“Aidan Ashby.”
“Ah yes. I should have guessed. This is Claire Henderson.”
“Claire, yes. How are you? What is that dreadful noise?”
“The Bar, I'm standing outside.”
“Could you... please, put Topher on the phone.”
“Sorry. No can do. He is very drunk and on the dance floor with Alyssa. I don't have a death wish to try and stop his hideous dancing.”
“Which bar? I'll come fetch him. He shouldn't be so intoxicated.”
“The Bar in Midtown Manhattan.”
“You sound tired.”
“Well someone had me and my team up at the crack of dawn.”
“Ah yes. Did you receive my apology?”
“I received the roses and basket. Thank you.”
“I shall be there shortly to collect Topher.”
“Sounds...” Claire stopped talking as a figure started walking closer to her in the alley.
Aidan glanced at the phone, checking to make sure the connection was not lost, “Claire?”
He heard sounds as if someone was arguing with her and she was fighting back. Aidan got up quickly from his desk and hurried down to the street and got into his SUV with Max. Aidan gunned the vehicle towards Midtown Manhattan towards where the Bar is located. He hated that Topher went into that neighborhood. They had worked hard to get out of that area.
Aidan had his bluetooth in his ear and gripped the steering wheel tight when he heard what sounded like flesh meeting flesh in a violent way. It was a sound that he was use to. “Claire? Claire talk to me now.” He commanded as he sped up even more as the line went dead.
Russ looked around the bar and noticed that Claire still wasn't back. He looked out the front of the bar and did not see her. He pushed his way through the dancers and drinkers towards the back. He threw the door open. Claire was against the wall, leaning forward, hands on her knees.
“Claire?” Russ walked up slowly towards her. A man was face down in the dirty snow, knocked out cold. Russ kept the door propped open with his foot to allow the light to flow. “Claire, can you look at me? Talk to me, please?”
Claire looked towards him and he saw the bruise on the left side of her face. Blood flowed from the cut near her hairline. Russ held out his hand. “Let's get you inside.”
“Wh-at a-bout him?” Claire stuttered.
“He can stay right where he is for all I care.” Russ pulled her inside, helping her walk. He quickly noticed she was shaking all over.
“Topher will be pissed...”
“Why?”
“I smashed his cell phone to bits on that guy’s head.” Claire said as she tried to give a small smile. She hated seeing the pity on people's faces when bruises started to show on her body. It was a look she was so use to that she despised the look and took to hiding as much as possible. She was terrified of how she would look in the morning. She had been planning to go to a few places to put in applications for regular jobs so she could get the money she needed.
In the bar, Russ sat her down at the nearest table and told her he would be right back. She closed her eyes. Why am I always the punching bag for every man in the world when I've done nothing wrong? Claire asked herself in silence. Since she was born into an alcoholic family she was used as a punching bag; abused in every way imaginable. She understood punishment for a wrong but men, like the one in the back alley, hit her and beat her for no reason except she was a woman. She opened her good eyes to see Russ coming back, pushing through the crowd, with the first aid kit and a jacket for her. She looked to her hands and saw them shaking. She took a deep breath to steady herself but could not seem to get a deep enough breath. She touched her side and winced. Russ finally made it to her side and draped the jacket around her shoulders. “I never should have convinced you to take that call.”
“It's not your fault,” Claire said.
Russ didn't look her in the face. He pulled out the alcohol and gauze, focusing on cleaning the cut.
“Bartender, can we get some drinks?”
“The Bar is closed.” Russ shouted back harshly. Claire could feel his anger rolling off of him in waves.
A few of the people left at the announcement that no more booze was coming their way.
“Russ I can do this. Go... we can't lose business right now. I know times are tight. Go.” Claire pushed him back as she slowly stood. He walked back towards the bar as Claire sat for a few moments in silence. Closing her eyes, sleep was starting to draw her in.
