CHAPTER FOUR
The past isn't far off from the present
The Vroom of a motorbike suddenly jarred her from her daydream as she slouched on the rocking armchair beside the fireplace in the living room.
She gently rubbed her eyes and peered through the window. Drake parked his bike in the garage, raking his fingers through his wind-blown sandy hair as he walked up to the front door.
At once, the doorbell rang. Abigail appeared from the bedroom, she squinted through the peephole and announced that she had a visitor. Only that he is no visitor. She needs to change into something more befitting than her nightgown. She signalled for her to let him in and that she would join him in a bit as she scurried across the living room to the stairs.
Abigail nodded. The doorbell rang again. The door clicked open. He heaved a sigh and then stepped in.
The living room was massive with a touch of Victorian decor which gave off an austere elegance. The tall ceilings were decorated with traditional crystal chandeliers. The room displayed beautiful objects and heirlooms.
The maid motioned for him to seat on the chesterfield sofa. He proceeded to where the sofa was and slumped into it. He had been riding for hours from the countryside of London. He was pretty pooped out.
"What may I offer you, sir. Whisky or...?" She trailed off.
"Coffee is fine for now. Thank you"
"Understood. Coming right up sir. Just a minute" with that words she hurried to the kitchen to fix a cup of coffee.
He checked his mobile. The time reads 12:40 pm yet the chill in the afternoon was still evident. It's still Spring season after all.
Abigail appeared with his brewed coffee and placed the saucer gently on the mini table beside the sofa where he was seated.
"Here you go, Sir. Miss Janice will join you shortly," Abigail said with a smile on her face.
"Thank you very much, Abigail," he said returning the smile.
She bowed slightly and then retreated to the other room.
Momentarily, she emerged from the stairs, walking gracefully down the stairs.
He lifted the coffee to his lips and watched her over the curve of the mug.
She wore a V-neck strap tank Top and denim trousers with a pair of leather boots.
"Look who decides to show up and what took you so long," she said as she sat on the sofa across from him.
He chuckled
"Had a few businesses to deal with in the countryside."
Her brows furrowed with curiosity
"Business?"
"Y-yeah you know me I'm a jack of all trades. Never mind me where's your Dad?" He laughed nervously.
"He's at work Obviously," she said emphasizing the last word.
"Oh right, It completely slipped my mind. It's Tuesday after all" He Sipped the remaining coffee. Damn it! He's acting completely act of character and Janice may have already noticed judging by the questioning stares she kept flinging in his direction.
Get your acts together man!
He cleared his throat.
"How about a glass of whisky? C'mon " she gestured to the minibar across the corner of the room.
She stood at the counter and then cocked her head towards him.
"How do you like your whisky?"
"Bourbon, neat please"
"Coming right up sir," she said sheepishly.
He burst out laughing
"Nice acting Jane"
"Here you go," she said as she handed him the glass of whisky. She poured for herself, took a sip and grimaced.
"Don't force it," Drake chuckled looking at her.
"Nahhh I'm good!" She beamed.
"This place hadn't changed at all," He said scanning the house.
"Sort of. Well Dad had a few renovations done on them but it's pretty much still the same. My Dad's taste hardly changes ".
"I can see that. By the way, how're my babies doing?"
"B-babies?! What babies?" She stuttered, alarmed at his words.
He burst out laughing hard when he couldn't contain the look on her face.
"Relax Jane. I was talking about the horses"
She heaved a deep sigh
"You asshole! I couldn't breathe at some point. I-I thought..."
"You thought you had a baby for me?" He completed the statement with a sneer on his face
"Get a hold of yourself you mug head!" She squealed.
He chuckled. "So?"
"They are fine generally. However, the young horse has been ill for a while. We had someone replace you ever since you left without a trace but the lad is currently on leave and out of the country. The doctor is coming over tomorrow to take a look at her"
"I would like to see her. There should be something I can do at least before tomorrow," he rubbed his jaws as he spoke.
