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Assariyah Page 7


  I threw on a pair of denim jeggings, a white crop top and some leopard print pumps. I took Lacey’s letter to the post office and bought two hundred and fifty pounds worth of postal orders and some extra stamps. After filling in the postal order with the necessary details, I enclosed it with the letter. Lacey’s letter was finally posted. I wasn’t sure when I’d be able to make it to the post office next so I bought some postal orders in advance.

  From Fulham Broadway I jumped on the District Line to Earl’s Court and switched onto the bustling Piccadilly Line to get to Hyde Park. I had to make sure D was okay. If he really didn’t want to see me anymore he would have to look me squarely in the eyes and tell me so.

  Twenty minutes later I was ringing the doorbell to D’s apartment. I waited outside for a solid ten minutes, but it was pointless. I opted to leave D a note asking him to call me. I just wanted to know that he was okay. I walked away with great apprehension and unsettled nerves. D better have a damn good excuse.

  I stopped at Sainsbury’s in Fulham and picked up some groceries on the way back to my temporary home at Aaron’s. I couldn’t even remember the last time I cooked. For the past seven years, it was crappy prison poison and for the last couple of days it seems like I’d either been too busy to eat or living on takeaways.

  When I got in I washed my hands and started cooking straight away. Midway through making my chicken stir fry, I heard the key turning in the door.

  “Um something smells nice. And there was me thinking you only had one talent.”

  “Fuck you Aaron.” I replied, still angry at him for showing up unexpectedly with his friends last night.

  “You already know that’s the reason I’m here.”

  I kissed my teeth with disdain. For such a handsome man, he was ugly.

  “Where’s your wife Aaron?” I asked sardonically.

  He ignored my question, grabbed me roughly by my waist and pushed me over the kitchen counter.

  “Aaron what the fuck… At least let me finish.”

  He shoved his dick deep inside my pussy, silencing me.

  “Fuck.” I screamed but no sound came out. I wasn’t even wet, the friction burned. It was pure agony. Tears clouded my eyes as I struggled to find my voice. I didn’t want this, I prayed silently that it would be over soon but my prayer seemed to be in vain.

  Aaron continued to pound away at me with brute force. The smell of burnt food and smoked filled the air, causing me to cough repeatedly. The smoke triggered the smoke alarm off, its loud, sharp shrilling sound penetrated through the house relentlessly. It was only then that Aaron finally let me go. Without saying a word I turned the cooker off and rushed to my room.

  Aaron shouted after me, “We had a deal, remember?”

  I curled up on the bedroom floor and bawled like a baby. Aaron was right, we did have a deal but the force he used made it feel like rape. With each thrust he gave, my mind went back to prison and the guards. Memories that I wanted to erase but couldn’t delete, haunting me, tormenting my mind, there was no escape. The invisible bars had taken hold of me and I couldn’t seem to break away, but I knew that I had to do something.

  When I was sure that Aaron had left, I went to the bathroom to wash away my stains. I decided that I would no longer sit around waiting on Aaron for clients. I had given him too much power. I had to go out there and source my own clientele. The quicker I reached my target, the sooner I’d get to start my new life from fresh.

  CHAPTER 13

  I still felt vile the next day. The kitchen was still in a mess. The burnt wok sat where it was left. I threw everything in the bin. I had come too far to drown in self-pity. I refused to let my head hit the ground now.

  Today I vowed to get dressed and go out and get my own source. Like D once told me, I had to stand alone and stop relying on others. Thoughts of D enveloped my mind. I still hadn’t heard from him. Surely he would have seen my note by now, Why wasn’t he responding? I didn’t have the answer to that question, but I did know that you couldn’t catch someone that didn’t want to be caught.

  I had just over ten grand in my secret stash. I made up my mind to gather as much money as I could, because in four weeks I was getting out of here. If Aaron thought he could have me at his disposal whenever he wanted, he had another thing coming.

  Ring. Ring. Ring.

