Chapter Fifteen
The following day
Ursula couldn’t wait to get home. She’d left before Stephen had woken because her tutor needed her to talk to her about the work she was doing in class. They talked to every student around this time in order to make sure they were on the right track for the end of the semester just before a break and the start of a new one. Her tutor felt she’d be able to graduate within the next year or two. She wanted to share her news with Stephen. Ursula walked out of reception area of the college building where she’d signed all necessary tutorial forms for the following year, to see Paul waiting for her. She went in the opposite direction in the hope of avoiding him. No such luck, as he followed her. She’d told Stephen not to bother picking her up after college. There was too much left to do with her courses, and she needed the extra time. Whenever she was with Stephen none of her work got done. She knew something was going on in his life. He wouldn’t share. After they made love and she fell asleep, he would go downstairs. Most nights she woke to find him talking on the phone in his office. Whatever was happening he didn’t want her to know about it.
Putting her bag higher on her shoulder she tried to ignore Paul. He kept catching up with her. She wished she’d told Stephen to pick her up. The time she had to walk home she’d hoped to have to think about her situation. Instead, she’d have to deal with Paul, the last person she wanted to talk to.
“You can’t get away from me,” Paul said.
She stopped, spun around, and glared at him. “Why not? I did while we were dating. I’m surprised you’re up. Have you watched all the porn there can possibly be available to you?” Ursula carried on walking trying to ignore him.
“You can say whatever you want. I’m not going until I’ve done what I need to do,” he said.
“Leave me alone.”
He grabbed her arm stopping her in her tracks. “I want to talk to you.”
“I don’t want to talk to you. If Stephen finds out about this you’ll be sorry.” She tried to warn him away. It was dark outside, and she knew if he chose to be a problem then she’d be in trouble. There was no one in sight. She stood alone in the cold with her ex.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” He held his arms up in surrender.
“You said that to me once. I don’t believe you any longer. Stephen doesn’t like you talking to me. I suggest you don’t come near the college again.” Ursula didn’t like threatening him with Stephen, but she liked having a man she knew she could count on. Her feelings for him were intensifying every day. The time they spent together never seemed to be enough. Leaving him every day got harder for her to do. She wanted to be with him all the time. The other night she’d almost admitted to him that she loved him.
“He doesn’t bother me. I’ve got someone with lots more protection and plenty of money. Besides, this is not about him. I’ve got something you need to see.” She stared at him and saw the expensive suit. There was a change in him, which made her more nervous than comforted. If he had someone spending money then he would be causing some kind of trouble.
“What do you want?” she asked, growing irritated with him being in her company.
Paul handed her a file. She frowned but took it anyway. She noticed the card Stephen had given her several weeks ago was pinned on the front with a paper clip.
“What’s this?”
“Give it a read and then see. Your lover-boy isn’t what he seems.” Paul stroked her hair. “If he asks, tell him to watch his back because he’s coming.”
He turned to walk away.
“Wait. You can’t give me this then leave.”
“Read it, Ursula. You have a right to know who you’re dealing with. It’s a little fucked up if you ask me. Take care,” he said. She didn’t stop him when he walked away. His cryptic message infuriated her.
Ursula stood there staring at the file. “He’s coming? How fucking lame.” She shivered regardless of her thoughts. The night made her uncomfortable. Pulling her coat around her she put the file in her bag then walked the distance to Stephen’s house. The time she’d wanted to clear her head had been ruined by Paul’s presence. Now all she could think about was the file burning a hole in her bag.
She let herself into Stephen’s house. It was too strange to call it her house. Stephen still wasn’t home. She put the kettle on trying to ignore the curiosity about the file. Paul had given her something to doubt the man she was with. Ursula thought about Stephen and all the secrecy surrounding him. Pouring the hot water into the cup, she tried not to think about the file in her bag. She sat at the table, staring at her bag. Drumming her fingers on the table she tried to think of all the reasons not to listen to Paul. Finally, when she could stand it no more, she took the file out of her bag. She sipped her coffee then settled down her pounding heart. Opening the first page on the file, she began to read what was inside. There were photographs, names, places and information, all about two exclusive gentlemen’s clubs. There were several names she recognised, including a few photographs of her and others. The more she read, the more she started to feel sick. Stephen wouldn’t keep something like this from her, would he?