony?"
"Oops, sorry, I thought married couples were meant to tell each other everything" Liam shrugs picking up his phone and keys "Now I'm going to leave before you two have a domestic whilst I spend time with Maria"
"You do that" Carla snipes and Liam shakes his head in annoyance before leaving the factory, Carla sits on the desk "Five grand Tony?! We've just spent almost a hundred on the wedding of the century, my dress itself cost almost twenty grand! Not to mention we agreed two grand at the most"
"The man strives a hard bargain, I thought you wanted him on board?"
"We may as well have got a manager in for the price you paid him!" she rolls her eyes going to sit on the desk chair, she sighs rubbing her forehead, warmth immediately filling her body as she smells the remnants of Liam's aftershave on the chair "I just wished you told me"
"And have us having a row before we jetted off?"
"Ok I guess that would have put a dampener on things"
"Exactly, what's done is done, we'll recover it, Carla, don't you worry" Tony assures her and Carla nods slowly "Now we should head back to the flat, what do you say?"
"Hmm that sounds so much better than listening to Liam prattle on about nonsense" Carla smirks grabbing her back, she stands in front of Tony and kisses him softly "Let's head home"
"Sounds perfect to me," Tony says quietly and gets up as well, both of them walking out of the factory together...
