“This is perfect. I’ll take this.”
Quickly taking it off and handing it to the assistant, I dressed and headed out to pay. Standing at the counter Mel smiled at me as her eyebrows bounced up and down on her forehead. “He is going to love it! I think it’s a perfect gift to give the man who has everything. Especially after he gave you that ring.” Glancing at the mass of jewels on my hand the assistant smiled. “That’ll be three hundred dollars exactly please.” Leaning across the counter Amy held out a small black card that looked like a credit card. “Put it on this account please. Her boyfriend’s paying.”
Dropping the card like it was on fire the assistant growled at me. “Jared Garrett. You are the girlfriend of Jared Garret!?” I froze in shock, not understanding why she was so irritated based on the man I was involved with.
“He doesn’t date! He never has relationships. You’re lying! There’s no way he’d fall for a fat little harlot like you!”
Pushing me aside, Mel squared up to her. “Hey who the hell do you think you are!?” Snapping her head to face me she snarled, “Alicia Paige and until about five months ago I was Jared’s little bedtime buddy. That’s right, every single night. On the bed, tables, chairs, kitchen counters, back seat of his car. Anywhere he wanted. If it’s Jared you’re looking to please, I would have gone with the leather. We both know how he likes his straps and buckles. But you look like someone he would hire to clean his laundry rather than clench his sheets. Maybe that’s why he keeps you around. A good maid is so hard to find. Thanks for keeping the bed warm for me. Once he gets bored of you he’ll come running back.”
Something inside me snapped and in a flash I launched myself at her. “You bitch!” Falling to the floor she landed on her back as I straddled her, punching and slapping her face. “Get off of me you dirty little tramp!” She pulled hard on my hair making me fall to the side as she kicked my shins and scratched her perfectly manicured nails down my face. Mel grabbed her wrist and Amy frantically tried to pull me away but I was fierce. Gripping a fistful of her hair I yanked at it pulling out a few strands.
Without warning, I found myself on my feet and being hauled away from her. My hands behind my back a cold pair of steel handcuffs restrained me as I wriggled and pulled to get away and continue my attack. Another officer was handcuffing Alicia while two mall cops restrained my friends. Kicking and shouting I was carried off along with the other three to a squad car parked outside. I tried to spot Daniel, desperate for some help but he was nowhere to be seen. Ducking my head, the officer helped me into the car alongside Amy and Mel. Alicia was taken to the car behind us and I glared wildly at her as she grinned at me. Licking my lip, I could taste blood as it trickled into my mouth. She’d split my lip. Fuck, this was all I needed when I had a party to go to.
The police station was bustling with people. Sitting at his desk, my arresting officer told me that I was being charged with assault. Furious, I shouted at him trying to protest my innocence and explain that I had been provoked. Giving me a caution, he told me I would be held until a judge could see me which could range from an hour to four hours and I was taken back to the freezing cold holding cell. Outraged and upset, I sank onto the hard concrete bench in the cell where Amy, Mel and Alicia were glaring at each other.
“This is your fault you fucking Barbie bitch.” Mel sniped at Alicia who simply gave her a snort and a sarcastic grin.
“Just leave it alone Mel. It’s not worth it.” My jaw ached from the blow she had slammed into it with her slap. My lip was split and two long scratches marked the pale skin next to my eye. A large police officer approached the cell and unlocked the door. “Jennings. Someone here to see you.” Rising from my seat I walked over where I was once again placed in handcuffs. Who the hell could possibly be here to see me? I hadn’t used my phone call as I didn’t want dad to find out I’d been arrested and I knew for sure that Mel hadn’t called her folks. It really only left one person…oh no. Shit. Now I really was in trouble.
“You too ma’am.” Nodding at Alicia he gestured for her to come over where she too was cuffed. Gripped and pulled by our elbows, the pair of us glowered at each other as we were led into a small dark interview room. This was about to get a hundred times more painful than my aching ribs and throbbing lip.
