Chapter 47
CHAPTER 47
LEAH
T he elevator door closes, my eyes locked on Gabriel’s until the last moment. What was he thinking? He could have stopped this. Given me an out. Coffee with Vince is the last place I want to be right now. But then maybe Gabriel is right. Going for coffee now means I can set Vince straight. He never was good at taking a hint and I know he won’t let whatever it is, go, until he says his piece.
Vince steps closer, and I move away.
“What do you want?” I say, turning to face him.
“Don’t be like that, babe,” he says, his face softening as he stares at me. “I’ve missed you.”
I stifle my laugh with a cough.
“Missed me?” I choke on the words, but I’m given a reprieve as the elevator opens into the reception area, letting us out.
Vince’s hand moves to the small of my back, so I sidestep. My skin crawls at the contact. I can remember my mother saying to me years earlier. When you go off someone, you can feel your skin crawl when they touch you. I never believed her until now.
He thankfully takes the hint as we walk in silence to the coffee shop around the corner.
“What can I get you?” he asks. “You get us a seat.”
“A decaf latte,” I say, which causes him to pull a face.
I leave him to order while I find us a table. There’s one in the window, out in the open. At least here he’ll have to behave himself.
He eventually returns with two mugs of coffee.
“Decaf,” he says, placing the mug in front of me.
“Thank you,” I respond, wrapping my hands around it and staring at the steaming liquid.
Vince sits down opposite me, silence descending.
“I’m sorry,” he says eventually, his eyes staring into mine.
I used to love his blue eyes, but now all I can think about are dark, almost black eyes, surrounded by ridiculously long lashes. Lashes that would make most women jealous.
I shrug, not sure what he wants me to say.
He runs a hand through his slicked back hair. I want to laugh, as I can only imagine how sticky his palm will now be.
“Don’t be like this. Talk to me,” he pleads.
I sigh. “What do you want me to say, Vince? It’s okay?” I shake my head at him. “Because guess what? It’s not okay. There is another woman who is pregnant because of you. You turfed me out of my home and moved her in. You threw ten years of our life together away, without even a thought for my feelings.”
I’m surprised when he has the good grace to look sheepish.
“I know. I could have handled it better.” He runs a hand over his face this time, pausing at his mouth.
“You think? ”
“Look, I’m sorry. It was all a lie. I miss you. I want us to give it another try.”
He reaches across the table for my hand. Which I pull away.
I stare at him wide-eyed.
“You’re kidding, right?” I say.
“No, I mean it.”
His hand comes across the table again. This time when I move, I spill coffee onto the table, just avoiding my skin.
“Don’t be like this. You love me,” he pleads.
“No, Vince, I don’t,” I say.
“You do. I hurt you, I get that, but we can overcome that. Just come home, give me another chance. I love you, Leah. I always have.”
His whiney tone is grating on my nerves.
I shake my head, unable to believe what I’m hearing. This is a man who was threatening me with solicitors less than six months ago. Now he’s here begging for a second chance.
“What about Yasmin?”
I’m amazed as I watch the muscles in his shoulders relax. Oh wow, he thinks he has a chance.
“That’s over. She and I are history. Everything got out of hand. Yas, she was supposed to be a bit of fun, something to lighten the load. The boys, they encouraged it,” he tries to explain, as if somehow, that makes everything magically better.
“What about the baby? You can’t just ignore the child you created.”
A flush of red tinges his cheeks.
“It’s not mine,” he says, his eyes dropping to the table.
My eyebrows raise at his words. Did I just hear correctly that the child isn’t his?
“Excuse me? Not yours?” I say, slowly.
My mind goes back to the night at Tristan’s Bar, a night that set me on my current path. A night when Yasmin had purposefully told me she and Vince were having a baby.
I can no longer contain my laughter.
I look up to find Vince staring at me.
“No. It’s her ex-boyfriend’s. He dumped her when he found out she was pregnant, but had second thoughts and has come back,” Vince explains, looking at me, as if I’ve lost my mind.
I dab at the tears that are now freely running down my face.
“So, you thought you’d settle and come back for me?”
