Hi everyone I'm finally back I'm so sorry for the long delays I just hit writers block and nearly gave up but hopefully this chapter makes sense and you all enjoy it. If your still sticking with this story thank you ever so much and as always I appreciate any reviews :) thanks again for reading!
Michelle stretched in her chair hissing in satisfaction as her back cracked and her muscles flexed; she hadn't moved in what felt like hours. Turning the monitor off in front of her she sighed relieved that the day was at a close leaning back in her chair Michelle couldn't believe the events of the day. Having Frank waltz back into Carla's factory pretending like everything had been one big misunderstanding had infuriated Michelle beyond belief. That sick twisted man had managed to unnerve and unsettle Carla once more just as she had seemed to be slowly adjusting back to normality now her demon had the gall to walk in here as if he was the victim. Michelle had never felt hatred so strong towards anyone and she had lost her temper many a time. Not even her hatred for Paul after she found out he was the one who was driving the night which killed Dean had left her feeling so riled with hatred.
Glancing at the clock on the wall Michelle was shocked to see that it was already half past eight she had told Carla she would stop and organise the invoices ready to submit to the accountant for the company year end. Carla had vehemently protested at her stopping alone to do the tedious task but Michelle had kindly pointed out that after the shock that day Carla really wasn't in any fit state to sit and concentrate on the figures. Carla had still looked unsure but Michelle had reasoned that with Frank declaring himself out from 3 o clock she would be able to barricade herself in the office and immerse herself in the task at hand. Also it gave Michelle a chance to have some time to herself and away from the current object of her affection this way she could relax in the peace and quiet and then be relaxed for when she was with Carla later. Smiling to herself at Carla's promise of having a glass of red and a hot bath waiting for her on her return to the flat Michelle quickly started to gather the papers strewn across her desk.
As she picked up the invoice binder to file away she heard the factory door open and footsteps echo on the factory floor. Chuckling Michelle turned fully expecting to see Carla in the doorway tutting at her still being here despite saying she would be done by nine at the latest.
"You don't have to come and drag me home I was just tidying up" Michelle's smiley expression quickly dropped and was replaced by loathing as the person at the door revealed themselves. Frank turned after closing the door and with eyes as cold as ice and a voice to match he gestured to the chair behind Michelle's desk "I think me and you need to have a one to one Michelle don't you think?"
Carla sat on her couch pyjamas on and a glass of wine in her hand. She was absently swirling the wine around in the glass while watching the deep burgundy liquid inch higher up the side on each turn. Her body felt tired and sore but her mind was active mulling over the day's events over and over. Frank had made his appearance and now she had to deal with it. It had come as a shock him sitting so comfortably in her chair behind her desk and the sense of normalcy he exuded threatened to overcome her. If she was honest with herself his appearance hadn't really been unexpected. She knew once he had been found not guilty it was only a matter of time before he wormed his way back into her life and what better way than to appear at the factory the place where she couldn't physically remove him from. He knew that she couldn't refuse to work with him with him being co owner but the factory was her lifeline the one thing she had been fighting for ever since Paul died and maybe even before. It pained her that he; the evil manipulative monster owned such a stake in the one constant presence in her life. Now though, at home relaxed, thinking back over the day the conflict she had first felt at his presence had eased and she found herself not allowing the fear or distress to linger in her mind. With Michelle by her side she knew she could fight him stay calm, collected, in control and she knew this would infuriate more than anything else in the world. If Frank had come back to see a broken, beaten shell of a woman then he was going to be sadly mistaken. Suddenly smiling Carla leant back into the cushion and took a sip of the drink relishing the sweet taste without automatically wanting more. No if Frank had come back to break her he was going to have one hell of a battle on his hands.
"What are you doing here Frank?" Michelle folded hers arms in front of her and tried to hold an air of cool indifference she didn't want him to know how he affected her even in anger she didn't want him to gain the satisfaction.
