Rejection Runs Deep (The Canleigh Series, book 1: A chilling psychological family drama), Carole Williams [ebook reader 8 inch .TXT] 📗

pathetic.  Already a has-been at the age of 24.  Totally washed up and just ripe for her scheme.  She had pushed herself to the front of the audience, which wasn’t difficult as the place was hardly packed, and managed to catch Rocky’s eye more than once, although it was a miracle he could actually focus on her.  At the end of the evening she watched him and the rest of the band lurch towards the bar next door, followed them in and managed to edge her way over to him.  Recognising her instantly from the gig, he offered to buy her a drink and the stage was set to reel him in.

She watched and listened to him closely for the rest of the evening and well into the night.  He was perfect for her scheme.  Puffed up from his previous success and rambling boringly on for hours about impossible future triumphs.  Having just observed the latest performance, Delia had grave doubts that was ever going to happen and she had no experience of the industry.  However, she let him waffle on about how they had played to packed concert halls around America the previous year, how everyone loved them, how their fan base was going to increase rapidly once they released another hit single.  How they were going to tour Europe and then the world.  How they were going to be the most famous band ever.  Delia was bored to tears but kept up a good pretence of being fascinated by every word, determined to ingratiate herself with him for the time being.  He could be the tool she needed.  He could be the one to get her back to Canleigh … back to Philip and Demon.  He could be absolutely pivotal to her life.

Within days she had moved into the sprawling grey-stoned building which he had bought when the money from ‘Catch Me’ had poured in.  It was soulless and reminded her of a prison with its battleship coloured stonework and black-leaded windows but it was a roof over her head and gave her time and opportunity to work on him.  She hadn’t intended to sleep with him but as she didn’t want to reveal who she was and why she was there too early in their relationship, she had no valid reason not to so she had a couple of brandies and closed her mind every time they had sex, pretending he was just another member of the band.  Even now, months along the line, she didn’t think of him as her brother.  He didn’t speak like Richard, he didn’t look much like Richard and he certainly hadn’t the drive and ambition and aptitude for work that Richard possessed.

So it had been relatively easy and soon, very soon, it would be over as once they had achieved what she wanted in Oxford, she would erase this whole ghastly episode from her mind.  It would be forgotten.  It was just a means to an end and that was it.  As soon as Richard and Rocky were disposed of and she could get back to everything she held dear at Canleigh, her life was going to be wonderful.  She would be so content, so happy.  She wouldn’t ever want to leave Canleigh and Tangles again.  They were both home to her and the only places on earth she wanted to be.  She hadn’t a clue what was happening in Britain.  She never watched the news, never read a newspaper.  It hurt too much.  Just to hear a British accent made her heart turn over.  But that would all change in the coming days.  Heathrow beckoned brightly.  She couldn’t wait to get on that plane.  She would be utterly ecstatic.

Rocky opened his eyes languidly and looked at her.  “You can be a bloody bitch at times,” he uttered.  “Making me beg.  Why the hell didn’t you just give it to me?”

“Stop whining,” she said impatiently.  “Just be grateful I bought the damned stuff.”

He pulled himself up in his seat, lit a cigarette and scowled at her.  “I still can’t believe all the money has gone.  What the hell are we going to do?”

“Well, as I said, I can help out for a bit but I have a plan for the long term but you will have to help me.”

He winced as he inhaled deeply.  “Look Delia.  If you’re a real Lady you must have some real money stashed away somewhere.  Just lend me some and I’ll pay you back as soon as we make some more.  The next single ….”

“Oh, for God’s sake!  That’s all I’ve been hearing for months but you never do any real work.  None of you do.  You just mess about and idle your lives away.  Just face facts.  Unless you get yourself clean, you’re never going to get anywhere.  ‘Catch Me must have been a flaming fluke and I can’t see any of you achieving anything else like it while you live as you do.”

“So, what do you suggest, Lady Delia?” he asked sarcastically.  “What marvellous plan do you have?”

Delia waited for a second.  It was crucial that her words hit the right note with Rocky.  “I have a brother, Richard.  He is the heir to Canleigh, the family home.  He was left a lot of money by our grandmother … around a million pounds.”

“Bloody hell!  Well, that’s okay then.  We can borrow off him.”

“No,” said Delia impatiently.  “I have a better idea.  We could have the whole damned lot . . .  and more besides if we use our brains … but it’s going to take real guts and I’m not sure if you’re up to it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“If Richard dies, I inherit his money.”

“Well, that’s no damned good.  We can’t wait until he snuffs it … just ask him to lend us some.”

“We’re not too friendly at the moment … estranged as you might say.