Hypnotised
"Happy Anniversary Babe" Sam shouted as he opened the door to the rather upmarket restaurant to reveal all their friends, standing in waiting, for the surprise.
"Sam" she shouted from the shock as well as in gratitude for the wonderful surprise "This is …." she laughed into his chest before pulling away and hitting his chest playfully and kissing him on the lips "You're amazing" she smiled at him "Thank you babe I needed this" she told him before turning to face their guests. "Hi" she said her arms open as they melted into the crowd
It was their 7th wedding anniversary and Sam was making up for not being around for the 6th one, which Mercy hadn't let him live down yet. He was massive in the modelling business, one of the top five male model, girls were added to his shoots nowadays. He'd been in Milan Italy doing a big promo for Prada and as much as he'd wanted to be with is wife, they wouldn't set the release dates back for that to happen, so that year their anniversary went by without Mercy picking up the phone to him or accepting his generous gifts.
Mercy was a designer, she'd tried the singing thing back in the day got knocked back once because they didn't like her look and it really knocked her drive, she'd kept singing but only as a hobby at the local bars, she'd designed at school and brought that through to college and she was good so when her second set of designs were brought within 24 hours of display she grabbed onto it and never let go. She'd designed for some of the greats, her pieces were talked about at every major event attended.
"Diva" Mercy heard from somewhere in the crowd and knew it was Kurt, as she looked around already excited, She hadn't seen any of those guys in the flesh for all of maybe 6 years
"Are they here?" she looked up asking Sam
"Some of them yeah" he smiled as Mercy made her way towards the sound of his voice, pissed at having to stop to say hello to others as she went, Sam's hand slowing her down, almost reminding her to be polite as she went.
"Diva" she heard again as the crowd almost seemed to part to reveal Kurt, Tina and Rachel standing in front of her
"Guys" she said tears in her eyes for seeing an already crying Tina and Rachel and a bursting with joy Kurt all of them went in for a hug "So good to see you all" she said holding onto them "I'll be back" she told them having looked up and saw her newest contract standing waiting for attention
She went around the room for a while saying hello to the guests some she didn't know, and by the look of things neither did Sam, as they asked questions of the security. It was a while before order was called and they sat down to a lavish meal some entertainment, presents and later dancing "Babe" Sam said as he danced her around the room "I've sort of arranged for you to spend two days with Rachel, Tina and Kurt" he told her
"That'll be good what are we doing?"
"I don't really know" he said as she pulled up off his chest and looked at him
"How have you arranged our day and you don't know what's happening?"
"It's not our day it's your day babe, I'm sorry but I have to be in Rome, I leave tomorrow, I have fashion week"
"Okay" she said putting her head back on his chest, Sam rolled his eyes, he knew an argument was coming off the back of that, he could feel her anger, she wasn't gliding around the room any more she might as well have been stomping but they played the 'we have company' game for the rest of the night "Guys" she shouted to Tina, Rachel and Kurt "You know you're with us right?"
"Yeah Sam arranged it, we're on the town from tomorrow" Tina shouted
"Looking forward to it" she smiled
"What do you mean you're looking forward to it, you hate..." Sam got out
"How do you know what I hate, I hardly see you" she cut him off saying as she looked into his eyes her face saying love while her mouth spat daggers and he knew she was more hurt than angry about the situation
"I love you Mercy, I take time to know everything about you" he stared back at her telling her, seeing water fill her eyes puzzled him, 'maybe she's just overcome by the evening' he thought pulling her back in
"I love you too Sam and despite how I act, I'm so proud of you"
"I think you designed every dress in the place tonight Mrs Evans, I'm the one that's proud of you" he told her bringing her face up for a kiss as their song came on and everyone clapped as they danced and sung 'Here and Now' by Luther Vandross "Happy Anniversary" he smiled at her
"Happy Anniversary" she responded going back up to kiss him again
The night ended with the large cake being cut and distributed, someone getting a slap round the face, Sam was just happy it wasn't him, he was too far away from Mercy at the time, for her to even get the idea in her head to join in, and just a few worse for wear cusses, but all in all a good night. They thanked the caterers, paid the end bill and left with their friends for home.
"Sam" Mercy said as they stepped into their car "I'll be there on Friday, I've got some pieces, well a section actually but Ed's watching the prep for me because I thought we'd have a few more days, but now the guys are here, I'm fine" she smiled.
"You do?" he smiled pulling her to him when they sat down "Why didn't you tell me babe?" he laughed "I'd have preferred to be modelling your clothes than Guchi"
"I don't have Guchi money babe" she laughed "Anyway I think you'd already signed by the time they asked me"
"Yeah but this is news"
"Well I thought we were going out for dinner so I was going to say then"
"At least we'll get a couple more extra nights" he said kissing her cheek before turning to their guests "So Kurt where's Blaine?" he asked
"Working of course he's on set for months at a time, I'm still doing theatre to I'm always in New York, we manage, just like you guys it sounds" he smiled
"But he's good thought I mean you guys are good though?"
"Yeah fine" Kurt smiled
"Rachel?" Sam asked
"We're fine Jess stayed with the children, we have two, a 3 and just 1 year old, a handful at the best of times, we thought it best for me to come alone this trip, grumpy children you know?"
"Oh we'd have loved to have seen them, we plan on having children in the next year or so" Mercy smiled looking at a smiling Sam
"Maybe next time" Rachel suggested
"Maybe" Sam said still smiling "And Miss T?" everyone looked at Tina as he asked
"You guys know Artie and I have three children now, I really don't need to work what with him having the studio's and stuff but I keep my head in the designer world so I'm well up on what you guys have been up to"
"Oh where's your work?" Mercy asked interested
"I'm mainly with the Wades chain, nothing big and I like it that way with the children and Artie and everything" she smiled
"Well good for you" Sam said "I'm off tomorrow as you know, so Mercy's all mine tonight but then you guys have two days yeah?"
