TouchStone for giving (The Story of Us Trilogy) (52 page)

exchanged and vows spoken but Ayden’s face, as he stood by that black car, will stay with me forever.

Last night’s video was inspirational; Ayden knows me better than I know myself. He’s afraid I’ll

retreat into my shell, fall back on my music or hide myself away from the world. I won’t do that. I

have enough strength of character to forge ahead and getting hold of his P.A. Charlotte, is the first job

on my to-do list.

Before scrolling down my contacts, I boot up the laptop resting silently on the bed next to me.

Quickly I click on the READ ME BETH folder and open the fourth link. Another video appears.

Before the first lyric is spoken, I’m smiling. This husband of mine has a sense of humour and he’s

using it to motivate me.

Katy Perry sings
Firework
. Has there ever been a more apt song? I let it play, taking in the

sentiment, even mouthing some of the words. It’s prophetic. With what I have in mind, I plan on

making one hell of an explosion.

When I open the door to admit Jake, I come face to face with a man who has no idea how to act

around me. Surely the fact I am his boss’ wife has not affected him to this extent. He looks

bewildered, in a state of shock perhaps.

“Morning Jake. Come in, I’m having breakfast.” Nibbling on toast I lead the way past our cases,

which I have packed ready for the flight home. “Help yourself to some breakfast.”

He’s shaking his head. “No, thanks. I can’t face breakfast.”

“Some tea then?” I pour him a cup. “Milk?”

“Yeah, sure … why not. Let’s have a fucking tea party!”

I return the cup and saucer to the tray. “Sit down.” He looks about him and half sits, half props

himself on a bar stool. “I’ve sorted out the flights home for everyone, or should I say Charlotte has.”

His eyes widen.

“Charlie will be flying home first class with Celine, Sylvia and Patrick, and you and I will be taking

the company jet.”

“We will?” He appears startled.

“Yes, I don’t want everyone fussing and making a big deal out of this, when Ayden will probably be

back in Stone Heath before us.” I offer him a confident smile to ease his anxiety.

“What’s happened to you? Did you run out of tears?

I snigger. “No. Not really. I’ve just bottled them up for another day.”

“Good for you.” He’s marginally impressed. “What did he tell you?”

I shrug my shoulders. “Enough.”

“Well, then.” He flattens his hair and wipes his wayward hand across his mouth, as if holding back

on what he really wants to say. “I’ll get the cases taken down.”

“Good idea. I’ll be ready to go in 15 minutes.” I pat my mouth with a napkin and make my way to

the bedroom to freshen up and collect my jacket. “I’ll see you in the foyer. I’ll be the one wearing the

navy blazer.” I smile weakly and walk away.

He’s shaking his head, saluting. “Yeah, right. I’ll be the one wearing the chauffeur’s outfit.”

I don’t bother replying. His witty riposte does amuse me though.

I have chosen to travel alone to the airport. I left Jake to sort out the bill and slipped away with my

luggage, after having said goodbye to everyone. Charlie insisted on flying back with me and Sylvia

wouldn’t stop hugging me. Patrick had to peel her off at one point and console her. It was all very

emotional. Once I explained I would be travelling back with Jake, they seemed more accepting of the

situation. Thankfully this limousine offers me some kind of sanctuary; a quiet space to reflect and

gather my thoughts.

I’ve asked the driver to give me a tour of the strip. I know it’s not the same in daylight but I’ve

travelled such a long way and to have only seen the sights from 21 floors up seems such a waste. I

have the perfect song playing in my ears, Lana Del Ray sings
Ride
and I slide back the sun roof and

fold my elbows over the roof to take it all in.

My hair is blowing in the wind and my scarf is stretched out behind me like the tail on a comet. I

am flying; passing palm trees and palaces that entice with their flashing lights and the promise of

luxury beyond your wildest dreams. It’s a make-believe world where nothing is real. But totally

exhilarating.

