Roxanne pulled into the parking lot two hours later. She got out of the car and locked it after she picked up her handbag from the passenger seat. She pressed the elevator button and waited; when it arrived she stepped inside and pressed the number for her floor. It didn't take long for it to reach her destination.
She returned the nods and murmured good morning to her colleagues as she passed. She was almost to her office when someone commented that they were never going to forget Ashley. Roxanne wondered what the person meant and even though she desperately wanted to know what happened to the other woman, she wouldn’t get herself involved by asking. She entered her office and closed the door behind her. The minute she put up her bag she turned on the computer and began working.
* * * *
Sebastian stepped out of the shower just as the phone rang. He wondered who was calling him, then thought about the people who could be calling him and decided it was probably Nick. Maybe it was Detective Williams wanting to know if Ashley left any more messages. It could be Joshua, calling to know if he was going to renege on his word about tonight.
He answered without verifying who the caller was and regretted it the minute he heard the voice.
“Hello.”
“You're mine, Sebastian. Nothing will ever change that.”
“Why are you doing this?”
There was a pause. “I saw you first and I always get what I want.”
He counted to ten slowly so he wouldn’t shout at her and demand she cut the crap when he finally answered. “I was never yours, Ashley, and every time you asked me out I always declined. I'm sorry if I hurt you. Please stop what you're doing and I’ll explain to the police that it was a mistake.”
She shrieked before she replied in a fanatical voice, “You're mine, Sebastian Ferguson, and I will have you even if I have to kill her to get you.”
“Ash—” Sebastian began and stopped when he heard the dial tone. He hung up then dialed Detective Williams’ number and told him about the call he just got from Ashley.
“Mr. Ferguson,” the detective began.
“Please, call me Sebastian.”
“All right, Sebastian, I need you to warn your friend Roxanne and, if Ashley calls again, don't answer the phone or try to reason with her. It will never work. In the meantime I’ll make calls to see what we’re dealing with.”
“Thank you, bye,” Sebastian said.
“No problem.”
Sebastian hung up the phone and went back to his bedroom. He dropped his towel from his waist and began dressing. Once he was finished, he grabbed his jacket from the bed, his keys from the end table and he was out of his room and out the front door.
He got in his car, backed out of the driveway and drove off. It took him half an hour to get to Ferguson Graphics. When he pulled into the parking lot, once he collected his things, Sebastian headed for the building.
What have I gotten her involved in? he asked himself bleakly, when he saw Roxanne’s car.
If he’d known or thought that Ashley could get this dangerous he would have fired her a long time ago instead of putting up with her constant invitations and flirting. But never in his thirty-four years of life had he ever thought that he would have his own personal psycho stalker. What would happen if Ashley wasn’t caught?
* * * *
Roxanne was out of her office as the clock on the computer reached five-thirty. For the whole day, she watched the door as she waited for Sebastian to check in on her. When he didn’t, her mind kept returning to him, wondering where he was and what he was doing.
The doors opened when the elevator reached the lobby. Roxanne waved at the security guard on duty, walked out the door and to her car in the parking lot. Around six forty-five, she pulled into her garage and swore when she saw the time.
She opened the front door, and stepped inside the house when she heard the garage door close. She locked the door and ran upstairs. In her bedroom, she dropped her keys on the end table as she began stripping out of her clothes on her way to the bathroom.
A sigh of pleasure passed through her lips as the hot water cascaded down her back. As much as she wanted to stay under the water for an hour or so she couldn’t, because she was already running late. She shaved then began lathering up; a few minutes later she rinsed off and dried off before stepping out.
In her bedroom, she picked up the bottle of scented lotion from the dresser, and then rubbed it onto her skin. She returned to the bathroom to comb her hair. Glancing at the clock, she cursed under her breath. It was seven-thirty and she wasn’t finished dressing.
She rushed to her bedroom and donned a black cross-front strapless dress with black strappy sandals.
She wasn’t going to drive tonight, so she called a cab. About twenty minutes later she heard its horn outside. Roxanne ran downstairs and into the cab. After closing the door, she rattled off the address to the cabbie while he backed out of the driveway.
* * * *
The light on the answering machine was flashing when Sebastian got home. He wondered idly if the message was from Ashley or someone else. He debated for a minute if he should listen or just delete it.
I won't know if I don't check, he thought before pressing the button.
“It’s Nick. I just called to remind you to come tonight if you don't want to get your ass kicked.” Sebastian scowled at the machine. He hadn’t gone last Friday and he paid for it by feeding the bottomless wells they called stomachs, when they’d shown up at his house uninvited the next day and he didn't complain. Yet they wouldn’t let him forget.
He started stripping off his clothes on his way to the bathroom. After dumping them in the hamper he stepped under the hot spray. He was supposed to tell Roxanne today about last night, but he’d been so busy he couldn’t even pick up the phone to call her. It was important so he was going over to her house tomorrow to tell her.
Once finished, he shaved, and then went into his bedroom to get dressed. Then he hurried downstairs to the garage. He had a feeling that he was going to be the chauffeur tonight. He didn't want anyone throwing up in his Jaguar—it had smelled like stale beer last time—so he took the Mercury Milan. He didn't want this car smelling like stale beer either, but better this than his Jaguar.
