A.N All I can do is apologise for the length of time it has taken me to update this story I experienced a bad break up a few months ago and its safe to say it put me off writing about any happy couples for quite a long time. But thanks to the "encouragement" (kick up the arse) from my best friend I am now in much better spirits and decided to write this chapter. I was a little rusty when it came down to it and I struggled not to just chuck it all away but I went back and read all the reviews people have kindly left me for this story and it really drove me forward so for that I can only say thanks to every one of you who has reviewed so far. Now enough about me I know you are much more interested in what happens with Mr Foster and our favourite couple ... enjoy!

Franks question was met by silence both women continued to stare at him their eyes wide and fearful the anger that coursed within him exploded Snarling in rage Frank lunged forward grabbed Carla by the hair and hurled her into the corner of the room not even flinching when Carla's head collided with Michelle's desk with an audible crack.

"Carla!" Michelle sat up abruptly in fright wincing as her side burned with the sudden movement and she made to get down from the desk, before she could move even an inch Frank stride forwards and pinned Michelle down by throat.

"Look what you've done to her you Monster!"

"Look what I've done to her! This is all your fault you meddling chit I told you to leave what is mine alone I warned you what would happen look what you, you Michelle have done!" Wrenching Michelle upwards Frank held Michelle so she could see Carla's lifeless form. Unconscious lying face down Michelle gaped in horror as a thin line of blood trickled down from Carla's hairline.

"Please let me go to her, please?!"

"You will never touch what's mine again do you hear me! Obviously our last little chats did nothing to dampen down your urges. You thought of nothing but yourself so don't try and pretend you care about Carla now you're a selfish bitch and always will be!" Frank could feel the blood rushing through his veins, at his words Michelle had begun to cry in desperation but it did nothing to quell his temper. He was shocked and furious both emotions where rocketing through him and his brain couldn't decide which one to focus on the most. His anger though, as always, won out and he slammed Michelle back down into the desk taking great delight when she cried out shaking in pain and fear. The woman in his hands had taken Carla away from him for her own selfish needs and Frank needed to punish her for what she had done.

"Oh Michelle they call Carla the black widow but maybe it's you who's cursed after today you will have nothing no boyfriend no brothers and now no Carla. Even your own son has left you! The person you gave birth to can't stand to be around you either. How will you cope on your own?" Frank smirked evilly and he tightened his hold around Michelle's throat so that she couldn't respond "But then again the urge to destroy you is so consuming maybe I should snuff the life right out of you then you won't have to live with the pain of being lonely"

As he taunted Michelle he kept one eye on Carla she still hadn't moved and blood was still steadily oozing from the cut across her temple beginning to leave a dark stain on the carpet. Looking at Carla made him uneasy after this morning's inner battle he had settled on the idea of wanting Carla back in his life but causing her physical injury was not something he felt comfortable about. He had intended to manipulate situations so that they could be happy together and Frank knew hurting her wouldn't be the way to do it. Hurting Michelle though was different she was trying to take what was rightfully his and she needed to be punished. Carla was the woman he loved and seeing her lying there unconscious was upsetting him and he could feel his rage subsiding now the more rational part of his brain was coming into control.

Frank was distracted abruptly when a sharp stinging to his left cheek brought him from his thoughts and he turned angrily to look at Michelle she had dragged her nails across his cheek scrapping the skin away as he did. He was about to slap her across the face in retaliation when he noticed he still had his right hand tightened round her throat. Quickly he pulled his hand away and immediately Michelle rolled to the side coughing and wheezing as she took great shuddering gasps her body trying to replace instantly the oxygen it had lost.

Stepping back for a moment Frank took the time to compose himself he needed a plan finding the pair of them together how he had gave him something as leverage to use against them Frank was almost certain that neither Connor woman would want the fact they had been caught rutting like animals in heat in the factory to become public knowledge. The slander and scrutiny they would face would be intense and he was more confident that Carla would definitely like to avoid anymore gossip being spread around about her private life. Frank was sure he could turn this around to his advantage but he needed more time to decide exactly how to proceed he reckoned that if he trod carefully he could come away from this shocking discovery with exactly what he wanted but he needed to be careful and come up with a foolproof plan. Time though was something he didn't know how long he would have especially as when he glanced at Michelle he noticed she was becoming less fearful and a look of rage had settled across her features.

