London – 19 March 2007
The water caused steam to rise upward as he stepped into the shower and he sighed as the warm water moved over his body.
This is my husband.
William John Traynor.
To most people, he is not a nice person.
He is a ruthless corporate raider and a critical financial consultant and he only cares about the deal.
To his father, mother and sister, he is distant and, at times, a little cold.
But to me, our son, his daughter, my family and our friends, he is a sweet, funny, loving, carefree and slightly reckless man.
He and I grew up in Stortfold, but we lived on different sides of the tracks.
His family was one of the richest families in Stortfold and he grew up in Granta House.
My family was your typical, middle-class family and I grew up in the house my granddad bought years earlier.
We met when I was twenty years old and he was twenty-eight.
My father worked hard at the furniture manufacturing plant to save up money to send me and my sister to university and I had gotten a job to help pay for it. I loved my time at the Butter Bun and I will admit I didn't mind being a waitress. Frank is a great boss and I made a lot of friends at the café.
At university, I finally decided on a career in fashion and home design and my teachers were impressed with my designs. Even the strange ones.
It was during summer break when I decided to go to a party at the castle instead of hanging out with my sister.
Stortfold Castle had been a centerpiece of the town for centuries and Will's family ran the castle.
That night, Will had been there, doing some late-night financial work, and had the office window open. He told me he was getting angry over the noise and, after calling security, he had gone down to see what was going on. He had seen me going with several older guys into the hedge maze and something told him to follow us.
I barely remember what happened next. I had gotten drunk and a little high and I was flirting with those guys. What I didn't expect was for them to take me into the maze. I did try to keep track of where we were going, but I got turned around. That was when they started pawing at me. Trying to kiss me. Trying to take my clothes off. I told them to stop and they laughed. I ran. I had no idea where I was going, but I could hear them laughing, hooting and trying to grab at me through the branches. I had arrived at the center of the maze when two of them grabbed hold of me, held me tightly in their arms and pushed me to the ground. I remember screaming. The next thing I knew, my captures released me and someone asked me if I was alright. I felt someone picking me off the ground and we were going out of the hedge maze. Treena ran to me. She asked me if I was alright, but I was too scared to even think clearly. I do remember turning to look into the most amazing, shiny blue-gray eyes.
"Hello," Will had said with a smile and deep dimples dotted his cheeks.
"Hi," I said and he softly laughed.
"I bet you are," he teased then we went into the castle.
A short time later, I was telling Will and the security guards what happened. Mum showed up around at that time and took me and my sister home.
I was so ashamed.
My attackers were arrested, but Dad said boys like that, rich kids, get away with attempted rape all the time.
Lucky for me, that wasn't the case.
Will's father, Steven Traynor, was at the castle that night and he had seen how frightened and embarrassed I was after Will and I came out of the hedge maze.
Will testified in the court case and I admit I was a little nervous giving my testimony.
Will's mother, High Court Judge Camilla Traynor, had told the judge to give my attackers the harshest punishment to make an example of them and they were sent to jail.
But that didn't help my reputation one bit.
My family was harassed by the press.
I was called a whore and people avoided me like I had the plague.
I felt like my life was over.
I didn't even want to go back to university.
Then Will showed up at our house.
Mum had brought him into my bedroom and I remember looking up at him while lying on the bed.
"Giving up, Clark?" he asked me then he sat on the edge of the bed. I love it when he called me by that nickname.
"What's the point. Everyone thinks I'm…," I told him and he frowned.
"Want to know what I think you are? I think you are a young woman who made a mistake. You did something stupid. I've done stupider stuff. Everyone does. The trick is not to let it rule over you like some unforgiveable sin. Those assholes are going to be in jail until they're in their forties. By then? You'll have graduated university and gone on with your life. But that won't happen if you quit."
"He's right, Lou," Mum said.
I laid there for a few minutes as I thought about what he had said then I sat up on the bed.
"You're right," I told them and, two weeks later, I left for London.
Before I left, Will had shown up on his motorcycle and he had taken me to the Butter Bun for a coffee and a scone. We talked for what felt like hours and he gave me a piece of paper with his address in London written on it.
"I want you to write me at least once a week," he said as he tapped his index finger on the piece of paper.
"Only if you write back," I said.
"Deal."
We kept in touch and he was so proud of me for graduating near the top of my class.
The next time I saw him was after I had gotten a job for a popular fashion and home designer in London.
"Hello, Miss Clark," he said with that sly smile of his and I swore his dimples had gotten deeper. He wore a smart, dark blue suit, a white shirt, a black tie and belt, black socks and black, hard leather shoes.
"Hello, Mister Traynor," I said, trying to sound professional.
"Will! What are you doing here!?" Alicia Dewar asked. She was my supervisor and a pain in my ass. She was also Will's girlfriend at the time.
