The Only Way is Up

Part Nine

Whistling to the dog, he ducked into another side street before he was spotted.

Gym three times a week AND yoga...was almost killing her. But she had to admit that since her rather frank talk with Maxim, she was in a better place. This was no longer a chore, something she HAD to do; it was something she WANTED to do, even if she didn't enjoy it.

But she was aching far more than was healthy, it was Friday, and she had dragged herself through the day. She was due to meet Maxim at seven; her watch informed her it was just after three. Picking up her phone she dialled Lisa her colleague.

"I'm dying; I'm going to take a couple of hours off, if you don't mind. Can you cover?"

"Of course chick, you looked tired earlier. See you Monday?"

She sighed with relief, "of course, I'll be here."

Normally she'd take the tube home, but today, she waved down a cab, settling into the seat she closed her eyes and relaxed.

Back at home she knew she should have a shower, wash the office out of her, but she didn't have the energy. A sleep was what she needed, and then she could make her gym appointment.

Stripping into pyjamas, the inviting bed called, and she almost collapsed under the duvet.

Max looked at the door to the house and wondered whether he should break it down. It was almost nine, getting dark, and he'd still not found Nicole. He wasn't one to panic, bad things didn't happen to most people, but when she hadn't turned up to their appointment, he had started to fear his father's influence. Getting back at him was something that Aleksi Guryanov would find both beneficial and amusing. He'd called her more than a dozen times, then called her office. Finally someone answered that call and told her she'd finished early. He was about to call Mike to ask Kim for some advice, though he didn't want to panic a pregnant woman, when he thought of the gym register. Despite Mike footing the bill for her sessions, gym insurance meant that they had to have her details on their primitive system - a large log book, every member entered manually.

It took him a few minutes to find her address, and here he was, outside a house that showed no signs of life.

Smash the door down...or look for a spare key, this wasn't the worst London neighbourhood, but did you leave a key under a rock or plant pot here? The small gated front garden was pretty bare, no likely hiding places.

Last chance, he thought as he once again pounded on the door. She had to be inside.

Nicole felt as though she was under water, sounds were drifting into her head, but they weren't clear, she couldn't hear them well. She tried to open her eyes, but her head was pounding, and when she did part her eyes, her vision was blurred.

The door.

That was what she could hear. As she pulled herself to her feet, she realised she was home, that she was in her house. Staggering down the stairs, she made for the door and the silhouette of someone outside.

"I'm coming," she croaked, and the banging thankfully stopped.

It took all her effort to coordinate the door, and as it pulled open, she slumped against the door frame. Her eyes were closing as a voice muttered an expletive, and two strong arms wrapped around her.

God her head hurt, Nicole tried to lift a hand to touch it, to try and assuage the pain there, but with a groan she had to surrender that.

"Nicole, are you awake?"