by Piper Knox
“I was done for the day, anyway.”
After we had both gotten into the car, I asked, “What if I had not come out. Would you have waited here all night?” He shrugged, “Maybe. But Alicia told me when you’d be done.”
“Fucking Alicia. I will have to speak to her soon,” I crossed my arms, “I thought she hated you?”
“She did. But after I explained everything and got a thorough tongue slashing from her, we got back on good terms. We’re practically best friends.” He whipped out his phone and showed me a chat thread sprinkled with different laugh emojis and dancing girls.
“You’re stealing my friends now!”
“That’s hardly it! Alicia and I have our own friendship separate from yours. I like Alicia, so you know.”
“Careful, I might steal Ax from you.”
“Ha! We go way back. I would love to see you try.”
“We go further than you, though. He was my boyfriend in third grade.”
His brow crinkled. “He’s never told me about that before?”
“That’s because he cried when I refused to kiss him.”
He bellowed with laughter. “What! No way! I need to know more of this story!”
“Oh, you don’t even know that half of it.” We filled the rest of the ride with me telling him playground stories of his friend. We reached the apartment while I was still telling him what I had done to him to get him to date him. “You bullied him into dating you! No wonder he hates you. He hasn’t gotten over his third-grade humiliation.”
“That’s me. Repentant school yard bully.” I opened the door to my apartment and turned to face him. “Thank you for the ride.”
“Don’t you want to come to my place? I could whip up a nice Michelin star meal for you.” his voice was low and sexy. It was tough to say no. I had to resist, though. As much as I wanted him, I still wasn’t ready.
“Thank you but, you aren’t the only one who is Michelin star worthy.” He raised his eyebrows. “Oh?”
“Julie can too. And she usually leaves me food to eat for when I get back home.”
“Is that so? I could test it. See if that’s true?”
It was my turn to laugh, “Nice try. Thanks for the ride.” I closed the door in his face. His pleading look was too much for me not to resist if I had stayed there further. This was good. It was different too. He was different. If he remained like this, I would not be able to resist.
52
I was so close. It was my fault for going in too early. As soon as she shut the door in my face, I wanted to open it. Being with her was something I had looked forward to the entire day. Even Ax had noticed that I was distracted. So, distracted, I sent her a text asking when she would finish working. She had read it and ignored it. The witch. After that I contacted Alicia, who had cursed me first before telling me. I rushed my assistants to get work done and as soon as I could and went over to her workplace. I had only waited for a few minutes when I saw her angelic face. The time I had spent with her felt so little. It made me want more.
I went to my place and threw myself onto the couch. There wasn’t much for me to do except to jerk off while thinking of all the ways I would make love to Hailey or get some work done. I chose work. I still couldn’t concentrate. Her face kept appearing on the screen. I kept thinking of the conversation we had had. After a few hours of non-work, I slammed down my laptop and sent Ax a text.
Me: Did you and Hailey ever date in third grade
He took a while to answer.
Ax: Who told you that?
Me: Hailey.
Ax: So you’re back together now. Is that why you went home early?
We weren’t together yet, but I wasn’t sure if I could tell him the truth. At least not yet.
Me: We aren’t together. She still doesn’t trust me.
Ax: Sucks to be you. Hailey is a great girl.
That response shocked me I quickly typed:
Me: I thought you hated her.
Ax: That was before I knew the truth. Now that I know, she’s kinda sad and I want the best for her.
Me: Better stay away from her, since you now like her.
Ax: Watch out. (he added a devil emoji)
Me: I will skin you alive and hang you by your insides if you ever try to do something.
Ax: (three cry-laugh emojis) You sir are truly whipped.
Me: You’ve been warned.
Ax: Speaking of which, have you told her yet?
I paused. I wasn’t sure how I was going to break it to her. Her relationship with her brother, while it was on the rocks, he was still her brother. Ax sent another text.
Ax: She’s going to find out soon enough. It might as well be from you than from some CNBC news anchor.
He was right, of course. I had to tell her. I will tell her. Just not tonight. Things had been going well between us so far. It would be a shame to ruin it all by telling her something she might ultimately blame me for.
After I closed my chat with Ax, my finger hovered over the next name on the screen. Would it be too soon? She might think I’m smothering her. I was still deciding when she sent me a text.
Hailey: Come right now. Please Hurry!
I didn’t waste my time asking why. Something about the text was off. It screamed emergency. I got up and rushed to her place. The door was open. That was the first shock. The second was that she wasn’t alone. Someone was holding her hostage.
