Abbi... Page 6

  “I think you’re lying,” he said lightly. “Why won’t you come with me?”

  “Because I can’t afford to,” she said turning red. “I’m barely above minimum wage. I could never spend that kind of money on a dress I would likely only ever wear once.”

  “Look in the envelope,” he said. Slowly she opened it. The envelope hadn’t been closed, just tucked in. Inside there was a headed paper with Claire’s Dresses written elegantly on the top. There was an account number and quite a lot of business jargon that she didn’t bother to read.

  “What is this?” she asked.

  “It’s an instruction to the owner of Claire’s to charge what you spend to our account. With all our details,” he said simply.

  “I can’t take this,” she said surprised. “You have known me for a week. You can’t give me all this money just so I will go with you to this ball.”

  “I’m not giving you money, I am giving you a dress. Do you want to go?” he asked her. Abbi’s eyes lit up in spite of herself. Evidently she did want to go. “These things are incredibly dull and I have to spend all weekend talking to people I don’t like about things I have no interest in. Believe me you would be doing me a favour.”

  “So it’s a weekend thing?” she asked.

  “Is that a yes?” he said looking in her eyes.

  “Yeah, I’ll go,” she said.

  “That’s great,” he said and he kissed her.

  “We have only known each other a week,” she said. “Are you sure that you won’t change your mind by the time we leave?”

  He shook his head. “Will you?”

  “No,” she replied. It felt slightly strange to both of them that they had only known each other a week. It felt like an awful lot longer than that. They finished eating and left. They were walking down the street when Abbi started to notice that something was wrong. Mark hadn’t said anything since leaving the café and he was looking unhappy.

  “What’s wrong?” she said. “I will go with you. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “It’s not that,” he said immediately. “I heard something this morning that is eating away at me.” Abbi didn’t say anything. She waited for him to continue. “Your mother told me what my father did yesterday. He visited her and offered her… He offered her fifty thousand pounds if she persuaded you to stop seeing me.”

  Abbi’s mouth fell open. “Why?”

  “I imagine he thinks it is his business to know who I am seeing”, Mark said. “I’m not dating one of the girls he thinks I should be.” He was careful not to mention Jessica. He didn’t know how Abbi might react to her. “He was being his usual interfering self.”

  “Why didn’t my mother tell me?” Abbi was thinking that maybe her mother had wanted the money and would have done what George Hammond had wanted her to.

  “I don’t know,” Mark said. Abbi hadn’t really been expecting an answer. She was talking to herself.

  “Do you still want to go out with me?” Abbi said.

  “What are you talking about? Of course I do,” he said fiercely.

  “Your father clearly dislikes me without knowing anything about me,” she said.

  “Forget him,” he said and he kissed her. They carried on walking down the street.

  When Abbi got home she went up to her mother.

  “Why didn’t you tell me about the money Mark’s dad offered you?!” Eleanor was sitting down in the kitchen sipping a mug of tea.”

  “Ah. Mark told you then?” she said quickly.

  “Yes he told me!” Abbi ranted. “I would have expected you to tell me. I’ve lived with you for my entire life. I’ve known him for one week and he tells me something that important first!”

  “Hold on Abbi that’s not fair,” Eleanor started. “He has spent more time with you this week than I have. You were out yesterday afternoon, then out with Mark in the evening and back out with him this morning. When was I supposed to tell you? It’s not something I can slip in to conversation. Also who do you think told him?”

  Abbi didn’t know what to say to that. Her mum was right. She went out in the afternoon yesterday to sit on the beach. She had come home and left again pretty much straight away. Mark was here this morning too which must have been when her mum told him. With a shock she realised she had spent hardly any time at home since she had met Mark. Between work, Mark and generally going out she seemed suddenly very busy.

  “I’m sorry I had a go at you,” Abbi said sitting down next to her mum.

  “That’s fine,” she said very quietly.

  “Would you ever have taken it?” Abbi asked.