Sitting comfortably at a desk in the center of the room, dressed in a black suit and deep purple tie, was Jared. Holy sexy, fuckable hotness. I felt my insides clench blissfully as I took in his unbelievably strict yet concerned expression. Arms folded, he scanned me from head to toe. His eyes widened as he saw my face and I could see the worry etched into his expression as his brow furrowed. My lip was split and the marks on my face were prominently visible and he was clearly livid at finding me in my current state. Darting his eyes at Alicia he glared at her with a fiery hatred. Tapping his lips with one finger he waited as we were escorted in and sat in two chairs opposite him. Giving the officer a thankful nod, he turned his attention to us. Getting to his feet, he paced back and forth before resting his hands palm down on the desk. “So, Thelma, Louise, who’s going to tell me what happened today?”
Shouting over each other and making snide remarks, we both simultaneously protested our innocence. Slamming his palms on the desk to silence us, Jared shook his head. “I don’t want to hear it. I’ve spoken to the arresting officer who tells me you were both charged with assault. Now since this incident happened in your store Alicia it appears that it is your choice entirely if you wish to press charges against Miss Jennings.” I opened my mouth to object but he shot me a cautionary look and I immediately closed it again. “However, I would strongly urge you to think carefully about filing charges against the woman I love because if you pursue this, I will come at you with everything I have. Counter charges will be made and with the marks on her face I would have a strong case against you.” Getting to her feet, her hands bound in front of her Alicia screamed tearfully in his face. “She was in my store Jared! How could you do that to me? Like I meant nothing to you. Isn’t it bad enough you broke my heart without flaunting your relationship in my face? I gave you everything. I fell hopelessly in love with you but it was never enough. Why her? What makes her so different?” Slamming his fist on the table and making me jump in fright, he glared at her. “Don’t bullshit me Alicia. You were in it for all you could get and we both got what we needed. You got a brand new shiny shop and I got laid.”
I flinched as unwelcome thoughts of them together swam through my mind. It was nauseating.
”Don’t pretend that it was anything more than a good casual fuck every now and then. I don’t have to tell you anything but if you must know, I love Layla for everything she is and everything she’s not. But most of all I love her for not being anything like you!”
I gasped as the venomous words struck Alicia. I could see the pain in her eyes as though he’d punched her in the gut as she gasped for air and sat down sobbing into her cuffed hands. I stared at her, surprisingly feeling sympathy for the woman who had insulted, attacked and assaulted me. No woman deserved to hear those things no matter what they’d done. Ok, I hated her for the things she said but heartache can make people crazy and she didn’t deserve that. Glaring at him, I scooted my chair across and placed my restrained hands over her knee. “How could you be so callous? You have no idea do you? It’s impossible not to love you Jared. No matter what you think, women don’t have a heart of stone and you don’t cry like this if you never cared.”
Rubbing his eyes, he sighed loudly. “Fine! I’m sorry. But I didn’t love you. I didn’t love anyone. Don’t think that I didn’t care just because couldn’t give myself over to a relationship. I did care. I didn’t know Layla would walk into your store today but whatever issue you have about us is not her fault. I ended our companionship so if you need to hate someone, hate me. Not her! Those marks you left on her face are making me fucking furious and I’m so angry right now I can’t even see straight. Just look at her! Drop the charges and walk away with your
head high or I will make this get very ugly!”
His tone was callous and deathly serious. Raising her head she looked at me and snatched her leg from my hands. “I don’t need your sympathy bitch! I hope you’re happy while it lasts. He’s a serial womanizer, he can’t help himself. He’s dishonest, secretive and he’ll stray sooner or later and then you’ll be just like me. A notch in his bedpost! Ask him about all the others, go on. There’s dozens of us. Broken, chewed up and spit out and you’re doomed to join us.” A stabbing pain shot through my chest. She couldn’t possibly be talking about the same man that stood in front of me. Could she? Was that who he really was? Was the man I loved merely a diluted version of the philandering man whore she accused him of being?
Jared fumed and I swear I could see smoke coming out of his ears. He was livid. Rounding the table he grabbed her handcuffs and dragged her to the door. “Drop the charges Alicia or I will destroy you.”
I’d never seen him so enraged. It frightened and aroused me to see him so worked up.
“Is that a threat?”
He spun her around, halting their steps as he grasped the door handle. “It’s a promise.”
