Touching Angel's Desires (39 page)

Angel seated herself in the virtually-empty restaurant. Boris, the
duty manager, came over with her usual strong coffee before taking her order of
a full English, no black pudding. She sat staring out of the window at the lashing
rain which made the gardens look miserable and gloomy. Her head was aching,
picturing Dan, wondering how he was feeling this morning. Even without knowing
her involvement, he would be furious at the situation after he had done so well
bringing Stacie’s confidence back up. She had been
unrecognizable
last
night at the ball—glowing and radiantly happy—until she had encountered Larry.

Angel had never seen anyone look as devastated as Stacie had last
night. She forced down her guilt. The deed was done and now she had to accept the
consequences, whatever they might be. The vital thing was to play dumb, if she
was to win her man. Poor Stacie had had no idea there was even a competition.

She knew Dan would need some space after Stacie left. But he would
get over his little crush in time. Angel would just have to be patient, kind,
and be there for him when he came to her for comfort, as he inevitably would.
Stacie would never come back to Desires again. She was sure of it.

Her breakfast arrived and she pushed it around on the plate for a
while, suddenly not as hungry as she thought she was. She chewed on a piece of
mushroom and considered her next move. There wasn’t one, she decided in the
end, dipping her sausage in her fried egg yolk. She would have to wait and see
how Dan played it. She gave up on the breakfast, stood up and headed over to
the bar, ordering another cup of coffee.

Something prompted her to turn. She didn’t know what it was, maybe a
waft of scent, maybe some kind of ESP, but she turned to look at the door, just
as Dan and Stacie walked in. Reflexively, she plastered on a smile. Stacie
smiled back.

Angel tried to stop herself from staring, turning back to the bar so
she did not watch the couple as they walked across the restaurant. How was it
possible? Why would she want to stay around? Even if she had decided to sleep
here last night—after all it had been late when the whole to-do happened,
surely she would have wanted to be up and out first thing. But no, here she
was, blithely having breakfast with Dan. To look at her, you wouldn’t think
anything was wrong. She didn’t even look all that. Face scrubbed bare, hair
hanging loose, wearing jeans and what looked like one of Dan’s T-shirts.

She turned the bar stool to one side, quickly glancing over to them
to see where they were. There they were, sitting together at a table, cosy as
you like. She didn’t even
realize
she was staring until Stacie glanced over at her. Angel quickly
looked away.

She forced her eyes back, looking down at the bar, ignoring the
coffee that sat steaming at her elbow. How could this be? What had Dan said to
keep her in the club? She surreptitiously watched them start on their
breakfast.

A movement caught Angel’s eye and she turned to see Larry walking in
the room. He scanned the restaurant then headed straight over to Stacie and
Dan’s table. Angel wished she could hear what they were saying. It was clear
that Larry was
apologizing
yet again. Stacie looked unimpressed, continuing to eat her
breakfast, a superior look on her face.

Oh Lord, now he was going down on his knees. Angel watched Dan stare
out of the window, looking as if were trying not to laugh. She shook her head, still
in shock, hardly able to understand what had happened. Stacie had been a
snivelling wreck last night—now look at her, brimming with confidence. She’d come
back fighting.

All Angel could imagine was that Dan had talked her around and
convinced her to stay. There could not be any other explanation. Or—a horrible
thought struck her—maybe unless he had told her the truth about the way he
felt. But, no. Surely they would have left Desires together if that had been
the case.

“What on earth is going on?” Angel muttered to herself. Stacie stood
up then, pushing away her half-eaten breakfast, walking, no, stalking away from
Larry where he still knelt on the floor at her feet. Dan hurried to catch up
with her. As they approached, Angel looked at her with an expression of
enquiry, but the dratted girl just strolled past her as if she weren’t there.

She watched Dan and Stacie leave the restaurant, staring after them
for a long time after they had gone. A clearing of the throat brought her back,
and she turned to see Larry standing over her. She sighed, knowing what was
coming. Larry looked unimpressed, not happy in the slightest. He pulled out a barstool
next to her and took a seat.

“Are you going to end my contract?” he asked, coming straight to the
point. He sounded pissed off and a little concerned.

Angel raised her head, looking directly into his eyes. “Don’t worry.
I’m not going to end your contract. Just keep your head down for a short time
until this blows over. I can’t believe I’ve just witnessed her having breakfast
with Dan,” she said. “I thought she’d be long gone.”

“I guess your plan didn’t quite work.”

“No it didn’t.”

“So, you still don’t have your man.”

“Don’t get smart,” she snapped.

“I’m not. Just saying it how I see it. And how I see it, you’ve
lost.”

“I can still terminate your contract just for being mouthy,” she warned
him. She didn’t need to hear his smart mouth, even though he was right. Yes, it
all went wrong, but how? Given Stacie’s state last night, she honestly thought that
was it, she would be out.

“You wouldn’t do that,” he said, leaning forward and getting in her
face.

She didn’t back away, holding her ground. “Don’t you dare fuck with
me, Larry. You really don’t want to know what I’m capable of.”

“Yeah, I do if last night’s fuck-up is anything to go by,” he said, glowering
at her. He was right. But she couldn’t be seen to back down on this. He had to
know who was boss.

“I suggest you stop trying to be the big man,” she said, putting
every ounce of authority she possessed into her tone and expression.

“Hang on, I did you a favour last night.”

“Yes and you were rewarded for it. But now it’s over. You are an
employee. What else do you need, my blood?”

“If you’re offering, although I’d prefer your pussy.”

“Get the fuck lost, no chance.”

