His Hired Girlfriend

by Alexia Praks

  She threw herself on the bed and groaned. Here she was dressed in a sexy dress hoping the damn man would take notice of her new look. But what did she get? Nothing. Not even an invitation to go for a short walk. Oh yeah! No plan for the day? What the heck did you plan to do for the whole day, Jayden? Sleep? Work? Nothing?

  The next moment she felt somebody sitting on the bed. She widened her eyes, her heart beating faster. Then she felt the warmth of a body near her and a hand touching her hair. Then a voice said into her ear, “Still tired, huh?”

  Alex turned. Her face nearly collided with Jayden’s. She saw him grinning, his eyes a sky-blue colour as he gazed down at her.

  “I’m not that tired. Just nothing to do so...”

  “Well then. Would you like to come on an errand with me?”

  Alex’s eye lit up. “Errand?”

  “I have something I must get, else my head will get chopped off. How about it, partner? We have a mission. It’s important,” he chuckled.

  Alex smiled, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “Um... Yeah. Sure. Why not.”

  “Good,” he said. “Come along then.” He pulled her up by the hands and led her towards the door.

  “Wait,” Alex chuckled. “Not so fast. I need my shoes and bag.”

  “All right. Hurry, hurry,” he chuckled, letting her hands go.

  Alex rushed into the wardrobe, grabbed a pair of Loubouttin peep-toe pumps and her new Gucci hand bag.

  Jayden grabbed her wrist impatiently and led her towards the stairs. His action was so quick that she dropped her shoes. She pulled him back and said, “My shoes.”

  She bent down and picked them up as Jayden shook his head that meant ‘women’. Because she was so damn slow for his liking, once she had gotten control of her shoes, he scooped her into his arms.

  “Oh,” Alex gasped. “I can walk, you know.”

  “Yes, I know you can,” he chuckled, rushing down the stairs carrying her.

  Outside he dropped her into the front seat of his BMW convertible. Alex laughed as he rushed around to the other side and slid in.

  “Comfortable?” he asked.

  “Very much, thank you.”

  “Good,” he said, starting the engine.

  Alex felt exhilarated sitting beside Jayden with the sun warm on her skin and the breeze dancing about her face and playing with her hair. She pulled out her Christian Dior sunglasses and put it on.

  “What do you think?” she asked, turning to him.

  “Beautiful,” he replied, smiling.

  “It is, aye?” she said, giggling. “Quite expensive, too.”

  Jay laughed. He didn’t have the heart to correct her that he was not referring to the sunglasses that was beautiful. He was referring to her.

  Alex couldn’t contain her excitement as the car cruised along the busy streets of Manhattan. She busied herself by enjoying the scenery, her head turning this way and that, pointing to things she found fascination and asking Jayden loads of question of which she was sure he found either very amusing or very boring. She didn’t care, however, as she had decided to simply enjoy herself and have fun.

  She couldn’t believe that New York City was so crowded. The buildings were sky high, the footpaths crammed with people, and the roads jammed with cars. The pollution was probably up there as well, she was sure. She thought the taxi was very cool because they were yellow since taxis back in New Zealand were like normal cars except for the ‘taxi’ sign on the top. Also you couldn’t simply wave and have them stop right in front you. In Dunedin you have to phone the company and tell them to pick you up.

  Jayden slowed the car down along 5th Avenue and parked in front of a tall building famous for its jewellery.

  Alex finally realised that the car had stopped. “Are we here?” she asked.

  He nodded as he got out off the car.

  “That was quick,” she said and got out as well, her eyes still wide at her surrounding like a child lost in wonderland.

  Jayden came to take her hand as he locked the car. Alex grinned, walking beside him. In that instant she felt like she was his real girlfriend, which caused her heart to miss a beat.

  As they headed toward the building, she took her sunglasses off and read the sign on the front door of the building. It said Tiffany & Co.

  Alex’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God! It’s Tiffany, like in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Audrey Hepburn.”