"What are you going to do? You're not some vet doctor are you?" She snickered
"Have you forgotten I was your horse keeper? Technically, I still am".
"So...?" She shrugged.
"So I have my ways with horses ever since I was just a little boy. My dad had a herd of them. He taught us real good. Um... I hate to be rude but was one year enough for you to suddenly have amnesia?" He squinted at her, his icy blue eyes sinking into hers with utter confusion.
"Of course not! It-it just didn't dawn on me. You were our horse keeper for crying out loud!" She scoffed.
Like hell, she had forgotten about him! She had been brooding over this puzzle seated gracefully beside her. This man just continues to intrigue her by the day!
Drake gulped down the remaining whisky from the glass and let out a long sigh.
"Let's hit the stables and take a look at the horses. C'mon, you need a little sun on that pretty silky skin of yours miss," he blinked his eyelashes at her as he goaded her.
She chucked. "Alright. I need it, been indoors for too long. Some fresh air wouldn't hurt"
"Great!"
As he walked ahead of her to the front door, she could make out the outline of his muscular arms and shoulders fastening the T-shirt he wore. She bit her lower lip to resist the sudden urge to trail her fingertips on his arm and shoulders. The gush of cold afternoon wind slapped her face as the door swung open. Thanks to it, it tugged her from her fantasies.
CHAPTER FIVEThe horse keeperThe fiery ball in the sky shone relentlessly as they trudged to where the stables were stationed. their boots sank into the soft mound of dirt as they went. Drake paused and cocked his head toward her, his wary eyes softened with worry. It was about five miles from the main compound. The wasteland was very massive about forty-six centimetres acres. A steady rhythm pounded his temples."You okay?" He inquired in between pants.She simply nodded, gasping for breath. Phew! It's been ages since she was at the stables.She placed her hand on her chest. She could feel the rapid thudding. She has to continue. She doesn't want to leave the impression that she's some spoilt twerp who can't even go for a walk."If you need some time to rest just say so. But we will be there in no time. Say about five minutes more" He glanced at his wristwatch and then back at her through squinted eyes."N-No! I'm good. Let's continue" She shook her head frantically.What's she tr
CHAPTER SIX*Where is my daughter?!*"What?! How did that happen?" Mr Jordan's desperate voice boomed across the show glass of his well-polished office. His PA stood concerned by his side. His temples crinkled with alarm."Okay. I will be coming over immediately!"In a minute, He slammed the phone on the desk and ran out of the office without glancing back. The sleek black luxurious Benz was already waiting for him in the parking lot. The bodyguard dressed in a black suit held the door open for him as Mr Jordan rushed in. The pA was already on his tail and all he did was signal for him to wait for his commands as the tinted window of the car wound back up and the car zoomed out of the compound with urgency. *************Drake was pacing to and fro the waiting room in the hospital corridor, his hands raking through his dishevelled wind-blown hair, beads of sweat greased his temples. How did this happen?When he found her she was lying motionless behind the rock, downhill.She must
CHAPTER SEVEN*I'm so sorry*The funeral was very private-it was held in a small town in Glasgow, away from the prying eyes of the media. The last glimpse of her mother's stiff whitish body was at the hospital, just before the doctor zipped the leather corpse bag over her lifeless face. "Time of death 8:45 pm, 10th of August, 2009". The doctor had announced.Her eyes had brimmed with unshed tears, blurring her vision and before she realized what was happening, she was rushed to the emergency ward right there in the hospital. It was a tragic moment for the Jordans. Her father was barely getting by and her condition made things even worse as he had to nurse the death of his significant other and his daughter collapsing in the hospital at the same time. She had felt really bad for him, adding to his headache like that. But it can't be helped-she couldn't control the mixed emotions welling up inside of her, threatening to explode any second so her body did the natural thing by shutting do
