Will You Read online

  There’s an awkward silence and I can tell Richie and Angela are trying hard not to laugh. Jack just nods and smiles. “I think it is. Well, thanks for the chocolate, maybe I can return the favour sometime. You should come to my opening evening. Only close friends and family are invited. You can all count yourself on that list.”

  I’m appalled when Richie and Angela nod their heads vigorously and say with excitement, “Wow, thanks. You can count on us being there.”

  I just glare at him and try to keep my eyes above the neck because he appears to have forgotten that it’s bad manners to walk around without a shirt on.

  I say tightly, “I’m sorry, I have plans that night.”

  He laughs, “I haven’t told you when it is.”

  My so-called friends snigger and after throwing them the death stare, I say in a bored voice. “Any evenings are out because I have a very busy schedule. Between the various martial arts lessons I take and the many dates I have booked I just don’t have the time. Anyway, why would I support you when you have shown no regard for my business? No, there will be no friendly banter between us and no cosy little get togethers. If you sell one chunk of chocolate in that shop opposite, we are officially at war.”

  He shakes his head and smiles which makes me forget just for a minute why I should hate him.

  “I’m sorry you feel that way. Maybe when you get over the initial shock you’ll change your mind.”

  He turns to my friends and smiles. “Tuesday evening, 7.30. I hope to see you both there.”

  As he heads outside, I try not to openly stare at his retreating figure and sigh like a fangirl.

  Instead, I turn my anger on the two traitors in my mist and say shortly, “Thanks for the solidarity guys. I can’t believe you’re really going to his stupid party.”

  Richie shrugs. “Of course, I’m going to check out the competition on your behalf. Haven’t you heard of the enemy within? I will suss out the competition and report back. It’s genius if you ask me.”

  Angela nods frantically. “Same for me. You know, this could work to our advantage. We will be your eyes and ears and then we can put the word out it’s not worth going there. Don’t worry, Nelly, you can count on us, leave it with us, we have your back.”

  She then makes a big show of looking at her watch. “Goodness is that the time? I must run. Later babes.”

  Richie seizes his chance and says brightly, “I’m right behind you, Roger will be back soon and I haven’t ironed the flannels yet. See you later Nelly.”

  As the door closes firmly shut, I sigh heavily. Great. This could just be my worst day ever.

  Typically, this is a quiet day. In fact, most days are and so I busy myself with tidying the shop while trying not to attack the stock with a deep depression. I always do this when I’m down. My love of chocolate extends to it being the cure for everything in my life. The endless dates that lead nowhere. The fact I’m struggling to make ends meet and have nothing to occupy me outside of the shop hours. I totally lied when I told Jack I didn’t have time for his so-called party. I have more time than anyone I know and now I’m in an even worse mood than before. To make matters worse, the only customer I have in the next hour comes in to complain about the chocolate melting on their way home. I tried to explain that you shouldn’t leave it in a hot car while you go and do your grocery shopping but she was having none of it.

  So, by the time the desired lunchtime rush is over, I resort to the usual pick me up and cram as many chocolate balls into my mouth as I can. This is a habit I really should try to break because almost immediately, the door opens and Mrs Mulligan comes in, saying quickly, “Afternoon Nelly. I need an order of chocolate Brazils as quickly as possible because I’m double parked.”

  As I turn to face her, I watch her expression change to one of surprise as she sees my cheeks bulging with chocolate. Shaking her head, she says imperiously, “Eating the stock again my dear? Maybe a chocolate shop isn’t really the best thing for you. I mean, you should watch your weight at your age, not to mention it’s bad for your teeth. After all, eating the profits won’t please the bank manager and I should know, I’m married to him.”

  I try hard to swallow some of the chocolate but I rammed so much in there’s no room for manoeuvre. Instead, I just grab a little box from the shelf and start weighing out the chocolates, while trying to have a conversation with just expressions alone.

  To say this is awkward is an understatement, and I feel mortified at the pitying glances she throws me. By the time she leaves, I never uttered one word and had to point to the digital display on the cash register to tell her how much it was. In fact, it takes a good five minutes longer for the chocolate to melt and as it slides down my throat, I feel sick. Not from the chocolate but from the fact I allowed myself to weaken.

  The downside to running a chocolate shop is the temptation involved. Unless I’m busy, I start to eye up the stock like a cannibal stalking his human prey. Those little delicious squares of heaven call to the weak part of me that can’t say no. They settle on my hips and surround my stomach and leave me feeling like an addict coming down from a high. I loathe myself and vow never again until the next little temptation rears its pretty little head and shouts to me how delicious it is. I’ve even taken to jogging and doing stretching exercises when the customers aren’t around just to shift any calories that are piling on quicker than I can burn them off.

  So, unfortunately, it’s when I’m doing squats that I’m aware I’m not alone.

  Spinning around, my face turns redder than the delicious red velvet chocolates I have in the chiller cabinet, when I see Jack smirking at me over the counter.

  Immediately I go on the attack. “What do you want? You had better be coming to tell me you’ve agreed to my demands.”

  He smiles sweetly and my body reacts accordingly, which makes me hate it even more than I did before.