  “I’m not going to lie to you, it was very tempting,” Eleanor said. Abbi raised her eyebrows and looked like she was going to interrupt. “But I thought about it long and hard and decided that if you wanted to go out with him, I shouldn’t interfere. No matter what money was at stake.”

  “Thank you,” Abbi said. “You don’t mind if I go to a ball do you?” Eleanor shook her head. Abbi got a can of coca cola and sat back down next to her mother. Each woman lost in their own thoughts.

  As soon as Mark got to the hotel he went in search of his father. He found him in the lounge tapping away on his laptop.

  “What are you playing at?!” Mark shouted at his father.

  “Do you have to shout,” his father said without looking up.

  “You offered Abbi’s mum fifty thousand pounds if Abbi broke up with me!”

  “How on earth did you find out about that?” His father looked really shocked. Mark had actually managed to make his father look shocked!

  “If you want things to go according to your plans you shouldn’t try to bribe people you don’t know. You never know how they are going to react.”

  “Eleanor told you,” he said.

  “I know you will find this hard to believe but not everything in the world can be bought. By the way I asked Abbi to the ball so you can meet her,” Mark said. His father looked like he was going to start smoking at the ears. “Remember dad, you told me to invite her.”

  “Yes but I only did that because I planned to pay Eleanor that money,” his father said quietly. Not quietly enough.

  “Let this be, okay. I’ve already told her to buy a dress okay. She is going tomorrow. I am not cancelling on her again. Especially if the only reason is you being a complete idiot.” Mark walked out on his father leaving him staring after him. This had completely backfired on him, George thought. This relationship would have to be stopped. His eldest son and heir could not be going out with a cheap two-bit gold digger. It just wasn’t going to happen. He would have to think of another way to stop it.

  Later that evening when Abbi got to work she met Rosalyn.

  “Hi,” Abbi said while hanging her jacket up and tying her blonde hair out of the way. “How are you?”

  “Oh I’m fine,” Rosalyn said. “What’s with you?”

  “What?”

  “Come on,” she said. “You’ve got a huge grin all over your face. Who is he?”

  “It’s none of your business,” Abbi said while she tried to stop smiling. She wasn’t entirely successful. Rosalyn didn’t say anything waiting for Abbi to speak first. “His name is Mark Hammond,” she said quietly.

  “Mark Hammond,” Rosalyn said incredulously, her voice turning into a high-pitched squeal. “The son of George Hammond. George Hammond who is the amazingly wealthy guy staying in this hotel?”

  “Yes. Now please keep your voice down,” Abbi whispered.

  “Afraid he’ll hear you,” Rosalyn teased her.

  “Do you want to hear what I’ve got to say or not?” Abbi said still smiling. Rosalyn nodded.

  “Mark has asked me to a ball in a couple of weeks. Do you want to come ball dress shopping with me tomorrow?” Abbi didn’t know why she had said that. She hadn’t meant to.

  “Yeah,” Rosalyn said eagerly. “Where?”

  “Claire’s Dresses in New Port.”

  “I’ve never even been i
n there. Are you working tomorrow morning?” Rosalyn asked clearly excited.

  “Yeah I am.”

  “Come up to my house when you have finished. You know where it is up the road?” she barely waited for Abbi to nod and carried on. “I’ll be ready to go.”

  “Girls are you going to get any work done tonight or not?” Bill had appeared and was looking mock stern at them. They both walked away and got on with their work.

  As Abbi was walking home in the dark she got a call. It was Mark.

  “Hi,” Abbi said.

  “Hi. I can’t sleep,” he said.

  “Okay and what am I going to about that?” she stopped walking so she could talk properly to him.

  “Nothing. I just wanted to call you. I knew you were working so you wouldn’t be asleep yet.”

  “What is the time?” she asked

  “It’s just gone eleven. Where are you?”

  “I’m on my way home. I will have no trouble sleeping tonight. I am shattered. It was a hard night tonight. Idiotic customers are the worst.”

  “Do you want to do something with me tomorrow?” he asked.