  I rushed to answer my phone, hoping that D was finally calling.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello Rose, It’s Fred, Fred Sinclair. Do you remember me?”

  I was disappointed that Dino wasn’t on the other end of the phone.

  “Of course I remember you Fred, you’re pretty hard to forget.”

  “How charming. Listen I wanted to invite you to accompany me to a party at the Ritz tonight.”

  “I wish you’d given me more notice Fred. I have nothing to wear.”

  He laughed. “Don’t worry, just tell me your size and I’ll sort everything out.”

  Later on that evening at 7:30 p.m., Fred turned up at the house. He presented me with a box containing a stunning black mesh evening gown by Jenny Packham. And as if that wasn’t enough, he handed me another box with a fabulous pair of golden Jimmy Choo sandals.

  “Wow,” was the only word I could utter out.

  “Do you like them?”

  “Like… I love them! Thank you Fred.” I hugged him to show my appreciation.

  “It’s a pleasure. Hurry up and get dressed so that we’re not late.”

  I got ready as quickly as I could. I felt like an absolute princess. I looked in the mirror and actually felt beautiful for the first time in ages. I smiled at myself. You’ve still got it Assariyah.

  “You look absolutely breathtaking,” Fred said in awe when I reappeared.

  “Thanks to you.” I blushed.

  “Oh no, this is all you.”

  We laughed and headed outside to his Mercedes.

  The traffic from Fulham was quite light, so we arrived at the Ritz fairly quickly. The concierge, friendly and welcoming as ever led us to the William Kent room. I loved the Ritz. It was in a class of its own. The William Kent Room was true to Italian Renaissance style. Decorated with 24-karat gold and silk walls, it was absolutely lavish.

  The room had about thirty couples who were already dining on canapés and the free flowing champagne. Fred and I took a glass of champagne.

  “You’re the most beautiful person in the room,” Fred whispered in my ears.

  I smiled, “Thank you.”

  “Come on let me introduce you to a few people.”

  He introduced me to a few of the guests on the right hand side of the room. We began to make our way towards the other side of the room, when the event organiser announced that the guests of honour were about to make their grand entrance. Everyone turned their attention towards the door to welcome them.

  A big cheer echoed through the room, but I was frozen still in shock. My eyes had to be fooling me, it couldn’t be him. Then he spoke and there was no denying that it was him. Cameron and I were in the same room again after all these years. He was with a statuesque beauty, his wife I assumed. She was dressed in a gorgeous sequined Oscar de la Renta gown. A bolt of jealousy shot through me. That was supposed to be me.

  “Rose, are you okay? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost,” Fred asked.

  I wasn’t sure if Cameron had noticed me but my stomach was in knots.

  I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. “I just need some air.”

  “Okay I’ll come outside with you.”

  “No, I’ll be fine. I won’t be long.”

  “Only if you’re sure.”

  I nodded my head and hurried out of the room. I went straight to the bathroom and locked myself inside one of the cubicles. Involuntary tears stained my face. After all these years of dreaming of seeing Cameron again, I was finally in the same room as him. He looked even more handsome than before. In my dreams he was still mine. In reality he was someone else’s man. I was so confu
sed. Do I go back in there, face the music and finish the job or do I run away and never look back?

  I re-powdered my face and redid my eye make-up, so I no longer looked like a panda. I took a deep breath and exited the bathroom.

  “You took your time, are you sure everything is fine?”

  “Everything is fine,” I replied and grabbed another glass of champagne as the waiter walked past.

  “On that note, let’s have a great time. There is one more person I’d like to introduce you to,” he said.

  Fred was heading straight towards Cameron. This cannot be happening. I need to get out of here. In a state of panic, I dropped my champagne, pieces of glass shattered all over the floor. People turned to see the commotion I had caused as the waiters rallied round to clear the mess. Cameron was staring right at me. I wanted to throw my head down in shame but I couldn’t move. I was frozen still.

