Micheal's POV
I wake up this morning and just like the last few mornings, Leanne isn't next to me. I go downstairs to look for and I can hear faint sniffling coming from the living room.
"Are you ok?" I ask softly as i'm walking over and she doesn't answer me and I notice she has headphones in, so I walk a little closer and she suddenly jumps up screaming.
"Calm down. it's only me" I say softly, taking a grip of both her arms to stop her swinging at me.
"W-what are you doing!?" She stutters shakily. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you" I say softly "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. I just didn't see you come in" she sighs calming herself. "Have you been awake all night again?" I ask concerend "I wasn't feeling good so I came downstairs. I didn't mean to wake you"
"Maybe we should take you to a doctor. He might be able to give you something or..."
"I don't need a doctor" she quickly cuts me off. "Baby, you've barely slept since Lisa's trial. I know you said your fine, but clearly it's not if it's keeping you up all night"
"It's not. I just didn't feel good and I couldn't sleep, but I'm fine now" she smiles slightly through pursed lips.
"Maybe I should stay home today, if your not feeling good and.."
"I'm fine" she cuts me off "anyway. I have to meet Emma at the hotel this morning. It's her first day today remeber? And I told her I'd help show her the ropes an stuff and..."
"Your not fine" I cut her off, going back to the subject "Baby, you know you can talk to me about anything right?" I say softly wrapping my arms around her. "You don't have to keep everything bottled up. It's not good for you" I say and she doesn't answer me, but hugs me tighter.
"What were you listening to?" I ask and she looks at me confused. "When I came in. You had headphone in and were crying"
"I'm gonna go make us some breakfast" she smiles and pecks my lips then turns to leave, but I take her arm gently and pull her back to me. "Please tell me what's wrong?" I ask softly. "I can't" she whispers shakily and start crying and I pull her in close to me. "Baby, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong"
"I don't wanna talk or think or..."
She pauses then starts crying
After a few minutes Leanne seemed alot more calmer and I'm really starting to worry about her. One moment she's breaking down and the next she's acting like nothing's happened and goes back to being happy. She's been like this ever since Lisa's trial. Lisa hasn't tried to contact either of us, but I think it's still scaring her that she might because it scares me too. Lisa was always manipulating and self obsessed when we were married, but I never imagined she'd do what she did and I feel like I'm always watching over my shoulder incase she turns up again. I installed more security in our house and told staff and security at my office and the hotel not to let Lisa anywhere near the place and so far she hasn't, but I'm still worried that someday she might.
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Leanne's POV
Micheal offered to drive me to the hotel and while we're in the car I get a text message from Janet.
From: Janet
Have you told Micheal about the baby yet?
"Who's that?" Micheal asks casually "Just Emma to check I was still coming" I lie, quickly deleting the message.
"She's really excited, huh?" He chuckles slightly. "It's her first job. Weren't you excited for yours?" I ask "mhm... it was when I was 14. It was only passing files from one person to the other and photocopying stuff, but it felt great that my dad was bringing me into the family buisness" he smiles "mine was when I was 12. It wasn't payed or anything, but my mom started taking me to the restaurant with her and she taught me how to cook and I loved getting to make so many different things" I smile slightly. "If you enjoy cooking, maybe you should do something with it" he suggests. "Well, actually me and LaToya were talking awhile ago and I was thinking maybe I could use some of my inheritance money to buy my own restaurant and she said she'd help me"
"Sure. Do you have a particular location in mind?"
"You'd really let me buy a restaurant?" I ask surprised "of course. It's your money. You can spent it however you like" he smiles. I open my mouth to speak and my phone starts ringing and I hang up seeing it's Janet then switch it off.
"Emma again?" Micheal asks "mhm" I lie.
"Are you sure you'll be ok here by yourself?" Micheal asks when we get to the hotel and I nod. "I'll be fine. I promise"
"Ok, well i'll pick you up for lunch and.. "
"Micheal!?" A man shouts cutting him off and he turns and sees a man walking over to us.
"Hey! I didn't know you was in town" Micheal smiles then turns and introduces us. "This is my girlfriend Leanne. Leanne this is Albert an old friend of mine" he smiles "nice to meet you" the man smiles shaking my hand. "And this" he smiles as a woman carrying a baby walks over. "This is my wife Sarah and the newest addiction, Thomas" he smiles introducing us.
We all stand talking for a moment and I stand watching how cute Micheal looks, cooing over their baby. "And how about you two? Any plans for little ones anytime soon?" Sarah asks "I think we have a while before all that" Micheal smiles at her then thank God I hear Emma's voice calling me and I quickly and politely excuse myself from the conversation.
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Micheal's POV
I stand talking for awhile longer with Albert and Sarah then go and say goodbye to Leanne before I go to work.
I feel really weird about leaving Leanne alone today, not because I don't trust her, but because she hasn't been herself lately and I don't want her feeling pressured having to help me at the hotel. I was happy to ask someone else to show Emma the job, but Leanne insisted she wanted to do it.
When I get to my office, I take out my phone to call Leanne to make sure she's ok and as I'm about to dial I get a text from her.
