The Finest Line (26 page)

Mark beamed his satisfaction at
James who was staring incredulously at Mairead, “I too appreciate
what you done here tonight James, but your services are no longer
required.” He whistled loudly.

Three large bald headed thugs
entered the car park, one with the limp body of the other youth
draped over his shoulder, until he dumped him to the floor.

“As you can see,” Mark
continued. “I’m now making sure that Mairead is going to have all
the protection she needs.”

James smirked and nodded, “Yeah,
so I see.” He looked at Mairead contemptuously and turned back to
Mark, “You’re welcome to her.” He walked away, only stopping when
his path led to the new security.

“Let him pass,” Mark watched
James leave and then looked down at Mairead who had sank down and
was kneeling on the floor shivering violently and crying
uncontrollably. He quickly gathered the coat she had borrowed and
put it around her. Taking her in his arms he scooped her up. She
was trembling violently as she leaned her head against his shoulder
and clutched his shirt.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The minimalist furnished
penthouse with its stark white walls had been invaded by colour.
Arrangements of flowers sat on every available space and even in
large vases on the floor. Cards sat next to them and array of
brightly wrapped presents took up most of the glass top table.

Mairead added her own splash of
colour by wearing her favourite dress, much to Mark’s approval.
They sat on the balcony enjoying a late breakfast and the warmth of
the sunny day.

“You look beautiful,” He told
her.

She gave him a weak smile,
“Shouldn’t we go pick Daddy up from the airport?”

Mark wiped his mouth and shook
his head. “I’ve got a man picking him up and bringing him straight
here. He’ll be here after lunch.”

Her excitement bubbled within
her and she was relieved to feel a true emotion instead of the
numbness that had gripped her since the night in the car park. It
made it easier to keep a happy expression and therefore keep Mark
in a good mood.

He’d been reasonably kind to her
since then, though he had made quite clear that her pole dancing
days were over. The only comment he had made about James was “I
just got a feeling we haven’t seen the last of him.”

She had mixed feelings about his
speculation. Most of them wanted it to be true but she feared what
might happen if James was to return. Her own reasoning told her
that it could only bring more sorrow if he did come back. Mark
would not be so patient and she feared what he might do to him. She
already knew what he was capable of.

At least James was alive and
that’s all that mattered. Whatever was to become of her own life
seemed reasonable now, the appropriate price for the pain she had
caused everyone else, a price that was clarified with Mark’s
following question.

“Has your period stopped?”

Mairead smirked and nodded. “Yes
Mark, so you don’t have to get completely hammered to fuck me.

“Good,” Mark was grinning
widely. “I want to be aware of everything. I want to watch you and
listen to you while I’m fucking you, because I’ve got a feeling
that you’re going to be something completely different.”

Her stomach was beginning to
turn again but she smiled anyway. “Oh goody, I can’t wait. Hope I’m
not a disappointment.”

His face grew serious. “You’re
the most exciting woman I’ve ever met in my life. You will never be
a disappointment.”

His sober statement made her
feel uneasy and she quickly changed the subject. “When do the
decorators arrive?”

“Everything is under control,”
Mark assured her. “But your guest list is lacking a little.”

Mairead had lost her enthusiasm
to see her friends but the thought of spending a night with Mark’s
guests was fast losing its appeal. She would be meeting his father,
and there were several celebrities amongst his guests attending
including a few All Black players. None of them interested her.
There were going to be journalists as well and her behaviour would
have to be reserved. She knew that she needed to tip the odds a
little more in her favour.

“Can I go and see Miranda and
her flatmates after breakfast?”

He looked at her critically,
“The stripper?”

“I’d describe her more as a
dancer,” Mairead tried to sound convincing.

“When we go back to Australia
Mairead, your social circle is going to be a lot more refined.” He
sighed. “Go and invite your friends. Don’t go anywhere near that
fucking car park. Be back here in an hour.”