"Two whole days" Kurt said excitedly rubbing his hands together
"What you got planned?" Sam asked, but they were letting nothing out
"What happens on Ladies night out stays with Ladies on the night out" Rachel said, not leaving Sam very confident this was the right thing to have suggested, he just laughed nervously and pulled Mercy closer to him
"Are we okay Babe?" he asked nervous in his voice
"We're fine Sam" Mercy giggled at him
"God Sam it was a joke" Rachel told him laughing herself "You guys are tight right?"
"Too tight" Mercy grabbed hold of his face saying "So, if I ever leave this man you all know it's a moment of damn madness, just grab me, slap me around a bit and point me in the direction of home" she laughed "You'll always be home to me babe" she told him kissing him for the umpteenth time that night, making him genuinely smile "Okay we're here" she said as Kurt stepped out the car first followed by the ladies and then Sam
"Goodnight guys, I'm sure you'll find your way round the house, and any room is fine except the one that's locked" he laughed as they walked off upstairs after showing their guests around
They had their night, woke up the next morning to breakfast with their guests and then Sam was off to Italy for the rehearsals and fittings while Mercy settled in with their friends "So" she looked around the pool at everyone lazing about asking "What's the plan?"
"Chilling today but tonight we're going to watch a stage hypnosis, I've always wanted to see if those things were real, and tomorrow we have a play to attend and then a club before we head off" Kurt informed them
"Hypnosis?" Mercy asked alarmed "You know I don't really rock with that kind of thing right?"
"We're in the audience Mercy" Tina informed her laughing at her scepticism
"First sign of foul play and I'm out of there" she told them and she wasn't joking
So the day went pretty relaxed, they had lunch fell into an early dinner got dressed and out the door for 8pm to see the show at 9pm
"Hi" Kurt said to a guy he caught looking "You were at the party last night" he turned back to say to him, looking at this dark skinned man, who if he needed to be likened to any well known person it had to be a smoother blue eyed 2 Pac type, with rippling muscles and sparkling white teeth, honestly Kurt swooned
"Yes I was, I was escorting Mrs Brookes, Mr Brookes was out of town on business and asked for my services" he informed him "Just in case you think I'm that sort of guy" he smiled as Tina, Mercy and Rachel looked on thinking Kurt was in there "My names Raymond by the way" he said shaking Kurt's hand
"Kurt" he told him accepting his hand "And these are my friends Mercy, Tina and Rachel" he added as Raymond went round the group politely shaking hands
"Looks to be an interesting night" he told them as they stood waiting to get into the unopened VIP doors
Mercy stood wondering why she hadn't noticed him yesterday at the party, pulling herself together at the realisation that Sam was there and for her no one compared she loved her man, plus this guy was talking to Kurt for crying out loud, married Kurt she thought "Very" Mercy finally said widening her eyes as she looked back at Kurt,
"I know this guy I'll tell him to mention you guys" he told them as the doors opened and they were shown in, Tina getting excited about that "Den, put these guy in VIP extra will you?" Raymond asked the door man as they walked in, Rachel, Mercy and Kurt were mildly impressed at that
So they sat in the best seats at the Kirk Douglas, almost on the stage as the show commenced, Raymond popped in at interval with some drinks and snacks, which they accepted as he sat talking to them about all different things, at one point Kurt and he got into conversation and although everyone raised eyebrows they smiled when Kurt came back in looking flustered.
"You alright Kurt?" Mercy asked half smiling and half concerned
"I still know I'm married if that's what you mean, and so does Raymond" he huffed as he sat back down
The hypnotist came on the stage again and started doing spot stuff around the audience eventually he asked questions of Kurt, Mercy, Tina and Rachel, they answered laughing things off as they went and much like the crowd treating it as light entertainment. The end of the night was supposedly a mass hypnotising of the audience who apparently got up and spun round in front of their chairs while they were filmed and the footage was shown back to them, many of them not aware that they had been put in any trance. Everyone came out wondering how the guy managed to do that Rachel concluding that it was a massive camera trick as she didn't see herself on the footage and they all went with that, they went home to more talking, drinking and laughing.
The next day no one was in the smiling mood, Sam had called Mercy and woke her up and although she wanted to hear from him, it was much too early so she rested the phone on her ear and went back to sleep with him talking to her, he soon realised and put the phone down laughing.
"Sam, babe, I'm so sorry" she said down the phone some two hours later to his laughing "We came back and had a few drinks last night I maybe went OTT"
"Maybe?" he laughed
"Okay I did, I feel rotten"
"What did you do?"
"We went to see this stage hypnotist, it was a laugh if nothing else"
"And you're alright?" he asked concerned
"Fine" she laughed down the phone "I'll see you tomorrow yeah?"
"Yeah I can't wait, I love you"
"I so love you too Mr" she said blowing him a kiss as the call ended, got dressed and headed to the kitchen to find everyone sitting around looking how she felt
"Let's skip the play, have food, cocktails and then just go on to the club" Rachel suggested as everyone looked on in disbelief
"Why would you not want to go to the theatre Rachel?" Kurt asked as everyone else thought it
"I do that every day I want to do something new, something Un-Rachel, is that a word?" she asked as everyone looked on puzzled
"That was definitely Un-Rachel" Mercy laughed "What do you say Kurt?"
"I'm easy if that's what everyone wants I'll go with it, I live in the theatre too"
"Okay cocktails it is" Tina shouted
So their day went quiet with a splash of shopping, lunch, hair do's and nails, then back to Mercy's to soak before getting ready for their evening meal and evening of drink and dance "Did we not learn anything from how we felt this morning?" Mercy asked after their first round appeared on the table
"I think you drink to forget" Rachel said putting her glass of wine in for cheers as everyone joined her and the night was started, eating, drinking, laughing, drinking, dancing and drinking
"Hi" Kurt said, later that evening as they danced in the middle of the floor, the only thing missing were the handbags as they sang along to the tunes being played "Ray" he pointed at him saying "Married Man remember?" he asked him over the music
"That's fine, I'm not gay" Raymond told him as they all looked in his direction
"But I thought you said..."
