His Hired Girlfriend

by Alexia Praks

  “No, we’re not that far yet,” Jayden said. “It’s gonna be sometime away.”

  “You two look great together,” Janet commented. “Would you mind if we take some photos of the two of you?”

  Alex shook her head. At the same time Jayden said, “Go for it.”

  Jayden pulled Alex closer to him and wrapped his arm around her waist. They smiled as the camera flashed continuously.

  “That gown is beautiful on you, Alexandra,” Janet said. “May I ask who designed it for you?”

  “It’s a Chandra’s gown,” Alex said.

  “Ah, I see,” Janet said. “Well thank you both for the interview. It’s been a pleasure.”

  ***

  ALEX GLANCED UP at the chandeliers and the ornate ceiling above her as she sipped her red wine. The wedding reception, being held at one of the main halls at the McCartney’s Hotel – which Jayden had proudly told her that he own half the share –was truly beautiful and elegant. She couldn’t believe she was there, attending one of the biggest weddings in New York, sitting in a five stars hotel, and enjoying a high class meal. She was stoked and was thoroughly enjoying herself.

  She glanced to the man beside her – the man who had made it all possible for her.

  Jayden leaned toward her and whispered, “Aren’t you going to go up?”

  Alex was confused. “Why?’

  “Don’t you want the bouquet?”

  “Oh, is Kelly going to throw it now?”

  Jayden nodded. “Go on. You better go up there.”

  “I don’t think—”

  She was interrupted by Stephanie who was pulling her by the arm to her feet and then dragging her toward the clearing area near the stage. “This is exciting.”

  “Yeah,” Alex responded, trying to keep up with Stephanie’s fast pace.

  They begged their way through the girls and stopped right in the middle of the crowd. The girls shoved and pushed in excitement, shouting, “Give it to me! Give it to me!”

  Kelly, who was on the stage, laughed and then turned around so that her back was to them.

  The men started to cheered and shouted, clapping, urging Kelly to throw the bouquet.

  Kelly said, “All right. Here we go.” Then she threw the bouquet up high. The girls screamed and shoved, their hands in the air trying to catch the beautiful bunch of flower.

  Alex got shoved to the back in the process. She was laughing. She had better get away before she got stampeded by exciting young women competing for a bouquet, she thought. Before she knew what was happening, however, the flower flew straight at her and landed it in her arms.

  Stephanie shrieked, “Alex got it! Alex got it!”

  Another cheer went up. Alex smiled shyly and rushed back to her seat, her heart pumping loud and fast.

  “Well done,” Jayden chuckled, clapping loudly. “So who’s the lucky guy? When’s the wedding?”

  Alex slapped his arm in annoyance. He only laughed back in respond. Then the music started and Sam and Kelly walked to the centre of the dance floor. It was the song ‘Oh My Love’. All eyes were on the newly wed who were slowly dancing and swirling around the floor. Suddenly Tom and Gracie joined in and then Sam’s parents.

  Jayden moved toward Alex who was enjoying the show. He said, “Come on.”

  He took her hand, pulled her to her feet of which she resisted with all her might, and led her to the dance floor.

  “Jayden,” she hissed, panicking suddenly. “It’s only for couples.”

  “We are, aren’t we?” he chuckled.

  “Well, I supposed.”

  On the dance floor, he wrapped his arms round her waist and told her to put hers around his neck. She obeyed and bit her lip nervously. Then he led her along with the slow music. Alex started to relax as she closed her eyes and listened to the beat and lyric of the song.

  “Why are you closing your eyes?”

  Alex flashed her eyes open and said, “Because I can understand it better that way. I loose myself in the song and I can feel it through my body.”

  “Right,” he said and started closing his eyes as well. A moment later he opened them and said, “It’s true.”

  Alex laughed. They danced along and Alex closed her eyes again. Jayden couldn’t help himself and moved his face toward hers. Then he kissed her on the lips.

  Alex gasped and opened her eyes. When she was about to stop the kiss by moving her head back, Jayden had his hand behind her neck, forcing her to stay still. Then he deepened the kiss. His mouth was sweet and warm against hers, and Alex found it hard to resist. To hell with modesty even though she knew everyone was watching them – dancing and kissing in front of the old and the young. She responded to him and tightened her arms about his neck.