Chapter Twelve
“Do you want me to wait, Miss?” the cabbie asked as he parked in front of Club Ace. Roxanne shook her head as she paid him. At the door she showed her ID to the bouncer as she stepped inside. The club wasn’t packed, but enough people were there to make searching for someone difficult.
She scanned the crowd looking for her friends. She was just about to text them, when she saw Ava waving at her. She was running out of breath by the time she reached their table. She was so happy to see them that she hurried—almost ran—to their table.
She smiled and hugged them, when she got to them.
Lexi was wearing a black one-shoulder dress with chain embellishment at the sides. Ava was wearing a red cowl-neck sleeveless dress. Kira was wearing a cobalt blue rhinestone strap dress. Roxanne gaped at her in shock when she saw that the back half of her hair was dyed to match her dress.
Kira laughed at her expression.
Sometimes she wondered how after all these years they still remained friends when they had nothing in common. Ava had a do-first-ask-questions-later personality; Lexi had a very forgiving and trusting personality. Kira was a go-with-the-flow girl and Roxanne was a believer in happily ever after.
“Something is bothering you. What is it?” Ava asked Lexi.
“Nothing is wrong,” Lexi replied.
Ava snorted. “Sure and I'm saying my vows for the nunnery tomorrow.”
Lexi snickered. “You wouldn’t know a nun if one was standing in front of you and you don't even know what a nunnery looks like.”
Kira laughed so hard she hiccupped.
Ava glared at Lexi. “Lexi Leighton if you sit here and lie to me, I’ll strangle you.”
All eyes turned to Lexi. She
opened her mouth then closed it and grimaced. “I've been trying to find a way to tell you about Zach’s father. But thinking about it brought pain long forgotten to the surface.”
“Hon, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. You know that right?”
“I know. But it’s past time I talk about it,” she smiled—but it didn't reach her eyes—before continuing. “I met him in my third year of college. He was in med school. I think I fell for him the first time I met him, but I didn't realize it. At the time I was worried about the plans my mother had for me. I really thought it was meant to be until six months later when he told me he was moving to Texas with his high school sweetheart and they were going to get married and start a family.”
She stared down at her hands then looked at them as she continued, “He never intended to tell me and it hurt because all the times I told him I loved him, he was making plans to get married to another woman. I never expected him to repeat it, but a part of me had hoped he would, except he never did.” A tear rolled down her cheek, she wiped it away quickly, not realizing that they’d already seen it.
“I'm sorry,” they said simultaneously.
“Thanks, but it’s not anyone’s fault but my own.”
“Do you know if he had any family here?” Ava asked.
“We never talked about our family much and I was fine with that, because I never wanted to tell him about my family.”
“You still love him don't you?” Kira asked as she squeezed her hand gently.
Lexi smiled sadly. “I tried to stop loving him, but no matter what I do a little part of me won't let go. Plus, Zach looks just like him, so when I try to hate him it just feels like I’m trying to hate my son.”
Roxanne knew what she was experiencing—to some extent—because she wanted to hate Daniel for hurting her, but deep down some part of her had known that he wasn’t the one for her, no matter how much she’d wished differently.
They were quiet until Ava turned to her. “What's happening with you, Roxanne?”
Roxanne groaned silently, and then shook her head wishing Ava would drop it or change the subject. No such luck. She raised one perfectly arched brow in query. Roxanne sighed and decided to talk and get it over with. The only problem was, what she wanted to say wasn’t what came out.
“Daniel came to my house Thursday night.” As soon as it slipped out she felt like banging her head on the table.
“What!” Ava shrieked.
Roxanne stifled the giggle that almost escaped.
She sighed and repeated the conversation she’d had with Daniel on Thursday night. When she finished, their mouths were agape and their eyes were wide.
“Please tell me you told him to go to hell or fuck off. Either will do,” Ava said seriously.
Roxanne winced. “No, but…” she hurried before Ava could say anything else. “I did tell him that I forgave him, but I wouldn’t take him back.”
They nodded.
Roxanne exhaled shakily, glad that they accepted her response.
“So, who is the man you're helping?” Ava asked casually.
She shook her head. She should have known Ava wouldn’t be satisfied until all her questions were answered.
Roxanne scowled at her. “It’s my boss, Sebastian Ferguson.”
Ava’s eyes widened before she controlled her expression. Roxanne smiled. She was going to make Ava spill whatever she was hiding. Right after she ordered another drink.
“So, Ava, what’s up with you?” Roxanne asked.
“Oh, same old, same old,” she answered.
“Nope, I'm not buying that. Now talk.”
Ava glared at her. When it didn't scare Roxanne as she’d clearly meant it to, she scowled before answering. “My boss is driving me and my hormones crazy. I don't want to want him, because he’s a playboy and I don't want to be another notch on his bedpost, but my freaking hormones just don't care.”
Kira giggled.
Ava got married right out of college. It lasted about a year before she filed for divorce. They knew why she divorced the guy, but they knew there was more to it than not loving him anymore. So they didn't ask any questions, knowing Ava would tell them when she was ready.
