Chapter 28 #2
Before he could reply, our drinks arrived and I took a sip of my chai latte.
Alfie’s flirtations weren’t without reason.
It was all part of his plan to take my mind off my father.
To make me feel wanted, cherished. I adored him for it.
Just sitting here, I knew that I would get over my father’s betrayal, because I had him.
A man who would never leave me, never stop loving me.
I leaned over and planted a chaste kiss on his lips. His phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the moment.
I pulled away with a sigh. “You’re supposed to be all mine on Sundays.”
He gave me an apologetic smile as he pulled out his phone. “I’ll switch it off.” Instead he frowned at the screen.
“What is it?” I tried to look but he turned the phone away. Immediately, alarm bells started ringing. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer, just slid his phone into his pocket and waved down the waitress. He handed his card over and told her to settle the bill. I became hyper aware of eyes on us.
“Alfie…” I didn’t want to cause a scene but the look on his face made me feel sick.
The waitress hurried back with his card.
He picked up my shovel for me, took my hand and I followed him without a word out to the car.
In silence, he deposited me in the passenger seat and threw my shovel in the boot.
“What is it?” I asked as he slid into the driver's seat. “You’re scaring me.” He had that look on his face, that I’m-about-to-demolish-someone look.
“Do you want me to lie to you? You were already dealt a blow yesterday and I can protect you from this but I don’t want secrets. You said I wasn’t allowed to decide for you anymore.”
I couldn’t choose ignorance with Alfie Tell. Not again. “Tell me.”
“Try not to panic.” He passed his phone to me. It took me a second to realise what I was looking at and when I did, I felt my wonderful day come crashing down.
Pictures. Pictures of us. At the club. In the Onyx rooms.
My breath caught. My hands began to shake. I felt like I was going to vomit.
“Don’t panic,” he repeated.
“How can I not panic? What is this? Is this online?” The last word came out as a half-screech.
“Not yet. It’s an encrypted file an unknown person just sent to me.”
“Why?”
“Blackmail. It’s alright. I’ve planned for this.”
“Well, I haven’t!” I stared at him. “This has happened to you before? I thought you said the cameras were switched off?”
“They were. I’m not sure that this is from the club security feed.”
“Alfie—”
“Baby, I need you to be quiet while I make some calls. It’s going to be alright.”
“Then why do you look like you’re going to kill someone?”
“Because someone has frightened you. Let me handle it.”
I sat, chewing my lip and trying not to puke as he called Damien first. As the somewhat manager of the Never Tell Club, Damien was shocked, appalled and outraged but worst of all, he was confused.
In all the years the club had operated, no one had ever managed to bypass security to get dirt like this on any of the members.
I closed my eyes but all I could see was those pictures of me, naked on the table, completely exposed.
How could they know? How could they have figured out which room we were going to be in?
I listened to Damien say he was shutting down the club and ordering a full sweep.
I didn’t understand half of what else they said.
Alfie ended the call. Damien was going to see those photos.
Alfie’s security team, the team at the club.
It didn’t matter that Alfie had promised to blur them before he sent them.
They were out there. People would know. I hugged myself tight.
I was going to need to dig another hole.
“I should never have let you take me there. I’m so stupid.”
He didn’t reply. I’d hit a nerve. He was kicking himself for taking me there too. I knew it wasn’t his fault, the club had always been secure, but this was dragging up too many old feelings.
“I swear, I’m going to set on fire whoever did this to you.”
“You did this to me once, remember?”
His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. It was a cheap shot and I knew it but I didn’t care.
“I’m sorry. I’m lashing out.”
He reached across and took my hand. “I understand. This is stirring up old memories for you.”
“Those memories aren’t that old, Alfie.” He didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. He just had to hold me. “Why would anyone want to do this to me?”
“This isn’t about you. They sent it to me. They probably want money. This is what people do. This is why we have Elliot and Maia. This is why I don't want you going anywhere without me. This is why you have kidnap and ransom insurance. People want money and they do shitty things for it.”
“Okay, then who would do this to you?”
“I’ve pissed off a lot of people in my life.”
I snorted. That was hardly surprising.
“Your mother? Your sister? Julia? One of the women you used to play with? Angie?”
“Or all of the above.” He released my hand so he could change gears. “There are a lot of options. I’m going to figure it out, Lo. I need to call Elliot.”
I stared out the window, barely listening as Alfie gave him his marching orders. Tears filled my eyes now. The thought of Elliot watching me do those things…what if they got online? The tabloids would get a hold of it…those images on shitty porn sites.
I was surprised when we slowed to a stop outside the house. I barely remembered the drive home.
“I could lose my career over this.”
“I won’t let that happen.”
“I’m not you, Alfie. I’m not a powerful man. You can own a fucking fetish club and still be a CEO, still be taken seriously. Do you think I could? You’ll get a pat on the back for getting laid, I’ll be called a slut.”
“Lola—”
I got out of the car. I couldn’t talk about this anymore.
He met me at the passenger door. “Please don’t run away from me.”
“I’m not, I just need space right now.”
“Don’t tell me what you need…”
I shoved his chest. “Stop!” I pointed at the CCTV camera. “We aren’t alone, remember?”
I side-stepped him and opened the boot to get my new gift.
“Let me help—”
“Don’t touch my shovel!” I sounded stupid and I knew it. He took a step back, resigning himself to letting me spiral at my own pace.
Shovel in hand, I went straight out back and started digging another hole. I was going to need another tree.
With burning tears and a churning stomach, I ended the day just as I’d started it.