  Jayden chuckled. “Yes it is,” he said, leading the excited and stunned Alex by the hand into the store.

  At the grand entrance a well built man dressed in polished black suit opened the door for them, nodding a polite welcome as they went through. Alex bit her lip with anticipation as her large eyes wandered around inside the huge store. She took in the chic, glamorous décor. She noted the many jewellery on display – some in glass cases and some in the open for people to admire and touch. Her breath was taken away. What a wonderful place to see for her first sightseeing, she thought in excitement.

  A pretty blonde sales assistant dressed in a sleek suite of red and black came towards them. “May I be of assistance?” she asked pleasantly, with a wide smile on her face.

  “I’m here to pick up a package,” Jayden said.

  “Of course, sir. Would you please follow me. We need to get some details.”

  Jayden looked at Alex who nodded at him that she’d be alright alone. Once the sales assistant and Jayden were gone, Alex wandered around, admiring the iconic jewellery store that was for the rich, the powerful and the famous. She simply couldn’t believe she was there. She felt like a million dollars.

  After he had given the sales assistant the details, Jayden returned to the main lounge and sat on the leather sofa. He crossed his legs and rested one arm over the back, wondering where Alex had gone off to. He scanned around the place, pausing here and there to admire the jewellery. Long ago, before he had found out about Sarah and Kyle, he had wanted to buy an engagement ring from Tiffany and Co. for Sarah. But the thought of it now only brought forward a painful jab about his chest that had nothing to do with his health, and he dismissed it immediately.

  He noticed four very smart looking chicks admiring the emerald necklaces were glancing his way – showing him with their body languages that they were available. He dismissed them and turned to his left. He saw Alex, wide eyes and grinning from ear to ear as she stared at a particular piece of jewel.

  “Sorry about the wait, sir,” the sales assistant said, handing him a light blue bag that had the brand Tiffany & Co.

  Jayden took the bag. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, sir. We hope to see you again.”

  Jayden nodded politely and thought – not in a million years.

  “She’s a fine piece.”

  Jayden saw the sales assistant nodding towards Alex.

  “She is,” he commented.

  “Congratulation, sir. The best of luck from us and enjoy your honeymoon.”

  Jayden blinked. He could only smile after he had realised what she meant. She nodded and left.

  He came to stand behind Alex, curious what had snatched her interest so completely. In the show case glass he saw a princess cut diamond ring encased in a platinum band. Whoa! What a piece.

  “All sorted,” he whispered into her ear softly.

  Alex jumped. She turned and glanced up at him. “Hi,” she greeted, smiling and her eyes were shinning with adoration. “Look at that one. It’s so beautiful.”

  “Yes, it is,” he agreed, his eyes on her.

  Alex licked her lips. “I’ve never worn a ring before.”

  “Yeah? Then try it on.”

  “Huh? Don’t be silly.” She chuckled, waving her hand at him.

  “Excuse me,” Jayden called to a sale assistant behind the counter who had been watching them. She nodded and came around to them.

  “Yes sir? Can I help you?”

  “That one,” Jayden said, nodding toward the ring.

  “Jayden!
” Alex hissed.

  “Ah. Excellent choice, sir,” the sales assistant commented.

  Jayden ignored Alex’s frown as he watched the woman inserted a key into the lock and opened the glass door.

  “It’s a Lucida princess cut diamond ring set in platinum,” the woman said as she gently picked up the case containing the ring.

  Jayden picked up the piece of jewel, examined it in his fingers. Once he was sure that he was satisfied it really beautiful, he grabbed Alex’s left hand and slid it onto her ring finger.

  “Oh wow,” Alex exclaimed. She moved her hand this way and that so that the diamond caught the light and sparkled. “It’s beautiful.”

  “It’s a perfect engagement ring,” the sale assistant commented.

  “Oh,” Alex gasped, surprised. This was an engagement ring? Gosh! How embarrassing. “Err, thank you,” she said and quickly took it off. The sale assistant carefully set the ring back in its case and then put that back into the secure glass box.