CHAPTER EIGHT*Let's go Home*"All vitals are good. You're set to go Miss Janice." The Doctor declared gaily as he gently patted her back after running a few checks on her vitals with his thermometer. Mr Jordan heaved a long deep sigh of relief, brushing his fatigued eyes ridden with deep lines underneath them. Drake leaned against the wall at the corner of the hospital room to give them space for a little family time.He was also relieved.Today had been one hell of a day! He glanced at his wristwatch, the time reads 9:09 pm. The day is almost over. He had brought her to the hospital around quarter past five, with his heart thumping in his chest forcefully and his hair wet from sweat clung to his face, he carried her in his arms as he scurried to the emergency ward. He was sacred to shit!Her shaggy blonde hair was pulled up lazily. Father embraced daughter. While locked in their embrace, Drake caught Janice peering her hazel eyes at him. And she mouthed a "Thank you". He smiled c
CHAPTER NINE*Always and forever*"I can't believe you didn't tell me what happened. I kept calling but you weren't answering your phone, I was scared to shit!" Hannah cried out as she perched at the edge of the Queen size bed. Janice was sitting upright on the silky royal golden bed, propped up by pillows. "I was unconscious for a while. My father was greatly distressed. I'm sorry to have made you worry. But I'm doing fine now." She yawned and stretched. Mr Briggs, the chauffeur had picked them up at the hospital and took them home. By the time they arrived, it was already a quarter past 11 pm. When they got home, her father helped her to the bedroom. Sleep had evaded her last night. she glanced at the clock, It was 4 am! She kept tossing on the bed pleading for sleep to come but it didn't. With tired eyes, she stared at the ceiling lost in the whirlpool of emotions, replaying the events of that day. Before she realized it, sleep crept up on her. She yawned and stretched again
CHAPTER TEN* Blind desire*The twin bed creaked beneath his weight as his body sprawled out on the bed. The alarm blared. He grunted as he tossed over the bed to stop the alarm. Time: 11:45 amHe groaned. Yesterday was draining no doubt. They got home pretty late and he slept fitfully throughout the night. Drake sometimes stays at the Jordan's quarters around the wasteland where the stables were located. When he needed some privacy or during his time off, he goes back to his crappy flat downside-the remote area of London.When he's not working for the Jordans, then he's busy with his mechanic work. Occasionally, he does home service for the big guys in London whom he either met at the club or through the recommendation of Janice.He got out of bed, yawning and flexing his muscles. His room was reasonably small for a person or two. The labyrinth of cobwebs clouded his room. He sneezed, almost misty-eyed. The cabin flooring kept squeaking in response as he did a few push-ups wi
CHAPTER ELEVEN*Like black and white*The fuming Drake paced the room in irritation. Blocking her line was a futile attempt. He groaned into the phone."Rachael? Really?! You don't know when to give up, do you?" He growled."And the best thing you thought to do was to block my line? What is the matter with you anyway? What have I done wrong this time? I thought by coming down to London you will be happy to see me. Apparently, I was a fool. Screw you and that rich bitch you've been shagging!!!" She screeched. The phone vibrated in his hand as her shrill voice travelled through it."Look I'm only in London to work. And my personal affairs is no fucking business of yours. Why don't run back home to Scotland and stop making a fuss over everything.""I'm not a child, Finn. For heaven's sake do I disgust you so much that you don't want to even see me? First, you returned to London without my knowledge and now that I'm in London you can't even see me because of some trull you've been bangin
CHAPTER TWELVE*The Jordans 1*He could hear faint laughter and voices emanating from the far corner of the enormous house when he gingerly stepped in. He could see the maid, who was unaware of his presence, darting across the dining room where the faint voices and laughter were coming from with trays laden with sumptuous dishes of all sorts. The tantalizing scent of the food wafted through his nose causing his stomach to grumble. He let the door click shut softly behind him so as not to rouse their attention at the earliest second he stepped in. He did a couple of breathing exercises to gather himself. Thinking about his past made him doubt himself a bit and now he's fidgeting. Fuck! He needs to get his acts together! Alright man, act normal you got this!He took a deep breath and exhaled again. His boots stomped the neatly polished marble flooring as he went. He flinched as the faint voices and laughter became louder and abruptly ceased when he came into view. At this point, he