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 coolly at her, his blue eyes piercing hard at her as though he would scamper over there this instant and pull her to him, stroking her hair and planting kisses on her forehead.Their embrace was caught shut when his phone chimed. " Give me a minute honey I need to get this. Excuse me" he said as he darted outside the patient room."Well, I will be in my office if you need anything. The nurse will get your prescribed medications ready. Make sure you take them appropriately and lots and lots of rest. I wish you a speedy recovery, Miss Janice. Take care and... You too gentleman" the doctor said airily."Thank you, doctor. I most certainly will." Janice replied with a nod as he walked out of the room leaving the both of them alone in the room.Silence lingered.Janice lowered her gaze to the floor, wringing her hands nervously together.Fuck! Why can't she say anything? He probably knows! He was partly to blame too. I mean, his sudden disappearance compelled her to go back to it. She took a deep breath and jerked her head up slightly to meet blue eyes boring through hers intently. His muscular arms folded jauntily."Did you know?" She asked quietly."About?" He asked, though he already knew what she meant."That I uh... You know was a doper?" She arched her brows at him.He nodded, his eyes still peering at hers made her more embarrassed. She lowered her eyes again in disgrace. Then there's certainly no way her father didn't know. Damn it! She fucked up!"Relax. No one is going to crucify you. You just need to focus on getting better". His tone was soothing to the ears. She could hardly believe her ears.Drake said that?! He can be this sweet too? Her eyes glinted with hope. It's as if his words mollified the built-up tension that was already becoming palpable."Thanks for saving me," she said with a smile.He shook his head. " I should have done better. It's my fault. I'm sorry.""No, it's not! I would have ended up far worse if u were not there on time." she entreated.At that moment, her father stormed in.Casting the duo a leery look."Is everything alright?" He asked, looking at Janice who lowered her eyes and had resumed wringing her hands together again."Sure," she said glancing up with a dry smile on her face."Sorry I took a while. Business as usual""It's fine Dad. Let's get outta here already. It's so depressing in here. I've always hated hospitals!" Janice cringed."Sure thing sweetie. But first...." His voice tapered off as he turn on his heels towards Drake's direction, Anger brewing inside of him. He clutched his shirt roughly."Do you mind telling me how the bloody hell my daughter was riding a horse by herself without support? Then what have I been paying you for? you numb skull of a horse keeper!!!" He bawled at him. Drake didn't flinch, his features as stand-offish as usual further infuriated Mr Jordan who was stammering to come up with other words to deride him of how much of a big fool he was to have led his daughter in harm's way.Janice tried to pry her father's arm away from Drake. It was however a rather feeble attempt as her body is yet to adjust after taking up so many drips and needles. Yikes!"Dad stop! He didn't do anything wrong. Besides, he saved my life." But he wasn't even paying attention to her.She rolled her eyes desperately. " For crying out loud guys! In case you didn't notice, we're in a goddamn hospital and it's almost 10 pm! " she shrieked.Her father slowly released Drake's now rumpled shirt, his eyes still blazing hot."Is this your welcome gift after your abrupt disappearance? To hurt my daughter? Perhaps we should have a little chat tomorrow about your resignation"."Dad... Weren't you listening? Drake. Saved. Me. you can't just lay him off like that.Besides he was the only one that made me fall in love with horse riding. He wanted to take a look at the sick horse that was why we both went to the stables and I insisted. He's way better than that mug head Steven if you ask me." she goaded with pleading eyes at her father."Alright. Maybe I overreacted. But anything could have happened and the mere thought that I could lose you..."Janice hugged her father tightly. " It's okay dad I'm fine."When they parted, she grinned cheerfully at her father."It's been a long day. Let's go home". Father and daughter held hands as they walked outside the room to the corridor with Drake following close behind.Drake pursed his lips wryly. Janice didn't have to stick her head out for him like that. Well, she's kind of saving him a few snags to deal with. He will need Mr Jordan's trust if want this mission to be successful. Mr Jordan is very soft when it comes to his family-the only family he's left, is his daughter and only heir and he'd do anything no matter how foolish to protect it.That's why Janice is the key. The key to his downfall.A lopsided smile played at the corner of his lips but quickly faded as it came to avoid suspicion as Janice glanced back at him with a smile.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
