by tani shane
He suddenly sprang towards her. She instinctively backed away in panic. Run! Run! her mind commanded and she turned and fled. She ran through her room, heading for the door desperately. Her edgy fingers almost couldn’t turn the lock causing her to hyperventilate. Moments later, she flung it open almost stumbling into the corridor outside to slam into someone approaching her room. Jessica reacted with a blood-curling shriek.
“Jessica! It’s me!” Steven’s deep voice resounded even as his strong arms came around her.
“Steven!” she cried out, clutching to the soft material of his sports shirt. Her tear strained eyes were wide with panic as she tried to push him back. “He’s here! He’s after me! Let’s get out of here!”
His eyes dilated in alarm but he continued holding her in his secure arms. He glanced behind her into the empty room before setting her aside. “You stay here, I’ll go check.”
Jessica lunged at his arm, hanging on to it with all her strength. “No, no, don’t go in there! He might be armed. You could get hurt.”
“I’ll be fine…”
“NO!” she shouted at him, dragging him away from the door.
Steven gave in to her persistence and drew her back in his arms. “All right, darling, I won’t go. Calm down now.” He moved with her to a phone in the corridor and summoned Keon. He cast a worried glance at Jessica was shaking uncontrollably by now. Whoever she had seen had been real enough to make her react in this manner.
A door of a room adjacent to theirs opened and Sean and Niki stepped out. “Steve, what happened?” Sean burst out immediately, his face contorting with anxiety. His brother briefed him on the situation and Sean immediately strode past into the room with Keon who had arrived by now.
“There’s no one here,” Sean called out. He came out after a while and shook his head. “Nothing.” He looked over Jessica’s head to Steven, passing on a silent message.
Steven drew away from Jessica. “You heard him, darling, there’s no one there. Niki take her to your room and make her lie down.”
Cloudy eyes laced with tears reached out to him. “Where are you going?”
“I’m right here. Now go on, I’ll be with you in a couple of minutes.” Reassured Jessica let Niki lead her away. He turned to Sean, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “What is it?”
“He left footprints.” Sean led the way to the bottom of the steps where a clear set of footprints could be seen in the soft, sandy ground. He pointed with a torch to the set that went towards the stairs and one that went away. “He probably got scared off when you got here.”
Steven frowned thickly going down on his haunches to get a closer look of the footprints. “Canvas shoes, size ten.” He stood up, his face creased with anxious lines.
Sean frowned thoughtfully. “The strange thing is Niki and I must’ve returned from the beach almost immediately after this happened but we sure didn’t bump into him. We went straight to our room and then I heard the commotion.” He looked at his brother for answers. “Who the hell is it?”
A determined nerve jerked across, Steven’s hard jaw line. “That’s what I’d like to find out. Call the police, Sean, it’s about time they give us some answers.” He took the torch from his brother and kept standing there till Sean went back to the house. He glanced around in the darkness for signs of Joe Strauss. Hadn’t he given strict instructions to keep Jessica under observation at all times? Then why wasn’t he here now? He performed a close scrutiny of the sand, looking for signs that would tell him something more about the assailant.
In the soft light of the evening lamps, about ten feet about from the bottom of the steps, he saw clear signs of disturbed sand. There were several footprints concentrated on that particular spot, giving evidence of a struggle. So, Joe had been here. He noticed further ahead, one of the persons seemed to have fallen. The defeated person was clearly dragged through the sand.
The light from the torch suddenly illuminated a motionless hand that jutted out from behind a coconut tree. He hurried towards it and found Joe Strauss lying face down in the sand with blood oozing from a wound at the back of his head.
***
The police had no answers for them apart from the fact that they deduced the entire incident to be the result of some personal vendetta. They interrogated Jessica for probable suspects and came close only to Adam and Shari. The premise didn’t satisfy Jessica, who pointed out that they didn’t have anything to gain by killing her as there was no way by which they could lay a claim on her inheritance.
