The Heartthrob's Dark Obsession

Chapter 20

Chapter 20:

March 15, 1980

The crisp London air surrounded seventeen-year-old Martha as she stepped off the bus. She'd finally done it. After years of saying she'd run away from her abusive parents she'd finally done it. Late the previous evening she took a bus from Shrewsbury to Birmingham and waited all night to catch the first bus to London.

She'd been saving up small bits of money for a bus ticket. As for housing, she'd figure it out. She had a few friends who lived in London, but she hadn't told them she was coming. She was always of the mindset that it was better to beg forgiveness than ask permission and in this case that meant asking for help upon arriving, not before leaving.

Martha walked through the bustling streets with her bag in hand. She was rather hungry. She stepped towards a small cafe. A nice looking man in a grey suit with a hat and trench coat opened the door for her and followed her inside. She nodded at him. There was a small queue. She waited her turn, using the time to look at the menu.

"What can I get you, love?" asked the girl behind the counter.

She walked up and said, "I'd like the full English Breakfast, please."

"Would you like anything else. May I suggest the Black Pudding it is brilliant."

"Sure thing."

"You can pay over there, miss." Martha walked to the register. "Full English and a Black Pudding, Henry."

"Alright, then a Full English and a Black Pudding. Would you like anything to drink?" said Henry.

"Breakfast tea with a splash of milk."

"Your total comes to three quid, twenty five pence."

Martha reached into her bag for her wallet. "One moment, sorry." She put her bag on the counter and started digging through her handbag. "I can't seem to find me wallet. Maybe it ended up in my luggage."

Martha was panicking. All her money was there. Everything she'd saved up for the move here. She put her bag on the ground and opened it up. She sifted through the clothing, but didn't find her wallet.

The man in the grey suit knelt down next to her, picking up her unmentionables from the floor of the cafe. He handed them to her. She blushed. She quickly stuffed her clothing back in the bag and slammed it shut. Martha burst into tears.

"What's wrong, miss?" asked the man.

"My wallet's gone. I just moved here and that was all the money I had."

"Do you have any family you can ring for help?"

"No. I have no one." The man gently patted her arm.

"Don't worry, miss. I can help you get this sorted." The man stood up. "I'll pay for her food." He handed the man at the counter a tenner and grabbed both of their trays and brought them to a table.

Martha stood up stunned. She grabbed her luggage and her handbag and walked to the table with the man.

"Thank you for covering my food. How can I repay you?" asked Martha.

"I'm sure we can figure something out, but first thing's first," the man extended his hand, "My name's William."

"Martha." She shook his hand. She quickly pulled it back and studied the man's face. She wasn't particularly trusting. After what her parents did to her she felt like she had every right to be wary, but he didn't seem like a dodgy sort of chap. He was a sort of posh bloke. Exceedingly dashing.