  He looks at me with amusement and points to my face saying, “I think you may have forgotten the bit on your lower lip.”

  Running my tongue around my lips, the delicious taste of chocolate balls reveals itself and I feel my cheeks flame with embarrassment as I glare at him.

  He says softly, “Listen, I think we got off on the wrong foot earlier. I want to start again if that’s possible.”

  I shrug. “Only if you ditch the chocolate.”

  He says firmly. “I told you there really isn’t much of it involved. Anyway, I can’t because I’ve had all the signs printed, the chocolate ordered, and the company registered - it’s too late.”

  I don’t know why but I start jogging on the spot and say breathlessly, “Then you can leave. In case it’s escaped your attention, this is my exercise period. You are interrupting a very important part of my day with your idle chatter and I need you to leave - immediately.”

  He throws me an odd look, which is probably due to the fact I am now doing star jumps but it does the trick and he starts heading towards the door. As he makes to leave, he says loudly, “Please come on Tuesday. I’m sure we can work this out.”

  I turn my back on him and hear the door click shut, leaving me feeling like a total bitch. Way to go Nelly. Make an enemy of the one boy you have ever loved who never once acknowledged your existence. Now he is you are making yourself look like a complete and utter bitch.

  Reaching for the chocolate covered nuts, I reason with myself that they are only half bad for me as I systematically work my way through the packet and berate myself for every weak part of me that just can’t ever seem to get it right.

  4

  For the next few days, I avoid Jack Mason. I watch through a mirror I’ve set up in the corner to monitor the

  progress opposite and despite everything, the shop looks amazing. Tables and chairs now sit on the once empty pavement. Striped canopies entice people inside and the window is dressed with tempting gifts and the promise of a calming latte while the customer can look at beautiful things they instantly need. Even I must admit it look
s impressive and as he said, nothing like my shop at all. Maybe he is selling a few bars of chocolate but that’s still too many in my book.

  Tuesday comes and as I shut up my little shop, I think about the evening ahead. Maybe I should go and offer the olive branch of friendship. We are both in business and should support each other and who knows, we may become friends and associates. We could join the chamber of commerce together and share lifts to the meetings. Swap business tips and ideas and make Collingdale a better place to visit based on our suggestions at the local council meetings. Maybe we would discover a shared love of all things chocolate and laugh at these first few days and just maybe, Jack and I could become friends… with benefits. Yes, I’m liking that idea. Benefits of the most delicious kind. Wild nights of passion involving lots of melted chocolate and no inhibitions. He will confess that he always desired me from afar but found me too intimidating due to my utter perfection to pluck up the courage to talk to me. Yes, that’s what will happen. Maybe I should drag on something sexy and visit his little party and show him that I’m the bigger person in all this. Yes, that’s what I’ll do for the sake of my business.

  With a new found resolve I head home to change.

  Standing outside More than Chocolate, I start to have second thoughts. I can tell his party has started because the noise is deafening. There are hordes of people inside and I feel a little intimidated. Maybe I should just slide off and leave them to it. I almost do but then see Richie and Angela advancing towards me with excitement written all over their faces.

  Richie shouts, “Nelly, darling, I’m so glad you came. Come in with us and we can suss everything out together.”

  I nod gratefully thinking this is the best option. Show my face with my friends and then make my polite excuses to leave.

  Feeling a little braver, I set myself between them and we head inside.

  As shops go this one’s impressive. Even I can see no expense has been spared and the professional shop fitting company he used has done him proud. All around is temptation in every form. Beautiful gifts nestle on tables stylishly arranged. Calming music plays from the speakers and the smell of coffee and baking bread mingles with the perfumes of the scented candles and reed diffusers. Little white tables and chairs hold pretty flowers in jam jars and then I see the biggest temptation on offer in this establishment, Jack Mason himself.

  Our eyes connect across the shop and he smiles happily. I can’t seem to look away but try my best to look indifferent. He moves across and says warmly, “It’s good of you to come; let me show you around.”

  Shaking my head, I step back a little and say, “Oh, it’s fine. You should see to your guests. We’ll find our own way around.”

  He says firmly, “Nonsense. I want to look after you personally.”

  I think my legs shake along with my heart as he takes my arm and guides me through the crowd, saying with obvious pride, “Really, I’m so glad you came. I want to show you that you have absolutely nothing to worry about.”

  The trouble is, I have everything to worry about because suddenly I am that girl again. Smelly Nelly, the headmaster’s daughter and enemy of every child in the school. The girl with braces, pigtails and sensible shoes who wore strictly regulation uniform with not a hair out of place. That straight-A student who served on every committee going. The student president and organiser of every boring event going, who was made to attend every function at the school as the hired help because that what was expected. Even the teachers treated me differently for fear of drawing my father’s attention and tonight I am reminded of every excruciating minute of it because sitting holding court in the centre of the room, is princess popular, Emma Grant.

  I feel the life drain from me as she looks up and sees me standing before her with Jack’s hand on my arm. Her eyes narrow and she looks confused. She doesn’t look as if she remembers me because I am now completely different. I dyed my hair years ago. The endless gym sessions after work have shifted most of the pounds and the braces vacated my mouth years ago. I have grown taller and dress as fashionably as my meagre wages will allow. In fact, I am officially a different person until Jack says loudly, “You remember Nelly Gray the headmaster’s daughter, don’t you guys?”

