Part 4

'I know the owner, he would close off the entire first floor for us so we can have all the privacy we want, downstairs seems pretty packed so if you want you can go in alone first if you don't want to be seen with me' Caro parked the car as he looked at this packed yet cosy coffee place across the street, 'are you kidding? every pap and reporter knows who you are, they'll think the Chief is treating his PA for all her hard work' for the first time since long, he grinned that devilish grin full of mischief again, opened his door and quickly circled the car to open hers as well.

'Thanks' she whispered as he closed the door shut again and waited with her to cross the street. She could already see the first cameraphones being aimed at them as they crossed and reached the café, the terrace in front was so crowded that they had to wurm their way inside where they were met by the owner who pushed a kiss on her cheek and said 'just go upstairs and I'll come take your orders in a second ok, you look stunning as ever' before he shook Noel's hand 'welcome Mr. Gallagher, it's a pleasure to meet you, upstairs you won't be disturbed' with a big grin and a wink he pointed at the stairs.

Noel's name was buzzing around the place, everyone seemed to want to draw his attention, but he just gave the room a small wave before he followed Caro upstairs. She took off her coat and adjusted her long high ponytail a bit before she sat down on the massive couch near the window, overlooking the water.

'This is such a beautiful part of London, it's such a breath of fresh air, being away from the hussle and bussle of the city, I've always wanted to live here' she sighed as her eyes sparkled in the setting evening sun. 'Yeah it's definitely got appeal, what's the housing market like over here? Want me to check with my broker?' he said all serious while she shook her head, he really didn't have any idea, did he? 'I can't afford living here, I can't even afford buying a pantry here' she smirked, luckily they were interrupted by the waiter who took their orders, but once he turned his back, his eyes started scanning her face again.

'Are you saying I don't pay you enough?' he squinted his eyes waiting for her response, 'I'm just a PA not the rockstar, that's a big difference' Caro gave the waiter who brought their coffees a quick smile and he could see she was becoming uncomfortable again.

'Where do you live now?' oh great, he had never known or cared and now he was interested? Just as she wanted to answer, Mel came walking up the stairs, she wasn't well, that much was obvious, she looked like she would pull a 'Britney' in a few minutes, it was clear she was under the influence of a few substances one more illegal than the other.

Being the gentleman Noel was, he got up to greet her, and Caro followed his lead 'Mel' he just pushed a quick kiss on her cheek before he sat down again 'Hi Mel, I'm Caro, Noel's PA, we talked on the phone' Caro stuck her hand out but Mel just stared hard at her for a minute and then dissaprovingly turned her head away and sat down.

Noel was annoyed by the way she had addressed Caro, or the lack thereof, who quickly seemed to want to disappear in her latte. Mel just stared at him as if she didn't actually know why they were all here, she hadn't even asked about Bowie 'so Noely, how are you love? Nightlife is so boring without you, that wifey of yours keeps you on a very tight leash' she slurred her words slightly, that's how stoned she was.

Noel just bit his lip and snarled 'my wife is none of your business, and at least she isn't some sad has-been It-girl with a drug addiction, who still needs to go prowling bars ..', Mel just squinted her eyes 'look who's talking, I remember you running around London coked up to the eyeballs and worse..' before she could go on, Caro quickly intervened 'stop it, both of you!! Listen, you two obviously have a child together and that's what we're here for, whether you like it or not, so just calm the fuck down, and let's keep the subject to Bowie' she spat the words at both of them before she leaned back into the cushions and slowly sipped her coffee while she watched the both of them look in different directions, goddammit, did she really have to be the mediator here?

'Right, ok, first things first, Mel..you should be glad that Noel didn't sue for child neglect, dropping a kid off in the middle of the fucking night with who you think is her father at that moment, all by herself, what if he hadn't been the father? Does it even register with you how traumatizing that is for a kid? And for what? All because of a quick fix or a quick lay? This is a living and breathing little human being, not a doll' Caro knew she was overstepping her boundaries so she sat back in the cushions again and tried to calm down.

Mel started laughing 'oh Miss know it all is gonna tell me off now? Is this your way of getting your claws into Bowie so you can play house together with your boss? I think it's actually him you want to get your claws in..'

Mel turned to Noel with a sarcastic grin 'are you shagging her? because it looks like that's the only reason she's working for you, OMG Noel your PA is gagging for ya'. Noel felt his heart thump in his throat and looking at Caroline, she looked absolutely gobsmacked, and before he could say or do anything, she got up and whispered 'I'll just wait in the car, excuse me' before she nearly ran towards the stairs and disappeared out of view.

She tried to keep a straight face walking through the café while people stared at her, knowing who was upstairs there with her, her friend the owner came walking up to her with a smile 'Hey sweetie, forgot something?' but when he saw the tears burning behind her eyes he changed tactics 'wanna have a smoke?' he whispered with a smile as he took her hand and guided her out of the café, crossing the street so they could have a bit more privacy behind the car.

