The Alphabet Game the Complete Alpha Series a to X, Y, Z (12 page)

‘Bet that went down well.’

‘Oh it was alright, actually. Sorted a few things out.’

There’s a few moments silence.

‘Ronnie, why didn’t you tell me they’d cut off your allowance?’

‘Oh, it wasn’t a biggie. They’re always trying something, thinking I’ll suddenly grow airs and graces, come back to the family home and marry a member of the aristocracy. They think they’re the Middletons. They once invited Harry to a party, poor misguided fools.’

‘But to go to The Rodeo.’

‘Hey, I love The Rodeo. Stella, I’m not ashamed about that. I was going to tell you about the place once you’d got a bit more hooker. What? What’s that look?’

‘It’s my stepfather’s club. He owns it with Gabe’s dad.’

‘Holy fucking shit, are you kidding me?’

‘I wish I was.’

‘Show me his photo. Have you got one?’

I go into the back of my bag and take out a battered photograph showing my mum, me and Mitch. Though he’s younger on the picture, there’s no mistaking him from how he looks now.

‘Jeez, that’s your stepfather? Yep I’ve seen him. Not very often but he sometimes walks around. Always has a sneer on his face. I thought he was a bouncer.’

‘No that’s my lovely stepfather. Anyway, you were saying.’

‘The Rodeo. I love it there. An old boyfriend got me hooked on the place. Hey hooked, get it?’

I shake my head at her bemused.

‘Anyway, I didn’t mention it to you cos I knew you wouldn’t approve, well the you before Gabe wouldn’t approve. He knows I go there by the way. I’ve seen him.’

Another secret. How many more things don’t I know?

‘But going to meet rich men to cover your missing allowance -’

‘I only do rich men anyway Stella, you daft bint. I need a big package in wallet and dick.’

‘So have you heard from Rob?’

‘He called me a pint-sized prick tease. I think it was supposed to be an insult but I’m thinking of having tee-shirts printed.’ She thrusts out her chest as if she was wearing one.

‘So I spoke to the doctor, they think twenty eight days?’

‘Yep that’s the deal with the folks. Twenty-eight days to stop drinking, which they think is the root cause of my embarrassing “loose” lifestyle and then the allowance is back.’

‘Well I know the detox bit isn’t going to be fun, but you could do worse Ronnie.’

‘I have a double en-suite and there’s a gym. I saw one of the singles first but Daddy wouldn’t allow it. He said it was too Travelodge. My room’s more Marriott apparently. I went in the therapy room this morning. There was a watering can on the side, they’ve told me I can garden,’ she holds out her immaculate manicure. Then she whispers, ‘How’d you grow Cannabis, is it a seed? Smuggle some in, that’d be a riot.’ She shouts riot loudly and the patients that have filtered through for their lunch whilst we are chatting look at her worriedly.

She takes a drink of the water in front of her and sighs. ‘I can’t drink alcohol any more Stel, so I’m not sure I’ll be able to hang with you.’

‘What do you mean?’ I look worried.

‘Well you’re going to remind me of lager, Stella, get it?’

‘Ha bloody ha.’

‘I’m going to have to drink everything virgin. Hey I might have to have a matching cock.’

‘Please leave poor virgin males alone. I’m putting them on the banned list alongside Col.’

She sighs, ‘The lovely, but poor Col. What did he say about me coming in here?’

‘He looked really worried when he told me, but then I just ran off into the apartment to call your Dad. I’ll make sure to catch up with him later.’

‘Check if his pocket’s bulging when you mention me.’

‘Ronnie.’

‘With money. I might save myself for him if it is.’

‘Col is another banned substance, you hear me?’

‘Yes Miss. So why did you have to leave the restaurant then? Must have been bad if you weren’t able to stay to help me.’

I look at her and there’s hurt in her eyes. Of course, she’d have been wondering why I didn’t help.