"I am here to see Grace," he said and I saw the cold look in his eyes.
Grace Wellington was the owner of the agency and she treated us like family. What she had trouble with was her finances. She also didn't take any of Alicia's nonsense.
"Well… I think you should do that instead of talking with the help," she said as she looked at me with a smug look.
"Then I better stop talking to you."
I tried not to laugh at the shocked look on her face and Will headed down the hallway. Glowering, Alicia walked away and I noticed the piece of paper on the floor. Picking up the piece of paper, I opened the piece of paper and saw a phone number. Call me when you get home – W was under the phone number. I wasn't sure if the note was for me or Alicia. Shrugging my shoulders, I placed the piece of paper in my purse. After I went home, it took about an hour before I called the number.
"Hello, Clark" his voice said.
"Hello. How did you know it was me?" I asked.
"I guessed. I see you got my note."
"I wasn't sure if it was for me or for Alicia."
"I assure you the note was meant for you."
I was smiling so hard that my cheeks hurt and the butterflies in my stomach were soaring around in circles.
"How was work?" he asked.
"Busy. I have to design three outfits for a show in Paris," I told him as I looked at the designs which I had spread out over the kitchen table.
"You're going to Paris?"
"No. Just my designs. Grace says I'm not ready for the Paris scene just yet."
"You will get there someday, Clark. I have no doubt about that."
He always knew what to say.
"What about you? How was your day?" I asked and I heard him softly laugh.
"Not as glamorous as yours. I assure you. Have you had supper yet?"
"Are you asking me out on a date, Mister Traynor?"
"I am."
"What about Alicia?"
"She already ate."
I couldn't help, but laugh and I heard him laughing. The thought of becoming "the other woman" moved through my head, but I felt things weren't good with him and Alicia.
"I could eat something," I said.
"I'll pick you up in ten minutes."
That night was the first of many dates I had with Will.
Over the next few years, Will was there for the good times as well as the bad and he took me on holiday to places I only saw on telly or in movies. Though, my first holiday with Will was almost my last.
Fuji Beach – Hawaii
I never thought I would ever go to Hawaii. I had seen movies filmed there and the beaches looked amazing. Will had booked us separate single rooms in a hotel near the beach. The room had a great view of the beach and there was a connecting door to Will's room.
"It's alright if you want to keep the door locked, Clark," Will told me and I did keep the door locked.
We headed for the beach the next day and I was introduced to Will's friends and their girlfriends. I felt the eyes of the women on me and the looks they gave me made me feel like I was being judged.
"Are you kidding me?!" Alicia had said with a gasp. "This has to be a joke! You really aren't involved with… With her!"
He had broken up with Alicia before we started seriously dating and I saw the anger on Will's face as she laughed.
"Maybe it's just one of Will's little flings," one of the other women said.
"Yes. It has to be. He's doing it to make you jealous, Lissa," one of the other women said with a grin which showed straight white teeth.
"Poor little thing," the other woman said.
Their laughter caused stabbing pain to move through my entire body.
"Enough!" Will warned, but I knew those women had all right to laugh.
They were beautiful. They had the perfect hair. They had lean, athletic bodies with not one bit of fat anywhere. They had prefect breasts and asses.
I, on the other hand, was… I was me.
I felt the butterflies in my stomach slamming into each other and I wanted to be sick. I couldn't breathe. I had to get out of there. I heard Will calling my name as I ran off. I know I hated to run, but I had to get away.
I had no idea how long I ran when I stopped near some rocks and sat down. I pulled myself into a tight ball as I locked my arms around my legs and placed my head down. There was no stopping the tears.
"You're a bloody idiot," a voice said in my head.
"Do you really think someone like Will Traynor would want anything with a chav like you?!" Alicia's voice said in my head.
"Go back where you belong!" a voice said in my head and I swore it sounded like Will.
"Told you were out of your league," the voice in my head said and it sounded like my ex-boyfriend, Patrick.
"You're right. All of you are right," I whispered, wiped the tears out of my eyes and stood up. That was when I realized I had no idea where I was.
"Great," I said and slammed my fists against my legs.
"Clark!?" Will's voice called out then I saw him coming around the rocks. His face was flushed from running and sweat shimmered on his face, arms, chest, stomach and legs. He looked so scared, but relieved at the same time. I slowly backed behind some of the taller rocks and I saw the confused look on his face. "Why are you hiding?"
"Don't come any closer," I said as my heart felt like it was breaking into tiny bits in my chest.
"Are you hurt?"
"Stay back."
"Why? Louisa? Do you think I'm going to hurt you?"
"Don't say it," the voice in my head said, but I just swallowed the lump in my throat and sighed.
"You already have," I said and he stopped walking toward me.
"I beg your pardon?" he asked with true confusion on his face.
