“I feel a bit silly saying this out loud, but… I can’t get him out of my head, Stace.”
“Who?”
“Brad.” She sighs again, but this time she has a dreamy look on her face. “He’s got the most mesmerising eyes that I have ever seen.” I smile at her. I can definitely agree with her that the Water’s family gene for eye colour is strong. Jake’s striking eyes were what first attracted me to him.
“Continue,” I prompt her, knowing that there is probably more that she wants to say.
“I just can’t stop thinking about him. I feel like I am going crazy. Maybe I am crazy? No guy has ever made me think about them like this before. He just… He oozes sex appeal and masculinity. You know what I mean?” she finishes, looking at me for answers.
“Well, I can understand the way that you are feeling. What you are experiencing right now is similar to what I felt about Jake. Hell, I still feel that way about Jake.” Now I am probably the one looking all dreamy-eyed. I shake my head to snap myself out of my daze. “Maybe you could ask Brad out for a drink?”
“I can’t ask him out!” Bonnie exclaims.
“Why not?” I laugh.
“Because he is way out of my league, Stace.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I scold her. “What is it with my friends and putting themselves down?” I don’t expect her to answer that, I am just venting out loud. “Listen, I can have a word with him, if you like?” Bonnie’s eyes widen at my suggestion and I quickly try to put her mind at ease. “I would be subtle, I promise.”
Before she can answer me however, there is another knock on my office door, and the man in question comes breezing into my office.
“Shit,” Bonnie whispers as her head whips round and clocks Brad walking towards my desk.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the beautiful Bonnie,” Brad says, working his charm. Bonnie blushes and giggles like a school girl.
“That will be all, Bonnie. You can go back to the main room now,” I say, dismissing her. She nods her head and scrambles to her feet. I watch her as she casually tries to saunter out of the room, but the slight shake in her knees is a dead giveaway that she is putting on a front.
“Good to see you again,” Brad says, sitting in the chair that Bonnie has just vacated.
“You too,” Bonnie replies. I roll my eyes and cringe slightly at the way her voice sounds all breathless.
Bloody hell, is that what I sound like when I am around Jake? I’d like to think that I have a little bit more sass than that.
Bonnie eventually leaves the office, shutting the door behind her, and I turn my attention to Brad as I wonder why on earth he is sitting in my office.
“So, what brings you here?” I ask, knowing that Jake won’t be too pleased if he is watching the cameras.
“I just thought that I would come and see my favourite sis-in-law.”
Sis-in-law? What is he talking about?
He obviously notices the shock on my face from his comment and he smirks. “Calm down, only joking. Although, you practically are. Jake has never been serious about anyone else.”
“Why are you really here, Brad?” He seems to be side-stepping whatever it is that he came to say. I may sound blunt, but I just want him to get to the point.
“What, no offer of a drink first?” he asks, putting his arms out either side of him in astonishment.
“You have just walked by the bar. You could have gotten yourself a drink then.” Brad starts to laugh, although I don’t really see why.
“I can see why my brother loves you, Stacey. You are one special lady. I just hope that he realises how lucky he is to have you.” His words leave me shocked.
“Uh, thanks,” I say, awkwardly.
“Relax, I don’t mean anything by it. I’m just pleased for Jake, that’s all.” I know that Brad is speaking, but I fail to see any sincerity in his face. It’s almost like the words have been rehearsed, and I start to feel uneasy.
“So, you came down here, just to tell me how lucky you think Jake is?”
“No.” Brad clears his throat and shifts in the chair. He brings his left leg up and crosses it over his right leg. This may be a perfectly normal action, but it makes my blood run cold. The reason being that, his shoes look just like the ones that the flower guy had on. I should know, Jake blew the images up and has looked at them countless times. “I came to see what you really thought of the flowers now that Jake isn’t here.”
My eyes fly up to his face, and my mouth drops open.
“What?” I say in a small voice.
“I asked you what you really thought of the flowers that I left for you.”
“That was you?”
“Yes. Although, I did have some help.” I stare at him, flabbergasted. He decides to take my shocked state as a sign to continue talking. “I know that this place is fitted with cameras, so I needed someone to scope the place out for me properly. Did you not wonder why Tom never showed up?”
“You and Tom?”
“Yes, Stacey. Me and Tom. You see, I needed to get an idea of where all of the cameras were, so that I could hide my face. I also know that it is only a matter of time before Jake finds out that it was me who sent you the flowers, and of course the note that I left on your car. I knew that he would want to know who sent them, but I didn’t expect him to go all FBI on my ass.”
“But… Why?”
“I like you. Simple.” He says it without a care in the world. I don’t know what planet that he thinks he is living on, but once Jake finds out, I am certain that he is going to brought back down to earth with a bump.
“But you don’t have to buy flowers or leave notes for someone just because you like them.” I am trying to think of an appropriate reason for him doing this, but nothing is coming to me.
“When they have a connection, like we do, then people send flowers.” He speaks with such confidence that I almost want to laugh at him.
He can’t be serious right now.
“What connection?” At this point, he stands and comes around the desk. I shift back in my seat, feeling more than a little uncomfortable. He perches on the edge of my desk, facing me, and smiles.
