Forbidden Attractions: A Contemporary Romance Box Set, page 15
"Shoot, I'm all ears."
So, I gave him the short version of what I had noticed, promising him to send whatever information he needed via mail. Being the good friend that he was, he agreed to the job, and I ended the call.
I breathed out a sigh of relief and turned around on my chair. Now that that was out of the way, I could focus on the other matter, Flora.
I packed up the necessary documents I needed for my trip and walked out of the office. "Book a flight going to Amsterdam in the next two hours," I ordered, without glancing at my PA. I headed for the elevator.
I needed to make things right with Flora and doing that meant traveling over there and getting her an expensive gift. Women loved that shit. And it worked all the time.
I headed straight for the house to pack some of my things and was surprised to see Alexa home. She was meant to be at her boutique by that time. I was not ready for any bitching that afternoon.
So, it came as a surprise when she did not do as I expected but rather the opposite.
"You're home early, darling. Hope all is well?" she asked sweetly.
I narrowed my eyes at her, trying to decipher the look in her eyes. "I'm going for a business trip," I replied curtly.
She clapped her hands in excitement. "Really? Can I come with?"
Now, I was confused. We had barely seen each other for the past two months, and suddenly she wanted to follow me on my supposed business trip. Something was certainly going on. "What are you up to?" I asked her.
She raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Oh, come on. I was just pulling your leg. You know I don't like traveling," she said.
I looked at her for a while and shook my head, then walked away. It was a waste of time trying to understand Alexa. She was a bundle of a mess at times, like now.
I packed the necessary things and walked out of the house.
"The airport," I said to the driver curtly as I entered my posh car.
Alexa
I hummed to myself as I painted the last toenail left. I had decided to go for a cool pink. It had been such a long time that I'd taken a day to myself. Just for myself. So, I decided to stay back from work and pamper myself silly.
I was about to put my favorite song on when Mike walked in, so I decided to tease him. The expression on his face was priceless and had made me laugh again and again anytime I remembered it. I laughed so much that I had cried. And couldn't stop crying.
The last time I had cried that hard was when he admitted to cheating on me. I cried for all the effort I had put into our marriage, I cried for being so blind in love, I cried for always believing every word the bastard told me. I cried so much that I could not cry anymore.
The change in Mike was drastic and I sometimes still found it hard to believe he was never what I thought him to be. I had even been avoiding talking to my father recently because of him. I knew I would break down just from hearing his voice and I didn't want to add to his troubles. Besides, I had added enough to my plate.
That being Jason. Jason was sudden and unexpected. He was everything a girl should have: handsome, cool, loving and even understanding. Just from the crazy amount of time I spent thinking about him, I knew how deeply infatuated I was with him. Though, I was not sure he reciprocated my feelings. And even if he did, I was not sure I wanted to go down that path again. I liked the way we were. Scratching the itch whenever it itched. And it was itching really bad almost all the time, which explained why we were always going at it, and not getting tired in the least.
I sighed as I felt my core twitch in response to my thoughts. Even my subconscious knew and recognized the Jason treats I always received on a daily basis now. I smiled and pushed myself to my feet, admiring my freshly painted toenails.
I inspected them for some seconds, making sure I was satisfied with what I had done, and then I walked straight to my computer to check the feed. I didn't want to check it all the time, so by the time I did, I'd have a lot to go through. And I did have a lot.
My ass sank into the chair opposite my computer as I began to dig through the footage for dirt. And I got the greatest shock of my life. I watched till the end and blinked a couple of times, trying to make sense of what I had just seen.
Mike, unfortunately, did not fall into the trap I had set for him. What had shocked me was seeing Jason on the feed instead. He had come in to drop off some files, which was totally normal until he began looking around as if to check for Mike and make sure no one was coming into the office. Then he went and stuck a flash drive into Mike’s computer and looked to be copying some documents. Why in the hell would he do that? What was really happening here?
