Chapter 4

The Mercedes drove off towards Mara Lodge. Alice climbed the steps up towards the house, a radiant smile covering her face. The day had been absolutely perfect – she'd been able to relax for the first time in absolutely ages and forget about all the humdrum stuff that had been getting her down. Not only that, Simon had spoiled her rotten, which had boosted her self-esteem enormously. She felt really good about herself.

Alice hadn't spotted Danny standing in the far right-hand corner of the veranda watching her. He tentatively approached her, trying to gauge her mood.

"Alice?" he asked passively.

She was still really cross with Danny about his behaviour the previous night and being pretty stubborn, she was going to let him sweat a little longer. If she'd been aware of how he was feeling at that moment she would have relented there and then, but she wasn't and so she continued where she had left off the previous evening.

"Look Danny, I'm really busy. I'm meeting Simon at Fatani's Bar in an hour and I need to get ready," she replied brusquely, "I'd ask you to come but you made it very clear last night that you didn't want to have anything to do with him, so I'll leave you to get on with your work."

She flounced off into the house, without giving him a second glance.

Danny had wanted to apologise for his conduct last night and his less than attentive behaviour in the past few weeks, but Alice had just cut him dead. He began to brood over what she had just said and what he had just witnessed. She wanted to meet Simon alone and their body language had been over-familiar. Danny's mind began to work overtime. He hadn't really been listening when Alice had explained who Simon was - he had been too pre-occupied with the chaos in the study. He thought Alice had said they were old friends from Uni. Perhaps he was an ex-boyfriend? Perhaps he was Charlotte's father! Perhaps she'd never stopped loving him and they'd slept together today?

Alice placed her rings on the bedside table before getting in the shower. There wasn't a trap on the plughole and she didn't want to lose them if they accidently came off whilst she washed. She didn't fancy having to retrieve them from the Septic Tank! She noticed the inscription inside her engagement ring and felt a surge of emotion well up in her. Danny could be a stubborn, insensitive old so and so, but she loved him.

The front door slammed loudly as Alice left to get her taxi. She hadn't even said goodbye. Danny sat in the study typing in the last of the census data. It had to be completed and e-mailed before tomorrow or else he would be penalised. He had no choice. Leopard's Den couldn't afford a 10,000 Rand fine. He was desperate to finish so he could go to Fatani's and show Alice he did still care.

Danny showered and dressed in double quick time. He'd be at the bar by just after 10.00 p.m., if he put his foot down. He reached over to pick his watch off the bedside table and was disturbed by what he saw - Alice's wedding and engagement rings. She wasn't wearing them tonight. Was it an oversight or had she deliberately removed them?

They weren't at Fatani's bar when he arrived. The place was overridden with inebriated young twenty-something women dressed in pink tutus and feather boas. One of them was wearing 'L' plates. A Hen party! No wonder Alice and Simon had left. They'd probably gone up to Mara instead.

As he approached the complex, he spotted them walking from the bar towards the luxury suites. Although it was now dark, Danny was able to see that they were arm-in-arm. Simon opened the door and ushered Alice in quickly. She didn't hesitate. Simon glanced around suspiciously, as if he was trying to hide something, and closed the door firmly behind him.

Danny sat there traumatised by what he thought he had just witnessed. It was as if someone had just torn out his heart and ripped it into a thousand tiny pieces.

The coffee maker was on. Simon watched Alice preparing the cups. His eyes followed the curves of her body in her tight black jeans and figure-hugging turquoise camisole. They'd both had a little too much to drink and he figured, now she was in his room, it was the ideal opportunity to make his move.

"Come here!" he ordered playfully, patting his hand on the edge of the bed.

Alice giggled and did exactly as she had been told.

Simon stared at her wide-eyed. She was so incredibly beautiful. He'd always thought they were meant to be together. He wanted to kiss her luscious lips. He wanted to run his fingers down her swan-like neck. He wanted to…..

Alice looked at him closely. He was devilishly handsome and rich to boot. She'd always had a thing about him at Uni.

He put his hand up gently to her face and drew her towards him. He kissed her lightly on the lips and she kissed him back. He kissed her more forcefully, so she responded with equal measure. He slid his hand up her t-shirt and began to fondle her breast roughly.

Alice suddenly sobered up. What was she doing? These weren't the sweet, passionate, loving kisses she wanted. This wasn't the gentle, intimate touch she was used to. This wasn't the man she wanted to make love to her.

"No, I can't……………" she uttered feeling absolutely wretched, "I love Danny. I don't want anyone else. I don't need anyone else".

Tears were streaming down her face as she grabbed her possessions and ran out of the room.

Alice stumbled blindly down the path. She couldn't think straight. She wanted Danny. She needed him to come and wrap his arms around her and tell her it was going to be okay. She slumped in a sobbing heap at the bottom of the path. She'd nearly betrayed him.