Stanton Unconditional

by T L Swan

Adrian’s eyes widen. “How do we know it was a hit?”

  “It seems my car was returned to the work car park on Friday night. The keys were on the passenger seat.”

  “My god,” Adrian whispers as he slumps into the chair. “We also have another problem.” He pulls his newspaper from under his arm. He opens it and shows me the front page, a huge picture of Natasha with the heading ‘Joshua Stanton secretly marries his sex therapist’.

  I angrily snatch the paper from him. It is a picture of Natasha and Max crossing the road out the front of the hospital. Natasha is laughing and looking gorgeous and Max has his hand in the small of her back guiding her across the street. The story reads:

  Joshua Stanton the infamous wealthy LA playboy has secretly married his Australian sex therapist. They met in Sydney on his recent stay after she treated him for his sex addiction. Natasha Stanton has rushed to his side from Australia after he took a cocaine overdose over the weekend. The handsome playboy who formerly dated Heidi Mills and Vanessa Shortland…

  I stop reading the dribble in front of me. “The fucking paparazzi, they just make this shit up,” I snap. “This is just perfect, at a time when I need her to be in disguise she’s on the front of the fucking paper.” I put my head into my hands. “What am I going to do? She has been through enough. I don’t want her frightened,” I sigh.

  “What’s with the nightmares?” Adrian asks.

  “She’s been having the same recurring dream where she is tied up and forced to watch me get bashed to death and then they gang rape her.”

  “Gang rape. Christ,” Adrian gasps.

  “Let’s not forget that they kill Ben,” Cameron snaps.

  I nod and Adrian screws up his face. “You don’t want to tell her?”

  I shake my head. “Not yet. She’s been through enough.”

  Ben walks through the door.

  “Where’s Tash?” I snap.

  “Talking to your mother. She’s safe. Relax.”

  “Ben, I want the security doubled around Joshua and Natasha. Natasha is to have four bodyguards with her at all times,” Adrian asserts.

  This is why I love this man, he’s a micromanager. He takes control of any situation and has the ability to make important decisions quickly. I smile, feeling better just having him here.

  I look at Ben. “I want Max taken off guarding Natasha. You swap with him and I only want trusted long-term staff with her.”

  “Why? Max is the best bodyguard we have. He is more qualified than me. Why can’t he guard Natasha?” Ben frowns.

  “He just can’t,” I snap.

  “Fuck off. Are you jealous?” Cameron spits.

  I narrow my eyes at him. “Did you know that he has been staying in the house with Natasha? I am paying him to guard her, not cut my fucking grass.”

  Ben bites his lip to stifle his smile.

  “Yeah, this is hilarious Ben … you ass,” I spit.

  My phone rings and Cameron picks it up, glances at the screen and hands it to me, the name Amelie on the screen. I push reject and Cameron shakes his head.

  “Have you had that conversation yet?” he asks.

  I shake my head. “No, I haven’t had time.”

  “How’s that going to go?”

  “How do you fucking reckon?” I snap.

  Adrian shakes his head. “You, Stanton, are a tosser. You’re jealous of her bodyguard, when you are the one who makes her have one. And now that she actually needs one, you want to take the best man off the job because you’re insecure.”

  “I am not insecure. He’s just too … familiar.”

  “He’s twenty years older than her. Grow up,” Adrian replies flatly.

  The door opens and Natasha breezes in. Her warm smile cuts through me. What if something happens to her because of me? I couldn’t bear it. She sits next to me on the bed.

  “What did the police want?” she asks.

  “Umm … nothing. They were inquiring where I got the drugs from the other night.”

  Her eyes hold mine. She knows I’m lying but is staying silent while the others are in the room.

  “Tash, Ben will be swapping with Max to guard you,” I mutter.

  She frowns as I pick up her hand and hold it in mine.

  She looks nervously at Ben. “Ben, I don’t mean to be rude, but I would rather stay with Max. I am only comfortable with Max.”

  Ben and Cameron both smirk at me. I narrow my eyes at them.

