I know it has been an incredibly long time since I updated this story and really I have no excuse for being this long it simply has been a case of life and work getting in the way and I apologise sincerely to everyone. I am hoping to be able to now continue and I hope that if anyone is still interested that they enjoy this chapter and as always please let me know what you think...
Michelle stumbled into the toilets, blindly banged into the cubicle door and dropped to her knees as her chest burned. Her stomach felt like molten lava and her lungs felt as if they were being eaten by flames. Coughing hard Michelle struggled to breath and she wretched violently holding her head over the porcelain she felt her stomach heave and the contents splatter into the bowl. Leaning her head back weakly against the wall Michelle tried to steady her breath as she wiped her mouth and the tears from her cheeks. She had felt steadily worse the last couple of days her chest ached with every movement she took and she was crippled with tiredness. So far she had managed to hide her condition from Carla but she knew it wouldn't be long before she became suspicious. She couldn't eat she couldn't sleep and she didn't know how much longer she could carry on the hospital though was out of the question. Since her "accident" Frank had been missing from the factory which Michelle had been nothing but grateful for but she was dreading his return and she knew it would be soon. Michelle knew that if he found about her and Carla he would surely find another way to hurt them and as he ultimately wanted Carla as the future Mrs Frank Foster Michelle knew she would be the one removed from the picture permanently.
Standing up slowly Michelle flushed the toilet and made her way to the sinks. Filling the bowl with hot water Michelle looked at herself closely in the mirror and balked at the sight. The cuts on her face had started to heal and the swelling around her eye had all but disappeared. The bruise though had not faded and the deep purple marring stood out predominantly against her pale skin. When she had arrived into work that morning the staff had been shocked, they had heard about her accident but her injuries stood out glaringly, Hayley had fussed solidly for about 20 minutes until one pleading look from Carla had her arranging a morning full of work for the concerned supervisor. She had made sure to stick to the same story not allowing them to ask questions that might throw up any inconsistencies or cause her to trip up. Carla had fussed over her the whole time she had been in the office convinced she shouldn't be pushing herself back to work deep down Michelle knew she shouldn't be here she really wasn't well but at the thought of Carla being shut in the office with that monster her body burned with jealousy. She knew with her not being here Frank would step up his game with Carla and Michelle couldn't stand the thought of him touching "her" Carla not after she had witnessed firsthand what damage those hands could cause.
Washing her face gently Michelle tried to strengthen her façade she really couldn't risk anyone sussing out the extent of the pain she was silently enduring. Wincing she carefully dabbed her face and tried to smile hoping that by the time she got back to her desk she would look more human than she did now. Slowly making her way back towards the office Michelle noted the factory floor was empty and realised all the workforce must have left for lunch she let out a small sigh of relief as she let herself hunch over slightly immediately feeling the pain ease. Staggering to the office door she took a deep breath and straightened up she could easily manage to hold herself tall from the doorway until her desk it wasn't that far. Opening the door and marching forward Michelle's breath caught as she noticed Carla locked in a heated discussion with none other than the man himself Frank. Repressing the urge to shudder Michelle looked at him closely he looked no different than he any other day and she snorted internally at her own stupidity she didn't really know what she expected from him a sign of remorse or guilt upon his features but there was nothing. He looked as he usually did like the perfect businessman with his carefully pressed suit, clean shaven face and the ever present confident smirk.
"Nice of you to join us Michelle" so engrossed in her thoughts she hadn't noticed Carla and frank stop their discussion they were both facing her waiting for her comment.
"I'd love to say the same Frank but that would be lying now wouldn't it. My mummy taught me not to lie obviously your mother never taught you that valuable lesson" Michelle smirked as Carla chuckled and Franks smirk faltered ever so slightly settling into her chair she tried not to let any sign of her discomfort show in her facial expression she would not give him the satisfaction of knowing how sore she was.
"I can imagine you've told some tall tales in your lifetime Michelle I think it's a bit much you preaching to me about honesty-"
"Oh shut up Frank" Carla's temper snapped and she shook her head in despair "Considering how you keep banging on about us working together maybe you need to learn to keep your unwanted opinions to yourself"
Frank scowled at Michelle one final time then hastily arranged his face into his usual arrogant smirk "You're right Carla I'm sorry forgive me Michelle I didn't mean to give you such a verbal battering"
Michelle's head snapped upwards at his choice of words Franks eyes gleamed he knew she had grasped his hidden meaning in his words reminding her of what he had done and what he could still go. Michelle smiled it pained her but she would carry on his little game for now
"Let's just move on shall we" Frank moved and sat behind his desk and Michelle gestured to the appointment book as Carla handed it over a look of puzzlement on her face as she looked between Frank and Michelle there seemed to be something different there but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.
"The appointment with Mr Robinson is still on today Carla but he has pushed it back until half past two his other meeting is running late and he said he didn't want us to be left waiting."
"Is the appointment here or at his place?" Chewing on the end of her pen lid Carla was doodling on her pad while awaiting Michelle's response "At his factory he wanted us to have a look at his new material samples"
Frank's head turned as he listened to their conversation and his tone turned sour "Us?"