"Just… Just go away," I said then started crying again. I couldn't see him, but Will walked to me and he pulled me into a hug. I slid my arms around him as I buried my face into his chest and he kissed the top of my head. I could smell the musky scent of his skin and my head moved as he breathed.
"Will!" Will's friend, Michael Lawler, called out. He was a lawyer who dealt in wills and probates in one of the best law firms in London.
"Did you find her!?" Will's friend, Rupert Freshwell, called out. He worked at the same agency as Will and they had gone to the same university.
"Will!?" Will's friend, Freddie Derwent, called out. He also worked at the same agency as Will.
"We're over here!" Will called out and I started shaking. He held me tighter as if he was trying to keep me upright and I wanted to be sick.
"Easy," he said a few times while rubbing my back and I made soft sniffing sounds. I heard footsteps coming closer and closed my eyes tighter.
"Is she alright?" Rupert asked.
"No. She's not alright," Will said with a small growl.
"Louisa?" Michael said and I opened my eyes, turned my head to look at him, but I couldn't really see him due to the tears in my eyes. "I want to say I am so sorry about Marcy. She can be a real bitch."
"Then why didn't you tell her to shut up!?"
"You know how she is, Will. She goes along with whatever Alicia says or does."
I felt the muscles in Will's chest tighten and I moved my hand to place it against his chest. His heart was barely slamming against the palm of my hand and I looked up at him. Will glanced down at me and he barely smiled.
"Louisa?" Rupert said and I looked at him. "Sorry about Tamara. She just says whatever pops into her head."
"Which is why she keeps losing jobs," Will said with a sharp look and Rupert backed up a bit.
"Louisa?" Freddie said and he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his right index finger. "I wish to apologize for Samantha. She, like Alicia and Marcy, is a real bitch."
"Can you forgive us for not stopping them?" Rupert asked with a playful look.
"We really are glad you're here," Michael said.
"You are?" I asked with a crack to my voice and they nodded.
"Will!" Alicia's shrill voice called out when she and the other women came around the rocks and she gave us a smug look. "Ah."
She turned to the other women as they looked from me to Rupert, Michael, Freddie and Will and she laughed.
"See? I told you this is why Will brought her here. She's nothing more than a whore for their amusements," Alice said then rolled her eyes. "I can't wait to tell Grace about this."
"What?!" I asked as the air caught in my throat and I felt like I was going to faint.
"Don't you dare!" Will said and Alicia walked closer.
"She has a right to know what sort of "people" she has working for her."
I started feeling light headed and my head started spinning. The world was fading in and out then everything went dark.
I woke up in a hospital room and a soft beeping noise came from somewhere. I moved my head to see Will sitting on one of those hard, black plastic chairs and he had his head down.
"Will?" I asked, but was surprised with how weak my voice sounded.
"You're awake!" he said as his head snapped up and he stood. I watched him walk to the bed when he took hold of my left hand and he leaned down to kissed the top of my head.
"Why am I in the hospital?"
"Do you remember passing out on the beach?"
"Yes."
"You scared the hell out of me."
"Sorry," I said with a sad look and he kissed the back of my left hand.
"No. I'm the one who's sorry. They had no right treating you like that."
"I'm going to be sacked, aren't I?"
"No. You're not going to be sacked."
"Alicia…"
"I had a long talk with her after we brought you here. I told her I would sue her for aggravated assault if she said anything to Grace. And I would make sure she never got another job."
"Why would you do that?" I asked as the tears formed in the corners of my eyes.
"Why would I do that?! You're my lady."
"I'm your whore," I said when the nurse came in the room and she walked to the bed. I watched her checking the screen of whatever was to my right then she looked at Will.
"I told you not to upset her if she woke up," the nurse said with a stern look.
"He isn't upsetting me. I am," I said and she gave me a soft look.
"Just calm down," she said then looked at Will. "Get out."
"I want… I want him to stay."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
The nurse gave Will a stern look before she left the room and Will sat on the chair before pulling the chair closer to the bed. He took my left hand in his hands and he kissed my knuckles.
"Louisa…," he said and I moved my hand away. His eyes were filled with such pain as he sat back in the chair and I looked at the ceiling. "Dammit."
"Is it alright for us to come in?" came from the doorway as I saw Marcy, Tamara and Samantha standing in the hallway and Will stood up.
"What the hell are you doing here?! Haven't you three done enough!?" Will demanded and they backed up a bit.
"Will…. We really are sorry," Marcy said.
"We didn't mean…," Samantha said then stopped. I knew Will was glaring at her and he stood back so they could enter the room. I saw the regret on their faces and they stood at the foot of the bed.
"How are you feeling?" Tamara asked.
"I have been better," I said in a soft voice.
"You really scared us," Samantha said.
"We thought you had dropped dead," Marcy said and Samantha nudged her hard in her left side.
"Not that we wanted that," Tamara said with her hands up.