“Don't go to sleep.” A gruff velvety voice said. She knew that voice but it would not register. She opened her eyes looking deep into Mr. Ashby's eyes for the second time that day.
“I was not asleep.”
“Liar. You need a hospital.”
“I need to go to bed.”
“Max, get Topher and load him into the car.” The man nodded in respect as Aidan looked back at her. “I'm taking you to the hospital. Don't argue with me, it's useless. You should not drink this much or stuff like this happen.” He waved over her body as if telling someone to look at her.
“For your information, I work here. I don't drink at all. I'm staying for the rest of my shift.” Claire's anger was helping her to stay awake but something inside of her was burning to have him hold her like he did in the snow. To feel that safe again for the second time in her life. Claire tried to stand but fell backwards back into the chair. “Maybe I'll ask Russ if I can leave early.”
“I'm sure he would like to see you well taken care of. You should leave now and be checked at the hospital.” Aidan picked her up from the chair and carried her through the dancing people. “Russ, I presume? I'm taking her to the hospital so she won't be finishing the rest of her shift.”
Claire started to speak but was cut off by Russ. “Thank you. She would never go if she had a choice.”
“What happened?” Alyssa asked as Max had a hold of Topher's arm.
“We're leaving. Topher, get in the SUV now. Alyssa, you may join us if you like.” Aidan looked down and Claire was drifting asleep against his chest. “Claire, stay awake.” He nudged her head with his shoulder as she opened her eyes. Claire gave a little growl in her throat but kept her eyes open.
Soon everyone was loaded into the SUV as Max drove and Aidan kept a tight grip on Claire. She was not drunk. He was stupid and blamed her. Who would allow her to work at a bar and from Alyssa's conversation, they lived above the bar. He never would have imagined that the woman in his arms would live in a place like that with her nice clothes and expensive camera gear. His heart was pounding quickly as he kept looking down to Claire whose bruises seemed to darken every mile they drove to the hospital.
The hospital lights were bright in the hallway and dimmed inside the freezing cold room. The curtains that went over the bay size windows towards the hall were drawn to hide the two drunks in the darkest corner available. Topher and Alyssa sat in chairs with banana bags hooked into their arms as Aidan stood strong with his arms crossed beside the empty bed as Claire was taking another test. The police had already come and gone and the dark, night sky was slowly turning into a sunrise.
“Mr. Ashby. You're spinning... could you please sit down. This is nothing new for Claire and I'm sure it won't be the last time. Just relax.”
“Darling, he never relaxes. Well actually, this is his relaxed.”
Aidan glared at Topher. “You know better than to drink this much.” Aidan moved the chair so he could see the hall at all times and sat down.
“Hey don't blame me. How was I to know that she was going to answer my phone and go behind the bar?”
“I'm not blaming you. You know how I feel about drunks,” Aidan huffed, “Can't believe Claire or that bartender guy gave you this many drinks.”
“She didn't.... we grabbed a couple bottles from behind the bar when she wasn't looking.” Alyssa said with a smile full of pride.
“Why did you say that this is nothing new for Claire?” Aidan looked over to Aly
ssa who had gone pale at his question. “Alyssa?”
“Mate, leave her alone.” Topher snapped at the man.
“She has... a dark past. It's why she loves photographs. They freeze an image or a memory that no one else can touch. You should see her paintings sometime.”
Topher sat their looking back and forth, praying Aidan would just leave it alone. He had never seen him with a woman, except for a few rare times he brought a date to an event or fundraiser but it was always business with whom he brought with him. Did Aidan care for this woman? It would be a first. Topher thought as he watched their exchange back and forth.
“Why...”
“Look. It's her story to tell. I won't say another word except if you hurt her, I will kill you. So just back off and leave her alone.” Alyssa folded her arms around herself as she closed her eyes and rested her head on the headrest in the chair.
“Thank you.”
Alyssa's eyes snapped open as she looked to Aidan.
“It's nice to see someone sticking up for her. She sure did not stand up for herself this morning.”
