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Chapter 22
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Grabbing his phone his expression turns black.
“Yeah. This is he. Ok. Ok. Give me about an hour. Call the plumber. Tell them I’ll be there at 8:00. Ok. Bye.” Running his hand through his wet hair, Blake threw the phone on the bed, “Shit. I have to go deal with an emergency at work. The fire department have been called to find my bar flooded from a broken water pipe. I wanted to spend all day in bed.” Blake said sadness in his voice.“It’s okay Blake you have to go deal with it. Melissa said as Blake gathered up his clothes, pulling them on.Blake couldn’t understand what was wrong with him, usually he had one date, slept with the girl then left. He NEVER stayed overnight, he NEVER wanted to spend all day having lazy sex in bed like he did right now, this wasn’t what HE did, this was what Brock did.Pulling on his shirt and jeans, he looked at Melissa drying her hair, “Listen baby, I’m sorry.” As he pulled on his shoes, the brown leather shining, he walked over and dropped a kiss on Melissa’s lips and hugged her.The pomegranate smell, a heady mixture, making his senses reel, the warm towel around her inviting him to stay.Melissa put her arms around Blake, rubbing her face against the cotton of his shirt, she could still smell his aftershave from the previous day.“I think I’m falling for you.” Melissa blurted out, she didn’t mean to, it slipped out. Blake’s arms froze around her, “Blake?” She said looking up at him quietly “Don’t you have to go deal with your bar?”Blake shook his head slightly, grabbing his phone and slipping it into his pocket, “Yeah I should, I need to go.” And with that he left. Going down the stairs Blake put on his leather jacket. Going to the front door he turned the circular bolt on the door, and walked to his track.Unlocking it, he felt weird. He wondered what was going on with him. As he climbed into his truck, and pulled off the drive to go deal with his crisis all the while his emotions were in crisis waging war with himself.As he drove away Melissa verbally kicked herself, “Stupid.” She said out loud. “Why? Why did I say that?”Grabbing her clothes she quickly dressed. A pair of trousers and business suit felt appropriate for today, a pale pink blouse, and black heels.Going downstairs and feeding the three dogs, and putting the food in the garden, then locking the back door, she grabbed Brock’s portfolio, and her work bag, checking for her work and personal phones for messages, she grabbed her laptop, and keys for the office, her parents, her spares to her flat, and her car keys.Melissa decided to leave the tidying up until later, then she opened the front door and locked it with a key, going to her car she placed all of her belongings on the passenger seat.Taking her personal mobile she grabbed it, unlocking the screen, and pulled Blake’s name up in her contactsTo Blake - Hope the bar isn’t too badly damaged. And you manage to get it sorted. Message me later if you want to or have the time. M xLocking the screen and putting it back in her bag, Melissa started the engine, and pulled off the drive and headed towards the office.Related chapters
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The morning passed by quickly, before Melissa knew it Sam had returned from the dentists and it was nearly lunchtime.Melissa reminded herself to increase Sam’s salary because his system for dealing with the work Melissa gave him was flawless.A knock came at the door “Come in.” Melissa replied.“Hi Melissa, a Mr Brock Milligan is here to see you.” Sam said cheerfully.“Thank you Sam, oh after I’ve had my meeting with Mr Milligan, I would like to have a chat with you.” Melissa said quite nicely, but then added “Don’t worry you’ve done nothing wrong.” After seeing the look of horror on the young guy’s face.Sam left out of the door leaving it open, and in he walked, all tall, dark and handsome.“Hello again Miss Hart.” Brock opened his mouth but was cut off by Melissa’s response “Please we are becoming business partners, and I hate formalities. Call me Melissa.”“Ok Melissa.” Brock liked the way that her name sounded on his lips.“Please take a seat. Would you