“No,” he says firmly, but I know he’s lying. Vince has never done well on his own. He can’t cook. I wonder if he has learned how to use the washing machine.
“I love you, Leah. I always have.” His tone is pleading.
“I’m sorry Vince, but it’s too late. I’ve moved on,” I say.
“Impossible. You love me,” he says again, reaching for my hand.
This time I place it in my lap.
“No, I don’t. And it’s probably the reason you had an affair. We’d grown apart.”
“No, it’s not. She tricked me.”
I stare at him, giving him a small smile. “Tricked you into bed? I don’t think so.”
He sinks back into the chair. “You and I, we were having difficulties,” he adds, as if that makes everything okay.
“We were planning our wedding. Not much more civil than that,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest, wondering how I got myself into this situation.
“I got cold feet. Can you blame a man? Marriage is a big step. But it’s one I’m willing to take now. We can get married this weekend. Go to a registry office. Stella and Nat can be our witnesses.”
He sits forward, excitement on his face at his suggestion .
Does the numpty not realise it takes at least four weeks to get a marriage licence? This isn’t the movies, but he gets a gold star for enthusiasm.
Instead of correcting him, I shake my head. “As I said before, we’re over.”
He leans forward, “But-”
I cut him off. “I’m pregnant.”
Vince sags back in his chair. “What? How? Who?”
“You know how,” I say. “As for who, it doesn’t matter.”
I desperately need to leave this place, go back to the office, and find comfort in Gabriel’s arms. Everything with him has been perfect, despite us only being together for a few months. He has never made any false promises. He has always been open and honest. Whatever our future is, it will be better than my past. I bet money on it.
“I don’t care,” he blurts out. “We can raise your baby together. I love you and I know you love me. The spare room is a nursery. It’s all ready and waiting.”
I stare at Vince open-mouthed.
“You’re willing to accept my child as your own?” I ask, intrigued and horrified in equal measure.
“Yes, if it means you’ll come back,” he says, his head nodding frantically like a bobbing dog.
“And the nursery is already set up?”
I repeat his words slowly, his head bobbing enthusiastically. How on earth did I stay with this man for ten years?
“It is. I have bought and prepared everything,” he says, sounding smug.
I stand up.
“Goodbye Vince. Please don’t ever contact me again. I wish you a nice life.”
I turn and head for the door, only stopping when a hand clamps around my upper arm.
I stare down at the offending limb .
“Let me go, Vince,” I say, shaking my arm.
But his hand remains firm.
“You are not walking away from me,” he hisses. “I deserve better than that.”
“No Vince, you don’t. I deserve better than you. You think I’ll accept being second choice? That I want a nursery that was decorated and chosen by the woman you left me for? I most definitely deserve better than that and always have. I suggest you look up housekeepers. You’ll find one who can fulfil your needs.”
My heart rate increases when his hand remains.
“When did you become such a bitch?” Vince spits, his eyes wide.
“When I realised being a doormat wasn’t conducive to my wants and needs.” My eyes drop to where his hand has tightened further on my bicep. “Sorry Vince, but I really need to leave now. I have a meeting to get back to.”
A man from a nearby table gets up and moves towards us.
“I think the lady wants you to let her go, man,” he says, coming to stand next to me.
“Stay out of this. My fiancée and I are having a conversation.” Vince hisses.
“No Vince, this conversation, and our engagement are over. Please remove your hand and let me go. If not, I will ask this kind gentleman to call the police,” I say as my heart races.
I don’t think Vince would ever hurt me, but there’s a kind of maniacal look in his eyes that I don’t recognise.
My rescuer makes a slight move towards us, and Vince drops his hand.
“Fine, but when you regret this, don’t think you can come crawling back,” he says
“Don’t worry, Vince. I promise I won’t. ”
The gentleman looks at me. “Will you be all right?” he asks kindly.
I nod.
“Thank you,” I say before making my way to the door without looking back.
I know the guy is waylaying Vince, allowing me time to make my escape. Stepping out and into the sunshine, my heart lightens. If I hurry, I’ll be just in time for Gabriel’s meeting.