by tani shane
“Oh, let them be, Stevie darling,” Ida cooed, her eyes gleaming triumphantly, “They know we have a lot to catch up on.” She sneered at Jessica, her arm going around Steven’s waist. “I knew it! I knew you’d come to your senses, darling. You don’t need her now, I’m back!”
Jessica felt her heart begin to beat wildly. She realized she had been holding her breath the moment Ida had entered and now her lungs were feeling the stress. She looked at Steven who was carefully avoiding her eyes. Why was he allowing Ida to talk like that to her? Was it true? Had he decided he wanted Ida and not her? She had to know! She called out to Steven, her voice quivering. “Is that true, Steven?”
The blue eyes that stared back at her were troubled and uncertain. “Let’s just go and have a drink, shall we? We can discuss this later.”
“Stop groveling, my dear,” Ida smiled sardonically, “Don’t you understand English? The man doesn’t want you!”
Jessica ignored her, beseeching her husband with her eyes. “Steven?” His blue eyes gazed back at her hiding a strange desperation in them. He looked like he was almost pleading her to back off.
Ida tugged at his arm, her eyes suddenly spewing venom at Jessica. “Lay off, you little bitch! Do you think no one knows you sold yourself to poor Steve for a few green …”
The sharp slap that she received was neither from Jessica nor Steven. It was from a furious Niki. Ida gasped wide-eyed and raised her hand to retaliate only to have it caught in Steven’s iron grip. She struggled, trying to lunge at Niki. “Let me go! How dare you hit me, you bitch? I’ll kill you! I’ll…”
“Enough!” Steven’s resounding roar altered her hysteria abruptly. “Stop behaving like children, both of you!” He scowled ferociously at Niki. “Niki, please apologize to Ida, you had no right to hit her.”
Niki’s rage filled sky blue eyes narrowed upon him. “How can you say that? What about the way she abused Jessica? How can you stand there and listen to this crazy woman talk to her like that? I’m surprised you didn’t hit her!”
“Hitting women is not my style,” he growled, “And you would do better to stay out of this, Niki. It’s none of your concern! Jessica can look after herself. I think she’s mature enough not to get into petty squabbles. Now for the last time, can we all have something to drink?” With that, he strode away while Ida followed him like a faithful dog.
“The swine!” Niki abused angrily, “Can you believe that? What does he mean you can look after yourself? He’s your husband, isn’t he? How can he let that woman talk to you like that?” She looked at Jessica’s slumped shoulders and gave her a comforting squeeze. “Hey, are you okay?”
Jessica nodded feeling too drained to say anything. She felt oddly humiliated. “I…want to be alone for some time, if that’s okay with you, Niki?”
“Yes, sure. I’ll go look for Sean,” Niki paused at the door, “Will you be all right?”
Jessica managed a frail smile. “Yes, don’t worry.” Bold words, she thought after her cousin left. She was far from feeling all right. She felt as if someone had placed all her happy moments with Steven on the floor and then stomped all over them, crushing them mercilessly.
A lone tear fell down her cheek. Steven. Why did she love him when it was clear he didn’t think of her more than a bed partner? He had not bothered to stop Ida when she had said that Jessica had sold herself to him. Was it because she had been too close to the truth? After all Jessica had started off by selling herself to Steven. She had preferred to think of it as a bargain but it really was a sale. Her body in return for a marriage that would give her access to her inheritance. A fact that neither could forget, especially now that his true love was back.
She felt cheap in comparison to Ida. Steven had loved Ida unlike her. He had married her for a purely physical relationship. Why would he need her now? Ida was a very attractive woman and she was his true love. At this moment, they were probably thinking of a way to tell her she was no longer needed.
She rose to her feet unsteadily. No, she couldn’t bear to hear it, not so soon! She drew in gulps of fresh air once outside hoping that would help calm her mind. The coconut trees that swayed at the back of the villa beckoned her to walk under their soothing shade. She began walking, avoiding the beach where she would run across Sean and Niki.