“You must feel it, Stace. Don’t deny it. Since the first day I met you, there has been something. In my doctor’s office, you wanted me. I know that you did.” My heart rate accelerates, but not in a good way. I have been trapped in an office before, and right now, I feel on edge. I don’t like it, and I need to diffuse whatever the hell is going on.
My brain spins as I process the amount of people who have tried to screw Jake and I over. My eyes stare at the floor, and Brad takes this as his opportunity to take hold of my hand. I try to pull it out of his grasp, but his grip is firm.
“Brad, I have no idea what you are talking about. What I do know though is that you need to let go of my hand,” I say as I try to free myself from his grasp. He doesn’t listen. He holds on tighter, and I pray that Jake isn’t witnessing this. If he is, then he is going to be going mental.
My office phone starts to ring, and I peek around Brad at it. I desperately want to answer it. I go to move, but Brad blocks my way.
“You can’t dismiss me, Stacey.” He places my hand over his heart and it is beating wildly.
“Please let go of my hand.”
“No. I need you to admit what you feel for me. I need to hear you say that you want me.”
“But I don’t want you. I love Jake!” I screech at him, my patience running thin.
“I’m not saying that you don’t, but you can want me at the same time.” His eyes plead with me to give him the answer that he wants, but I can’t.
“I’m sorry, Brad,” I say with a shake of my head. “I just don’t feel that way about you.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No, I don’t!” I close my eyes in frustration and Brad finally lets go of my hand. My eyes snap open and I hold my hands to my chest, so that he can’t grab one of them again. “You need to stop this, Bra
d. If Jake finds out about this, then he is never going to speak to you again.”
“I don’t care,” he replies with a shrug of his shoulders.
“You don’t care? You don’t care?” I shout, my anger rising to the surface. “If you don’t care then why the fuck did you come back?” I am on my feet now. Rage courses through me.
“To screw with him. I came back to screw with Jake.” My next move shocks Brad and myself as my hand flies out and slaps him hard across the face. His head turns from the force of my slap, and it is at this moment that I see that Jake has entered my office.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jake
Two seconds ago, I had a smile on my face.
Two seconds ago, all I wanted to do was have a quiet drink whilst I surprised my girlfriend with a visit to her office.
Two seconds ago, all I wanted to do was relax.
That is clearly not going to be the case as I have just walked into Stacey’s office to the sight of her smacking Brad around the face.
Shock doesn’t even come close to what I am feeling right now.
“What’s going on?” I say, finding my voice. I close the office door and step closer to Stacey’s desk. Her eyes are wide, and I keep my gaze fixed on her, ignoring Brad, who is rubbing his cheek.
“She’s fucking crazy,” Brad says, his answer instantly pissing me off. I clench my fists at my sides and turn to look at him.
“Don’t talk about her like that.”
“Fucking hell, she really has done a number on you, hasn’t she?” Brad’s cocky nature shines through. He moves around her desk and away from her.
“You bastard,” Stacey says, her words directed at Brad.
“Me? You’re the one who just tried to hit on me,” Brad says. My pulse quickens, and I have no doubt in my mind that he is lying. “You clearly don’t know her very well, bro. You wanna get rid of her before she fucks you over.”
With that, Stacey rounds her desk and is walking towards Brad, but I catch hold of her arm, halting her in her tracks.
She looks at me, her eyes pleading. “He’s lying, Jake.”
“I know,” I whisper to her, not doubting her for a second. I say the words quietly, so that Brad can’t hear me answer her. I can feel her body trembling with rage, and all I want to do is take her in my arms and make her feel better, but I can’t do that right now. I need to deal with Brad first.
I move her, so that she is stood behind me, effectively making my body a shield between the two of them. I face Brad and stare at him intently.
“It would be a really good idea for you to tell the truth right now.” I fold my arms across my chest and I try to push down the anger that I am feeling. I need to hear his explanation and see if he is going to spout a load of bullshit at me.
“I came in here to see if she wanted a drink, and that is when she made a pass at me.”
“What?” Stacey screeches behind me. I move my hand back and take her hand in mine, squeezing gently to let her know that I am not buying his story.
“She grabbed hold of my hand and started going on about how we had a special connection. When I turned her down, she slapped me and that is when you walked in.” He shrugs his shoulders as if this is a normal, everyday occurrence for him. For all I know, it is, but I will be damned if he is going to try and wreck what Stacey and I have together. I can feel the tension pouring off of Stacey behind me. Her breathing is loud, and I know that it must be taking all of her willpower to keep quiet. “You have to believe me, bro.”
I actually want to laugh at him at this point, but I don’t. I turn my body, so that I am looking at Stacey.
“Would you like to tell me what really happened now?” I say to her. Stacey starts to speak, and each time Brad tries to interrupt, I tell him to shut up. I heard his pathetic version, now I want to hear the truth.
When she has finished, I simply place a kiss on her hand and then I turn back to Brad.
“You’re not going to believe the crap that just came out of her mouth, are you?” he asks, and I can see that he is starting to look worried.
He knows that I believe her.