  “Then Max can stay with you, baby, that’s ok,” Adrian interjects. “Now that you are in the States, Tash, you need more protection that’s all. There is a nasty story in the paper today about you and you will be followed by photographers. They are really pushy. You cannot go anywhere without protection.”

  “What kind of story?” Her eyes widen as Adrian hands her the paper. She slumps into the chair to read it.

  A nurse enters the room. “Nurse, please let the doctor know I am checking out this afternoon.”

  “Joshua,” Natasha snaps. “Your treatment.”

  “Tash, I need to go home.” She frowns at me.

  “I am going to find the doctor.” Cameron stands and leaves the room.

  “Josh, I want you to do this drug rehab—it’s really important.”

  “I know, presh. I promise I will continue the treatment from home.” My eyes flick nervously to Ben. “The pap has access to me in here, baby. We are safer in a more protected environment.”

  She rolls her eyes. “I think you are being a bit of a drama queen, Josh.”

  “It is safer at Joshua’s house, Natasha. I will go and make arrangements for the transfer,” says Ben as he leaves the room.

  I pull her to lie down next to me on the bed and I hold her tight. “You ok, baby? That was a pretty awful nightmare you had last night.”

  She smiles warmly and kisses me and her lips linger on mine. “The wake-up call I got has erased all bad memories, thank you Mr Stanton.”

  I squeeze her tightly. “Good … Tash do you want to go travelling for a while? Take a couple of months, see the world.”

  Her eyes widen. “You are serious about this? Could you take time off?”

  “I don’t see why not.” I smile warmly.

  “Oh, I have to go back to Australia on the weekend. I need to be back at work on Monday.”

  My eyes widen, “Well that’s not happening. I need you with me.”

  “Joshua, I am going back to resign and there is not a thing you can do about it. My boss has been so good to me and two other staff are on holidays and I am booked solid all week. I will come back in two weeks.”

  “I will come with you then. I am not letting you out of my sight.” Bloody hell, this is a logistical nightmare.

  The doctor enters the room. “Cameron has just explained the situation to me. I understand you are checking out.”

  “Yes, I have to go to Sydney on the weekend, Doctor, so I will just pick up my treatment over there.”

  “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. You are unable to fly for at least two weeks—your heartbeat is too erratic. Let’s not forget that you almost died three days ago. You will risk a heart attack at that altitude.”

  “Josh, I will just come back in two weeks. It will be ok,” Natasha urges as she picks up my hand again.

  “I will send a nurse in to put a drip in for a couple of hours to rehydrate you and then I will hook you up to an angiogram for an hour and if the results are all good I will check you out this afternoon. Definitely no flying for two weeks.”

  It’s four o’clock. Josh has been hooked up to a drip for three hours. I’m tired and I just want to get the hell out of here. I stand and stretch, the nurse pushes in the heart-rate thingy and starts to stick things to Joshua’s chest.

  “I’m going to go to the bathroom outside in the waiting room, Josh.”

  He frowns and mouths the words, “Just go in here,” as he gestures to his bathroom with his chin.

  I smile and shake my head. “The private ro
oms outside are riddled with guards. I will just be a minute.”

  He shakes his head apprehensively. “Be quick.”

  I smile and leave the room. I head through the lounge area and I see Max.

  “Max, I think I want a coffee. Let’s go for a walk.”

  He frowns. “You can’t leave the room till the other guards get back.”

  “Where are they?”

  “They have gone back to check Joshua’s house and prepare for the transfer.”

  I roll my eyes. “This is ridiculous: prepare for the transfer. This isn’t an episode of bloody Star Trek you know.”

  He smiles. “I will go get the coffee. Do not leave this room.”

  I give him a salute. “Aye, aye captain.” As he leaves the room, security buzz through.

  “We have an Amelie Richards here to see Joshua Stanton.” Max looks at me for approval and I nod as I head into the bathroom. Great, bitchface is here. I suppose it is better she comes here rather than to the house to see him.

  I finish up in the bathroom and am washing my hands when she walks in.

