Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

“I understand he’s married with a child.” Ben mused.

Lara was aware that all eyes were on her, but the only ones she could focus on were Harry’s intense green eyes. The surprise on his face gave way to a wide eyed stare, his teeth pulling at his bottom lip as though he were in deep thought.

Lara took a deep breath and turned her attention to a smug looking Julian.

“I know he’s married.” She said.

“Really now?” Julian said.

“Yes. But I also know he’s separated from his wife.”

“And that makes it okay, does it?”

“Go ahead and judge me. I don’t care.” Lara sighed.

“It’s not me, you have to worry about. I can spin this story any way which I want. Former junkie turned home wrecker; how does that sound?”

Ben was suddenly forgotten as Julian’s words sunk in. Was this a threat? And if it was, what kind of an effect would it have on her… or even Tony? He had been upfront with her from the beginning. After a year of marital problems, he and his wife had decided to separate. They had kept the news quiet and out of the newspapers. Despite working behind the scenes in television, Tony sometimes featured in the social columns, due to his good looks and famous friends. But despite this, the marriage breakup had been kept very quiet and out of the public eye and they had amicably decided to share custody of their four year old son.

“So what are you going to do?” Lara asked. “Try and ruin our reputation?”

“I don’t even have to try Lara.”

A sense of hopelessness engulfed her as Julian smiled at her. She shot a dark look at Harry, as though he were to blame for all of this. But he had not said a word since he had entered the room. The only emotion he displayed was at the mention of her having a boyfriend. Even after Ben had entered the room, he had returned to his original position of slouching in his chair with a blank look on his face as though it were not his life they were also talking about.

“Do you think you’d be working with the people you’ve been working with, if I didn’t want you to? One word from me to the right people and I doubt you’d work in this town again.” Julian continued.

“Okay, okay.” Lara said. “What do you want me to do?”

She hated how she was forced to protect Tony, who was innocent in this scenario. How was she supposed to explain this to him? She hated the familiar hopeless feeling that came over her when Julian spoke as if he knew she would succumb to his every demand.

But most of all she hated the way she felt bullied into doing something she did not want to do, by the person she despised most of all.

And if Harry, her former protector, did not show any signs of caring, then the only person she could really rely on was herself.

X

Lara returned to her apartment that afternoon feeling completely drained. She shed her clothes as soon as she closed the door behind her and immediately ran a bath. As she sank her body into the warm water, she closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.

She had left that office soon after, still reeling from the morning’s events. She and Harry had obediently filed out of the room and then walked away without even bothering to acknowledge each other. She successfully dodged Ben who remained in the office with Julian and quickly made her way home.

It took a while for the tension to dissipate but before long she was completely relaxed with her eyes closed, when she heard her phone beep. Lara stretched her arm to grab it from the bathroom sink.

So who’s the guy?

The message was short and to the point.

And from Harry.

Her inner voice told her not to reply, but she didn’t allow herself time to think it through as she responded.

His name’s Tony. I met him a month ago.

She stared down at her phone as the message went through, not only annoyed with the way she had instantly replied but also the way her body betrayed her. She could feel her breath quicken and her face warm up as she waited for a response.

Do you like him?

Her heart skipped a beat as she considered her response. But her mind was so clouded, she could only tell the truth.

Yeah I do. He makes me feel safe

She had tapped out the reply without thinking and could now only blink at her response.

Sounds like true love

She did not know whether Harry was being genuine or sarcastic, but she could picture him saying it in his slow deep voice and so she guessed it was the latter. Lara narrowed her eyes and then placed her phone back on the sink. She did not know how to respond to his comment, and she did not want to engage in an argument. It was bad enough that she had replied in the first place.

That night she curled up in Tony’s arms as they lay on the couch. He had just finished telling her a funny story about something his little son had done at nursery school.

“How did you go today?” He suddenly asked, as he gently stroked her hair.

“It was… it was kind of awful.” Lara said. She had debated on how much she wanted to tell Tony and she was not sure she wanted to tell him the entire story.

“What happened?”

She found herself telling him about what Julian had asked her to do, omitting Julian’s references to Tony and also Ben from the story.

“So, they want me to make a few appearances with Harry.” Lara paused as she tried to gauge Tony’s reaction. She could not see his face, but she could almost feel him considering her words.

“Why?” He finally asked.

“They’ve been having a few problems with Harry… and I think they just want to use me as a distraction.”

“Are you going to do it?”

Lara pulled herself up so she was able to look into Tony’s eyes.

“I’ll only do it, if I know you’re okay with it.” She said, although she already knew she was effectively stuck with doing what they wanted.

“This isn’t about me Lara.” Tony told her. “This is about you. I know this business inside out… and I know this is the kind of thing they do when they go into damage control. But do you think you can handle it?”

Lara could not help but recall Julian’s smug face when he threatened her.

“This whole thing could just blow up in your face.”

“I think I can.” Lara said. “As long as I know you’ll be there, then I know I’ll be okay.”

Tony kissed her forehead and held her close.

“You’re not going to go off and fall in love with him again are you?” He said with a smile that did not mask his uncertainty.

“No… what Harry and I have is over.” Lara said firmly, relieved to feel Tony’s lips press onto her, so there was nothing left to say.

Notes

Hope you enjoyed the chapter- feel free to leave a comment, I love to hear you guys have to say :)