  “Are you sure you’re okay? I can’t help but notice that you seem a little bewildered,” Fred pressed.

  Before I could gather my thoughts, Cameron was standing right in front of us. It all happened so fast.

  “Hello Cameron, it’s great to see you. I was just coming over to greet you when this lovely young lady here dropped her glass.”

  I shifted uneasily. This had to be a dream. Any minute now the voices would stop.

  “No worries Fred, glad you could make it. Hope you and … the lady are enjoying yourselves.”

  “Ah how rude of me. I should’ve introduced you.” Fred extended his arm, “Cameron… Rose. Rose… Cameron.”

  “Rose,” Cameron repeated and held out his hand for me to shake. “You look an awful lot like someone I used to know a long time ago.”

  My heart flipped inside my chest, an uncomfortable smile escaped my lips. Did he really not know who I was?

  “Ladies and gentlemen, please kindly take your seats, dinner is about to be served.”

  The announcement cut our encounter short.

  “We’d better take our seats,” Cameron stated.

  “Of course, tell Tola to save a dance for me,” Fred replied.

  “I certainly will.” Cameron smiled. “It was a pleasure to meet you Rose,” he said before leaving to be seated.

  I was on edge. Did he or didn’t he know who I was? The hair colour might have thrown him off, but we had shared so much. How could he not know? What was he thinking? I needed some answers.

  “Fred, your friend seems really nice,” I commented as we took our seats.

  “Oh yes, Cameron is a stand up guy. I started doing business with him about three years ago. He took over my company’s advertising and our revenue shot up. He and his fiancée Tola host regular charity dinners and I always make a conscious effort to attend when I’m in town.”

  His fiancée? I thought he had got married years ago. I couldn’t help thinking back to my day with him. My wedding day to Cameron was made for the ‘happily ever after’ chapters. With ten thousand white roses, silver drapery, ice sculptures and a stunning Vera Wang gown, everyone had called it a fairy tale. It was my dream day until Nayla and Jasmina’s wicked plan had turned the day into a total nightmare. Cameron was forced to find out in front of hundreds of guests that his wife to be had been fucking out on him. The pain, the shame, the embarrassment I had put him through was unforgivable.

  Still he had been there for me and saved me from rotting away in prison for fifteen years. I didn’t deserve Cameron. He was honest, good, faithful and loving, the opposite of everything I was, but seeing him after all these years made me weak. He was even more debonair and handsome and I longed for him.

  Throughout dinner, Fred tried talking to me but I was distracted by Tola who sickeningly fawned all over Cameron. I hated the reality that she was all over him. It made me feel sick to the bone.

  I was grateful when dinner finally came to an end. I had no plans to stay for the dance. I decided to tell Fred that I felt unwell and would have to end our night early.

  “Fred, I’m so sorry, but I’m going to have to end our night early. I don’t feel too great so I’m going to head home.”

  “Ah, I thought you didn’t seem your usual self. Instead of going home, why don’t you spend the night? I have a suite booked.”

  “I can’t…”

  “I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  “I really don’t want to bother you Fred.”

  “A beautiful woman is never a bother, now let me take you up.”

  “Thank you Fred, but I’ve put you out enough. I’ll only stay if you promise to stay down here and have fun. Just tell me the room number and I’ll be fine.”

  “You’re a stubborn one,” he said as he handed me the key. “Room number 703.”

  I took the key and thanked him, “Make sure you enjoy yourself.”

  I left Fred to mingle with the crowd and made my way up to the suite.

  “Assariyah,” I heard my name being called as I waited for the lift.

  The voice sounded like Cameron’s, so I knew my mind was playing tricks on me.

  “Assariyah,” the voice called again.

  This time I had the courage to look. I turned around slowly and found myself face to face with Cameron.

  “Cam.”

  “Assariyah … or should I call you Rose …?”

  Tears formed in my eyes, I wanted to speak but my voice betrayed me.