I sat dazed and pondered the issue for a while, the computer going into hibernation by itself. I thought hard and wondered what was going on. Why did Jason look like he was just stealing from Mike? And what could Jason, a PA, want with Mike's files?
Something was certainly up. I stood and put on my special detective cap. I think it was time for some investigation. I had been too quiet and accepting of things lately. So, the first thing I did was to start from the very beginning. Who dropped in the envelope with the pictures?
I had been so preoccupied with a lot of dramas lately that I had not even stopped to ask myself that question, which was so unlike me. Max, the security guy downstairs, had claimed it was a friend of mine. And I was certain I had no male friends who knew me well enough to go to the trouble of helping me find out what a loser my husband was.
I knew that attraction had a great part to play in my relationship with Jason, but now I had cause to second-guess myself. He approached me - okay the wrong choice of words since I was the one to bump into him - but the point was he came onto me, minutes after I came out crying about my husband's infidelity. Being the gentleman that he was, it was quite strange that he acted that way - and now this.
I was going to confront him about this. Something was certainly up with him. Next, I decided to call my dad and check up on him. I picked up my cell phone and dialed his number, and soon it was ringing.
"How's my favorite girl doing?" he boomed through the speaker, causing me to smile widely.
"Dad, I'm your only girl," I replied grinning. Hearing his voice made me realize just how much I had missed him. I should have kept in touch more.
"How are you so sure about that?" he said teasingly. Or wait, was he teasing?
I paused for a second there. "You now have a girlfriend?" I asked
His voice boomed in my ears with laughter, and I could almost see his eyes squeeze at the corners as he wiped off tears. "Unfortunately for them, no, I've not gotten one yet. Their resumes are not looking promising, so I'm still searching," he said.
I smiled fondly into my phone and shook my head even if he couldn't see me doing it. "When will you change, dad? Always approaching life like a businessman." I teased back. "How is business by the way?" I asked.
"As perfect as ever. Are you fine, baby girl?" he asked.
I knew it. I just fucking knew it. Nothing passed his attention. "Yes, why?"
"Nothing. It's been a long time since we chatted like this, and I know something is bothering you. So, spit it out."
"Dad," I paused, thinking on what to say. "It's normal to have marriage troubles, right?" I asked softly, deciding to go for a sliver of truth.
"Yes, it is. It helps brings couples closer at times or drives them apart. Is there something I need to know, baby girl?"
"I- I'll tell you when the time is right dad. I promise," I said, dropping it at that. "But I hope things are going smoothly just as you said?" I prodded, wanting to get a whiff of what was going on in his company.
"Yes, baby, everything is fine over here at the moment. I had a few issues some months back, but it's all resolved now."
That piqued my interest. "Issues, you say? What sort of issues?"
He chuckled lightly. "You have never been curious about my business this much, what's changed?" he asked teasingly before continuing. "Some group of fraudsters gathered together and was trying to root me out of my own company, and they provided some convincing evidence. But you know your father, I was able to beat them at their game and take the reins back into my control," he said boastingly.
Today was a day of shocking news. I gave a vague reply, laughing awkwardly and ended the call afterwards.
I had been held down in a loveless marriage because I was too weak. Just like the gullible person I was, I had believed Mike hook, line, and sinker. He must have known that my dad was my weak point and had used it to trap me in the marriage. And here I was having an affair when I was not supposed to, making my life more complicated than it already was.
I had enough dramas to last a year, and I was sure I would make serious money if I sold my story to a filmmaker. Could this day get any better? Here I was hoping for a drama-less, stress-free day and look what I got instead.
Alexa
My plan was to call Jason and confront him about what I had seen. And if my hunch was right, then he was the one who had anonymously dropped the envelope, and he had a lot of questions to answer. I decided I'd tackle Mike when he got back from his mistress. In the meantime, I had to go for my appointment with the house dealers that morning. It was high time I started taking action. That old saying about grabbing the bull by its horn. Well, I was going to do that - ASAP.