  “Thank you,” Jayden said to the woman. The sales assistant nodded and returned to her position behind the counter.

  Jayden led Alex towards the door, holding her hand in his.

  “Is that all?” she asked. There was a sense of disappointment in her voice which Jayden did not miss. He knew she wanted to see more of New York.

  “Yeah,” he replied with a secret smile. “That’s all.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  ***

  ACROSS THE HUGE store on the other side stood Stephanie, with bags of Tiffany and Co. in her hands. She watched with interest as Jayden and Alex headed toward the exit. Her eyes zeroed in on the Tiffany and Co. bag in Jayden’s hand. A bubble of excitement erupted within her. It must be an engagement ring. After all, she had glimpsed Jayden putting a diamond ring on Alex’s finger – the one of a kind that was on show in the main glass case in the middle of the lobby, the one that everyone admired but couldn’t afford to buy. Yup – an engagement ring for sure. She couldn’t wait to spread the good news.

  *****

  CHAPTER 19

  ALEX SLID INTO the passenger seat, clicked on her seat belt and then put on her sunglasses. Jayden couldn’t help but admire the way she handled herself – with such elegance and innocence. She looked as though she belonged there, as a part of his world, but at the same time she looked vulnerable and lost. She was very contradictory in his mind, but very desirable as well.

  “Back home then I suppose,” she said absentmindedly.

  Back home? Jayden was very surprised at her choice of words. Did that mean his home was now her home?

  “What?” she asked when she saw that he was looking at her oddly.

  “Nothing,” he replied, starting the engine, grinning. Then he steered the car around and into the thick traffic.

  Alex relaxed, thoroughly enjoying the sun. A moment later she asked, “So what was it?”

  “Hmm?” Jay glanced at his blind spot and switched lane.

  She grinned. “What did you get? Your errand.”

  “Oh. Right. In the bag,” he said, nodding behind him towards the back seat. “Have a look.”

  “Sure. Don’t mind me.” She leaned over and reached for the blue bag. She placed it on her lap and took out two small velvet light blue boxes that had the initial Tiffany & Co. “Ooh,” she made a sound as she opened one box. The gold wedding band shone against the glistening sunlight.

  “Oh whoa,” she gasped. “It’s Kelly’s wedding ring?”

  Jayden nodded.

  “Nice.” Then she turned the box about so that she’d be able to inspect it from all sides without having to take the ring out. She didn’t want to dirty it.

  Jayden laughed. “Do you want one?”

  Alex glanced at him. “Who doesn’t? When I find the right man, of course.”

  Jayden was curious. The right man, huh? He wondered what type of man was her ‘right man’. He had no doubt that she probably had a list of criteria – as all women do.

  “So just curious and all, what’s your ideal man? That perfect man you are looking for?” he asked casually.

  Alex shut the box and placed it back into the bag. “I supposed every girl has her ideal man. Mine is tall but not too tall. Your height is good.”

  Jayden grinned from ear to ear at her comment.

  “He has to be kind. Don’t really care who he is or where he’s from. I mean nationality wise. Not sure about his career though. But I’d love to have a doctor as a husband,” she said, smiling at him, nudging her sunglasses up the bridge of nose with her finger.

  “Why?” he asked, a hint of disapproval in his voice. “A doctor?”

  “Because I’m a scientist. They kind of go together, don’t you think?”

  “No. Does it matter that he has to be a doctor?” He glanced at her.

  Alex pouted her lips. “No, I suppose not.” She shrugged.

  “Besides, aren’t doctors supposed to be so busy that they won’t have time for you?”

  “I think that depends,” she said, starting to feel quite uncomfortable chatting about her ‘ideal’ man. If he asked her enough questions he’d know who her ideal man was, the man she wanted in her life, which was basically him. That was why she had said a doctor instead of a business man. “Let’s talk about something else,” she suggested.

  “Right. What do you want to eat?”

  “Huh?” she glanced at him.

