“No please,” I get closer to him and take his hands in mine.
“Please I beg you, don’t leave me.”
“Alanna I have no choice,” he loosens my hands from his and he walks swiftly away into the bedroom. I watch as he goes, wondering if that was the last time, I will ever see him.
“Miss Hart,” I look over and see Jackson who is standing at the front door holding a white piece of paper.
“Yes,” I say as I walk over to him.
“The car is here, are you ready?”
“Almost, can you give me a minute?”
“Of course,” I walk over to the kitchen and see Maggie sipping a coffee as she leans against the kitchen counter.
“Miss Hart, you will be late for your exams.”
“No I have time. I just wanted to say how amazing you are.”
“For what,”
“For the way you handled things, after Edward left you.”
“I just did what anyone would.”
“No you did more, I know someone who went through the very same thing and his mother chose a different way.”
“Who do you know that went through that?”
“Adrian, his dad left him when he was two and his mother blamed him. She became addicted to drugs and alcohol, she never cared about him, unlike you who put everything on hold, so you could look after your daughter, I wish that Adrian had someone like you.”
“I didn’t know that Mr Black went through that. Tell me dear, how old he is?” “Twenty-five,”
“I see.” Maggie looks as if she has one million things going on in her head and she looks very worried and confused. I notice as she tries to take this in, that it is almost as if she has something important to say.
“Maggie what’s wrong?” I say moving closer to her.
“Nothing dear, where in London is Mr Black originally from?”
“I am not sure exactly, but I know that it was a very rough area.”
“I see and what was his mother’s name?”
“Alice, she is an American.”
“And his father what was his name?”
“I don’t know, is there something more to this? Do you know something?”
“Maybe, no I don’t, go on get to your exam.”
“Maggie if do know something, I need you to, please tell me.”
“Miss Hart I don’t really know for sure, but would you do something for me?”
“Yes anything.”
“Would you ask Mr Black about his father?”
“Do you know him?”
“No, but I want to know about him. I think that I have heard of him and his mother Alice, tell me dear what does Mr Black look like?”
“He is tall and has light brown hair and the most gorgeous green eyes.”
“Green eyes,”
“Yes, oh wait; I have a picture of him on my phone.”
I reach into my sweater pocket and take out my phone. I flick through all the images until I come across the one of Adrian. Before I show Maggie the picture, I take a second to have a look at it again myself. I had to be so sneaky to get this shot of him; He was standing by the dinner table and he was pouring a glass of water. His hair was like silk and his eyes were glowing, he was dressed in a dark blue suit with a white striped shirt. He looked so amazing that I just stood there for ages looking at him. He did not see me so I took out my phone and took his picture. I had asked him several times for one, but he always said no. After I stare at the photo for what seems likes hours, I finally show it to Maggie. As she claps eyes on Adrian, she gasps and gives the phone immediately back to me.
“Maggie, what’s wrong?” She is staring blankly and is not saying word. I move closer to her and again ask her what is wrong.
“That’s Edward,” I am confused, what does she mean? Does Adrian remind her of Edward? On the other hand, is there something more?
“Maggie that’s Adrian,”
“Yes I know, but he is the spitting image of Edward.”
“How is that possible?”
“Miss Hart, I think that Edward may be Mr Black’s father.”
“No, how can he be? Adrian’s dad left him when he was only two. No there has to be another reason, he looks like him.”
“Miss Hart there is no other reason Edward Black is your boyfriend’s father.” I cannot take all this in, I feel I need to sit down or I will pass out. I take a seat and I kindly ask Maggie for a glass of water.
“Did he ever mention Adrian to you?”
“Yes, he told me he had a son and that he decided it was best for him to stay with his mother, when they separated.”
“But they never separated he just left them, this means that Adrian has a sister?” I say not believing the words that are coming from my lips.
“Yes Emma Black is his sister.”
“I can’t begin to process this, how can this be? Does Adrian know?” I say taking a long sip of water.
“No, I don’t think he has a clue to be honest.”
“Where did he find you?”
“I work for an agency who supplies chefs and cleaners and nanny’s that type of stuff. Mr Black called and asked for the best chef and let us face it the money is great and I really needed it. I must say that the name got me thinking, but I never expected all this.”
“He will be amazed when he finds out, he has always wanted a real family and now he can have the chance of that, with Emma.”
“I would love it for them to meet, but Miss Hart I think that it will be hard on them at first, so we must be there for them, do you understand?”
“Of course, this is overwhelming to think that you were here all this time and you knew his father and you are mother of his sister.”
“I know, it’s such a small world and I really hope that Emma and Mr Black can have some kind of relationship.”
“I am sure he would want that.”
“What’s he like?”
“He is a complicated type but very kind and generous. He had a very rough time as a child and he carries around a lot of guilt. He can be very controlling as I am sure you know considering the circumstances here.”
“Yes I find this whole thing a bit odd, if I am honest.”
