A Deal With The Devil - Sophie J Brain (top fiction books of all time TXT) 📗

had won, he knew that she had beaten him. She stood up and walked to the door “I wonder if it would be worth giving me pay in lieu of notice, have a think about it.” “Miss Gilmore, I can still cause trouble for you” Matthews warned “mark my words I will make sure that neither you or your daughter get very far in your career.”

Jen sighed, she hadn’t really wanted to use the last tool in her box but it seemed like he was giving her no choice. She turned around and walked back to the desk, Matthews had walked back to his side and was sat down in his chair. “I don’t like having to use blackmail but I know that all the money in this company mainly belongs to your wife’s family and I wonder what they would say if they find out that you have been beating her.”

Matthews’ eyes widened “you don’t know what you are talking about.”

“As a fellow victim of your abuse I do know what I am talking about” Jen countered “I could tell when I met her at the Christmas party that you must hit her regularly. One word from me and that will be all they need to piece things together and then you will really be left with nothing. So can I count you on to leave me alone or do I have to get into contact with your wife’s family?”

“You bitch” Matthews shouted.

“Thank you for you cooperation” she smiled as she left his office. As soon as she was out of the office she rushed to Will, who hugged her tightly, she had done it. She had stood up to all of them and now they could get on with the rest of their lives. Maybe she would never be good enough for him, but he loved her and she would do all she could to make him feel loved in return.

“I have this thing at Caroline’s school tonight” Jen murmured “she is introducing some new benefactor or something, in all honestly I only skim read the letter, would you like to come?”

Will smiled “I’d love too.”

 

Later that evening they made the short journey to Caroline’s school. Matthews had decided to give pay in lieu of notice so she wouldn’t have to see him again, something she was more than grateful for. She had been willing to work the two weeks but in truth she hadn’t really wanted to. Everyone in the office knew about her and Matthews and their sniggers were beginning to drive her insane.

Jen was sure that she was going to get similar sniggers from the staff at the school tonight but she could handle that. Caroline had been given an important job and she wasn’t going to miss it.

Jen wasn’t sure why it had been Caroline who had been picked, all she had been told was that she had been chosen specifically by the new benefactor himself. Curious indeed but Jen knew that it must have something to do with Caroline’s school record. She had the best grades and attendance of anyone else in the school, Jen knew that much, so it only made sense that someone would choose her to introduce them.

“Mum!” Caroline beamed as they walked in “and Will too, nice to see you both, do I look all right?”

Jen looked down at her daughter, who looked beautiful in a tight fitting ruby dress, and smiled “you look wonderful sweetheart.”

“Thanks mum” Caroline grinned “right I need to go, thank you so much for coming.”

Jen watched as Caroline dashed off to behind the stage then sat down in a seat near the front. She saw a few people giving her odd glances, she rarely attended any even functions, but she didn’t care. She was there to support her daughter and that was all that mattered to her.

Will had also noticed the staring parents “what’s up with them?”

Jen shrugged “I don’t know, probably jealous that my daughter was chosen over their child for the introduction. To be honest, I don’t really get too involved with the school.” Will nodded “well maybe you could change that in the future, you know if you wanted to.”

“Maybe” she murmured. Truthfully she hadn’t really thought about it one way or the other. It was an open secret amongst the staff that she had been fucking Burton so she had no doubt that some of the parents also knew. In truth she had assumed that they would think of her as nothing so she hadn’t bothered to try and make friends.

The lights began to dimmer as everyone turned to look at the stage. Caroline was stood next to Burton, who cleared his throat before speaking.

“Good evening ladies and gentleman” he boomed “As you know we are here today to welcome a new benefactor into the school board of directors. I pass you over to one of our best pupils, who will be introducing him to you all this evening, ladies and gentleman, Miss Caroline Gilmore.”

There was a small round of applause as Caroline walked up to a podium and cleared her throat. “Thank you very much Mr. Burton, I have the greatest honour to introduce to you all, the latest member on our board of directors. Not only has he been taking an active interest in the lives of us students here at the school but he has also given a very generous donation to help fund our new library and pay for new equipment.”

Jen smiled with pride at her daughter “she is so wonderful” she whispered to Will.

“Ladies and Gentleman, please give a large round of applause for our benefactor, Mr. Pearson.” Caroline cheered as she started clapping.

Jen felt the blood drain from her face, it couldn’t be could it? “Did she say Mr. Pearson?”

Will nodded “yeah that’s right, she did a wonderful job, don’t you think?”

Jen nodded but she couldn’t get her mind to focus, surely it couldn’t be the same one, surely there were lots of Mr. Pearsons. With trepidation she looked back to the stage and tried not wince as she was faced with the reality in front of her.

