THE GREATEST BETRAYAL: A romantic thriller with a shocking twist, page 15
‘He’s been spending more and more time in Melbourne this past fortnight,’ Liz said. ‘Big deal on the verge of being signed off.’
‘He’s pushing everything too hard at the moment,’ said Bruno, entering the room and embracing Liz. ‘At a time like this, he should be here by your side.’ He playfully pretended to kiss her baby bump. ‘Getting close. How have you been?’
‘Fine. A few niggling pains this morning, then just before I headed over here…’
Bruno’s tone revealed his concern. ‘Contractions?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘Raf really should be here,’ Bruno said, ‘instead of running around, sweating over this deal.’
‘This is the Weatherup Financial Services deal?’ asked Caterina.
‘That’s the one,’ Bruno said. ‘It’s going well, and we want to keep the expansion happening, but why we need to relentlessly pursue a buyout of Weatherup right now, with the baby almost here, well… I’ve tried to get Raf to back off a little, just for a while…’
‘But you know Raf…’ Caterina said with an exasperated sigh.
After the dinner, and while Bruno was distractedly playing with their three-year-old daughter, Liz took Caterina by the hand and they walked to the far end of the rear courtyard.
‘There’s something I’d like to talk to you about, confidentially,’ Liz said. ‘But it’s… a very sensitive matter…’
‘Of course you can, Liz. And it doesn’t go any further… strictly between us. Sisters doing it for themselves and all that.’
‘It’s… a family matter…’
‘Meaning it’s a Raf matter,’ said Caterina. ‘Don’t worry about that, neither Bruno nor I have ever had any illusions about Raf. Wild boy, playboy, Mr Big Ego… you’re the one who actually tamed him. But you know Bruno and I think the world of you, Liz, we don’t ever want to see you suffering in any way. Has something… happened?’
‘Monica Leeman turned up at a business function during the week.’
‘Not her again.’
‘She implied something about the pregnancy.’
‘She’s a jealous, bitter woman.’
‘Before I get to that,’ Liz said, ‘there was something else… something she emailed me a while before. A list. I didn’t take it seriously, of course…’ Her voice trailed off.
‘What list?’
‘Monica claimed Raf had a string of affairs while she was married to him.’
‘Let me guess. She gave you a list of women she claims he slept with?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m not going to pretend Raf wasn’t a bad boy. But Monica is behaving like a sick woman.’
Liz drew a folded slip of paper from her skirt pocket. ‘This is a printout of the list Monica sent me.’
Caterina glanced over the names on the paper. Her eyes widened when she saw her own name.
‘I know your name being on there is bullshit,’ Liz said.
‘The thought sickens me.’ Caterina mimicked sticking her fingers down her throat.
‘I know Monica is capable of lying and manipulating,’ Liz said, ‘but she also implied Raf switched my birth control, and I found fake pills hidden away that could have been used for that. I need to know what you think, Caterina… just between us… what do you think I am dealing with here?’
Suddenly, before Caterina could respond, Liz doubled over, groaning.
Caterina reached out, steadying her. ‘Liz, what is it?’
‘Pain…’
‘Contractions?’
Liz nodded feebly, gripping Caterina’s arm.
‘We need to get you to the hospital.’ Caterina’s head whipped about, looking back across the courtyard. ‘Bruno!’
FIFTY-ONE
The pain of childbirth, the sheer intensity of it, was not something Liz was ever going to forget. Despite that, she could hardly believe the euphoric wave of joy that swept through her drained body, just minutes after delivery, when her newborn child was placed in her arms.
This little miracle was worth it, every minute of it.
‘A healthy, bouncing, baby boy,’ the doctor said.
Bruno and Caterina, all wide smiles, had been there for the birth.
‘You’re one of the incredibly lucky ones,’ Caterina said.
‘How do you mean?’ said Liz without taking her eyes off her baby.