Making a decision he brought back his twisted sneer delighting when Michelle instantly cringed and her hands flew up to massage her neck, Frank revelled in the fact that she would be left with a nasty bruise "Right you are going to stay exactly where you are for 5 minutes while I go and pick up some supplies from the warehouse" Michelle snorted and Frank struggled to keep hold of his temper "If you make any attempt to escape or call for help I will make sure you never lay eyes on Carla again. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal"

Frank nodded pleased and he turned towards the door "Please can I sit with Carla? Make sure she is alright?" Frank nodded in agreement if it kept Michelle quiet he would allow her this last contact if the idea that was slowly beginning to form in his mind was successful Michelle wouldn't be seeing Carla ever again fighting the urge to chuckle at the brilliance of his ideas he strode from the office to the warehouse in search of anything that could be of use to him in his quest to be happy.

"Carla? Can you hear me love?"

The minute Frank had left the room Michelle had quickly fastened her bra, buttoned up her blouse and flung herself at Carla's limp form. Propping herself up against the cabinet she pulled Carla's body between her legs so that she could cradle her head on her chest. The situation brought back memories of Carla's overdose and Michelle was trying to choke down the tears that she could feel building. This time it was different Carla was just unconscious, her heart wouldn't give out any minute now, she would wake up and they would be fine. Realising what she had just thought Michelle almost laughed fine was not the word she would use to describe the situation. Her lovers ex fiancé currently had them trapped in an office, he had knocked Carla unconscious and almost choked her with his bare hands and he had now left them to go and get "supplies". Michelle was trying not to think about what Frank could be getting all she could think of was that if he was acquiring supplies they wouldn't be getting out of her anytime soon.

Michelle slowly pushed Carla's hair back away from where it had become matted in the blood that had oozed down her cheek, the gash looked painful it was angry, looked very wet and had split open quite deeply, Michelle worried that it would need stitches. Deciding that she needed to do something with her hands before she started freaking out at the predicament she had found herself in she slowly reached up the desk, and after fumbling around for a moment she successfully located the box of tissues and made a start at cleaning Carla's face. As she meticulously wiped the blood away from Carla's flawless skin Michelle could feel hopelessness beginning to creep into her mind. Every time she found happiness in her life someone or something seemed to tear it apart and she wanted to cry in frustration at the unfairness of it all.

"Carla? Come on babe open your eyes for me. I'm losing it here darlin' I'll feel so much better if you would just open those eyes please?"

"Very touching speech Michelle but she doesn't seem to be listening. Leave her alone she's so much more attractive when she's not hurling abuse at me anyway" Frank closed the door behind him and he dumped the contents of his arms down onto Michelle's desk.

"What are you going to do now Frank? No matter how much you try and manipulate this Carla still won't want you. She loves me and only me" Michelle felt a small thrill as she watched Frank flinch at her words but her victory didn't last long. Angrily Frank strode forwards and pulled her up from the floor by her hair. Michelle felt as though her scalp was on fire and she grit her teeth together to stop herself from crying out in pain. Still with his hands firmly entangled in her hair Frank pulled and she found herself staggering awkwardly into her office chair which she was forcefully sat upon.

"The more you fight Michelle the more painful this will be" Michelle snarled and when Frank let go of her hair she tried to fight back, she was unsuccessful he was strong and unrelenting. Pulling at her hands he wrenched her arms backwards and holding her wrists in one hand he fastened them together with package tape smiling in satisfaction as she struggled and pulled at the bindings trying to break free. The tape cut into her wrists but Michelle still pulled and twisted her body was beginning to panic and she couldn't stop the futile attempt at getting away.

"If you sit still I won't bind your legs how about that?" Determined not to give Frank the satisfaction at her obeying his rules Michelle waited until he crouched down in front of her and then she kicked out smirking in triumph when her foot connected with his groin causing him to let out a pained whimper. Frank staggered back and Michelle surveyed him victorious she was a Connor and no matter what sick twisted ideas Frank Foster had going around in his head she wasn't going to stop fighting for her or Carla.

"You're going to regret that you little bitch" Frank's tone was deadly and he lunged forward striking her straight across the face with the back of his hand at the contact Michelle felt her lip split and she hung her head as the throbbing began across the left hand side of her jaw. Keeping quiet Michelle watched as Frank rolled Carla onto her back and tied her hands together he checked to make sure it was secure and then he stopped and just seemed to stare. Bile began to rise within Michelle as Frank reached out and brushed back Carla's hair, carefully tucking an errant lock behind her ear. Michelle stared as Frank began to mutter incoherently as he tenderly ran his fingertips across Carla's forehead down her nose and across her cheeks. His expression was thoughtful but it sickened Michelle to see Carla's rapist touching her so reverently it was wrong and she couldn't help the angry cry that was pulled from her throat. "Take your filthy hands off of her!"