  “No I can’t,” she said immediately. “I’m busy tomorrow.”

  “Doing what?” he asked curiously.

  “I have to get up at seven and serve breakfast at the hotel. When I have finished there at about twelve thirty I have to go and buy a ball dress. After that I am back at the hotel to serve dinners. I will then climb into bed completely exhausted.”

  “I have to tell you something”, Mark said. “We won’t be staying at the hotel after this weekend. We are moving to our holiday home.”

  “Okay. You’ll have to show me where that is sometime.”

  “Sure thing,” Mark said.

  “I have got to go,” she said. “I need to get some sleep for my busy day tomorrow.”

  “Okay then. Talk to you tomorrow. Bye.”

  The next day Abbi said goodbye to her mother in the morning saying she might not see her again until much later in the day. She was really looking forward to the day. The morning seemed to snail by. Finally she switched the vacuum cleaner off and packed it away. Abbi sprinted out of the hotel and raced to Rosalyn’s. She was so excited about the type of dresses she would get to try on.

  She rushed up to Rosalyn’s and saw that she was already in her car. She jumped in and they were off. It was a half an hour journey during which they talked about work. Rosalyn did ask how she could afford this.

  “Mark is paying for my dress”, Abbi said shortly. She still felt slightly guilty for spending his money. That guilt evaporated when she got to the shop and saw the fabulous gowns just in the window. They both went in and heard a bell ring. Shortly they were met by an elegant thin woman in her fifties. She had her grey hair gracefully swept up and was surveying them with dislike through her glasses.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m here to pick out my ball dress for the Hammond ball in two weeks time,” Abbi said. The woman’s face softened slightly.

  “I don’t mean to be rude,” the woman said. “But how do you intend to pay for one of my dresses. They are very expensive.”

  Abbi had a smile all over her face as she handed the woman the letter that used her own-headed paper. She immediately became much friendlier.

  She smiled and said, “I’m sorry about that. I have been getting people trying on my dresses who have no intention of buying them. I’m Georgina. You’re the only one here at the moment. A couple more girls for the ball said they would come at some point today.” She showed them through to the back of the shop where they had rows of gowns and changing rooms.

  “What exactly are you looking for?” Georgina asked while rummaging through the dresses. Roselyn and Abbi looked at each other. “You have no idea do you.” Georgina was smiling at them kindly though. “Don’t worry, we will find something perfect for you. Any colour preference?”

  “I don’t want black,” Abbi said instantly. “Nothing in too bright a colour either so no bright pinks or anything like that.” Georgina didn’t say anything, just picked out one gown and told Abbi to try it on. It was a gorgeous pale blue mid calf length dress. It had a v neckline and long floating sleeves. She came out of the changing room and asked what they thought. Rosalyn didn’t say anything. Georgina immediately shook her head.

  “That won’t do. It’s not the right style. Try this one.” Abbi looked at her slightly surprised.

  “I thought you would be more concerned with making a sale than making me look good,” she said.

  “Nonsense,” Georgina said instantly. “If you don’t suit your dress than the dresses aren’t shown to their best.” At Abbi’s look she added, “It’s all about advertising and customer satisfaction.”

  Next Abbi tried on a dark blue sleeveless knee length dress. Georgina seemed slightly more enthusiastic about this one. “Yes. Yes that is a bit better. Definitely a sleeveless dress for you I think.” Rosalyn still had her mouth shut.

  “Aren’t you going to say anything?” Abbi asked her.

  “I don’t know what to say”, Rosalyn said. “They are all so stunning I don’t know how to pick anything.”

  “I’m glad I brought you with me then,” Abbi said sarcastically. She then tried on a yellow sleeveless full-length dress. Georgina cast her critical eye over it. “What do you think?” she asked Abbi.

  “I like the length and I like it sleeveless too. The colour is awful for me and I’m not sure I like the skirt.”