  All eyes swivel in my direction, and there they are. The popular gang. Alive and well and staring at me with derision like they always did.

  Princess Emma tosses her long, black, hair and looks me up and down, saying disdainfully, “Goodness, I would never have remembered you, you look totally different.”

  Her friend Madison nods. “Yes, didn’t we used to call you smelly Nelly?”

  They all snigger and I feel my face flame with embarrassment. It doesn’t matter how I look now; how successful I am, or the fact I’m standing with their leader’s hand on my arm. I will always be that social pariah and nothing will ever change. However, I am not that girl anymore so, I draw myself up and smile at Emma coolly. “Yes, I remember you, Emma. Good to see you again. I think the last time I did was when your parents were called in after you were found snogging that French exchange student in the boy’s changing rooms. What was his name? Oh yes, Pierre, how original. Never mind, I’m sure it helped with your French… um… kissing skills. After all, if I remember correctly, you didn’t have many other ones to fall back on. Oh, and Madison, I remember you, you were the girl everyone voted most likely to have a kid first. Did you ever manage it, it would be such fun if you did? Goodness, how cruel kids can be, I should know because every single one of you made my life hell back then. I wish I could say it didn’t matter but actually, it did. You see, every hateful word you ever said, every spiteful look you ever gave me and every time you made me feel like dirt on your shoe mattered. You were bullies of the worst kind and it’s only now I thank god I was never actually accepted as one of you because who would want to be classed as shallow, vindictive, ugly bullies, who never amounted to anything? Well, it’s been good to catch up, but the air is somewhat stale in here so, I’ll leave you to your shallow lives and carry on with being much better than you.”

  Turning away, I almost run to the door and as the cooler air hits me, I gasp for oxygen. Then, a firm hand grabs me and pulls me back into that infernally hard chest and those strong arms wrap around me as Jack growls, “Not so fast. You’re going nowhere. You’re my guest and if anyone’s leaving, it’s them.”

  I look up at him in surprise and he smiles gently. “I’m sorry about that, Nelly. Every word you just said is true. We made your life hell at school and nobody regrets that more than me. I recognised you as soon as I saw your angry face peering through that window and now, I want to make it up to you.”

  I look at him in surprise. “What do you mean, make it up to me?”

  For some reason, the world stops spinning. Something about the look in his eyes tells me everything is about to change. This is a moment in time that alters the future and shifts destinies.

  I’m aware we have quite an audience as the music stops playing and the crowds inside stop to stare.

  Then Jack kneels before me, takes my hand in his and says in a loud voice. “Will you be my girlfriend, Nelly Gray?”

  Just for a moment, I thought I’d heard him incorrectly. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  He smiles a little self-consciously and says softly, “I said, will you be my girlfriend?”

  Shaking my head, I look at his slightly anxious face and then look up at the faces all around me. Richie and Angela are looking at us in disbelief and the popular gang look as shocked as I feel. Then I see the smirk on Emma’s face and the anger returns. I hiss. “Is this how you get your kicks? Making a fool out of me again in front of your friends. Well, go to Hell. Pick on someone who wants your attention and leave me alone.”

  I turn away and find a new skill in running. Actually, I sprint like an Olympic athlete away from the crowd who start laughing. The tears blind my view as Emma’s shrill voice calls out, “Nice one, Jack. You had us there for a moment.”
r />   I feel like such a fool and curse my bad judgement in coming here in the first place. As I reach my car, I struggle with the keys and shakily try to get them in the lock. They fall to the floor and I curse as I drop to my knees and search for them where they rolled under the car. Then I’m aware that someone is running closer and steel myself for more public humiliation.

  Jack drops to his knees beside me and says earnestly, “Please listen to me, Nelly. I promise you that wasn’t some cruel stunt, I really meant it.”

  Noting we’re alone, I stare at him with a pained expression and say in a whisper, “Why?”

  He sighs heavily. “I have my reasons but now isn’t the time to tell you. Meet me tomorrow after work and I’ll explain everything, that is, if you haven’t already got a prior engagement?”

  He smiles sweetly and I notice it appears a genuine one, so I nod. “Ok, I’ll hear you out. Though I can’t think why you did that. It’s very odd.”

  He holds out my keys and smiles. “Odd doesn’t begin to describe my life at the moment. However, I can assure you I’m not some mad weirdo who gets his kicks from messing with women’s minds. I have a very valid reason for everything and think it will work to your advantage.”

  As I take the keys from his hand, my fingers brush against his and a shiver runs through me. Yes, Jack Mason has always had an effect on me. The sort of effect that makes rational thought impossible. When he said those words to me tonight, it was a re-run of every fantasy I ever had about him. Dating Jack at school would have shown everyone. All those girls who made my life hell would be forced to admit I had won. What Jack did tonight was what I’ve always wanted – wasn’t it? Then why do I get the feeling there is more to this than meets the eye? There is something going on in his life that he’s hiding and tomorrow I may know what that is.