Alyssa laughed hard, until tears were rolling down her face. “Look Golden Spoon... the only reason she did not give you hell was because she was under the magazine contract that said not to anger you or you'd pull the story. She has cuts on the inside of her mouth to keep herself from chewing you a new one. But she saw that as unprofessional. Plus, like always, she thought about her gallery. She stays quiet, she gets more contracts, which leads to her dreams of a studio sooner rather than later. Why do you think that she lives above a bar in Midtown Manhattan one of the most dangerous parts of New York?”
“Golden Spoon?”
“Is that all you got from...”
“Why are you shouting at him?” Claire asked as they wheeled her into the room. She slowly rose with the help of the nurse and got back into bed. “Can I leave now?” She asked the nurse with those big hazel eyes of hers and a pouting lip.
“You have to wait to see the doctor. Only his orders can sign you out. You know the drill.”
Claire looked over to Alyssa and back to the nurse. “Fine.” She laid back on the bed as everyone sat in silence. She knew that something had happened, she could feel a rant building up inside Alyssa. Aidan must have done something to work her up. “What did I miss?”
“They hooked me up to a needle.” Alyssa picked up her arm in disgust.
“I'm sorry. I know you'd rather have a killer headache and think you’re dying in the morning then a needle.” Claire smiled at her friend.
“Bitch.”
“And proud of it.” Claire and Alyssa both laughed as the guys sat there listening to them. “You should all go home and rest. It will be hours before the doctor comes in to see me. I'm not going anywhere, especially once he sees the scans. My luck... I'll be prisoner here for a couple days.”
“That bad?” Alyssa sat up.
“Few broken ribs, bruised knee and ankle, concussion. The norm. You know if I get a newbie they ask a billion questions about the old... 'stuff.'” Claire gave a faint smile towards Alyssa. “You have class in the morning and you can't cancel; they just gave you a big promotion.”
“Fine. You sure you'll be ok?”
“Yes. I promise I'll call if I need anything.”
“Text me with all the details. I want to be kept in the loop.”
“Always.”
“Topher, take Alyssa and go home. Max can drive you. I'm staying here.”
“No. I can drive, you need Max here with you.” Topher glared at the man as if a private conversation were happening between them.
“The others are here. Max can take you and then go home and rest.”
“You sure, sir?” Max asked popping his head into the room, upon hearing his name.
“Yes.”
Max, Topher and Alyssa all left the room. Claire smiled as she listened to the quiet banter down the hallway.
Claire tried to sleep but her mind wouldn't allow her to rest. “Why do you have so many guards?” Claire asked, turning towards Aidan.
“My company became the second largest company today. There have been a lot of threats from companies that I have purchased. They are here for my safety.”
“Oh. Never thought that businessmen would need bodyguards.” Claire smirked towards him.
“Get some sleep, Claire. You need it to heal. We won't let anyone get to you.” Aidan gave a small smirk. At least Claire thought that she saw a small smirk.
“Yes sir.” She gave a small salute as exhaustion took her over.
Aidan sat there, looking at her. Stunned at the words that she said and how they were like a punch to his gut that he enjoyed. He wanted heads to roll on the guy who did this to her. In a way, he blamed himself for calling. He knew that Topher was at a bar with Alyssa; but work could not wait in his mind. There was something possessive in him towards this woman. He wanted her like he had never wanted another woman. No one would keep his dark secret if he allowed someone to see it. He had been with other women and put them under contract to remain silent, to protect himself, his business and his family. Would this woman, the one who could endure pain and still smile, be the one that finally accepted him for who he was behind the façade that he put on.
“Aidan?” Claire whispered as she moved restlessly in the bed.
“I'm here Baby Bear,” he said as he pushed her hair back and pulled the covers up around her. He took her hand as he slipped into the chair beside the bed. He sat there watching her. He knew that she was a weakness. But was she a weakness that he could afford?
