His Hired Girlfriend (30 page)

As he passed Kyle, he said,
“Don’t push yourself, Kyle. I can do much more damage than break
your pretty nose.”

Kyle got the hint as he
struggled up and headed towards the men’s bathroom.

“Will you be all right?” Kelly
asked at the stairs. “I’ll tell the girls and we can quit the
night.”

“Don’t be silly. It’s your
Hen’s Night. Go and enjoy yourself. You know Alex will be fine with
me.” He glanced down at the unconscious girl in his arms. She
looked so damn young and innocent that the thought of what Kyle had
intended to do to her caused a new found anger to rise in his
chest. He simply wanted to smash Kyle’s face again.

“I know that. You love her,
right?” she asked, her eyes intense on his face.

Jayden stared straight back at
his sister, his eyes never wavered. “Hell yeah. I love her.”

Kelly smiled. “And Sarah?”

“She’s gone, Kelly. Over and
done with. Now go and enjoy your final night of freedom.”

She laughed. “You drive safely,
Jay.”

“Will do,” he said, heading
towards the door. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” she shouted after
him.

Down at the parking lot, Jay
put Alex into the front seat of the convertible and drove out. He
kept glancing at her on their way home, to make sure that she was
comfortable and that the drugs didn’t do further harm to her.

At home Maggie opened the door
for him, her eyes wide in shocked surprise as she saw him carrying
the unconscious, pale Alex in.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Jayden said and
headed up the stairs with a ‘no more question’ look on his
face.

In the bedroom, he gently laid
Alex on the bed and then undressed her. With only her underwear on,
he sponge-bathed her body with a cool wet towel and then dressed
her again in her pyjama. After brushing his teeth and showering
himself, he put himself between the sheets beside her, pulling her
into his arms.

She was stoned cold. Poor Alex.
And he blamed himself for not taking care of her properly. He
couldn’t believe Kyle had done this to Alex, spiking her drink and
intended to rape her. This was by far the most disgusting thing
Kyle had ever done. Taking Sarah from him was fine because it had
been Sarah’s choice, but intending to hurt Alex was an entirely
different story. He had still believed for a while that he and Kyle
could still be friends, if somewhat a distant one. That was why he
was still talking to the man. But after what had happened tonight
he knew he and Kyle were sworn enemies now.

He stroked his fingers through
Alex’s hair and then kissed her forehead.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he
murmured. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep take good care of you.” Then
he closed his eyes, drifting off into a slumber.

***

KELLY JUST COULDN’T believe
what a disaster her Hens Night had been. Dinner and clubbing had
been fun, but after that everything had gone downhill. She just
couldn’t believe Kyle would do such a thing. What a bastard that
guy was. She was debating whether to tell her parents about the
incident once she had gotten home when she saw Britney stalking in
through the door of the club. Great, she thought, another one to
make her night even worse.

She realised something wasn’t
right the moment Britney headed towards Kyle who was sitting on the
other side of the bar, drinking some very strong booze and nursing
his injuries. Odd, she thought, she had never seen Kyle coming into
the bar. She had been sure that she and the girls had entered this
place as soon as Jayden had taken Alex away and that Kyle had
rushed off to the bathroom to clean his wounds. Perhaps, she
through, Kyle hadn’t seen them here when he had come in?

Holy Shit! Britney was kissing
Kyle?

Something was definitely wrong
all right. She turned to Stephanie and whispered, “Look.”

Stephanie glanced in that
direction and swore under her breath. “Holy shit! I can’t believe
this.”

“Neither can I. I bet something
is up.”

“Let’s find out,” Stephanie
suggested.

“Yeah,” Kelly agreed. “Girls?”
She turned to her friends. “Stephanie and I have a business to sort
out. You all enjoy yourself, all right?”

“Sure thing,” the girls cheered
back.

Kelly and Stephanie stood up,
arranged their short skirts properly and toddled their ways in
their three inches heels towards the booth on the other side of the
bar. Once they were near enough, they slid onto a booth behind Kyle
and Britney, listening intensely.

“Sweetheart, what happen?” They
heard Britney asked.