  “Okay I can work with that,” Georgina said. Abbi tried on an awful lot of dresses in a similar style. Then she tried on a silver dress. It was full length and sleeveless like the others. The dress shimmered when it caught the light but it wasn’t an “in your face” type of silver. As soon as she came out of the changing room Rosalyn gasped.

  “That’s the one,” she said immediately.

  “You’re sure?” Abbi asked.

  “Absolutely,” Georgina said. “That is perfect for you. You will quite literally be the belle of the ball!” Abbi looked at herself in the mirror. It did look beautiful she thought. As she changed back into her clothes she was so excited about the ball. When she came out Georgina asked her if that was definitely the one she wanted to take. Abbi nodded.

  “Right, I just have to get a box for it and find the matching gloves,” Georgina said.

  “Wait! Gloves?” Abbi asked worried.

  “Trust me, everyone wears them at the Hammond summer ball.” When Abbi still didn’t look too happy she added, “if no one is wearing them when you’re there, which I doubt, you can always take them off.”

  Abbi and Rosalyn went to sit in the front of the shop.

  “What do you think?” Abbi asked her.

  “You are so lucky,” Rosalyn told her.

  “I know,” she said and they both laughed until two girls came into the shop.

  “…ething like this Jess,” a redheaded girl was saying.

  “This is going to be the best night of the year,” the girl called Jess said. With a start Abbi realised that she had seen that girl before but couldn’t place it.

  “I can’t wait for the ball. It’s going to be great,” the girl called Jess continued

  “Yeah and you are going to have such fun,” the redhead said. “I don’t even have a date yet.”

  “Well it’s sort of agreed that Mark’s going with me,” Jess said. Abbi suddenly remembered where she had seen her before. She was getting into the car with Mark on the day of his business dinner. She was beautiful.

  “You’re so lucky,” redhead said. “The heir to all that wealth. And he is really good looking too.” Both girls laughed. Abbi didn’t know what to think. At that moment Georgina came back into the room carrying a huge box, which had her dress in it

  “Here we go. Hello girls I’ll be with you in a moment. Right, I’m charging it to that account there,” she said to Abbi brandishing the piece of paper at her. Abbi started to shake her head but then stopped.

&
nbsp; “Yeah,” she said. As they were driving back Abbi was thinking hard to herself. If Mark was never going to take her, why give her the money? Maybe she was just being paranoid. Why would that girl say that though if it wasn’t true. And she had been getting into the car with Mark.

  As Jessica was leaving the shop she felt horrible. She was going out of her way to try to upset Abbi. She had known exactly who she was because George Hammond had called her mother to discuss the problem. Both sets of parents seemed to find the Mark-Jessica match a good one.

  Jessica knew that the blonde girls name was Abbi Wilkins because of George Hammond. She also knew that Abbi’s mother was not going to help them split Abbi and Mark up. But then why should she? Abbi’s mother was probably seeing pound signs before her eyes already.

  It wasn’t right to do that to her. It probably wouldn’t work anyway, Jessica thought. It was a feeble and stupid attempt to try to derail them. Jessica sighed to herself in the car on the way home. She wished this would go away.

  Rosalyn said goodbye to Abbi as she dropped her off outside her house. They hadn’t spoken much on the journey home. Before Abbi went inside she gave Mark a call.

  “Hi,” he said.

  “I overheard a conversation in Claire’s Dresses today,” Abbi said cutting to the chase. “A girl came in and she mentioned to her friend that Mark Hammond was her date to the ball.”

  “That’s not true,” he said. “Who was this girl?”

  “I think her friend called her Jess,” Abbi said. She heard him sigh over the phone.

  “She has been determined to get together with me for a while now,” he said. “I don’t know what has got into her head but she won’t leave me alone. She must have been winding you up.”

  “Yeah,” Abbi nodded. “I was inclined to think that too, which is why I bought my ball dress.”

  “You’ve got a dress already?” he asked.

  “Yeah, it’s beautiful,” she said. “Thank you for giving me the money for it.”

  “Forget it. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Sure.” They both hung up their phones as Abbi walked into her house carrying her dress. Smiling away to herself.