“Oh my God” she whispered “it can’t be.”

Maybe it was a coincidence, maybe he didn’t know that Caroline was her daughter, and maybe he didn’t know that she was sat in the audience.

She saw him turn in her direction and their eyes met, she swallowed nervously and tried not to flinch as he winked at her.

“Who is he?” Will asked, urgently.

Jen let out a small breath “It’s Phil.”

Chapter Twelve

 

Chapter Twelve

Jen is about to have an awkward encounter

 

Jen tried to swallow but her throat was dry. What was Phil doing there? She hadn’t seen him in over fifteen years but he still looked amazing. He hadn’t age much, if at all, and she could feel herself going back in time. Oh dear, what was she going to say to him? Would he still hate her for hurting him?

She turned to Will, who was watching Phil with unblinking eyes, what was he thinking? Maybe he wouldn’t love her once he found out how badly she had hurt Phil. Jen bit her lip, she had only just started trusting love again and she didn’t want anything to mess it up. She wished she knew what Will was thinking.

Finally the assembly draw to a close and, as was customary, the parents were invited to stay for drinks afterwards to become better acquainted. Jen stood up quickly, wanting nothing more than to escape as soon as Caroline was ready. She felt Will’s hand on her back as she scanned the crowd looking for Caroline. Jen felt the blood drain from her face as she saw spotted her daughter, engrossed in conversation with Phil.

Will, who had also spotted Caroline, whispered “it will be all right, I’m here.”

Jen nodded slowly as they began to walk towards Caroline and Phil. She needed to be strong, she had to get Caroline away from him, she didn’t want her daughter knowing who is was. If Caroline found out the truth about Jen’s past who knows what she would think.

“Caroline” Jen smiled, doing her best to seem calm.

“Mum” Caroline beamed “I didn’t know you already knew Mr. Pearson. How exciting.”

“I wouldn’t say I know him” Jen murmured.

“Oh come on, Jenny” Phil grinned “we used to be quite friendly at one time.”

Jen flinched at his use of her old nickname “that was a long time ago Phil.”

“I suppose it was” Phil replied before turning to Will “you must be the boyfriend.”

“That’s right” Will grunted.

“I hope you are looking after Jenny” Phil smiled.

“I am” Will snapped, as he fought to control his anger, how dare this man act as if nothing had happened? Jen might be in denial about it all but Will knew the truth about Phil. He knew that Phil had groomed her and used her for his own advantage then discarded with her as soon as she was no longer useful.

Caroline turned to Will with a confused look on her face. He wasn’t surprised; he wasn’t usually so brash with people. “Are you all right Will?”

“Quite all right” he replied softly “just a bit tired.”

“Yes, we have to be going” Jen murmured, grateful that Will had made the perfect excuse for them to leave. She took hold of Caroline’s hand and gentle pulled her away from Phil.

“Can’t I stay a bit longer?” Caroline asked “I’m happy to walk home, it’s not far?”

“No, I don’t want you walking in the dark” Jen replied “you don’t know who is about.”

“I will give her a lift home” Phil cut in.

“Oh, yes please” Caroline beamed “that would be all right wouldn’t it?” “No!” Jen snapped loudly. All eyes turned to her in surprise; she didn’t usually raise her voice. She couldn’t let Caroline be alone with Phil, it was all too risky. She knew how charming Phil could be and she didn’t want Caroline to fall under his spell.

“I’m sorry” Will murmured flashing Jen a smile “it’s my fault, I’m planning to take you both out for a meal this evening.”

“A meal?” Caroline beamed “can we have pizza?”

“Whatever you like” Will grinned.

“Oh yes, pizza” Caroline smiled as she pulled Will towards the exit.

Jen smiled nervously “I had better follow them, Caroline gets a bit excited about pizza.” Phil nodded “until next time, Jenny.”

“There won’t be a next time” Jen returned, trying to sound forceful “I want you to leave me and Caroline alone. We don’t need you.”

“I never said you did” Phil smiled “but I will see Caroline here at times. I cannot ignore her.”

“Don’t do anything to her” Jen warned before rushing as quickly as she could to the exit. She hoped he listened to her and left the two of them alone. The last thing she needed was for Caroline to discover the truth about her.

 

It was around lunchtime the next day when she heard a knock at door. Jen frowned, she wasn’t expecting anyone and Caroline was school, with a sigh she stood up and opened the door. She felt the blood drain from her face as Phil smiled at her and walked past her into the flat. She let out a breath to try and ease her nerves but it was