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Chapter 7 : Touch of Repentance

With almost a day passed since Rachel and Eddie's phone call relating to Stuart Hordley's misdemeanours, Eddie couldn't quite comprehend how Rachel was feeling about potentially following through with his plans to go to the council. With Stuart seemingly off of their backs for now, the pair had spent more time talking of topics entirely unrelated to the businessman. And while that was utterly pleasurable for Eddie - finding more about the woman who he continued to fall in love with - he was worried about Rachel, how she was coping, and what her thoughts were surrounding how they were going to handle the Bolton situation.

"Have you thought any more about going to the council?"

It was odd how Rachel felt herself almost jump at the question, given that her and Eddie had been exchanging conversation for the last ten minutes or so. Seemingly his query was a slap in the face for Rachel. She had been doing everything in her power to distract her mind from the obvious debacle with Stuart and Bolton, perhaps not wanting to believe it was really happening. But the fact of the matter was, it was happening, and maybe it was time for Rachel to come at it head on.

Eddie was witness as she swivelled a pen around, chewing her bottom lip before levelling her eyes with his, "I'm unsure about it Eddie. I mean, we don't particularly know what Stuart is capable of…"

"Rachel," they both paused, coming up short of breath as they shared eye contact for what felt like an eternity, when in reality the time scale was mere seconds, "that's just it. We do. He's capable of manipulating teenage boys into what's effectively child labour. He's capable of blackmail, of threats. We can't let him get away with it."

Rachel didn't have to glance up at Eddie as she placed her head in her hands, to know that he knew he had her. It was something she had been toying with herself in the past few days: allow Hordley to somewhat work Bolton and these other lads into the ground, or take the risk with what the man was really capable of? There was no contest really, was there? The pupils welfare would always be at the top of Rachel's agenda.

"No, we can't."

"You're saying we should go to the council?"

"Not necessarily," the second Eddie's brow furrowed, Rachel was aware that she needed to elaborate, "I don't think that's the best way forward Eddie, not yet."

"As far as Stuart knows, his business is ticking along nicely. The second we go to the council, it'll all blow up in his face."

"Are you sure about that?"

Eddie could sense the hesitation colouring Rachel's tone, and parallel to that, he wanted to reassure her. Something Eddie was sure he could do if he put his mind to it.

"Look," he stood up from the sofa, crossed the room slightly towards Rachel's desk before leaning down to her level, "if you're really worried, let me go see Hordley today. Ruffle his feathers a bit."

Apparently his suggestion had the opposite effect, evident with the breath Rachel huffed out, "Eddie…"

"I'm serious Rachel. I think it could work, get him to back off from you before we inform the council."

Even as she wanted to believe him, Rachel couldn't discard the voice in her head, screaming that this was a terrible idea. Especially when she was beginning to care about Eddie more than she'd have ever imagined. The last thing she wanted was her deputy in harm's way.

"I don't want you putting yourself in the line of fire Eddie."

That stopped him for a moment, heart almost exploding upon hearing Rachel's genuine attentiveness, "you wouldn't be. I can handle myself you know," he couldn't help but lighten the atmosphere briefly, elated when Rachel giggled - his comment paying off.

"I know that Eddie."

"So just let me do this. Let Mr Hordley know where he stands."

Wanting nothing more than to lean forwards and melt into Eddie's arms, Rachel fought against this mindset, alternatively nodding in agreement with Eddie's plan. She just had to hope and plead to anyone prepared to listen that it would work.

….

Even as the receptionist told Eddie that Stuart had specifically asked not to be disturbed, there wasn't a cat in hell's chance he was giving up that easily. Especially not when Rachel was relying on him. This had to go to plan - it was the only way.

Putting his pretence into place, it was all too easy to persuade the woman that he was a very important visitor for Stuart Hordley. She obviously wasn't going to allow her boss to miss out by any means.

The man himself was buried in a pile of work as Eddie peered through the glass. A disruption was bound to rile him up, Eddie pondered.

"Mr Hordley," Eddie called out as he entered, the thought of knocking not even crossing his mind. He didn't particularly associate manners with the man in his presence.

The sly smile that Stuart's lips formed into was one that had been far too familiar for Eddie, and more so Rachel - to his dismay.

"Eddie, what a pleasant surprise."

"Let's cut the small talk, Stuart."

"Oh," he paused, laying his hands out on the table, increasing the tension ten fold, "is Rachel getting back into her old profession? Favour for a favour sort of thing. Because I bet you'd love getting into her knickers, wouldn't you?"

Eddie forced himself to do nothing but scoff, even as he felt his fingers twitch. He returned to his old method of unclenching and clenching his fists as a way of stopping them from performing how satisfying it would be to introduce a balled fist to Stuart's nose. How satisfying it would be to knock the man on his arse after everything he'd put Rachel through.

"As of today, I want you to end all contact with Rachel. And you're going to walk away from the new build."

The evil coloured laugh from Stuart was just the start, Eddie knew. He wasn't about to give up that easily. Well, maybe he would reconsider once Eddie had elaborated a little.

"And why on earth would I do that?"