  “Hello Natasha.” She smiles.

  “Hi Amelie. Thank you for coming. He’s in the room. Just go in.”

  “I didn’t come here to see Joshua. I came to see you.”

  I frown. “Really, what about?”

  “What has Joshua told you about him and me?” she replies flatly.

  My stomach drops and my heart rate picks up speed. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean exactly what I said. What do you think Joshua and my relationship is?”

  “That you are close friends,” I whisper as dread creeps through me.

  She tutts. “Did he tell you that we have been sleeping together since he got back from Australia?”

  I stumble back from her in shock.

  “You’re lying,” I snap.

  “Go ask him for yourself. You see Joshua is confused. He thinks it is you that he wants but the reality is he can’t let me go. We made passionate love as recently as Friday.”

  Pain lances through me as I step back from her in shock. That’s five days ago.

  “I don’t believe you!” I whisper.

  “Natasha, I think it’s time you realise the harsh truth. You cannot make him happy like I can. He is only with you out of obligation. Wake up and smell the coffee, dear girl. Joshua is in love with me.”

  Chapter 6

  I scurry out of the bathroom in a daze and find myself entering Joshua’s room. The nurse is still in there adjusting his machines. He smiles warmly at me as I stand at the end of the bed, my face is blank and expressionless and I fall into the chair against the wall as I keep staring at him in shock. This can’t be true. I don’t believe her. He frowns and puts his head on the side in a question as he looks at me. My eyes fall to the floor as I go over the words Amelie has just relayed to me: He’s only with you out of obligation. He loves me. We made passionate love as recently as Friday.

  The nurse smiles and leaves the room and he holds his hand out for me.

  “Come and lie with me, presh.”

  My heart stops, I stand and walk to the end of his bed.

  “Did you sleep with Amelie?” I breathe.

  His face falls and he starts to pull the cannula out of the back of his hand.

  “Natasha,” he whispers.

  “Did you or not?” I cry.

  He lunges for me and I jump back.

  “You’ve been sleeping with her all along?” My eyes fill with tears.

  “No!” He shakes his head.

  “So she is lying?” I ask.

  “Tash, baby. Listen to me.”

  “Answer the fucking question!” I scream. “She told me you’re in love with her.” I sob.

  He shakes his head urgently. “No Tash. I’m not. Listen to me.” He rips the cannula out and starts to frantically try to remove the suction things attached to his chest. An alarm from the heart-rate monitor sounds through the room.

  “DID YOU?” I scream.

  “I love you Natasha. I made a terrible mistake … It was just once.”

  I step back from him in shock. Dear god.

  “Tash, listen to me!” He struggles to break free from the machine. “Cameron. Get in here,” he yells.

  I turn to the door as adrenaline courses through my body. He lunges off the bed to grab me again but is held back by the wires on the machine that he can’t remove. I dive away from him.

  The door opens and Amelie walks in.

  His eyes flick to her. “Get out!” Joshua screams.

  I step back again. It’s true, she was telling the truth. I look at her deadpan. “He’s all yours,” I whisper through my tears … and I run. Joshua dives for me. The machine alarms echo through the room and nurses come running from everywhere. I duck past them out the door and sprint for my life down the corridor.

  “Natasha … Natasha, come back. Get the fuck out of here, Amelie!” I hear Joshua scream from behind me.

  “Nataaaaashhhhhha.”

  “Where are the fucking bodyguards!” he yells at the nurse.