CHAPTER THIRTEEN*The Jordans 2*"The Jordans?" He asked with a puzzled look. "You mean, the rich folks dad used to work for?" His mum simply nodded, her face now bloated and flushed with tears. He retrieved a neatly folded handkerchief from the pocket of his pants and handed it to her. She wiped her face with shaky hands. Drake felt bad for his mother. He loathed seeing his mother like this, helpless and miserable. She was a poor sight to behold and it wrenched his heart."So you're saying that Dad's employer is the culprit?" "Well, from what I could gather these past few years, yes."He shook his head in disbelief."B-but how?! Dad was his loyal personal bodyguard and assistant. W-why would he betray him?" He stuttered."I couldn't believe it either. Douglas, your father was a brave and loyal man to Mr Thomas Jordan. I just don't get why he would go through the trouble to shut him up even to the point of killing him. I think... " she sat up warily and poured herself a glass of
CHAPTER FOURTEEN*Mary Orwell POV*The gloomy clouds were pregnant with rain. Bolts of Lightning flickered in the sky. The heel of her boots made a clacking sound as she walked across the rocky ground of the Prison compound. the October air around her was crispy as she adjusted the shawl around her neck close to her chin.HM Prison Wandsworth is a Category B men's prison at Wandsworth in the London Borough of Wandsworth, South West London, England. It is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service and is one of the largest prisons in the UK.As she approached the entrance, a stout middle-aged security guard arched his brows at her."May I help you, madam?" He asked."I'm here to see Douglas Orwell.""Are you related to him?""He's my husband. I am Mary Orwell.""Understood. Give me a moment." He said as he dialled the telephone while casting her the once-over look.He spoke inaudibly into the telephone while nodding and then placed the telephone back down."Bags check-in please" he moti
CHAPTER FIFTEEN*Back to the present*"Mr Hughen?" Mr Jordan shot him an inquisitive look.His words startled him, snapping him back to reality. "I-I am s-sorry what?" He stuttered.Fuck! It was unlike him. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Janice eyeing him curiously. The last thing he wants is to rouse their suspicion. Not at this point!Great! Mr Jordan is now giving him the once-over look."Are you alright Mr Hughen?""Yes of course! Is just that I woke up with a nasty headache. but I'm super fine now thanks to this wonderful homemade pork soup. In fact, it is the absolute best!" He said gaily intending to change the subject."Oh thank you. Abigail is a brilliant cook. That's why she's been working with us for a decade now!" The happy Abigail slightly tilted her head in appreciation.He forced a smile then reached for the cold glass of lemon juice and took a sip."So? You haven't answered the question, Mr Hughen..." "Oh right! So um...like I explained to Janice be
CHAPTER SIXTEEN*Kiss me More*"We sedate the horse and use a pair of pliers to crush one or more of the warts deeply enough to make them bleed,” the veterinarian explained. “This will often give the immune system a signal that an intruder is present, allowing the horse’s body to mount an immune response, to fight the warts, faster than when you simply leave the warts alone. Usually, within a week to 10 days, the warts shrink up and are all gone. In the meantime, we may give the young horse some bute or Banamine to help with the discomfort while recovering.” She proceeded to inject the horse with a syringe.The vet doctor gently petted the horse as it neighs softly.Drake nodded with his muscular arms folded as he aptly observed the vet doctor. Doctor Rose appears to be in her mid-thirties. Her ginger hair was pulled back in a bun. Freckles dotted her cheeks. She casually wore a striped shirt and denim jeans underneath her lab coat with a pair of hiking boots. She was averagely pretty