BROCK

Jade and I fall into a comfortable routine. It’s ironic how normal it feels to have her in my life. During the days she’s with Josh at the club. They’ve become very close, which I love. They’re the two most important people in my life, so I need them to get along. It’s like we’ve been together for years, not a few weeks. She feels like a part of me now, in every sense of the word. Not having her around just wouldn’t feel right. I love going to bed with her every night and waking up with her every morning.

After collecting her on the way home on Friday, we head back to my place. I’ve been taking the Lamborghini to work since Jade has been spending the weekdays with my brother, it’s just easier. There’s still no word from M. You’d think the longer she stayed away, the more relaxed I’d feel. Sadly, that’s not the case. The silence only seems to put me more on edge with every passing day.

‘I’m looking forward to having you all to myself over the weekend,’ Jade says as we pull into the driveway.

‘Me too, sweetheart.’ I reach for her hand. I’ve been rushing through my work all week just to get home to her sooner.

The moment I press the button to open the automatic garage door, my phone rings. My mood sours when I see my father’s number on the screen. I still haven’t confronted him about paying for his whores with company funds. Or the fact that he’s been screwing around behind my mother’s back for the past eighteen years. I’ll pounce when the time’s right and he won’t know what hit him.

‘Father,’ I say with disdain in my voice.

‘Don’t use that tone with me, boy,’ he spits.

‘What do you want? I’m busy.’ I look over at Jade and smile. I need to get her in the house so I can bury myself in her heavenly pussy. Even though I had her before leaving this morning, she’s still been consuming my thoughts all day. She’s addictive.

‘I need a favour.’ Of course he does. He’d never ring to see how I was, or just to say hi. Prick.

‘What?’

‘I need you to head over to Phelan & Sons to sign the contract. I’m stuck in a meeting.’

‘Can’t you reschedule?’

‘It’s a five-million-dollar account. We can’t afford to screw this up.’ As if that would worry him. It’s only half the amount of the money he’s squandered away on his whores.

‘You should’ve thought of that when you made the appointment,’ I snap. No wonder this business wasn’t growing until I took over. Incompetent fucker. ‘You only have a handful of clients to look after.’

‘Are you going to do it or not?’

I exhale a frustrated breath before I answer. Do I even have a choice? Unlike him, I pride myself on professionalism. ‘What time is the meeting?’

‘Six.’

‘That’s in thirty fucking minutes. I’ll be lucky to make it to the other side of town in this traffic. You couldn’t have given me more notice?’

‘I’ll get my secretary to call them and let them know you’re on your way.’

‘Next time don’t make appointments you can’t keep,’ I hiss before disconnecting the call.

‘I’ve gotta head back out,’ I say pinching the bridge of my nose. ‘It won’t take long.’

‘That’s fine. I can get a start on dinner. Is everything okay?’

‘I’m not leaving you here on your own, Jade.’ I can’t take her with me either. If I drive her back to Josh’s, I’ll never make the meeting. Shit. ‘And yes everything is okay,’ I add, trying not let her see the inner battle I’m having with myself.

*

JADE

Brock was apprehensive about leaving me, but I’m fine being alone. It’s not like M would even know I was here by myself. Nevertheless, he made me promise to keep my phone on me at all times, and left strict instructions to call him if there was a problem. He said he’d keep his phone on during the meeting just in case. He’s worrying for nothing.

Once I get all the food prepped for dinner, I decide to head upstairs to soak in the bath. Brock won’t be home for at least another hour, so it’s too early to start cooking. It’s nice to be able to cook for someone other than myself.

I shove my phone into my pocket before heading to the main staircase. I’ve only climbed the first few steps when someone knocks on the front door. My heart drops into the pit of my stomach. It couldn’t be Brock, and even if it was, he wouldn’t be knocking.

‘Jade, it’s Maxwell Weston. Are you in there?’

Brock’s father. What is he doing here? After the way he treated me the other night, he’s the last person I want to see. My heart is hammering against my chest as I climb a few more stairs.

‘Jade!’ he calls out again, as his knocking intensifies. Even though there’s urgency in his voice I have no intention of answering the door. ‘Please, if you’re home, answer the door, Brock’s been in an accident.’

One hand goes to my mouth and the other reaches for the bannister as my legs threaten to give way. What does he mean? When I’m able to put one foot in front of the other, I hastily make my way to the door.

‘Is Brock okay?’ I ask in a panic as I fling the front door open. My body is trembling and my legs feel like jelly.

Brock’s father eyes me sceptically. ‘You need to come with me,’ he replies, reaching for my elbow.

‘I’m not going anywhere with you.’ I pull my arm out of his grasp.

He pinches the bridge of his nose as his eyes meet mine. That’s a trait Brock has picked up from his father. ‘It’s no secret I don’t agree with this situation between you and my son, but he’s asking for you, so I’m prepared to take you to him.’

‘Where is he? What happened—is he okay?’ I can hear the desperation in my voice. I need to know if he’s going to be okay.

‘I’ll fill you in on the way. We don’t have much time.’

My gut is telling me not to go anywhere with this man, but my heart is screaming to be with Brock. I hesitate only briefly. Closing the door behind me, I follow Maxwell down the front stairs. When he opens the back door of the waiting limousine, I climb in. I scoot over as far as I can so I’m not sitting anywhere near him. He may be Brock’s father, but that doesn’t mean I have to like him.

‘Please tell me what you know about Brock,’ I beg as soon as he’s seated and the limo starts to pull away. ‘Is he hurt seriously? Is he going to be all right?’ A small sob escapes me. Please let him be okay. I can’t lose him, he’s all I have.

‘You’re shaking,’ Brock’s father says as his gaze moves down to my hands, which are clutched in my lap.

‘I just need to know he’s going to be okay,’ I cry, wiping the tears from my eyes.

‘Here, drink this. It will help calm you.’ I watch as he pours a small amount of amber liquid from the crystal decanter into two glasses.

Taking the glass he offers, I drink the liquid down in one gulp. I feel the burn as it slides down the back of my throat, but I welcome it. When I hand him back the glass, I notice his is untouched.

‘Please tell me what happened,’ I plead as my watery eyes meet his. I’m confused when I see a smile play at his lips. There’s nothing funny about this situation. Doesn’t he care about his son?

Panic rises within me as a woozy feeling spreads throughout my body. A tightness stretches across my chest and my breathing becomes laboured. I try to move but my arms and legs are heavy and weighted. I open my mouth to ask what’s happening to me, but the words come out slurred. Everything feels fuzzy. I’ve been slightly drunk before, but it’s never felt like this and certainly not from just one drink.

I hear Brock’s father laugh beside me. ‘You stupid, naive bitch.’

I attempt to turn my head in his direction, but I can’t seem to make it move. This man is worse than I thought. My eyes begin to droop as I struggle to keep them open. I feel like I’m slipping into unconsciousness. I try to call out to Brock, but I can’t. Nothing comes out except a strangled sound.

Just as my eyes are closing, the partition in the limousine lowers.

‘Hello, my dear,’ M says. ‘I knew when the timing was right, I’d get you back. You’re going to regret the day you tried to run from me.’