"You asked me if I was interested, and I said yes but you didn't ask who in" he smiled as he looked at the ladies dancing with Kurt "I'm very interested in Mrs Evans" he smiled at her saying and everyone done a woo and carried on dancing
"I'm married too, happily" she told him showing her ring finger
"We all are actually" Tina added
"I know you're married Mrs Evans, I was at your party the other night" he told her
"I'm not interested either" she told him
"Can I get you guys a drink?" Raymond asked, ignoring Mercy's response
"Yeah sure" Kurt said as they all held their glasses up showing him what they had, he confirmed the drinks and went to the bar to get their orders returning with a tray of drinks and ready to dance
"It's time to go" Tina finally told them as everyone slowly left the dance floor to collect their bags and coats to make their way home to get their cases and make their way to the airport
Meeting with Raymond 1
As Mercy walked past Raymond he said something to her she didn't quite hear what he said but when she looked back she knew she had to see him again "I'll be back" she told him as she went to see her friends off. Two hours later she returned to the club to find him standing outside waiting for her "Ray" she ran towards him saying as the cab stopped
"Mercy" he smiled as she came towards him "Lets go find a cafe and talk" he told her as he turned her round and started walking away from the club, they eventually found a cafe and sat drinking coffee and talking for the longest time.
"God it's nearly morning" she looked up saying "I've really enjoyed this we must do it again" she touched his arm saying
"Give me your contact number and we'll definitely do this again" Raymond told her, she gave him her phone, he put his number in and called his phone and the connection was made
"I'm your best friend and you'll leave everything to come see me every time we make contact, you love me" he told her "My name's Rae, spelt the girl way, and when you remember me to anyone, I'll be a girl" he told her as he handed her back the phone, mumbled some word she didn't quite hear and she was sat there asking him
"What am I doing there?"
He managed to convince her they'd been talking for nearly 6 hours, the amount of things he told her about herself, she knew only she or Sam could have told him, she smiled and awkwardly left the cafe
"Oh Mercy you need to pay the bill and, enjoy Italy" he told her as they parted company
Mercy paid the bill and walked away thinking she couldn't remember much if anything about him considering what he knew, and guilty that she'd monopolised all the time talking about herself, how shallow
End of Meeting 1
Mercy went to Italy troubled with what had happened with Ray, it really wasn't like her to go for drinks with anyone let alone men, she struggled with whether to tell Sam and concluded that as they were in a public place it couldn't have been anything other than a drink, shrugged it off and carried on with her life.
"Babe" she said jumping up when Sam finally entered the hotel room, looking tired but happy enough to smile
"Babe" he said hugging her in "The only face I've wanted to see all day" he said before grabbing her mouth "I need to grab a bath and then I'm all yours" he said pulling her with him
"I guess that's, we're having a bath?" she asked laughed as she followed him to the bathroom , he stopped to put his Chris Brown sexy mix on and the night was theirs, Mercy woke up that morning just how Sam liked her to wake up and they were finally ready for work some two hours later. The day was busy, very busy Sam had a record 40 changes and Mercy displayed about 70 designs in her section, which was good going, when they heard the commentator announce thank you for another successful clothes show everyone behind the scenes took a breath and finally started to scale down the make up and put street clothes on. There were drinks in the main hall for the crews, when all the clients had finally gone, in celebration and then it was time to start all over again for next year
"I've just got a few days off, so we can make some plans" he told her hoping she was thinking babies like he was
"Great we can maybe do something special"
"Like?"
"Think about colours for the study, spend some time with the horses, you know"
"Sure" Sam said deflated, making Mercy laugh
"Baby making silly" she said through her laugh and he was all up for that
Back home they quickly got into the swing of things and their bedroom became the main room in the house, they spent the days trying "We're serious about this yeah?" Sam asked as he jumped back into bed
"Very" Mercy said as her phone rang
"Leave it" Sam told her as she sat up to look for her phone
"Okay" she told him laying back down, about an hour later her phone rang again "I got to get that Sam, it might be important" she got up saying as she watched him walk around the bed "Who is this?" she asked as she picked the phone up feeling like she was about to make contact with her best friend
"Who is it?" he asked grabbing the phone off her and asking the caller himself "Who is this?" he asked again as the phone went dead
"Oh" she said looking at her phone "It's Rae" she replied as she checked the details
"Who's Rae?"
"I don't actually know" she replied puzzled at the mix up between her feelings and her actual knowledge "But I've got their name in my phone, that's strange"
"Was it someone from the party?"
"I don't think so, we knew everyone didn't we?"
"Yeah, nearly"
"I feel funny" she told him holding her head, he grabbed hold of her as she fell onto the bed
"Babe" he whispered concerned for her "We'll go to hospital" he suggested grabbing his trousers with his free hand
"Do you think I might be pregnant?"
"We could do a test, get that out the way" he smiled letting her go to get himself dressed
"Yeah" she said still weak as Sam took her to the bathroom "Negative" she told him five minutes later
"Should we just go see the doctor then?" he asked grabbing her shoes to put them on her
"Whatever Sam, stop asking so many damn questions" she barked at him
"Well speak to me then, what do you want me to do?"
"Nothing just leave me alone for a bit I'll be fine" she told him, shaking the shoes he'd just put on her feet back off and flopping back on the bed "I'm just feeling a bit faint nothing to stress about" she rolled her eyes saying as Sam rolled his and went back to his side of he bed
She was more puzzled than sick about her reaction to the call, 'I really don't know who Rae is, I remember talking to Raymond a few nights ago, I'm never going to tell Sam about that, how the hell would I begin to explain away sitting in a cafe for nearly 7 hours talking to some man, who now knows nearly as much about me as he does. But my heart definitely did a leap at the prospect of this Rae calling me, I need to know or even understand why that shit happened,it scared me, one thing for sure I definitely don't fancy women, that much I know about myself, actually I don't fancy anyone except my husband' she lay thinking as she looked at Sam laying beside her, already sorry for shouting at him
Sam lay wondering 'What's going on for her? how did she change from insatiable Mercy to wicked witch of the South in seconds all because of some caller she didn't even get to talk to. Maybe she didn't tell me the truth maybe Rae is a man and she's covering that up, but why would she allow someone she was seeing to call her at this time in the night, while I'm here, that just doesn't make sense or does it? she looked nearly as scared as me when that damn phone rang why was that? Something's up and seriously she needs to come clean about it, whatever it is we'll deal with it, I guess I'm going to man up and ask' he turned to look at her thinking "Mercy" he finally said unable to sleep because of the questions in his head "Just tell me" he told her
"There's nothing to tell Sam, I'm not having an affair, I'm still in love with my husband, but I'm scared, it's like something is actually happening to me and I don't feel like I have any control over it" she rolled into him saying "I don't need a doctor, just hold me" she told him as he pulled her to him. She was actually trembling when he held her and he squeezed tighter trying to actually calm her down
"We'll go through your phone in the morning babe and anyone you don't know in your contact list we'll get rid of" he told her as he lay wondering what could have happened to make her so scared. He waited for her to fall asleep before contacting Kurt to find out if anything had happened while he was away that weekend, but he just talked about having fun and then going home and leaving Mercy home when they left "Was she out of your sight for any length of time?" he asked
"No bathroom visits were done in groups, at no time except for when I went, was any of them alone Sam, why what's up?" Kurt asked
"So at no time did you guys meet a girl called Rae?"