I must face up to the fact. I can go along with this situation and experience the ride of my life or

simply step away from the car. I’ve come too far to even consider that now.

Fifty minutes later we arrive at McCarran International Airport. The chauffeur shows a pass and we

are directed to the VIP parking bays. Duty bound, he loads my luggage onto a trolley and escorts me to

the appropriate desk. I hand him a sizable tip and he bows respectfully and leaves, only to be replaced

by another uniformed gentleman who very kindly offers to have our bags checked in. It’s all very

civilised and when I explain I am Mrs. Stone and I’ll be flying home on the ASMI company jet, he

becomes even more obliging. With some helpful directions I find my way to the VIP lounge.

Two steps inside and I see Jake, looking very smart indeed in a dark blue suit, reading the Financial

Times. He’s a handsome guy. For a split second I actually thought he was Ayden. He has a similar

build. It was only the close cropped hair that stopped me from running over and wrapping my arms

around his neck.

“Hello Jake. I was looking for someone wearing a chauffeur’s outfit. I didn’t recognise you sitting

there.”

He folds the newspaper in two.

“I spotted you straight away. You’re wearing your navy blazer.”

“You miss nothing.”

He chuckles and beckons over a waiter with a long forefinger. “What would you like to drink?”

“English breakfast tea will be fine, please.” I sit back on the plush chair and unravel my scarf from

my neck. “Do you know where we go to catch the plane?”

“Someone will come and collect us. They know we’re here.” He’s nodding reassuringly.

“Oh, good. I’ll wait to be collected then.” I settle my hands on my knees, scanning the room,

feeling impatient. The sooner we’re in the air, the sooner we can get Ayden released from custody.

There’s nothing worse than feeling powerless at a time like this.

Much to my relief, our private jet takes off smoothly into the hazy Nevada sky. I’m apprehensive

but not fearful any more. I have thrown back two travel sickness tablets and have more pressing

matters to distract me from my fear of flying. Jake sits to the side of me, not opposite but close

enough to pick up on my anxiety. I give him a smile of sorts; a smile so thin, it’s transparent like

tissue paper. I can’t conceal my disappointment. I know and he knows we have to talk. There are

things he simply has to tell me and I won’t back off until I’m satisfied there is no more to tell.

“How long’s the flight?” I ask, breaking the ice.

“Around 11 hours, give or take a couple of minutes.”

I turn to face him. “That should be more than enough time for you to tell me what’s going on.”

He gives me a sheepish grin.

I turn to look out of the window. “I thought I’d be having a honeymoon breakfast in some exotic

location with my husband and I’m here with you …”

“Yeah. Sorry about that.” He unclicks his seat belt and settles himself into the seat opposite. “If it’s

any consolation, Ayd was pretty cut up about it too.”

“It’s no consolation,” I state, unable to fabricate even a weak smile.

“It’s not his fault. What happened …” He drags his hand across his cropped hair and finds my eyes.

“It’s mine.”

“Yours?”

“Yeah. I fucked up and Ayd’s taking the rap.” He blows out an exasperated jet of hot air.

“And how do you feel about that?” I ask impulsively.

“How do you think? Like shit! He gave me a free hand to diversify and it’s blown up in my face

like an IUD. He’s become collateral damage.”

“That’s an insensitive way of explaining it.”

“Sorry.”

“I thought you two were close, you had history. And yet …”

“Yeah, and yet I fucked up. I hear you.” He stands and heads over to the galley for a bottle of water.

He takes out two from the fridge, hands me one and sits down. “Ayden and I go way back, all the way

to high school …”

He’s opening up and I’m all ears. “I didn’t know that.”

“He came to my school when he moved in permanently with Sylvia and Patrick. He was this

crazy kid, popular with the ladies and so fucking tough, he’d take anyone on.” He laughs at the

memory. “Such an arrogant bastard.”

“Then how come you hooked up with him?”

“I wanted to be him – still do.” He takes a swig of water and continues, “He won’t take shit off

anyone and, smart? I tell you, he has business instincts like no-one else.”

