Found By You (The Spring Rose Bay Series Book 1)

by K. L. Jessop

  I want to tell him but I can’t bring myself to speak the words.

  Andrew helps me to the sofa and gets us both a shot of whiskey from my secret stash I didn’t think he knew about, kneeling down in front of me and stroking my hand. “Amelia, are you sure there’s nothing bothering you? Marcus has told me everything. If there’s a problem I want to help.”

  Why hasn’t this man got ladies swooning at his feet? If only he’d let people see the real Andrew Harris and not the dark and mysterious one he likes to play. He’s like a gentle giant all muscle and rocking the jaw scruff. Thirty-two and still confined to an office when he should be with a woman that puts a smile on his face.

  “No, I’m fine, nothing’s bothering me.”

  The look in his eyes told me he knew I was lying but he never pushed me. I hate myself for what I’m doing, within minutes of seeing Daniel I’ve already started hiding the truth from those close to me, just like I did for him all those times he bruised my body. I hated what he did and I hate that yet again he has this control over me that I can’t seem to fight.

  My office phone was constant with incoming calls and I knew it’s likely to be Felicity wondering what the fuck I ran for. Nadia was due in just under an hour and I knew I had a job to do even though I was terrified of leaving my office. With me and Andrew both hid away drinking whiskey it meant that no lead of authority was on the ground floor and I couldn’t let Marcus down.

  “I should get back.” I mumbled, hating saying the words that left me. I go to stand but my legs give out with their continuous shake and I fall back to the sofa.

  “You look terrible. You’re not going anywhere other than home.”

  “Andrew, Nadia’s security is down stairs. We had a function to manage.”

  “And I will handle it. I can’t have you working under pressure when you not well, you’re going home, Amelia, no arguments.”

  His hard stare told me I’d lost the fight and to be honest I was too exhausted to continue doing anything. I physically couldn’t do anything and emotionally I was a wreck as my mind was on overdrive with panic. All I wanted was Marcus.

  “You can call him now.” I whisper as I lay and curl myself on the sofa, wanting nothing more than his strong arms that protect me, to cradle my vulnerable body and bring the warmth back into my heart that suddenly felt ice cold. I close my eyes and try to block out the image of evilness as the tears slip out from my closed lids in the hope that this was all just some fucked up nightmare and I’m soon to wake up.

  ***

  “Amelia, baby?” my eyes fluttered open to catch the sight of hazels I loved to see and forever kept me safe. “Hey, what’s all this I hear about you freaking Andrew out? It takes a lot to scare him.” His voice was gentle as he smothered his hand over my hair. I’m still laid on my office sofa and Andrew was still nursing a glass of whiskey. The heavy feeling of fear still pumping its way through my veins.

  “How long have I been asleep?”

  “Not long.” Andrew replies, throwing back the rest of his drink. I place my hand on Marcus’s face and drowned in the sparkle of his eyes. He’s like my ray of sun, surrounding me with the brightness of his embrace and burning its way through the darkness that’s consumed me to fill my heart with warmth. I really don’t deserve him.

  “I’m sorry, Marcus.”

  “What for?”

  “Everything. I can’t even run a fucking wedding reception without freaking out. I’m such a mess.” I choke out as I try to hold back my tears.

  “It’s just a wedding party babe, you’re more important than what’s going on downstairs,” the softness of his lips on mine caught my breath, ever so often he would remind me with his angel like kisses just how precious I was to him and him to me. The tenderness of his touch would take my breath but somehow keep me breathing.

  “You would tell me if there was anything wrong wouldn’t you?”

  Even though Marcus was close I still felt so exposed, like every part of my heart and soul had been ripped from me all over again and hung up on a line waiting to be battered. Waiting to take it anyway he wanted, and I knew that as long as Daniel was here in Spring Rose I was not safe and everybody’s life that was connected to me was in danger too. I knew his games well and knew that everyone’s life was in his hands for him to manipulate anyway he wanted. My job in the past was to protect my best friend, now I have a unit of friends around me I loved and didn’t want anywhere near his dirty hands.

