Chapter Twenty-Two
We arrive home to find Freya sprawled across the sofa wrapped in a cream silk dressing gown. She watches TV with a large glass of wine and a vacant expression, only glancing our way briefly. I can see she’s had more to drink than she should.
Joe walks around the back of the sofa, leaning over to kiss her cheek. Her face is void of any emotion, and my heart goes out to this lovely man. His aim is to keep the peace, but he receives only the worst of her in return. I could slap her right now.
“How was your evening, sweetie?”
Never has the phrase ‘if looks could kill’ been truer. Freya’s features are reminiscent of a bulldog chewing a wasp as she spits out her reply. “It was shit, thanks.”
She’s spoiling for another fight. Her entire body is stiff and defensive. Joe, as always, is calm and I wonder where on earth he gets his inner strength from. “I’ll get you some water and then we should go to bed.”
“Don’t bother on my account,” Freya mumbles as she storms past me and out of the room. Joe heads to the kitchen and Daniel’s sideway glance to his brother doesn’t go unnoticed. He obviously wants to talk to him.
Daniel looks to me briefly, “I fancy a whisky. Han, can I get you a drink?”
After my run-in at the dance and now Freya’s bitch attitude, my inner coils are tighter than tight. “I’ll join you.”
“Really?” he asks and I nod, too tired to explain.
“Could you get the glasses out, please?” He signals towards a cabinet next to the fireplace.
“I’ll get a fresh bottle and some ice.” After I’ve retrieved two glasses, I’m short of something to do so I sit and wait.
My fingers to my forehead, I rub my red eyes then stretch out.
It’s at this point I feel her presence before I notice her leaning against the door frame.
“I trust you’ve had a good evening?” Her tone is thick with sarcasm. I thought she’d gone to bed, although I was right about her spoiling for a fight. I have to stay civil for all our sakes. I’m certain none of us could stand another confrontation tonight.
“Lovely, thank you. How was—”
“You know, nothing will come of you and Dan.”
Oh God, I have déjà vu. “I beg your pardon?”
She looks in the opposite direction, her tone very matter of fact. “You heard me, Hannie. You’re not his type.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing, “And you are?”
She laughs with a sneering smile. “It doesn’t take a genius to work out I’m more his… equal and you are more of a stopgap.”
Here I go again. I’ve had a belly full of women obsessed with Daniel tonight, but I’m fired up and ready to go now. “Well, Freya, he certainly does not want you so maybe you and I are more equal than you think.”
“Let me tell you something, you little bitch, he is mine. I will have him. I always get what I want. Louise didn’t survive me and neither will you.”
“What the hell—” is all I can say while she sits bolt upright and leans toward me .
“I am more of a force to be reckoned with, Miss British, so don’t push me. You’ve already over-stepped the mark by moving in with him and flaunting yourself around here as if you two are an actual couple. You’re not. He doesn’t do relationships so that bubble you live in will soon burst.”
I’m so taken aback by her confidence, I let out an exasperated laugh—a laugh which winds her up even tighter. Her hooded eyes drill into mine. She is incensed.
“So you find this funny? Enjoy it while you can. I got rid of that druggie bitch and he cared about her, but you? You’re no problem, an easy target.”
Daniel enters the room. “I presume you want ice?” he asks, lifting the ice bucket up with one hand while the whiskey bottle is in the other. His cheeky smirk soon fades when he notes Freya has returned. “Is everything all right?”
As if snapped out of an evil trance, Freya beams the falsest of smiles.
“Of course, Daniel, I just wished Hannah all the best in her new home. What a victory for her; going where no woman has gone in quite some time.” Her exaggerated laugh makes us both jump.
Daniel turns to fill my glass, his eyes widen and he silently mouths, “Is she drunk?”
I’m still in a state of shock from our exchange, so I just shrug my shoulders. He mouths again with a furrowed brow, “You okay?”
I nod but mask my eyes with the glass as I take a huge gulp.
The burn on the back of my throat is a welcome distraction.
Joe walks into the room with a glass of water and a mobile to his ear.
He finishes his conversation and turns to Daniel.
“That was Jamieson. He’s arranged a meeting in Melbourne tomorrow and we all need to be there.
They’re not happy, so we should show a united front. Dad’s coming too.”
I look at Daniel because I know how important the Jamieson contract is to the company. It ultimately means we have to cut our weekend short. His smile is apologetic, but his career is also a priority and needs must. I rub my hand along his arm, “It’s okay. These things happen.”