Frank didn't even respond he carried on caressing Carla's face and as he did his ramblings become more pronounced "I never meant for this I swear I love you. It was meant to be me and you married happy together, but you had to ruin it and half of me hates you for that. We could have had it all Carla but I'm willing to give us another chance, another chance at happiness" Michelle's eyes widened she knew deep down that Frank was an intelligent man he would surely know that Carla would never willingly go back to him and Michelle began to feel a great sense of foreboding at what exactly Frank had in mind. Quietly Michelle started to gently tug at the bindings around her wrists trying to find a weak spot but her efforts where futile the tape held firm used usually for securing boxes filled with heavy orders it had no trouble keeping Michelle's hand firmly in place.

Scanning around Michelle noticed that Carla's bag was hanging loosely at the side of her dangling from where Carla had earlier hung it from the back of her chair. Upon seeing the bag an idea popped into Michelle's head and quietly, making sure Frank was still too engrossed with Carla, Michelle began to slowly rock her chair the momentum causing the bag to slip down closer toward her hands. Michelle knew Carla always left her phone just inside the front compartment of her bag so that it was easy to locate and as she felt the cold metal clasp of the leather bag Michelle had to stop herself from cheering. Flexing her fingers Michelle could just about reach the mobile and she knew that she would be able to slide it out of the bag and into her hands. Her enthusiasm however faded fast as she thought about her next step. Carla's iPhone was locked with a password and if she managed to successfully login she would then have to bring up the keyboard or call history to make any outgoing call. Inwardly Michelle cursed and she fumed over modern technology had this been 10 years ago Carla's old Nokia with its chunky buttons would have been a lot easier to navigate blind. Feeling the elation oozing from her body Michelle pulled forward angrily trying to release her frustration as she did the binding around her hands got stuck in the grooves at the back of her chair and a new idea popped into her head.

"Getting fed up Michelle? Well best make yourself comfortable you are in for a long stretch sitting there might as well get used to it."

"Well I would be slightly more comfortable if you would just untie my fucking hands!"

Frank stood up and walked towards her "Tut tut such language from a lady" Leaning forward so that his eyes were on line with her own Frank smiled "You can stay tied up I quite like the fact that you are bound and helpless, let's just say it's rather empowering which is quite the turn on let me tell you" Michelle couldn't stop the look of disgust that she knew had crossed over her features or the shudder that passed over her tied up or not if that twisted bastard thought he was going to touch her in that way he was sadly mistaken.

"So what's the deal then Frank you just going to keep us here so you can lord it over us playing the big man with two women at your mercy. Or have you actually got a brain under that thick exterior because if you have a plan I'd just love to hear it" Michelle made sure her words where scathing and she leaned forward angrily covering the fact she was rubbing her binds against the chair trying desperately to create some friction.

"Such feistiness when tied up helplessly some would call it courageous I just call it stupid. Do you really think it wise to antagonise your captor" Michelle scoffed still straining forwards she glared at Frank meeting his intense stare determined not to be the first to break eye contact anything that would distract him from what she was trying to accomplish. Her concentration was broken however when from the corner of the room Carla let out a pained groan and she mumbled Michelle's name as her forehead creased in pain.

"Carla love it's alright can you hear me?" Michelle watched with baited breath as Carla began to stir slowly her eyes opened and she looked around blearily with a look of confusion. Shaking her head she groaned and brought a hand up to her temple looking shocked when she tried to lift a hand and Michelle watched as fear and panic began to set in when Carla realised her hands where bound.

"It's alright Car' love it's just a cut you're going to be fine" Michelle made her voice calm and soothing a panicked Carla would not be good especially with a head wound. At Michelle's voice Carla's head whipped around and she smiled slightly until she noticed Michelle bound to the chair, her eyes then landed on Frank and Michelle watched carefully as Carla's eyes hardened with fury.

"Just what do you think you're playing at?" Carla's voice was slightly hoarse but the hatred could be clearly heard.

"I wanted to speak to you"

"And you thought the best way for that to happen was to assault me then tie me and 'Chelle up like a pair of hostages?! I've been there done that got the t shirt I have no desire to have another factory showdown with a delusional ex so whatever it is you want spit it out!"

Michelle felt a surge of pride at Carla's words her lover was a fighter and Frank for the first time today was speechless if he had been expecting a meek and mild Carla shuddering at his feet he had received the total opposite. Frank didn't answer he looked stunned and as Carla glared his expression suddenly turned to anger and he seemed to find his voice.

"Well what did you expect I walk in here thinking our business was being burgled instead I come face to face with my fiancé rutting across her desk with her best friend! Care to explain?!"