The police officer in charge shook his head absently. “Then I don’t have any leads, ma’am, someone clearly wants to harm you.” His dark, native eyes watched her closely. “Are you sure you don’t suspect anyone else?”
Ida’s venomous green eyes suddenly flashed before Jessica and she opened her mouth to speak but stopped when Steven gave a small squeeze on her arm. She looked up at him uncertainly. She sucked in sharply when she realized he didn’t want her to mention Ida to the officer. A tiny spark of anger began smoldering within but she chose to keep quiet and shook her head.
Steven had an ambulance called in for Joe. He was immediately taken to the nearest hospital where he was proclaimed unconscious but out of danger. The doctors predicted it would be a while before he could talk to anyone.
After the police left, Jessica sat nestled against Niki on the couch in the lounge. Her face was still pale and she felt miserable. “I can’t take this anymore. I want to go home.”
“Yes, you’re right. We’ll be out of here first thing in the morning.” Steven announced, coming up to her with a drink in his hand. “Drink this up, it’ll do you good.”
She watched him, her stormy eyes betraying her growing anger. She stood up to face him, a deep red color beginning to spread across her face. “Why didn’t you tell them about Ida?”
Her question caught him off-guard. He simply stared at her for a while before speaking carefully. “I can’t involve her in this Jessica.”
Her dark irises glared at him. “Why not?”
Steven once again stared at her almost as if mentally choosing his words before speaking out. “Because she had nothing to do with it.”
“How do you know?” She hissed through her clenched teeth.
Steven regarded her almost looking anguished. He set the glass in his hands aside and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Jessica, sweetheart, you need to rest…”
She tilted her chin defiantly at him. “I asked; how do you know?”
He watched her with an exasperated expression then hung his head in defeat. “I just do, Jessica. Please trust me on this.”
Jessica’s eyes rounded in shock and she took a step back, shrugging out of his hold. “You want to be her, don’t you?” she whispered in shock, almost hating herself for those words.
The navy eyes widened in surprise and denial. “No! How can you say that?” He moved towards her but she put her hand out to stop him. She was heaving breathlessly; shaking her head in denial. He caught the sight of her eyes shining brightly with tears and felt his heart break. She was hurting because of him! He couldn’t do this to her! She had to know the truth. He once again moved towards her and this time caught her in his arms as she swayed dangerously. “Jessica, sweetheart, I can explain.”
Keon appeared then in the room to make an announcement. “Mrs. Devon is here to see you, Sir.”
“What the…” Steven began with a frown but stopped as Ida Devon walked past the butler.
She was wearing a figure hugging evening gown and looked absolutely luscious. A cigarette was held between her elegant fingers, smoke drifting from it in a continuous pattern. “Why Steve darling! You aren’t dressed yet!” she stated simply but the shock was obvious on Jessica’s face.
Steven looked down at Jessica’s white face and cursed under his breath. He couldn’t believe this was happening! Not now, not when she was so fragile. He had not meant to hurt her either but the Lord knew it couldn’t be helped. He sighed w
earily, drawing an agitated hand through his hair. “I thought I asked you to wait at the hotel, Ida,” he mumbled calmly.
Jessica couldn’t believe her ears. She looked up to look at him and found that he had aged by several years. His face was a picture of exasperated creases, his eyes blue flint and his mouth a bitter, hard line. It shocked her to see him like this. Was it because of her? Did he feel committed to her in some way? A futile ray of hope rose in her heart. Could it be that he loved her? If he did, then why did he have dinner plans with Ida?
That thought landed back on earth swiftly. She suddenly felt suffocated and gently pulled away from Steven. She felt him let her go reluctantly. Niki who had left the room earlier during their confrontation now appeared at her side, her looks throwing daggers at both Steven and Ida. She laced her fingers with Jessica’s and wordlessly tried to pull her away but Jessica stood rooted in shock.
“Darling, we’re already late. What are you waiting for?” Ida’s lilting voice mocked Jessica back to reality.
