A Romantic Train Ride - Part Seven By S D HUDSON

Hello,

This is SD Hudson magic welcome to episode 7 of My first ever romantic sleep story when we last saw Rebecca to Goran She was standing in the pouring rain opposite the object of her affection Jake Fairmore,

He had just told her his devastating news and And now she was beginning to wonder if she had bitten off more than she could chew But before we begin Let's take the time to focus on where we are now Sit back in your chair or perhaps in your bed and let the cares of the day Slip away it is time to relax and fully let go take a deep breath In through your nose,

That's it.

Then let it out on a long sigh This is your time Relax safe in the knowledge.

There is nothing to do and Nowhere to go and here we are at Scott Lake Brasserie Where Rebecca is telling Sam?

About what Jake told her in the rain on Saturday night it is now Monday lunchtime But Sam has lost her appetite over what she's just heard.

How's that possible?

Jake is the son of old man Cartwright.

I Thought you said that old man was trying to fix Jake up with Olivia She's his daughter That's sick.

I'm not surprised you wanted to meet me today and talk it over Rebecca Looked just as shocked as Sam was Well,

Apparently Olivia is his stepdaughter According to the entail on old man Cartwright's estate It has to be inherited by a male heir So Olivia can't inherit it.

Anyway,

That's why he wants the married Said Sam scornfully The whole thing's outrageous How can you marry your stepsister?

It has been known if they never lived together before it's perfectly legal.

Apparently this must be massive for Jake Knowing what he knows now.

He has the identity.

He's always been looking for.

This is all he ever wanted.

I think Sam looked at her through compassionate eyes I know you care about him But you have to think about yourself Jake's head might well be turned now It's a huge estate to inherit isn't it?

You might have to prepare yourself You'll probably just get married to keep his father sweet.

I'm sorry to have to say it,

But I'm not sure you can trust him But why does he have to marry her?

It's ridiculous.

He could inherit the estate without doing that Well old man Cartwright obviously loves his daughter,

Doesn't he?

And he wants her to be looked after when he's gone That's what all this is about He's got Jake over a barrel good and proper.

Well,

It's not Jake's job to look after Olivia Rebecca was getting frustrated and Sam looked out of the window for inspiration The Sun was shining But it brought no hope.

She was at a loss Her friend was already in too deep But she owed it to her to be honest with how she saw things Okay,

Rebecca.

Well my job as your friend is to tell you what I think is best for you It's gonna be hard for you to see the wood for the trees on this one.

So I'm gonna have to tell you the truth Jake's got to choose between you.

It's as simple as that Does he want to be a shady businessman who marries someone who doesn't like him?

And take advantage of the young and the vulnerable?

Or does he want to be a decent honest hard-working member of the human race?

He needs to commit himself to what's right.

I don't know which path he's gonna choose and as it stands neither to you Rebecca Do you but you should know by now?

So why take the chance?

It sounds so easy when you say it like that said Rebecca But he's wanted to know where he's from his whole life This is huge for him.

I do understand that Said Sam,

But that's got nothing to do with you It's his choice and he's got to make it you need to let him go If he comes back to you,

You know,

He's the man for you But from what you said,

I don't know whether he's gonna do that He's a businessman remember and this is a business man Remember and this is a golden opportunity for him Sam stopped talking.

She could see her friend was hurting And she felt terrible for having to spell out the obvious Look,

He'd have to be stupid to let you go But people do stupid things all the time How did you leave it with him?

Anyway,

I was in shock Said Rebecca.

I just froze Until Paul called me back and then I realized I was standing in the rain In the middle of the road Making a fool of myself.

Well,

That's something At least you didn't show any weakness said Sam And what about Paul?

What did he say?

He took me and Nika and Ahmed home and then he asked me out for dinner this Friday Really?

Will you go?

Said Sam Her mood improving by the moment.

I don't know.

Paul is the last thing on my mind Well make him your first It won't do Jake any harm to know that you've got options He's not the only man alive in Fort Scott Lake,

You know,

This might be just the distraction you need as well Paul's not bad-looking And I'm not the only one who sees it Everybody's talking about it at work All the girls there have seen him around Sam gave Rebecca a wink which picked her mood up immeasurably Sam's positivity was infectious And if nothing else she needed a little bit of hope so Sam continued with a twinkle in her eye.

Will you do that for me?

Go on the date girl you deserve it go out and be wind and die But what about a Nika and Ahmed said Rebecca?

How can I live with myself when i'm probably working for the very same company?

When i'm probably working for the very same company that exploited them they went through hell,

You know I still haven't said anything.

