***
I took it easy for the rest of the day. I didn’t feel sick again, thank goodness, but felt exhausted, nonetheless. My Jerry Springer lifestyle and row of hurdles had completely drained me, and obviously not subsided for the time being. Bryce had showed Nate how to play pool, so I partnered up with Nate and we had challenged Bryce. I’m not sure whether he deliberately played under his game or not, but the end result was a hell of a lot closer than what I had predicted it to be. Nate had watched a movie in bed, and when I went up to check him he was fast asleep and drooling on his pillow. I tucked him in and wiped his mouth with a tissue while giggling. Bryce was standing at the door watching me.
“You are a wonderful Mother, Alexis.”
“No, being a Mother is wonderful.” I corrected him.
“It suits you.”
I scoffed “It better.” Aahhh, the irony.
He cupped my face and kissed me passionately.
“I thought you said you wouldn’t kiss me for a day or so.”
“Hunny, there’s no way I could wait a day to have your my lips on yours.” He swept me off my feet and carried me down the hall to his bedroom, then gently placed me on top of his bed and scooted down next to me, laying his head on my chest.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. You can stop asking me that now.” I ran my hands through his gorgeous blonde hair. I hope Baby Clark gets his hair chromosomes. He propped himself up onto his elbow, facing me, then slowly began to drag my dress up until it was bunched underneath my bra, exposing my legs, underwear and stomach. He moved closer and kissed my stomach. I smiled. Little do you know you just kissed your offspring, Mr. Clark. He trailed his finger around my stomach in large circles, then looked up to me with his alluring blue seductive eyes. Oh I hope baby Clark gets your eye chromosomes too.
“I love you, Alexis.”
“I love you too, Bryce.” He looked back at my stomach and kissed it again.
“So, Hunny, when are you due?” He looked back at me and smirked. What? How? Oh I hope Baby Clark does not get your smirking chromosomes.
“Um, um, at the end of November. How did you know?” I choked.
“Well, you turned into a beetroot at the mention of your pill, then you asked for some folic acid. I took care of all of Lucy’s supplements for her during her pregnancy, my love, so I know what folic acid is for.” Alexis, you dumbass. “Why didn’t you want to tell me?”
“I did, I just wasn’t sure when, or if you would even want this baby. I really didn’t mean for this to happen, Bryce. I was taking my pill, but when I walked out on Rick and came here I left it at home then didn’t take it the whole time we were away, I just completely forgot. I’m so sorry.” I started to cry.
“No, Hunny, don’t cry. What are you crying for? I couldn’t be happier. Well I could. I’ll be the happiest man alive when you say I do to me. But to know that our baby is inside here...” He kissed my stomach again. “Growing bigger as each day goes by, has me lost for words, my love.”
“So you’re happy?” I said, wiping the tears from my eyes.
“More than happy, I’m in love. I’m in love with you, our baby, our life, and our future together.”
I grabbed his face and dragged him up to mine. “We’re having a baby, Mr. Clark.”
“Yes, Ms Summers, we’re having a baby.”
EPILOGUE
Gareth - 3 months earlier
I don’t think I can wait till 10 a.m., I need to speak to Bryce now. Maybe if I ring back he will be there, yes, I’m sure he will, I will ring back.
“Bryce Clark’s Office, Alexis speaking, how may I help you?”
Alexis, who is Alexis? What is she doing answering Lucy’s phone? “Alexis is it?” I ask.
“Yes, can I help you?”
“I just spoke to Lucinda, is she available?” Where is Lucy? Where is Bryce? I need to speak to Bryce.
“She’s just stepped away from her desk. Can I take a message for you, and get her to call you back?”
“Yes, my name is Gareth Clark. Is Bryce in the office yet?” He has to be, I need to speak to him.
“No, he’s not back yet Sir.” No, where is he? I have to go and see him.
“Let him know I’ll be there shortly.”
“Yes, I will pass that on for you. Thank you, goodbye.”
I hung up the phone and stared out my eighth story window. I hadn’t seen Bryce for nearly a week, which wasn’t normal, I usually saw him every day. Why is he avoiding me? Have I done something wrong? It was worrying me, the last time he avoided me I’d had an episode because I decided to stop the medication Jessica had given me. I didn’t want to take the pills anymore, I didn’t know whether they were brainwashing me or making me worse? Sometimes I just don’t know, I hate it, I hate feeling like that. Something felt different with Bryce, and I needed to know what it was, so I stepped back from the window, and headed to the penthouse floor.
***
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out into the foyer. I don’t know what I have done wrong? I have been taking my meds, I know I have. Lucy was standing in the middle of the foyer with her hands on a blonde’s shoulders. Maybe this is her new girlfriend? Good, I hate Nic, she’s a bitch.