  “What type of food do you want to eat?”

  “Are we going out to eat?” she asked nervously.

  “Yup.”

  She sighed, a happy feeling bubbling up within her. “And I get to choose the place?”

  “Yup.”

  “Cool.” She chuckled. “What about a steak house?”

  Jayden raised a brow at her. “Really?”

  “Yeah, I love steak.”

  “All right.” Then he added, “After I’ve taken you for a cruise around the town.”

  Alex couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She turned towards him and grinned, her eyes large and puppy like. “Really?”

  Jayden chuckled. “Unless you have something else planned.”

  “Oh no,” she replied quickly. “Nothing planned.”

  “Good,” he said, speeding up. “Sorted then.”

  After that everything was a wonderful blur to Alex as she took in the sights of central park and then the Metropolitan Museum of Art as Jayden guided her around, holding her hands and showing her things. When she was exhausted from the heat and from learning and seeing new things, he took her for a late lunch.

  The BMW came to a screeching halt in front of Rob’s Steak House restaurant. Jayden got out and rushed over to open the door for her.

  Alex laughed. “You don’t have to do that.”

  “Ah,” he began. “But I have to. I’m a gentleman.”

  “Yeah. Right,” she scoffed. She felt like reminding him that he was supposed to be gay, but she didn’t have the heart to do so because he looked so pleased with himself. And he was so damn handsome she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She wondered if he knew that he was very good looking and that lots of women would fall for him if he were to just lead them on.

  The restaurant was busy and packed with costumers. Most of the seats were taken though Alex couldn’t help but admire the fact that everything was run very smoothly. There was no rush or panicked kind of atmosphere like most restaurants she had been to when it was busy. Every staff member here knew what they were doing and did so efficiently.

  A waiter showed them to their table which was situated near the window that overlooked central park. He even pulled out a chair for Alex, and she thanked him politely. Then he poured them each a glass of water and then showed them the menu.

  “Would you like some wine today?” he asked.

  Jayden glanced down the wine list and choose one. The waiter jotted that down and then left, telling them that he’d be back in a few moments.

  “Wow. I don’t know what to have,” Al
ex commented, biting her lip as she scanned through the menu.

  “I thought you wanted steak. Just go for a steak,” Jay said, leaning back in his seat.

  “Yes, I want steak. All right, I’ll go for the steak.” Decision made, she shut the menu.

  The waiter reappeared with the wine. He expertly poured a bit into a glass for Jayden to taste. Jayden nodded his approval and then the waiter poured more into his glass.

  He turned to Alex and poured some into her glass as well.

  “Oh. Thank you,” she said to him, smiling.

  “You’re welcome,” he replied and left them after he had taken their order.

  Once they were alone again, Alex said, “I like this place. It’s nice.” The people, she thought, were very pleasant and they all seemed to be dressed immaculately. At the door she saw two people came through. It was them, the blonde hair woman and the handsome man who she had met at Buon Appetito. She hoped they wouldn’t see her and Jayden. She hoped like hell they wouldn’t recognise her.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but all our tables are taken. If you both could please wait a moment,” one of the waiters said to them.

  The blonde muttered something under her breath and folded her arms across her chest in irritation. Then her eyes met Alex’s.

  Alex was sure she could see the hazel eyes narrowing as if there was a sense of recognition. She quickly looked away, pretending she hadn’t noticed the woman. She wasn’t pleased when she could see the blonde heading toward their table from her peripheral vision.

  The blonde stopped right in front of them. She glanced at Alex and then turned to Jayden, smiling pleasantly as if they were old friends.

  “Jayden, darling,” she said brightly.

  Alex widened her eyes in shock. The blonde knew Jayden? Oh my God! What a small world this was.

  She watched Jay who looked at the blonde with a cold, masked face. “Sarah,” he said.

  That was when Alex felt the big hole in her stomach. Her heart fluttered as she realised that Jayden was very tense. She could see that his hands were gripping into a fist and that his chest was heaving heavily.