Intrigued and Enchanted (26 page)

To Ms Lily Pritchard

I thought he owed you your little trip to London before you found out what he’s been doing behind your back. Don’t feel bad. He’s always been in love with me. We’re meant to be.

Woman to woman I figured it was about time you knew. He shouldn’t be stringing you along when his heart’s not in it. He’s mine, and he will always BE MINE.

Victoria Mason

I make a run for the bathroom, knowing what’s coming. I make it to the bowl just before I lose the contents of my stomach. Brandon comes rushing into the bathroom behind me.

“What’s wrong sweet girl?” He kneels down beside me and starts to rub my back. I can feel the tears, but I don’t want to give him the satisfaction.

“Don’t fucking touch me Brandon. Just get the hell out of my apartment.” I realise I’m still clutching the photos in a death grip.

“What the fuck Lily? What’s going on? I’m not going anywhere, you’re sick. I’m going to look after you.” He moves to run his hand down my hair, but I can’t stand it. I feel like I’m about to shatter into a million pieces.

“I said don’t fucking touch me.” I want to cry at the look of hurt and confusion in his eyes, but then I glance down at the photos in my hand.

“Here.” I say shoving the pictures into his hand. “Take these and get the fuck out of my apartment and my life Brandon.” He looks down at the photographs, horror, and anger flashing across his face.

“Fucking Victoria.” He’s running his fingers through his hair, dropping his gaze to the floor.

“This is
not
what it looks like Lily. I can explain.” I’m furious now. He’s broken my heart and I fucking let him. I suspected as much when I met him and I ignored it because I wanted to believe that I’d found someone special.

“Yeah Brandon. I don’t want to hear your pathetic excuses as to why I’m looking at photos of you kissing your ex. And I’m pretty fucking sure these were taken the night before we went to London. That’s what you were wearing when you disappeared for hours with no explanation in the fucking middle of the night.” He tries to grab my arm as a move to leave the bathroom. I glare at him with pure venom in my eyes.

“Can we talk about this Lily? I promise you I can explain.”

“I don’t want to hear it Brandon. You were with her and then you came back, showered her disgusting smell off, and got into bed with me and I fucking let you make love to me. I knew the shower was odd, but I just fucking ignored it because I wanted to. I gave you everything Brandon. Fucking everything, and I stupidly thought that it meant something to you.”

“It did mean something to me. It
does
. It means everything to me.
You
mean
everything
Lily.” I can’t listen to this. I need to protect myself, and if I let him stay and tell me his bullshit lies, I’ll let myself believe him because I
want
to believe him more than I’ve ever wanted anything.

“Brandon if you care for me at all. Please leave.” I begin sobbing, and shirk his attempts to comfort me.

“Please Brandon…Please…Please just go.” He sees the defeat in my eyes and nods his agreement.

“I’ll go just now Lily. But we need to talk about this. I haven’t been cheating on you. You owe me a chance to explain.” I want to say no, but every fibre of my being is telling me that I’m going to have to talk to him about it. I can’t have
us
end like this.

“Fine, but I need some time Brandon. I have to be ready to start my new job on Monday and I can’t deal with this as well. We’ll talk when I’m ready.” All light has faded from his beautiful eyes as he lifts his bag and makes his way to the door. I feel like my world is crashing down around me as I watch him open the door to leave. He turns to face me as he steps outside the door.

“You’re it for me Lily. You’re a part of me. I’d be fucking lost without you. Please remember that I love you, more than anything.” As the elevator doors close and he disappears from my life, it’s more than I can handle. I collapse to my knees as soon as I close the door to my apartment.

I can’t sleep, and I can’t get the image of Brandon and Victoria out of my head. My body becomes sore from the wrenching sobs that consume my entire being for hours. I think I eventually pass out through sheer exhaustion, my heart ripped from my chest. All intentions to call my mom and Jess completely forgotten.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to see him again, the thought of it is too painful to contemplate. How could my day turn out so differently from the way I thought it would? I thought I was coming home from the trip of a lifetime, to start the next exciting chapter of my life with the man I love.

