Chapter 23 #3
A fuse lit inside me whenever we laid eyes on each other.
The air became static and I let him lead me into his den of depravity, of limitless pleasure.
Each time, I knew him better. I grew used to the way he slept, the smell of him, watching him dress in the morning.
Alfie the billionaire tycoon was becoming Alfie the human being, and I was sinking irrevocably further into his clutches.
By the time Saturday came, he was all I could think about. That was until my hands were in the dirt and I became absorbed by my greatest passion in life.
The spring sun bore down on my shoulders, and the rhythm of my spade falling in and out of the dirt was almost meditative.
The garden was a hive of activity. Between parents and teachers I had more volunteers than I’d expected.
I’d been nervous this morning when I’d had to climb up on the picnic table to give Bradley and everyone else their marching orders.
It had suddenly hit me that everyone was counting on me to get this right.
But now that everyone was hard at work and I was in the swing of things, we were making good progress.
I was digging out the brick pathway. I hadn’t been able to stretch the budget enough to buy the bricks but I’d managed to arrange a donation from a local construction company.
I slammed my spade into the dirt, taking out my frustration on the earth that that same company had called me this morning cancelling the donation.
They had excuses but it didn’t really matter.
I chewed my lip as I dug into the ground, trying to figure out a plan B with precisely zero resources.
Setbacks were normal, I told myself. You’re Lola O’Connell. You’re a showgirl. You can figure it out. It was something I said to myself even when I didn’t feel it. My version of ‘fake it till you make it’.
“Lola!” I looked up to see Mrs Reed was walking over to me, her graying hair pulled back into a clip, her glasses hanging from a chain around her neck.
She’d told me to call her Rebecca but I couldn’t.
It felt wrong to call a teacher by their first name, she’d always be Mrs Reed to me.
“A delivery has just arrived, a donation of compost bags. I didn’t know we’d arranged that? ”
“We haven’t.” This was either going to be helpful or someone just wanted to get rid of their unusable stuff and had decided to dump it on us. “I’ll go and take a look.”
“Alright, also there’s someone here to see you. They’re parked out front.”
“Who? Another volunteer?” I put down my spade, wiping the sweat from my forehead.
“I don’t think so. He’s very good looking, expensive suit, expensive car. He certainly doesn’t look like a volunteer.”
Oh hell. Suddenly I was very grateful that Natalie and Ryan had football practice and couldn’t make it here today. I thanked her and hurried out of the garden.
I found Alfie in the car park, looking sorely out of place next to a delivery of compost bags.
I could feel him studying me as I approached but behind his Raybans it was impossible to tell what he thought of my sweat patches and dirty clothes.
I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, though. I was in my element today.
“What are you doing here?” I asked him, glad that there was no one around to watch us.
“I want to pull you away,” he said, slipping his hand into mine. “I’ve arranged to take you to London. We have seats for the opera. You said you’d never been before.” Had I said that? Probably, during one of our post-coital conversations.
I blinked at him. “Alfie, I’m busy.” I gestured at my dirt-covered self, at the bags of compost. “You knew I had plans today.”
“But you have volunteers. You have Bradley. He can do this for you.”
I raised my eyebrows. Suddenly, the surprise visit was making a lot more sense. “So, that’s what this is about? Getting me away from Bradley?”
“No, that’s just a bonus.”
I sighed, trying not to be frustrated by his attempt to manipulate me. Again. “Alfie, Bradley isn’t a threat and I want to be here. It’s my project. I’ve been working on it for months.”
“You shouldn’t be working for free. They’re taking advantage of you.”
“Don’t.” I held up a hand. “Don't start up with that manipulative crap. I’m having a really good day. Please don’t ruin it. Either help out or go.”
“Help?” He arched an eyebrow. “What kind of help?”
“I don’t know.” I threw up my hands. I couldn’t imagine him digging in his Armani suit. I just said the first thing I could think of. “I need bricks.”
“Bricks?”
“Yeah, for the pathway I’m building. We were supposed to be getting them donated by a construction company but it’s fallen through. I need bricks.”
