Chapter 5.

Chapter 5

(Blake’s POV)

When I woke up that morning, I hadn’t seen her by my side, and I figured I probably hadn’t been what she had expected until I saw the wad of money she had left behind as payment for my services.

When my friends had forced me to go clubbing with them last night, I hadn’t expected to run into such an odd woman who completely fascinated me.

My phone began to ring nonstop and just as I picked it up, I noticed my shirt was missing. “Get me a change of clothes,” I said to my driver on the other end.

A few hours later, I had strolled into the new building I had just acquired to venture into the Formula 1 racing world with the thought of her still lingering in my mind, and overheard the conversation my manager, Tucker, was having with a woman who apparently was seeking out a mechanical engineering position.

I was bewildered by Tucker’s behaviour and went in to confront him, but to my surprise, I saw her standing right there and our eyes met instantly.

I was frozen for a minute, biting my tongue to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come here,” she quickly muttered, cheeks flushed as she bolted out of the room, too focused on leaving that she didn’t notice her phone fall out her pocket.

“You left your—“ Tucker started, but I shut him up with a wave of my hand, picked up the phone and hurried after her, but before I could call out to her, she boarded a cab.

“I’ll be right back,” I said to my driver, taking my keys from him and pulling my brand new Ferrari 488 GTB out of the driveway, chasing wildly after her.

I wasn’t sure if it was just because I wanted to give her phone back to her or if I just really wanted to see her again, but all I could do was keep driving.

The cab finally stopped at a vintage two-storey building apartment and after she alighted, she headed straight to the porch and knocked on the door after which she went in.

I parked right outside and followed after her, but just as I was about to knock on the door, I overheard a conversation which shocked me to the core.

No wonder she had looked like she had been crying last night. How could they even justify hurting her that way? How miserable must she have been in the last three years?

Then, I heard the horrendous voice of her husband yell, “Guards! Take her away!”

I was a pro at minding my own business, but no matter how hard I wanted to look the other way, I just couldn’t… not while she was crying so desperately to be set free.

I inhaled a deep breath and barged through the door. "Let her go," I bellowed, eyeing the guards all over.

“And who the hell are you?” One of the guards retorted, defiant.

I didn’t bother explaining, and just grabbed one of them by the neck, shoved him up and left him hanging midair for a few seconds, after which I forcefully threw him to the ground where he hit his head on a vase and slipped into unconsciousness. The other dived towards me, but I kicked him hard in his groin then hit his head on the pillar multiple times before shoving him into the wall.

Derek stood up, anger written all over his face. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Do you know who I am? How dare you walk into this house uninvited and beat up my guards? I’m friends with the Chief of Police in case you don’t know,” he threatened.

I snickered. “Good. Call your so-called friend, so I’ll tell him how you assaulted your own wife simply because she asked to divorce a coward and cheat like you,” I retorted, then went to Arya who was resting her back against the wall, trying to catch her breath.

“Are you okay?” I asked her, cupping her face in my hands.

Cassidy immediately began to clap her hands, sarcastically. “Oh, Arya! So, you’ve had a lover all along and you were mad at your husband for having an affair? You are such a hypocrite, and I bet this is the man you were with all night after leaving your matrimonial home,” she said.

Before I could respond, she did. “Yes, I was with him all night. As you can see, I’m done with this whole marriage thing so sign the divorce papers,” Arya said, and turned around to leave.

“You can’t leave me, Arya! You’re my wife, and I know you’re lying. You would never cheat on me. Don’t you dare take another step,” Derek warned.

“I’d like to see you try to stop us,” I retorted in a low voice, then took Arya’s hand in mine and led her out of the house.

When we got to my car, I held the door for her.  “Go in,” I said, and she obeyed like a lamb without asking questions.

“Here, you left it back there and I was just bringing it back to you,” I said, tossing the phone at her after a long uncomfortable silence.

“Thanks,” she murmured, staring out the window.

I sensed she didn’t want to speak any further, so I let her be for the rest of the ride. When we pulled up to a fancy five-star hotel, she didn’t even notice until I killed the engine and stepped out, opening the door for her.

She was jolted out of her thoughts and stepped numbly out of the car, but froze seeing we were at a hotel.

“What do you take me for?” She blurted out, her face reddening with annoyance.

“I don’t understand—“

“If it’s because of what happened last night, then I’m sorry for misleading you. I was in a very dark place and I wasn’t in my right frame of mind. I’m not some cheap whore you can bring whenever you deem fit to a hotel,” she stated fiercely.

I chuckled lightly. “Wait, you assumed I brought you here to sleep with you?”

Her voice softened. “You didn’t?”

“And what if I did?” I asked, lowering my head to stare directly into her mesmerising ocean blue eyes.

She hiccuped, a blush creeping onto her face.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," I said, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips.