Chapter 20
The Morning After
Aaron
I opened my eyes slowly, trying my best to avoid the bright light of the room. As my eyes adjusted, I started to figure out where I was. I sat up in a hospital bed with an IV stuck in my arm. Why the hell am I here? The last thing I remember is talking to Quinn and Mark around the table. I barely drank anything so I could spend the night with Cass… Where is Cass? A moment of panic takes over me and I catch a glimpse of a person next to me. It’s Cass snuggled up under a blanket asleep. It was light outside, how long have I been here?
Moving about must have awoken Cass “Aaron?” Her eyes lit up and she burst into tears. She jumped onto my bed and gave me a heart-warming hug. “Baby, I was so scared. How do you feel?”
I scratched the back of my head “I feel exhausted… What happened, why am I here?” Cass held my hand tightly “Someone spiked your drink with Rohypnol, we don’t know who and we don’t know why. But you’re safe. The doctors will let you out today and they say it will take a day or two to feel normal again.” So many thoughts were flying through my mind. I was drugged? Who the hell would drug me? How did they drug me? I need answers.
I gave Cass another big hug “I’m okay, babe. It’s going to take more than that to get rid of me.” I felt her arms tighten around me “We can’t let this distract us from the wedding. Lets get out of here!”
Cass broke the hug and gave me a kiss on the lips “Quinn, Avery, and your parents have gone to grab some breakfast. They’re bringing us something back. We’ll finish our food and show everyone you’re okay and then we’ll head back to the hotel.”
Cassandra paused for a moment “We haven’t seen Mark in a while. He was here earlier to check up on you, but he’s disappeared.” I leant back into the bed and tried to process everything. I won’t let this ruin the wedding or the holiday. Tomorrow is another day and the wedding is only a few days away.
Kenneth
After that debacle last night, I needed a nice rest. I brought that cheap escort back to the hotel room so I could get my moneys worth out of her. I kicked her out the second the deed was done. I can’t be having her lingering. I paid her enough to keep her mouth shut.
I think I got away with it. Aaron won’t remember a thing, Quinn wasn’t there and Mark was too drunk to notice anything odd. He probably doesn’t even remember me going over to the table. I’m going to keep my head down and stay out of everyone’s way so I can fly under the radar. I don’t want to raise anyone’s suspicion.
I’m not done yet though, it’s time for the grand finale. I spent all of last night planning and plotting. This plan is going to work and then Cassandra is mine. Why can’t she just see how good I am for her? On the day of the wedding day I am going to ruin everything!
I was interrupted by a loud knock on the door, I shout out “Who is it? I’m busy. Go away.” The follow up knock was even louder. I stormed over to the door, as I opened it I screamed “I said I’m busy!” Before I could process what was happening a fist connected with my jaw and I slammed into the ground. What the hell just happened? I tried to turn over to look at who was attacking me and I felt a swift kick to my side. That’s going to be a broken rib for sure. I screamed out “What do you want? I can pay. Just please stop!”
The beating stopped and I heard laughter… I know that laugh. Mark’s voice made my ears ring “You know why I’m here you pathetic little fuck!” Another kick to my side took the air straight out of my lungs. I curled up trying to defend myself from the onslaught “Please, have mercy! Why are you attacking me?”
Mark dragged me to my feet and sat me down on a chair. He sat on the edge of the bed “You know why I’m beating your ass you slimy little shit.” He stood up again and took a full swing at my face, connecting with my nose. Blood exploded everywhere and I cried out in pain. “You think you’re real clever, don’t you? Well it wasn’t hard to add all the pieces together you dumb fuck!”
Mark sat back down on the bed again “I did some digging, last night was a bit too dramatic for my tastes. You destroyed an incredible evening for two amazing people because of jealousy and pettiness. Grow the fuck up you man child.” I tried to fight my case “I have no idea what you’re talking abo—” Mark swung furiously and hit me under the jaw sending a tooth flying across the room. “Don’t talk.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath “I thought it was strange that you came out of the blue with an amazing business proposal. I didn’t look too hard into it because it was a really attractive offer. I was blinded and didn’t see your sick, ulterior motives.”
Mark scratched the back of his head “Before you poisoned my business partner, my friend. He told us about your little stunt with Cassandra.” Mark stood up again, I could tell he was furious. “In what fucked up world, do you think it’s okay to fire a magnificent young lady, just because she won’t play along with your sick, manipulative games?” He paused for a moment “The funny thing is, I had my assistant do some digging to track down the series of events that lead you here today. Do you remember Amelia? She is very fond of you, in fact she jumped at the opportunity after your disgusting performance in my office. If she told me the way you behaved on that day, I would have dragged you back into the building and beat you senseless there and then.”