Carla's expression never wavered and she answered calmly "I am not your fiancé"

"Is that the only thing you have to say!?"

"Well yes as matter of fact it is. I will not try and justify my relationship with Michelle to you. It's none of your business who I date we are no longer together we are merely work colleagues my private life is exactly that, private" Carla replied carefully and clearly and Michelle waited with baited breath for Frank's reply.

"You and Michelle are in a relationship?"

With not a hint of unease Carla replied confidently "Yes"

Frank laughed loudly it echoed into the office and he looked between Carla and Michelle disbelievingly "What utter nonsense you are not a lesbian this is just your way of finding affection from someone and who better than your loyal best friend. I understand that people have needs and sex was always a high priority in our relationship. You can drop the act now Carla I'm going to be all you will ever need and more I promise you. We can put all this behind us and start again"

Michelle wanted to reach up and slap the smug smile off Frank's face scream and rage at him but as she opened her mouth to speak Carla ever so slightly shook her head.

"Frank you and me are never going to be together, never. After what you did I can barely stand to look at you. You need to hear what I'm saying I don't love you and I don't think I ever did"

Frank had gone still his face shocked Carla continued to stare at him her face devoid of any emotion until eventually Frank replied as he spoke his voice wavered "But I was going to take us to L.A you love L.A, we would have been happy"

"I do love L.A but I don't want a life their or here for that matter with you Frank"

"But we were going to get married"

Michelle couldn't help but smirk in satisfaction at the pain in Frank's voice.

"No we were not I called it off Frank because I realised I didn't love you. I should never have said yes to your proposal for that I am sorry" Carla looked genuinely regretful for a moment and Michelle was irked slightly Frank deserved everything he got and more.

"I forgive you, I'll forgive you if you will just give me one more chance just one more please Carla please" Frank had moved crouched in front of Carla he placed his hands on either side of her face as he begged and pleaded. Michelle almost felt sorry for him Carla did not answer straight away and Michelle held her breath when her answer was whispered "No".

"So what now you have Michelle you are suddenly happy playing at a gay relationship? Do you really think this is going to be your happy ending?" Frank snorted "You think that people around here will just accept this, they will think you are mad, will whisper behind your back saying how pathetic it is that you seem to have a desperate need to be coupled with a Connor now that all the blokes have gone you've settled with the last available option. They will treat you as a joke Carla! You could avoid all the hurt and humiliation if you just came back to me."

"I am happy, happier than I have ever been in fact. When I finally realised my feelings for Liam I thought I could never feel love like that again but with Michelle it's like that feeling all over again but magnified. I want to be with her all the time I want to wake up beside her every morning and I want her to be the last thing I see before I close my eyes at night. I will tell this to anybody who challenges me and if they can't accept that I'm happy and in love then they weren't worth my time to begin with." Michelle's heart swelled at Carla's honest words and she smiled lovingly at Carla feeling more ecstatic when Carla returned the gesture with a gentle smile of her own. Carla continued to look at her for a moment before she turned back to Frank once more her expression stony.

"I love her and I will continue to love her for all my life I do not want nor need you Michelle is a hundred times the person you will ever be. I love spending time with her and the sex Frank god it is just fucking fantastic which is something that you will never experience from me again, not now and not in a hundred years"

Michelle grinned at Carla's words laughing as her lover smirked in response, at the same time they both turned to Frank silently daring him to respond to Carla's monologue but for once it seemed as if he was completely speechless. However he did not remain inactive for long.

Erupting like a mad man possessed Frank stormed around the room hurling the files and folders to the floor, upturning his desk and Michelle cringed and cowered in her chair as his tirade continued. Carla flinched and slid backwards tucking herself into the corner as stationary flew around the room and Michelle desperately pulled again at her bindings as he turned on Carla once more. Dragging her upwards he trapped Carla between his body and the wall and Michelle noticed fear beginning to settle in Carla's eyes as she tried to stare Frank down.

"What are you going to do Frank? You've already done your worst nothing you do now will ever hurt me as much as you hurt me that night" her whispered words seemed to calm the angry man and he slumped forward "I never wanted this. I never wanted any of this. All I ever wanted was me and you to be together and happy that's all. Why couldn't it be enough?"

"I'm sorry"

Michelle could tell Carla was trying not to antagonise Frank anymore but it didn't seem to be working his temper returned he whirled around and when his eyes locked with her own Michelle shuddered his gaze was murderous.