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LATER THAT NIGHTMelissa stood in her walk in wardrobe, deciding what to wear. She doesn’t want to dress up too much but she doesn’t want to wear her casual clothes.Deciding to play it safe Melissa wore her winter dress, a thigh length wool dress, with thick black and grey hoops, with a small turtle neck long sleeves, and pantyhose, on her feet she wore Cuban heeled black knee high boots. The boots hugged her calves. It was warm and sexy all rolled into one. Melissa grabbed her wide belt and fixed it around her waist.Leaving her hair down she curled it, and put on smoky eyes and winged eyeliner, mascara a bit of foundation and concealer to hide the grey tinge to her skin from lack of sleep and food.Melissa’s personal mobile rang as she was at the front door.“Yeah I was just letting the dogs in and I will come to you.” Getting towards the door the dogs ran in. Melissa frowned as she thought she saw something flash in the garden, not having time to investigate, she
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Brock walked in through the door, and met with Blake who was getting a drink.“Late night?” Blake said as Brock hung up his coat, when he heard the door go.Brock went to him, and punched him straight in the face.“What the hell dude?” Blake asked shocked as he held his cheek.“That one was for Melissa, sleeping with her and then dumping her.” Brock snarled.“I didn’t dump her.” Blake said“So you’re planning on texting her? Or even seeing her again?” Brock asked folding his arms across his chest.Blake yelled at his older brother “I tried. I lost her personal cell number when my phone slipped out of my pocket at the bar when it flooded, then I brought another one with a new number. I found her business card and rang it but for some reason that stupid secretary told me Melissa was busy then the number was blocked.”Brock was taken back to the evening and the chat they had.Melissa and Brock are sitting in a booth. Melissa turned to Brock and said “Why? Why
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Melissa carried the yellow roses into her office.“Hey Sam” she greeted the secretary cheerily.“What are you looking for?” Sam asked when she bent down to look in the cupboard.“A vase. For these flowers.” Melissa said. “Aha!” Grabbing a glass vase with cracked glass effect, Melissa disappeared into the bathroom to put water and flowers in.When she returned to the office Elaine had joined Sam, sidelong glances were exchanged between the two.“Everything okay?” Melissa asked. Placing the flowers on her desk, Elaine spoke to her “Can I speak to you in private please?”“Of course. Sam we can have our meeting in a few minutes. Go take a break or something.” Melissa said well aware that conversations could be heard through the door of someone listened hard enough.“Sit down Elaine, is everything okay? You can speak openly here.” Melissa asked clearly worried.“Listen I know I made it this big secret, but I wanted to ask you this privately. I know you normally sh
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Melissa walked into the house, she felt shocked and numb, she hoped that Brock wouldn’t be too much longer.Sitting on the couch, she just stared into space. A knock at the door came 30 minutes later. Brock stood there with a bottle of wine and a paper bag.“Hey.” He said softly. “Have you fed Storm and Sully?” Brock asked gently.“Oh. Oh no. I forgot.” Melissa said.“It’s okay. Tell me where their food is I will feed them.”She showed him the cupboard under the stairs. “Go sit.” He said quietly.Sitting back on the couch, Melissa was feeling sad.Brock joined her quickly, the wine and the bag he placed on the table.“My friend said he will ring you when Ebony is ready to collect, or I can collect her for you.” Brock said sitting on the couch next to Melissa who had now put her legs up and folded them.“Yeah.” Melissa murmured.“I though I would buy you something to cheer you up.” Brock said this while putting his hand in the bag.Pulling out a tub o
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A WEEK GOES BYMelissa sits at the wheel of her car, quite still at traffic lights. Noticing the black car two cars behind her. She’d started to notice it on Monday, didn’t think anything of it at the time. But then it was parked across the road, then it was there everyday as she shopped and took the dogs on walks.Sully and Storm were getting restless in the back. They hated being in the car. Melissa had overslept and it was almost 10:30. The time she had arranged to be at Elaine’s.Melissa’s phone rings and it come through the Bluetooth speaker in the car.“Hello?” Melissa said while waiting for the lights to turn green.“Hello Melissa, Happy Christmas.” Shane, Suzanna and Ryan all say into the speaker.“I hope you’re not spending it alone.” Suzanna comments“No. Honest. I’m spending it with Elaine and her family.” Melissa said touched at the concern of her stepmother.“Good we just rang to wish you Happy Christmas, Grandpa is doing okay. But when are you b