Tears began cascading down her cheeks when her heart refused to curb the turmoil it felt. Images of Steven and Ida laughing together drifted before her eyes making her sob more intensely. Oh, lord, I’m going to have a nervous breakdown! she thought, leaning against a tree, unable to go any further. She had been such a fool! It had been a brittle illusion that was shattered as soon as Ida breathed on it.
Get a grip on it, you fool! she scolded herself, raising her hand to wipe her tear drenched face. What was the use crying over someone who was never yours? The world did not start and end at Steven! She looked skywards, sniffing loudly. Didn’t it, lord? she asked and then began crying anew. Right now, she couldn’t think of anyone but Steven. Her heart belonged to him! She once again wiped her face determined to get hold of her emotions. Why was she so pitifully weak? Why was she crying while he was in there enjoying the company of some other woman?
Her smarting eyes roved over her surroundings. Nature was so perfect. Everything existed in harmony with each other. She wished absurdly she could disintegrate and become one of the elements. Then there would be no more tears, no more heartache.
A tropical bird screeched suddenly swooping so close to her head that she had to duck. She smiled unwittingly following its path through the tall trees. How typically human of her to be startled by the very thing she was wishing to be! A twig snapped behind her making her turn swiftly, her eyes searching the source. She saw nothing but the trees and the villa beyond.
She frowned and made to turn when a pair of arms suddenly came around her. A hand clamped on her mouth and she heard a rasping breath in her ear. Jessica struggled in panic, trying to kick away the person who had detained her. Her assailant was a strong man and held her firmly while he searched for something. When she saw the knife glint in the sun as he raised it, she wriggled harder. He had to free her arms to hold her mouth with one hand and the knife with the other and she took full advantage of it to throw wild punches at him.
When she landed a hard kick on his shins, she felt his grip loosen but before she could twist away, she felt a hard rap at the base of her neck. The brutal blow threw her off balance and sent her face down. Excruciating pain shot through her head and the trees swirled around her before her eyes closed to give in to the descending darkness.
***
A voice seemed to call her name from a distance. Jessica was on the beach relishing the feel of cool breeze caressing her skin. Niki was running towards her, her eyes large and anxious. “Jessi? Jessi? Can you hear me?”
Jessica shook her head in confusion. “Steven. I want Steven.” She saw Steven near the villa walking towards her. Suddenly Ida appeared next to him and she saw her turn him from her. When they kissed, Jessica cried out unable to bear the pain any longer.
“Nooo!” Jessica screamed, her alarmed eyes flying open. She struggled to sit up but someone held her down. “Let me go! Let me go!”
“Jessi, it’s me, Niki! Jessi!”
Jessica stared into Niki’s worried face as though seeing her for the first time. She looked about, surprised to find herself lying in her bed at the villa. Her stormy eyes widened in confusion as she looked at Niki, then Sean and finally Doctor Sommers, who had earlier attended to her foot. “Wh..at happened?,” she mumbled, a wincing pain suddenly shooting through her head. She grimaced. “Ouch! My head!”
Doctor Sommers smiled at her, gently pushing her back on the bed. “Don’t get up just yet, love.” He prepared a vile looking injection dose all the while smiling reassuringly. “You seem to be quite accident prone, Jessica.”
She stared at him vacantly wondering what he was talking about. “Oh, my foot’s all right, doctor.”
Sean went to see the doctor to the door and Niki came to sit by the bedside with a worried look. She took Jessica’s hand in hers squeezing it gently. “You gave us quite a scare.”
“I did?” Jessica asked still looking dazed.
“Sean and I found you when we were returning from the beach,” Niki hesitated not sure if she should stress her cousin. “Jessi, don’t you remember anything?”
Jessica touched her forehead frowning deeply. “I...I…something hit me.” She faltered painfully. “No. I remember now, someone attacked me!” Her hands flew to her face in horror. “Yes, that man, he came up from behind! He h..had a knife!”