“Can’t you see? That bastard
Jayden destroyed my face? I can’t believe this. It’s your fault,
Britney. You planned this damn thing.”

“Me? Well, yes, but Jayden
weren’t supposed to come in and ruin everything. You were supposed
to take that stupid bitch somewhere and do what you want to do with
her. Takes photos on your cell and all that stuff then send them to
Jayden and make him see. But...”

“I can’t believe this. I was so
close. She was such a feisty little thing. She could have do me
real damage if it wasn’t for the drug I slip in her drink when that
waiter was going past.”

“Darling?” Britney moaned, “I
promised to make it up to you. I’m so sorry. We’ll have to find
another way to get that bitch away from Jayden.”

“Ugh! I don’t want to think
about it, Britney. Right now I need my bed and you in it with
me.”

Kelly and Stephanie quickly
turned away to hide their faces as Kyle roughly dragged Britney
past them. Once they were sure they hadn’t been spotted and the two
people gone, Kelly gritted her teeth and said, “I can’t believe
what I’ve just heard.”

“Neither can I,” Stephanie
commented. “What a bitch that Britney is. I just couldn’t believe
it.”

“We’ll have to tell Jayden and
my parents,” Kelly said, nodding her head.

“Agreed,” Stephanie echoed.

***

DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND

MARY ST. CLAIRE picked up her
wine glass and took a sip, licking her lips afterwards. Gosh, she
thought, as she stared at the hunky accountant sitting opposite
her. She could tell by the way he was gazing at her that he was
really into her. Maybe tonight he’d join her bed. An excitement
thrill rushed in her body and she laughed out loud.

“Share the joke,” Hale said,
reaching his hand out to touch hers.

Mary grinned. “I was just
thinking about how handsome you are. I can’t believe you’re still
single.”

He chuckled. “Well, I have been
dating many times. Just that you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve
ever met, and I’m stoked. Can’t believe you’re still single either.
And wanted to come out with me.”

“Aw. You’re so sweet.” She
leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

Over at the door of SAN Café,
Ruby William, Nikita Buchanan and Isabella Robertson came through.
A hunky waiter greeted them as the girls began the process of
taking their scarfs and gloves off.

“Table for three, thanks,” Ruby
said.

“Of course. This way,” the
young waiter said, leading them to a table behind Mary and her
date.

“I’m so excited for Alex,”
Nikita said as they took their seats. “Just couldn’t believe the
lab actually paid for her to go to a conference in New York City.
Could you believe it? Now I wish I did Medical Lab Science.”

“I’m so jealous,” Isa muttered,
pouring them each a glass of water.

Mary straightened up and
glanced behind her. She saw the three geeks who had used to go to
her high school and glared in distaste. What an excellent place and
time to bump into them, she thought, meaning exactly the
opposite.

“Do you know them?” Hale asked
curiously.

“Kind of,” she replied
curtly.

Behind them Ruby said, “Did you
get her email?”

“Yeah,” Niki replied.

“Me too,”
Michelle put in. “She is so lucky. She said she has been to Central
Park, the Museum, and not to mention Tiffany and Co. Can you
believe it?
Tiffany and
Co!
”

“I know, right?” Ruby
commented. “I wish I could go to Tiffany and Co. Man! Would just
love to see all the jewelleries.”

“Yeah. In your dream,” Niki
chuckled.

“Hey, you never know,” Ruby
retorted. “Remember I plan to do my big OE next year. Maybe I
should put America in as one of them, even though it’s only for six
weeks.”

“Oh yeah? And what about this
hunky English guy you’re seeing?” Niki asked cheekily. Is that the
whole reason why you’re going to do this big OE of yours? Huh?”

Ruby laughed. “Don’t be silly.
He’s only a friend. He’s going to tour guide me when I’m in the
UK.”

“Yeah right,” both Niki and Isa
said in unison.