“I will,” She thanked him with a
smile and watched him grunt and turn to the newspaper. She sighed
at his next demand. “Get changed before you go out.”

Back in jeans and t-shirt
Mairead was pleased to get out. It was tempting to keep walking and
never go back, but there was nowhere to go. Every idea she had
contemplated to escape her misery, still lacked the presence of
James. Without him, it didn’t matter where she was miserable.

Approaching Miranda’s apartment,
Mairead wondered how or even if she would be welcomed. She knocked
quietly on the door and waited. The door flung open and Amiri
stared down at her. Seeing him she could barely smile and say
hello.

He had her in his arms in
seconds and carried her into the flat, holding her against him
tightly. Miranda jumped up and took over his embrace as he set her
down. Diana came up behind her and looked very pleased to see
her.

She started trying to apologise
for not saying goodbye and she was in tears before she had
finished. “I’m so very sorry.”

Miranda grasped her hand. “We
were just so worried about you and then when we heard about the
engagement...”

Diana was blunt. “Why the fuck
are you marrying that guy? I thought there was this other
bloke...”

“It’s a really long complicated
story Diana,” Mairead brushed off her tears and tried to look
happy. “Mark and I have had a few ups and downs but we love each
other.”

Diana scoffed, “I’ll put my
money on him that he was the one who gave you those bruises.”

It was Amiri that intervened.
“Would you please shut that gaping hole in your head Diana?”

He grinned at Mairead. “We’re
very happy for you Mairead.”

“Happy enough to come to my
engagement party tonight?” Mairead employed her sweetest smile.

There was an immediate burst of
excited affirmations and even Diana responded positively, “We read
some of the guest list in the paper this morning. Oh my god, we’re
going to be partying with high society.”

“Diana,” Amiri winked at
Mairead. “The local homeless shelter is high society for you.”

Diana’s slipper soared through
the air and hit Amiri’s head with her comment, “You’re fucking
lucky I’m not wearing boots bitch.”

Mairead couldn’t help laughing
at the two but was startled when Amiri jumped to his feet. Instead
of attacking Diana, he ran into his bedroom and came out holding a
yellow A4 sized envelope.

“I have the perfect engagement
present for you Mairead.” He jumped into the space between her and
Miranda. Clutching the paper against his chest his face radiated
with excitement. “This arrived yesterday for me, but I want you to
have it instead.”

He ceremoniously handed her the
envelope and waited eagerly for her to open it. Mairead was excited
as she drew out several documents. The top one was an application
booklet and underneath was a flyer.

She breathed out deeply as she
looked upon the silhouette of a woman on a pole against a blue
background. The title of the flyer read, ‘International Pole
Dancing Championships.’

How was it possible to feel so
thrilled and so devastated at the same time? She could not take her
eyes from the flyer. The dates were less than six months away and
for a moment she allowed herself to imagine thoughts of vigorous
training and preparation, but reality set in and she died a little
inside.

She pretended to be excited for
him.

“Thank you so much Amiri. We’ll
have to get together soon and start making some plans, once I get
this engagement out the way.”

Amiri hugged her. “You just put
your foot down with that fiancée of yours. I heard him on the news
saying some bullshit about Aussie but your place is here girl with
your feet planted firmly on a pole.”

How she wished that was true and
how bitterly ironic it was that she could finally see that life of
happiness that she had always wanted, a life with James and friends
that she loved, doing something that she truly cared about.

She left when it was politely
possible and walked back to the hotel. The manager greeted her on
arrival and asked if she cared to see the decorations in the
function room. She declined and went back to the room.

Mark was out and she laid on the
lounge and wallowed in her gloom. She was beginning to drift off
when there was a quiet knock. Sighing, she went to open the door
and found herself swept into a crushing hug.

“Daddy,” Mairead held onto him
long after the initial embrace and tears poured down her face. When
she was finally able to release him, she saw that he was equally
moved.

“You came early,” she managed to
say.

Sean nodded, his half smile
showing concern. “Are you alright, sweetheart?”

