Back in the car I had calmed enough to use the GPS. I might not know where exactly I was going but I had a general idea. Something not too far for a night’s drive but far enough from here. I felt the need to be near the ocean so that’s where I headed. The Carolinas should be nice this time of year.
I used my phone to Google what I was looking for before putting an address into the system. Five hours ought to be far enough for now. Tomorrow or the next day, I’ll think of what to do next.
Since Jonas had been taking care of all of my expenses in the last three and a half months, I had a little something put away. If I cut back a lot, I could find a place wherever I landed until I found a job. My first priority was my child. Making sure that he or she was safe. I didn’t let myself think of what I was leaving behind, I couldn’t.
The pain when I thought of the two of them together was overbearing and I thought it best to just stay numb. I turned the radio on full blast and cried my way through a few songs before I had to pull over to use the restroom. I only had to stop another half a dozen times before I finally reached my destination after one in the morning. I’d called ahead on one of my many stops to make reservations.
The only thing they had available near the water was a one bedroom cottage, which I was more than happy to take. I told myself that I was already feeling better when I heard the waves and the tossing of the ocean with the sea breeze on my face.
I checked in and dragged my butt to the quaint little cottage facing the ocean. I left my bags behind in the car. I’ll get them tomorrow. Right now I was too drained, both physically and emotionally.
I barely took the time to look around the place, just enough to make sure it was safe before locking up, and putting my meager food purchases away. Tomorrow, I’ll see about getting something more substantial than that. If I could ever stand to eat again.
I dropped down on the bed fully clothed barely slipping the house slippers off my feet. Good grief I’d gone into those stores in fuzzy bunny slippers. Who cares?
As much as I tried not to, every time I closed my eyes I saw him smiling down at her with his arm around her. I rolled myself into a ball of misery and cried myself to sleep.
Chapter 11
***
The next morning I woke with the sun in my eyes. It took me a minute to figure out what had awakened me. Someone was banging on the door. I didn’t want to face the world, not yet, but maybe there was something wrong with my card and the hotel needed to check.
I dragged myself out of bed in the wrinkled clothes I’d slept in. I was sure I looked a mess with my hair all over the place, but I didn’t much care about that either. I waited to see what my tummy would do, but for once the baby had decided to take it easy on me.
I pulled the door open and my mouth dropped. A very pissed off Jonas Harp stood there wearing the damning tuxedo from the night before. Before I could dredge up my anger, or slam the door in his face, he grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room behind him while I tried digging my heels in to no avail.
“What are you doing? I don’t want to go anywhere with you. Hey.” They were two men fiddling around with my car and one was getting into the driver’s side. Jonas barely spared them a glance so I figured they might be his henchmen.
“I need to get my bag it’s back there in the room.” It was like talking to a brick wall, he just kept going, dragging me towards a car that was idling with a chauffeur behind the wheel.
He flung the door open and pushed me inside before strapping me in. “Don’t move.” He slammed the door and headed back to the room after my bag. The two who’d been at my car were pulling out of the parking lot and all I could do was follow them with my eyes.
I thought of making a run for it but the unknown man in the front seat had his eyes on me and I was sure if I tried he’d nab me for his boss.
Jonas returned with his face looking like a storm cloud, but of course didn’t say a word to me. The driver drove off and I was wondering how I was going to spend the next few hours in a car with one very angry man.
I needn’t have worried, because we ended up at an airstrip. I looked in amazement when I saw my name blazoned on the side of what I was sure was a gulfstream. I turned to him questioningly but that glare didn’t invite conversation. Nevertheless I was very confused.
I was still trying to figure out what was going on when he led me up the steps to board. There was a staff waiting and I soon found myself buckled into the softest buttery leather seat.
“Good morning sir, Ms. May we get you some coffee this morning?” The nice young African American lady asked. Jonas was staring holes in me still not saying a word.
“I’ll have some…maybe I’ll wait until we take off thanks.” I wasn’t sure how well my tummy would behave and was surprised it hadn’t rebelled yet this morning. Maybe I’d done enough throwing up the night before and kiddo was taking it easy on her momma.
He was still watching me after accepting a cup of coffee. His eyes stayed on me over the cup and I fidgeted around in my seat before looking out the window to avoid him.
The captain came over the intercom to alert us that it was time to take off and the doors closed. The staff had disappeared and it was just he and I left in the confined space.
Here we go. My stomach lurched as the plane taxied down the runway and my head spun. “Put your head between your knees. Shit I forgot about this.” How did he get from his seat to the one next to mine so quickly? And what was it that he’d forgotten about?
He kept his hand on my head as I breathed through my nose and prayed for death. A quick painless one. I felt every movement of the plane as it made its ascent into the skies, hoping against hope that the sickening nausea would ease off once we were airborne.
I wretched and fought to unbuckle myself from the seat. His hands joined mine and I was soon free, looking around for the washroom. There was probably a barf bag around here somewhere but I wasn’t about to do that in front of him.