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Brock left the bathroom and bumped into Blake.“You asshole.” He whisper yelled. What did you say to her?”“I asked her if she slept with you.” He stated.“Douchebag.” Brock said. “No we haven’t slept together. You could have just asked me. And if we ever do it’s none of your business, you made that perfectly plain, when we spoke about it, the next day.”Just as Blake was about to say something, Elaine interrupted the whispering boys.“What are you two up to? Where’s Melissa? I’m preparing lunch for us all. Then afterwards I thought we could play some games. Oh Blake will you go and help your father. And remind him of Melissa’s name. He keeps referring to her as Melinda. Honestly that man.”Blake nodded and walked off to find his father.“Brock” Elaine said pulling her son into the living room.“I’m kind of hoping that you and Melissa will get together. That’s one reason I invited her.” Elaine said to her elder son.“Mom. Seriously? Did you set this up?” B
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Elaine clapped her hands together gently. “Right now lunch is finished, I’ve got some games I’d like to play.”Blake rolled his eyes and said “Mom aren’t we a bit old for games?”“Come on Blake.” Elaine said “You’re never too old for games.”As Melissa helped Brock to clear the table and loaded the dishwasher, Elaine, Blake, Tony and Andrea moved into the living room to discuss games.“My mom is so obvious.” Brock said suddenly, snapping Melissa back into the present, she'd be lost in her thoughts about what happened at the dinner table, did Blake still want her? But what about Brock? She found herself starting to fall for him the same way she did his brother. "Brock, what do you mean?" She asked, giving Brock a conflicted look. Brock paused, he was going to tell her about what his mother said, he knew what Elaine was up to, his mother had a big heart, she invited Melissa for two reasons, one was because she was alone at Christmas, Elaine hated the idea of anyone being a
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WARNING THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS REFERENCES TO ALCOHOLISM, ABUSIVE LANGUAGE AND SUICIDEIN A CABIN Two men are having a conversation. “What the fuck have you done?” The older of the two asked. “I’m tired of waiting for Melissa. She’s getting further out of our reach.” The younger one said. Slamming his fist on the table the older guy picked up his ringing phone. “Hello. Yes. Yes. Alright.” Hanging up the phone he turned it off. “You could have killed Melissa!&rdqu
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LATER THAT EVENING.“Dinners ready.” Blake called to Melissa who had had a nap and a shower. Walking down the stairs with damp hair falling around her shoulders and her face Melissa could smell the scent of baked trout, her mouth salivating at the thought.An hour later with full stomachs Blake and Melissa retired to the couch with a full bottle of Malbec both slightly tipsy.“So I gotta know.” Blake considered for a minute asking Melissa what she saw in Brock. But quickly changed her mind.“What was young Melissa like? Party girl? Nerd? Or were you miss Popular?” He smiled as he said this.“I was very studious, but I wasn’t a nerd, I wasn’t popular either.” Melissa made a face like she was remembering a bad incident. “I was just normal. My turn now.” Melissa squealed with glee “What was Blake like as a teen?”“I was
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THE NEXT DAY.“I’m sorry baby. I forgot I’m supposed to photographing the governor and his family. It’s supposed to be an all day event. Until about 10pm.” Brock said guiltily.“What’s the point in being here if I’m going to be alone?” Melissa asked trying her best not to sound whiny.“I’ve spoken to Blake. He will take care of you. I trust him to keep you safe. I trust him with my life. He’s going fishing, and you can go with him.” Brock said plainly.“Fishing? I wouldn’t know where to start.” Melissa said as Brock got out of the en-suite.“Well bows a great time to learn. Listen Blake’s taken time off and closed his bar so I can work and so that one of us can always be with you.” Brock explained gently.Melissa pouted for a brief moment before realising he was right. Blake had put his business on h
