Page 14 of Mr. Silver
“Here, there’s a card.” Taking it from her outstretched hand, I immediately slide it into the pocket of my dressing gown to open later. Right now, all I need is caffeine—or about four more hours of sleep. I’ve got a crap ton of marking to do today and the last thing I need is to spend the day going back and forth over my stupid decision to spend the night with Scott.
I fall asleep still with a huge pile of marking to get through Sunday night, already knowing that this week is going to be a disaster.
Monday morning starts exactly as I expect. My alarm doesn’t go off, so I end up late for the tube. Unlike the one I usually get, it is packed. Add the two giant bags of books I’m trying to take back to school and it’s just horrendous. By the time I arrive in my classroom I’m a flustered, sweaty mess.
The kids are hyper. I hear snippets about a party Saturday night that they’re all excitedly discussing. I try my best to zone out. The last thing I need is to overhear something that I’ll have to act on.
My first lesson is with my worst class of the week and by the time the hour’s up, I feel ready for the weekend to start already.
The day continues to drag, but at least I manage to find a little time to make some more progress on my marking pile. By the time our staff meeting comes to an end, I’m ready to curl up on the sofa with a takeaway. Knowing I’ve still got a long tube ride to get home means I drag my feet a little, not wanting to be surrounded by crowds of people once again.
“See you tomorrow,” Mrs. Hall says when she stops at her classroom.
“Have a good night,” I call back over my shoulder and continue to my classroom with the intention of grabbing my stuff and getting out of here.
“Was that meeting as boring as it was long?” A familiar deep voice rumbles the second I open my classroom door. My heart jumps into my throat and my muscles tense, ready to fight.
“What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d explain face to face seeing as you’ve refused to call me.”
“Excuse me? You left your business card on the bedside table. You didn’t exactly put much effort in.”
“I wrote on the back, but I’m assuming you couldn’t read that once you ripped it up. And I sent flowers.”
“Yeah…you did.” Forcing him to move as I pull my coat from the back of my chair, I turn away from him and shrug it on.
“I’m sorry, Fearne.”
“Too late. The damage is done. You left me in your fuck pad, just like I’m sure you do every other woman, like I was nothing more than a body for you to use.”
“No…it wasn’t like that.”
“No? So, what was it like, then? I’d love for you to enlighten me, Mr. Hudson.”
“I shouldn’t have taken you there, but I couldn’t wait to have you all to myself.” I hate it, but his words affect me. “I’m sorry.” Stepping towards me, he reaches out and takes my hands in his. “Let me make it up to you.”
“I can’t. I’ve got a mountain of work to do.”
“You can still do that. Just give me a couple of hours, then if you’re not happy, I’ll take you home.”
I can’t believe I’m even considering this after the weekend, but as I stand and stare into his eyes I can’t help but feel like he’s being completely sincere with his desire to make it up to me. “Fine. But I have got to do my marking.”
“No problem. These bags?” He nods towards the huge canvas totes full of books.
“Yes, please.”
Silence hangs between us as we head towards the car park, but it’s not uncomfortable. I expect to find his Porsche waiting for us so I’m a little shocked when he walks over to a Range Rover.
I don’t need to say anything, he can tell by my raised eyebrows. “I collect them.”
“So I see.”
He opens the passenger door for me before putting my bags into the boot and joining me.
“Where are we going?”
“Wait and see.”