  Suddenly the music stopped. A loud applause followed. Alex flashed her eyes open and moved her head back. She saw that indeed all eyes were on them. She flushed in embarrassment as Jayden, grinning for ear to ear, led her back to their seats.

  “I need to go to the ladies room,” she said to him breathlessly and rushed away.

  Once she was safely inside, she sighed and took a deep breath. She started washing her hands, grinning. So this was love then? This wonderful feeling that she was having right now?

  “I see you’re enjoying yourself, bitch,” Britney said at the door.

  Alex gasped and turned to look at the sexy woman advancing toward her in a threatening manner.

  “I am,” Alex said, squaring her small shoulders.

  Britney came to stand in front of her and sneered, “Enjoy it all while you can. It won’t last. Jayden’s not over Sarah yet. He’s going to go back to her. You and I both know that.” She laughed. “He knows her and dated her for five years. And you? You’ve just met him for what? A month or two?”

  Alex gritted her teeth. “I think this is none of your business.”

  Britney raised her hand as in a defensive manner. “Hey, I know this is none of my business. But I’m just warning you before you get your heart all broken cuz you don’t look the kind who can handle such a nasty thing.”

  Alex folded her arms across her chest and said sarcastically, “Well, thank you for your advice. Now if you’d excuse me.” She headed toward the door.

  Britney grabbed Alex’s arm and swung her back. “Admit it! Admit you’re only trying to get Jayden’s money. Admit it’s because she rich. Admit it now.”

  Alex snorted, thrust her arm free. “You think I’d snooped that low? Listen here, Britney. I’m not that kind of girl. I don’t go for a guy just because he has money to throw away. I’m a big girl. I can look after myself. And F.Y.I? I happen to love Jayden for the man he is.” She faked a smile at the woman and turned on her heels.

  “Go back to your slum, bitch, and leave us alone,” Britney growled.

  Alex swirled around and slapped Britney on the face, hard. She felt satisfied indeed to see red fingers mark on the woman’s flawless cheek. “I’m not a bitch, not like you, Britney. And I happen to live in New Zealand, a clean country that’s hardly a slum.” Then with her head held high, she marched off.

  Along the corridor, still breathing heavily from the unexpected encounter, Alex could hear Britney shouting, “I’ve warn you, Alexandra. You’ll see. He’ll go back to Sarah. He’s still in love with Sarah. He will never love the likes of you, you slum bitch!”

  Alex gritted her teeth, holding back tears. God how she wished she could go back and slap that woman silly. As she got closer to the hall, she wondered if perhaps Britney was right. Perhaps Jayden still had feelings for Sarah. Perhaps...

  “Miss?”

  Alex turned to see a handsome receptionist before her. “Yes?”

  “Are you Miss Alexandra Stewart?” the young man asked.

  “Yes I am,” Alex replied, wondering what this was about.

  “This is for you.”

  Alex took the little card he handed to her. She glanced down and saw that it had the name Jayden at the bottom. “Thanks,” she sa
id.

  The young man nodded and left her. Alex read the content of the note.

  Alexandra, meet me at 11pm exactly in room 879.

  Jayden

  She was curious. What could this mean? Why would he ask her to see him alone? Had he planned sometime?

  When she got back to her seat, Jayden was no where in sight. Perhaps he had already gone up to room 879?

  ***

  JAYDEN GLANCED DOWN at the note that he had received from a pretty receptionist only a few minutes ago. What was Sarah doing here in the Hotel? Why did she want to see him? He had thought about ignoring the note and continued on as if he hadn’t received it, but then again this little meeting Sarah had arranged might have something to do with their breakup. Perhaps it will clear everything. Perhaps it was a good idea to her. He wanted resolution. He wanted to ended it completely.

  He came to stand in front of room 879 and then hesitantly knocked on the door. A few seconds later it was flung open, and Sarah stood there, very beautiful and sexy in a short, flimsy night dress.