‘Short labour. Just three hours. Some people, me included, took three times that.’ Caterina edged closer to the bed, arms reaching out. ‘Now stop hogging your new son and let me give him a cuddle.’
Liz passed the baby to her. ‘Say hello, Luke.’
‘Luke?’ said Caterina. ‘You’ve named him already?’
‘As you know Raf and I decided to wait for the birth to learn the baby’s sex, although Raf was certain it was a boy. And we’d decided on Luke if it was the son Raf was hoping for.’
‘I was on the phone to Raf just after we brought you in,’ Bruno said. ‘He’s on his way, flying in from Melbourne.’
‘Thanks, Bruno.’
He took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. ‘I’m sorry he wasn’t here with you for the birth. I could tell, from his voice on the phone, he was regretting it.’
‘You and Caterina were here,’ Liz said, ‘so it’s all good.’
Caterina handed the baby back to Liz.
The doctor paid a brief visit, nurses came and went, Bruno and Caterina hovered, and there was a congratulatory phone call from Martin. Liz engaged with everyone, but her mind kept flashing back to Raf, to her concern over those placebo pills, to his desire for a son, an heir, and to her disappointment he hadn’t been here for the birth. Luke was premature, but they’d known the birth was imminent, and still Raf hadn’t been prepared to roll back on his new business drive, or to hand this particular series of meetings to Bruno or one of the other executives.
She pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind.
Don’t think about any of that now.
And she gazed down lovingly into the eyes of her little boy.
* * *
Liz opened her eyes.
Caterina was sitting in the chair beside the hospital bed. ‘Poor tired girl,’ Caterina said. She stroked Liz’s arm. ‘You probably didn’t realise this, but you went to sleep while you were talking to me, mid-sentence.’
‘That’s not like me,’ Liz said sleepily.
‘Welcome to motherhood. You’re now officially a different version of yourself.’
‘Is that a good or a bad thing?’
‘Both of those and a whole lot more,’ Caterina said jokingly. Her demeanour shifted to serious, earth mother mode. ‘We kind of got interrupted last night.’
‘We kind of did,’ Liz said.
‘Raf ran around having lots of affairs when he was married to Monica, and she became convinced he was sleeping with absolutely everyone. He had plenty of flings, didn’t particularly seem to even bother hiding it, but he didn’t sleep with everyone. Certainly not with me, though he did make the odd brazen pass.’
‘What? After you and Bruno were married?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Why on earth would he do that?’
‘He was a lot wilder back then, Liz. He liked to push the boundaries, and see what he could get away with. He wanted to have everything that anyone else had, including his own brother. He liked to play with fire.’
‘Did Bruno know?’
‘That’s one of the few things I’ve kept to myself. Better that way. And it was years ago. I made it quite clear I thought he was being an asshole. He’s been the model brother-in-law ever since, and that’s why I’m telling you all this now. He’s a changed man and something tells me he’ll be a great father.’
‘You were about to tell me, last night, what you thought about those fake pills.’
‘I really don’t know about that one,’ Caterina said. ‘But, honey, I do think you need to be certain you’re right about that before you talk to him. It’s a nasty accusation if by any chance it’s all a mistake and there’s a rational explanation.’
As if on cue, Bruno popped his head in the door and said, ‘Look who I found wandering around out here.’
Raf stepped in from behind him. He moved to the bed, taking Liz in his arms, kissing her, holding her tight. ‘I got here as soon as I could.’
‘We have a son.’
‘Just saw him in the nursery,’ said Raf. ‘He’s fantastic.’
‘He’s like a bundle of magic.’
Liz’s tensions faded. It felt good to have Raf there, to be in his arms, to feel his lips on hers. But she was aware she didn’t feel the level of joy she would have expected at this moment, with her husband at her side, and their newborn baby nearby.
Somewhere, deep inside her, something had changed.
FIFTY-TWO
Liz and the baby came home from the hospital three days later. She had appointed Sally Markham to take over as managing director and to run the agency while she took some maternity leave.