“I am sure you do but, he is only doing this for my safety and there is nothing more important to him than that.”
“Are you in danger?” I do not want to tell Maggie anything that might scare her off and if she knew that people were after his loved ones, and then she would certainly think twice about letting Emma get to know him.
“I am not in any danger; it’s more of a precaution than anything else. If knew Adrian then would understand.”
“Yes, well hopefully I will get to meet him.”
“He is on his way here.”
“Really,”
“Yes he told me last night, although I haven’t heard from him today but I am sure he is still coming.”
“Tell me dear, has he ever seen his father since he left?”
“No, I don’t think so and he doesn’t remember anything about him.”
“I can’t believe how much he looks like him, it’s unbelievable.”
“I know, you could never dream up such a thing.”
“To think that all this time, my employer has been my daughter’s half-brother.”
“What does Emma look like?”
“She looks like her father she has the same jet black hair and green eyes, sometimes it scares me how much she is like him. But having seen Mr Black the resemblance is uncanny.”
“He will be thrilled by this, I know it.”
“I hope he is, anyway dear you are most definitely going be late.” I check my watch and I see that I am late. I give Maggie a smile, get up, and head over to Michael’s room. I knock on his door but he does not answer, I knock again and still nothing. Therefore, I try the door handle and the door is unlocked. I push open the door, I see Michael lying on the bed with earphones in, and again he is shirtless. He sees me and pulls ou
t one earphone.
“What do you want?” He says harshly.
“I am going to college I have my exam today.”
“I see and why are you telling me?”
“I just thought that maybe you would like to come with me?” Michael’s weighs up all the options in his head and I can see his face changing as he decides.
“Okay, let me get a shirt.” He gets up and lifts up his big carry bag, which looks like Prada to me, he takes out a black shirt with a white collar. As he slips it over his shoulders, he cannot seem to do up the buttons and he is taking forever. I fear that I will be late so I walk over to him and ask if I can help. He looks at me and says,
“Go ahead,”
I undo all the buttons he has already done and start from the top and I begin to work my way down. I look at him and think of how gorgeous he really is. I do not understand how he and Adrian feel way they do about me. I look so plain and ordinary compared to them. They could have models for girlfriends and not a little dainty girl like me. I finish doing up his shirt and he looks at me and says,
“Thanks for that,”
I head out into the large hallway and wait for Michael. As we walk out the door, I hear Maggie shout after me,
“Miss Hart, good luck today.” I smile at her and am still processing the fact, of whom she really is. When we get down stairs, the car is waiting for us. I quickly step inside and the car speeds off, I look over at Michael and Jackson, they are sitting very quiet and motionless it is as if they are statues. My phone beeps in my pocket and I take it out to see a message from Adrian.
Alanna my love how are you?
I quickly reply to him and I have no idea how I am going to break the news about Maggie.
I am good, how are?
Fine I am at the airport I will be with you shortly, where are you exactly?
Do not get mad but I am heading to college.
I told you not to, but I understand how important it is to you.
Which airport are you in?
JFK,
Really, you are here.
Where else would I be?
I thought you were just about to get on the plane, Adrian I need to talk to you about something.
What is there something wrong?
No, it is about Maggie.
Who is Maggie?
The chef you hired.
What did she do?
Nothing Adrian, why are you so negative?
I am just used to people letting me down.
Well anyway, what I have to tell you is very important and very surprising so don’t get all worked up about it, okay?
Alanna just tell me what it is!
I do not know how to say it
Alanna,
Okay, when Maggie was in college she met this guy, a journalist. He was from Chicago, she got together with him, and she had his baby.
That is very nice but what does that have to do with me.
I was about to tell you,
Go on then,
After the child was born things quickly turned sour, he went from woman to woman and he would not come home for days. When the baby was one year old, he left them his name was, Edward Black.
Alanna are you sure about this.
Yes, Adrian I am sure, you have a sister her name is Emma.
I do not know what to say.
I was shocked to but Adrian, Maggie is an amazing woman she dropped out college and worked two jobs, she did everything for Emma.
I really have a sister.
Yes, you have a chance to have a real family with her.
What if she, does not want to know anything about me?
Maggie thinks that she will and she hopes for you two to meet.
How did she know about this?
She did not, she just told me about her struggles and about Edward, I told her I really admired her for what she did for her daughter and I explained a little about you. She kind of derived a conclusion and came to the realization that you where Edward’s son.
It seems a little sudden to me, are you sure that it is true?
Yes, Adrian I showed her a picture of you and she knew immediately.
Where did you get the picture?
Does that matter?
I do not suppose so, baby thank you for telling me this.
What else what I do,
Some girls would be jealous!
Not this girl, Adrian I think that Maggie and her family really struggle for money.
I see, well I can help them, if they let me.
I am sure they will Maggie as I keep saying is really a lovely person.
Yes I hope to meet to her, Alanna are you at college yet?
No, it looks like we are stuck in traffic.