She took a long breath and stood inches from his face before firing a large mouthful of spit at him. Classy. “I’ll drop the charges and you can drop dead ass-hole.” His shoulders hunched and he growled, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face. I stood abruptly and strode over fast, ready to go a second round with the woman I had only moments ago felt sorry for. Extending his arm, Jared stopped me and shook his head. I stood glaring at her, wishing she would suddenly become the first recorded case of spontaneous human combustion. Opening the door, Jared sneered at her. “It’s no wonder your husband got sick of you. You’re a dirty little whore and I was only too happy to let you fuck him by fucking me. But that’s all you ever were and all you’ll ever be. Easy, cheap and disposable.” Shooting him a murderous look she stormed out.
Closing the door he turned his attention to me. Walking towards me he reached his hand out to touch my face and I recoiled. Alicia’s poisonous words were replaying through my mind over and over. Wounded, he stared at me. “Layla you don’t seriously believe any of that shit she said do you? It’s not true. You are not a notch on my bedpost, you never were. She’s just bitter and spiteful. You mean more to me than any of them ever did. I love you Layla. I would never, ever hurt you.” I scrutinized his face for weakness as I blurted out the burning question I was holding. “What does make me so different Jared?”
He stared at me confused. “What?”
“I want to know. What makes me so different to the other sixty women?”
Threading his fingers through his hair he stuttered and stumbled over his words.
“I…I don’t know. You just are. They were so vain, high maintenance and out for what they could get from me. Some liked the lifestyle; some, like Alicia, wanted my business connections. But you…” He paused and took my hands in his. “…You were so fiery, argumentative and downright rude. You excited, confused and astounded me right from the start. No one had ever spoken to me that way before. But even when you found out who I was and what I have, you didn’t care. I’ve never been with a woman who just wants to be with me before. It totally knocked me on my ass. You’re different because of everything you are and everything you’re not. Most importantly, you’re different because you’re mine. My girl. My queen. That makes you more special to me than any of them. I love you. I never loved them. Does that answer your question?”
Looking into his bright blue eyes I melted. He loved me and no amount of hurtful words from a jilted ex-lover was going to convince me otherwise.
“Yes. Completely. I’m sorry Jared, about all of this. I just lost it. The things she said, about me, you and us, I couldn’t stand there and take another word of it. I just…snapped.”
Gripping his hands on my arms, he rubbed them up and down gently.
“It’s alright. I get it. I don’t think she’s going to press charges. She has too much to lose.”
Lifting my chin, he brushed my hair from my eyes and ran his thumb gently over the marks on my face. “Jesus baby, that girl is a fucking animal. This is entirely my fault. She attacked you because of me and everything I did to her and now look at you. I feel fucking sick. Did anyone see to these cuts?”
My split lip pinched and pulled painfully as I spoke and the taste of dried blood was bitter and metallic. I shook my head weakly as his lips gently kissed my broken skin. “Come on, as much as I love seeing you bound in handcuffs, I’d rather it was at my hands for your pleasure. I need to get you home and fix those cuts and bruises. That one on your chin is going to be a real shiner. From the way she was hunched over walking, you must have got a few good body hits in yourself.” I smiled, proud of my efforts to give as good as I got. “I got a few blows into her ribs and stomach.” Smiling, he kissed me gently, careful of my injuries. “Way to go champ. We’d better go get Amy and Mel out too. I owe her a thank you. It was Amy who called me. She used her phone call to reach me. A shopper in the mall called the cops and when Daniel saw them pull up and you guys being led out, he jumped in the car and came straight to my office to get me.” I smiled at the realization of all the people who had my back that day. Mel in the store, Amy calling Jared, Daniel going to get him and Jared himself, who came straight down to get me out.
“What would you have done if she’d pressed charges? Could I have gone down for assault?”
He shook his head quickly. “No, nothing was ever going to happen to you. I wouldn’t have let it. The judge here owes me a favor and if all else failed I would have hired the best lawyer in the country to get you out of this. At most you’d have got a fine and I would have paid it. But it’s done now. She won’t be filing charges. I told you Layla, I would do anything for you and I will do anything to keep you safe. Come on, before those two end up getting into more trouble.”