For the next three months, Raf was in and out. When he was there, he doted on both Liz and their new son. She liked this loving, caring side to him, but at the same time sensed an emotional distance growing between them, something that hadn’t been there before. Something she hadn’t been able to stop.
Each week, he’d been spending more and more nights away, interstate.
That was playing heavily on her mind again this morning. It was a Saturday and she’d spent the morning feeding and cuddling Luke. She couldn’t help but notice Raf was on edge.
Again.
She watched as he wandered in and out of his study, tapping away on his laptop keyboard one minute, then in the next moment striding across to the large windows at the back of the living room to stare outside.
Back and forth.
‘Raf, what is it?’ she asked presently.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Ever since you came back from Melbourne, after Luke was born… it hasn’t felt totally like we’ve been on the same page.’
‘Just distracted. You know the Weatherup deal fell through, after all the effort that went into it?’
‘Of course I know. We spent hours and hours talking about it.’
‘I took my eye off the prize. Let it slip through my fingers.’
Luke began crying and Liz rocked him gently in her arms. ‘Raf, it’s not important–’
He cut across her. ‘I’m building this empire as some people laughingly call it, for you and for our son.’ His voice was like ice. ‘So, don’t tell me it’s not important. It’s everything.’
‘It’s not everything,’ Liz said.
‘Christ. I don’t have time for this shit right now.’ He grabbed the jacket that was draped over one of the lounge chairs and he strode out the front door.
Luke began wailing louder. Liz hugged him closer, tears welling in her eyes. It was the first time Raf had raised his voice like that. The first time he’d stormed off like that. The first time he’d sworn at her. She hated this gulf between them, hated that it seemed to grow a little more each day. She listened to the sound of Raf’s car as it sped out of the driveway.
FIFTY-THREE
Less than half an hour later there was the sound of another engine in the driveway. Liz opened the door to see a smiling Bruno.
‘Hi, Bruno, come on in.’
Bruno entered and took Luke in his arms. ‘Just a brief visit to see this little fellow and to see how you guys are doing.’
‘We’re great,’ said Liz.
Bruno shot her a knowing stare. ‘Your eyes aren’t saying you’re doing great. Where’s Raf?’
‘He’s… out.’
‘Liz, what’s up?’
Liz looked Bruno in the eye and instinctively felt she could open up to him. And it was a relief. After all, Bruno knew his own brother better than anyone.
‘Raf stormed out a while ago,’ she said. ‘He just hasn’t been himself since the baby was born. I thought at first it was the pressures of this new business drive, and being away a few nights a week, but now…’
‘You think there’s more to it than that?’
‘I really don’t know what to think.’
Bruno placed the baby gently in his bassinet. ‘He’s sleepy.’
‘Yes. Nap time.’
‘This is a very special time for you guys. I told Raf he needed to back off on the expansions, just for a short time, but he practically snapped my head off.’
‘Exactly what just happened here,’ Liz said.
‘Just give it some time, Liz,’ Bruno said. ‘Raf’s under a lot of stress at the moment. New marriage, new father. And this whole mania of his about making Vetrani Investments one of the country’s biggest corporate success stories. He’s spreading himself too thin, pushing himself too hard, but I believe it will all settle down soon.’
‘You do?’
‘Yes. And I’m doing my bit, believe me, to make Raf see that for himself.’
Liz gave him a hug. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you and Caterina.’
‘We’re here for you,’ Bruno said. ‘Now, are the three of you coming over for the usual Saturday night tonight?’
‘I’m not sure…’
‘Come, Liz, even if it’s just you and Luke.’
‘Okay.’
Bruno, like Caterina, was so easy to talk to. Liz almost wanted to confide in him about the suspicions she’d had about the birth control, and the various accusations Monica had made. At the same time, she had to be careful. She didn’t want to drive a wedge between the two brothers, so she held her tongue.