I faintly hear Freya’s whiny “Ahh so sweet.” God, I want to punch her and I’m so ready after this shitty night! I take a deep breath and smile when Daniel answers, “I’m sorry this weekend hasn’t exactly turned out the way I wanted it.”
“Honestly, it’s fine. I understand.”
A cough from Freya’s direction causes all three of us to turn around. “I do apologise. I must have had something stuck in my throat. Joe, I’ll have some of that water now.”
She does my head in. I can’t bear to be in her company a second longer, so I make a break for it.
“I think that’s me done. Goodnight all.” I leave the room as quick as I can, catching Daniel’s, “Night you two,” before his footsteps follow me down the hall.
He doesn’t say a word, but I feel his body close.
It’s not until we get outside he catches my arm. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
I can’t hold it in any longer. “That fucking woman! She is a bitch and hell-bent on making my life difficult. She has a massive problem when it comes to you. I swear Daniel, she’s obsessed! Her only goal is to have you for herself and I find the whole thing a bit ‘Fatal Attraction’.”
His muscular arms curl around my body and hold firm, “Shh, please, Hannah, calm down.”
I want to say so much more, but I stop myself before it’s me who looks like the possessive psycho. I take deep breaths, trying desperately not to cry. Now I feel foolish. Pulling out a handkerchief, Daniel wipes away my escaping tears.
“Let’s get back to the cottage and you can tell me what happened. Come on.”
We literally march across the grounds. His sturdy arms never leave my body and hold me close to his side as if to shield me from any further harm. When we’re inside, I collapse on the sofa while he pours us both another drink. I don’t waste any time knocking it straight back. “Top up? ”
“Please.”
I need this. I’ve had a belly full of Daniel’s broken hearts tonight. I knew it would be hard to be with someone like him, but I didn’t think it would be this bad. We are protected back home in our cocoon. Shut away from the farm and in the safety of Seaforth. I want to go back there.
“Can we go home tonight?”
“Not really. Jack is off duty and I’ve had too much to drink. I can’t drive.”
The security of his arms wrap around me again as I huddle close. “Are you going to tell me what happened in there?”
I have to contemplate what to say because if I get it wrong, he may believe I don’t want to be with him anymore. That is not the case, but things have to change.
“Daniel, you know I think your parents and Joe are great, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.”
“Okay. Good, because I don’t think I can visit the farm anymore.
I know I said I could handle being around Freya, but she makes my time here torturous.
I know it's important to spend time with your parents and brother so I was hoping we could compromise. Maybe meet them in Manly or they could stay with us?”
His sigh is deep. He sits forward and sets his empty glass on the coffee table. All I can hear is the sound of skin against bristle as he rubs his fingertips across his chin.
“I understand Han, I really do. It’s half the reason I didn’t want to come here this weekend. The problem is, this is my family home and I have more right to be here than she does. My parents mean everything to me and I don’t want to upset them. They’ve been through enough.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
He sits back, placing his arm around my shoulder. “What exactly did Freya say to you tonight? ”
This is so hard, but I have to tell him what she said about Lou. He looks so concerned, and if I keep quiet, the situation will only get worse. I take a deep breath while he continues to trail his fingers over my shoulder.
“She said you don’t ‘do’ relationships, and I’d stepped over the mark by moving in with you.”
Daniel doesn’t even try to make excuses for her, knowing she will never get over his rejection. “I’m sorry. She wants to get between us.” His arm slips down my back and he pulls me close, curling his fingers around my waist. “It makes no difference to me what she says. She won’t win.”
“But it makes a difference to me, Daniel. I can’t take her constant bitching.”
He moves his other hand to my thigh, squeezing it gently. I look into his beautiful, determined eyes which literally will me to be strong. “She also said something else… something about Lou.”
I notice his jaw twitch with irritation as he waits for me to continue. “She told me she got rid of Lou, and she can get rid of me too.”
Daniel stands abruptly. Running his hand through his hair in frustration—pacing the floor. “Bloody bitch”
I pull myself up from the sofa and stand in his path.
Gently, I reach for his hand and move it away from his hair, then hold it tight.
I try to catch his eye with my own. “What was she talking about?” He remains silent.
“This is me, Daniel. I thought we trusted each other. No secrets, lies or games, remember? I need the absolute truth from you.”