53
When the doorman called and told me that a man who claimed to be my brother is here, I said to bring him up. I was surprised that Bryce had come without calling me first, but I thought nothing of it. When he walked in looking like a drunk who hadn’t taken a bath in three days, I became a little worried. When he started pacing around my apartment, my worry turned to anxiety. Then he brought out a gun.
“What the fuck, Bryce.” I must have had a shocked look on my face because he then said, “Oh, calm the fuck down will you.”
“What’s with the freaking gun!”
“Where’s your husband? I’m sure he’s here. I saw you two going in and I’m pretty sure he hasn’t gotten out.”
Oh. He didn’t know we stayed in different apartments. “He’s not here.”
He became even more agitated, “I don’t have time to play games, Hailey. Where the fuck is he!”
“Not here. God!” He sized me up then said, “Stay there.” He went down the corridor to the bedroom. I followed him.
“You won’t find him there.” He ignored me as he rummaged through all the rooms. Opening and closing doors.
“I told you he’s not here.”
“Tell him to come. Tell him to come from wherever he is.” I almost wanted to laugh. I doubt I could make Caiden do anything. “What do you want Bryce?”
“What’s owed to me. Make the call.”
“Whatever is bothering—” he pointed the gun straight at me. Fuck. He was serious. I typed a text with shaky hands. I was surprised that I was even able to. I showed him the text. “See.” And prayed Caiden wouldn’t see it. Just my luck, Caiden called. “Answer it.”
“No.” The phone rang until it died.
“Why the fuck are you protecting that motherfucker! You seriously did choose him over us, did you!”
“It’s not as if you’ve ever cared for me. I’m the sister who killed your mother, remember. I know how you never made me forget that.”
“That’s because it’s true.”
Many years later and it still hurt. It was funny how I never got over the pain they had caused me. The guilt they had piled onto me was still burdensome and painful to carry. Now, however, I realized that they were wrong. “Doesn’t change the fact that she’s dead.”
“You fucking bitch!” he cocked the gun. The sound was small, but it felt like it had reverberated through the room.
“What the hell is going on?” Caiden barged in. He shouldn’t have. What the hell was he doing here? I pleaded to him with my eyes. Get out. Get out now. At the so
und of Caiden’s voice, Bryce turned to the side such that he could face both of us. “He’s finally here. The man I was looking for.”
Caiden’s gaze went past him to me. His eyes were filled with concern and something else I couldn’t place. He tried to reassure me and it calmed me in a way. His gaze went to Bryce. “What are you doing here?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. First things first.” He glanced past Caiden, “Did you come alone? Nevermind that.” He pointed the gun at me, “Go stand next to your husband.”
I rushed over to Caiden and took his hand. He squeezed it. Bryce then marched us to the living room and commanded us to sit on the couch. After he was satisfied that he was in control, he said, “I want what you owe me.”
“What the fuck are you talking about.”
“I’m about to be fucking implicated. There’s been charges brought against me. And do you know who’s responsible for that sis?” he pointed the gun at Caiden, “He is. That motherfucker is about to send your brother to jail.”
“I’m sure you’re the one to blame here. Not him.”
“Of course. I don’t know why I expected sympathy from you. Anyway. I want what’s mine. He got me in this situation. He should get me out.”
“What the fuck do you want.” Caiden’s voice was low and had a growling undertone.
“Twenty million dollars.”
My eyes widened. “What for?”
“Ten to start a new life, plus another ten mill for unforeseen expenses.”
Caiden shifted in his seat and squeezed my hand again, “I don’t have that kind of money readily available.”
“Oh, come on now. I know you wanted to buy a nice little present for sis over there. You liquidated some of your assets. Give me the money.” I turned to Caiden in surprise. He looked like he was about to crack Bryce’s skull. Present? What present? It wasn’t my birthday. Far from it. Besides, there was no way in hell he would buy me a twenty million dollar present.
“All you need to do is buy a few Bitcoin and forward it to this address,” he took out a crumpled piece of paper from his jean pocket, “it’s all very secure, you don’t have to worry. Pretend that you’re into the crypto game now.”
54
Bryce glared at me with eyes filled with hatred and spite. You would think he was staring at the devil himself. He looked unstable. His eyes would glaze over, then become eerily focused, as they were now. If it had been any other man at any other time, hell even just him, threatening only me? I would have taken a chance. But not now, when Hailey was in the room. The thought that someone would want to hurt her had not crossed my mind until now.
“What do you think? Fair and square for what you have done to me?”
“No, it’s not,” I said to him.
He chuckled, “You’re right, it’s not. I deserve so much more. I deserve my father back.”