I really don't know what to do about it.

You don't know that for sure Said Sam and anyway,

I got you an interview at my company,

Didn't I?

So it won't be long before you're working with me.

It won't be long before you've left Scott Lake Industries for good And Jake Fairmore is far behind you.

Rebecca brightened up at this You're right.

It'll all be over soon.

I can't take much more of this I've had to go off sick in order to give myself time to breathe Who'd have thought meeting Jake again was going to turn out to be this complicated?

Well,

That's good said Sam You've done the right thing and you can always get a certificate from that handsome doctor of yours If you need more time off Rebecca smiled Sam was right She could buy herself more time if she needed being stuck at Scott Lake Industries And concerning herself with the ins and outs of Jake Fairmore's life Was doing her no favors at all at the end of the day She was in Scott Lake to make a living to take care of her mother and provide for her as she promised She would life was complicated enough.

Okay,

So Jake and her had history But this latest development was just too marked.

She had to remember that right was right And wrong was wrong.

She must put that first Whichever path Jake chose to take that was up to him.

Now.

I've got to get back Said Sam looking at the clock.

We've got a big delivery this afternoon And I've got a million and one things to do.

I'll see you on Friday and you can tell me all about your interview Okay,

And they left Sam to work and Rebecca back home To the next piano lesson.

She had booked with our meanwhile Over in the boardroom at Scott Lake Tower,

Olivia Cartwright was doing her best to rub salt into the world She's only been here a few months And she's already taken liberties by having time off We need all hands on deck if we to get this new range out and deliver to the shops in time for Valentine's Day It's just not good enough father Jake side people go off sick Olivia There's nothing we can do about that.

You're right son said old man Cartwright We'll just have to offer overtime to the staff.

We have available now Olivia will finish this meeting And Jake and I will go on to any other business.

Yes father Said Olivia and she left promptly her new satin suit catching the light From the large office window old man Cartwright looked over at his son and smiled I'm meeting the solicitor this weekend and I want you with me son We have much to discuss and many papers to sign Okay,

Mr.

Cartwright Said Jake I understand I prefer it if you called me father Jake paused then said quietly There's just something I need to talk about father He was eager to get old man Cartwright on his side I've been looking into alternative labor provision for our product manufacturer We have our labor secured for this season son You traveled halfway across the world to see it the relationship Olivia has forged with that company Has done us proud over the years Jake couldn't believe how little his father knew And how much Olivia had managed to shield from him the labor secured there is unethical On my trip to New Delhi.

I made some new contacts And I believe we can move forward With a clear conscience old man Cartwright sat silent And Jake took a long look at the man that had moved heaven and earth to find him with graying temples And dark blue eyes He had once been handsome in the talk of Fort Scott Lake His first wife had been the answer to his prayers when they met But she had left him and disappeared without trace He had been a bad husband absent for most of the time Too concerned with building his business And it was only when Nearly 30 years later Someone told him she had died in childbirth He made it his mission to find the son He never knew he had He stared back at his son.

He had the same eyes He stared back at his son.

He had the same expression his first love had carried in her eyes What a handsome boy he was.

So what do you think father?

Said Jake old man Cartwright thought carefully He had to get it right this time.

Okay,

Son.

I trust you But let me speak to Olivia first.

I have always left her in charge of this side of things And he left Jake to consider the proposals he had made earlier that morning It was the end of the week and Rebecca was in the mood to celebrate She had been offered a job working alongside Sam and after her week off she was feeling revitalized Now she could put all indecision behind her And look forward to an evening at McGinty's bar and grill as the sun sunk behind the mountains She stepped into the softly lit bar her red chiffon Peeping out from under the new black coat.

She had just borrowed and there he was Scott Blake's answer to Clark Gable Sitting by himself at the bar.

She walked towards Paul slowly Deliberately if she was going to make an impact she might as well make it count All eyes were upon her as she gazed at the many colored glass bottles Standing to attention behind the bar assistant McGinty's was a special place Understated and classy not like that showy Scott Lake Towers soft leather armchairs sat in the tall bay windows facing antique tables and flickering candles The mood was subtle and there was an intimate feel Making her ready at last To let her hair down and enjoy the evening But before she had even a moment to say hello a sharp voice shot over her shoulder Feeling better are we Rebecca?

She stopped dead in her tracks Then quickly regaining her composure Rebecca turned to face her enemy Yes,

Olivia I'm on top of the world.

Thank you How about you?

And as Olivia walked away Rebecca smiled to herself before catching sight Of a soft velvet jacket draped over a broad frame That sat hunched by himself in the corner.

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