'What happened?' he had worry scribbled across his face as he offered her a cigarette, 'oh nothing, it's just..' she shrugged but then her shoulders started shaking 'oh sweetie, come here' he pulled her in for a warm hug and just held her as she cried her heart out.

On the other side of the road, Noel stood in front of the window and felt something strange happening in his chest as he noticed her cross the road on the hand of the owner of this place, he could barely look over the car but his heart skipped a beat as he saw her being held by that guy.

He didn't even notice that Mel came standing right next to him 'oh, what is Sara gonna say about you lusting after your PA...well well well', he spun around and snarled 'you shut the fuck up!! Sara is none of your business, you leave her and my kids, and my PA for that matter, alone, you sit down right now and you better come up with a solution for Bowie, because I'm this close to calling child protection services and taking you to court for being an abusive and neglectful mother, is that clear?'

'Shhtttt, it's ok Caro, shh, boy or boss trouble? You like him more than you care to admit, don't you?' Rob's warm breath danced across her cheek and she reluctantly let go of him 'I don't know, it's just a crazy situation' she took a deep breath and explained to him in short all about Bowie, and Sara and Mel and Noel.

'Oh god, I'm sorry to say sweetie, but you're just his PA, not his nanny and you're not his marriage counselor either, now are you?'. Caro shook her head 'I don't know what's wrong with me, he just gets under my skin and on my nerves sometimes' her voice all shaky, 'look I'm not gonna lie, we've been friends for far too long, I know you and I really think you might have some feelings for the guy..and I honestly believe that he has feelings for you too', Caro nearly choked on the smoke of her cigarette 'Oh Rob, no don't say that, he's such a prick sometimes..I don't feel nothing for that man, he's just my employer, and he surely hasn't got any feelings for me, he's stuck between 2 women and 3 kids already..no, that's just not possible' her heart was racing.

'Listen to me, I'm a guy and I know what guys act like when they really fancy a girl, it's the way he put his hand on your back walking through the café, he constantly has his eyes on you, ok I don't know his reasons but I know he is drooling over you and on his way to falling hard for you and he is not alone..' there was a stressed out smile dancing across his lips as his eyes locked with hers.

'Rob..what, but..?' it dawned on her what he was trying to tell her, he had been such a good friend to her and now he was telling her that he had his eye on her? What the hell was happening? She loved Rob, he knew a lot about her, he knew about her upbringing or the lack thereof, he was so easy to talk to and yes he was so easy on the eye, with a woman on every finger and now he just admitted that he was in love with her?? Huh?

Noel left Mel where she was, he simply couldn't stand to be with her one second longer, but at least he had an agreement with her, she would come and pick Bowie up tonight, he ignored all the staring eyes as he made his way through the café and ignored all the pleas for autographs and selfies with a little forced smile, not now, he needed to find her.

Caro and Rob's little moment was cut short when he circled the hood of the huge SUV, them still standing so close to each other didn't stop his heart from pounding hard 'Caro..can we go?' he snapped, why was he so worked up? They were friends, that was all, right? 'thanks for giving us some privacy, mate, you've got a nice place here' Noel stuck his hand out to Rob 'my pleasure, Mr. Gallagher' the tension between the two men was palpable and it was Rob who let go of his hand first and pulled Caro in for a bear hug 'you give me a call tonight yeah? We'll talk some more' while pushing a chaste kiss on her lips. 'I will, promise' she breathed and squeezed his arm before she circled the car and hopped behind the wheel.

Caro revved the engine as Noel slid into the passenger's seat beside her, Rob quickly crossed the street and gave her a last wave before she sped off with screeching tyres, away from the madness and the awkwardness.

'He's a nice guy' Noel was the first to break the ice, 'yes, yes he absolutely is' she nodded but refused to look at him 'anyway, what is going to happen with Bowie?' that's what they came here for after all. 'Mel is coming to pick her up tonight' somehow he didn't feel relieved, how could he? Mel was an unfit mother but what choice did he have? He had his wife and kids to consider and their marriage was already in choppy waters, he wasn't gonna rock the boat any harder than it already was.

'Oh..' Caro whispered 'but, what if she..no, none of my business' she shook her head and steered the car into the hectic London traffic 'I've overstepped my boundaries in there more than enough, I apologize, won't happen again'.

Noel shifted in his seat but didn't say anything, he just looked out of his car window and gave her the cold shoulder, in the reflection of the window he saw her stare at him 'it better not' he breathed without even looking at her.

He didn't care if it came out all harsh and heavy, he had too much on his mind already, Bowie, Mel, his wife and kids..he just couldn't handle anything else, he paid her to be his PA, not to dance around in his head every hour of the day with that glorious body and mind of hers, or to spew her opinions left and right, oh no, strictly business, nothing else!

Caroline felt her heart sink, oh fuck, she knew she had really crossed a line now..but no apology was accepted, I need to get away from all this, I'm not paid enough to be treated like shit on a daily basis. He saw the disappointment, or was it sadness?, on her face as she turned her head back to the road ahead but he just closed his eyes, crossed his arms firmly over his chest, and pretended to want to take a nap.