Twenty million dollars was nothing to me. He was right, I had that money on standby, and that imbecile had ruined the present I had planned for her. Now she knew I was planning something. Not only that. I was sure I had three times that amount in my crypto wallet. But he didn’t need to know that.
“I can give you the money.”
“I knew you would.”
“But I don’t have my phone with me,” I said, and hoped that it would not buzz or ring while it was in my pocket. His eyes narrowed as if he was trying to determine if I was lying. I held his gaze. After what felt like a long time, he said, “Where is it?”
I thought about saying the office, but he knew I was bluffing. I thought of the next best place.
“It’s back at the penthouse.” He pointed the gun upstairs. “There? You own two of these? Of course you do you motherfucker.” He almost sounded impressed. “Who would have thought that the maid’s bastard would rise so high.” He paced for a few seconds. I turned to Hailey, who was a lot calmer than I was. I rubbed her hand. And mouthed, ‘are you okay?’ She nodded. I glanced at Bryce. He was still pacing. Maybe this could be an opportunity to do something. I looked around. I hadn’t formulated a plan yet when he stopped. “Fine. Let’s go to the Penthouse.” I let out a deep breath. At least he would be away from Hailey, and maybe she could call the police. I stood up.
He pointed the gun at Hailey, “She’s coming too.” Fuck.
It was my bad luck that on our journey to my apartment; we had met no one. When the elevator opened its doors, I marched in and tried to think of some other way of getting hold of the situation. I couldn’t think of any besides stalling. “It’s in the study.” I said. He grunted a response that sounded like a ‘fine.’ We all made our way to the study. I went to the desk. He instructed Hailey to sit in one of the chairs. He sank into the couch behind her and continued to point a gun at her. I went behind the desk and opened and closed drawers, searching for something. Anything. “Are you really going to kill your own sister if I don’t give you the money?”
“Why not? She killed both of my parents.” He shifted in his seat, “Is it really there or are you bluffing?” It was times like these when I wished I had a gun. Instead, there was nothing resembling anything close to a weapon in here except maybe a pen. “I’m looking, aren't I?”
He took out his own phone. “Fuck this. Let's call it.” Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I bent my knees a little so he wouldn’t see and as fast as I could possibly do it, I whipped out my phone from my pocket and threw it in the drawer. “Here it is.” I raised it up to him.
“Why would you put your phone there?”
I shrugged nonchalantly. “A bit absent-minded I guess.”
“Sure. Whatever.” He took out the paper again and threw it on the desk. “Do the transaction.” I grabbed the paper and punched in the numbers. I was about to hit transfer when I heard a noise downstairs. We both heard. The room went eerily quiet. There were three people other than me who could enter this place. One was in here, the other was Julie, who I was sure had gone home, and the third person was Ax.
“Caiden?” his voice echoed downstairs.
“Who is it?”
“Axel.”
His voice became a little agitated, “Did you call him?”
I shook my head.
“I could make him go,” I made a point of talking a little louder so Ax could hear.
“Shhh.” Bryce stood up and went to the door. He peeped through it. The next thing happened so fast I didn’t have time to process what was going on. Hailey got up. Ran toward Bryce. When she lifted her hand, that’s when I noticed the paperweight she had been holding. She struck him in the head. He was so surprised by what must have been a painful blow, he staggered. She struck him again, and he hit the doorknob as he tumbled down to the floor.
55
I rushed over to him and grabbed the gun as soon as I could. I would not risk him harming her again. With the weapon in my hand, I took Hailey into my arms. She was shaking like a leaf and breathing hard. “It’s okay,” I whispered into her ear as I brushed her hair. I was shaking too from all the adrenaline coursing through my veins and using her as a comfort blanket, the same way she was using me. Her arms felt so warm I didn’t want to let her go.
“Is he dead,” her voice quivered.
I looked down at Bryce. He was limp but breathing. “No.”
“Thank god.”
Ax petered in. His gaze went to Bryce, then to us, then back to Bryce, then to the gun I was holding. “What the fuck is going on?”
“He tried to harm Hailey,” I spoke over her head.
“Is he dead?”
I shook my head.
He raised his eyebrows and looked down at Bryce again. “Wow.”
◆◆◆
A few moments later we were all downstairs. Ax and I had managed to tie up and drag a knocked out Bryce down the stairs while Hailey called the cops. Her voice was still shaking when she made the call. I almost wanted to do it myself, but she insisted. We sat Bryce down onto the couch and waited for him to come to while we waited for the cops. Ax was still i
n shock.
“So you’re saying she knocked him out?” he whispered beside me after we sat on the couch opposite Bryce. My gaze went to Hailey, who stood with her arms folded as she stared down at the view of the city. I nodded.