"No we met a guy called Raymond, who we thought was gay and going after me at the beginning of the first night, he got us VIP seats, then on the second night he turned up at the club and eventually told us he was straight, we told him we were all married, he got us drinks and said bye, that was it"
"A guy called Raymond?"
"Yeah he was an escort for a Mrs Brookes or someone at your party"
"Okay thanks" Sam said closing the call down and creeping back to bed
That morning Mercy woke up before Sam and sat looking at her phone still perplexed about the caller during the night "What you doing babe?" Sam woke up asking her
"I was about to call that Rae's number to see who it was"
"We agreed if you didn't remember the faces we'd get rid of the number, I don't need you having another night like last night and you're at the club tonight" he told her taking the phone off her
"I'm a big girl Sam" she told him attempting to take her phone back but he didn't let her
"A big girl, I look after" he told her as he sat up "Right" he said as he started checking down her contact list
"I'll do breakfast while we talk shall I?" she asked getting up when they'd finished the D's deleting only two so far, as Sam followed her to the kitchen determined to get her contact list sorted. 50 minutes later they sat eating breakfast as Mercy looked up at Sam and told him just as he'd finished the T's having deleted Rae "They can still call me it's just it will be a random number now"
"That's fine we don't answer random's do we?
"True" she said digging into her breakfast again, as her phone rang
"It's a random number" Sam told her flicking it off, looking up as he did to see her shaking again "Babe" he moved around the table saying as he grabbed hold of her "What is it? Who is this Rae?"
"I don't know" she genuinely told him "But when the phone rings I feel like I should be talking to my best friend and when I seriously think about that I can only think of you, I don't know what's happening to me Sam it's just..., I feel funny"
"Are you sure this doesn't need a doctor babe?"
"What is it with you and the damn doctor, I said I felt funny not sick, for crying out loud Sam" she told him pulling away from him
"Babe" he called pulling her back to him "I'm concerned, you got into a mood yesterday after the call too, something is wrong, and if we don't figure it out in the next few days you will be going to the doctors" he told her
"I need a few songs for tonight" she smiled saying as if the conversation hadn't taken place
"Did you hear me babe?"
"Yeah" she smiled at him saying "You gonna come get me in the mood?" she wiggled her eyebrows saying making him laugh as he got up to follow her
"What do you want to hear?" he asked as they entered the music room
"You" she smiled at him melting his heart
I got something for you" he told her going to his collection to find the tune he had in mind and setting up the karaoke version of 'Too Close' by Next to sing along to as he danced her around the room. They loved the 90s songs he'd sung one for his proposal song and came at her with 'Human Nature' as she walked down the aisle at their wedding 90s music had always been their thing, every big argument was won over or bad mood was chilled by one of those master grooves by both of them.
"Liking that expression of interest" she said looking up at him before pulling him down to her for a kiss "Okay so what am I going to sing tonight?" she asked him as she broke away and went to check out what she could sing "Bearing in mind I need all my energy for that promise later?" she told him looking at his bulging trousers
"Oh that's a not too distant promise" he smiled before they got to finding two songs to showcase and a few fillers, she was finally happy with, they ventured back to the bedroom to get real close.
Sam had cunningly left her phone in the kitchen that morning and they'd managed to keep their minds off the outside world for much of the day, but at early evening it was brought back by her phone ringing again "It's a random" Mercy told him before answering it anyway, Sam frustration showing on his face as he walked towards her "Hello who is this?" she asked
"Why did you answer it?" he asked when he got close
"Glen? oh Glen from the Show, yes I remember" she smiled "Sorry I was going through my phone yesterday and must have accidentally deleted your details you came up as a random number" she explained before carrying on with the conversation while Sam busied himself putting together what the cook had prepared for them to eat, she ended the call happy "I've made another order" she smiled at him and he bent down and gave her a kiss his hands busy with onions. "I love it when we get time together babe, I miss you so much when we're on the road and stuff" she hugged into his back saying
"Miss you too babe, but no more random numbers please"
"Okay" she smiled going to find something else that had been prepared for lunch
That evening they got dressed and went to the local club, Mercy did her show, a beautiful rendition of 'Breath Again' by Toni Brixton for Sam at the end of the night. Sam had been looking around like a hawk all night, he was suspicious of everyone, something was happening with his girl. As soon as she finished the last note he was up on stage with her and went to the dressing room with her, no one was getting a chance to attack her "Babe do you want to go get something to eat?" he asked as he picked her dress case up and grabbed her hand to make their way out of the building
"Hello" they heard as they walked down the corridor towards the exit, Sam spun round to see this well built black man, the first thing he noticed was he white teeth
"Hi" he said back as Mercy spun round to look
"Hi Raymond isn't it?" she smiled "You seem to be everywhere I go nowadays" she commented "What are you doing here?" she asked nicely
"I'm doing some security" he told them as he walked towards them "Mr Evans, I don't believe we've had the pleasure " he said holding his hand out "I'm Raymond"
Sam grabbed the hand shaking it as he asked "Raymond what?"