I got dressed and didn't bother with make-up. I was not in the mood to plaster some mud on my face today. I had the intention of going to Jason's condo after I was done looking for an apartment. I needed answers, and I needed them now.
I grabbed my keys and met the house dealer, who was a young woman like myself. She was all bubbly as she showed me different places. By the time we were done, I was fucking tired. And I still didn't find any that I had liked. Tomorrow was another day though, I tried to comfort myself.
I sat in my car and pulled out my phone to call Jason. The phone rang for a while before entering voicemail. I decided to try it again, and this time, he picked up.
"Hey baby, I was just thinking about you. Missing me already?" he said.
I couldn't help but smile at the excitement in his voice. "Yeah, you could say that. I would like us to talk though. You home?" I asked.
He paused for a beat. “Not at the moment but you can come around, I'll be almost home. Say like fifteen minutes away," he said. "Is everything alright?" he asked softly.
I closed my eyes and tried to block out the tone of concern in his voice, telling myself not to allow it get to me but failing miserably. "Yeah, everything is perfect. Or it will be when I see you," I replied.
"Alright, I can't wait to see you too," he said before hanging up.
I dropped my head on the steering wheel and shut my eyes tight. This was getting fucking complicated. I didn't sign up for this. I didn't sign up for these damn feelings Jason was triggering in me. It was obvious. I was falling hard and fast even when I knew I had to keep my head in the game.
I sighed and raised my head, turning the key in the ignition to start the car. I drove out of the parking lot toward Jason's. In no time, I was at his place, standing in front of his building. I was about to accuse him of something big, and it could go wrong, and I was scared I would lose him, but at the same time, I needed answers.
So, there I was, waiting for the elevator. It was taking longer than usual today, and I wondered what was happening. I tucked my hands and felt for the flash drive that I had put in my purse. It was safely lying there. I was even more nervous than the first time I came here. One way or the other, I knew shit was about to go down. I shifted on my feet as the elevator was taking forever to come. Then I felt a presence behind me.
"If it isn't my favorite girl," a voice said.
What was it with everyone calling me their favorite girl? I smiled and turned to look at the owner of the voice. It was Jason. "Jason," I said, moving in to hug him.
I pulled back almost immediately. "I thought you'd be home by now," I said.
"Yes, that's true. But I got delayed when I ran into an old friend," he said. "Have you been here for a long time?"
"I just got here actually, and these darn elevators are taking forever," I replied, and turned back when I heard a sound indicating the door of the elevator was sliding open.
"Your chariot awaits you, milady," he said in a fake British accent.
I burst out laughing at how ridiculous he sounded as we moved into the elevator, exchanging small talk while watching the floor numbers click up. Then suddenly a grinding sound of metal against metal resounded, followed by the elevator abruptly stopping, which almost caused me to fall. Jason reached out in time and held me, and I leaned in on him for support.
"Thank you," I gasped, balancing myself and leaning away from him. I didn't trust myself around him, especially when I was in his arms. That was when it just clicked in my head. "Jason?" I called out.
"Yes, Alexa?" he answered, gazing at me.
"Did the elevator just stop?" I asked in disbelief. Surely, I was not trapped in an elevator with Jason when I was trying my best not to allow him to touch me. We had certainly proved that we couldn't keep our hands to ourselves in enclosed places.
"Yeah, we've been having some mechanical issues with the elevator for the past week now. But don't worry, we'll be out in no time. The engineers are usually fast in repairing it, and we'll be out in no time, don't worry," he said, trying to alleviate my fears.
I nodded and remained silent, while he punched the red button on the panel for the emergency response repeatedly. I checked my cell phone for coverage, but there was none. I moved to the far side of the elevator, standing directly opposite Jason and away from him.