It’s amazing how five minutes can change the course of your life forever. I know that better than most, but I guess I let myself believe for a brief moment that I could have the happily ever after.

24

I’d like to say that I woke up today and realised last night was just a bad dream, but unfortunately that’s not the reality. I want to pick myself up, dust myself off and get ready to start my new job on Monday, but instead I lie in my bed most of the day, sobbing, and missing Brandon even though I don’t want to.

I can’t bring myself to eat anything; I feel sick to my stomach every time I picture Brandon and Victoria in my head. When I finally drag myself out of bed and into the kitchen to get a glass of water and some painkillers for the hammering in my head, I notice an envelope has been slipped under the front door.

I’m loathe to open it, worried at what I might see. When I bend down to pick it up I know instantly that it’s Brandon’s handwriting and a massive lump forms in my throat. I grab my drink and tablets before I sit down on the sofa and gingerly open the envelope that smells of Brandon. I run my fingers over his writing, breathing in the scent that gave me such comfort 24 hours ago. I wipe the tears from my eyes so that I can focus on the words in front of me.

Dearest Lily

I want to give you the time you asked for before we talk face to face, but I can’t stand the thought of you thinking badly of me for another second. I thought it might be easier on you if I explain myself on paper.

Firstly, I am so unbelievably in love with you Lily. I have been since the moment I met you. I’ve made mistakes, but I have never been unfaithful to you. I haven’t even looked at another woman since I held you in my arms on campus.

Victoria contacted me the weekend of our first date. You were so insecure after that Google search that I didn’t want to ruin a perfect weekend by dragging you into it. She called me to ask for my help.

I didn’t want anything to do with her, but I felt that I had to help her. She contacted me a number of times, then she started showing up at my work. I was starting to question her story and I confronted her when she showed up at Cube on the night of your graduation.

I told her in no uncertain terms that she had to leave me, and you, alone. The day before we left for London she called again, upset and asking if I could meet her. I stupidly believed her and when I got there, she tried to rekindle things between us. I realise now that it was a set up to get those pictures.

As soon as she kissed me I pushed her away and told her that I’m in love with you. I told her that there would never be anything between us and I gave her hell for lying to me and using my good nature against me. She knew I would help her if she was in trouble. She knew that was the only way I would even consider helping her.

My mistakes were believing a single word that came out of her vindictive, evil mouth, and my most regretted mistake – I kept it from you. I could have avoided putting you through all of this if I had just trusted our relationship and told you what was going on.

For that I am eternally sorry. I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you or cause you even a moment of pain. I hope you can believe that and give me a chance to make it up to you.

Please don’t let Victoria and my idiocy ruin what we have baby. I love you so much, I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest and there is just a gaping hole where you’re supposed to be.

You’re a part of me Lily. No matter what happens between us, you will always be a part of me, and a part of me will always belong to you Lily. What you choose to do with it is a choice that only you can make.

Please give me a chance to prove how sorry I am and how much I love you my sweet girl.

Yours always

Brandon x

Bruno Mars – Long Distance

I can’t control the tears streaming down my face as I finish reading his letter. I don’t want to be gullible, but deep down I believe him. He should have been honest with me, but I don’t think that he cheated on me with Victoria.

I’m tired out by the emotional rollercoaster I’ve been on for the past 24 hours, and my eyes are practically swollen shut from shedding so many tears. I make the decision to call Brandon tomorrow once I’ve had a good night’s sleep, so that we can talk things through properly and hopefully get things back on track somehow.

I’m startled awake by a call from the doorman. He tells me there is a flower delivery for me and I tell him to send the courier up. I know the flowers will be from Brandon, and a flutter of happiness swells in my stomach at his willingness to put his heart on the line for me.