"Marshall" he told him "Raymond Marshall" he smiled "I was at your Anniversary party the other week and I just seem to be bumping into your wife everywhere I go since" he smiled "I'll see you guys out" he turned towards the exit saying
Sam was listening to the man as he spoke, but he was super sensitive about new people specifically men around his wife. Sam noticed that Raymond looked at his wife exactly 11 times during that conversation, Mercy said nothing to him other than hello, which means he'd had an inappropriate conversation with her at some point. He kept using one hand to grab the other indicating he wanted to touch something, and Sam would put money on it that it was his wife "Thanks" he said grabbing Mercy's hand and pulling her to his side as Raymond went past them "Our car's just outside the door anyway" he smiled telling him. They got in the car, Sam took his phone out and made a call as Mercy sat watching him, he watched as Raymond answered the call, smiled when he said hello and ended the call "You alright babe?" he asked her as she sat unusually quiet
"I feel funny" was all she said as he pulled her in and she was trembling again, Sam acted as normal as possible for the rest of the night making sure Mercy didn't have her phone in her possession, they bathed, made love as usual, but Sam lay waiting for Mercy to fall asleep before he went into action. He searched the internet for Raymond Marshall for anything he could find out about him, he thought he remembered seeing Mr Brookes at the party but he'd texted him to make sure, he responded by confirming his attendance with his wife. The internet had brought up lots of information about Raymond or Marshall, and even some Raymond Marshall's but none of them were the man Sam had stood talking to that evening, something was wrong. He couldn't trust anyone, he refused to trust anyone, someone had sent this man into their lives and until he found out the reason everything was being kept close to his chest, especially Mercy.
The next day Sam called up and took a month off work, without discussing it with Mercy, he called up the theatre they'd been to that night and got the details of the hypnotist, he thought about calling him but felt he might evade of warn off whatever was going on so they got ready for a day trip out and he made out like he had to see someone about work for an hour after booking an all ladies pamper session across the way for Mercy
"Dr Gordon" he walked in shaking his hand as he spoke
"Mr Evans" he got up to greet him saying a puzzled look on his face for this man that needed to see him as a matter of urgency and paid through the nose for the privilege
"Dr Gordon, I'll get straight to the point on this one, I don't really have time for formalities" he looked at him saying as he took a seat without being offered one "My wife was at one of your sessions about two weeks ago, I think she got hypnotised without being asked" he smiled hoping this guy was taking him serious "I think by some guy called Raymond"
"Dark guy, muscles, green eyes?" Dr Gordon asked
"Yeah bouncer type"
"Yeah he told me he wanted to play some game with his wife a lady sitting with her friends and him up in the VIP Extra and paid well for her to hear his voice, he promised he'd bring her back in two days and I'm still waiting his contact details don't work and I was starting to think his credentials were fake"
"They were, that was my wife, she's totally freaked out by it, we both are, what do I need to do?"
"Bring them in and get it taken off"
"Them?"
"Yeah I don't know the word he used to command her, she's at delta level she'll do what he says always, she has no choice"
"The word he used?"Sam raised his voice asking "Don't you know it?"
"No I don't and he could change it at any time"
"So what's my next move?"
"I guess the nice thing to do would be to track him down and get him to tell you the word he uses, but I'm guessing this guy isn't going to play ball so things could get really messy"
"Messy what do you mean?"
"Sorry Mr Evans but this guys targeted your wife for a reason, he's got an agenda and unless someone can talk him down, he won't stop until he's accomplished it" he got up saying "If this man means to take your wife that's when he'll stop"
"Is there anything I can do to stop that?"
"Pray I guess that somewhere in her subconscious she loves you more than life itself, if that helps"
"Actually no it doesn't" Sam got up saying
"Actually there is something you could do now, while he hasn't gotten hold of her yet, make yourself memorable"
"You say that like she'd actually forget me"
"She could, we don't know what this guys got in mind you need to be ready" he said holding his hand out making Sam know there was no other advice he could give him and he needed him to leave "Look into music therapy, I've heard that's good, is she musical? that might get to her" he laughed, like Sam was joking with him
"Seriously" Sam got up asking, no smile on his face "music is that it? What about music?"
"I heard it can be used to control the mind, you'd have to read up, I'm new to it myself, but you can come back any time you need more advice, for free seeing as I had something to do with this" he backed off saying
"Thank you, I think" Sam said grabbing his hand before turning to leave his office, wondering if he could even trust that guys words, how did he so easily believe that Raymond guy was Mercy's anything, he didn't even check his credentials just started talking about Mercy, he could be the hoax, this Raymond could well be the hypnotist and this Dr guy just some damn front for all the use he was. He was lost and the only true thing for him right now was that there was something wrong with his wife, it looked like she'd been hypnotised, but by who and what for, were still big unanswerable questions. He picked Mercy up some 40 minutes later and they went home
"There's a letter" Mercy looked in the tray by the door saying picking it up as she walked in "To me" she smiled opening it and stood reading it
"Who's it from?" Sam asked as he carried on walking to the kitchen "Who's it from?" he asked when he heard no reply turning to look at her this time
"Rae" she told him almost angry for the question "I mean Rae" she gasped as she read the letter
Sam went back to where she was standing "Rae?" he asked before taking the letter out of her hand "Mercy I asked you …." he got out before she started shouting at him
"Why have you taken my damn letter?" she asked "Why do you insist on treating me like a child, I'm not child Sam and I'm definitely not your child, stop it" she told him snatching the letter back from him "So I have a friend and I get that your jealous about that, but please back off, don't make me choose"
"Make you choose?" he asked puzzled as he looked at this unrecognisable person standing in front of him "Mercy she's a friend what's to choose?"