  “I promise.”

  “Let’s take you home beautiful.”

  I heard his repulsive laugh before I saw him. Felicity’s giggle bouncing out against the wall of the foyer as he worked his putrid charm and hated that she’s just as blind as I was. I saw my own reflection in her as he ogled her like the grand jewels, no doubt acting like a true prince only to turn twisted evil once the door had closed. That was one thing I could never work out with him. How one moment he was everyone’s favourite person providing his sweet smile and engaging others in conversation they wanted to hear as the woman swooned around him like a flock of horny housewives, then the next I was thrown against a wall and beaten for showing too much cleavage in the dress that he bought. He was a permanent head fuck, his mind control was fatiguing and after all this time I still couldn’t work it out.

  My hand tightened around Marcus as we rounded the corner and just like earlier I felt like I’d been punched in the gut when he turned, feeling his eyes run over my body without even giving him eye contacted.

  “Mr Matthews, I didn’t think you were coming in today.” Felicity smiles, lacing a ribbon of hair between her fingers.

  “I’m not, I’ve just come to take Amelia home.”

  “Oh, Miss Weston, is everything alright?” she ask before quickly flashing her swoony eyes back to Captain Evil.

  I couldn’t be bothered to respond, a nod and smile was all I could muster as Marcus swims his arm around my waist as we make our way over to where Daniel stands.

  “Marcus, what are you doing, let’s go.”

  “Baby, I can’t just ignore him. I won’t be long.” He smiled with a kiss on my cheek. If Marcus hadn’t been holding me I’m convinced I would of fallen as I could no longer feel my legs, trying to stop myself from falling into another panic attack with the deep inhales through my nose as we got closer,

  “Mr Newman, is that correct?”

  “Lloyd please,” even his voice caused the bile to thicken in my throat. After all these years of not seeing him and recovering from the life I had with him felt as though I’d never left his escape. His build was thicker, overgrown scruff on his jaw and had a look evil like he always had.

  “Lloyd, Marcus Matthews, pleasure to meet you sir.”

  They shake hands. If only Marcus knew.

  “And yourself, congratulations on the award, your hotel is incredible, the money that’s gone into this place is noticeable, it’s even bigger than I imagined.”

  “Thank you, I take a lot of time and thought when I invest, I knew this place was full of potential when I saw it on the market.”

  Stop talking, stop talking!

  “Babe, can we go now?” I plead in whisper.

  “Yes of course. Unfortunately, Lloyd, Miss Weston is a little under the weather and needs to be taken home. Claudia has very kindly stepped in to take her place so any problems she’s the one you need. Or there’s Andrew the Manager on duty.”

  “Thank you. I’m very sorry of you sudden ill health, Miss Weston. It was a pleasure to finally meet you.” Before I had chance to react Daniel takes my hand in a shake. Squeezing my hand tight in his grip and flashing my eyes to him as I try and hide the pain. The look in his eyes was one I remember well, cold and dark. It was the look of warning and the grip of his callus hand was the physical message of what he could do. There was no life in his eyes, no emotion, no remorse, just dead and cold which sent a chill down my body. A chill that laid heavy on my heart.

  “Until we meet again, Miss Weston.�
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  Chapter Thirty-One

  Amelia

  You can be the strongest amongst many but it only takes one person to bring you down. One person to wash away every bit of recovery you’ve achieved over the years. One person to set your anxieties, panic and fear rocketing to new highest. One person to destroy the life you’re beginning to love and one person to take you right back to the broken fragile girl who was lost in the world of darkness. I thought that person was no longer around to hurt me; I thought I was freed from his violence and septic words. I was wrong!

  It was either nightmares or insomnia that played the nightly roll, last night I laid reliving the nightmares with my eyes wide open as I clung to my prince and not wanting to let go. I’ve laid here since dawn just watching him as he sleeps peacefully, thinking how lucky I am that he wants me in his life.

  “I believe I have your beautiful eyes watching me?”

  “How the hell do you do that?” I smile as his own mouth curves.

