31 #3
Jonathan crushed his mouth to Liz’s kissing her fiercely.
After spending six whole days with her it was killing him to know she was going back to her husband.
His patience was waning. It was bad enough before their trip away, stealing a few hours a day with her before she returned to her other life.
But now, that he’d been with her constantly, he would be going out of his mind. Jonathan reluctantly released her.
“Tomorrow? At nine?” he confirmed.
“Yes, tomorrow. Wait ten minutes and then come out.”
“I know. God I’m going to miss you.” His tone was a mix of longing and exasperation.
“Me too, babe.”
Liz took her case handle and wheeled it away from him as Jonathan watched her disappear through into the customs area.
She stopped and reached into her bag and wiped her mouth with a wet wipe, then quickly applied some fresh lipstick, fluffed her hair and plastered on her best fake smile as she walked through the electric doors into the arrivals lounge.
JEROME EYED LIZ FROM the edge of the bed where he was sitting.
The room was in total disarray. Clothes dropped absent-mindedly on the bed where the open suitcase lay.
Bags of shoes cluttered the floor and the walk in closet had drawers open showcasing Liz’s immense collection of clothes.
Liz was unpacking her suitcase, hanging her unworn clothes she’d flung on the bed, back into her closet.
She’d brought back the children a few gimmicky presents and chocolates, which were obviously bought from the airport departure lounge.
Little thought had been put into them but they had served their purpose of occupying the children for most of the evening.
Jerome had put them to bed leaving them time to discuss her trip.
He was itching to tell her about the fashion show but he was biding his time until she’d told him everything.
This was her time and he didn’t want to overshadow her successful promotional contract with the news of him securing the show for her.
It was his way of showing his commitment to her work and to some extent their marriage, their partnership.
Her movements were hurried, Jerome noted.
She seemed unduly agitated again as she described her stay and how the shoot went.
Something was seriously off and Jerome wasn’t entirely sure what it was.
She looked tired and he was convinced she’d lost more weight.
She carried on talking, pulling out various items of clothing.
She rattled off a description of the resort and spoke highly of the team she’d worked with.
He regarded her intently, not interrupting as she moved quickly around the room, never looking across at him, busying herself with the task in hand.
Liz reached into her suitcase and shook out a thin folded sweater, to slip onto the hanger.
The sharp movement sent a small plastic bottle, which must have been wrapped within the garment, bouncing on to the hard wood floor, then stopping by the door.
Jerome lifted himself off the bed and paced over to retrieve it.
He picked it up and looked at the blank label, then turned to Liz.
“What are these?” he gently shook the dark brown bottle containing the pills.
Liz’s face dropped as her eyes darted to the bottle. “There… um, there just some pills. They speed up your metabolism. You know, like fat burners.” Jerome narrowed his eyes at her. Liz’s nervous reaction to the bottle was enough for him to put two and two together.
“They’re slimming pills.” Jerome ground out He’d seen enough various pills disguised as a different array of either fat burners or herbal metabolism increasers, over his time in the gym.
All of them were a disguise for stimulants that suppressed the appetite but caused insomnia and hyperactivity.
Suddenly everything started falling into place; her agitation, lack of sleep, weight loss.
Jeez, he was totally blind, how had he not realised?
He shook his head, annoyed at himself, again for not being aware.
It was so obvious now and yet he hadn’t picked up on any of it.
That fact alone had Jerome’s thoughts shooting off into different directions.
How had he not seen the obvious signs? He took a deep breath knowing exactly why.
He was preoccupied and though he was trying to be more present physically now, he obviously wasn’t paying enough attention.
“How long have you been taking them?” Jerome asked quietly.
“Not long… um about two weeks,” Liz answered nervously, suddenly very preoccupied with the hanger in her hand.
Jerome’s tense shoulders sagged a little, pleased she didn’t deny taking them, he couldn’t face another fight.
“You’re not taking any more, Liz.” She was about to say something but Jerome glared at her. “No more. You’ve lost so much weight and you look tired. Are you sure it’s only a couple of weeks?”
She nodded.
“Why Liz? You know how bad these are.” Jerome rubbed his forehead with his hand, clearly puzzled and exasperated.
Liz averted her eyes. “I just needed to lose a bit of weight and it just wouldn’t shift. Since I stopped smoking I just can’t seem to keep my weight stable. I was just going to take them until I got the I-Gea contract and then I was going to stop.”
“Oh Liz, darling, they’re addictive and dangerous to your health. You know they are.” Jerome paced over to her. “You really don’t need to lose any weight, you’re skin and bones.”
Liz slumped onto the bed. She felt exhausted and jumpy, all at the same time.
“I bet you’ve hardly slept in the five days. And I can tell you’ve hardly eaten.” He tried hard not to sound as if he was chastising her, but the truth was he despaired sometimes at her actions. Actions that could cost her far more than what she thought she could gain.
She held her head in her hands and shook her head.
“I just want to make a career for myself and there’s so much pressure, too much competition.
There’s always someone younger, prettier or slimmer and I just can’t get past these mediocre jobs.
” She looked up at Jerome who was now in front of her.
He crouched down so they were eye to eye.
“I want this contract, Jerome. I need it.”
He placed the pills on the night stand and took her hands.
“You’ll get the contract, Liz. They loved you.
Graham told you, hell, they even told you.
This isn’t the way. You’ll do more damage than good.
Look at you. You can’t sit still for a moment.
You’re not sleeping and your body isn’t being nourished. You’ll burn out.”
Liz nodded.
“Leave the unpacking, do it tomorrow. Have hot shower, or better yet a bath. You need sleep and food. I’ll fix you some grilled chicken with my low calorie mustard sauce and salad with a glass of wine.
What do you say?” he smiled softly at her and she blinked her cool blue eyes at him, pleased he was taking control for tonight. She was exhausted.
“Sure. I’d like that. I might need those relaxants though I’m too edgy.”
“Have your bath first and then see.” Jerome rose gracefully and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
“No more slimming pills.” He scooped up the bottle and put it in his pocket, then lifted the open suitcase onto the floor.
“Jeez, Liz you’d lose the contract if they ever found out.
They’re whole image at I-Gea is all about a healthy diet and organic produce. ”
Liz looked up at him knowing he was right. In the interview the executives of I-Gea had been very clear that their ‘face’ for the product needed to be squeaky clean, no smoking, no drugs. “Come on, I’ll start the bath, it’s almost nine o’clock.”
“Thanks. Aren’t you going to the club?” she followed Jerome into her bathroom.
“They can manage without me tonight,” he said quietly, his tone betraying his concern.
Jerome turned on the water and tested the temperature of the mixer taps, then he poured in Liz’s coconut scented bath oil.
Liz leaned against the tiles watching him, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her T-shirt.
When he was satisfied he turned to face her and furrowed his brow.
He reached over to stop her twitching hand and pulled her gently towards him.
“Tonight my wife needs me.”