Remember Me.....

The Hook

Eve walked into the small room and looked around. It was sparse but what there was, was well chosen and quality.  Bruce, despite the apparent changes in circumstance was not without means.  She smiled and sat on a chair, feigning relaxation, in truth a bag of nerves.

"Wine?" he said without preamble and she nodded.  He disappeared towards what she assumed was the kitchen so she stood and followed him.  It was a compact affair, hardly room to swing the proverbial cat but again, nicely put together.  She decided that was the best way in.

"I see you still have good taste." she said,  not altogether lying.  He looked at her as he fought with the bottle of Rioja.  The bottle, of course, lost.  Pouring a couple of generous glasses, he passed her one, their fingers briefly touching.

"I always did." he said quietly.  Their eyes met and Bruce  smiled.  The smile of a liar, it didn't meet her gaze and it didn't go all the way to his eyes.  Much like her own.  She realised she had to do better.

Taking the wine, she raised her glass. "To... talking." she said carefully.  Bruce stared at her, then swallowed a mouthful.  Putting his glass to one side, he took hers and placed it with his own.  He reached out and grasped her hand.  His eyes now met hers and she could see a dark look, not quite cunning but something deceitful. She began to wonder if this had been such a good idea.

"Eve.  Why.  Why did you say no?" this was a genuine question.  It had never crossed his mind she would turn him down.  Never occurred to him that she might want a life of something other than just being "the little woman."  She smiled and bit her lip coyly.

"Oh Bruce, I was scared." that much had been true.  Scared she was about to lose her identity, her independence, her chance at a real love.  

"And now?  Is that why you're back?" he said taking her hand more tightly, his fingers crushing hers. She winced slightly but he seemed either not to notice, or care.

"That, and I want to see my f-family.  Bruce, you're hurting my hand. Please?" she tried to pull away but he held firm. She looked up, her eyes reflecting the genuine fear she now felt.  This had not been part of the plan.  Not at all.

"I'm hurting you?  Am I?  Do you now know what that feels like?  To be hurt by someone you love?  Do you?" he almost growled at her as he pulled her close. She was beginning to wonder if a hurt hand was going to be the least of her worries when suddenly he let her go with a smile.  "But if you're back?  Then good, we can start over.  Although, I have to admit, I don't know what the others are going to say.  You know you're penniless don't you?" he was as brash and unfeeling as ever.  Not a clue that his manners were bred from the very worst of the rich entitled brigade.

"P-penniless?" she stammered convincingly "how so?"  she managed to look shocked, basing it on the premonition of how this night was in all likelihood, ending.

"Well, Steven thought you were dead.  Gave us all - yes including me - your share.  And since you were Daddy's little favourite" the malice in that phrase shocked even him " that was quite a share."

"He did?  It was? " she looked at him.  So that's really what all this was about.  Money and revenge.  Well, if that's the way they wanted to play it?  She would publicly show them for what they REALLY were.  The village thought they were concerned?  By the time she was done, the village would know exactly how concerned and about what. 

"Yes, but, well, I could share it back with you.  You know, joint assets." he bent close and she could smell the stale beer and whisky mixed with the Rioja.  It made her want to retch.  "I've been so... lonely.  Without you.  We were good together, you and I.  We had fun." the way he said fun, left her in no doubt.  Not the kind of fun she wanted.  The kind of fun she was about to try and avoid.

"Yes," she nodded, swallowing the rising nausea "fun."  She smiled and looked away, Bruce was having none of it. 

"I'm not going to force you if that's what you're frightened of." he said quietly. "I may be a lot of things, a monster isn't one of them.  But I know you want me. Every bit as much as I want you." he smiled now, she was almost hooked he thought.  Almost there.  If he got her on side, when she contested the execution of the will, he would be right there, ready to collect.  In every way possible.

Eve looked at him.  He was almost hooked.  If she could convince him she truly wanted reconciliation, he would be right there, centre stage with the other lot when she humiliated them.

"I know Bruce, I know.  You were never a monster.  I see that now,  I see alot of things.  And I'd like to see more." she touched his chest, an intimate and telling gesture.  She was disgusted with herself, but she knew she would stop at nothing to get this done.  He closed his eyes and groaned.  Not the sensuous groan that she knew so well, no.  This was an animal awakening.  He opened his eyes and crashed his lips to hers roughly.

"You're going to see just alot of things Eve.  Starting right now." he scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom.  She closed her eyes and prayed for forgiveness.  From God, from Tom. Mostly from Tom.  As Bruce started to undress her, she disappeared into her own head.  This wasn't real, she was acting.  It was the means to an end.  It was... shameful.

That shame hadn't gone by the time she'd called John for a lift home.  Standing outside Bruce's house, phone in hand, she'd felt dirtier than she ever had in her entire life.  Was this really worth selling herself for?  As she remembered the sleeping bulk in the bed upstairs, she knew it was.  

It had been nasty.  Hot, heavy, alcohol fuelled - on his part - and everything she detested.  Her pleasure hadn't come into it for a second.  Now, as she stood, feeling the shame burning in every spot he'd touched, she knew she would never feel clean again.  She needed, well, she needed Tom.

Or so she thought.

Arriving back at the Harrison's she saw him standing in the garden.  He smiled, pale and drawn, as she walked up.  John had said nothing in the car, the venue for her pickup and the expression on her face, had said it all.  He wasn't judging - he had no right and he knew it - but he was worried.  Worried they were strong enough for the path she had chosen.

"Hi" she said quietly, reaching for his hand. For the first time it felt large and uncomfortable. Like her guilt.

"Hi" he smiled at her "you ok?" he bent to kiss her and she automatically pulled back.  She might as well have slapped him across the face. 

"Sorry" she winced "I smell and my breath stinks." she said carefully, seemingly making him relax.  A white lie to salve a black conscience.  "I'm ok, it's been a rough few hours, I'm going to shower and take a nap." she tried to take her hand away but Tom held it fast.

"You can tell me anything." he paused "if it's going to help.  I won't judge or condemn." he looked at her, his ocean eyes filled with worry - and love.  She almost caved in. Almost.  She wasn't ready to admit this happened to herself, let alone the one person it would destroy.

"No, I'm fine.  Honestly, just tired.  Emotionally and physically.  Shower and nap, then we can talk ok?" she pulled away.  Tom smiled and nodded.

"Of course darling.  Whatever you want.  I'll wake you in a couple of hours, we can have some tea and cake, yes?"

"Yes. Lovely." she kissed his cheek and walked away.  Tom watched her go, he knew, in his heart what had happened.  He also knew it was part of the plan.  He just wanted her to admit it to him, share the burden.  His heart was heavy but not with sorrow, with hatred.  A strong word for a strong emotion.  That hatred would fester away until he could hold it back no longer.

Fortunately for all concerned, that dam would break at the most appropriate time.  Tonight was not that time.

Eve stood in the shower and cried.  Hard, searing sobs.  She scrubbed and scrubbed at her skin till it was red and sore.  She scraped her nails through her hair, trying to remove every last trace of the man she had once thought the be-all and end-all of her life.  A man who was now willing to sleep with her for money.  She had no illusions. As she finished her shower, she looked into the mirror.  Well Bruce, she said silently, you want my money?  So do I and by God I'm going to fight you for it.  She just hoped that the cost of her revenge wasn't too high a price, even for her.