Chapter 3

At the station

They got to the station as the London train departed. Faced with an hour wait for the next train Geoff and Helen found the station cafe and settled in for the wait.

"Geoff, when I asked you why you helped me, you said you owed someone. I don't think it was money, so do you think you could tell what you owe to whom?"

"The short answer is that her name is Vanessa Richardson and I owe her my life. Nothing special just something I can't pay back."

"You can't expect me to leave it at that. We've got plenty of time so tell me the story."

"Are you sure you want to hear this? It's a long story and you may not like what you hear."

"Just tell me Geoff"

"OK, the story starts two years ago. I had my own software company. You've probably heard of it, Cockburn Software Solutions, or CSS plc. I set it up straight out of college and it sort of took off. Everyone was buying PCs and Windows made them easier to use. We wrote commercial software, office suites and accounting packages. We rode the wave for a while and did very well. When we floated the company on the stock market I did very nicely. My wife, Jackie, and I held on to sixty percent of the shares between us and I effectively gained a partner with expertise in business."

Things went well for a while but my projections showed the demand for our software packages declining. Even Microsoft started looking to develop hardware as another revenue stream. I knew we couldn't carry on forever so I started looking for alternative income sources. Our expertise was in software development so I looked into developing bespoke software for business users. I also set up a department to develop digital TV boxes. My partner, Simon, opposed all of this seeing it as a drain on resources but with sixty percent of the shares my wife Jackie and I always carried the day".

"That's when the problems started. I travelled around the country drumming up trade to enable us to continue to expand. I was away from home for about two days a week but brought in several contracts for bespoke software. I should have seen what was happening but I didn't. I was completely focussed on keeping the company moving forward. I could have sold up there and then. I'd have come out a very wealthy man, but people depended on me and I wanted something to pass on to my son. The upshot was that I didn't realise that I wasn't giving my family the attention they deserved."

"Then my most successful deal happened. I landed a contract to develop the firmware for digital TV set top boxes. It was the start, our future. I was high as a kite as I drove home. I couldn't wait to tell everyone about the deal. All the way home I was making plans. I saw that I had neglected Jackie and I was going to start making up for that. I thought we'd start with a holiday, just the three of us, anywhere in the world. I'd let them chose, I knew whatever they wanted, I could afford it.

When I got home I was a little surprised to find Simon's car in the drive. What the heck I thought, I can share the good news with him as well. There was something odd about the way they all sat there on the sofa, Simon, Jackie and my 17 year old son, Ian, all sitting there side by side waiting for me. I expected Jackie to get up and welcome me home but she just sat there. I dropped my bag, clapped my hands and with a big grin told them the news.

"I've done it, I've pulled it off. We're going to be part of the biggest revolution since the invention of TV. Probably twenty million set top boxes for Digital TV and guess who has got the contract to develop the firmware."

No one moved; no one spoke.

"Don't you understand this is worth millions, and that's without the upgrades that are bound to be required at a later date."

"Sit down Geoff." The first thing anyone said and it came from Simon.

I sat down in the chair and looked at them.

"What's going on Si? You should be overjoyed; this deal secures the company's future."

"It's not going to happen Geoff; we've shut down the development section and laid off the staff. The company can't afford it, so we're going to stick to what we know."

"What do you mean, you've shut it down? On who's authority? It may have escaped your notice but I'm the majority shareholder. Jackie and I have a controlling interest. I'm the CEO damn it."

I noticed a small movement. Jackie's hand slipped from under her legs and rested on top of Simon's. There was that little squeeze, the kind of thing couples do when they are supporting each other.

"That's what I'm here to talk to you about. We had an emergency shareholder's meeting yesterday, and voted you off the board. The company can't afford all your flights of fancy. We are a good profitable company and we'd be a darn site more profitable if we didn't have to finance all of your pet projects."

"And this has nothing to do with you fucking my wife?" It was just a guess but that hand movement told me there was more than business going on.

"No it doesn't, that's a completely separate issue. This is strictly business; of course I'm grateful to Jackie for her support."

"I'm sorry Geoff." Jackie spoke for the first time. "He's right. Your spending was out of control; we owed it to everyone to stop you before you ruined the company."

"Oh really Jackie, and whose bed were you in when he told you that eh? Was it my bed or did you go to his place?"

She looked at the floor and passed across an envelope. I opened it to find a solicitors letter telling me that my dear wife had filed a petition for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. "I won't take you to the cleaners Geoff, you've been a good husband but it isn't working anymore. I hope we can still be friends."

"Friends! You steal my company, you sleep with the enemy, and you expect to remain friends? Did you ever know me at all?"

"I hope, when you've calmed down, you'll change your mind. We still have our son to think of, we should try to get on. I'll be leaving with Si tonight perhaps you'll think it over when we're gone."

I found it hard to believe what was happening. Half an hour before I was on top of the world, now that world was falling apart. I was still reeling from the shock when I realised my seventeen year old son was sitting there and so far hadn't said a word. I knew he was there for a reason so what else was to come?

"So Ian what's your part in all this?"I asked "I can't believe you're sitting there and have nothing to say."

"I'm going to live with Mum and Si."

