by Kay Maree
“Rubi, are you dating him?”
“What?” I shrieked.
“You’re dating him, aren’t you?” Rory’s expression was not one of happiness, but total and utter frustration. He seemed to be trying to tell me something but couldn’t quite get the words to come out his mouth.
“Rory, Aidan and I are just friends, not that it’s any of your business since I hardly know you,” I grumbled, annoyed with yet another guy who thought it was appropriate to mess around with my life.
“You hardly know him, yet you’ve exchanged numbers and you flirt with each other. I saw it the other week when I met him at the museum. Don’t deny it. That smile he puts on your face…I’ve been trying to make you smile for weeks now and not once have you smiled the way you smile when he texts you,” Rory declared.
“I guess I don’t look at you the same way. I like you as a friend…but,” I said, pausing at but. I didn’t want to be rude, however I had to say what I felt.
“This is what I hate. You label me and plonk me into the friends basket, yet Mr Big-shot Billionaire comes along and you’re on a high horse, batting your eye lashes, and flirting with him to get further in life,” Rory spoke in frustration.
“You’re kidding me, right? Rory, I am a multi-millionaire myself. If I needed money I would only have to open my wallet. As for Aidan, we are just friends. Yes, I like him, but we are mature adults, and quite frankly I am insulted,” I spoke through gritted teeth. “What Aidan and I do is none of your business,” I added. I’d had enough of this conversation and shoved everything back into my bag then stood up from where I was sitting on a bench beside him.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he barked.
“Away from you,” I snapped back.
“But the rest of the tour?”
“I don’t care, I can’t stay. I need space.” I stormed from the building. Today’s tour was to one of the many art galleries London had hidden. Secret venues as we called them, where you could explore some of the city’s finest master pieces. As I stepped out into the hordes of Londoners walking the street, I sighed in relief as a cool breeze hit my skin and soothed my frustration. Rory had succeeded in proving himself to be a complete arse, to the point where I almost thought about labelling him in the same basket as my ex, Ollie.
I was several stations away from home and knew very little about how to use the public transport systems here yet. I knew you could travel by London underground, or their awesome double decker buses, which to me seemed more fitting. I found out the information I needed from the locals, and within minutes of me waiting for a bus one had arrived ready to take me home.
I decided I needed to plan a few things before going to Aidan’s tonight. I needed sleep, first and foremost. I was tired, not to mention sore and dazed, from such a long day walking, plus the situation with Rory butting into my business wasn’t helping my stress levels.
The bus reached the London CBD, close enough for me to walk the few blocks back to the apartment. Stepping off the bus the wind hit me, making me realise just how quickly the seasons can change in this city. Sibi had said that before too long the city would be very cold. Winter was certainly on its way, but I hadn’t expected it to be this icy cold at two in the afternoon yet.
“You’re a pretty little thing?” I turned around to see a handsome face smiling down at me. The guy was about six-two, with blonde hair and dark eyes. He certainly wasn’t from London, with the lack of a British accent, but he was still a pretty boy and probably had several girls waiting.
“You’re a pretty thing with your curves, your long brunette hair, and that rack,” he continued. His smile hiding something, but I wasn’t sure what. He stepped closer, grabbing me forcefully around the arm.
“Ouch,” I cried.
“You shout and I’ll make you wish you never screamed.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. Panic was starting to kick in and I did everything in my power to not break down and cry.
“Let me go.” I tried to jerk my arm back, but unfortunately he was too strong and I felt the full force of his strength as he pushed me into the brick wall, my head hitting hard and sending me into a dizzy frenzy.
“You are very pretty,” he continued. My whole body was shaking, and I bit on my bottom lip to stop the tears which were threatening to spill from my eyes. I would never show this man any weakness.
“You scream and I’ll kill you,” he warned. I shook my head in response.
“What…do you…want?” I never got to find out; the last thing I remember was seeing the guy smile before everything went blank.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SIBI
“Oh gosh, please tell me she is okay? I need to know she’s okay?” I pleaded, scared not only for myself, but mostly for her. Rubi was here on a six-month hiatus from her usual life and this fucking shit happened to her.
“She has suffered some pretty horrific injuries,” the nurse at the front desk replied.
“What happened?” I asked.
“According to the police report, she was forced into the alley then she was bashed. We suspect that her attacker most likely would have raped or killed her if she hadn’t been found and brought here,” the nurse remarked.
“But, she is okay, right?” I inquired.
“She has some broken ribs, a broken nose which the plastic surgeon repaired, and she did have slight internal bleeding which we were able to stop; so for the most part she is fine, but for the bumps and bruises. She will need time to heal.”
“Can I go in and see her?” I requested.
“Sure, just try not to touch her., She is in a little bit of pain, but we have her on meds,” stated the station nurse.
I felt like the worst cousin in the world. Rubi had come to the UK chasing adventure, sightseeing, and to just enjoy hanging with her cousin. I, on the other hand, had been so focused on other things; Nate, work, and the fact that I was now twelve weeks pregnant and in need of a friend to talk to. Now I had this, Rubi lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines, bruised and battered, all because some wanker out there decided to prey on her. Rubi, my little cousin, the stunner that most men fell for; gosh knows she has Aidan and Wayne at her beck and call. But to have this happen to her - no woman should have to go through this.
