The Darkness Within Read Online Free Page B

true.’
    ‘I see. Do you care to show me the real you?’
    ‘No.’ she smiled.
    ‘You haven’t been to a meeting have you? And you’ve started drinking again.’
    ‘Excuse me?’
    ‘I can read all the signs. My bastard of a father was an alcoholic for all his life. He…’ he was silent.
    ‘He what?’
    ‘He was very abusive towards me, made my mother ill to the point of death and I had to put up with him. I did everything I could to forgive him, but the bastard wouldn’t let up. I would take out my anger in other ways.’
    ‘Yeah? How’s that?’
    ‘That my dear is a secret.’ He smiled wickedly.
    ‘Hmmm, you sound like a dangerous man.’
    ‘Not really. Just one who has come out of a bad situation. I know that your drinking stems from somewhere.’
    ‘Do you now? When did you become a psychologist?’
    ‘It doesn’t take a professional to know that what’s going on with you is deeper than your drinking.’
    ‘I see.’
    ‘So; lunch? I know that your assistant is capable of taking care of things this afternoon. I checked.’
    ‘You did, did you?’
    ‘I did. I also took the opportunity to invite myself to your charity ball.’
    ‘Why would you do that? And I must remember to fire Bailey.’
    ‘Well you’ll be pleased to know that I have one of the deepest pockets. Like you I host charity balls and only invite those worthy of inviting. The ones who want to be seen as though they’re making a contribution to the world.’
    ‘You’re one of them are you? I don’t know you.’
    ‘Well that’s because you’ve spent a lot of your time drunk.’
    ‘Wow. That’s hurtful.’
    ‘Take it like it is. I’m not judging you. Look me up.’ He told her that he’d just bought into an oil business that sent him to the top of the rich list.
    Freya took time to scan him and check him out.
    ‘You can interview me as an eligible bachelor. I’ll let you.’
    She laughed. ‘Very big headed of you. What makes you think I want to?’
    ‘I know you do. Everyone does.’
    ‘I see. Well, I’ll let you come to the ball, only because I want your money.’
    ‘I wouldn’t want anything less.’ He smiled. ‘So? Shall we go for this lunch?’
    ‘Will I be allowed to drink?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Really? Everyone else wants me to stop.’
    ‘Because I know that your drinking is more than drinking. We need to get to the root cause. Once that happens the drinking will stop.’
    ‘And you think you’re the person to get there.’
    ‘Yes.’ He pulled on the collar of his suit jacket. ‘So, you coming.’
    She sighed. It was a little hard to say no to him. ‘To be honest I really don’t want to date right now.’
    ‘Who said anything about a date? It’s just lunch.’
    She pursed her lips together. ‘It’s never just lunch.’
    ‘With me it is. I’m not like everyone else so don’t put me in a group.’ He winked as he stood up. ‘Come on, let’s get you fed.’ He smiled.
    She loosened up and smiled. Freya picked up her bag and followed him. He opened the door.
    ‘After you,’ he said.
    ‘Thank you.’ She noticed Bailey smiling at her desk. ‘You! I will fire you when I get back.’
    ‘Nope, you’ll thank me.’ she winked.
    ‘I’ll be back in an hour.’
    ‘Don’t rush back, I have everything under control.’
    ‘Don’t think you’ve been let off.’
    ‘I know.’ She winked. ‘Have fun.’ she shouted after them!
    ****
    They found a nice little restaurant in Leeds city centre. Freya looked at her watch as if that would allow her to drink.
    ‘You don’t need permission to drink. Just go ahead and order what you want,’ said Ferguson.
    She laughed.
    ‘Seriously. I’ve lived with an alcoholic. They don’t need the right time. You drink whenever you want to.’
    ‘And you’re okay with it?’
    ‘It’s not that I’m okay with it. I just know I can’t stop you even if I wanted to, so why bother.’
    ‘Oh…okay.’
    ‘It’s true though. An alcoholic can only help