Deep Desire

Chapter One

The sound of a loud buzzer ran through my ears, piercing my ear drums. It's time to get up. I turned over in my bed and reached a hand out from under the covers to silence the shriek coming from my alarm clock. I tried to open my eyes, but they were glued shut, unwilling to open. I yawned and stretched my arms above my head, I could quite easily go back to sleep. When I forced my eyes open, there was a blurry light. The sun was shining through a gap between my faded pink curtains illuminating the mess I had made across my bedroom floor the night before. I groaned.

“Are you up yet, Amelia?” I heard a small, sweet voice from the other side of my bedroom door call.

“Just!” I answered, my voice hoarse.

“Ok, I’ll start breakfast!” It was only then I realised how hungry I actually was. After laying in bed for a further five minutes, I got up. I shoved my slippers on my feet and threw a light cardi on, then made my way to the kitchen where I found Caroline and Hannah; my two best friends. I met them both in my first year at Uni, and we’ve all been inseparable ever since.

“Morning.” Hannah said, looking up through her thick black framed glasses. Her mochaccino hair hung neatly just past her shoulders, her curls bouncing with every slight movement. I smiled at her, eyes still adjusting to the sunlight glaring through the open windows. She beamed back, revealing the gap between her two top teeth. I poured myself a cup of tea from the teapot that was resting on the kitchen island and climbed onto one of the stools. Caroline was busy making pancakes for breakfast singing along to ABBA on the radio. The purple streaks in her hair briefly, making an appearance through the rest of her white blonde locks. She turned to face us. The sunlight made her porcelain skin glisten. She smiled at me, her rosy pink lips turning into a thin line.

“Good night?” She asked.

“Honestly, I don’t even remember.” I said as I rested my head in the palms of my hands. My head felt too heavy to hold up.

“Sounds like a good night to me.” Hannah laughed, nudging her elbow into my side, causing me to jolt up. I cursed her with my eyes, then yawned, feeling completely drained.

“So how’s the job going, Han?” Caroline asked.

“Good,” Hannah said, “but you should see some of the houses I have to deal with.”

“Didn’t you put Dover manor up on the market last week?” I asked.

“Oh yeah, that house is so beautiful. It’s a shame the previous owner doesn’t have any living relatives to pass it on to.” She said as she stuffed a biscuit into her mouth.

“Has anyone been interested in it yet?” Caroline asked as she put a plate of pancakes in front of us. Chocolate chip pancakes with some lemon juice, my favourite.

Hannah and I both stuffed our faces with the delicious smelling pancakes while Caroline sat opposite watching, a grin spread across her face, feeling pleased with herself.

“Not yet,” Hannah said with her mouth full, “I hope someone buys it soon though because otherwise they are going to tear it down.”

“Really? But it’s such a beautiful place.” I said, my words were muffled through the pancake.

“And all that history going to waste as well.” Caroline added.

“Maybe you should get that boss of yours to buy it.” Hannah winked at Caroline, and she grinned.

“Mr Sinclair,” Caroline said as she poured herself a mug of tea, “wouldn’t be interested in that. He’s already made offers to two different companies in the last month.”

“How does anyone have that sort of money?” I scoffed. Her boss is one of London's most respected and powerful CEOs and a very eligible bachelor. Although he’s basically a celebrity, no one knows much about him, just that he’s filthy rich and is said to be drop-dead gorgeous. I’ve never personally seen him, only the few pictures you can find on the internet, but they are never proper pictures, just from afar. Caroline is his personal assistant. Not a job I could ever do myself. He sounds so arrogant and obnoxious. I couldn’t put up with it, but Caroline has the patience of a saint.

“He’s just good at what he does.” She shrugged and then took a swig of her tea.

“You work too hard for him.” I rolled my eyes at her, knowing full well she has a massive crush on him, along with everyone else in the city of London.

“I get paid good money Amelia, if I didn’t I wouldn’t be able to afford this place with you guys.” She had a point, we all get paid good money for what we do, and we’ve got a beautiful place to show for it. We live in a 3 bed apartment about 30 minutes away from the centre of London. It’s based on a quiet little road full of students with a few close bars and it’s near some of the best shopping centres. Sometimes, I feel like living here is a dream.