“Come.” He led me down the aisle to a bathroom at the back of the plane. I tried shutting the door on him but he forced his way in and knelt next to me while I threw up. He was being so sweet I almost forgot I was mad at him. He brushed the hair back from my face and put a cool wet cloth on my forehead and another on my neck.
Please don’t ask me why I’m still sick. That was my first thought when I was finally able to stand again. He didn’t say anything, just helped me clean up and led me out of the suddenly tight room.
Instead of leading me back to the seat he took me to the room at the very end of the aisle, which turned out to be a bedroom. I felt too miserable to complain so I just crawled in . I was only too happy to feel the cool sheets beneath my heated cheeks as I laid down with my back turned.
The bastard just pulled a blanket up to my waist and left. I was probably out before he made it back to his seat.
***
It felt like mere seconds had passed before someone was gently shaking me awake. I rolled over to see him sitting on the bed next to me. Funny, the pillow next to mine had an indentation like someone had slept there. At the same time I noticed that he’d opened a few buttons on his shirt.
I looked from the pillow to him but of course nothing was said. “How do you feel?”
“What do you care?” He reached a hand out to brush lightly over my hair.
“I care very much little one, maybe that’s the problem.” What the hell kind of half ass logic is that?
“Are you feeling up to some tea?” I looked over to where he indicated and saw that he had my favorite tea steeping in a pot next to the bed and sat up.
I grudgingly accepted the cup he passed to me but refused to find any joy in the fact that he knew how I took my tea. I was done with him. Last night had proven that I had the strength to walk away and no matter how much it hurt me to do it, first chance I get I’m gone again. I’ll just have to do a better job next time.
“How did you find me?”
“We’l
l save that for later.” Typical. I ignored him and drank my tea, which helped to settle my tummy some more. It was then I noticed that we weren’t moving. I looked towards the windows and saw that we were on the ground.
“Where are we?”
“Home. We landed over an hour ago.”
“We…why didn’t you wake me?”
“You needed your rest and so did my child.” I went cold all over and tried to jump off the bed.
“Stop it before you hurt yourself.” He reached out and grabbed my arm. I’d forgotten the cup in my hand and put it down before I burnt myself.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I told you never to lie to me. I’ve had too much of that already in my life I won’t stand for it.” What was he talking about? Who’d lied to him?
“You’re calling me a liar? You with your little floozy? How old is she twelve?”
“Who the hell are you talking about? What floozy?”
“Oh don’t pretend you don’t know. I saw you.”
“Saw me when doing what?” Did he really think I was that stupid? Or did he think I’d never find out?
“Rachel, I saw you with her on TV last night.” It hurt just to say the words.
“Are you crazy? She’s my niece.”
“Your…”
“Yes you little fool. I’ve been bringing her up to speed in time for our little getaway.”
“Huh, what little getaway?” My heart was trying to beat its way out of my chest. Was he telling me the truth? How could I trust it? I know what I saw.
“The one I’ve been planning since I realized you were pregnant.” He gave me one of his signature looks and I tried to make sense of what he was saying. His niece, I didn’t even know he had any family.
“I didn’t bring anyone up from downstairs because I didn’t want anyone getting into my business. I asked Rachel to take over for you while we’re gone and keep an eye on things. I’ve cleared my calendar for the next two weeks.”
“Isn’t she a little young?” I wasn’t giving in that easy.
“Didn’t you see the program last night? She’s a prodigy. Harvard at eleven. That thing last night was to honor gifted students.” Now I felt like a complete ass.
“But…”
“Leave it, we’ll talk later, let’s go.” I was numb and in a daze all the way to the car he had waiting. He held my hand for the first time in public as we drove through the streets. I didn’t recognize any of the street signs outside the window but I did know where we were once the car came to a stop.
The driver got out and came around to my door while Jonas exited his side before I could ask him why we were there.
“What are we doing here? I won’t have an abortion.” I tugged on my hand to get away, sick fear crawling up my throat.
“Are you completely insane? I would never destroy my seed.”
“Then why?” I looked towards the medical building.
“She’s the best OBGYN in the city. She will be seeing to your care from now on.”
He was royally pissed. “Your little stunt may have injured my child, we’re here to make sure that isn’t the case.” He pulled me into the building and marched over to the bank of lifts. He pressed the button for the doctor’s floor and we waited. I’m not sure if it was providence that it was empty, but once the doors closed he turned to me, blocking me into the corner.
“You ever run from me again you’ll regret it.” I believed him; he looked mad enough to chew nails. I nodded my head since it seemed he was waiting for an answer and was extremely relieved when the doors slid open on the fifth floor.
The doctor was a friendly middle aged woman with a very sunny disposition for this early in the morning. Speaking of which, what doctor’s office opened at this time? No doubt Jonas had got the poor woman out of bed for this. She greeted us as if she’d been expecting us and spoke to Jonas like they were old friends.