"I see so he's taken my company, my wife and now my son is that it?"

"Well what do you expect dad? Everyone knows you are loaded but what advantage did I ever see. You made me go to the local comprehensive when you could easily afford school fees."

"It was the local comprehensive that made me what I am. Nobody owes you a living son. That school didn't do too bad a job. You managed to win a scholarship for the public school sixth form."

"No I didn't dad, Si paid the fees because you wouldn't. He knows it's the easy route into the top universities."

"So you're prepared to sell me out for two years school fees?"

"And a new Mini."

I put my hand to my forehead."God, where did I go wrong with you?"

Simon and Jackie got up. Simon turned to me. "Geoff I know this is a lot to take in. I think we should leave you alone for a while." He offered me his right hand, which was his mistake. Perhaps he'd forgotten I was left handed. "Strictly business Geoff; nothing personal."

I gripped his right hand in mine then smashed my left into his face knocking him to the floor. Blood was running from his nose.

"You've stolen my company and my family. Of course it's fucking personal. Now get up and get out of my house."

I looked at Jackie. "Are you planning on marrying him?"

"Yes, as soon as the divorce is final."

"Well just remember Jackie, when a man marries his mistress it creates a vacancy."

"Just what is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. Maybe Si here will help you."

Jackie helped him to his feet and held onto him as they walked out the door. Ian followed without a word. As I closed the door behind them, the only thing I could feel was empty. Since leaving university there were only two things in my life, my wife and my company. Later, of course, came my son and he also formed a prominent part. In less than an hour it had all been taken away. On TV people in my position reach for a bottle, I've never understood that. I drink when I'm having a good time, I certainly wasn't doing that. I sat in the chair trying to decide what to do but no answers came. I got up and walked around the house. I used to love that house. What's not to love about it? A large regency house overlooking Richmond park, of course I loved it and so, I thought, did Jackie. Now it was just an empty shell. All the happiness I'd known there was gone.

I don't know how long I paced around the house trying to find something to be happy about. It got dark, it got light again but it meant nothing. I could hear the telephone ringing somewhere in the distance. I tried to think of the last time I was happy without Jackie. I remembered the holidays with mum and dad in the caravan down in Cornwall. Both mum and dad were dead but the feeling of happiness I associated with that caravan kept pulling at me. I knew I had to go there. I just walked out of the house

There I was on the beach. The same beach I'd played on so happily as a child, the same beach where I met you. I didn't know why I was there. Of course, it didn't make me happy. Instead it made me miss mum and dad all over again, reminding me of how alone I was.

The tide was going out and I walked towards the ocean. The waves crashed against me as I strode into the surf. It seemed right to end my empty life in a place for which I only had happy memories. I walked out further and suddenly she was there, standing in the sea in front of me. She stood about 5ft 10ins tall her long dark hair hung down her back. She wore a white one piece swimsuit cut high at the legs and showing the darkness of her nipples through the material. Her narrow waist, full breasts and round arse gave her that hour glass look. She looked at me and spoke.

"This is not the way Geoff. Turn around and let's go back."

"Why, what's the point? There's no reason to go back."

"There is always a reason to live. There are things you have to do, people you have to meet."

"What are you talking about and how do you know my name?"

"I'm talking about you. It's not your time. If you go further I will have to save you. Turn around and come with me."

She offered me her hand. "come with me Geoff."

"Who are you? Do I know you?"

"My name is Vanessa and no you don't know me, but I know all about you. Please come with me."

I took her hand and turned around to follow her. She walked elegantly out of the waves. I tried to guess her age and put her at about thirty five. She led me up the beach and into the dunes beyond. We came across a house in the dunes; it was of an unusual construction, being made completely of wood with a veranda that looked out to sea. Almost an old colonial bungalow in sunny Cornwall. She led me up to the door and took me inside. She let go of my hand and left me in the hallway. A few minutes later she appeared with a towel drying her hair.

"The bathroom is through there, why don't you go and have a shower?"

I moved off in the direction she indicated and did find a bathroom. I was still in a daze and moving very slowly. In what seemed no time at all she was there beside me, helping me out of my clothes. She turned on the shower and waited for me. I stood naked before her as she opened the shower door. I just stood under the spraying water not moving at all. When she stepped out of the swimsuit and got in the shower with me, I should have been surprised. Looking back I should also have been aroused, she was a hell of a beautiful woman, I actually felt nothing. In the words of the song I had become comfortably numb. She pulled my head down to her shoulder as she washed my hair and hugged me as she washed my back.

"You're in shock but don't worry, I can fix you."

When she'd finished washing me, she started on herself. In the days that followed I would become very excited watching her run her own hands over her body but not that afternoon.

"You look like you haven't slept in days," she said as she led me to the bedroom. "We'll deal with that first."

Still naked, she took me to a bedroom and put me to bed.

I woke gently, it was dark outside. Jackie's arm wrapped around me, her breasts pushed into my back as she spooned into me. My cock was hard and as I started to move I felt her hand wrap around it. That's when I realised it had all been a terrible dream. I reached behind me and stroked her bum. It seemed slightly bigger and rounder than I remembered. I moved away and started to turn over.