"If you're trying to apologize to her then you are doing a lousy job," Will said with a growl and he barely sat on the edge of the bed. He took hold of my left hand and we wrapped our fingers together.
"Please forgive us," Marcy said.
"We really are sorry," Tamara said.
"Knew I shouldn't have let Alicia come with me," Samantha said with a roll of her eyes. "Poor thing practically begged me to bring her along."
"You did tell me she wanted to try to get Will back," Marcy said.
"Which wasn't going to happen," Tamara said.
"Right. She is old news. Will has moved on," Samantha said.
"But you still went along with her and humiliated Louisa," Will grumbled and they ducked their heads.
"Will…," I said and he looked at me with such sweet eyes.
"He's right. We're just sheep when it comes to her," Samantha said.
"Can we start over?" Marcy asked.
"We would like to get to know you better," Tamara said.
"And…," Samantha said with a sly grin. "If anyone is a whore. It's most definitely Alicia."
"Really?" I asked.
"Her hair color might be real, but not her breasts."
"I heard she had an ass lift and she had her nose done," Marcy said.
"Those teeth? Caps," Tamara said as she waved a dismissive hand.
"And those clothes?! I mean really!"
"She's always dressing like she works at one of those call service places," I chipped in and their eyes widened,
"Exactly!" Samantha said as she tossed her hands up and we laughed.
"Does this mean you forgive us?" Tamara asked with a pleading look.
"Yes," I said with a nod and they smiled then I let them hug me.
"Glad you're alright," Samantha said after they moved back.
"I think you should go now. She's getting tired," Will said as he stood and he escorted them out of the room. He walked back to the bed as he carefully sat next to me and he kissed the top of my head.
"Am I still your lady?" I asked after a few seconds and he gave me a shocked look.
"Yes," he said then cleared his throat. "Do you still want to be with me?"
"Yes, M'Lord," I said with a small grin and he laughed.
"You are something else, Clark," he said and I wrapped our fingers together.
I was released from the hospital the next day and Will made sure we spent the rest of the holiday alone.
Marcy, Samantha, or Sam as she wanted me to call her, and Tamara became three of my closest friends and we would spend most of the holidays we went on shopping or gossiping.
As for Alicia telling Grace I was a whore? She didn't say a thing. But I still felt like she was still looking for a way to get rid of me. Not just at work, but in Will's life.
Another thing Will did was introduce me to extreme sports. I admit there were times I thought he would either end up crippled or dead, but he never did anything too reckless
I still remember the first time he did get hurt. We had been skiing with our friends. He was showing off then he had gone down a steep slope. I never saw anyone move so fast. He went off the top of a drift, spun around, but his skis didn't hit the ground properly. He bounced down the slope and I thought my heart stopped when we got to him. He was airlifted to the nearest hospital and I went to see him the next day. He had a cast on his right leg, a cast on his left arm and a cast around his chest. He was also wearing a foam rubber neck brace and he had a plaster over the cut on his forehead.
"Hello," he said through clenched teeth.
"Hello."
"Are you angry with me?"
"Yes."
"How angry are you?"
"I want to get on the bed, sit on you, put my hands on your shoulders and…"
"And give me a Louisa Clark Double Barrel Angry Talk?"
"Yes."
He gave me such a hurt look, but he barely smiled after I kissed his lips.
"Louisa?"
"Yes?"
"I know this isn't how I wanted to do this, but…"
"You need to stop talking."
"I'm fine."
"She's right. You need to stop talking," the nurse said after she walked in the room then she checked the heart monitor. Will looked at her with such anger in his eyes and I gently kissed the top of his head.
"Fine," he said with a small growl.
"Now….," I said as he looked at me and I glared at him. "Do you have any idea how scared I was when you started flinging your arms and legs around then you hit the ground?!"
I know by the look in his eyes, and his tiny smile, that he wanted to ask if I was talking about the first time that he had hit the ground or the final time.
"Or when I saw you lying on the ground?! I had no idea if you were dead or alive! I was just kneeling there in the snow and Rupert had to move me away so the EMTs could examine you! I demanded they let me go with you to the hospital! I held your hand the whole way and I was silently begging you to open your eyes. To give me a smile and tell me you were alright! I spent the night praying in the hospital chapel! I have had nothing to eat or any sleep! I look a mess from crying and…"
"Would you mind if I say something?"
"What?"
"You don't look a mess."
"Stop trying to make me smile while I'm being angry at you!"
"I can't help it. You look so damn cute."
"William John…"
He knew I was really angry when I called him by his full name. He gave me a hurt look and his lower lip stuck out slightly. I looked deeply into his eyes then leaned closer and kissed his lips.
"Are you done being angry with me?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Do you forgive me?"
"Yes."
When he was finally healed enough to come home, he proposed and we were married in the church where my parents were married.