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Melissa stood up getting ready to leave. “There’s really no talking to you. I came here in good faith to make you aware of what was happening as you don’t care.” Blake ran and grabbed her hand pulling her into his chest causing them both to fall on the floor.Blake looked into her eyes as Melissa lay on his chest. Putting his hand on her cheek a very loving and caring gesture he moved his head up towards hers and kissed her again, this time though she brought her knee up between his legs connecting with his genitals.Blake howled in pain. Sucking at his teeth he howls “Again?” Melissa extracts herself from the floor, and runs to the door.The hot sting of tears in her eyes. She fiddles with the lock as she hears Blake get up.She ran down the stairs, her heeled boots clump clumping as she went.She could hear the pit pat of Blake’s feet as he chases her. “Melissa, honey w
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A FEW DAYS LATER“This is soooo relaxing.” Melissa crooned as the masseuse rubbed oil into her back.At the same moment Brock’s phone rang. Adjusting his towel around his waist he got up and took the phone call into the hallway. Melissa allowed herself to think back on the previous days events. “Babe? Babe? Come on wake up.” Melissa shook Brock’s shoulder. Opening a bleary eye Brock looked at Melissa. She was showered and dressed. Wearing black skinny jeans, and a red cashmere sweater, her hair was tied up in a high ponytail and she had make up on. Brock jumped out of bed and in the shower. Showering and dressing in record time he grabbed the keys to the Porsche and they went to the car. Brock snapped his belt in the drivers side, and started the engine, pulling out of the parking lot, before driving off to his and Blake’s apartment. “So you sure you want to do this alone?” Brock asked.
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After a little while the doorbell went getting up off the couch Brock got up and walked over to the door. Melissa sat on the couch, her head hanging and tears falling down onto her lap. Gritting his teeth knowing he feels helpless to stop this Brock opens the door. “Mr Milligan?” The detective asks. “Yes. Come in. Miss Hartford is in the living room.” He steps to the side and in the detective walks past him, taking a seat on the opposite couch to Melissa. Shutting the door Brock follows him and sits next to Melissa taking her hand that’s now in her lap. “Can you take me through tonight’s events?” He asks. Melissa nods and starts to recall everything that has happened, including the phone call, the detective writes everything in a notebook. “Ok. I’m going to bag all the stuff and take it to the forensics.” Sliding on a pair of latex gloves, he disappeared into the bedroom. After a few minutes,
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Grabbing the phone Brock could see that this has pushed Melissa over the edge. He grabbed the detectives card and typed in the number. The voice came out down the end of the phone as if he’d just been woken up “Yeah?” “Hi it’s Brock Milligan, I don’t know if you remember the break in a Melissa Hartford’s place.” Brock said into the phone. “Yeah. I remember. What of it?” The voice said no longer full of sleep. “There’s been a development.” Brock said putting his arm around a now shivering Melissa and guiding her into the living room. “On my way.” The detective said before hanging up. Brock pressed the red button to cancel the call. And sat Melissa down next to him on the couch. “Baby, you okay?” He asked worried that this would be a tipping point for Melissa, knowing that even the strongest of women would find it difficult to cope, with everything that happened. “Y-yeah.” She said haltin
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Melissa awoke to bright sunlight streaming through the glass windows. The warmth felt nice on her skin. Rolling onto her side she opened a sleepy eye, she had a sudden feeling of dread, as she saw a tie that was not Brock’s, and a memory of last night came flooding back, Chris, she remembered the way his hands felt on her body, and the way he felt inside her, for a brief second she smiled then she felt an arm drape across her. That feeling of guilt gnawed away at her insides. She’d cheated on Brock. A single tear ran down her face as she realised this fact. She was in her own world thinking of what to say to Brock how to redeem her relationship when a voice, thick and scratchy from having just woken up, startled her. “Good morning babygirl. Not too stiff I hope.” The voice came from behind. She immediately turned over, and was met with Brock’s smiling face, an eighth of an inch of stubble, and very messy hair. Bro