"You keep treating me like this and you'll be a damn friend, a distant one" she told him scrunching the letter up and walking away from a stunned Sam
"Okay" Sam stood watching her walk saying to himself 'So this bastard wants to come between us, wants my wife, I'm prepared to fight and I'm going to see to it that she's prepared to fight for us too , bring that shit on' he walked towards the kitchen saying to himself
"Sam I'm just popping out" Mercy came back into the kitchen saying as if the previous conversation hadn't taken place "I'll be back later" she told him kissing him on the lips and making noise about it "I love you babe" she looked into his eyes saying and he believed her
"I love you too babe" he pulled her back into him saying as he kissed her again "Will you take the car rather than a taxi and make them wait for you?" he begged his puppy eyes coming into play
"Okay" she smiled "I love the way you worry about me, but I'll be fine, I'm just going for a drink with Rae" she told him
"That's fine" he told her letting her go as he spoke "Miss you already" he said watching her go through the door before calling their driver to get him to turn the tracker on and keep him posted, telling him to follow her in the car regardless of what she requests
Sam went to the bedroom to change his clothes before following Mercy to find the note on the bed next to the phone, picking it up he read 'Meet at our Cafe 4 pm' nothing else and stood wondering how they would have had a meeting place already 'They've met before' he tried to clarify with himself panic setting in at the realisation that she might have lied to him 'She didn't say' he dragged his trousers on saying to himself "She didn't know" he said grabbing his keys as he left the room and in turn the house with his tracker device activated, he was in pursuit of Mercy. He didn't need to confront this guy just now, he just needed to make sure Mercy was alright, he hadn't had space to hatch a plan as yet
Meeting with Raymond 2
"Hi" Raymond whispered in her ear as she walked past him
"Hi" she span round smiling back at him saying while going into a hug "It's been a while"
"You kept yourself away from me, the last time I saw you Sam was attached, don't let that happen again it hurt my feelings" he told her
"Sorry" she hugged into him saying
"Don't I get a kiss?" he asked
"No, you're my friend" she looked at him suspiciously saying
"I hope to be more than just a friend to you Mercy, but I'm not about to force it" he smiled
"I love my husband" she told him "So what was so urgent you needed to see me?" she asked
"I needed to ask you to choose me"
"For?"
"To love, marry have a family, everything choose me"
"I chose my husband already" she laughed nervously "And I told you, I love my husband"
"You told me but as I said I mean to change that"
"I refuse to change that" she told him "And that was it?" she looked at his blank face asking "What you wanted me for?" she confirmed
"That's a lot isn't it?"
"I have to go Raymond" she said getting up frustrated at his antics "I'll speak to you soon"
"Don't make me make you love me Mercy, we won't like that"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing just be more friendly, you're being mean, next time you'll love me not Sam, and you'll want to be with me" he told her as he whispered that word that she barely heard again
"I have to go" she looked at him saying
"Oh don't forget to pay the bill" he told her which she did before leaving the cafe for the car and home
End of Meeting 2
Sam had drove to the cafe and sat outside watching Mercy talking to Raymond, she seemed agitated, angry even for whatever he was saying and he knew she was talking about him, he felt it, but he didn't know if that was a negative or positive thing. It seemed like only minutes into the conversation before she stood up obviously ready to leave the cafe but he said something that shook her. He watched Raymond almost threatening her as she rounded up to him her lips stiff with anger and she said something, to which he backed off and then she was out and in the car 'Home, fast' he told himself taking all the short cuts while her car took the scenic route as instructed
"Hi Babe" he said when she walked into the kitchen "I missed you" he looked at her saying as she walked towards him and grabbed his lips
"I love you babe, and I missed you, let me show you how much?" she told him dragging him over to the empty surface as he watched her climb up it and pull him to her. "Love me babe" she begged him as he took her right there in the kitchen. It was maybe the third round before Sam asked any questions
"What kind of conversation did Rae and you have"?" he laughed as he pulled his trouser up "You are on fire"
"Nothing to do with Rae" she laughed "I was out there thinking of you and I just had to get back" she giggled "I feel this urgency to go see that bitch and when I get there I pay the damn bill, and all I'm thinking is I need to be back home with you, don't ask I don't understand it either"
"Did you argue?"
"No, or I don't think so" she sat on the table thinking "I don't know" she told him "It gets fuzzy" she told him grabbing hold of him and hugging him tightly 'There's that trembling again' he thought as he stood holding her "Sing to me Sam" she pulled up off him saying "You haven't done that for a while, please"
"Sing?" he asked surprised "Okay" he said as he went to grab a guitar and came back tuning it up before singing his version of 'Night and Day' by Al B Sure
"Just what I needed husband" she told him when she stopped dancing around "Did I tell you I love you?"
"No"
"Well I do very much Mr Sam Evans, never let me forget that" she was in a funny mood but Sam just went with it telling himself she might not even know what she was saying or even doing
"I love you too Babe very much" he kissed her nose saying
"Sam" she suddenly stopped smiling to say "I think I may have told Rae a bit more about myself than I'm comfortable with, I don't actually remember when I did that, I just found myself sitting opposite her that night Rachel Tina and Kurt left, we were in a cafe and by the time I realised she knew too much about me"
"Rae's a girl yeah?"
"Yeah she hasn't told me any different" she laughed "I couldn't see you letting me out to go sit with another man, would you?" she asked
"I wouldn't knowingly let you go date another man, you're right" he laughed "So Rae definitely is a woman then?"
"Definitely" she laughed "When are you back to work?"
"Not for a while yet, I deserve a break don't you think?"
"We both do, can we go somewhere?"
"Yeah, you choose"
"And you have to go where I choose and when yeah?"
"Yeah" he laughed, this mood was good for him, he knew this mood
"Okay don't shout but I want to go to La Quinta Resort & Club in California, get some body wrapping going on, get some wine grapes down me and a massage with some sacred stones. You could get in a game of golf or tennis, later we could check out one of the many private swimming pools, what do you say" she smiled wiggling her eyebrows at him "Just for the weekend"
"Great, book it" he kissed her nose saying as he went back to the food he was putting together
The following weekend they were packed and ready for a weekend of pure relaxation and togetherness, Raymond hadn't called and Mercy had mentioned Rae maybe once, everything was working itself out for Sam. He'd taken to singing her random songs every morning and night and getting her to join in with as many as he could. He'd gone out on a limb with that hint about the singing thing from Dr Gordon, researched and asked questions of so called experts on the net, he'd try anything to save his marriage. She was walking around humming songs, most of them led to making love so that's mainly what they ended up doing, he took the opportunity to almost live musically inside Mercy's head
Once they got to the resort he had music playing constantly in their hotel room, hummed constantly and sung lines at, what Mercy called, the most inappropriate times, all in his cunning plan to have more control of her mind when the time came to confront Mr Raymond Fake Marshall, they're two days and nights were spent in their idea of heaven.