By this time,
Mary was really pissed off with the girls. She couldn’t concentrate
on being charming to Hale, and she really wanted them to go sit
somewhere else. Or better yet go to another restaurant. But she was
also itching to know what
exactly
they were talking about. Plain, geeky Alexandra
had gone off to New York City for a conference? Surely not? She was
only a Medical Lab Scientist doing routine blood test in the
hospital. Nothing special about that. And she had been in Tiffany
and Co? That was surely utterly ridiculous. No one would let her
in. The door man would just take one look at her and tell her to
bugger off.

She turned and said, “Hello,
guys.” A fat, fake smile playing on her face.

There was stunned silent all
around the table and then Ruby said, “Mary? Mary St. Clair?”

“Yeah,” Mary nodded, grinning.
“So how have you all been? Haven’t seen you since the last year of
high school. Can’t remember when that was. Too long ago.”

“Yeah,” Isa muttered, frowning
with suspicion at Mary.

“So like there’s always the
four of you, right? Where’s Alex?”

The three girls glanced at one
another.

“Just curious and all. How is
she? Haven’t seen her at all,” Mary lied, leaning forward, her
brows rising in question innocently.

Knowing the other two were
refusing to talk to the very popular Mary, Ruby said, “She’s
working in the hospital. Aren’t you a doctor there? Can’t believe
you never saw her.”

“Yeah. Can’t believe it,” Niki
added, her voice stating otherwise.

“Well, I’m busy. Patients to
look after,” Mary made the excused. “So Alex?”

“Alex is good. She’s in New
York City right now for a conference. She’s doing very well.” Ruby
smiled, nodding her head with pride.

“Yes, she is doing very well,”
Mary remarked sourly. She wanted to add, ‘for a plain geek’. But
instead she asked, “So no boyfriends?”

At this statement the three
friends looked at each other. Mary reached her hands out and
touched Hale – to show that she wasn’t short of a boyfriend. “Good
luck, aye? So Alex? No boyfriend, too?”

Ruby glared at Mary and snapped
a ‘No’ at the woman.

Mary grinned, very much
enjoying herself. “Have funs, guys,” she said, turning back to Hale
and started kissing him on the lips.

The three girls looked at each
other. “Disgusting,” Isa muttered under her breath.

*****

CHAPTER 22

ALEX
FLUTTERED HER eyes open, staring up at the ceiling, her mind blank.
She blinked.
Where was she? Why was her
body aching so much?
Her head hurt like
hell. It felt like a hammer was constantly banging on her skull.
She searched her brain.
Nothing.
The harder she tried the more painful her
headache become.

“Hey,” a voice said softly
beside her. The warm breath fanning against her skin.

She turned to her right and
came to face a gorgeous man, smiling brightly at her. His twinkling
blue eyes were deep and intense, which caused her heart to flutter.
Deep down she felt a thought she knew him all her life. Surely not
though because for the life of her she couldn’t remember who he
was.

Then she realised she was lying
in bed beside him, her head resting in the crock of his arm and her
face against his chest, which was surprisingly soft and comfy.

Who was
he?
She asked herself again.
And where was she? Where was this place?
She gazed up at the ceiling, lost and
frustrated.

“Where am I?” she whispered,
her throat dry.

“You’re home,” Jayden said,
smoothing strands of dark hair from her face, a tug of ach jabbing
in his chest, for he knew she was still having the side effect from
the drug.

“Where is home?” she asked,
turning to her left. She squint her eyes against the bright
sunlight. She tried to think but there was only blankness and the
continuous pounding of dull pain.

She turned to
look at him, tears brewing in her eyes. It was as if she was
begging him to help her think, to figure out where she was.
She was afraid.

Jayden’s heart nearly broke
then. She looked so vulnerable that it hurt him not being able to
help her. At that moment he knew he loved her more that anything
else in the world. He wiped tears from her cheek with his thumb and
kissed her forehead.

“It will all come back,
sweetheart,” he said. “It will.”

She gazed into his warm eyes.
Instantly she trusted him even though she couldn’t remember him. A
sense of calmness settled within her, and she closed her eyes,
breathing slowly and deeply. Not long afterwards she fell asleep,
content.

Jayden pulled her close to him,
kissing her now and again, stroking her hair and whispering words
of love until he fell into another slumber.