I explain about my mother and stepfather and the mystery about Gabe and Isabel.

‘So you haven’t asked him about it? No of course you haven’t, you’ve put your head in the bloody sand again haven’t you? Jesus, that’s why the hair’s changed again. It’s going to fall out if you carry on, you know that right?’

‘I just fancied a change,’ I lie. ‘No, he’s going to talk to me today sometime. I’m not sure I want to hear it.’

Ronnie grabs my hand across the table. ‘Listen to me Stel. You do this all the time. Pretend things haven’t happened, avoid confronting them, change your image.’

‘It’s easier.’

‘I know, but the time’s come to do something different. It’s supposed to be the whole getting revenge plot, yet one sentence from your stepfather and Gabe’s the bad guy. Find out what happened and then deal.’

I nod.

‘I like this hair colour on you, so promise me you’ll keep it. You don’t need to keep changing yourself.’

I sigh, ‘I think I need to join you in here. I’m more screwed up than you are.’

Ronnie looks over at the counter.‘I’m just going to grab a bite and then I’m going to go up to my room, I’m feeling a bit rough again. Promise you’ll keep in touch.’

‘Of course I’m going to keep in touch. Who else is going to keep you in line? You’ll be absconding to the nearest bar with the sexiest bloke in here if I don’t watch out.’

‘Speaking of which,’ Ronnie’s eyes follow Harry Taylor as he strolls into the room with Gabe. Gabe is chatting to him with a serious look on his face whilst Harry strolls in looking like he’s called for a back, sack and crack en-route to impregnating half the neighbourhood.

‘Hubba, hubba,’ says a re-animated Ronnie.

‘Another banned substance,’ I warn her. ‘Take it from me.’

‘Nooooo waaaaayyy. I want to take it from him.’

She walks towards them. ‘Hi Gabe,’ she gives him a hug, which he is clearly not expecting since his body language looks as if he’s been touched by a toxic snake.

‘Hey Ronnie.’

She lifts her hand towards Harry, ‘Ronnie Huntington-Jones. Welcome to The Priory.’

‘Harry Taylor.’ The Scottish accent is in full swagger, ‘Hey this place just got a whole lot better.’

Gabe and I exchange worried glances.

This cannot end well.

‘I’ll have a word with the staff, make sure they’re kept separate.’

‘Can’t you get Harry out of there? What’s he in for anyway.’

‘Officially, prescription drugs. Reality, sex addiction.’

‘Did he get that girl pregnant?’

‘No she was faking. It hasn’t done his career any harm to be honest. He’s thinking of retiring into presenting work. Sky want him, now they think he’s just got messed up with painkillers. But I need him to stay there, while I work on a settlement with the girl’s father.’

‘The Judge.’

‘Yes, he wants financial recompense and a membership card.’

‘So he’s actually worse than Harry?’

‘Why because he goes to a sex club?’

‘No because he’s also using his daughter for maximum benefit.’

‘Learning fast kiddo,’ he steers me out of the building.

‘Are we going back to the office now?’

‘Yes, I’ve loads to do. Can we raincheck on the chat until later? I promise I’ll make it worth your while.’

‘Hmmmm, in whatever way?’I purse my lips.

‘In an alphabet way.’

‘Work it is Sir, allow me to personally assist you any way I can this afternoon.’

Gabe groans, ‘Sometimes I hate my job.’

I elbow him in the side.

Chapter 3

I’ve had a productive afternoon, catching up with emails and work that had come in since Friday and I arrive home ready to do something physical after so much time at the computer screen. I head to my apartment to grab my costume and pick up the phone to give my mother a quick ring. I get the machine so leave a message.

‘Hey mum, it was lovely to see you the other night. I’m sorry I had to rush off. I’m okay now. Could we meet for coffee or something this week? I could pop over? Ring me okay?’

I feel positive that I’ve taken another step in my plan, to re-engage with my mother.

