The Millionaire's 'Friend' - Natasha's Story

Chapter 19 - Time For A Run

A few days later, when the weather had final dropped back to a more comfortable temperature, I sat on my sofa and pulled on my grubby running trainers. The little toe area on my left shoe had a growing hole on the end – my black sock poked it's nose out as soon I pushed my foot inside. That's another thing to add to my list of 'things I need but can't afford', I thought to myself.

It had been far too hot in recent weeks to pound the streets outside, but I hated not getting out and stretching my legs. I liked to stay fit, ready to run at a moment's notice should the need arise. But, it was also my favourite time to think. There's something so liberating about running. Whatever else was going on in my life, running allowed me to see things more clearly. Not that my life was at a low point right now. In fact, I was feeling unusually content and optimistic.

Setting out in the late afternoon, after a day's work, my legs took quite a while to realise what we were doing. Usually, they found their way pretty quickly, but it had been some time since my last run. Still, after a couple of miles, they finally came around to the idea of some exercise; easing into a decent rhythm.

I headed through the gates at the far end of Hyde Park and trogged along mindlessly, my brain just aware enough of its surroundings not to run into anyone. The more active part of my mind wandered over to Central Tower and its occupant up on the fiftieth floor. I hadn't seen or spoken to Evan for a few days, yet he was rarely far from my thoughts. Though, at least they weren't quite so unsettling as my early thoughts used to be. We'd spent enough time together now to supply my idle musings with some entertaining memories, rather than the almost stalker-ish scenarios I'd toyed with initially.

My feet continued to hammer along the paths of the park, while my head replayed images of Evan gently wiping soap bubbles from my face, holding me close as we twirled around the ballroom at Telstar, and even trying, but failing, to suck up a string of spaghetti. I laughed to myself at that last one, making an elderly couple, who were walking their dog, turn and chuckle at the crazy girl jogging passed them.

My lungs just started to strain as I hit the opposite end of the park. I was only a few miles down; guess that showed how long it had been since my last run. And the fact that Fliss had been plying me with takeaways for several weeks – that didn't help either. Stopping by the side of a large crowd, who were waiting patiently for the traffic lights to change, I grabbed hold of the railings, so I could steady myself while doing a few stretches. That's the only problem with running in the centre of a city – at some point you're going to hit a sea of traffic and get held up. A stream of black cabs sailed passed, followed quickly by a noisy, top of the range Kawasaki Ninja. It roared by, weaving between cars with such ease that I would have been jealous – were it not for another sight that caught my attention.

I did an instant double take. A bus had driven through and, as I briefly looked up, I caught sight of two people in its reflection. They were just outside the gates of the park, and, like me, they were dressed in running gear and taking the opportunity for a quick respite and some stretching.

I knew them immediately. Paul was facing my direction so was easy to recognise. I only saw his running partner for a split second, but I knew Evan's physique so well now that it was undoubtedly him.

Had they seen me? I wondered. It was such a quick flash in the reflection of the bus window that I couldn't be certain, though Paul had definitely been looking in my general direction. He could have been watching the crowd of course. Waiting, like me, for the lights to change – which they did just as I was pondering what to do.

If Evan and Paul hadn't seen me – and were just out for an innocent jog – they would start running as soon as the crowds moved; which steadily they did. I turned slightly to my side, leaning one hand on the railings to keep my balance as I stretched out my thighs. Out of the corner of my eye I located Evan. He wasn't moving, nor was Paul. Bingo! They must have seen me. That made me wonder how long they'd been following me.