She’d intended following up with Monica, making it clear she wouldn’t stand for any more harassment, regardless of how subtle. But with a newborn in the house, sleepless nights, and the fact Monica hadn’t been in touch again, she’d pushed it to the back of her mind and the months had passed. Maybe this time Monica was gone for good.
Being a mother was such a glorious experience, and little Luke made her so happy, she’d decided to let go of her suspicions about the pills, and accept there was a rational explanation. And leave it at that.
And give Raf some space.
Now she was beginning to wonder if that had been a mistake.
FIFTY-FOUR
Liz and Luke were welcomed heartily when they arrived at Bruno’s home. Caterina had a friend joining them and together they served up a sumptuous meal. Raf didn’t arrive and no one was certain where he’d gone. After the meal, Caterina and her friend focused all their attention on the giggly, three-month-old baby. Bruno excused himself.
‘Back shortly, ladies,’ he said, ‘just got a couple of quick business matters to address.’
Shortly after, Liz headed upstairs to the bathroom. At the top of the stairs, she heard Bruno’s voice in his home office at the end of the hallway. Curious, she moved in that direction, stopping just short of the door, which was ajar.
She listened.
Bruno spoke urgently into the phone. ‘Where the hell are you, Raf? What’s going on?’
Bruno was silent for a moment, listening to the response, then he resumed. ‘You were smitten by Liz from the moment you met her. Went out of your way to win her over. You insisted this was different, this was it, the real deal, she’d changed you, made you a better man and all that Robbie Williams bullshit. Got married, for Chrissakes, had Luke. I believed you this time, Raf. And now what? Less than a year later you’re neglecting her, neglecting your son, rarely at home, casting her aside like some plaything. Same old, same old.’
There was another silence, longer this time, as Bruno listened. In the shadows, outside the room, Liz waited.
Bruno spoke again. ‘I don’t care what the other problems are. You should never have overextended. Always big-noting yourself. Always. If you won’t look after Liz, then Caterina and I will.’ He ended the call. Liz heard the sound of something heavy being thrown against the wall.
Liz backtracked stealthily down the hall, and made her way to the bathroom at the far end. She’d never heard Bruno speaking or acting so firmly. She was glad he was being protective of her, and critical of his brother, but what had Raf been saying?
She was standing motionless outside the bathroom door, lost in thought, when Caterina approached. ‘You okay?’
‘Fine,’ said Liz.
‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’
Liz decided to come clean. ‘Don’t say anything to Bruno, but I overheard him on the phone to Raf.’
‘Heated exchange?’
Liz nodded. ‘I’ve never heard Bruno angry like that.’
‘Mostly he keeps calm when he’s dealing with business or family dramas. Occasionally, he doesn’t.’
‘He’s under a lot of pressure, then?’
‘He’s always running around behind the scenes putting out the fires and he can get anxious. But he bottles it up. Puts on a brave face.’
‘It seems you’re really the secret calming influence in the family.’
Caterina grinned. ‘Oh, you better believe it.’ She took Liz by the hand. ‘Now, let’s get back to taking it easy, eh?’
They headed back to the dining room but Liz couldn’t switch off from what she’d overheard.
What were the other problems Bruno was referring to? The overextending?
And the “same old, same old” comment, was that about casting off romantic partners? Monica Leeman’s warnings came bubbling back to the surface of Liz’s mind.
I’ve let all this drift for too long, Liz thought.
She felt instinctively she needed to confront the issues once and for all.
FIFTY-FIVE
Mac stood on the edge of the dusty field, his head tilted upwards. Two small planes rose and fell in formation, like baby hawks playing on the air currents. He walked past the rickety gate and onto the grounds of the aerodrome at Schofields in the New South Wales countryside. He breathed in the fresh country air, with its scent of eucalyptus from the swaying gum trees beyond the fence.
‘Restricted property,’ called a gruff voice from behind him.
Mac turned to see a tall, lanky, middle-aged man in overalls ambling towards him.