“My god!” Niki paled, reaching out to draw her cousin in her arms. “Who was he?”
“I don’t know,” Jessica mumbled, drawing strength from Niki’s warm embrace, “He..he came up from behind…” She shivered at the memory of the attack. “He wanted to kill me, Niki. Why? Why me? I didn’t even have any money on me.”
“He wasn’t after the money, Jessi. Just think about it. Would someone trespass on a private property and attack a woman in broad daylight for money? He could’ve easily broken into the house when we weren’t around.”
“Steven?” Jessica asked suddenly realizing he was not around. “Where is he?”
“He’s gone to report the matter to the police.”
“And Ida?”
Niki looked hesitant. “She went with him. She asked him to drop him at her hotel.”
“Oh,” was all Jessica managed, “I…” She looked at loss for words, her heart a heavy weight. She drew the covers of the bed sheets closer and gave Niki a fragile smile. “I think I’ll sleep for a while.”
“Yes,” her cousin sighed, hiding the worry gnawing her on the inside. Who the hell had tried to attack Jessica? Niki managed a warm smile, rising to leave. “Get some rest. I’m sure you’ll feel better in no time.”
“Niki?”
Her cousin paused at the door. “Yes?”
“Will you be around in case I need something?” A faint trace of fear lined Jessica’s attractive features. “I’m afraid.”
“Oh, Jessi, if that’s the case, I won’t go anywhere.” Niki returned to sit on the edge of the bed. “Why don’t you go to sleep? I’m here for you.”
Jessica nodded and turned on her side to drift into restless sleep.
Chapter Eighteen
A cold film of sweat broke out on Jessica’s forehead as Steven watched her with anxious eyes. It was nearing two in the morning and she had been asleep for more than twelve hours. He had called up Doctor Sommers in concern but he had assured him to let her sleep off the powerful drug he had administered earlier that day.
A violent convulsion abruptly shook Jessica and she clutched the sheets, her anguished face alarming him. He sat by her side, drawing her in his arms. “Jessica? Jessica, my love, please answer me!” The convulsion ceased but she kept trembling as though struggling within the realms of her subconscious mind.
Cold fear gripped Steven as he cradled her in his arms, swaying her gently. For the first time in his life, he felt completely helpless. Her tortured form was tearing him apart and he wanted to shake her desperately if only to hear her call out to him once. It would tell him if she was all right. But she said nothing and instead continued to tremble miserably.
He lay down next to her on the bed, drawing her into his arms. He stroked her cold skin, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. It seemed to calm her and he felt some of his fear leave him. He leaned over to caress her face with his lips while his hands traced a lazy pattern over her slowly relaxing body.
Half an hour later, the trembling had stopped and her body temperature warmed to allow her to finally sleep comfortably. Steven listened to her even breathing in the dark and felt his initial fright leave. She turned on her side with her back to him, a sigh escaping her lips. Steven spooned her to him, holding her against his chest, burying his face in her wild tresses. Thank God, she had finally relaxed! Never in his life had he felt so close to uncontrollable panic as tonight.
Earlier, he was late in returning after reporting the matter to the police because of Ida. He wished she hadn’t chosen this moment to turn up. He had to handle the matter delicately between the two women. He owed Jessica a thorough explanation and an apology but he couldn’t do it while she was in such a delicate state. It would have to wait.
At the time he had returned, he was relieved to find Jessica sleeping. Initially, she had seemed peaceful but as the night approached, she was besieged with frightening convulsions that had shaken her like a fragile leaf. Niki and Sean had retired for the night at his insistence and he had to witness her tormented state alone. Strangely, for the first time in his life, he had felt close to tears. It tore him apart to see her suffer so viciously. He had prayed for her and thankfully, it had been accepted.
