A Business Pleasure

Chapter 14: Bruises

Title names after song by Lewis Capaldi

Hello everyone! I didn't want to keep you in suspense for too long so here it is☺️

I'd like to apologise in advance ❤️

Trigger warnings ahead. If you think this may effect you, See bottom to find out which ones they are, I haven't put it at the top cause I don't want to spoil the story.

"....."

Dec and Cat stared silently at the stranger now taking up a spot of the sofa in front of them and looking around the house. The moment he had revealed the purpose of his visit, they had literally dragged the man in, regardless of the fact that he was obviously dangerous, and sat him down, demanding the information he appeared to have. He had not responded, but had given them both a long hard stare, almost as if scrutinizing them before looking at his surroundings.

Dec felt a bit numb, almost as if he had received a great shock, which he had in his mind. After having given up nearly all hope of even seeing Ant for the next couple of years, after having finally gotten over the pain of separation, a stranger had literally knocked on his door with the information he had been awaiting for the past few years. He would finally get an answer to the question that had been haunting him for so long and, in a way, he couldn't believe that his suffering could finally end.

Cat felt a little agitated as the man continued to just look around and tried to stop herself from just shaking the news out of him. Dec had been waiting for something like this for years and she didn't want it to be delayed any longer. Finally, the man seemed to shake himself out of his stupor and he looked at them with a polite smile.

"Well, let's just get down to business," Philip said matter-of-factly, "I'm expected back in about an hour and I rather I just deliver my news."

"Who the hell are you?" Cat demanded, loosing her temper a bit, "How do you know Ant?"

"Like I said," Philip eyed her, a little irritated at the harsh tone, "My name is Philip Schofield. As to how I know Anthony McPartlin, I shall get to that."

"Just tell us, dammit!" Cat yelled, "Stop jumping around the point."

"May I tell you that I have no personal reason to be here?" Philips voice was icy now, as frosty has his hair, "if you don't watch yourself, I will leave. I'm doing this as a favor to you, Ms. I won't get anything out of this."

Cat opened her mouth to argue but Dec clasped her wrist and shook his head, silently pleading her to calm down. Cat reluctantly sat back down and Dec took over the conversation, sensing that Cat didn't like the man at all, "What do you know about Ant?"

Philip looked at him quietly for a moment and then unexpectedly smiled, "Declan Donnelly. Anthony spoke quite a lot about you."

"Spoke?" Dec felt a stone drop into his stomach at the past tense. Just what had happened?

"Yes, spoke. Don't worry," Philip saw their expressions, "he's not dead. He's very much alive and.....sadly, I can't say he's well."

"What do you mean? Is he alright?" Dec asked, his worry taking over him. Cat had a similar expression on her face.

"I'll be honest with both of you. He's fine if you think about it health wise, but otherwise...." Philip sighed, "It's a long story, but I'm willing to tell it to you. All I ask is that you hold your questions till the end, am I clear? I rather not repeat this."

If they had been anxious before, they were afraid now. If someone like Philip didn't like the story, considering who he was, then it was for sure that the story wasn't good. Dec swallowed hard and then nodded, "Go ahead."