Slowly moving towards her Frank tutted and shook his head "I've just told you what I want Michelle this is going to take a long time if you are going to carry on with the stupid questions" coming to a halt in front of her he smiled and gestured to the chair at her desk "Why don't we sit down get more comfortable".
Settling down on the desk in front of Michelle Frank felt the heady rush of power flow over him watching Michelle struggling to stay in control, not succumb to her fear was intoxicating. His senses felt heightened and he felt himself become aroused as his eyes roamed over the woman in front of him. Her beauty, he felt, was not as striking as his Carla's but he could understand the attraction all the same they were similar in the fact of their glossy dark hair, expressive eyes and olive skin. They both had gorgeous bodies while Carla was more slender Michelle had a more impressive bust. He felt another shot of arousal as his eyes roamed across her she was a beautiful little thing but more importantly she was also Carla's most treasured possession something which Frank longed to take if it meant his happiness with Carla went undisturbed. Shaking himself from those thoughts he turned his attention back to the matter in hand.
"Now Michelle I think me and you need to come to an understanding" smirking Frank continued "You seem to be the only thing standing between what I ultimately want and I don't think I need to tell you what that it is do I?"
Michelle's lip curled "Carla" smiling more broadly Frank nodded "Yes. Carla. You see I think she would be more receptive to me if you weren't quite so predominantly in the picture" he looked to Michelle waiting for an outburst but she seemed to be keeping quiet "I think that you are tainting Carla's thoughts against me you see before our unfortunate incident we were in love to be married and I want more than anything for that to be the case as it should be"
"So Frank what you're saying is if I spent less time with Carla you could let's say win back Carla's affection?" Michelle's voice was calm and collected Frank was surprised at how well their conversation was going he actually felt slight disappointment at her calm demeanour "Well yes that's exactly what I'm saying".
Michelle snorted derisively and began to laugh "You really are fucking deluded aren't you she was in love with Peter" shaking her head Michelle continued "Carla never wanted you, never loved you it was also Peter. As she couldn't have him you were the easy option you doted on her you were dependable she used you Frank end of story".
Frank felt the rage instantly at Michelle's words it coursed through his veins at lightning speed and he wanted nothing more than to wipe the mocking sneer of Michelle's face. Within moments he had jumped up from the desk and gripped Michelle's chair in his hands his face inches from hers. This close he could see the very real fear in her eyes that she was obviously trying and failing to suppress.
"What you going to do Frank rape me an all?" the words were harsh but her voice wavered and Frank felt an inner victory that he could reduce the usually so feisty Connor into a fearful state.
"No" Frank leaned back and perched on the desk once more "not unless you want a good fucking from a well endowed man" Frank's eyes gleamed "You know something to take your mind off your recent inner turmoil" he watched Michelle's face drain of colour her jaw slackened and her eyes shone with disbelief.
"Wh.. wh.. what do you mean"
"Now Michelle let's not start asking stupid questions not when we've been getting along so well." Frank stood up slowly accentuating his every move and slowly turned the lock on the door to the office. The resounding click echoed in the deafening silence and Michelle struggled to choke down the fear that was creeping up from her stomach.
"You won't frighten me Frank stop with games what do you want from me?" Frank stayed facing the door his eyes locked on Michelle's reflection in the glass inside he was filled with excitement and anticipation as he continued to play on Michelle's fear.
"Stand up" he whispered, Michelle thought about defying him but she was now feeling the fear increase with each passing second Frank's calm demeanour was unsettling and she quickly stood slowly pushing the chair under the desk.
"You think you can take from me what's rightfully mine you think you can keep her away from me for your own selfish reasons"
"Selfish reasons!? You raped her you sick bastard! I'm not keeping her away she's keeping herself away so that she doesn't have to deal with any more abuse" Michelle's voice was loud and hysterical the fear and anger obvious.