“Rubs,” I sobbed, closing my eyes and fighting back the tears. Her face was so swollen and bandaged up due to the surgery that I didn’t recognise her.
“It’s okay to cry, she’s your cousin, you love her.” I looked up and Nate was standing in the doorway, I couldn’t hold them in anymore and the tears came thick and fast. I hated this whole situation, but I was grateful to Nate for the comfort he offered.
***
AIDAN
The police had caught Rubi’s attacker a few days after the incident. He had abducted another woman and tried to rape the young victim. Unfortunately for him, she just happened to be an off-duty police offer and had a gun in her purse. According to the police report, he had been luring women to him and then bashing them after he’d had his fun. Rubi was still in hospital, and still hooked up to the machines. She slept a lot, and I rarely left her bedside unless I had to. I don’t know what it was, but I felt like I was afraid that if I did leave her something else would happen, and I would be to blame. Sibi was a mess, a big blabbering pregnant mess. Nate was dealing with the fact that he was going to be a daddy soon, and Wayne--well, Wayne was busy watching the company from the office while I worked from the hospital.
“Any change?” Wayne asked.
“Still the same,” I replied as I stretched in the chair that the nurses had placed next to the bed so I could sit beside Rubi.
“I didn’t want to disturb you but I have paperwork for you to sign. And I know you don’t want to hear, or know about it, but the Bray situation has been handled fully, and as of about ten minutes ago you’re now the owner of The Bray Company name,” Wayne continued.
He was correct; I d
idn’t want to hear it. Bray had been a pain in my arse; the crazy woman was foolish to think she could pull that crap with me and get away with it. Her lawyers told her the best thing to do was to cut her losses and offer up the company as part of the collateral damage she’d caused by mouthing off to every tabloid she could get to run her story. The fabricated fucking lie would have me thinking twice before ever dating someone again. The worst part of this whole experience was that I now owned the Bray clothing brand and I didn’t know a single thing about female clothing, and the twenty or so stores that I now possessed were going to go through a heck of a change since I’d have to employ someone to oversee this investment.
“She looks better, the swelling has gone down, and the nose…I’m sure when those bandages come off she’ll be looking smoking again,” he joked.
“Wayne.” I smiled.
“Sorry, you’re just so gloomy and down, that I thought I would joke a little to lighten the mood.”
I wasn’t sure anything could lighten my mood, but I loved that he at least tried to make me feel somewhat happy while I suffered through this fuck up.
***
RUBI
“Will you two shut up…your jokes are bad,” I mumbled, trying to move on to my side without success. “My face is going to look smoking hot regardless,” I added.
Fuck, I had to remind myself not to laugh because my ribs were killing me, not to mention the rest of my body was aching. This bed sucked, and I was hooked up to so many machines that the beeping was driving me slowly insane. The worst thing at this exact moment was the lame jokes coming out of the Aidan and Wayne’s mouths, and the fact that my very own mouth was so dry that every word I forced out felt like I was eating cotton.
“Rubi,” Sibi squealed, running to my bedside. The last thing I remember was being pushed into a brick wall before everything went blank…after that everything was very vague and blurred.
“Hey sweetie.” Sibi seemed joyous, yet somewhat down. I knew that having me in hospital wasn’t something she needed to have on her plate, and I wondered if she partly blamed herself for me being here. However, she had to know that this was a scumbag’s way of asserting his power.
“Water, water, please,” I asked as I licked my dry lips. I hated this feeling of hopelessness. I was so sore, itchy even. I felt like I hadn’t bathed in a while; in fact I could almost guarantee I hadn’t bathed in a while. I blinked a few times, finally bringing my surroundings into focus. I hated hospitals, and all I wanted was to be at home in my own bed, in my familiar surroundings.
“Do you know how worried I’ve been? How stressed? The doctors said they weren’t too sure when you would wake up,” she continued as a tear slipped down her cheek. She leaned in with a cup of water and bent the straw to fit into my mouth, allowing me to sip some water. I could sense others were nearby, but things were still a little blurry, my eyes felt glazed over, and I was unable to see clearly. I wondered how bad it was. How long I had been out?
“What happened?” I asked, a shiver started creeping up my neck as a memory came flashing back. I remembered getting angry at Rory then storming off and catching a bus. When I disembarked from the bus, I met a man who had dragged me down an alley, before…I was going to vomit. I could feel it coming up and I knew there was no stopping it.
“I’m going to be sick.” I slapped my hand over my mouth. A nurse burst through the doors handing me a sick bag. I gripped the bag and then it came spewing from my mouth.
“I’m sorry, but you will all need to vacate the room.” the nurse ordered as she started to check my vital signs. Sibi’s face dropped and I could tell she was worried. The vomit was coming…yuck.