Waiting in the station reception area, I let out a sigh of relief. Alicia had dropped all charges against me and I hadn’t filed one against her. I could put the whole horrible episode behind me. Jared had gotten an officer to remove my handcuffs and questioned them harshly on their treatment of me during my time there. He was still furious that no one had tended to my injuries but after I begged him to forget about it and take me home, he dropped it. Finally freed, Amy and Mel came running over, embracing me in a warm hug. Kissing me on the cheek Mel growled. “I can’t believe that bitch. Talk about ruining your birthday. I’m so sorry this all happened.”
“It’s not your fault. And besides it’s not ruined. I just have an awesome story to tell.”
Amy snorted. “Yeah, hey everyone guess what I got for my birthday? Arrested!” I laughed with her and Mel as Jared re-entered the station. “Car’s waiting. Let’s go jailbait.”
Feigning annoyance, Amy gawked at him. “Who are you calling jailbait?”
“You three. Angry birds. Really can’t trust you to go anywhere can I?” Taking my hand he smiled at me and kissed the top of my head as he led us to the car. Threading our fingers together, he held me tightly all the way to the college dorms.
Climbing out of the car, he rushed to the other side to speak to Amy. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but she was nodding and smiling. Glancing inside, she ushered Mel out. “Mel’s going to hang here a while so you and Jared can have some alone time. We’ll catch you later, ok?” I knew I would see her at my party and wondered if that had anything to do with Jared whispering in her ear. Smiling, I said good bye and watched as my two girlfriends walked away, chatting and laughing. I was pleased that they got on so well. I’d worried that some jealousy might have developed between them concerning me, but it never seemed to be an issue. They both knew they held a special place in my life and I loved them both dearly.
Sliding in next to me, Jared instructed Daniel to take us back to his place. Brushing his thumb over my knuckles he stopped as it hit against my new ring. Bringing it to
his lips he kissed the back of my hand softly. “Do you like it?”
Smiling broadly I nodded. “I love it. It’s wonderful, just like you.”
My smile caused the split in my lip to pull and I hissed in pain as it pinched and throbbed. “I can’t believe that she did that to you. I could have killed her when I saw you walk in like that. It took every ounce of my self-control to stop myself from strangling her.” He ran his thumb across my bottom lip and I held my breath as he touched the tender and painful cut. Shaking his head, he scooted closer to me and pulled me onto his lap. Holding me tightly to his chest he exhaled exasperatedly. He looked exhausted and I couldn’t help but feel guilty for his worn out state. The night with Ollie and then our episode in the bathroom was enough to wear out the best of men. Adding to that your girlfriend and her two friends being arrested, the pressure was enough to drive a man to murder. Throw in a venomous ex-lover and you’ve got the worst twenty four hours of your life.
Nuzzling my face into his neck I sighed deeply and winced. Lifting my head from his shoulder he gazed at me confused. “Baby what’s wrong? Are you in pain?” I shook my head weakly and hung my head in my hands. Pulling my hands away, he lifted my chin making me look at him. “Layla you’re avoiding me, what’s wrong?”
“It’s everything. Last night. Ollie. Being arrested. I’m too much trouble and I don’t know why you put up with me. I’ve put you through so much in the last few weeks it pains me knowing how much damage I’ve done. You’re exhausted. I can see it and it’s my fault.” Holding my head to his chest he hushed me, threading his fingers through my hair. “Shhh. No baby. You are a lot of things, but trouble is not one of them. I can never get too much of anything you are or anything you do. Last night was a necessary evil and now it’s done. We’ve met, exchanged words and he knows exactly how I feel and I have weighed and measured him also. I won’t lie, knowing he’s around you makes me manic, worried and insecure but I trust you with all my heart. I know you’d never do anything and if anything did ever happen between you, you’d tell me. As for you being arrested, granted, it was something I could have done without today but it happened and I fixed it. It wasn’t your fault. I have no doubt that Alicia instigated it and provoked you to attack her so I want you to stop thinking about it and enjoy what’s left of your day. No more talk of you being too much for me to handle and I am not exhausted by you. I just have a lot going on right now; but, I wouldn’t give you up for all the tea in China baby.”
Bound Together Page 33