  “What? Know that you’ve been watching me as I sleep? It’s my special Spiderman senses.” He replies with his eyes still closed and his voice thick with sleep.

  “Oh really? I thought you were Thor?”

  “That too.” He rubs his eyes and opens them, clearing his throat and pulling me over to lie flat out over his body. He tucks my hair behind my ears and his fingertips trace up and down my back. “Just call me the King of Marvel. I’ve already gone all Hulk over Lucas, only he got off lightly as I never got chance to threw him against the wall.” He chuckles.

  “Not to mention your Superman stunt when we first met,”

  “Exactly. I’m a collaboration of Heroes when it comes to you, Miss Weston, one I never fail to get tired of.”

  I softly run my finger round his hairline, his jaw, over his eyebrows and down his nose. Finishing with my fingers tracing over his lips and flicking my eyes back to him as he watches. He’s perfect in every way and it’s still crazy to think that he can have any woman he ever wanted yet he wants me, all of me, flaws included. “I’m so lucky to have you, Marcus.” I whispered. “Promise me I will always have you.”

  He rolls us over and rest on top of me, his hazel eyes full of integrity and promise that fill my heart with unconditional love. “You know you have me, there’s nobody else I want other than you. What do I have to do to prove to you that I only want you?”

  “Kiss me like you mean it and hold on to me forever.”

  His lips made contact with mine and he kissed me in the most desirable way, full of passion and power, running his hand over my body and cupping my thigh to lift my leg and smooth over my skin. It’s moments like this that I want to hold onto forever, keeping me safe in his arms. Keeping me from falling. “I love you, Amelia.”

  Tell him, tell him! The words are on the tip of my tongue, wanting to tell him that he has me, all of me. But I only speak the words I know how. “I know.”

  ***

  I loved my job and everything about it, it brought me peace, happiness and kept me grounded. But right now as we leave the house and head in the direction of the hotel, I hated every second of it and wanted nothing more than to lock myself in the house with Marcus and never leave.

  Dread ran over my body like mites, the bile in my throat felt as though it’s choking me and I feel sick to the stomach with what I knew I had to face. Today is the last day Nadia and her people are at the hotel and once they have gone everything can be back to normal. I’ve not told anyone of my findings as the thought of what that would mean scares me. I don’t wish to put anyone’s life in the hands of a violent man but the secrecy is killing me and fucking with my head.

  Maybe he’s changed. Maybe after all these years he’s seen the error of his ways and become the man I always thought he could be. Those questions often ran through my head the hours I spent last night staring at the ceiling, secretly crying as Marcus slept beside me. But then I remember the way he looked at me when I first laid eyes on him in the foyer and the power behind his strength when he took my hand whilst we were leaving. And even though there was a look of sick satisfaction in his eyes, there was also the look of darkness I remember all too well.

  Just that split second of seeing my past, I knew without doubt where I wanted my future to be and who I wanted it to be with. I may not have told Marcus I love him yet but seeing Daniel confirmed everything in my head I was fighting against with my heart.

  “Babe, I’ll drop you off, I need to stop by Fitzford Hill.”

  My stomach dropped at the thought of him leaving me alone. I throw my phone into my bag that was in the footwell as my fingers continue to twist my ring that’s beginning to chap my skin with the constant friction. “That’s fine.”

  Opening the car door for me once at The Grand, Marcus takes my hand to help me out as his arms slink around my waist, bringing me close to him. “Are you sure you’re ok? Your eyes are telling me you’re not.”

  “I’m just tried. Told you these last two weeks will take it out on me. But least I have you to keep me together.” I smile, trying as best I could to convince him nothing was wrong. He brushed his lips on mine as my body melts against him, taking the edge of anxiety that lays heavy on my gut.

  “Pick you up later,” he says, sweeping my hair behind my ear and kissing my forehead.

  “Missing you already.”

  I wave him off as the ice cold shiver slowly cascades its way down my body at the thought of going inside a building I once loved. The hairs on my skin stood tall as I clicked my heels along the marble floor trying my best to avoid everyone’s eyes as I made my way into reception. Feeling even more vulnerable in knowing that I wouldn’t see the face of my best friend who would kill for me if she knew what I was facing today.

