Free Semi-Detached Marriage by Sally Wentworth Page B

much you want this job and will hate having to give it up, but I just
can't live here, Simon.'
    Pulling a packet of cigarettes from his
pocket, he lit one and drew hard on it. He was still standing by the window,
looking out, but his expression was abstracted, as if his thoughts were miles
away. When at length he did turn to her there was a cold, withdrawn look on his
face.
    'All right, then I'll just have to accept the
fact. But I'm afraid I'm not going to turn this job down, Cassie. Not just
because it's too good an opportunity to miss, but because I've already got so
involved with this project that I've got to see it through. I can't give it up
any more than you can give up your job.'
    'B-but you can't!' Cassie exclaimed, her brow
wrinkling in perplexity. 'I've said no. I…'
    'I know what you said,' Simon cut in, 'but it
doesn't make any difference. Tomorrow I'm going to tell the board of directors
that I'll accept the job.'
    Cassie stared at him, her face hostile. 'Is
this some kind of ultimatum? Are you ordering me to come and live here?'
    Simon's mouth twisted wryly and he sounded
suddenly tired. 'No, I'm not issuing any commands. Unfortunately you're one of
the few people here that I can't order around. Ironic, isn't it?' he added
bitterly. He drew on his cigarette, then looked at it and ground it out in an
ashtray as if he suddenly found it distasteful. 'No, I'm simply saying that
you've made your decision and I've made mine. We both want different things and
neither of us is willing to make any concessions. So we'll just have to go our
separate ways instead of being together.'
    His words made Cassie feel suddenly very,
very cold.
    Her face paled and her voice stuck in her
throat as she said, 'What do you mean?'
    Simon turned to face her. 'That I'll live and
work here while you go on living in the flat in London. I'll fly down as often
as I can at the weekends, of course, but I may not be able to get away every
weekend, especially at the beginning, but perhaps you could come up here
sometimes. If that wouldn't be asking too much, of course,' he added cynically.
    Cassie's first reaction was the overwhelming
rush of relief one always feels when a great fear is suddenly removed. Her
heart began to beat again and colour rushed into her cheeks.
    'Oh, Simon!' She ran to him and threw her
arms round his neck, pressed closely against him. 'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.'
    His arms came round her and held her tightly,
but he didn't speak.
    Lifting her head, her eyes close to tears,
Cassie said haltingly, 'Isn't there any alternative? I don't want us to be
apart.'
    Ruefully, Simon shook his head. 'Nor do I,
darling. But I can't see any other way for us both to get what we want out of
life.'
    'But for three years! It will seem like a
lifetime.' She put her hands on his shoulders and looked up at him worriedly.
'And what guarantee would we have that Mullaine's wouldn't send you off
somewhere else when this project is finished?'
    'A lot can happen in three years,' Simon
reminded her. 'And by then, if I've made a success of this, I'll have a bit
more weight to throw about with the other directors.' He put his hand up and
wiped a tear from her cheek. 'Don't worry; we'll both be busy, the time will
soon pass, and we'll see each other as often as we can. Then I'll make sure
we're together.'    
    'Promise?'
    'Promise.' He bent and put his mouth on hers,
sealing the promise with a kiss.
    Slowly Cassie opened her eyes to look at him,
studying each feature of his face all over again, realising that from that
moment on their lives, their whole relationship, was going to change. Up until
now she had been so happy, had had everything she'd ever wanted. Even now she
had, she supposed, again got what she wanted, and couldn't help feeling a surge
of satisfaction because of it, but she had had no idea that Simon would ever
decide on such a solution. That he could even contemplate it startled and at
first appalled her. Never in her wildest