She took me into the examining room and tried her best to get Jonas to wait outside. I could’ve told her she was wasting her time but figured she’d find out on her own soon enough. He gave the poor woman one of his silent glares and she caved with a shrug. I guess anyone who knew him knew fighting was a waste of time and energy.
He stayed by my side throughout the whole examination. I kept my eyes on him while his stayed glued to the monitor. He’d known about the baby. That’s all I could think about as he seemed mesmerized.
“We’re looking good here, everything seems to be in order. I understand that you haven’t started on prenatal care, so we’ll get that started right away.
So far everything looks fine but we’ll know more once we get the results from the blood work. Your pressure could be better.” She glared at Jonas when she said this and I was glad that at least someone knew that he was the cause of all my troubles.
He didn’t bat a lash at her censure, just kept staring at the little screen while squeezing the life out of my hand. He asked a lot of questions, things I never would’ve thought or even known to, but he’d already been here once before.
We left the office with a prescription for prenatal vitamins and a nutrition list that Jonas had folded and put in his pocket. All the way back I waited for him to say something, anything, but he held his peace.
I saw the cutoff for my place and looked at him when we passed it, but he was busy working on his phone. We drove well out of the city limits and my heart rate went into overdrive once I saw the palatial homes that lined the street we turned onto.
The gates to the most magnificent house I’d ever seen opened and the driver went through them. It was only as we pulled up close that I recognized the grey stone structure. I’d seen it before, in a magazine. A magazine that was even now on the bedside table of the little house I’d left the night before.
How could this be? I’d never shown it to him, never even mentioned it. It was just one of those silly dreams that poor girls like me have about ‘what if’. “Jonas…” There was a realtor’s sign on the lawn with the word SOLD plastered across the front.
This time it was Jonas who opened my door and helped me out. I looked around in amazement. It was even more beautiful than in the magazine. The grounds were immaculate, about an acre and a half of lawn in front with a garden that wrapped around the perimeter.
Roses were in full bloom and the color was a nice backdrop to the magnificent stone building with the wall of glass that seemed to run from one end to the next. The sun added its glow to the scenery and made it all picture perfect.
I was too afraid to hope, too afraid to voice the questions running around in my head. He took my hand and led me up the marble steps to the front door. Inside were all the furnishings I’d earmarked in that same magazine and I thought I would faint dead at his feet. “How did you know?” The words were barely above a whisper. It was all I could manage past the lump in my throat.
“I know everything about you sweet Thalia. Come, I think it’s time we talk, and then I’ll give you a tour of our new home.” It was real then. He’d bought this for me, wait…did he say ‘our’? My knees almost gave out and it was only his hold on my hand that kept me from falling.
He led us to the back of the house and out onto the garden patio. I remembered this from the spread. It was one of my favorite parts of the house. A marble patio surrounded by a jungle of trees and flowers with a waterfall leading into a humongous pool.
He sat me at the outdoor table and took the seat next to mine. “Do you need anything? You haven’t had anything but tea yet today. I know it takes a while for your tummy to settle, so whenever you’re ready, the refrigerator and cupboards are fully stocked.”
“About that.” I cleared my throat and looked at him before going on. “How did you know about the baby?”
“It’s like I said, I know everything about you. I probably knew before you did, or at least I suspected. It was your breasts, they were fuller. Even more so than when you’re ovulating. I didn’t think much of
it because you were on the pill, but then I found the test box in the trash.”
Geez, had I really been that careless or was he really that observant?
“I waited for you to tell me, and then when you didn’t I couldn’t figure out what your angle was. I knew you weren’t trying to play me, I knew you well enough by then to know that, but it took me a while to figure it out, and then I was mad as hell at you for not telling me.”
“But you said no children in the contract you had me sign, and I wasn’t... wasn’t sure how you’d take the news.”
“I know, but I’d forgotten all about that blasted contract by then.” Forgotten? What does that mean? Even when he’s talking I still end up with more questions than answers.
“You’d forgotten?”
“Yes, within three weeks of our little arrangement I stopped seeing you as my mistress.” He stopped talking and got up to move around. “Look, I may not have been fair to you. There are things in my past that have made me more cautious when it comes to relationships of any kind.” He’d discarded his suit jacket and now shoved his hands into the front pockets of his pants as he turned to look at me.
“The first time I saw you, it was like a shock to the system. I don’t care how clichéd that sounds, it’s the absolute truth. I took one look at you and everything I’d told myself I’ll never want again, never have, came crashing down on my head. It took me days to get my head together, to figure out how to play it.”
“I didn’t want any part of you, didn’t want to get too close to anyone ever again. But those first few days I couldn’t get you out of my head. I took one look at you sitting there, so unassuming, so disinterested. You were the only one in the room who wasn’t trying to catch the eye of the ‘great Jonas Harp’. I found it intriguing. And once I had you checked out, once I was convinced that it wasn’t an act, my interest only grew.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard the stories.” He smirked before coming back to the table and regaining his seat. “They were mostly true. But I never had anyone sign a contract before you. That was my way of tying you to me without taking the more logical step.”
The Good Girl Page 7