  “Good morning, Miss Weston,” Felicity beams handing me my mail, “Andrew sent a message to say he will be delayed.”

  “What?” my breath catching my throat. “When will he be here?”

  “He never said, sorry.” Even though I heard her loud and clear I still looked at her as though I was waiting for answers. I was officially fresh bait and on my own.

  “Ooo you know that sexy security guy of Nadia’s? We so hit it off yesterday and he-”

  “Stay away from him!” the sharp jab of my voice made her jump. “You shouldn’t be getting in involved with staff members that work alongside-”

  “You’re involved with Marcus.” She interjected. I felt like a bitch taking my anger and insecurities out on her when she wasn’t even to know of my issues but I just saw red on the mention of Daniels existence.

  “Marcus owns the building, Andrew is my boss there’s a difference. I however am your boss and I’d like to pay you for the job you’re meant to be doing rather than checking out every piece of fucking eye-candy that walks through the hotel doors. Is that clear?!”

  “Y-yes, Miss Weston.” I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around her and hug the shit out of her, Felicity like myself was easily led astray when it come to the wrong men and lacked confidence. She would hardly look at the guests when she first started and here I was knocking her down like a hammer to a nail.

  I take my mail and leave her silent as I walk my unsteady legs through the hotel and up to my office, constantly looking over my shoulders for any unwanted monsters lurking in the shadows. The relief that hit me when I took hold of my office door was overwhelming, only it soon vanished and the fear returned hitting me like a wrecking ball once I walked inside.

  “We meet again, Amelia.” He leant against my desk in his black suit, drinking my alcohol in my fucking office. I could smell his putrid musky scent lingering up my nose whilst vivid flashbacks of his torment play in my mind as I tried to remain strong. He was drinking before noon, which meant he wasn’t in the greatest of moods.

  “Get out.” My frightened voice is feeble and pathetic, like he always made me feel. His snigger’s making me uncomfortable, his eyes are dark and dangerous like they always were as my body prickles with p
anic.

  “I’m not going anywhere. Not until I get what I came for.” The callousness of his voice grated through my bones, even after all this time the only emotion he showed was aggression and hatred.

  “Which is?”

  He downs his drink in one gulp, placed the glass on the desk and flashed his eyes at me that have now turned to fire as he growls. “You!”

  A firm hand pinches my arm with his grip as my legs are taken from under me in my bid to escape, covering my mouth as he kicked the door shut and slamming me against the wall. “Make a fucking sound and I will hurt you!” he sneered.

  My heart was rapid, chest convulsing for air as my eyes-widen in fear of the likeliness that’s going to happen. The pressure of his hard body on mine was more powerful than I remember and the painful grip on my mouth felt as though I was already bruised.

  “Now here’s what’s going to happen, so you best listen very clearly as I don’t like repeating myself. Does that rich fucker you’re screwing know who I am?”

  I shake my head as my chest feels as though it’s shutting down with the onslaught of my panic. “Good. Because I can’t be responsible for my action so you’re going to keep your fucking mouth shut do you hear me? Because I will hurt him, Amelia, I promise you that.”

  I nod, desperately wishing I told Marcus he’s found me but knowing I needed to protect him. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect him. “I’m taking my hand away now, not a sound you hear me?”

  I nod to his order as the instant relief on my mouth causes me to gasp for air, “What do you want from me?”

  He pushes off of me and steps back never taking his stone cold gaze away. In the corner of my eyes I can see the security button under the lip of my desk but it’s too far. I’m closer to the door for my escape. “I’ve been working in security for a while, Nadia is the biggest money grabbing bitch I’ve worked for, the pay is hardly liveable, not for today’s standard of living. Then I saw you and lover boy, collecting an award for a seven star hotel and thought I’d pay you a visit. When I found out it was Nadia’s location for her reception it was a win-win. You ruined me, Amelia. You owe me.”