Deep Dark Blues

Chapter 5- Ocean Blues

"How could you?!" she couldn't help but growl out, the feigned innocence of the other woman setting her fury ablaze.

"I- listen, please... I thought it was harmless. I didn't know he was going to put them there..."

"Oh, so giving my info to a stranger is fine as long as I don't find out, huh? You know what he did to me and you just... He put my data there like I am working for them again or something? Do you understand how bad this is?"

"Rowan, I swear to you, I didn't know... He said you have authorised-"

"And you believed him? You have just met him and I have told you... I... I can't believe this..." She felt numb, the sense of betrayal poisoning Muriel's image. They were friends... She'd told her so much... She knew so much...

"How much did you fucking tell him?"

"Rowan, please... just let me explain-"

"Was it money?"

The call went deathly silent.

"I am sorry?"

"Did you take his money?"

Reed didn't need her to answer, the silence on the other side spoke volumes.

"You... You fucking sold me to him?"

"We need the money... He'd come to me privately... I.. I didn't know..."

"Fuck you Muriel..."

A lot can change in a week... and Reed was one of the very first victims of the change. Ruth agreed to drive her to Salthill, thrilled to have an excuse to get out of the house without her baby or husband attached to her hip. Of course, Colin wasn't very happy about it, the man clearly avoiding childcare like fire, but Reed needed help with moving her stuff from the office, so the deal was settled.

Ruth was currently talking Reed's ear off, chattering through the entire drive about everything and nothing accompanied by the mediocre pop blasting from the speakers... And Reed? Well... She wasn't listening to her at all, watching the landscape change as Ruth drove further and further away from Galway.

It felt surreal to think Reed wouldn't be working for the Salthill Institute anymore, a part of her still expecting to get up and go through the motions like she'd always done. No... Today was probably the last time Reed would see Milo and Muriel, that was if she had the guts to even face her after the phone call they'd had.

Reed wished she didn't have to see her.

She felt betrayed, the sense of hurt faded but was still there as she thought about the past few days she'd had. It had turned out Doctor Bell, with the help of Muriel, restored Reed's working account, declaring she was to be employed despite her decline. She'd already written to Oxford to erase her data, which meant Bell would be messaging her any day now to try and manipulate her even more, like it wasn't enough that he was actively ruining Reed's life, even after she'd cut him out of it... Muriel had messaged Reed multiple times over the weekend, requesting a call or to meet up and talk the issue through, but Reed ignored her instead. She didn't feel like talking, having put all of her passion into that one phone call that ruined whatever they could have salvaged from their friendship.

Reed and Muriel had been exceptionally close, having shared intimate details over a pint of beer many times. Reed was aware of Muriel's situation, the divorce, and her infertility that ultimately caused the split up... Muriel felt like a first good friend in a while, a person Reed could trust. She'd told her about what happened with Bell and Marcus Dean, the abuse she'd gone through... Or why she would never get a driving license. All of those warm memories of tearing up together, laughing or witnessing the beauty of the ocean turned bitter and hard to swallow down.