Carla sighed exasperated "Yes Frank as in me and 'Chelle the appointment has been arranged for weeks I'm not changing it just because you decided to waltz back in here"
"I wasn't getting at the fact that I wasn't invited what I was getting at is the fact that Michelle currently looks like the victim of domestic violence. No offence Michelle but what type of company do we look like when we send a black and bruised employee to a meeting we'll look like we're running a sweat shop. To be honest Carla I can't believe you let her come in here today I mean look at the state of her!" Frank gestured wildly in Michelle's direction and Carla sighed she hadn't wanted Michelle to come to work today but she had insisted she couldn't very well tie her to the bed and demand she stay put. Glancing at Michelle's bruised face she reluctantly agreed that she could see Franks point for appearances sake it wouldn't look good taking Michelle.
"Ok ok I see your point" as Michelle opened her mouth to protest Carla quickly cut her off "Don't argue you know as well as I do that you're not up to a meeting and Frank unfortunately is right I'll go on my own and that's the end of it."
Frank smirked at Michelle behind Carla's back and then turned to Carla quickly slipping into his concerned facade "Are you sure you'll be alright on your own Carla? Wouldn't want you to lose a supplier because you feel overwhelmed on your own" his tone grated on Carla's nerves and she struggled to keep hold of her temper
"I'll be fine thank you Frank I have no need for your input at the meeting and I'll be happier for having an afternoon with you out of sight." Michelle smiled triumphantly at Carla thoroughly putting Frank in his place he really was more disturbed than she gave him credit for if he still believed he could ever turn Carla's opinion of him around.
Frank huffed and settled into scowling at his computer screen instead which only intensified as he heard Michelle and Carla relax into their care free chit chat he could have been invisible to them and he didn't like it one little bit. He liked to be fussed around the centre of attention all the woman around him to pander to his every need and attention at the moment he felt like a spare part stuck in the corner out of the loop and it made him squirm with irritation Michelle he decided was surely deluded to think that this could carry on being the norm he wasn't going to sit quietly in the shadows waiting to be taken on.
Standing theatrically he gestured to the kitchen it was unusually quiet and he looked around shocked when he noticed that the factory floor was empty glancing at the clock he was surprised that it was already half past one and none of the workers had returned. "I've given them a long lunch today Frank they have more than earned it they'll be back in 15" Carla didn't even look at him as she spoke grunting with irritation he snatched his cup from his desk and marched out of the office slamming the door as he went inwardly smirking at Michelle's shudder. When he returned 5 minutes later the office was empty puzzled he placed his cup down and wandered back out to the factory floor. Scowling gently he marched over to the toilets and was surprised when he nearly knocked Michelle over who was exiting them sluggishly.
"My my what's wrong with you hmm are your injuries playing up? What a shame the bastard who did it is still roaming free" Frank smirked sadistically all the while feeling empowered as the feisty Connor shuddered with a fearful expression on her face "Now where's Carla?"
"She's gone to pick up some sandwiches before she sets off for this meeting" nodding thoughtfully Frank motioned for her to continue "I hope your happy I'm not going by the way is this how it's going to be you never letting us be alone together?"
"Well yes. There is no longer a reason for you being present at client meetings I will accompany Carla as co owner and you my dear will stand down quietly" Frank noticed that Michelle was about to angrily retaliate and he surged forwards slamming her body against the wall rejoicing at the pained groan that escaped her.
"I warned you stay away from what is mine or I will tell her your sordid secret" Frank scowled when Michelle's pained expression turned into a triumphant smirk
"Tell her then go on she won't listen to you over me. You have lost her Frank whether I stand back or not you will never get her back Frank ever!"
Frank felt pure anger rush through his veins at the cocky brunette's words and as the red mist descended in front of his eyes he pulled his arm back and slammed his fist into Michelle's already injured ribs and her agonised cry echoed in the room. He stepped back and let her weakened body slide down the wall and into the floor.
"You are like a dog with a bone Michelle keep your unwanted opinions to yourself or suffer the consequences" Frank watched as Michelle rolled onto her side coughing violently as she moved a large bubble of blood appeared at the corner of her mouth and began to seep down her chin.
"You see what you have made me do. You women never learn if you just behaved I wouldn't have to keep you in line" he watched as she coughed violently again struggling to get her words out
"Like Carla when you raped her" smirking at her stubbornness he laughed loudly
"Yes just like Carla she needed putting back in her place just as you did the other night" Frank smiled triumphantly as Michelle's body convulsed fighting for air as the noise of her laboured breathing increased with each desperate gasp she took.
"I can- I can't breathe please Frank I..." Listening to the pained plea and cocking his head to one side Frank smirked evilly
"Help yourself" hearing footsteps on the cobbles outside he knew he had to leave quickly lest he be caught in a compromising position he was sure some of the staff wouldn't believe his innocent in this predicament. Making up his mind he quickly made for the factory's rear exit
"With you out of the picture Michelle I'll take what I want whether she's willing or not. Now you have 2 minutes before the others arrive best concentrate on staying alive " he opened the door and smiled in triumph as Michelle's small frame shook and shuddered as her eyes fluttered shut
"Gotcha".