CHAPTER TWELVE
AIDAN
I didn’t know what was happening, she kept passing out and the doctors came across some more internal bleeding when they ran further scans on her. I don’t know who that fucker was, the one that lured her down an alley and attacked her, but he deserved to be fucking killed. I was personally going to see that the douche rotted in jail, although I felt it wasn’t enough to pay for his crime. A man who fucking assaulted a woman to this extent deserved to be fucking shot. She was so young and vibrant, and I was just starting to get to know her; now all of that was put on hold until she recovered.
“How is she today?” Sibi asked as she stepped into Rubi’s hospital room, a giant bunch of red roses in her arms ready to replace the wilting ones in the vase at the end of the bed.
What news could I possibly tell her that she didn’t already know? Rubi was still asleep, but then again the doctors were happy for her to sleep since it meant her body would be trying to heal itself.
“You look tired. How about you head home and I’ll take over for a couple of hours?”
“I can’t Sibi, I can’t leave her,” I responded.
“The doctors said she needs to rest, and you staying around here in the condition you’re in isn’t going to help Rubi. Go home, shower, and have a rest. If I hear anything new, or if she wakes up, I’ll call you,” Sibi said.
I knew she was right; me hanging around here wasn’t the best for Rubi or myself. Besides, I couldn’t have Rubi wake up and see me in such a ruffled mess. I was Aidan Northman, and very much a man who presented himself in a manner fit for someone who worked in the industry I did.
“You promise to call?” I asked.
Sibi turned to me and smiled.
“You really like her, don’t you?” she inquired.
“It’s a little hard not to.”
“You’re such a charmer, Mr Northman. I promise to call. She’ll be fine…she just needs rest,” Sibi said with a smile still on her lips.
I couldn’t believe how much one woman had wound her way into my very being, but I had to say I enjoyed the feelings I felt…every feeling except for these worrisome shakes that rattled my body every time I thought about how some fucking gutless wank of a man could bash a woman.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
AIDAN
One Week Later
“Are you heading back to the hospital?” Wayne asked as I was packing up my desk. I’d only popped into work today to check on a few things. I knew Wayne could run this place without me, and besides that I’d been at the British Museum for most of the week putting together the pieces they’d requested for their latest display.
“Rubi gets released today,” I said, looking up from my task to see him watching me intently.
“What…is something wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing is wrong; I just find it amusing that you have such an interest in one girl. You’re Aidan Northman, and if I remember correctly a few months back you said you wanted to remain a playboy.”
“I didn’t say I was going to marry the girl…fuck no, but I can get to know someone without you giving me the third degree,” I replied.
“Don’t get so defensive. I was purely making a statement. I actually think it’s sweet that you’re so interested in Rubi, she’s a great girl,” Wayne stated.
I got the impression that Wayne really liked Rubi and I knew why, she was an incredible girl, but I hoped he realised that I wouldn’t fight over a girl with him, our friendship meant too much…but he needed to understand just how much she meant to me.
“Can you believe that Nate is completely head over heels for Sibi?” Wayne said, changing the subject. It was clear he could read me, and he wasn’t going to push me on the subject of Rubi.
I chuckled. Nate and Sibi together was both a beautiful sight yet also sickening, because they were our friends and they honestly didn’t believe in keeping their private lives private.
Nate was very open when it came to talking about Sibi, and I wondered if she knew how much Wayne and I knew about their relationship.
“You think they’ll marry?” I asked with a smirk.
“If they do, I’m fucking best man,” Wayne responded.
“Bullshit you are,” I rebutted.
Wayne c
ould push me, but at the end of the day the guy always had my back; he could make me smile and he certainly was my brother from another mother.
The phone rang, drawing in my focus. I picked it up and immediately began to regret the decision.
“What the fuck is going on?” I asked as I heard several people whispering on the other end of the phone.
“Aidan,” the voice replied and instantly I knew what this was about.
“I’m so sorry, Aidan. I need you to come to Greece, your sister’s in a bit of trouble,” Harry spoke.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. I groaned as I ran a hand over my face.
“Shit, give me a few hours and I’ll be there. Stay out of trouble,” I warned as I hung up and looked up at Wayne.
He knew. He could read me and straight away Wayne was jumping on his cell, talking with our legal firm to try and sort out this new mess, while I tried to figure out how the hell to tell my parents that my sister was in fucking trouble. Oh, was she in trouble. I was never sure what to expect when it came to my little sister, but nothing good can start with ‘I’m so sorry Aidan’ and end well.
Fucking Cora Northman.
***
RUBI
Wow, that was a little weird.
“Are you alright?” Sibi asked.
“I’m not sure; I just got an odd voice message from Aidan. Did you know he had a sister?” I questioned.
“Cora Northman. Yeah, she’s a little wild. Why what’s wrong?” Sibi voiced.
“It appears Aidan’s going to be out of the country for a while. Some family emergency that involves his sister,” I replied.
“Nothing’s changed from what I hear, fucking Cora.” Sibs shook her head in disapproval.
Odd that we’d spent so much time together, yet Aidan hadn’t mentioned anything about his family, let alone having a sister. Then again, what did I expect, I barely knew the man. He didn’t owe me anything - I wasn’t dating him, we were simply just friends, two human beings who had been getting to know each other until I ended up in hospital.