A worried frown etched his features as he thought about her unknown assailant. Who could it be? Who wanted to harm her? The police seemed to think it very strange as the locals were generally peaceful and there had not been any reports of visitors in these parts being attacked so brutally. There had to be a different explanation to it and he was determined to find out.
He reached for his mobile phone and called Joe Strauss, his trusted private eye. It was time to get some urgent answers.
***
The harsh screech of an errant parrot jolted Jessica out of her slumber and she sat up, her heart throbbing wildly. Niki’s reassuring hand was immediately upon her arm, gently persuading her to lie back. “It’s okay, Jessi, it’s okay.”
Smoky eyes watched her in confusion before wincing with pain. “Ouch! It still hurts!”
Niki let out a relieved sigh. “Thank god you remember.”
Jessica yawned lazily. “What time is it?”
“It’s eleven in the morning. You’ve been asleep almost twenty four hours.”
Jessica stretched her stiff body. “It feels like I’ve slept only an hour.” She closed her eyes and Steven’s blue eyes immediately engulfed her. She had the vague feeling that he had been near her while she was asleep but she could easily have been dreaming. She opened her eyes once more. If he had been here last night, where was he now? With Ida? She had to know. She stared directly at Niki. “Where’s Steven?”
An uncomfortable color stole up her cousin’s cheeks. “He was here last night…”
“Where is he now?”
“He had to go out, Jessi, he didn’t say where.” Niki’s worried blue eyes rested on her as she reached out a reassuring hand. “He must’ve had some urgent work, don’t think the worst.”
Jessica felt a heavy weight upon her heart. She was convinced Steven was with Ida and it hurt. But she wasn’t about to wallow in self-pity she decided firmly and struggled to sit up. “Help me up, Niki, I’d like to take a wash.”
Half an hour later, having taken a hot shower, she devoured a breakfast of poached eggs, a full glass of milk and some fresh fruits. She felt much better after the meal and insisted on going downstairs to relax in the entertainment room.
She fell asleep while watching some random movie and Niki switched the system off letting her remain on the cozy couch. Dr. Sommers stopped by for a visit later and pronounced a good recovery for his patient, the first sign being her healthy appetite.
At four in the afternoon, Steven had still not returned but Jessica refused to let his thoughts worry her mind. She played an engaging game of chess with Sean before retiring to her room for the day. It was still daylight and she encouraged her companions to go for a quick swim. She convinced them
of her safety since Keon was just a call away along with the other helping staff.
Her smile was wistful as she watched them head for the beach from the balcony. They were so much in love that it seemed to radiate around them like a happy halo. A slow tear dropped down her cheek before she could stop it. It made her angry with herself and she turned away to call Lynn to find out how the company was doing.
Later she sat in the cane chair in her room with a book of ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ and cried heartily after each story. When she couldn’t bear it anymore, she decided to spare herself the torture and went out onto the balcony for a breath of fresh air.
It was almost dark, she realized, her eyes searching for Niki and Sean. A gentle breeze blew from the ocean rushing through the trees so that they rustled peacefully. She had left her hair loose and her heavy tresses flitted gently about her face. It made her relax with a lazy smile tugging her lips.
A dark shadow behind one of the trees caught her eyes and she thought Sean and Niki were finally back. She gazed out at it for a long time expecting them to move ahead but when it didn’t, she tensed nervously. The shadow moved behind another tree that was closer but didn’t approach the villa.
Jessica was sure by now it wasn’t Niki or Sean and wondered if it were one of the help. Whoever it was, stepped further ahead still hiding behind the coconut trees. Closer to the bottom of the steps that lead to the balcony; soft, halogen bulbs lit up the surroundings. Her heart was beginning to thump at an uneasy pace even as she broke out in sweat. She wanted to turn and run to the security of her room but her feet were rooted to the spot. The dark shadow suddenly stepped into the light making her scream in fright. A man stood at the bottom of the steps hardly a few strides away, his face covered by a ski mask.