“Baby Bear?”
“I think it fits you nicely. Your small, yet fierce.” Aidan smiled as he kissed her forehead. He could not seem to stay away from her.
CHAPTER FOUR
Claire awoke feeling sore but refreshed. She looked around and instead of seeing a horrid, glaring light above her and nurses bustling around, she saw beautiful purple and silver drapes, a light on the lowest setting beside her bed. “Is this a hotel?” she whispered aloud as she sat up slowly from where she was sitting. She was in a man's t-shirt that swallowed her. She slipped from the bed, trying to pull the shirt down to cover more of her. She wasn't modest but she normally slept in shorts at least. Walking to the windows and throwing back the curtain she knew that the place around her was no hotel. The windows went from the floor to the ceiling, perfectly clean, looking out seeing the Statue of Liberty and the water that surrounded her. She stood there basking in the sunlight as she turned to look for clothes. She smiled when she saw some clothes neatly folded in the connected bathroom.
She turned on the shower, letting the hot water cascade over her aching body. The water tingling her flesh as she had dreamed of deep green eyes staring at her. She touched herself lightly in a part that was throbbing in her sex. She bit her lip as she leaned against the cold tiles of the shower and she pulled her hand away quickly. She had never masturbated and she refused to start now. She was not even sure how she would go about it. She bit her lip again as she hung her head. She hadn't had a drop of alcohol since college but the recent events made her want to find a bottle of vodka and a closet to lock herself inside of. She stood under the large spray of the shower as the soap and shampoo flowed off of her ivory skin.
Once outside the shower, she toweled off and pulled on the new clothes carefully. She left the room and decided to explore, walking down the stairs into the vastly large and open living room. She froze as she saw the painting. The painting was on the only wall that was in the living room, a visual focal point, as the rest of the walls being windows in the modern penthouse.
Staring at the painting, tears threatened to fall. It was a painting that she never thought that she would see again.
“Beautiful isn't it?” Aidan asked as he walked up behind her. Claire could not speak as she kept staring at it. “One of my... workers... found it at some vender fair while walking through the park and gifted it to me.” He moved to stand at her side,
watching her. “I wish I knew the artist. I can't believe the author did not sign this masterpiece.”
Claire laughed. “But it is. Come here.” She held out her hand.
He looked at her, finally offering his hand. She pulled him towards the painting, laying his hand in the right hand corner of the painting. “Do you feel the raises in the paint? Where everything else around is smooth.”
“Yes.”
“The artist’s name is in braille.”
“Seriously, who does that?”
“Someone who did not want to be known at the time,” Claire said absently.
“You know the artist? I know that Alyssa said that you painted as well.”
“I have not painted in two years.”
“Why not? She said you enjoyed it.”
“I lost my muse. Plus, I had to pay for rent and sold my painting station. I still sketch from time to time.” Claire smiled. She stepped back from the painting, finally looking away. “How did I get here last night? The last I remember was the hospital.”
“I brought you here, yesterday, after the doctor cleared you. You were exhausted and I did not want to wake you.”
“My clothes?”
“Destroyed.”
Claire glared at him, anger flaring into her reddening cheeks. The top was easily replaced but the jeans were not. “Those were my favorite jeans.”
“They had holes.” He said in almost disgust, as if he had never seen a holy pair of jeans in his life.
“Of course they did. They were my lucky jeans.” Claire shook her head. “Why here and not my house?”
“You needed to be woken up every hour to be careful.”
“Alyssa could have woken me.” Claire said though she did not remember being awake at all the night before.
“Alyssa and Topher went back to his apartment so no one was there to wake you and I could not in good conscience leave you alone. Plus she worked during the day, which would have left you alone again. If you would like to leave I have a car waiting to take you anywhere you would like, though you may stay as long as you'd like.” He paused and then seemed to remember an earlier train of thought. “Are you avoiding my question about knowing the painter?”
Through the Lens Page 3