He noticed this and arched his eyebrows in question. "Okay. Looks like we're going to be stuck here for some time. That's enough time for you to tell me what's going on with you."
It was at that point I knew I was going to confront him right there and then. I couldn't hold it back anymore. My clothes were starting to stick to my back from all that heat, and my legs were aching from all the walking around I’d done earlier. So, I slumped onto the ground and made myself comfortable.
He did the same, folding up the sleeves of his shirt to reveal his muscular arms. My eyes lingered on them before I glanced away, swallowing loudly.
I cleared my throat to start. "Who are you?" I asked. "And why are you stealing from Mike?”
His features went pale, and he looked deep into my eyes for a long while before he decided to grace my question with an answer. "I was going to tell you about it," he replied, still looking into my eyes as if searching for answers.
"When do you suppose you was going to do that? And what is it you were going to tell me by the way?" I asked, getting angry.
"Flora," he said quietly, moving his gaze away from mine. "Everything started with Flora."
Who was Flora? His girlfriend? Sister? Or another fuck buddy like me? He said her name like he loved her. And I think I had heard that name recently. My brain scrambled with different thoughts, trying to make sense of that name.
"Who is Flora?" I finally asked.
He sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his hair, making it look disheveled and sexy.
"Flora is your husband's girlfriend," he replied curtly before palming his face.
"What?" I gasped. Now that he had mentioned it, I could actually remember Mike blowing up about a certain Flora. But what did that have to do with Jason? I wondered.
"Okay. What does that have anything to do with you?" I shot at him.
"She's my cousin.”
Alexa
There was dead silence for at least a full minute before I gasped. "What?!" That was the only thing I was capable of saying. To say I was stunned was the understatement of the year.
"What do you mean the woman my husband has been cheating on me with is your cousin?" I asked, this time raising my voice.
He looked defeated and refused to meet my eyes. "Flora is my cousin from my mum's side of the family and is very close to me.”
This was real. He was telling the truth. "So, is this a family affair to fuck both husband and wife?" I bit out angrily.
He raised his head to look at me with an incredulous expression. "Of course not. How can you say that?”
"So, how would you explain this?"
"I'm getting there," he said. There was an edge to his voice.
"Mike had been with Flora long before he met you. I can still remember how Flora was like after the first few times they saw each other. She was happier and was always talking about him." He paused for a minute. "Flora's parents died in a car crash when she was little, and she came to live with us. So, we practically grew up together, and I see her as the younger sister I never had, even if she is my cousin. Unknowingly to us, she had been affected by the accident too, and it had slowed down a part of her brain a bit. Though she acted her age most of the time, her flaw was she trusted easily and saw the good in people, always, no matter what. There was a time in school a mean girl had pushed her away, and she fell to the ground, and just as I was running over to help her, I saw her smiling and giggling at the girl, thinking they were both playing. She was sad for a while but came out of her shell later on, but it was a little too late. Her friends that were her age had made cliques, and she was not fitting in. So, I had been her only friend since then. Which made her shy to talk to other people. I was surprised and happy for her when she came around one time and was talking excitedly about a man she had just met."
He swallowed hard like it was physically painful to him saying the story out loud. "He wasn't married at the time, because I had him checked out. He had other flings though, but they were nothing serious. I didn’t fully understand their relationship so I could not butt in, I tried my best to be there for her though. Even if I failed at the end of the day." He sighed sadly. "She was falling for him fast, and I could see it. He had gotten her a place of her own and came around when he could even though he was based here, in New York. Then one day, she came running to me. Jumping and excited. I wondered what could have made her that happy. And she broke the news that he had proposed to her." He smiled at the memory. "I smiled at her and hugged her, congratulating her. Although I found something odd. There was no ring. Knowing the way she was, I prodded further for more details, but she closed up. Some months later, I noticed a change in her, so I went over to her place and saw her crying. I thought she had hurt herself, at first, but was able to uncover that he was already married. And she just discovered she was pregnant."