“He’s done very well for himself after such a shaky start.”

“No shit! He’ll tell you about the early years and there’s stuff that will make your toes curl, but you

won’t believe it when I tell you he was picked on when he first arrived. You know, because of his

name. Saphir wasn’t a name you heard every day.” He sniggers at the recollection. “But … he made

his mark and sailed through school with no hassle.” His expression softens with a fond memory.

“Got so he’d fight my battles for me, kinda took me under his wing. Like now, with this. So don’t

judge him harshly. I’m the villain here. Out of loyalty or some kinda business etiquette, he’ll take the

fall. He’s one of the good guys Beth. You should know that.”

“I do.” I offer a half smile as a reward for his disclosures. “Does he confide in you?”

“Sometimes, about business mostly. He’s never been one for sharing secrets.” He grins broadly.

“Couldn’t wait to tell me about you though.”

That surprises me. “Really?”

“He met you on a Monday and called me that afternoon to tell me he’d met the woman he was

going to marry. He said he’d found you.”

Now that does make me smile.

“I told him to get a grip, but he wouldn’t listen.” He pauses and reaches out for my hand. “He fell

in love with you on sight. By Saturday he was making plans to marry you. Just like that.”

“But he didn’t know me …”

“That’s what I said. But he was adamant. Said he’d been looking for you his whole life; you were

waiting for him to find you or some crazy shit like that.”

I nod my head, a little sorrowful. “I was.” Knowing that moves me, causing tears to form. The

sun’s rays peeping through the clouds are starting to hurt my eyes and I’m squinting to maintain

focus.

“Beth …”

I turn to face him with glistening tears.

“We’ll sort this out.” He gives my hand a squeeze. “Don’t worry.”

“I’m sure we will, but …” I turn away and run my fingers under my lashes to catch the tears

before they fall.

“But what?”

“But what if our wedding has been too rushed?” I turn to face him square on. “Ayden said

something about giving me everything … and I know what he means but I don’t want everything, I

only want him.”

“He knew that. That’s why he made you sign the pre-nup thing.”

“I wanted to sign it,” I declare, unsure where this conversation is going.

He’s laughing. “It wasn’t a pre-nup agreement Beth. He signed everything over to you. Just in

case.”

“Just in case of what?” I cannot conceal my disbelief.

“In case there were legal proceedings and they tried to freeze his assets.”

“What!”

“Everything he owns is yours. Didn’t you know that?”

“No. I didn’t.” I take a minute to consider the implications. “So, what you’re saying is, I can do

whatever I want with his company and his money?”

He looks a little apprehensive, as if he’s said something he shouldn’t have. “Within reason, yes.”

“I didn’t know that. Thank you for telling me.”

“Yeah, right. It was my pleasure but, straight up, I thought you knew?”

“I do now.” From the look on his face, he needs reassuring that I won’t liquidate the whole lot and

catch a flight to South America. “Don’t look so worried Jake. I have no plans to abscond with

company funds.”

“I know that Beth and so did Ayden.”

There is one thing I need clearing up though. “Do you think that’s why he rushed the wedding, to

hide his assets where they couldn’t be touched? Knowing this was on the horizon, his arrest?”

“No. Don’t even think that Beth.” He stands and begins to pace. “He had no idea this deal would

go pear shaped. It was my baby, not his and, besides, he’s not been arrested. He’s helping with their

investigation.” He sits down with a heavy thud. “You’re not some ‘money mule.’ He was desperate to

marry you. I’ve never seen him like this about anyone. I mean ever.”

“Not even with Alenka?”

He stops dead. “Alenka? You’ve met her?”

I nod,

“Then you don’t need me to tell you what he saw in her. She’s a stunner.” He looks apologetically

at me. “I mean, not that you’re not … just in a different kinda way.”

I roll my eyes.

“She thought he was some kind of God. Wanted to go everywhere with him. Even put her career on