I am so sorry for the delay work is hectic at the moment and I feel like I'm running out of steam especially while there are no Carla/Michelle moments at the mo! If you are still interested and want me to continue with this please review and let me know as i feel I'm struggling to keep the ball rolling at the minute. Anyway complaining over please enjoy ...
"Mrs Connor, Mrs Connor I've been trying to get hold of you both all morning"
Hayley was out of breath by the time she had reached the bottom of the factory steps. As Hayley caught her breath Carla looked at Michelle she imagined her face was a reflection of Michelle's bewildered expression and she turned back to face Hayley.
"Why what's the matter?" Hayley took a deep breath and looked Carla straight in the eye knowing the devastation her next words would cause "Mr Foster is back". Carla felt a chill run through her body and settle in the pit of her stomach she grasped at Michelle's hand and struggled to maintain her composure and keep her voice steady.
"What do you mean he's back?" Hayley wrung her hands and looked for support from Michelle "He's here in the office as well as his staff" Hayley looked at the floor as Carla stared at her in shock. Michelle looked from Hayley to Carla and back again, squaring her shoulders she squeezed Carla's hand and nodded to Hayley "Right well we'll see about this come on Car" Hayley smiled and nodded while Carla attempted to keep her emotions in check there was no way she was going to let that bastard know that he had such a negative effect on her.
Striding through the machinists Carla noticed the divide between the workers Sean especially glaring down Frank's staff a look of repulse on his face. Inwardly Carla smiled at his loyalty she had always liked Sean and was grateful for his support. As they neared the door Carla took a deep steadying breath and she felt Michelle tighten the grip on her hand letting her know she had an ally in what was to come. Knowing that if she waited too long she would never gain the courage Carla flung the office door open instantly coming face to face with the cold calculating expression that was primarily Frank Foster. With his eyes burning into her gaze Carla glanced around the office and noticed that as well as Frank there were two other occupants in the room. She sneered as she noticed Sally and Anne two more tormentors she had had to endure the last two months.
"What do you think you are doing here" Carla's voice was deadly and she fixated on the filing cabinet behind Franks head so she wouldn't have to look at the cocky smirk that he was currently giving "Well why would I stay at my other premises when these are so much more adequate" with his gaze fixed on Carla Frank continued "We're business partners Carla surely you hadn't forgotten" Carla felt Michelle bristle at his words as she took a step forward.
"You have no right being here especially after what you have done" Frank turned his attention to Michelle looking irritated that she had jumped into his torment of Carla "You can call of the guard dog Carla we don't want anyone sued for slander or the spreading of vicious lies" Frank's smirk grew as Michelle physically shook with rage. "Yes you leave Frank alone he is innocent maybe you should start ignoring the harlot beside you who is so obviously tainting you with her vicious lies" Anne moved closer to Frank and placed her hand on his shoulder as she tried to stare Michelle down.
"Vicious lies! You stand there and tell me to ignore Carla maybe you should stop for a moment pull your head out of your own backside and recognise that your son's a flamin' rapist" Ann visibly shook at Michelle's words and Sally's condescending tone rang out in the office as she placed a comforting hand to Anne's arm "Take no notice of this one Anne she's as blind to Carla's ways as the rest of the Connors. If she carries on I'm sure she'll meet a sticky end poor Paul and Liam did thanks to Carla" Michelle lunged at Sally arms flailing desperate to wipe the smugness from her face and Carla quickly grabbed hold of Michelle's forearms stopping her in her tracks.
"Enough" Frank's voice cut through the commotion "We don't want any of this trouble not when we're trying to start again a new beginning of sorts" As Frank chuckled Carla tried to quell her emotions looking at the man who had taken everything from her sitting there so calmly like the innocent victim had her in torment the unfairness of the situation rang in her ears and she struggled not to cry with frustration.
"Well Carla I'm sure you need some space while you organise things in here so we'll get out of your way" Frank got up and motioned for his mum and Sally to follow "Permanently would be nice" Michelle's tone was bitter and she roughly pulled herself free of Carla's grasp making sure to jab her elbow into Sally as she walked past out of the door. Frank's face contorted slightly then relaxed "Seriously Carla you need to keep that on a short lease otherwise someone might have to put it down" picking up the files of the desk Frank calmly swept out of the office making sure to brush past Carla on his way out. At Carla's tremble he smirked and Michelle's temper struck "Get out" Frank turned slowly and looked Michelle straight in the eye. Resting his hand on Carla's shoulder and again smirking at the uncontrollable gasp and shudder he whispered "I won't be long" with one last squeeze of his hand he slowly backed away.