"No Michelle Carla loves me, only me. She will never love anyone else not Peter, not you just me" Michelle took a step towards the man in front of her trying to gain some control over the situation.
"Carla loves me Frank I'm her best friend you'll never take that away from us" Michelle smirked knowing her words would irritate. Slowly Frank turned around his smile sinister and Michelle felt her smile falter "No? How will Carla react when she realise her best friend dreams about her, lusts after her! When she comes to the conclusion that all that time you've been helping her you've just been trying to worm your way into her affections!" Michelle gasped and tears built in her eyes she never wanted anyone to find out about her tormented thoughts and now the worst person she could think of knew her darkest secret.
"No! I love her anyway as a friend she'll never believe you ..how is this happening ... and ... how did you find out?" Franks smug smile was firmly back in place and he took a step forward to Michelle who physically cowed her breath still coming in short gasps.
"I overhead you both before talking in here I tucked myself out of sight when I heard your conversation. At first I wasn't sure if I what I heard was true I mean come on its the most absurd thing I've ever heard you and Carla! But you, you've just admitted it I was merely speculating!" Frank's laughter echoed around the office his glee at Michelle's horror shining from his face.
"I heard her say how perfect you'd be if you were actually together how you'd be the perfect couple must have killed you listening to her laugh like it was a big joke! Not to you though is it Michelle".
Michelle couldn't help the tears from rolling down her face "Please don't tell her I can't lose her please" Frank revelled in the torment he was causing the woman in front of him "No Michelle I'm not going to tell her but only if you behave. If you stay clear, stop interfering and leave me to work my charm once more with the woman I love I'll not tell her". Michelle's legs gave in from underneath and she fell to the ground "I can't... I can't leave her she's so terrified of you I can't leave her on her own to deal with her demons" in a flash Frank flung out his arm and grabbed a handful of Michelle's hair "Now listen to me you will do as your told otherwise me and Carla will be having a chat and you will lose her from your life" wrenching his hand he sent Michelle tumbling into the desk. Slowly he took his suit jacket up and rolling up his sleeves Frank advanced upon Michelle delighting in her trembling form.
"Now Michelle I'm going to teach you a lesson for lusting after my fiancé. I and I only can ever have those thoughts"
The bath had gone cold the candles burning low in the glass holders Carla glanced once again at the clock 9:30. Michelle had promised she would be back by nine surely it couldn't take this long for her to complete the invoicing. Carla had left at 6 and there hadn't seemed to be much more to do maybe a couple of hours at the most. Carla tried Michelle's mobile once more and again it went straight to voicemail dozy mare bet it's no battery again. Carla tried her best to stay calm she chided herself for becoming worked up at one point she'd would have laughed at the thought of Michelle getting so caught up in work but at the moment with Frank she couldn't stop the anxiety from creeping in. Frank hadn't been happy to see Michelle back in the factory and Carla worried that he could have confronted Michelle and an argument ensued she didn't want her having to deal with him when it wasn't her fault in the first place.