“How’s your job going anyway?” Hannah asked.

“Great! I’ve got three parties to plan and organise in the next two months. One of them is being hosted by Richard Branson!” I exclaimed. I work as an events manager in one of London’s most popular corporations, Story Events. I went straight from university to a small business that didn’t pay well, and the manager was only there because her father owned the business. I’d only worked there for six months before my current boss, Nick Peters, recruited me. He said he loved my work and I needed more out of the industry. And all that hard work at university is finally paying off.

“Richard Branson? The Virgin guy? That’s pretty cool. Have you met him yet?” Caroline asked.

“Not yet, but I’ve spoken to him on the phone a couple of times.” I said, finishing my last mouthful of pancake.

Caroline looked at her watch, “Oh crap, I’ve got to go!” She downed the last of her tea.

“How do I look?!” She asked, straightening her dress out. She stood there, smart and tall, wearing a grey pencil dress that clung to her thin body. The shiny black heels she was wearing made her legs look endless.

“You look great. Mr Sinclair will definitely approve.” Hannah grinned at her, and we both laughed. Caroline rolled her eyes and then ran out the door.

“So.” Hannah said, looking at me.

“What?” I said. I think I know where this is heading by the way she was looking at me.

“Well, have you heard from him?” She said, I rolled my eyes at her. She knew I didn’t want to talk about it. “It” being my boyfriend Daniel, or maybe ex-boyfriend now since I haven’t heard from him.

“Not for five days.” I said as if it was no big deal. I looked away, trying to avoid what her face was telling me.

“Five days? Christ Amelia, what are you doing? Just end it already. He’s probably out there busy screwing another b***h like he did last time.” She looked at me, wide-eyed, knowing what she just said stung,

“Sorry.”

It was probably true, though. I’ve been with him for five years and he’s cheated on me twice before, but I stayed with him because I’ve been with him for so long and I don’t know anything else. He was my first, and that’s important to me. How can I just leave it all behind?

“It’s not that easy.” I said. I knew Caroline and Hannah didn’t agree with my choices, and they absolutely hate Daniel, but they don’t understand.

“You’ll be a lot happier if you get rid of him,” she rubbed my shoulder and gave me a sympathetic smile, “you deserve so much better.” I just looked at her, not sure what else to say. There was an awkward silence.

“Right, I should get ready otherwise I’ll be late for my first viewing this morning.” Hannah said as she jumped down from the kitchen stool. She took the dirty dishes in front of us and loaded the dishwasher, then left the kitchen. I was relieved. I didn’t want the conversation to go any further. I’d been thinking about this for days. Why am I so scared? He was never a good boyfriend. He hated my friends, so I wasn’t allowed to be around them when he was around, but we always had to hang out with his friends. He spoke to me like crap in front of his friends, and they all laughed and joined in. He would tell me I was fat and always told me I looked ugly in whatever I was wearing. He’s never stayed overnight at my place but hardly ever invits me to his. There are so many reasons I should break up with him and be done with it, but I’m so used to being with him that letting go feels impossible. I’m too scared of change.

“I’m going now.” Hannah popped her head into the kitchen, distracting me from my thoughts.

“Okay, have a good day.” I said.

“Hey, are you okay?” She walked into the kitchen, so I got a full view of her. She was wearing a fitted black and white polka dot top that hung off her shoulders and a long black skirt that clung to her legs, outlining the shape of her thighs and butt. She wasn’t stuck thin like Caroline, but she had curves, and she knew how to flaunt them. I envied her. Hannah wasn’t one for wearing heels, so she spends her life in flats, usually a pair of black dolly shoes, or white trainers.

“I’m fine.” I lied.

She looked at me, her face telling me she knew I was lying, but she wasn’t going to press on.

“Okay. I’ll see you tonight.” Then she left, and I was alone again. I sighed in relief, I could not deal with all their questions, and the, ‘I told you so’ looks that I am so used to getting from them. I can’t be bothered to think about that now. What was the point?