As the office door closed to Michelle erupted "Call your solicitor this is harassment how dare he touch you, invade your space the sick twisted bast-"
"Chelle! Please I need to think" holding her hands to her head Carla tried to organise her thoughts and stop the nauseous feeling that had bubbled into her stomach at Frank's touch and memories of that night. "Well we need to do something you can't work with him" Michelle gently eased Carla into her chair and sat down on the arm pulling Carla to her and gently placing her head to Carla's. "I can't do anything though can I" tears welled in Carla's eyes as she tried to grasp the situation "The jury found him not guilty he can do whatever he pleases what rights do I have now" Carla looked at Michelle desperate for an answer; an answer that Michelle couldn't give no matter how much she wanted to.
Michelle felt the tugging of her heart at the look of complete hopelessness on Carla's face, nothing pained her more than seeing the distress and hurt so obvious in Carla. She knew in an instant if she could swap places, she would no questions asked. Feeling Carla slowly creep her hands under her coat her heart clenched painfully again as Carla's hands slowly wrapped into her blouse clutching tightly. Michelle's grip on Carla's shoulders tightened and she slowly began to rock them both back and forth while making shushing noises to try and ease the woman in her arms.
How long they sat there Michelle didn't know but Carla's breathing had evened out and her body had slumped against her side. As if coming to the same conclusion Carla slowly began to remove her hands from Michelle as she gently untangled her hands Michelle felt her fingers brush against the underside of her breast and she had to fight back the involuntary shudder that threatened to break over her body. Disgusted with herself Michelle made a point of pulling back abruptly her skin still tingled where Carla's touch had ghosted and she needed to get a grip of herself a non to easy feat had she have kept Carla so close to her person. Shrugging slightly at the bemused look on Carla's face Michelle looked around the office her focus settling on the door.
"I'm sorry 'Chelle" alarmed Michelle's head whipped around anxious to know what Carla was apologising for "Everything gets put on you doesn't it" breathing a sigh of relief Michelle shook her head "Oh love don't be silly that's what I'm here" shaking her head slightly at Michelle Carla took a deep breath and continued "Sally's right I'm a walking disaster 'Chelle you should get out while you can. Paul, Liam, there dead because of yours truly my nickname should be the black bleedin' widow".
Michelle scooted closer and perched on Carla's desk "Shame your curse didn't continue with Foster really" giggling Michelle took Carla's hand in her own trying to inject some humour into her friend "I mean it 'Chelle every business partner I have I end up in bed with how desperate is that then I wonder why their trouble it's all too easy to fall in bed with them then when the shit hits the fan I complain" pausing Carla tried to keep her emotions in check "No wonder people look at me like I'm the devil incarnate; queen bitch that's what they say and when they look at me with disdain in their expressions I know what they're thinking" Carla's eye became wet with unshed tears an she whispered the word as if it pained her "slag".
Throwing caution and restraint out of the window Michelle leant forward and captured Carla's face in her hands "You are the most gorgeous beautiful woman I know inside and out" gently tucking her hair behind her ear Michelle continued "Yeah you've had your moments picking men but there were nout wrong with our Paul an Liam even though it pains me to say it!" smiling as Carla chuckled softly Michelle relaxed glad that Carla was coming back around "Anybody would be lucky to be wiht you I know if it were up to me I'd have you in an instant" realising what she had said Michelle stifled a gasp of horror worry ran through her body and she looked down at the floor terrified of meeting Carla's gaze "Yeah shame we both like our men really Michelle; were like an old married couple most of the time anyway you never know we could have been a match made in heaven!" Michelle's head shot up and she began to stutter as her brain started to try and formulate a response "Your face! Chill out babe I'm only kiddin'".
Still laughing Carla grabbed her makeup from her handbag and slowly stood up "How do you always make me feel so much better eh?" Michelle shrugged her shoulders slowly trying to hold back tears that were threatening to build at Carla's words "Well somehow you do it every time I'd be a mess without you babe." Carla leant forward and brushed her lips against Michelle's cheek an action that took Michelle everything in her power not to just raise her head and meet those perfect soft lips with her own "Just nipping ladies need to get my war paint back on" as Carla left Michelle's head fell forward onto her hands just as a single tear rolled down her cheek "Heaven we could be god Car' I love you what am I going to do?."
Carla didn't see Michelle's crestfallen expression nor did she hear Michelle's mumbled response and neither Carla nor Michele saw the figure standing near the entrance in the shadows but unfortunately for them he had seen and heard everything.