He stared at me like I’d just grown another head. He wasn’t smiling. He’d offered me a beautiful evening at the opera, and I had asked for bricks instead. I felt guilty. He’d obviously put in some effort for me but no, this was my project and I wasn’t giving it up.
“Nevermind. I should get back to work. I’ll see you soon?” I looked around and to make sure we were alone and kissed him quickly.
Bradley chose that moment to appear and of course his shirt was off, tucked into his back pocket.
“Hey, your teacher said we’d had another delivery.
Is it the good stuff or is it… Oh nice! All unopened?
Is it peat free? Awesome!” He checked the compost bags, taking a moment to register Alfie’s presence.
When he did, he shone the same bright smile he gave everybody.
“Hey, it’s Alfie Tell, right? We met briefly last Saturday.
” He stuck out his hand. “It’s nice to see you again. ”
Alfie took his hand though I didn’t miss the way he brushed off the dirt Bradley left behind on his palm.
“Have you come to see what Lola can do now you’ve hired her for Harrington? If her designs for this place are any indication, she’s going to do a great job.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Alfie’s tone was like ice.
Bradley looked between us, picking up on the tension. I gave him an apologetic smile.
“I’ll start moving these.” He picked up one bag and then added another.
“Can you handle all that? These things are heavy.”
“Told you, my muscles can handle anything.”
I laughed and thanked him. I turned to say goodbye to Alfie but froze when I saw him picking up a bag. “What are you doing?”
“Helping,” he said as if it was the first time he’d ever said the word. Like Bradley, he picked up two bags at once. “Put a third on top. I can handle another.”
I shook my head but did as he asked. If he wanted to engage in a one-sided pissing contest with Bradley, he could go right ahead. Together, we walked back to the garden.
The sea of people in old clothes and mud boots paused to look at Alfie.
He stuck out like a sore thumb. I expected that with being something of a public figure he was used to it because he didn’t seem to notice being stared at.
He dumped the bags where I told him and on his insistence, I showed him around.
“You organised this whole project?” he asked.
“Yeah, I made up a poster for Mrs Reed to put up at the school to ask for volunteers and I called different places asking for material donations. What do you think?”
“I think I’ve never seen how a lack of money can be an asset before.”
“Oh yeah, you have to get resourceful when you don’t have a lot to work with.”
“Are you and Bradley working together on whatever that is?” He waved in Bradley’s direction who was working hard at the bottom of the garden.
“The wildlife pond? No, I’m working on the pathway that doesn’t have bricks anymore. I’ll have to figure that out.” I led him down the garden, careful not to hold his hand. I didn’t want any more rumours than I’d already started. Small town gossip spread fast.
“Hey,” Bradley waved at Alfie, “tell Lola we need to get a wildlife camera, will you? I’ve told her the kids will love it.”
“And I’ve told you we don’t have the budget for it,” I called back, laughing. Alfie gave me a quizzical look so I explained. “It records any activity in the pond, so the kids will be able to watch it back and see if any animals come and use it. Frogs, birds, rabbits. You know.”
“You don’t have the budget?”
“All spent. Those things can cost a lot of money. Don’t worry, maybe the school will do a fundraiser or something.
” I could feel him staring at me behind his shades.
I didn’t know what it meant, all I knew was that it felt like my two worlds were colliding and they didn’t seem to be moulding together well.
“I should get back to work,” I said, picking up my spade. “Do you want to help or…?”
“No.”
“Okay, it’s not everyones cup of tea I guess. I’ll see you tonight?” He took my spade, shaking his head at my name being painted on it with nail varnish. I’d even painted on little flowers. “Don’t judge, it’s my favourite spade.”
“Of course it is.” He handed it back to me, his thumb brushing over the inside of my wrist. I watched him walk away. Somehow, that touch was more intimate than a kiss.
I felt like the whole group was watching me. My cheeks flushed, I got back to work. Alfie wasn’t one to let things go and I had a feeling he was going to make me pay somehow for not going with him today.