All of Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy (21 page)

“You’ve had your say, and now it’s my turn to talk.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m talking now, Alistair, not you, so you’d better shut up and listen. I’ve tried being nice to you, but you don’t play fair. Well, guess what? I’m done trying to be civil seeing as you’re incapable of returning the gesture. Aiden loves me and I love him, and nothing you say or do will tear us apart. I’m here forever, so like it or leave it—I will not put up with your intolerable
bullshit
anymore. So keep pushing my buttons, and you’ll see what I’m really capable of. Go on. I dare you!” I say quietly into his face, staring him directly at him.

His brow furrows and his nostrils flare. “You can’t talk to me like that; remember about your little friend in St. Luke’s?”

I lean in close. “Do it then,” I say, staring him directly in the eyes. He stares right back, but I’m not giving in. I continue until he finally admits defeat and looks away.

“When did you grow a back bone?” he asks.

“I always had one, I just didn’t realize I could use it,” I say and walk off.

“Stupid
bitch
, you’re nothing but a money hungry wench, and you know it,” Alistair says. Aiden appears out of nowhere and looks at his father with rage.

“For God’s sake, Father, will you shut the
fuck
up? Jeni, baby, go wait for me in the office,” he says.

“
No way
. Thanks for standing up for me, Aiden, but I got this.”

Aiden looks at me with one eyebrow raised.

“Alistair, you have no power over me; therefore, any of your ridiculous threats and abusive words don’t mean a thing. I tried to be nice, for Aiden’s sake, but I won’t put up with this
crap
from you anymore. I’m a better person than you will ever be. For once in your life, shut your stupid
fucking
mouth and act like a normal human being. You act all high and mighty, but really you’re nothing but a lonely old man, which is your own fault. I’m taking control over my life, and for once it doesn’t include you belittling and abusing me. I won’t let you do it to me anymore. Your playtime is over, so stop acting like a child and grow up! Oh, and one more thing, Alistair, go
fuck
yourself, you arrogant
prick.
” I shrug and walk away, leaving Aiden and his Father standing there with shock written all over their faces.

Oh my God!
That felt so damn good. I can’t believe I had the guts to say that to him, but I feel so amazing that I skip back toward the office and Brielle notices.

“Someone’s in a good mood today,” she says, laughing at me skipping like a teenager.

“Can’t help it. I feel good, life’s good, and I just told your father to go
fuck
himself,” I say, standing by her desk.

“You stood up to Father?” she asks with a surprised grin on her face.

“Sure did and I feel G.R.E.A.T.—Great!”

“Wow, who are you and what have you done with the Jeni from last week? Don’t get me wrong though, I love new Jeni. Well, technically she is the old Jeni. Oh
crap,
you know what I mean. It’s nice to have you back to your cheery self,” she says.

We watch Alistair walk back into his office. He turns, scowls at me, and then slams his door. I bite my bottom lip to keep from grinning at him. I don’t want to antagonize him, but
shit
it felt good.

Aiden walks over to me, smiling so brightly it makes me melt.

“That was amazing,” he says, pulling me to him, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so rude to him, but he really pissed me off.”

“No, baby, what you said was perfect. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I’m so in awe of you and how strong you have become. You’re back to the old Jeni—the one who called me a moron for crashing into her car. I’m undeniably proud of you for standing up to him. I have to admit, it was pretty damn hot to see you worked up like that,” he says, leaning in and kissing me softly.

“Urgh,
get a room,
” Brielle yells out, making us part lips and chuckle. Aiden quickly pecks my nose, and then walks back into his old office to finish packing.

CHAPTER 17

I start getting everything ready for our impromptu house warming party while Aiden places the drinks in the outside bar fridge. The doorbell chimes, and we walk to the door to greet Blair and Benjamin who are standing with a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne.

“Happy housewarming, big brother,” Blair says chirpily.

“Wow, this place is really cool,” Benjamin says, walking through and giving me a hug.

“Thanks. We think so, too,” I say.

We walk to the deck and the boys sit down.

“Drink anyone?” Aiden asks.

The doorbell rings again, and I deal with it while Aiden tends to the drinks.