  “Jayden, you came,” she said, smiling, her eyes shinning. “I was beginning to think that you’d back out. That you wouldn’t come after...” she paused dramatically, her face appeared to have gone very sad. “But please do come in.”

  Jayden stood there hesitantly. Sarah saw this and said, “It’s okay, Jayden. Kyle is not here.”

  Jayden snorted – as if he was afraid of Kyle. The reason why he didn’t know whether to go in or not was because he wasn’t sure what was to come.

  The living area was very elegant and comfortable, and Jayden saw Sarah with her back to him, pouring wine. Of course he did not see that Sarah had dropped a small tablet into one of the glass. She swirled it about until the tablet had dissolved completely.

  “A drink?” she asked softly as she turned round, holding the glasses up.

  “No thanks. So why did you want to see me?”

  “Jayden,” Sarah said, striding toward him, her voice seductive and sad at the same time. “Why are you talking to me like this? We used to be so close. We used to be in love.”

  “Things changed, Sarah. You’ve chosen your path and I want to know why.”

  Sarah gritted her teeth at the reminder. Sure she had chosen Kyle over Jayden simply because she had thought Kyle was better looking and had better prospect in term of money and status, but she was not going to tell him that.

  “Jayden,” she moaned, forcing tears to brew in her eyes. “I’ve made mistakes. I now know that... that I don’t love Kyle after all. I thought I did.”

  She sat on the sofa and put the glass down on the table. She shook her head as she continued, “He’s having an affair with Britney. I just found out. What could I do, Jay?” She looked up at him, her eyes large and glistening with fake tears.

  Jayden couldn’t believe this. Kyle was having an affair with Britney? And all the while he was dating Sarah? This was beyond his comprehension. Damn! And the man had also wanted to rape Alex. Oh yeah. He’d never forget that. The thought that Kyle had used to be his friend was beyond believe.

  Suddenly Sarah started crying hard out that her shoulders were shaking. She reached her hand out for him, begging him to come to her.

  Jayden reluctantly did and sat beside her. She wrapped her arms around him, her head resting against his chest as she sobbed gently. “I couldn’t believe it, Jay. I couldn’t believe it. But you know in a way I am glad because I now know what he’s like. I now know I don’t love him.” She looked at him then, moving her face toward his. “I realised that I still love you, Jay. Sweet heart, won’t you forgive me?”

  Jayden snorted. “Sarah, I don’t—”

  “Oh, Jay, please...” she begged. “I love you. Don’t leave me. Please...” She pulled him toward her and started kissing him. Jayden tried to push himself back up, but she only held onto him tighter.

  The door flung open. There was a loud gasp.

  Jayden glanced up to see in shock Alex standing there staring at them in confusion. “Alex!”

  Alex, trembling, shook her head and murmured, “No. No. No.”

  “Jay,” Sarah said seductively, tightening her arms around his neck and started kissing his cheek. “Come on, babe, tell me you want me. Tell me you love me.”

  Alex’s tear rolled down her cheeks. She felt the world spinning around her mercilessly. Her ears were deafened by the noise of her thumping heartbeat. She was having difficultly breathing. Oh God!

  She stepped backward, her knees barely holding onto her. She turned on her heels and started weakly and sickly running down the corridor.

  “Alex!” Jayden shouted.

  “Jay,” Sarah purred.

  “Alex!” Jayden yelled, angrily unwrapping Sarah from him and headed toward the door. “Alex!” he shouted, racing after her. “It’s not like what you see.”

  “You liar! You’ve always lied to me, Jayden!” Alex shouted back, tears in her eyes. She ran into the elevator and pushed the ground floor button. Still crying, she watched as Jayden got closer to her. The door shut just moments before he reached it.

  Jayden pushed on the down button a couple of times in frustration. The elevator door, however, didn’t open. He swore under his breath and headed toward the stairs. He ran down two steps at a time and headed toward the elevator on the lower floor. He pushed on the down button and the door opened. But not the one that Alex was in. He quickly got in.

  Down on the ground floor, he raced through the main lobby toward the entrance. Outside he saw Alex getting into a taxi.