Eddie felt his patience spin out to a final thread, and knew it was close to snapping, "let's talk about child employment regulations. And blackmail."

"Mr Lawson. With all due respect, what is that you're talking about?"

"Rachel's told me everything. You threatening her, forcing her to get that bid for you. You make me sick."

"I don't know what you're talking about. So if you wouldn't mind pissing off, you're starting to irritate me now."

Eddie couldn't help but smirk himself as he brought the dossier of child employment regulations from under his jacket. Bet Mr Hordley hadn't been expecting that, "I think you should see this."

Stuart merely glared at the plastic envelope, adopting a blase attitude whilst not bothering to pay the document any attention. That, Eddie had been anticipating, "what is it?"

"I mentioned a moment ago about employment regulations for young people. If, like yourself, someone breaks those laws. It's unlikely they'll ever work again."

"You're bluffing."

Eddie was taking far too much gratification from making Stuart squirm, leering as he considered how to show the man that this was far from a bluff, "try me."

"I'm not falling for your lies. It's a bluff," Stuart shrugged, appearing unbothered on the surface, but to Eddie, he was starting to look more than a little concerned, "I'll be contacting Rachel as and when I wish. And I have no intention of stopping work on the new build."

"Like I said, try me. Thing is, you don't strike me as the type of bloke that wants to spend a five year stretch in prison for blackmail, along with being unable to work."

That brought Stuart up short, Eddie recognised. He took it as an opportunity to pick up the document and retrace his steps to the door, pausing as he reached it.

"Just as a thought. It's up to you. Leave Rachel alone, or face the consequences."

Eddie didn't allow Stuart the chance to respond as he swung the door open, knowing he was leaving with slight glee etched into his expression. Eddie would consider his little visit as somewhat of a success. He had certainly ruffled Stuart Hordley's feathers.

….

Rachel couldn't deny that her earlier conversation with Eddie following on from his visit to Stuart had set off a spark of hope within her. From the way her deputy had described it, Hordley seemed well and truly rattled. Rachel even allowed herself to believe that she might never have to see him again. Especially once they revealed all to the council. And certainly not with the life changing threat of losing his livelihood, plus spending five years inside.

Even with her newfound positive mind set, Rachel hadn't been able to shake her tendency to jump every time the phone rang or a slight bang was heard. Apparently thanks to Stuart, it was a trait she'd carry for a fair while.

It seemed she wasn't worrying about nothing though, especially when the door to her office opened without warning, revealing an evidently angry Mr Hordley rather than the smiling deputy Rachel had been expecting.

There was something about Stuart's demeanour she certainly didn't like. He looked all too smug for her liking.

"What is it?" the man leered.

Rachel forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat, willing her voice to not sound shaky as she began to speak, "what's what Stuart?"

"What is it about Eddie?" he queried as he half staggered into the office. Stuart was quite obviously intoxicated, a thought which seemed to unnerve Rachel even further, "I wined and dined you. What's so special about him?"

"Stuart… it's not like that and you know it. Eddie and I are colleagues."

Rachel put across the comment through gritted teeth, quashing down the urge to wince at how far from the truth that statement was becoming.

"Colleagues," he sneered as he got far too close for Rachel's liking. At least the desk was in the way, she thought, "I'm not an idiot, Rachel."

"I would like you to leave, Stuart."

"You get your cronie off my back, or watch your own. Because you don't know what I'm capable of, Rachel."

It was impossible to look past the way her heart began to race at Stuart's words, all Rachel longed to do was curl up into a ball and disappear from this unfortunate predicament she found herself in.

She felt as though she couldn't move a single muscle, heart beating a mile a minute as she became increasingly aware of Stuart's eyes boring into her.

Rachel just knew that she had never been more pleased to hear the door swing open, even more so when Eddie took the third presence in the room.

The effect was automatic - Rachel felt… relaxed almost. All tension leaked out of her as she made eye contact with her deputy, not missing his mixed look of concern for her and anger towards Stuart.

"I'm sure we had a deal Stuart. That you would stay away from Rachel."

The man in question swivelled round in an instant, "I made no deals."

"Well maybe you should rethink that. Because this is all starting to get rather tiresome isn't it?"

Stuart scoffed, a noise which sent shivers running through Rachel, pushing her towards the edge once more.

"I bet it'd be tiresome working for her if she wasn't a two bit hooker," Stuart glanced back at Rachel briefly, "I bet that's why you stayed after finding out."

All of a sudden Rachel could predict what was coming next, even as she fought against the thoughts about what Stuart had just said in her brain. Eddie wouldn't be able to stop himself now.

Eddie's fist crashed down on Stuart's lip, his bubbling fury taking over any other emotion. He was glad when the motion caused the bloke to stumble backwards, glad that he'd been able to defend Rachel.

Rachel would be lying if she said a thrill hadn't run through her upon watching him punch Hordley, stand up for her in such a way. She rose, not particularly knowing what was to come next.

For Eddie, there was only one thing left to say, "if you wouldn't mind pissing off Hordley. You're starting to irritate us now."

Rachel found that, as her and Eddie walked side by side through the school, she only regretted one thing about the previous conversation. Not kissing her deputy.