Mark rubbed his knuckles, they were bruised for sure. I could tell they were stinging because my face sure was. “Amelia rang your office to try and chase down this mysterious client. Out of interest, she asked your assistant what your schedule looked like for that day. Wouldn’t you know it, the room was booked in your name. That’s a bit strange, isn’t it? I’m starting to think something more sinister is going on here… It’s funny how easy it is to get information about you from people that despise you. Which seems to be every one I’ve spoken to.”
Mark grabbed some ice from the cooler and applied it to his knuckles “When she didn’t turn up, did it hurt? Good. You don’t deserve an ounce of respect or happiness.” Mark took a deep breathe “So what does big ol’ Kenneth James do now after he’s be abandoned in a hotel room? He fires that poor girl, takes her car, takes her home, and doesn’t give her any time to find a new job or even a recommendation.” Another punch connected with my face and I felt a hard blow to the stomach, making me gasp for air again.
Mark ran his fingers through his hair “You’d think after everything you’d done to that poor girl, you’d leave her alone. But no. You are that petty, that pathetic, that you had to come and ruin her happiness once again. The really sad thing is you put a lot of time and effort into all this. Did you think you would get away with it?” Mark tipped my chair over and I slammed into the ground.
“How convenient that you turn up with this amazing business proposal, just when she gets engaged to Aaron. And the way you wormed your way into getting an invite to the wedding by taking such a big cut? So pathetic. Look at you. How do you even live with yourself?”
Mark spat on my face “Then we land in Jamaica. Everyone is having a wonderful time, the parties are incredible. Then you go and fuck all that up! What the fuck is wrong with you? You need to be locked up you fucking psycho.” Mark walked over to the bed and sat down again “I had a look at the agency Quinn used to hire the strippers. Strangely enough, that girl you just so happened to point out wasn’t even a stripper. She works for a local escort service, doesn’t she? I guess the money you paid her wasn’t enough to keep her mouth shut. She spilled the beans on everything.”
Mark kicked me again in the back “What did you think would happen? You drug Aaron and get an escort to dance all over him. Then you run off to fetch Cassandra like a pathetic little weasel. Even if they fell for your stupid plan, she wouldn’t go near you. Why would she waste her time with some psychotic, manipulative asshole like you? What is going on in that fucking head of yours?”
He walked over to my desk and saw my journal. He picked it up and read the last pages. Fuck. “You’re going to jail you sick fuck. What the fuck is all this? You were planning on kidnapping her? Then what? You’re a real piece of work. The police will love this little piece of evidence. Speaking of which, they should be here in a few minutes. I rang them before I came in here and beat you senseless. You’re going away for a long time after all this.” He walked over to me and dragged me to my feet by my hair. Then he threw me onto the bed.
I watched as he walked out the door and stood in the hall way. I can’t move, what do I do? I don’t think I’m getting out of this one… I could hear shouting down the hall way. I see Mark point into the room in the corner of my eye, he speaks out “He’s in here.”
Mark handed them my journal, my life is in there. I am so fucked. All my plans are out in the open. Officers storm into the room and cuff my hands behind my back. They take me down the stairs and drag me through the lobby like some sort of clown. Everyone is watching me, this is so humiliating. They stuff me into the car and start to drive. One of the officers turns around and smirks at me without saying anything.
Aaron
Cass’ phone started to ring and Mark’s name popped up, she answered without hesitating “Hey Mark, Aaron’s fine. He’s right here.” Cass passed the phone over to me “Aaron, is that you?” I replied “Yeah, I’m okay. Do you know what the hell happened to me?” There was a brief pause “It’s a long story, is it just you and Cass there?
I cleared my throat “Yeah, just us two. Fill me in.” Mark took a big breath “Put me on speaker so Cass can here as well.” Mark proceeded to fill us both in. He explained in detail what Kenneth had been doing and what he had planned. Then he told us about the police dragging his dirty ass through the lobby whilst he was coughing blood all over the place.
Mark finished the story and there were a few seconds of silence between all of us “Thank you, Mark. I truly cannot thank you enough. I don’t think we could handle going through something like that again.” Cass had started to tear up and I knew she wanted to cry. Mark replied “You’d do the same for me, I’ll leave you two alone. It’s a lot to process. Just know that we’re all here. No doubt this news is going to spread quick. See you later.”
The phone cut off and I grabbed Cass’ hand and dragged her onto the bed bringing her in for a cuddle. “Nothing will ever keep us apart. He’s gone. Nobody can hurt us anymore” She burst into tears “I am so glad you’re okay. I love you so much, Aaron.” I kissed her on the forehead “I love you too, Cass. It’s all over. Don’t let this ruin our getaway. We’re getting married in a few days!” Cass snuggled in closer and fell asleep. I copied her and dozed off.