A bridge too far

Emma had been pushed around for too long¼

As Emma hurtled through the air, she heard a sound and realised it was her own scream. The next time her husband asked her to do some crazy publicity stunt, she' d tell him where to go.

She was sure she was about to die when, at the last moment, the bungee cord tightened and exhilaration replaced the fear.

Robert was waiting for her as she was lowered on to the boat.

You looked amazing,' he said. The press got some really great shots. How was it? Was it exciting?'

It was terrifying. For a moment there, I thought I was going to die.' Then she grinned. Can I have another go? I' m sure if you have a word with them, they' ll let me jump the queue.'

Sorry, I don' t have time.' He gave her a peck on the cheek, posed for a couple of photos and was gone.

Emma sighed. They' d only been married for a year. In that time, he' d persuaded her to do all kinds of crazy things to raise money for one of the many charities he championed. So far, she' d tried rock climbing, abseiling, and windsurfing. The latest was bungee jumping from a bridge.

Nothing gave Robert a bigger kick than seeing his wife' s picture all over the tabloids. At first, she' d been more than happy to go along with all his crazy ideas. She was in love she would have done anything he asked, but that changed when he told her he' d arranged for her to jump out of a plane.

No way,' she said. Sometimes I think you only married me because I look good in a swimsuit. All you want is the publicity.'

She' d expected him to deny it, but he didn' t. He nodded.

After I floated the company on the stock market and became a multi-millionaire, I couldn' t have a wife like Mary she' s pushing 60, and I needed somebody younger and prettier. Luckily for me, you came along, so unless you want to go back to being poor, you' d better do as I tell you. Don' t worry, you' ll be safe.' He handed her an envelope. I' ve booked a set of training sessions for you.'

He went away that night. By the time he came back, a week later, any love Emma had felt for him had vanished. She' d had enough of being pushed around.

On the day of the parachute jump, the press were out in force. As the plane climbed, she told Robert she wouldn' t be making the jump.

A flash of annoyance crossed his face.

You have to,' he said. The press are waiting.'

I don' t care.'

What about all the sponsorship money? If you don' t jump, the charity stands to lose millions.'

In that case, why don' t you do the jump? Don' t tell me you' re scared.'

I' m not scared.' He looked to the instructor for support. You tell her. I haven' t done the training. It' s not safe.'

That' s true,' the instructor replied, but we could do a tandem jump. For that you don' t need any training. I land for the two of us and I open the chute.'

Robert shook his head. They' ve come to see my beautiful wife, not me.'

Emma sighed. OK. If you jump, I' ll jump too. Straight after you,' she added quickly. Grudgingly, Robert agreed. It didn' t take long for the instructor to fit the harness. There. You' re all set.'

Hang on,' said Emma, as she adjusted the straps. We don' t want you falling out of the harness.'

Then she watched as the pair of them jumped out of the plane. As soon as they were clear, she followed.

By the time she landed, Emma was a widow a very wealthy widow. The inquest said it was a freak accident and praised the instructor for the way he' d tried to save Robert at the risk of his own life. They concluded that either the metal clasps had failed, or the straps hadn' t been tight enough. Either way, Robert had slipped out of the harness.

When Emma sent the instructor' s £10million fee to an offshore bank, it didn' t even make a dent in her bank balance.

She was in love but that changed when he told her heÕd arranged for her to jump out of a plane