KELLY

ALEXANDER'S POV

She was quiet and didn't say a word to me all through the drive back home. Neither would she look in my direction. I had tried to initiate a conversation, but her replies had been monosyllabic.

She had gone up to the room after saying her goodbye as soon as we arrived home, showered and now slept soundly on the bed. I was in the makeshift office, trying to understand what happened tonight.

This wasn't how I had planned the evening. It should have been perfect as I had lots of sweet plans arranged for us but it all doesn't matter anymore. Her change in attitude started when I mentioned my trip to Seoul to discuss the deal with Wang Fashion and Jewelleries and got worse with Kelly's presence.

Fuck the bitch.

I had no idea she'd crash the dinner. Did she come with the intention of worrying Ashley?

But why was Ashley worried about being left behind while I travelled?

Whatever her reason was, I still needed to tell her who Kelly is and also find out what Kelly was doing at the restaurant and who had given her access.

I reached for my phone on the pile of papers and punched in Michael's phone number in the keypad.

Michael was not only a petroleum engineer, but he was also an expert when it comes to tracking and extracting private information for people. He was more of a tech whiz than I am and has contacts from all over the world from high profiled people who used his services. He called it his side hustle. No wonder he wasn't interested in running a jewellery company.

Michael picked on the first ring. His daughter was crying in the background, and I suddenly found myself wishing I had mine.

Not that I hated children. But this situation and the demands of my corporate duties, especially growing up with an abusive father makes me doubt my ability to be a good father to my child.

I envied Michael during times like this.

“Hi, Alex. What's up?” Michael shouted into the speaker, drowning Tracy's voice in the background.

I chuckled into the receiver. “I can see you have your hands full over there. How are they?”

“Tasha's in the garden picking some tomatoes for dinner and Tracy, as I'm sure you've heard, is right here creating a scene all for a bottle of soda. I tell you it ain't easy, man.”

I laughed harder, almost choking on a laugh. “I know it ain't easy. But at least you're happy being with them.”

“Tasha and Tracy are my life. I don't know what I'd do without them.” He truthfully admitted.

“I know, right.” I replied in between my chuckles. “At least there's someone there to keep an eye on you while you do your stuff.”

“You're right, bro.” Michael said quickly. “Same as you. You know you should think of being with Ashley often.” He added.

There was a brief silence on both ends. I knew where he was headed to, and I wasn't cut out for that. At least not tonight.

I sighed and raked my hands through my hair, causing a mess of it. “Michael,” I said quietly to get his attention. “I need your help.”

Michael let the silence linger for a while before he cleared his throat. “Don't tell me you got into trouble with Ashley.”

“It's about that. Ashley and I were supposed to have dinner tonight and Kelly came bursting into the restaurant after I had bought out the place. I need to know who let her in.”

“You can count on me, bro.”

I knew he would agree to do it. “Thanks.” I replied and pressed the red button on the screen.

Kelly Shawn and I had been friends since high school. She had a thing for me but being the bookworm that I was, I paid no attention to her and her tactics.

Not until she saved my life. We had gone for a house party at her place after exams were over, and someone had been foolish enough to push me into the pool all because he wanted to prove a point. I had drunk too much of the water and struggled helplessly, the water pulling me further down into its murky abyss. Yet the idiot kept laughing at me.

If it hadn't been for Kelly who jumped in right on time to save me, probably I'd be long gone by now.

But after she had gone on to become a model, she was always involved in one scandal after another which would do no good to my image. And mother didn't even consider her worthy of being married into the Jordan household.

Sooner than later, Ashley was going to find out the truth about her. But I wanted to be the one to tell her.

I buried my head to the papers before me but a number of thoughts raced freely in my head that I found it hard to focus. I decided a good sleep was all that I needed right now and shrugged out of my suit as I went to the bedroom.

Ashley was still fast asleep, her frame snuggled up against the king-size bed. Her butt was inched towards my side of the bed. Her brown hair formed a film around her, shielding her face from me.

I stepped out of the rest of my clothing and settled in the space beside her. I had barely closed my eyes when she rolled frantically onto her sides and coughed out of her sleep. I held her steady in my arms, her whole body was tense, her breaths already shallow.

“It's alright, darling. I'm here now.” I reassured her, stroking her hair till she fell asleep again in my arms.

My phone beeped a notification from Michael.

.......

I was able to track Kelly's call logs… don't ask me how I did that. She was able to trace your whereabouts through Felix.

The old fool had given her information on where you were in exchange for $10,000.

.........

Traitor!

I fumed as I sent a thank you message back to Michael.

Who would have thought that the old fool who pledged loyalty to my family would go against my wish all because of a ridiculous sum that wasn't up to the $150,000 he earned.

I'll deal with him tomorrow.