I call into Col’s on my way to the pool.

‘Hey Col, I’m swimming for about thirty minutes. Can you get me a Latte and a Tuna Melt to go?’

‘Sure. How was Ronnie?’

‘Resigned to undergoing a twenty-eight day programme to get her allowance back.’

He shrugs his shoulders, ‘She needs to do it because she wants to, not for that. She’ll not make it otherwise.’

‘I know, but what do you do? Hopefully the therapy will help.’

‘I hope so. She’s a nice girl.’

‘She is. I’m sure she’ll be fine.’

‘Right get swimming and this will be ready for you.’

‘Thanks mate.’

I go against type and don’t count lengths, just swim for a solid twenty-five minutes, then quickly shower and head back. My head feels clearer for the exercise and my body feels pumped. I call for my coffee and melt and catch the lift up to the apartment. After eating, I head to the spare room and select a grey tunic with a wrap belt. The tunic buttons down the front. I add thigh high hold up stockings in slate grey and a simple pair of black patent peep toes. I straighten my hair. I’m just about to apply my make-up when the buzzer goes. Damn he’s early.

I answer the intercom. ‘You’re early, come on up.’

‘I’m not sure who you’re expecting but I doubt it was me.’

My stepfather is here.

I let him in and go to sit at the dining table. He follows me and takes one of the other chairs.

‘Thank you for the other night Mitch,’ I start. I can count on one hand the times my stepfather and I have been alone together. I had perfected the art of avoidance to a tee, and it seemed to suit Mitch fine. I didn’t believe there was any love lost between us. Friday night had surprised me.

‘I didn’t do it for you Stella. I did it for myself. I don’t want that man anywhere near me. If he’s with you, he’s near me.’

Okay maybe he’s still who I thought he was after all.

‘I don’t think who I see is any of your business.’

‘Well I don’t feel I have to justify myself to you Stella. Carry on seeing him and see where it gets you. I take it it’s him you’re expecting, seeing as Veronica isn’t around. You’re not exactly flush with friends.’

‘So you just came here to warn me off?’

‘No. I picked up your message on the machine and I’m here to tell you to leave your mother alone. She’s fine as she is. I don’t want you interfering.’

I scrunch up my nose. ‘Interfering? She’s my
mother
.’

‘Yet you hardly see her.’

‘That’s because of you.’ I stab my finger pointedly in his direction.

He stands up. ‘And that’s for a very good reason Stella. Your mother is a very fragile woman. She has been since your father died. Whatever you think of me, I love your mother and I’ve taken care of her for years. She needs handling in a very precise manner. Imagine a china doll on the edge of a mantleshelf. That’s your mother. Do not be the wagging tailed dog that knocks the shelf.’

‘I think I know my mother -’

‘Better than me?’ He laughs. ‘No you don’t. I’m not telling you that you can’t see her. But come for dinner, come when I’m around and keep it occasional.’

I close my eyes, rubbing at the crease between my brows,‘I can’t believe what I’m hearing.’

‘If you truly love your mother Stella, you’ll stop calling. You may as well come around to the idea anyway, because I won’t let you near her any other way.’

I stand up myself, his equal.‘You controlling bastard.’

‘If that’s what you want to think of me, that’s fine.’

He goes into his pocket and draws out an envelope.

‘I won’t be bought off.’

‘I want to discuss a business arrangement with you.’

What?

‘I think you can do a lot better than PA for that sleaze ball.’

I look shocked ‘How do you? -’

‘It didn’t take much to look into how you came to know him. I work with his father remember?’

‘I like it there.’

‘Well I’d like you to go and learn the ropes at The Rodeo, so to speak. If you do a great job you could take over management of the place. That is, The Rodeo in New York, not the London branch.’

My mouth drops open. ‘Wh-what?’

‘It’s the family business. I only have you and Isabel and I don’t want her involved in it. She’s been there, done that and it nearly killed her.’