The Only Way is Up

Part Twenty Five

"What the HELL are you doing here woman? You should be in bed." Despite the words there was no animosity in her voice, and she fell into an embrace with her best friend. Suddenly Ernest's appearance made sense; Mike had a lot of contacts.

She turned to him next, "thanks Mike. I needed help in there."

He returned her hug, "don't thank me, I'm just here to look after this woman, Max here did it all."

Taking a gulp of air, that familiar sense of being out of her depth took over her as she turned to see Maxim sat at the end of the row of seats studying her intently.

"You did this?" She studied him for a long moment, his dark eyes smouldering, betraying the apparent casual nature of his posture, lounging in the chair, legs crossed at the ankle. His nod was curt, barely perceptible. "Thank you."

She bent and wrapped her arms around his rather hostile body and placed her lips on his cheek, "I was really in trouble back there."

Kim was giggling behind her, "no you weren't. That DI, she's the sister of Vincent's girlfriend."

Nicole untangled herself from Maxim's noticeably unresponsive body, and turned to her friend, "what?"

She nodded, "being a bitch apparently runs in the family."

Mike stood, "right, now that you are out...there is no need for my wife to spend more time away from her sick bed." He glanced at Maxim, "you'll take Nicole home?"

He nodded, "of course."

So after a round of hugs, they'd found themselves alone. And the awkwardness was palpable. But saving the moment for the second time that evening, Ernest strode confidently out into the waiting room.

"Oh they are in ten forms of panic in there Max, worked a treat, just as you predicted. Remind me never to make an enemy of you!"

The two men shook hands, and then Maxim finally spoke, "Ernie I owe you SO much, you never let me down."

"We will be taking that bitch down, I've just warned her." He turned to Nicole, "if you want to take on that bastard ex of yours too, I'm your man."

She shrugged, "I just want a divorce."

Giving a wicked grin he replied, "way out of my field, but I know just the lady who will take him for ALL that he has. Sound good?"

Smiling she nodded, "perfect."

The man disappeared in a blaze of colour and disruption, and Nicole grinned for a moment, what a spotlight capturing man. He was amazing.

But things weren't so easy with Maxim, as the moments passed; it became more and more apparent that he had orchestrated everything involved in getting her out. And she was eternally grateful...but also worried. She'd presumed that Mike had stepped in...and had voiced that. The worst possible thing to say. She hadn't trusted Maxim, hadn't anticipated him coming good.

"Let's go."

He took her elbow and led her outside before giving her chance to respond.

"I had no idea that you had such great contacts."

Maxim was looking up and down the road for a taxi and merely shrugged, so she reached out and grabbed his arm, "Maxim! Look at me, will you?" He turned slowly, his eyes evasive, so she reached for his chin, forced him to look at her, "for god's sake. I am sorry. I saw Mike, and I presumed...that was wrong. Please don't make today any worse than it already is."

He gave a small shake of the head, "I'll never be good enough for you, will I? You'll never see past you prejudices about my age."

Nicole stumbled over that, she wasn't ready to throw herself into a relationship, it was too soon, and he was too dangerous, but she also didn't want him to walk away, leave her.