Chapter 4: Lolly X

HUNTER WESTERN 

“My dress is uncomfortable, it's so itchy,” Ashley grunts into Hunter's ears. 

“Take it off. Take it off. Take it off,” she tugs at his collar, urging him to undress her. 

“I can't,” Hunter said but the alcohol kicked in too hard and he found himself losing control. 

“Take off my dress,” Ashley snapped. 

“Okay! Okay!.” Hunter carefully turned her back to him, placing her on her stomach, then he loosen the ropes holding her dress. 

Light olive skin exposed to his view, making his blood hot. Ashley tugged the rest of the dress over her head leaving her only in a lacy silver thong with no bra. 

Hunter's brain went blank as he stared at her full chest and gorgeous body. 

He tried to get a grip of himself but the alcohol was kicking in and when Ashley hugged him closely, he knew there was no stopping what was coming. 

****

Morning sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse. 

He sat in the armchair beside the bed, his eyes fixed on the woman lying beneath the white duvet.

Her breathing remained slow and steady. The only sign she was still fighting.

His phone buzzed but he ignored it.

The television mounted on the opposite wall continued playing the morning news.

"...breaking news regarding last night's shocking accident involving Carter Group heiress Ashley Carter."

Hunter's eyes snapped toward the screen in shock. Accident?. Ashley had an accident yesterday?. 

The news anchor wore a solemn expression.

"Authorities have confirmed that Miss Carter's vehicle was recovered early this morning after crashing through a highway guardrail."

Images of the mangled silver sedan filled the screen.

"The vehicle was found at the bottom of the river."

Rescue footage flashed across the television.

Firefighters. Police tape. Tow trucks.

"No body has been recovered."

Hunter slowly stood.

"But despite the ongoing investigation, the Carter and Blackwood families have released a joint statement asking the public to respect their privacy as they prepare a memorial service scheduled for two from now."

Hunter frowned. A memorial already?

The anchor continued. "Sources close to both families say discussions regarding Miss Carter's estate and inheritance are expected to begin soon."

Hunter muted the television.

His expression darkened. No search party, no appeals to the public, no reward. And they're already planning a funeral. 

None of it made sense.

If Ashley had truly disappeared, every resource imaginable should have been searching for her.

Instead. They were acting as though they wanted her declared dead.

Something wasn't right. And Ashley should be awake already. A suspicious headache was also banging his head. 

He picked up his phone. "Bring Dr. Eleanor Brooks to my penthouse at Creek Bar."

Mason didn't ask questions. "Immediately, Hunter."

Less than forty minutes later, the elevator doors opened.

Dr. Eleanor Brooks stepped inside carrying a leather medical case.

She had served the Western family for nearly thirty years. She had delivered Hunter when he was born.

Hunter trusted no doctor more than her. After a brief hello, he led her into the bedroom to Ashley. 

Dr. Brooks approached the bed and immediately became all business. She checked Ashley's pulse, her pupils, her breathing.

The room remained silent. Several long minutes passed.

Finally, she looked at Hunter. "The good news is that she has no life-threatening internal bleeding."

Hunter released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"But..."

He immediately caught the hesitation. "But what?"

"She suffered a significant concussion. Her body has likely placed itself into a protective state while her brain recovers."

Well… she was active last night. 

Hunter looked toward Ashley. "So when will she wake up?.”

"I can't promise. Every patient is different."

Hunter rubbed the back of his neck.

"There’s something else. Your eyes are unusual Mr Western. Do you mind if I run a routine blood test on you?."

Hunter looked at her blankly. "Me?. I feel fine.”

“You might seem fine to yourself but I need to check you out.” Dr Brooks insisted. 

Hunter nodded anyway, although he was sure there was nothing wrong with him. 

A couple of minutes later, Dr Brooks broke the results. 

“Your blood sample shows that you're on drugs,” She said. 

“What?,” Hunter's eyes snap to her. 

The old woman didn't flinch, “I knew there was something wrong the minute I stared into your eyes. Your blood sample has traces of Lolly X.”

“Lolly X?!. The new banned drugs?.”

“Yes. The…”

“I don't do drugs. You know that.”

“Then someone must have injected it into your blood or you've swallowed it obliviously.”

That explains the headache and losing control last night with Ashley 

“There's a legislation on those drugs, if anyone knows you've taken it you will be arrested. For the next two weeks I suggest you put on shades to hide your eyes.” 

Dr. Brooks continued carefully. "I have to go now. If you didn't intentionally take Lolly X then you have to find out who drugged you."