“Why don’t we call it off for tonight?” She heard Steven say tiredly. His words sickened her further. So! He actually had plans to be with her! Her tears flew down her face freely now. It really was over between them.
“Oh, noo.” She heard Ida pout prettily. “I’m all dressed and I will simply not take no for an answer.” She wrapped her arms about his neck and moved closer. A seductive smile touched her lips. “Kiss me like you did yesterday, Stevie. Please.” She moved her lips towards his without waiting for his response and kissed him on his unmoving mouth.
“Damn it, Ida! Don’t do that!” He grumbled glancing at Jessica’s ashen face.
Jessica nearly choked on painful tears that rushed to her eyes. She whirled around and left the lounge hastily. What a fool! What a fool she was to believe for a moment that he actually cared about her! She did not see Steven push Ida away furiously but she heard the other woman’s wild laugh that sent spears of pain to her soul.
“Stop it, Ida!” Steven roared, his face black with anger. He turned to Niki refusing to acknowledge her shocked state. “Go after her, Niki.” Niki obliged him willingly and he turned to Sean. “Out Sean, I need to speak to Ida alone.” Sean gave him an undisguised look of disgust and walked out.
When they were alone, Steven turned to face Ida with controlled anger. “Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
She rolled her eyes innocently. “What are you talking about?”
“You know damn well what I’m talking about!” he burst, just about refraining from slapping her. “I told you yesterday, I want you out of my life! The only reason I let you hang around here for this long is because of your husband. He called me and begged me to keep you here till he joins you and convinces you to go back. He can’t afford a scandal at this point of his career.”
Ida froze, her face contorting with sudden tears. “Don’t you see? That’s all he cares about. His career. But what about me? What about my needs?” The tears began flowing down her cheeks and she clung to him pitifully. “I’m sorry, Steve, I’m sorry for walking out on you. I promise it’ll never happen again. Please take me back, I beg you! Don’t you remember how wonderful it was between us?”
Steven watched the pathetic woman before him and shook his head regretfully. He felt sorry for Ida but that was where it ceased. He didn’t love her, he didn’t want her. He had Jessica. The sudden realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. He loved Jessica! That was it! He loved her and that’s why he couldn’t see the hurt in her eyes. That’s why he couldn’t see her suffer. That’s why he dreamt of her as the mother to his children. That’s why he dreamt of growing old with her.
Ida’s beautiful face turned hard as stone. “I see she’s got to you. You silly man! You love her don’t you?” She suddenly threw her head back, barking with laughter. “You love her and she doesn’t give a damn about you! She’s just possessive about you as any woman who has been challenged. But she doesn’t love you! A woman can never forget her first love. She’ll sleep with you but she’ll always think about Adam Warring. That’s his name, isn’t it? Adam Warring? She almost got married to him because she loved him Steve. She walked out on him because he betrayed her trust. But she can never forget him. That’s what happened to me. I slept with poor Davie all these years but I always dreamt I was in your arms while he made love to me.” She sighed wistfully. “He never realized, the poor dear. And that’s what’ll happen to you, Steve, you’ll never be the man in her dreams.”
Steven struggled with the range of emotions that struggled to surface within him and burst all over like molten lava. Ida had no idea what Jessica had shared with him. Her innocence, her trust and he hoped her love. “Get out Ida! I don’t want to hear your assumptions!”
Ida’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Why did you ask me out tonight if you had no intentions of taking me back?”
Disturbed blue eyes regarded her. “David’s coming tonight. He wanted us to have a face to face talk.”
Desperate green eyes pleaded with him one last time. “Steve, if Jessica had not been around in your life, would you have taken me back?”
He pitied her tortured state. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
A smile curved her sensuous lips in triumph. “I knew it!” She glanced at her watch smiling widely, devoid of her earlier distress. “Look, it’s pretty late, why don’t you drop me to my hotel? It won’t take you long.”
“I can’t go leave her alone…”
Ida pouted childishly. “Pretty please.”