Carla's mind went in to overdrive as she thought about Frank and what he could do to Michelle the thought of her having to suffer at his hands through the same ordeal as herself filled her full of dread. Her heart turned to ice and her body became awash in panic as her chest tightly constricted. Michelle was the most precious thing in the world to her without her Carla realised she would be nothing. Michelle made her life bearable, made what she had been through liveable, had made her want to carry on and prove that she was stronger that she wouldn't be reduced to nothing by Frank Foster. Such was the intensity of the rush of emotions that washed over her as she pictured Michelle Carla felt a flicker of discontent at her feelings. What did Michelle really mean to her? Sure she was her best friend, sister in law employee but surely the feelings she had ran deeper than the normal levels of affection you felt towards people holding those positions in your life. Carla began to probe this train of thought and the feeling of uneasiness increased. Did you usually crave the touch of your best friend? Michelle's cuddles and strong embraces had been one of the reasons that she had made it through some of those first dark days after the overdose. Her embrace always made her feel settled, loved and secure safe against the evil and pain that was the world around her. Carla wrapped her arms around herself instantly wishing they were Michelle's as she continued to ponder. Michelle's smile could lighten her heart even in her darkest moments could bring her from the haunted recesses of her mind when she was reliving painful memories. Her happiness meant more to Carla that her own and with that thought Carla bolted her body became rigid and her eyes widened in shock. The only other person in her life who Carla had valued their happiness above her own had been Liam and Liam had been and to an extent still was the love of her life. Carla gasped as this train of thought flashed across her mind and the realisation hit her like a tonne weight, yes she had always loved Michelle in some way but when had the line become blurred of loving her like a sister and just loving her? Was she in love with Michelle? Course she'd always found her attractive she was beautiful she had envied her good looks and gorgeous personality since the day she met her but that didn't mean she was attracted to her did it? Almost unwillingly an image of Michelle appeared in her mind of her sat at her desk today. She was dressed in a fitted white shirt and black pencil skirt each item hugging her figure perfectly she had paired her outfit with black tights and short black ankle boots. The image shifted slightly replaying to Carla the image of Michelle on the phone to a client the phone cord wrapped loosely between her fingers as she laughed and flirted gently at the person on the phone. God she was sexy when she did that. The memory of her laugh echoed in Carla's mind and she felt a small feeling of arousal settle in the pit of her stomach. Carla's mind was firmly stuck relieving different images of Michelle in each one Carla couldn't help but admire her friends body, her posture, the way she carried herself, that gorgeous smile. Carla was entranced her body began to tingle and she could feel herself become aroused.
Whoa need to stop this right now! Shaking her head free from these alarming images she struggled to break free from the fog that was her swirling thoughts. Michelle would be horrified is she knew what had just been running through her mind and Carla felt slightly dirty and ashamed at the thought. Focusing her mind once more on what could be keeping Michelle held up Carla sighed and went to refill her wine glass glancing at the clock she made a decision leave it until 10 o clock then she was going to the factory.
"Bet you would have preferred the fucking wouldn't you Michelle?" Frank towered above her curled up form and sneered "But as you have probably guessed I'm a one woman man I despise womanisers" Michelle murmured in response and tilted her head to look Frank dead in the eye. Frank's smile grew as he looked at his handiwork Michelle's lip was split blood dripping down her chin onto her white shirt a bruise was starting to form on her cheek and her left eye was swelling shut. "I'm sorry Michelle you'll have to speak up I can't hear you" Michelle winced as she pulled herself up by holding onto the desk. Her stomach was sore and she winced as she brought a hand down to her ribs.
"I said because of course you're so much better, a rapist and a woman beater such a cut above" Michelle stared at Frank refusing to drop her gaze he had already beaten her, taken great delight when she couldn't stop the gasps of pain, what more could he do?
"No need for name calling Michelle. Now about our little 'altercation' we mustn't have Carla finding out" Michelle started to laugh hysterically it rang out in the confined room echoing of the walls "Are you mad? I live with her I think she might notice these" gesturing to her face she continued "And just what am I going to tell her eh?!".
Frank turned to the door and took his suit jacket that he had hung there slipping it on and straightening his tie he replied his face a picture of calm "You were mugged" Michelle scoffed "Yeah like she'll believe that she's not stupid you know" advancing slowly on Michelle once more he crouched down resting on his heels as he looked directly into her eyes
"Make her believe because let's put it this way if you don't make her believe you and she gets any inclining this is me, and believe me I'm sure I'll hear about it, I will expose your sordid secret" with once last satisfied smirk Frank grabbed his coat and headed out of the office turning back as he got to the doorway he called out "And hurry Michelle the clocks ticking she'll be turning up here soon" as soon as the door shut Michelle let the tears fall that had been threatening since he had first arrived oh god what am I going to do?.
Hope that didn't disappoint :)