Returning home they drove onto their forecourt to find Raymond standing there "How did you get in here?" Sam asked him as he got out the car leaving Mercy in it
"I have an appointment with Mrs Evans" he replied as Mercy stepped out the car and Sam pulled her to stand behind him
"No you don't" he told him taking his phone out to call the security
"Mercy are you coming with me?" Raymond asked
"Coming with you, what would she want to do that for?" Sam asked him
"She's leaving you, for me" Raymond laughed telling Sam
"No" Mercy shouted holding onto Sam as she spoke
"Mercy I gave you the opportunity to do this yourself, I asked you not to force my hand in this but, you refuse to answer my calls, ignored my letter and now I have no choice but to force the issue" he smiled at her "Hi" he said
"Hi" she smiled at him pulling away from and walking past Sam to give Raymond a hug "You alright?" she asked him smiling as she let him go, Sam stood watching, taking in what he was saying and doing to make his wife obey his commands
"Yeah I'm fine I just need you to grab your bags and come with me" Raymond told her
Mercy didn't hesitate she walked back over to the car and grabbed her bag "I'm going to stay with Rae for a few days babe, I'll be back" she said kissing him on the cheek
"No, you're not" he told her grabbing her hand with such force she dropped her case as she tried to pull away from him "Mercy I don't want you to go" he told her
"Sam stop it" she dragged herself away from him saying "Stop trying to control my damn life" she said picking up her bag again to walk away
"Mercy, please don't do this, stop" he pulled her back to him saying
"I'll be back" she pulled away from him saying as she walked away with Raymond
Sam stood numb, watching his wife walk away with this man, 'Mercy' his mind was screaming but he knew in his heart she was under that man's spell 'what can I do?' going over and over in his mind "Mercy" he shouted as she turned to look at him 'Please let this singing thing work' he looked up to the heavens asking as he started to sing 'Don't Leave me' by Blackstone
Sam: I'm searching for the words to make you realize, that I really, really want you to stay, oh tears of frustration I hold inside, but if you walk away, you'll make this grown man cry,
Both: Don't leave, don't leave me girl, please stay with me tonight, don't leave me girl, please stay with me tonight,
Sam: forget my pride girl, I begging you, you're my heart, you're my soul, you've got so much control, my love runs deep within the ocean and sea, but if you sail away, you'll take a centre piece of me
"Mercy"Raymond shouted as they stood making their noise
Both: Don't leave, don't leave me girl, please stay with me tonight, don't leave me girl, please stay with me tonight,
Sam grabbed her face stopping her from acknowledging Raymond "Shall we go inside?" he asked when they stopped singing
"Yeah" she held onto him saying
"Mercy" Raymond shouted frustrated for her not doing as he'd asked after their last meeting "Don't make me force this come willingly" he told her as Mercy looked up at Sam smiling almost trance like "Mercy!" he shouted as she carried on walking "Damn it Mercy" he almost stamped his foot saying "Chocolate Thunder" he shouted at her as she spun round and almost to attention "If you can't follow simple instructions I guess you want things the hard way" he walked towards her saying
"Okay" Sam said calmly holding his hand out to stop him touching her, watching this man get agitated about his wife "She'll come just give us a minute and don't hurt her"
"Come on Mercy, you're coming with me" Raymond ordered paying no attention to what Sam said
"Sam" Mercy turned to him saying pre-empting his negative response "Please don't make a scene, this is happening" she told him her eyes looking straight through him
"Remember your singing tonight" he told her, he couldn't find anything else to say, everything was all over the place for him at that second
"All that's stopped as of now, Mercy doesn't like to sing any more, do you?" Raymond asked her
"No" she said as he grabbed her case off her and threw it in his boot
"We'll be back for the rest" he told Sam, who stood there suddenly weak, he was no match for this muscle rippling man standing in front of him, his wife's mind wasn't her own right now and god alone knew the damage he might do putting up any resistance in front of her right now, she might even hate him for it, Mercy seemed to hear the cry in his heart because she turned to look at him
"Don't worry Sam I'll be back" she smiled at him, even now her mind didn't know what danger she was in as he watched her get into this man's car, which seemed to calm the prick down, he needed to make sure
"Your phone" he called out taking it out of his pocket and walking over to give it to her "For work" he told her as he stood back for them to drive off unable to watch he walked back into the house, he needed a plan 'I thought I was stronger than this, I've always promised to fight to get her back and I just stood and watched her walk way, I need a plan, think!' he told himself walking into the kitchen and back out again 'I could kick myself, I can't believe I put all my damn hopes into this singing thing how stupid' he looked at the front door thinking "But I've got nothing else, this has to work, hear me Mercy" he looked at the car going further into the distance saying as in his head he started singing the only song he could feel just then 'One look in your eyes and there I see, just what you mean to me, here in my heart I believe, your love is all I'll ever need, holding you close through the night, I need you, yeah'
Meeting with Raymond 3
"Chocolate Thunder" he said as the car drove away, Mercy looked back to see Sam standing there and waved "Why did you make me do that to you Mercy?" Raymond asked
"Do what?" she asked
"Do you want to be with me?"
"What do you mean?"
"What's my name?" he asked frustrated
"Raymond" she looked at him puzzled saying
"Who am I to you?"
"Raymond" she shook her head saying unable to understand where the conversation was going
"Who do you love Mercy?"
"Sam" she told him even more puzzled
"This isn't working is it?"
"What isn't working?"
He sighed rubbing his head "She lied to me"
"Who lied to you?"
"Sue Silvester, she told me she used hypnosis on one of her students to make them fall in love with someone and it worked"
"So what, you want me to love you?"
"Is that so ridiculous?"