I open the door to see Bree and Adam.

“Oh. My. God,” Bree says, and I laugh at her.

“Well done, sis. This place is fantastic.”

“I know, I absolutely love it.”

Soon after, Callie, Mike, my mother, Sarah, and Chris arrive.

“This is beautiful, Jeni, it looks great from the outside,” Mom says.

“Well, let’s show you the inside, it’s even better,” I say as they walk in.

“Head through the kitchen to the deck, everyone is out there,” I say, pointing the way.

“What do you think, Sarah?” I ask.

“All I can say is holy
fucking crap stick.
You did good.”

“Welcome to our home everyone,” I say.

They raise their glasses, and then take a sip.

“I guess I’d better get the meat ready for the barbeque?” I ask Aiden.

“Shouldn’t he be getting his meat ready for you, Jeni?” Sarah asks jokingly.

I prepare everything and then finally sit down to have a well-deserved glass of champagne.

“This place really is amazing, Jeni, you scored well with Aiden, didn’t you?” Sarah asks, making Mom and Callie laugh.

“I think Aiden scored well to get, Jeni, personally,” Callie says.

“Thanks, Mom.”

The boys are at the barbeque pit, drinking beer and joking while Blair does a comedy reenactment of Hamlet. I have no idea why, but it’s very entertaining.

We eat, drink, and unwind from the day. I see Mike and Callie sitting on their own, while the rest of us have moved by the pool where Tiki torches light the surroundings. I watch as Mike sneaks in a sly kiss. Aiden rests his head on my shoulder while I sit on his lap. The doorbell rings, and I look at Aiden with raised eyebrows.

“Did you invite anyone else?” he asks me. I shake my head.

“No, I have no idea who it could be,” I say, standing up. We both excuse ourselves and walk to the front door. Aiden opens it, and Alistair is standing there with a bottle of Macallan whisky in his hand.

“Happy house warming,” he says, reaching forward to shake Aiden’s hand. Aiden looks down at his hand and grunts.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” he asks.

“
Fuck
no,” Aiden says, but Alistair comes barging through anyway, looking around as he makes his way out to the deck. The first thing he notices is Mike and Callie who are holding hands and gazing at each other with affection. I look at Aiden who is watching his father. Alistair’s face contorts with full on rage.

“
Well, it didn’t take you long did it, Callie,
” Alistair screams out, immediately gaining everyone’s attention. Callie turns around, and Mike lets go of her hand.

“So you’re all here celebrating without me? Callie, what are you doing with Mike? You know he’s just the help. He’s worthless, something Jeni knows all about.”

“Now just a minute, Alistair, don’t you talk about my daughter like that. Remember we had this conversation once before? Look where you are now,” Mom says, standing up, walking toward him.

“And don’t you think for one second that Mike is beneath you. You’re not even half the man he is,” Callie calls out, defending Mike.

“Just
fuck
off, Father, no one wants you here,” Aiden says, antagonizing him further.

“
This is my son’s house warming, and I’ll be damned if I get kicked out,
” he yells.

“As your son, whose housewarming it is, I think it’s best if you leave. This is bound to end in tears.”

“It should end in tears. Your
slut’s
tears. She’s the reason Callie left. If it wasn’t for her, Callie would never have been angry with me at your birthday party, and she wouldn’t have left me. It’s all her fault, and it’s her fault that you’re being taken from me, too. You would never have left the company if it wasn’t for her. Can’t you see that insignificant little
whore
is tearing our family apart?”

Aiden has a disgusted look on his face. “
Fuck
off! Jeni isn’t tearing our family apart, you are,” he says angrily. Alistair glances across at his family who are all staring at him.

“Well
fuck
you all, especially you, Mike. I trusted you. And all this time you’ve been fucking my wife. What kind of man are you? Don’t answer that, I’ll tell you. You’re a backstabbing pain in my ass who’s so worthless he tries to latch onto my wife because she has money. Well guess what, that’s my money and neither of you are getting any of it. In fact, none of you will be getting any of my money. You can all kiss your inheritance goodbye.”

Mike stands up and walks over to Alistair. He’s furious.