Larry leaned away from her, folding his arms, an unpleasant smile
creeping over his face. “What room is Dan’s? Oh yeah, twenty-two isn’t it? I might
just have a little wander up there and I might just forget about our little
agreement and just happen to tell Dan and Stacie the truth, that you brought
her away from him for me to sink my teeth into.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she said, jumping up in a panic.

“Would you like to bet,” he said standing up also, glaring down at
her. Then his face changed. “Tell you what. I’ll be nice. I’ll give you some
time to think about it. I’ll be leaving about three o’clock, I’d quite like to
fuck you before then.”

Angel closed her eyes. If Larry blabbed it would mean the end of his
job here, but it would also mean the end of any hope for her and Dan. Was he
bluffing? Was he really prepared to risk his job to hurt her? But if she gave
in to him, he would always have this over her. Would it be that much of a price
to pay, to let Larry fuck her every now and again to keep him sweet? What was
Dan worth to her?
Everything
, her
mind whispered.

“Fine,” she blurted, before she could change her mind.

He laughed. “I’ll be in touch, baby,” then walked away, waving at
her over his shoulder. Angel glared at him, hating him more than anything,
hating the fact that she had handed him this hold over her. She should have
known better. She knew what he was.

“Would you like another coffee?” asked Boris, taking her full cup of
now-cold coffee away.

“Yes, please,” she replied. Maybe she should still terminate Larry’s
contract. She knew people who knew people who could scare him so badly he’d
never blab a word. But she abhorred violence except when it was absolutely
necessary. The thought of what level would be required to make sure he never
talked sickened her. Could she do that to another person? Even to a person as
vile as Larry?

The coffee arrived and Angel was no closer to a decision. Why on
earth had Dan chosen to come and work at Desires? Could he not have found
somewhere else to earn the extra cash? If it was not for him she wouldn’t be in
the predicament at all.

Oh God, Dan. Having brought him to mind, all she could picture was
Dan’s gorgeous brown eyes, his slow sexy smile and his naked body, bending over
her, bringing her to sweet release. She shivered, feeling damp between her
legs, imagining him running his hands all over her body, loving the way he
teased her with his lips, and the time he had her begging. It was as if he
brainwashed her—she would do anything for him. He had made her weak and
silly—just like any other simpering female. And there he was, doing it again,
taking over her mind and body without even being present.

Angel finished her coffee with no decision made. She wandering
through the club, taking the roundabout way back to reception, making a cursory
round of the rooms, checking everything was being cleaned up, doing her best to
make civil conversation with the cleaning staff. She struggled though, not
really sure how to handle anything any longer, not really caring, if she were
honest with herself. How had she gone from being strong, tough, capable,
totally in charge, to weak,
wimpish
, waiting for Dan
and Larry to decide how her life would pan out?

Back at reception, the day girls and Bailey were busy at the desk.

“What are you doing here,” Angel asked Bailey, puzzled. “I thought
you weren’t in till later.” Angel inhaled a deep breath, not being sure what to
say, if anything.

“I stayed in the room overnight. After what happened last night I
thought the girls might need an extra hand on the desk. You might have stuff
you need to deal with.”

Angel was about to reply when the main front door opened and
Chrissie and Jason entered.

“I never knew they were coming in,” Angel said in surprise.

“They have the afternoon booked with Dan and Stacie,” Bailey
explained. Angel didn’t need to hear anything else.

Angel watched Chrissie and Jason walk toward her, greeting her with
a smile.

“Hello there,” Angel said, heading around the other side of the
reception desk to kiss them on their cheeks. “So you’re here to spend the afternoon
with Dan and Stacie?”

“Yes, we are,” Chrissie replied.

Just when did they all get so
cozy
? “What are your plans?”

“Not really sure, just having a chat and lunch, I think,” Chrissie
said, looking at Jason.

“Well I’m sure you’ll have a good time. It’s a shame you weren’t
able to come to the ball last night.”

“We wanted to, but we just couldn’t get a babysitter,” Chrissie
replied.

“Shame, it was a good night.” She turned to Shannon. “Have you
informed Dan and Stacie they are here?”

“I’m just about to, Angel.”

Angel smiled goodbye and walked away to her office. She opened the
door feeling utterly alone, and sank down in her chair. Larry came to mind. She
wished for once she could have someone to talk to about the situation, but she
dared not trust anyone here.

She sat at her desk, her head in her hands. Tears streamed down her
cheeks. She wished none of this mess had ever happened. The worst case scenario
was that Larry told Dan what Angel had done. She could always just deny it.
Would Dan believe her? Probably not, after what happened with Mike last week.
Maybe she needed to start being nice. She stood, an idea occurring.

Angel walked rapidly to reception, needing to catch Dan and Stacie. They
were just greeting Chrissie and Jason, the four of them exchanging kisses like
old friends. Stacie looked better than she had that morning in the restaurant, wearing
jeans and tight-fitted T-shirt with a waterfall cardigan over the top.

She walked toward them. Stacie stepped back, hiding behind Dan. Angel
smiled at the foursome.

“Good afternoon,” she said. “I hope you are all well. I would like
to take this opportunity to offer you a freebie, on the club, a room to
yourself. Do as you please, and have lots of fun.”

Chrissie, Jason and Stacie headed toward the double doors while Dan
waited to get the key off Bailey. Angel stood next to him at the desk, her
mouth dry, feeling so anxious her knees shook.

“How is Stacie?” she finally asked, desperate to say something.

“She is okay. Just taking things steady at the moment.”

“That’s good. I saw Larry, earlier, in the restaurant. I wasn’t sure
whether to intervene, but it looked like Stacie had things under control.”

“Which room?” Bailey asked.

“Oh, the TV lounge,” Angel said. Bailey got the key and handed it to
Dan.

Angel stood anxiously near, not sure what else to say to keep him
with her.