TouchStone for giving (The Story of Us Trilogy) by Sydney Jamesson Read Free Book Online Page A

believe she is finding these questions unsettling. She’s smoothing out the strands of hair that
    have escaped the hair band and thinking very carefully about her words.
    “I’m afraid I cannot tell you. This is something you will have to discover for yourself, Elizabeth.”
    She uses my full name, a name only Ayden uses. It has connotations of intimacy and I hate the way
    those four syllables leave her mouth. “You don’t know me?”
    She sniggers and I want to slap her. “Oh, I think I do. You would be surprised what Ayden has told
    me about you ...”
    I hate myself for going along with this but she has me on the back foot. “Like what?”
    Let’s hear it …
    “Um … there’s your love of music.”
    I shrug my shoulders, unimpressed.
    “Your fear of flying.”
    I dismiss that with a smug laugh. She’s guessing.
    “And your willingness to be tied up and fucked by him.”
    I manage to conceal my horror, even though I’m beginning to feel physically sick. Has Ayden
    actually discussed what we get up to in the bedroom with her?
    I won’t believe it. I can’t …
    “I think you have a very active imagination, Alenka.” I shake my head from right to left, dispelling
    the possibility of her actually knowing anything.
    She smiles broadly, maybe thinking about something; a memory of Ayden and her together. I try to
    banish that thought; allowing myself to fall into her trap will only cause me further distress.
    “Unfortunately, I was not imaginative enough. If I had been, then maybe I would be the one
    wearing that ring instead of you.”
    “But you’re not and if you continue to stalk Ayden, if I catch sight of you again, I will have a
    restraining order served against you.”
    She looks genuinely mystified. “I have no idea what you are referring to. I’m not a stalker. I have
    never been and do not intend to be. Take a look at me. Do you think with this body, I have a shortage
    of admirers?”
    Her eyes lock onto mine. I think she is quite insulted by my accusation.
    Good.
    “Then why were you in Rome on Friday? Are you going to tell me you happened to be in the same
    place at the same time as Ayden and myself? Please...” I return the stare and confidently await her
    reply
    “I can’t explain. I would like to but I cannot.”
    Her eyes edge away from mine and settle on the window, facing the light. I see her elegant features
    for what they are: breath-stealing. Even without make-up she’s stunning. No wonder Ayden was drawn
    to her. But, the fact remains. She cannot look me in the eye. What isn’t she telling me?
    “Look Alenka, if you love Ayden as you say you do, then let him get on with his life. I can make
    him happy. Don’t you want him to be happy?”
    “I do and I would do anything for him, for his happiness.” There is definitely something she’s not
    telling me.
    “What have you done?” I may not get the answer I want to hear, but I have to ask the question.
    She hesitates, before beginning her disclosure. “I will tell you, but promise me you will never tell
    Ayden ...”
    A simple nod is all it takes.
    “As a special favour Ayden asked me to take the jet from Heathrow to Paris to pick up a ring from
    Cartier; to fly from there to Rome and to be at the Spanish Steps at 2.15p.m.” She pauses and smiles
    sardonically, noticing my astonishment.
    This is definitely not the answer I was expecting.
    “I saw you together, you were embracing. I saw the way he looked at you and I knew: he loves you.
    So, as planned, when he was holding you close I came behind you and passed him the box with the
    ring he had made for you. That’s why I was in Rome at that place at that time.”
    I open my mouth to speak but no words come out other than, “Well ... thank you. That must have
    been difficult for you?” I offer a sympathetic smile but she will have none of it. She’s too proud to
    accept consolatory gestures from me.
    “It was not easy but when someone you love asks you to do something