“Good morning.” I said. I hope this new girlfriend doesn’t watch me like a hawk, it makes me nervous. Nic is always watching me, I hate it.
“Gareth, this is Alexis. She’ll be taking over for me when I have the baby.” Lucy winked at Alexis. Shit, that sucks. I hate Nic.
“Ah, Alexis, it’s always nice to put a face to a name.” She’s beautiful. Why didn’t Bryce tell me he had filled Lucy’s position? As far I knew he didn’t want a replacement.
“Likewise, Mr. Clark.” She smiled nervously. Why is she looking at me funny? No, not you too.
“Please, call me Gareth.” I held the door for her, but sensed she wanted to get as far away from me as possible. She knows something? What does she know? She nodded sheepishly as the doors closed. Something is wrong. Something is wrong.
“Good morning, Lucy is Bryce back yet?”
“Yes, he’s just having a shower.”
“So, Alexis is his new PA, where’d you find her?”
“She was our Concierge Attendant. Bryce offered her the job today. You can wait in his office Gareth, he won’t be long.” I walked into Bryce’s office and made my way to the window. The view from up there was so much better than the eighth floor, from there you could see across Port Phillip Bay, but when you looked out my window, you could only see directly across to the Metropol. I glanced at his desk and noticed a manila folder with the name Alexis Summers written on it. Curiously, I opened it up. There was a picture of her attached to her résumé, then lots of sheets of paper printouts from Facebook, a police check, credit check and a medical report. What’s all this Facebook shit? I was about to have a better look when the door to Bryce’s apartment beeped. I quickly shut the folder and turned back to the window. He walked in, freshly showered, smiling from ear to ear.
“Someone looks happy this morning, was it a good class?” I asked. Something was telling me it had nothing to do with his class though.
“Yeah, something like that. So Gareth, what’s up?” He walked over to his desk, picked up Alexis’ file and put it in his drawer.
“Not much, just haven’t seen you around lately. Anything new going on Bryce?”
“No, not really.” He still had a smile on his face.
“I see you’ve replaced Lucy.”
“Oh, you’ve met Alexis?” He raised his eyes, then tried to play it down. I’ve known Bryce nearly all my life, and I knew when something was different. Something about this Alexis woman was different.
“Yeah, just a minute ago, she seems nice and all, but is she going to be right for the job? Wasn’t she your trainee CA?”
“She’ll be perfect.” He snapped “So was there anything else Gareth? I’ve got a shit load of work to do.” He sat down and turne
d his laptop on without looking at me.
“No. I just wanted to see how you were. I’ll let you get back to it.” I went to turn, when he looked up.
“I’m all good, mate. Listen we’ll catch up after work and have a beer all right, I’m just swamped right now.”
“Yeah all right. I’ll see you later.” I walked out of his office and said goodbye to Lucy.
“Are you okay Gareth?” She called out.
“Yep.” I rushed to the elevator. My ears were beginning to throb and my head was all of a sudden killing me. The last time this happened I...Oh, shit, not again.
***
Scott
I knew this elevator, I knew these walls and the mirrors on them, and I knew the reflection looking back at me. What the fuck have you done to your hair? And this suit makes you look like a pussy. Obviously something else had happened in Gareth’s miserable life, the wanker couldn’t handle anything, let alone his own dick. So, he called upon me. He knew I’d help him, he knew I was not afraid to get us what we wanted, and he knew that I always knew best. I was glad to be back, actually, because I could finally see Bryce again. Why is the elevator going down? I need to go back up? I hit the stop button, then the penthouse button.
Lucy was at her desk when the doors opened, she looked at me strange when I walked into the foyer.
“Did you forget something?” She said it as if she suspected me to be a criminal. Shit, think.
“Yeah, my phone.” I walked past her and noticed her stomach was as round as a fucking beach ball. Fuck, she’s pregnant. How did that happen? Ain’t she a lesbian? Then again, it wouldn’t surprise me if that Nic bitch had a dick, and was packing some swimmers. I didn’t bother knocking on his door before I opened it and let myself in. Hopefully I would find him relieving his built up sexual tension, and I could then help him with it. Unfortunately he wasn’t, instead, he was concentrating on some paper work in a manila folder. Fuck he looks good. He gives me a hard on so easily, I love it.
“Did you forget something Gareth?” He asked slightly annoyed.
“Did I leave my phone behind?”
“No, not that I can see. Why don’t you ring it? Here, I’ll do it.” He pressed a button on his phone. Fuck, it’s in my pocket. I quickly put my hand in there and flicked it on to silent. Instantly, it started to vibrate and assist my already hard dick. I smiled. “I can’t hear it Gareth, it’s obviously not in here.”