  “Alex!” he shouted. “Alex, wait!”

  She saw him, closed the door and rapidly told the taxi driver to go.

  Jayden ran after the taxi, shouting, “Alex!” Once he knew he couldn’t catch up, he stopped, standing in the middle of the traffic. He swore under his breath and then growled loudly.

  *****

  CHAPTER 25

  WITH A MURDEROUS expression on his face, Jayden stalked toward room 879. Once there he didn’t even knock, he busted the door open and wasn’t surprised to see Kyle. Not to mention Britney who was sipping champagne. The three people looked at him in surprised.

  Jay headed toward Kyle, his chest heaving and his hands fisted tight. As he got close, he flung his fist forward and smashed it on Kyle’s handsome face. Kyle staggered backward, landing against the wall.

  “Shit man!” Kyle swore, touching his sore, bruised face and bleeding nose.

  Jayden ignored the man he had injured and turned to face the two women. He said coldly, “Stay out of my life. If any of you interfere again, I swear I’ll make your life a living hell. You’ve been warn.” He turned to Kyle, a disgusting expression on his face. “We’ve never been friends.” Then he marched to the door. Just as he was about to leave he said to Sarah, “It really is over, Sarah, you and me. I don’t care why you left me, and I’m glad you did. You and Kyle deserve each other. And just so you know I happen to love Alex.” Then he banged the door shut.

  In the elevator he rested his aching head back, his heart heavy. “Oh Alex,” he murmured under his breath. “I’m sorry all this happen, sweetheart.”

  She’d be home, he was sure, and he’d be there to apologise as soon as all the wedding guest departed and everything taken care of. He started to plan what he should say to her.

  ‘I’m sorry, Alex, this was all a misunderstanding.’ No! That’s stupid. ‘Alex, I’m sorry for what happened. It has all been...’

  His cell rang. He frowned, wondering who would be calling him at this time. He flipped his BlackBerry on and said, “Jayden speaking.”

  “Boss, it’s me.”

  “David? What’s up?”

  The elevator’s door dinged open and Jayden stepped out into the lobby.

  “You have to come and see. It’s about Mr. Marcelo’s Island. Jeff is here with me. We’ve got all the information we needed.”

  Jay noted the excitement in David’s voice. “Yeah. We talked about that. Not buying.”
He headed toward the hall where the celebration of his sister’s wedding was still in full swing.

  “Oh, you’ll change your mind when you see this.”

  Jayden paused, his attention caught. “What is it?”

  “Oil! They didn’t know they have oil under all that rocky, barren island.”

  “Shit!” Jayden swore, his heart nearly stopped.

  “Yeah, shit all right, boss.” Jay heard a chuckle. “You coming?”

  “Yeah. Coming.” Jay flipped his cell off and headed toward his parents.

  “Where’s Alex?” Gracie asked once Jayden was beside them.

  Jayden felt a sudden stab of pain in his chest at the mentioning of Alexandra. “She’s gone home.”

  “What happened?” Gracie asked, frowning when she saw the sorrow in his face that he was having difficulty trying to hide.

  “Nothing. Look I have to go to the office. It’s an emergency. I’ll see you back at home. And tell Alex I’m coming.”

  “Sure,” Gracie said. She watched him as he rushed to the door, wondering.

  Jayden sped his BMW across town to the office on the other side of New York City, wanting to get this thing over and done with so that he could go home and see Alex.

  He expertly did a parallel park in the off street parking lot, got out, locked the door, and raced toward the modern building with the sign McCartney’s Realty Co. As he headed toward the entrance, the security guard saw him and quickly pushed on the open-door button.

  Jayden rushed in as the guard greeted him warmly. “Evening, Mr. McCartney.” Jay nodded and waved his hand as he headed to the elevator.

  In the office he met Jeff and David who excitedly led him to the desk shattering with papers everywhere. They went through every bit and pieces of information about the property Mr. Marcelo intended to sell to them, the property that he had claimed to have a 5 million dollars hotel building but in fact was only a rocky, barren land. But now, however, his people had found oil in the vicinity, of which Mr. Marcelo did not know he had.