"Well yes when I'm in love with my husband" she laughed "Anyone knows hypnosis works on the mind not the heart" 'She was sitting here with this man Raymond and all she could think was Sam, this man is so fucking irritating how dare he think I'd want him, I love my husband, and god do I need him to be here right now, he's here Mercy just hear him, he's here, she squeezed her eyes closed thinking as their song came to mind 'I look in your eyes and there I see, what happiness really means, the love that we share makes life so sweet, together we'll always be, this pledge of love feels so right, and, ooh, I need you' she sang in her head 'and yes I need to be there right now instead of wasting time with this' she looked at Raymond thinking
"I'm sorry I feel foolish now" his face a picture that could have easily made Mercy do one of her belly laughs if the situation wasn't so serious, this over sized man with tears in his sparkling blue eyes like a baby almost begging for love "I use Hi for Theta phase and Chocolate Thunder for Delta phase, never listen to those words from me again and that's the only thing I need you to remember about this whole thing" he smiled as a tear fell down his face "I'm going to clap my hands and you'll remember nothing else" he said kissing her cheek, Mercy sat listening she didn't even believe in his silly shit. He ordered the car to turn around and sat looking at the excitement on her face as she neared her house "Are you excited about something?" he asked
"Yes, my husband" she barely turned to look at him saying "He'll be expecting me" she smiled
"I guess he will" he told her as the car came to a halt at her door and her front door burst open, revealing a crying Sam as he rushed towards the car and Mercy sprung out as Raymond clapped his hands and at that the car drove off a trail of dust in it's path while Sam and Mercy hugged while they sung into each others ear
End of Meeting 3
'Here and now, I promise to love faithfully (Faithfully), you're all I need, here and now, I vow to be one with thee (You and me), hey, your love is all (I need) I need'
Needless to say they went directly to bed and stayed there until it was time for Mercy to perform "So what happened why did he let you go?" Sam asked
"Apparently Sue, from school, told him he could hypnotise me into loving him" she laughed "It might actually be possible but I figured if he was taking instruction from Sue he'd believe anyone so I told him hypnosis works for the mind not the heart and he gave up" she laughed "He said I wouldn't remember that and I have, although I don't remember getting into the car"
"So you knew what he was doing?"
"No not really, I knew that when I met up with him he irritated me, I still don't know who Rae is and I always knew I loved you" she smiled "I don't believe in all this hypnosis stuff you know that" she laughed "he even clapped his hands when I got out the car like Hudini"
"Let's get tonight out the way and then we can talk" Sam smiled kissing her forehead as they finished getting dressed
They went to the venue things seemed more relaxed than they had been the last time she sung there, Sam actually had a drink this time, they had a bit of a dance before she went on stage and then he took his usual front of stage seat while she went on sung her stuff, tight as usual, dedicating 'Have you Ever' by Brandy to him at the end of the night. It had been a long day what with arriving home early that morning to find, Raymond in residence, all that drama, bed for the day, fans for Sam at the gates and in the venue and then the show which went on well into 2 am, they were both yarning as the car pulled up on the drive. It was all they could do to roll out the car and find the couch once they got in lucky for them it was as big as a double bed and they almost slept on top of each other anyway.
The next morning Sam was up bright and early, waking Mercy up shortly afterwards, no way was he wasting time with his wife and baby making time at that "Babe we need to go to Arizona to see Dr Gordon, did he tell you the words he used?"
"Yeah" she laughed
"You still don't believe it do you?" he laughed
"No way, no" she giggled
So after breakfast they went to Arizona to see the Dr who explained everything to a cynical Mercy, she told him the message Raymond had left her with, grabbed her bag and they were out of there in no time "So you never just went through all that?"
"What?" she asked as they exited the lift
"All that hypnosis stuff that just happened in there" he asked looking at her
"Sam" she looked at him a smile on her face "Really you don't believe all that stuff do you"
"So chocolate thunder means what to you?"
"I know what Chocolate thunder means to us" she smiled at him saying "But to everyone else it's about singing with soul" she said laughing making him laugh too
"I'm just glad you didn't forget me"
"Behave" she grabbed his arm saying as they walked out the building "You live in my heart, only you can get to me there" she told him as his phone rang
"It's Blaine" he said surprised as he answered the phone "Hi stranger how are you? Mercy's here I'm putting you on speaker"
"Hi guys I'm fine everyone's fine" he laughed "Listen Kurt told me about that show you guys went to when he was there it sounded exciting and I just wondered if we could hook up and do that again"
"Shit sorry Dude, Mercy's just this second started a new contract and I'm flying out to Canada on Thursday, but we'll sound you out when things calm down for us" he said as Mercy looked at him smiling, there was more conversation before the call closed down
"Why did you lie?" she asked a red faced Sam
"Because I didn't want to tell him our business"
"Mr & Mrs Evans" a familiar voice caught their attention saying, they looked round to see Dr Gordon standing there "Sorry I forgot to click my fingers" he said doing so as he spoke "Done" he smiled and walked back inside his building
"Sir your car" the valet called as he held the door open for them
They got in the car and Mercy wasn't smiling any more, she was remembering, absolutely everything, she saw the hypnosis session and everyone was hypnotised and that was when Raymond whispered in her ear, telling her what she was going to respond to, she came to a couple of seconds after everyone else, because she'd had to wait for him to say that damn word 'Hi' how did she not know someone else was in control of her. She saw herself seeing their friends off and rushing back to the venue to be faced with him and a massive urge to speak to Sam, but feeling comfortable speaking to this man because he wanted to listen to her talk about Sam "God" she gasped as she finally looked up to see Sam looking at her "Sam I'm so sorry" tears in her eyes as she spoke "I put myself in that position and jeopardised our relationship"
"It's alright babe we got through it" he smiled at her "That guy loved you too but I guess we'll never know why he felt he needed to do that, we'll just have to be more vigilant in future"
'Here and now, I promise to love faithfully (Faithfully), you're all I need, here and now, I vow to be one with thee (You and me), yeah, your love is all I need' they sung linking hands as he pulled her to him
"You know what I need now yeah?" she asked
"What is it with all this love you constantly need?"
"Baby making, still on the agenda yeah? 7 years we've waited I've got that itch" she laughed