“It’s your turn, Kira?”
“Umm, let’s see I'm in the studio a lot now. The paparazzi won't let me live my life in peace and I get some fan mails that make my skin crawl. Before you all ask, yes, I already hire a bodyguard.”
“Your life is very…” Lexi said, trailing off.
Roxanne and Ava seconded that with a nod. A few minutes later their drinks arrived and they drank and laughed, oblivious to the eyes watching them.
* * * *
By the time the seventh woman came to their table propositioning him, his brothers, Nick or all of them, Sebastian was ready to leave. That was until his gaze zeroed on Roxanne hugging some women at few tables from theirs. He couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face or his dick growing hard to the point that he had to adjust it so the zipper of his jeans didn't leave a permanent tattoo.
“Damn woman!”
Sebastian turned to look at his brother who was looking—well glaring was a better description—at the table were Roxanne sat. “Which woman are you complaining about now?”
“My executive assistant Ava Alexis, she’s sitting at that table with three other women, laughing.” The annoyance in Joshua’s voice made Sebastian chuckle.
“It’s not funny. She gives me a boner every day I see her and she doesn't even talk to me if it isn't about work. She doesn't even smile at me and I've never done anything to her; well I don't think I did,” he grumbled.
Nick chuckled. “Is it me or does that woman in the blue look familiar?”
“That’s Kira Wellington,” Adrian answered.
“You mean the pop star.”
“That’s the one.”
“How do you know that she’s not a look alike?” Sebastian asked.
“A fellow celebrity never mistakes another for someone else.”
Sebastian, Joshua and Nick snorted at that.
“Let’s see if they’ll join us,” Nick said.
Sebastian could tell Nick was excited to see if he could charm the panties off the pop star. He just nodded as he got up.
Chapter Thirteen
“Either I'm so drunk that I'm imagining things or a hot hunk is really coming our way,” Kira said.
Roxanne looked up. Her eyes widened when she saw Sebastian walking toward their table. What was he doing here? Did he follow her here? She hoped he wasn’t picking up Ashley’s stalking habits.
“Sebastian, what are you doing here?” Roxanne asked as soon as her shocked brain cleared somewhat.
“My brothers, Nick and I come here every Friday night. What about you?”
She opened her mouth to answer, but Lexi replied first. “Aren't you going to introduce us?” She winked at Kira who giggled in return.
Roxanne rolled her eyes. “Sebastian, these are my friends. Lexi, she just demanded that I introduce them. Kira, she just giggled like a teenager with a crush. Ava, she’s the one looking at you like you're a prime piece of steak.”
Kira giggled, Lexi snickered and Ava snorted. “Everyone, this is my boss, Sebastian Ferguson.”
She wondered why Lexi’s eyes widened after the introduction and made a note to ask her about it later.
“Nice to meet you, ladies. Would you like to join us for a drink?”
Roxanne wanted to say yes, because she missed him but she was here with her friends and she was going to stay with them no matter how much she yearned to go with Sebastian. She watched her friends’ faces carefully. Ava looked like she was battling with herself; Lexi and Kira were watching Ava, smiling once in a while at her torn expression.
It looked like Ava had decided, for her expression didn't look so torn anymore. “Who’s over there with you?” she asked.
“My brothers Joshua and Adrian, and our friend Nick,” he answered.
Ava looked over in the direction of the table Sebastian nodded at and scowled. “We’ll think about it and if we decide to come then we will, if not we’ll remain here,” she said innocently.
What was she thinking? From the expression on Ava’s face, Roxanne figured that she was going to do something that would get her into trouble. She watched Sebastian nod then walked away with a smile in her direction. Damn if her heart didn't flip. This was going from bad to worse, and she didn't know what to do about it. She returned her attention back to her friends.
“So what do we do?” Lexi asked.
“I vote for joining them,” Ava said.
Roxanne eyed her suspiciously. “What are you up to, Ava?”
Ava turned to look at her with an innocent expression. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
Ava smiled innocently before answering. “Well, I was going to say hello to my boss. Is there something wrong with that?”
Roxanne felt like strangling her, but gave up with a laugh when she thought how fun it would be if Ava’s plans for harassing her boss backfired.
“All right, we’ll go, but I'm not staying for more than fifteen minutes,” Lexi said sternly but she smiled widely as her eyes twinkled with amusement.
Kira nodded at her bodyguard who followed a few feet behind them as they went over to Sebastian’s table.
* * * *
“Are you sure they’ll come?” Joshua asked as he continued to scowl at the table were Roxanne and her friends still sat.
“You're whipped,” Nick said, snickering as he too watched the table.
Adrian snickered. “Here they come now.”
As soon as he had returned to his table Nick had suggested that they get some extra chairs, instead he’d told them to just move to a larger table. They did after he explained that Roxanne and her friends would probably be more comfortable if they weren’t being sandwiched by four strange men. Joshua had scowled and grumbled that he was Ava’s boss so he wasn’t a stranger. Nick, Adrian and Sebastian had laughed at him, but that only made him scowl harder.
Roxanne's Redemption Page 5