"Oh Jackie, I just had the most awful dream." She still had hold of my cock and was moving her hand up and down."I dreamed you'd left me and you and Ian had gone to live with Simon."

I turned towards her and ran my hand up her body, over her breasts to her neck and then her face. Something was wrong I reached for the bedside lamp but it wasn't there. I started to panic.

"What's going on Jac? Where are we?"

The light came on. I looked into her eyes and everything came flooding back. "Oh god! It wasn't a dream was it?"

Vanessa took my chin in her hand and kissed me. "No Geoff, it wasn't a dream. It all happened but it doesn't have to be as bad as you think. Look at me Geoff, don't you like what you see?"

"Yes, you're very beautiful and any man would feel privileged to wake up with you, but you are not the woman I'm in love with."

"Are you still in love with her?"

"I don't know any more. She obviously doesn't love me."

"Don't be too hard on her or yourself Geoff; you must know why he seduced her. The question is do you want her back?"

"I don't think I do. She chose Simon over me. I'd always be thinking I was second best as far as she was concerned."

She kissed me."Never, ever think of yourself as second best Geoff. Now are you going to use this weapon or do I have to wait another day."

"What do you mean another day?"

"It's 2am, you've been sleeping for thirty hours straight. I'm a normal woman with a normal woman's needs. It's been a long time for me and when I'm sharing a bed with a hot man I do get a bit excited."

Vanessa put her arms around me and pulled me closer so her breasts pushed into my chest. As she ran her fingers down my back I couldn't resist pushing my hips towards her. She locked her lips on mine and her tongue started to dance with mine. I pulled away from her.

"I'm sorry Vanessa; can we take this a little slower? I'm not sure I can handle all this yet."

She smiled at me and kissed my forehead. "So that's not a no then?"

"It's a not now, that's all. I feel the need to go to the bathroom right now."

When I returned to bed, Vanessa was either asleep or pretending to be. I got back into bed and spooned into her. I slept fitfully and woke about 7am to the smell of coffee brewing. I sat up in bed. The door was open and down the passage I could see Vanessa occasionally passing the end of the passage. She wore a short silk robe, tied around her waist. She came back to the bedroom with two cups of coffee.

Geoff hesitated. Just how much should he tell her? He had no idea what effect it might have on their relationship if he told her exactly what had happened with Vanessa. His mind wandered as the memory of his time with Vanessa flowed back.

She'd put his coffee down on the nightstand and as she turned her robe fell open. Her nipple brushed his cheek and he turned and took it in his mouth. She wrapped her arms around head and pulled hard against her breast. He used his tongue, lips and teeth on her nipple as she threw her head back and moaned. Taking as much of her breast as he could into his mouth, he massaged the other with his hand. He moved his head into her cleavage started to kiss her there. As he moved down, she held onto my head I kissed lower and she knelt on the bed beside me.

He'd reached her waist when she fell across him on the bed. Her legs fell open offering her beautifully trimmed pussy to him. He continued kissing, working down to her pussy lips. He parted them and used his tongue to lift the hood on her clitoris before taking it in his mouth. He sucked gently and swirled his tongue around it. her hips rose as her hands pressed his head down. The force of her hips grew as her groans got louder and it became obvious she was having an orgasm. He continued to work on her until he felt her hand under my chin pulling him up. He made his way back up her body. When he reached her mouth she kissed him.

"I need you inside me Geoff. Make love to me. Make love to me now."

He climbed between her legs. As he positioned his cock at her entrance she pushed her hips up at him forcing his cock into her. As he entered her, her pussy squeezed his cock, and then her hands were on his arse pulling me further in. Her athletic legs wrapped around him, pulling him down on her. He leaned on his forearms and rocked in and out of her. He could feel her gripping his cock as I moved in her. They synchronised our thrusts and she started to moan. Her hands went all over my back causing me to thrust even harder. Her moaning increased and her cervix milked his cock as her legs tightened around him. She held him in a tight embrace as he shot his juices into her.

"Well that was a pleasant surprise," she whispered. "Your wife was a very lucky woman."

"She thinks she still is, she has a new lover now."

"I know all about it Geoff, and I'm telling you it's her loss"

"How can you? I hardly know you."

He climbed off and lay down beside her. She stroked his face. "And that's what you do for someone you hardly know. I can only imagine what it's like for someone you really care for. Take my word for it. It's her loss ... Now what do you say to breakfast then down to the beach for a swim?"

Geoff felt the nudges on his arm.

"I said, you made love to her didn't you. It's alright, I don't mind, it was before you met me." It was Helen bringing his mind back to the present day.

"Yes, I made love to her. For nearly six weeks, we'd go to the beach, swim and work on our tans. We'd spend our nights making love. Sometimes we'd even do it in the middle of the day. She used to love being taken from behind while she lay across the picnic table in the garden. In the evenings we would sit and discuss things. I told her how empty I felt. I'd built up a company and made a lot of money but to what end? I now had no family to pass it on to and even the company that bore my name had been lost. Somehow a great success seemed like failure. Vanessa would have none of it. She would list my achievements and all the people who'd benefitted from my efforts".