“Alistair, I am no longer your employee so I don’t have to be polite. I love Callie. I have for years, and you know it. But unlike you, I’ll treat her right, and I definitely won’t treat her as some sort of convenience. Callie is a beautiful woman; she brought up your children, and in the process had to put up with your
shit
. Well, she doesn’t have to suffer in silence anymore. You’ve lost the respect of everyone who ever loved you. You did that on your own without any help from Callie or Jeni. So if you want to blame someone for your pathetic excuse of a life, then blame yourself,” Mike says, seething.

Everyone is watching Alistair intently. His lip curls upwards and he turns bright red.

Without hesitation, Alistair pushes Mike in the chest. Blair and Benjamin get up quickly and rush over just as Mike pushes Alistair back just as hard. Aiden stands in between them and pulls Alistair out of the way, but Alistair lunges at Mike. Aiden jumps in between them again, and Alistair punches Aiden in the stomach. I rush over to Aiden while we watch Alistair and Mike go at it on our kitchen floor. Callie and Brielle are screaming at Alistair to let Mike go. I decide this is ridiculous, so I walk over to them and try get in between them.

“
That’s enough
,” I yell, but as I do, Alistair grabs me around the throat. His rage is showing in his eyes, and I know he won’t let go until I’m dead. I start to choke as I grasp at his hands, trying to stop him.

“
You did this to my family
,” he yells.

“
Take your hands off of her now
,” Aiden yells at his father, and claws at his hand to free me unsuccessfully.

“
You did this. You’re nothing but a worthless pig,
” he yells, shaking me and lifting me off the ground as I claw at his rough hands.

I'm gasping for air while Aiden and Mike both try to free me from his grip.

“
Alistair, let her go. Let her go, right now
,” Callie yells out.

I watch my mom try to get to me, but Benjamin is holding her back. Lack of oxygen is becoming an issue.

“For
fucks sake,
you’re acting just like Grandpa Patty right now, and I know you don’t want to be reminded of how much like him you’ve turned out. Now let my fiancée go, or so help me God I will grab a knife and cut your
fucking
arm off,” Aiden says. I start crying, and Alistair lets me go. I fall to the ground and struggle to catch my breath. Bree and Mom run to my side.

“
Fuck this shit,”
Aiden says, and I watch him punch Alistair in the face, knocking him unconscious.

“Baby, are you okay?” Aiden asks, running to me, cradling me in his arms. I cry into his chest while he kisses my forehead.

“I’ll never forgive him for this. If he thought I hated him before, well... now I completely disown him as a father,” Aiden says, rocking me back and forth in his arms.

Alistair slowly wakes up, and Chris stands by him. He stands up and wobbles slightly while blood drips from his nose.

“C’mon, Callie, it’s time to go home,” he says.

Callie looks at him with disgust. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“What? Yes you
will.
You’re my wife. We have to go home.”

“I’m no longer your wife. I’m with Mike now.”

“What? When did that happen? Mike, how could you?” Alistair stumbles around the room, bumping into the furniture.

“Callie, you’re my wife, and I love you. Callie, we have to go home.”

He seems to be very confused.

“
Alistair, I’m not going with you
,” she yells at him.

“What? Why?” he asks.

“Because I’m with Mike now!”

Alistair gasps and takes a step back, scratching his head. “What? When did this happen?”

Chris takes him by the arm and sits him on the sofa.

Aiden is still holding me and looks at me, concerned. “Baby, I’m so sorry,” he says to me as I nuzzle into his chest.

“Callie,” Alistair calls out. Chris stands close to him, making sure he doesn’t attack anyone again.

“Chris be careful,” Sarah says, and starts to walk toward him.

“No, Sarah, stay back. I don’t want you near this
prick
,” Chris says.

“Callie, we have to go home,” he continues his rant.

I’m shaking in Aiden’s arms, my throat is really hurting, and my pulse is beating erratically.

“Who are you? And where’s Callie?” Alistair asks Chris.

“I’m Chris, you remember me, don’t you?”

“No, what’s going on here? Who are you? Where’s Callie?” he asks, getting upset.

Callie walks over to him, but Mike takes her by the arm to stop her.