Steven gave in to her meek request. Sean and Niki were around to look after Jessica. Anyway, he didn’t plan to be away for long. What he was truly relieved about was that Ida had finally come to her senses and decided to leave them alone. Tonight he would take Jessica in his arms and declare his love for her. He held out his hand to Ida and she took it readily. “Come on, let’s go.”
Chapter Nineteen
It was nearing two in the morning when Jessica had finally fallen into a fitful sleep. Earlier, Sean had informed much to her dread that Steven had left with Ida. She had spent every moment after that waiting for him to return. But the clock had ticked away and there was no sign of him. Strangely, she had not cried. Her tortured heart was heavy with pain but the tears did not fall.
Niki slept in her room to soothe her fears of the assailant’s return and Sean insisted on keeping a watch by settling on the cane couch. Jessica had been glad to have their company. That was the only way she could sleep peacefully.
***
“Won’t you come in for a nightcap?” Ida asked, smiling politely. They stood at the doorstep of the cottage at her hotel and Steven hesitated. He was eager to get back to the villa and be with Jessica. Ida laid a cold hand on his arm, beseeching gently. “For old time’s sake?”
He gave in, feeling thoroughly exasperated. He hated it when women threw emotional lines at him. “Okay, what do you have?”
Ida’s bright, red lips parted to show her neat, pearly teeth. “Champagne. I had the bottle chilled for a reunion.” She turned and stepped inside, leading the way to a cozy parlor.
Steven entered but remained standing at the edge of the room. He watched her delicate gait to the sideboard and tapped his foot impatiently. She retrieved an expensive champagne bottle from the icebox before facing him with a bright smile. “Would you like to do the honors?”
He couldn’t refuse. He just wanted to get back to Jessica as soon as possible! He went towards her to take the bottle from her hands. When his fingers curled about its neck, her hand covered his making his eyes narrow questioningly. “I’m sorry, darling,” she whispered, “But I have to do this.”
Steven frowned in surprise. “What in the world…”, he began but lost the words as a hard object crashed against the base of his neck. Excruciating pain shot up his head and darkness blinded him before he lost consciousness.
Ida peered at his inert form sprawled out on the floor and smiled at the man who had attacked hi
m. “Thank you, Jake. Now we prepare to wait for the Senator.”
***
Jessica rose out of bed quietly, not wanting to disturb her friends. It was only six but the day outside had already begun. She showered quickly then dressed into a casual pair of cream colored cotton pants that she wore with a short blue tank top. With her feet clad in comfortable tennis shoes, she swung her purse over her shoulder and left the room.
She passed through the quiet house meeting no one. It was Sunday and most of the help had the day off. She peeked into the garage, her eyes sweeping the place for a practical means of transport. When she spotted the sports bicycle in one corner, her eyes positively lit up. She checked the tires and satisfied with their condition, she wheeled out of the villa’s grounds.
She had no particular plans as to what she intended to do. But one thing was for sure. She wanted to stop at Ida’s hotel and see if Steven was with her. She knew for a surety that he was but she still needed to satisfy her hopeful heart one last time.
The open roads welcomed her with enchanting sights as she rode on purposefully. Her disturbed mind had no space for sightseeing. Even her fear of her unknown assailant had disappeared. She had to see Steven, even if only for the last time.
***
Ida opened the door clad in a flimsy nightgown. She smirked ruthlessly, tapping the ash off her cigarette with a careless gesture. “Why, Jessi, darling. This is a surprise. What can I do for you?”
Jessica squared her shoulders bravely. “I saw Steven’s vehicle in the car park. I’d like to see him.”
Ida stepped aside with a theatrical sweep of her arm. “Be my guest.”
Jessica entered the cottage tentatively, suddenly unsure of herself. What did she expect to say to him? I hate you for making me love you? You two-timer! Or maybe just, I’ve come to say goodbye. She drew in a deep breath and faced Ida. “Where is he?”