was cheers from the crowd. “Well,
he's been busy, as we all know, and has only just arrived! He's
coming up for a bit, probably a quick speech knowing him, and then
we're off to a private club! Let's give him an almighty roar when he
gets up here!” Once more the crowd cheered.
A sense of anticipation hit the air as
everyone's conversations quietened to a whisper. A few moments passed
before we heard a light footfall coming from the distance. It got
louder as it approached until, suddenly, a man appeared around the
corner.
Cheers went up at his arrival, but I
stayed silent. He put his hands to the air to quieten everyone down,
the noise in the room retreating once more. He began speaking, his
voice smooth and controlled, making a short speech about the future
of his company, about the successes they'd all achieved together. He
wore a smart suit, hugged to his body, his eyes cold. I looked at him
and knew that face, knew that voice. It sent a shiver up my spine.
The man from Room Z.
My heart was quickening as I stood
there, shrinking back into the crowd. I wondered if he'd recognize
me, whether he'd remember my shadow and know it as me. I stood next
to Chase as he looked up, his face beaming, his smile wide, clapping
his hands loudly in applause on cue.
I tugged at his arm. “That's your
boss?” I whispered nervously.
“ Yeah.
But he's more than that. He's like a father to me. Gave me an
opportunity, always supported me. I'd be nowhere without him.”
An echo in my mind brought me back to
that night in Room Z as he spoke. I could see him sitting there in
font of me, sliding his hand on the empty space beside him. I could
feel his hand on my leg, slipping up my inner thigh. I could hear his
cold voice offering me cocaine. I could see him looking at me as
blood poured from my nose, looking down on me as I collapsed to the
floor. He didn't help, he didn't care. I could have died, but I was
nothing to him. Just another lost girl. Another prostitute.
“ Grace,
are you OK?” Chase said, lightly shaking my shoulder. “You look
like you've seen a ghost, you're all white.” It was quiet now, the
speech over, everyone returning to their conversations.
“ No,
I really don't feel well. I think I've had too much champagne. Can we
go?” My words were rushed.
“ Sure,
of course. Let me just talk to John first, introduce you. He'd love
to meet you.”
“ No,
no.” I rushed the words out. “Please, just lets go. I – I don't
think I'd make a good impression right now.”
“ OK
honey, if you're sure. Just stand here one minute, I'll be back in a
second.”
“ No...”
He ran off quickly as I reached for
him, over in the direction of John. I saw him shake his hand, a large
smile on his face, before gesturing over to me. I tried to hide my
face, pretend I hadn't seen them, as John looked in my direction. He
looked at me impassively, like he didn't recognize me. Then, slowly,
his expression changed, a sly smile appearing on it as he nodded
along at Chase's explanation.
Within moments Chase was back beside
me, his arm around me as we walked back in the direction we came,
back round the side of the building past deserted offices and a sea
of monitors and cubicles. I could feel John looking after us as we
left, his eyes fixed on our path, his cold voice still echoing in my
ears. I felt sick to my stomach.
Chapter 18
August
26 th 2013
Cain
“ No
fucking way,” Brad said as we sat with a whiskey.
“ Way,”
I replied. “A hundred per cent way.”
We'd just shipped out the last of the
stragglers from the bar and were enjoying a well earned drink after a
fairly busy night.
“ You
– you have a girlfriend. You. Of all people.”
“ Mate,
seriously, it's not THAT hard to believe is it?”
“ Fuck
yeah is it! I've never seen you even talk to a girl for more than
five minutes! The only talking you do is in the sack mate.” He
laughed, necking the last of his whiskey. “Another?” he asked,
pouring himself
he's been busy, as we all know, and has only just arrived! He's
coming up for a bit, probably a quick speech knowing him, and then
we're off to a private club! Let's give him an almighty roar when he
gets up here!” Once more the crowd cheered.
A sense of anticipation hit the air as
everyone's conversations quietened to a whisper. A few moments passed
before we heard a light footfall coming from the distance. It got
louder as it approached until, suddenly, a man appeared around the
corner.
Cheers went up at his arrival, but I
stayed silent. He put his hands to the air to quieten everyone down,
the noise in the room retreating once more. He began speaking, his
voice smooth and controlled, making a short speech about the future
of his company, about the successes they'd all achieved together. He
wore a smart suit, hugged to his body, his eyes cold. I looked at him
and knew that face, knew that voice. It sent a shiver up my spine.
The man from Room Z.
My heart was quickening as I stood
there, shrinking back into the crowd. I wondered if he'd recognize
me, whether he'd remember my shadow and know it as me. I stood next
to Chase as he looked up, his face beaming, his smile wide, clapping
his hands loudly in applause on cue.
I tugged at his arm. “That's your
boss?” I whispered nervously.
“ Yeah.
But he's more than that. He's like a father to me. Gave me an
opportunity, always supported me. I'd be nowhere without him.”
An echo in my mind brought me back to
that night in Room Z as he spoke. I could see him sitting there in
font of me, sliding his hand on the empty space beside him. I could
feel his hand on my leg, slipping up my inner thigh. I could hear his
cold voice offering me cocaine. I could see him looking at me as
blood poured from my nose, looking down on me as I collapsed to the
floor. He didn't help, he didn't care. I could have died, but I was
nothing to him. Just another lost girl. Another prostitute.
“ Grace,
are you OK?” Chase said, lightly shaking my shoulder. “You look
like you've seen a ghost, you're all white.” It was quiet now, the
speech over, everyone returning to their conversations.
“ No,
I really don't feel well. I think I've had too much champagne. Can we
go?” My words were rushed.
“ Sure,
of course. Let me just talk to John first, introduce you. He'd love
to meet you.”
“ No,
no.” I rushed the words out. “Please, just lets go. I – I don't
think I'd make a good impression right now.”
“ OK
honey, if you're sure. Just stand here one minute, I'll be back in a
second.”
“ No...”
He ran off quickly as I reached for
him, over in the direction of John. I saw him shake his hand, a large
smile on his face, before gesturing over to me. I tried to hide my
face, pretend I hadn't seen them, as John looked in my direction. He
looked at me impassively, like he didn't recognize me. Then, slowly,
his expression changed, a sly smile appearing on it as he nodded
along at Chase's explanation.
Within moments Chase was back beside
me, his arm around me as we walked back in the direction we came,
back round the side of the building past deserted offices and a sea
of monitors and cubicles. I could feel John looking after us as we
left, his eyes fixed on our path, his cold voice still echoing in my
ears. I felt sick to my stomach.
Chapter 18
August
26 th 2013
Cain
“ No
fucking way,” Brad said as we sat with a whiskey.
“ Way,”
I replied. “A hundred per cent way.”
We'd just shipped out the last of the
stragglers from the bar and were enjoying a well earned drink after a
fairly busy night.
“ You
– you have a girlfriend. You. Of all people.”
“ Mate,
seriously, it's not THAT hard to believe is it?”
“ Fuck
yeah is it! I've never seen you even talk to a girl for more than
five minutes! The only talking you do is in the sack mate.” He
laughed, necking the last of his whiskey. “Another?” he asked,
pouring himself
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