  I run around the corner, dive into the waiting lift and push the button. I quickly look up at the numbers. Come on. Come on. The doors slowly close and I run my hands through my hair. Oh fuck, it’s going up, wrong way. The lift stops at the next floor and two nurses get in. I step to the back. What am I going to do? What am I going to do? My heart is beating so hard in my chest. He will be going off his brain, I remember Max told me that security has gone back to his house. I need to get out of this hospital before they get back or they won’t let me go, I will be cornered. The lift stops at the next floor and I step out into the corridor. My eyes shoot around as I look for an exit. I’m panicked—I just need to get away. I see a sign for a fire exit, the stairwell. I open the door and start to sprint down the stairs two at a time as I sob uncontrollably. I desperately need to get out of here. He fucking slept with her and then he slept with me. After everything we have been through … he slept with her. I probably have AIDS now or some other STD. I dry-retch as the thought poisons me from the inside out as I keep running. I scramble for air as my lungs burn from the exertion. Finally I hit the bottom and burst out the door. Sunlight beams onto my cold face and I feel a wave of relief hit me. Daylight at last. I run to the road like a mad woman and flag down a cab as I half run in front of it.

  “Stop … please … Please just stop,” I cry. The tears run freely down my face as I pant in exhaustion.

  The cabbie frowns at me and stops. “Get in. Are you alright?” His eyes shoot around as he looks to see who’s chasing me.

  I dive into the backseat and nod nervously as I run my hands through my hair.

  “Where to?” he asks.

  I look at him in the rear-view mirror and my eyes fill with tears again. Where to? I don’t even fucking know. Away from him … and his … deceit.

  Shit. I don’t have my purse. I quickly feel my pockets. I have twenty dollars coffee change from this morning.

  My eyes dart around. “How far is the closest McDonalds?”

  “Two blocks around the corner,” he says flatly with his wrist draped over the steering wheel.

  I nod nervously. “Take me there.”

  He nods, puts on the indicator and pulls into the traffic and moments later we arrive at my safe haven. I look around frantically as I walk in and my phone rings and I jump.

  Joshua… his name lights up the screen. My heart sinks and I start to sob uncontrollably. Everything I thought I knew is a lie. It’s not real. I run to the bathroom and put my phone on silent. It rings again. Oh shit … stop fucking calling me, I sob again. I burst into the cubicle and throw the lid down. I sit and put my head into my hands. My foot taps double time as I think. The phone rings again. I press reject. Fuck, what am I going to do? My passport and bag are back in the room. My phone rings again. I instantly reject it. I stand, turn and vomit into the toilet. The phone rings again. I press reject instantly. It beeps a text.r />
  Baby. Where are you? It’s not how it looks.

  Please. You are not safe alone.

  I sob into my hands. Not safe, what does that mean? Nobody could hurt me as much as you have.

  Natasha, please. You have no money.

  My lip quivers as I realise the sick truth: he is right. But if I go back he is going to feed me some bullshit story. Lie some more. Amelie can fucking have him, they deserve each other.

  Please Natasha.

  I’m frantic.

  I love you more than anything.

  I stand and start to shake my hands. Should I go back? Maybe I should just listen to him? It was just once. I cry out loud as the pain lances through my chest. Once is one too many times, asshole.

  Natasha,

  Please tell me you are alright.

  Where are you?

  I pull my feet up into a foetal position. My phone beeps a message. I look at the screen. It’s Max.

  Natasha, it’s me.

  Let me come get you.

  Can I trust him? I put my hand over my mouth as I think. He texts again.

  Where are you?

  I will not tell him.

  I stand as I exit the stall and start to pace. I catch sight of myself in the mirror. Bloody hell, I look like something from a Halloween movie. Makeup is smeared all over my face.

  Natasha, trust me.

  You have my word.

  Fucking hell. What am I going to do? My hands shake as I put them over my mouth to think. My phone beeps again. Joshua

  Tash, I’m begging you.

  Come back. Let me explain.

  I grab my head in my hands. How can you explain having sex with someone else? There is no explanation. The harsh reality is that while I hit rockbottom on the other side of the world, after murdering my father, he was making passionate love to another woman. A woman he swore he had no feelings for. A woman who I know he loves and could no longer resist.

  A text beeps. It’s Max.

  Natasha, listen to me.

  He is tracking your phone as we speak.

  You need to tell me where to meet you.

  I have your passport and ID with me.

  Holy shit. He’s tracking my phone. Why does he have to be so damn smart? Fuck, Fuck, Fuck. I shake my hands as my body courses with adrenaline.