We,
Yes ,Jackson the guard and Michael.
I was not under the impression that he was there with you.
I wanted him there.
You did. How are things with you and him?
Not very good, he says that he is going back to London.
How do you feel about that?
I am not going to lie I am not happy about it.
Do you want him to stay?
Yes, I have grown very fond of him and I want him here, he is a good friend to me.
However, he wants more than to be your friend.
Yes, he does but I have made it clear that nothing will ever happen.
I know Michael and this must be terrible on him.
He says he cannot watch me with you; therefore, he has to go back to London.
Did you ask him to stay?
I did.
What did he say?
He said that I could not have it both ways.
I see I will try to talk to him, Okay.
Please do, I do not want to see you two falling out over me.
Alanna baby, I have to go right now but I will see you soon, Okay?
Okay, I love you Adrian!
As I put my phone back into my pocket, I look over to Michael who looks even sadder than he did before. I hate to see him like this and I want everything to go back to the way it was before. I wish he could see that there is a place in my life for him and that I need him before I am complete. I know that it is selfish of me to want the both of them in my life, but that is just how I feel. The love I have for Adrian consumes me and it is not gravity holding me to the planet but it is he. However, the way I feel about Michael alarms me, I know that a part of me would be missing if I did not have him. I really hope that he and Adrian can work things out. I could never survive with the thought of ripping two brothers apart.
“Is everything okay, Alanna?” I am surprised to hear Michael say.
“I was just taking to Adrian. I found out today that he has a half-sister.” Michael looks as shocked as everyone else did.
“How did that happen?”
“You know Maggie our chef?”
“Yes,”
“She had a baby to Edward, Adrian’s father but he did the same to them as he did to Alice and Adrian.”
“This is hard to take in.”
“Tell me about it, Maggie was with us all that time and we never knew a thing.”
“Are you sure?” Michael says with a puzzled look on his face.
“Yes I am positive, Adrian has a sister and her name is Emma Black.”
“He will be happy about this, he has always wanted a family and now he has a real sister.”
“I know it’s amazing, I am so happy for him.”
“I am too, Adrian is,and will always be, my brother despite everything with you.”
“Michael please don’t fight with Adrian over me anymore, it’s not worth it.”
“You are worth it, Alanna.”
“No I am not, I am just some girl and you don’t argue with family over girlfriends.”
“But, I love you.”
“I know you do, but please say you will at least try to mend things with Adrian?”
“I can’t promise you that.”
/>
I turn my head away from him. I do not want to look into sad eyes any longer, I feel too guilty for how I make him feel. We sit in silence for a while, but I notice the driver of the car look over to Michael. It looks as if he wants to say something, so Michael gets closer and the driver turns to him and he says something into his ear. Michael quickly looks out the back window of the car and makes a dashing look towards Jackson. I know that something is not quite right, so I decide instead of asking Michael what is wrong, I will look for myself. I turn fully around and I tilt my head to the side. Therefore, I can fully see out the back window. At first, I cannot see anything alarming, but then I see what does have them flustered, a black Lamborghini.
“The Marshalls,” I say aloud and Michael shoots me a glance.
“Put your foot down, lose them,” Michael instructs the driver and that is exactly what he does. As the car speeds forward, I fall back in my seat a little from the acceleration. I hear the loud roar of the Lamborghini behind us. The driver looks worried and says,
“There want to chase us, look how close they are.” Michael turns round and has such a worried look on his face.
“Lose them,”
“Sir they have a Lamborghini that won’t be easy.”
“Just do it.”
Michael shouts and the car speeds on even faster. I do not know what to do I just sit frozen, this is really happening. I never thought of it being as serious as this, even with the bullet I thought that it was all just bluff, but now there is no doubting it, this is real! The black Escalade swerves and dodges round bends and through red lights. The speed is over whelming and I can barely stay in my seat. Despite all the drivers efforts the Lamborghini is still right behind us, chasing us down and not giving us a chance. The car speeds off again and this time not as fast as the driver had hoped. The black Lamborghini is now alongside us and I can see who is driving, it is no one that I recognize, but someone who wants to kill me. I feel a shudder and I see that the black sports car is now bumping into the side of us. With the speed, we are going the sudden bumps and hits are making the car lose its grip on the road. I see that Michael is scared out of his skin.
“Go on faster, lose them, and stay on the road.” He shouts Jackson is still sitting motionless, with a troubled look on his face. As for me I cannot speak, I am frozen in one spot and I am terrified for my life and for Michaels. I think of how Adrian will feel when he hears about this. The guilt that he will have does not even bear to think about. The car is hit again with more force and the driver starts to lose control. This time he cannot stop it, the hit was too hard. The car is spinning round and round and is sliding off the road and onto the sidewalk. The car does not slow down and instead is hitting everything in its path. Michael reaches over and catches my hand. He looks at me and says,
Three Thousand Miles To You,(Three Thousand Miles, Series, Book #1) Page 25