From: Leanne
No need to call. I'm ok :)
P.s I love you xxx
I smile looking down at the message then text her back.
To: Leanne
I love you more xxx
After sending a quick message to Leanne I start getting on with some work and Janet comes in.
"Hey! What's up?" I smile. "I was just wondering how Leanne was. I haven't spoken to her in a few days" she asks. "She's not been good to be honest" I sigh "how do you mean?" She looks at me concerned and I tell her what's been going on.
"I don't know what to do. She's been like this since Lisa's trial. One minute she's fine and then the next she's getting upset. I've tried talking to her about it, but she just tries to change the subject"
"Sounds like she's just really overwhelmed with everything all happening at once and trying to block it out. Some people do that"
"But it's not good for her to keep blocking things out. I can't help her if she doesn't tell me what's going on. Look what happened with Mary. I had to practically yell at her and force it out of her before she'd tell me and the same with what happened to her the night I got her away from that brothel and..."
"But, Micheal you can't keep yelling at the poor girl and forcing her to talk" she cuts me off. "What else am I supposed to do? I try asking her and she won't tell me what's wrong and changes the subject"
"Well bullying her into saying it isn't gonna help. She'll just close up even more"
"Saying what? Has she said something to you?" I ask sensing something and she sighs slighty. "I can't say"
"Why not?" I frown "because it's best coming from her and..."
"WELL SHE'S NOT FUCKING TALKING IS SHE!!?" I yell, getting really pissed off. "See? What I'm talking about. If this is how you are with Leanne then no wonder she doesn't wanna talk to you!" She snaps. "Just talk to her clamly. She's clearly worried already about how your going to react"
"So there is something?" I ask and she nods "yes"
"but your not gonna tell me?" I say with an attitude. "Like I said, it's best coming from Leanne" she sighs and I don't say anything knowing I'm not gonna get anything from Janet.
Janet's making out like I just snap and flip out all the time, but what does she expect when I tell her I'm worried about Leanne and she says she knows the reason, but then doesn't tell me? Of course I'm gonna be pissed, anybody would be if someone walked in and told them half a story then walked out.
I told Leanne I'd meet her for lunch so I'm gonna try and talk to her again and hopefully she'll tell me this time.
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Leanne's POV
I'm in the office and Emma walks in. "Hey! I just wanted ask if... are you ok?" She asks and I nod wiping the tears from my face. "Has something happened?"
"I'm fine" I shrug "did you need me for something?"
"what were you listening to?" She asks pointing at my iPod, ignoring my question "Nothing. I was just..."
I'm cut off when she takes it from me and listens for a moment. "Is that Mary's confession?" She says confused and I don't say anything taking her from her and put it in my pocket. "Why would you make a copy? And what did the police say when you showed them?"
"I um.. I haven't shown them yet" I mumble "You what!? What about Micheal? have you at least told him?" She widens her eyes and I shake my head. "So you've just been torturing yourself listening to it over and over!? Leanne you have to take that to the police and you have to tell Micheal. You can't just keep trying to block things out like this"
"Why not? I'm just doing what you and the other girls taught me to do" I shrug and she sighs sympathetically. "I know I used to tell you to block things out, but that was when we were trapped in that place. You don't have to block thing's out anymore. You need to tell someone what's going on and..."
"And then what!?" I snap cutting her off. "Last time I did that, I got beaten and gang raped and..."
"Is that why you haven't said anything?" She cuts me off "sweetie, that was different. I understand what happened to you was awful and traumatic, but nothing bad is going to happen to you this time, I promise" she says softly "how can you be so sure? The police knew what Mary was doing last time and they took her side and that police officer hurt me. How do you know the next officer wont do the same?" I say shakily. "Because Micheal isn't going to let anything happen to you this time and you have a whole family looking out for you" she says softly and I don't answer her.
"If you don't feel ready to tell the police then just tell Micheal for now. You don't have to go through this alone"
"Go through what alone?" I hear a familiar voice and we turn and see Micheal at the door.
"H-how long have you been there?" I stutter "I just got here. We're going for lunch remeber? What's going on?"
"Oh yeah, i'll just get my stuff and..."
"Leanne, what's going on?" He cuts me off "nothing" I shake my head.
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Micheal' POV
"Can you give us a moment?" I turn to Emma.
"Are you gonna be ok?" She turns to Leanne. "Why wouldn't she be?" I frown confused and she doesn't say anything and leaves the room and I close it behind her then walk back over to Leanne.
"Baby, what's wrong?" I say softly "nothing" she mumbles "then why do you look so nervous right now?" I ask and she doesn't answer me. "Is it me? Am I making you nervous?"
"No" she mumbles "then what? Because I know it's something. I spoke to Janet earlier and..."
"What did she say?"
"Nothing. Just that it was better hearing it from you. And I'm guessing by Emma's reaction she knows too?" he says softly.
Leanne stands quietly like she's thinking and I can tell by the look on her face she scared.
"Whatever it is, you can tell me.. please talk to me?" I say softly and again she doesn't say anything for a moment then shakily takes a deep breath. "I'm pregnant"