When I hear the courier knocking I pull my tired body up from the couch and make my way to the door, opening it to a beautiful bouquet of flowers. My first thought is that they’re not from Brandon. He always sends me roses and these flowers are calla lilies. When I lift them into my arms I get a glimpse of the delivery man…

My whole body starts to shake in terror. The face before me has haunted my dreams for the past eight years. I would know him anywhere…Ron Peterson. The flowers drop to the floor in front of me. I’m frozen to the spot; my head screaming at me to run or scream or do anything...but I can’t move.

“Hello Lily. I’ve been waiting a very long time to see your pretty little face again. Have you missed me sweetheart?” He runs his fingers down my face as he speaks and that jolts me into action. I try to push him out and slam the door but he’s too strong. He bursts into the room knocking me onto the floor. I crash into our wrought-iron coat stand, my head hitting the jagged hook as the force sends the stand flying into the wall.

My head hits the hardwood floors with enough force to elicit an almighty thud. I can feel blood matting the hair at the back of my head. I scramble backwards on my hands and feet, trying to get to anything I can use as a weapon.

“Your daddy isn’t here to save you this time
Lily
.” Even the way he says my name is repugnant. I try to reach my phone but he sees what I’m trying to do and grabs my arm away from the table where my phone is sitting. He grabs the phone in his other hand and throws it to the floor, smashing it underfoot. He slaps me full force across the face before kicking me in the ribs, breaking at least one. The pain shoots through my chest as his boot makes contact.

“Don’t fucking try anything you little bitch. Do you have any idea what I’ve been through in the past 8 years because of you? You were fucking begging for it that night and I gladly obliged, only to be fucking beat up by your prick of a father. It was his own fault he ended up dead.”

Just the mention of what he did to my dad has bile rising in my throat. I’m retching and gagging as he bends down close to me, the stink of him invading my senses.

“Bit of a gag reflex there sweetheart. Don’t worry, I’ll sort that out for you.” My head is pounding and my ribs ache as he pulls me to my feet.

“You’re coming with me.” I try to struggle free but he just shoves me down, straight, into the coffee table, smashing it to pieces below me. I can feel a stabbing pain in my back, but I’m on my feet again before I have a chance to comprehend my injuries.

“I’m not fucking around here Lily. Unless you want me to gut your pretty little roommate and that fancy boyfriend of yours like pigs, you better come quietly.” He answers the shocked look on my face.

“Yes Lily. I did my research. I know all about your life. It’s amazing what you can find out these days. I’ve been staking this place out all week. Saw your pretty little friend going in and out with some guy. She looks like a bit of a slut that one. I’m sure I could have fun with her before killing her.”

“Don’t you fucking touch her.” I manage a kick to his shin before the next punch connects with my face. My lip and nose are bleeding now but I don’t really feel the pain. I’m numb.

“And that boyfriend of yours. He didn’t look too happy last night. You frigid for him too? I’ll enjoy slitting his throat.” The rage I feel is unlike anything else I have ever experienced, even when my dad died.

“I swear to God if you go near him I will fucking kill you.” He pulls a roll of duct tape from his jacket.

“And how are you going to do that you stupid…little...bitch?”

I’m not going to get out of this alive, but maybe if I do as he asks he’ll leave Jess and Brandon alone. I don’t say a word, racking my brain for a plan to get away from him.

“Good girl. I think you’ve done enough talking.” He grips my wrists with one hand while pulling a length of tape free with the other. He breaks it with his disgusting rotten teeth and secures it around my wrists. Once he’s sure I can’t get free he breaks another piece of tape and covers my mouth.

He pulls me out of the apartment and down the stairwell. When we get out the back of the building he has a car sitting waiting - a black Ford Mustang. He opens the trunk and pushes me in headfirst, shoving my legs in and binding them with tape.

“Time to go for a ride Lily.”

As he closes the trunk I realise Jess won’t be back until Monday and I told Brandon I would contact him. No one is going to know I’m missing. As the darkness descends I realise I won’t get a chance to tell Brandon that I believe him. I won’t get the chance to look into his exquisite blue eyes again and tell him how much I love him.