"Let us go Frank please this isn't going to solve anything I'm not going to change my mind"

Frank laughed sarcastically as shook his head back and forth "No I don't think I will you see I love you but I don't seem to be able to have you so I feel it's only fair for you to experience the same devastation."

Carla's expression became stricken and she staggered forward placing herself in between Frank and Michelle. "Please do not hurt her Frank please not 'Chelle you have put her through enough. I know what you did to her Frank please don't do it again"

"Told her then Michelle oh how I knew you wouldn't be able to keep your stupid mouth shut"

"Michelle didn't tell me anything, although I wish she had, I worked it all out for myself. I can't believe you did that to her! What happened to you Frank I look at you and I don't even recognise the man I first admired!"

Ignoring Carla's shout Frank stepped forward and pulled on Carla's bound hands he then dropped her into the chair behind her desk and sat down next to her. With another cord he bound Carla's hands to the chair arm smirking as she pulled trying to break free. "Now Carla enough of that they won't snap" raising a finger to her chin he turned her head so that she was looking at Michelle and Michelle looked deeply into her lovers eyes trying to force her own expression to one of calm.

"Keep your attention this way darling this is something you won't want to miss" before Michelle could even begin to panic Frank was in front of her and his fist shot forward and collided with her stomach.

"No!"

Carla's shout was the only thing that stopped Michelle from crying out in pain her muscles screamed in protest the stitches from her recent operation burned and she tried to pull in deep shuddering breaths the bastard had well and truly winded her.

"You hurt me Carla so now I'm hurting you I think that's only fair don't you?"

Tears had built in Carla's eyes and Michelle felt hopeless as one lone tear crept down Carla's cheek.

"Please Frank don't do this"

In reply to Carla's pleading Frank smirked evilly then brought his fist into Michelle's stomach over and over again. White hot pain erupted in Michelle's abdomen it felt like acid was spreading through her battered muscles and she tried to curl in on herself pulling desperately at her bindings. She struggled and twisted trying everything she could to get away even though she knew it was futile. All her brain could concentrate on was the pain it felt as if she had been plunged underwater the sounds around her where distorted she could faintly hear Carla's screams and Franks angry shouts but she could no longer make out what they were saying.

Another blow collided with her stomach and this time caught her rib and she couldn't stop the yell of pain as she felt the bone bend and her body writhed desperately the plastic of the chair now cutting sharply into her wrists. So lost in the sensation of the pain Michelle didn't realise that Frank had stopped hitting her but when she slowly started to come out of the hazy cloud that had surrounded her brain she almost cried at the pure look of devastation that marred Carla's beautiful features.

"Don't ... Cry ... I'm alright"

It took everything in her being to say those words but she needed to do something anything to try and ease Carla's fears.

"Still speaking well I'm obviously not hitting you hard enough Michelle or maybe not in the right place"

A fist collided with her cheek and she forced her body to become limp to try and lessen the pain as the skin in her mouth broke against her teeth and blood began to ooze around her tongue.

"Frank I'll do anything please" Carla's sobs echoes in the room and Michelle watched as Frank paused in his assault slowly with a look of deep thought across his features he made his way to his desk and poured himself a large tumbler of whiskey and swallowed the contents in one.

"There's nothing you can offer me now Carla nothing that would be enough for me to stop inflicting the pain on you that you have caused me"

"What about if me and you go somewhere and talk no distraction none of this Frank just you and me that's what you want isn't it? Isn't it?!" Carla was desperate her body was shaking in fear her face clouded with tears all she wanted was for Frank to stop. Michelle groggily tried to concentrate on the conversation around her but her mind was struggling to think beyond the pain. Moving gingerly trying to ease the pressure on her right side she pulled forward and as she did she felt the bindings around her wrists give and she felt elation as she realised that they were beginning to tear from being frayed against the chair.

"All I want now Carla is for you to suffer and oh how I'm going to love watching your anguish when I destroy the one you 'love' " Michelle watched as fresh tears fell down Carla's face her expression pure devastation and she began pulling her hands slowly from side to side determined to break through the already weakened binds. As Michelle worked diligently focused entirely on the task at hand she didn't hear the argument that continued around her nor did she hear the factory shutters open with an audible clang she was only made aware when Frank raised her head up his finger pressed over his lips his eyes wide and fearful.

"Do not make a sound either of you!"

Frank stood hastily and peered through a crack in the blinds just a voice rang out through the factory floor and Michelle smirked as Frank visibly winced. Mummy dearest had come for a visit Michelle smirked despite the pain and let out a sigh of relief now this could just be the lifeline they so desperately needed.

A.N I would be most grateful if anybody is willing to let me know their thoughts by way of a little review :)