He knows that I know that he is lying.
I am quite proud of myself for not flying across the room and punching him in the face.
I let the tension simmer for a few minutes as I watch Brad start to squirm. If I’m not mistaken, I can see beads of sweat forming on his brow.
Good. Let the fucker panic. I should never have agreed to let him back in my life. I know what he is, and I now know that he will never change.
He came back here to fuck with me.
“Let me give you a piece of advice, Brad.” I say the words slowly so that they sink in. He stares at me, waiting. “Run.”
“Run?” He almost looks like he doesn’t understand what I am saying.
“Yes. Run. Get the fuck out of here before I really lose my shit.”
“Oh my God, you are actually going to take her word over mine?” he says as he points at Stacey. “Clearly a good fuck is more important than family.”
Before I know what I am doing, I am across the room and have Brad pinned against the wall. Not losing my shit didn’t last long.
“Jake, bro, calm down.”
“Calm down? Fucking calm down?” I shout in his face. “You expect me to be calm when you talk about Stacey like that?”
“She’s just some woman.” I tighten my hold on him, making it clear that his words were the wrong ones.
“Jake,” Stacey’s voice says softly from behind me. “Jake, let him go. He’s not worth it.” Stacey knows what I am capable of when it comes to her. She saw me beat the shit out of Donnie when he attacked her. She will know that I have no qualms about doing the same thing to my brother if he continues to be disrespectful about her.
“Please, Jake.” Her pleading voice is the only thing that makes me let go of him. If it was anyone else trying to talk me down, then it wouldn’t make a difference.
Brad sags against the wall as I step back from him slightly.
“Get out,” I say, my voice low and menacing.
“So, that’s it? You want me gone?” Brad says, his arms held out either side of him.
“Yeah, I want you gone.” I have never said these words to him before. I have been pissed off with Brad many times in my life, but I have never actually told him to go.
“You’re gonna regret this. She won’t be around for you forever. I was just trying to show you what a tart she really is.” I feel Stacey’s hands clamp around my arm to stop me from doing anything.
I clench my jaw and try to take a few deep breaths to calm myself down a little.
“This has nothing to do with Stacey. This is about you wanting to screw me over as much as possible.”
“Damn straight I want to screw you over,” Brad shouts, his true colours shining through. “Why did you get to be the one with the great fucking business? Why did you always get the girls running after you? What makes you so fucking special? I always got glanced over. I was always the one on the side-lines, watching everyone fall over their feet to speak to you. What was wrong with me? Why did you get all the glory?”
Brad’s ‘nice guy’ act has well and truly left the building. “I never thought the day would come where Jake fucking Waters would have someone that he cherished more than his own life. When I came back here, I already knew that you had fallen hard for Stacey. It’s amazing what you can find out if you know the right people to contact. I must thank Caitlin for all of the information that she gave me about the two of you.” I hear Stacey gasp, and even I am a little shocked by his admission of speaking to Caitlin.
“You spoke to Caitlin?” Stacey says from behind me.
“Oh yeah. She was more than willing to help me try and split you two up. It was her idea to leave the note on your car and the flowers in your office. She thought it would be a nice touch, seeing as she stalked you for weeks before she stabbed you.”
“You sick, tw
isted––”
“Yeah, yeah. Call me what you like, but you can’t deny that it was a good fucking plan,” Brad says, cutting Stacey off mid-sentence. “It’s just a shame that it hasn’t ended in the way that Caitlin and I had hoped.”
“And what was the end game?” I ask, almost wishing that I hadn’t voiced my curiosity.
“To gain your trust and leave you heartbroken, bro. To make you feel worthless, like I have done all of these years.” I scoff at his and Caitlin’s ridiculous plan.
Is this the best that they could come up with?
They clearly underestimated mine and Stacey’s commitment to one another.
“Brad?” Stacey says from behind me, making me turn around to look at her. Her eyes are wide, and she has gone pale.
“Yes, Stacey?” Brad replies.
“That morning that you came to the house to invite me to breakfast, how did you get in?” I turn away from Stacey to look at Brad as it finally clicks into place for me that she didn’t actually let him in the house on the morning in question.
“I was wondering when you were going to ask about that,” Brad replies, a smirk crossing his face. “During my time of plotting with Caitlin, she divulged the information that she had hidden a key to the house.”
I hear Stacey gasp again and my hands ball into fists at his answer. “You see, when Jake and Caitlin were fucking one another, she had the sense to borrow Jake’s key and make a copy.” I clench my jaw as the anger within me starts to boil over. “Jake never knew about the key that she had copied, obviously. She hid the key in a safe place, just in case she ever needed to use it.”
“Oh my God,” Stacey says in a whisper.
“Thanks to Jake’s carelessness before you came along,” Brad says directing his comment to Stacey, “He gave Caitlin the opportunity to have access to his house keys.”
“I feel sick,” Stacey says.
“You need to leave, Brad,” I say, needing him to get as far away from me as possible before I wrench my arm out of Stacey’s grasp and launch myself at him.
“And what are you going to do about it if I don’t?” he says, cockiness taking over.
The Complete Perfect Series Page 61