She knew it was time to put her
dismal thoughts away and be the excited girl who had just become
happily engaged. “I’m wonderful daddy. Actually I’m totally
exhausted. There’s been so much to do to get ready for tonight. I’m
so glad you came. Mark wanted to be here when you arrived.”

“I caught an early plane,” His
mood had not changed. “I had hoped to see you alone.”

She led him to the lounge and
sat down next to him. “I know it’s been sudden Daddy, and I know
that you’re worried but honestly, I’ve never been happier. Mark is
so good to me and we’re going to have an incredible life
together.”

“In Australia,” Sean sighed and
shook his head, his face becoming even more serious. “Mairead,
listen to me. I love you and there is nothing you could ever do
that would change that.”

His words unsettled her and her
pretence of happiness was threatening to crumble. Jumping up she
headed to the kitchenette. “I love you too Dad, so much so that I
bought your favourite coffee and those cookies you love.”

He would not be swayed. “The
only thing I want from you Mairead is your happiness and I’ll do
anything to ensure it.”

She returned his sober
expression. “Then let me marry Mark with your blessing.”

He did not get a chance to
answer as Mark came through the door, his face registering surprise
to see Sean, who rose from the lounge.

“Mr. Kavanagh,” Mark smiled and
shook hands with him. “We were expecting you a little later.” He
shot a look at Mairead and then added, “Very delighted to meet you
Sir.”

Mairead watched nervously as her
father looked at Mark and breathed a little easier when he grinned,
“I’m full of surprises Mark, and always a little wary of anyone who
wants to marry my daughter.”

“I can understand that Sir,”
Mark seemed a little amused. “I trust Mairead has assured you of
our happiness.”

Sean nodded. “She has and you
both have my blessing.”

Mairead watched with relief and
a little surprise as they settled into conversation. There was also
a little sadness to see her father’s acceptance of the situation.
He had been her protector all her life and had only ever trusted
James to assist him in this role.

Now he was surrendering her to
Mark and she couldn’t help feel that this was the result of the
years of trouble she had caused him. Sean Kavanagh was finally free
from his duty to her and probably a little relieved. She didn’t
blame him for a moment.

Her father excused himself late
in the afternoon, “I have a little work to do and hopefully I’ll
get some rest before your party.”

He had just shook Mark’s hand
and was hugging Mairead when the elevator doors opened and a tall
fair-haired man stepped out. He was about the same age as her
father but with a much sterner face and his shirt outlined a
surprisingly muscled body. He stopped when he saw Sean.

Mairead felt her father stiffen
before holding his hand out. “Richard, it seems we are meeting
again under more favourable circumstances.”

Richard Lewis accepted the
handshake and smiled. “Always a pleasure Sean and I’m relieved to
see that this lovely young woman has obviously inherited her
mother’s features.”

Sean laughed, “Something that we
can agree upon and the son appears a lot more affable than the
father.”

It was Richard’s turn to laugh.
“He does have a few flaws, but he’s learning and I certainly can’t
fault his choice of wife.”

Richard took Mairead’s hand as
she politely held it out, his eyes studying her face, “Wonderful to
meet you Mairead.”

Mairead managed to smile shyly,
though she felt very discomfited by his presence, “You too
Sir.”

She hoped her father would
change his mind and stay but Sean was already politely excusing
himself.

She kissed him one more time and
watched the elevator doors close on him, leaving her alone with
Richard. He was looking at her intently and she was relieved when
Mark came out.

“Dad,” he seemed surprised to
see him. “I didn’t think we would see you until later.”

Richard’s eyes never left her
even when he replied. “You never told me what a pretty girl you
were taking for a wife.”

Mark smiled thinly. “I thought I
would surprise you.”

Richard eyed him. “Shall we go
inside?”

Mairead sat close to Mark while
he talked to Richard and was uncomfortably aware of the father’s
attention, his eyes scanning her from head to foot.