  “I read that you got out weeks ago, it’s good to see you after all these years Assariyah.”

  Cam, it’s so good to see you too. Not a single day goes by that I don’t think of you. If I could go back, I would love you the right way from the beginning. I heard myself thinking the words and willed my mouth to move. He waited for my reply, nothing came out. There was no denying the disappointment in his face; I hated the fact that I was the reason.

  “Okay, well I guess it’s time I went back to the party anyway. Take care Assariyah.”

  I watched him walk away, every step he took cut away at my oxygen supply. The further away he got, the more I struggled to breathe. If he left now, I may never see him again. What the fuck was I thinking?

  “Wait, Cam wait!” I managed to find the courage to shout after him. I didn’t care who was looking. I needed to get to him.

  He stopped in his tracks and turned around to see me running after him.

  When I caught up with him, I told him, “There’s so much I wanna say to you, but not here.”

  “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.”

  “Please Cam,” I begged.

  He appeased my desperation, “Fine, we can meet tomorrow, 2:30 p.m. at Simpson’s In The Strand. I have a meeting there anyway.”

  “Thank you. Do you still have the same number?”

  “Yeah same number, same address. I’ll write it down for you.”

  “07932 717432,” I recalled.

  “You still remember after so many years.”

  “I could never forget. Everything about you is etched into my memory forever.”

  “I really must go back now; people will start wondering where I got to.”

  “See you tomorrow, I’ll call you.”

  I watched Cameron disappear back into his party. I contemplated jumping in a taxi and going straight home, but the overnight fee I stood to lose weighed on my mind. I decided to stay, I had come this far, it only made sense that I received the full payment.

  The suite was truly dazzling with a marble floored lobby and antique furnishing. It was opulence at its best. I laid on the bed and thought of Cameron. Fred would be joining me soon, but I wanted nothing more than to spend the night in Cameron’s arms making sweet love to him. I was convinced fate had brought us back together and I wasn’t prepared to say goodbye again.

  CHAPTER 14

  I went to Oxford Street early in the morning to buy some new clothes. However, getting back and trying the clothes, nothing I bought seemed to fit right. I tried on several dresses but in the end I settled for a pair of black skinny jeans and a pearl
embellished peplum top that I teamed up with some red heels from Zara.

  My nerves were ridiculously high and functioning on limited hours of sleep didn’t help. I had spent the night with Fred at the Ritz. Even though I feigned sickness, he was like a dog on heat when he came up to the suite. Let’s just say he made sure he got his money’s worth twice over.

  When I arrived at the restaurant, Cameron was just rounding up the meeting. His guests were leaving and he waved for me to come over. He looked dashingly handsome in Tom Ford, I couldn’t help thinking what a fool I had been to have messed all of this up.

  “Hey Assariyah.”

  “Hey Cam,” I replied, taking a seat.

  “What can I get for you to drink?” he asked.

  “I’ll have a glass of white wine please.”

  He poured me a glass from one of the bottles he had on the table. I thanked him and gulped down the wine in an attempt to settle my nerves.

  “Damn that was quick,” Cameron laughed as he topped up my glass.

  I laughed slightly embarrassed. “Sorry I’m just a little nervous,” I admitted and took a sip from my glass.

  “I know it’s been a long time Assariyah but I’m still me, you don’t have to be nervous.”

  “Cam I feel so dreadful for the way I treated you, and from the depth of my soul, I am deeply sorry for all the hurt and pain that I caused you. If I could go back, I would do it all differently.”

  “Look Assariyah, I forgave you a long time ago for the hurt and pain you caused me, but you have to learn to forgive yourself.”

  “Thanks Cam, that means a lot to me,” I said, holding back tears.

  “I agreed to meet you because you said you had things you wanted to discuss, but I also have a few questions I’d like to ask you.”

  “Okay sure, go ahead.”

  “After everything we’ve been through, you come out of prison and don’t even reach out to me. I found out from a newspaper article, how do you think that makes me feel?”