“Yeah, sorry.” I stood there admiring him, while enjoying the silent vibrations of my phone.
“Okay. Well I’ll see you tonight Gareth.” Bryce looked agitated.
“Yeah, where?” I had no fucking idea where.
“Here.” Now he looked pissed off. I decided that I better go.
“See you later.” I walked back out of the office and past the beach ball. “Later, Lucy.”
***
Why am I looking into a fucking fish tank? Gareth had obviously managed to return during the night, but once again he needed me to save his wimpy arse. I noticed a blonde walking up the stairs and away from me, she glanced back over her shoulder like I’d just told her I slept with animals. Fuck, that bloody Gareth has swallowed his balls again. Maybe it had something to do with her. I waited till she’d turned the corner then followed her. She opened the door to the staff kitchen. She obviously works here.
“Hi, Mr. Clark.” A short dark haired woman smiled at me politely as she entered the kitchen after blondie.
“Hello.” What’s her name again? I’ve seen her before. I stopped just outside the door and listened to their conversation.
‘Alexis, how are you dear? How’s Lucy doing? Did she have the baby?’
‘Yes, Abigail, she did. She did a wonderful job, I’m hoping to go and see her tomorrow.’ The blonde’s name is Alexis and she obviously knows Lucy. And Abigail, the old bird is Abigail.
‘Oh, that’s wonderful news. So how is your new position going?’ Abigail asked Alexis.
‘Great, Mr Clark is a lovely person, and very easy to work for.’ She works for Bryce! Maybe that’s why Gareth has summoned me because she is trying to bed him. It’s not the first time he’s wanted help for something like this. I hid around the corner and watched Alexis leave the kitchen. Over my dead body you’ll bed him. He belongs to me. I made my way to Gareth’s office to look up this Alexis chick’s file. I found that she was married with kids, and had started at the hotel as a Concierge Attendant alongside a Samantha Taylor. Might just have to meet this Samantha Taylor I think.
***
It had been a few days since deciding to make sure Alexis didn’t get her claws into Bryce, and since that point I’d made a lot of progress. Samantha was easy, all I had to do was flash my smile and credit card, and she was ready to open her legs. Not that I wanted anything to do with what was in between her legs, they were not Bryce’s legs. I sat in Gareth’s office, bored shitless. I didn’t know what he fucking did, and I didn’t really care. I flicked on his TV hoping there would be a rerun of Seinfeld, instead, there was a news update. Some dickhead had an accident on the freeway that morning, and it made me glad I decided to sleep in the hotel. I watched the chopper zoom in on the crazy guy running up the off ramp then scooping a blonde into his arms. The chopper zoomed in some more then ‘Bryce Clark, a knight in shining armour’ flashed across the screen. Fuck, what’s he doing? That slut has fucking brainwashed him. I got up and stormed out the door with an idea of how to get rid of her for good.
***
When the elevator doors opened I saw the slut sitting at her desk, she looked disappointed.
“Good afternoon, Gareth, Bryce is not in, he’s out with Dale going over some security checks.”
I go to speak. Remember talk like Gareth “Oh bugger...” Yep, that sounds like the wimpy son of a bitch. “I needed to have a quick word to him about a new proposal, never mind.” I walked over to her desk, making sure I got right into her personal space. I wanted to make her feel as uncomfortable as hell, I wanted to make her never want to come back here again. “So, how are you feeling Alexis? That was some bump you took this morning by the looks of your car, and the fact Bryce had to carry you off the road.”
“I’m fine thanks, it looked worse than it actually was. Bryce was good enough to come down and see if I was okay, it was very kind of him.” She’s lying, does she think I’m fucking stupid?
“Oh, come on, Mrs. Summers. You and I both know he didn’t just come down to see how you were, that’s going just a bit far and beyond the expectations of an employer.” I waited for her reaction to my not so subtle dig at her.
She stood up. “What are you getting at, Gareth?”
“Feisty, I can see why he likes you. Tell me, are you feisty between the sheets too?” She slapped me hard across the face. You fucking little slut.
“How dare you.” She tried to leave, but I managed to grab her on the back of her head.
“Listen here, you little whore. You just keep spreading your legs for Bryce, because you are doing me a favour, you want to know why? Because the board won’t be too impressed that he is fucking a married woman, it doesn’t look good for the company.” I figured I’d try and guilt her into believing she’d be the cause of Bryce’s demise. If she really liked him, she’d leave him alone, but if she didn’t and just wanted what she could get from him, then I’d need to scare her a little more. I licked my lips and went for the kill. “You are a sexy whore, I’ll give him that.” I grabbed her tit. The next thing I knew, I had a fucking sore eye and my balls were killing me. “You Bitch! You’ll fucking pay for that.” I went to get up and teach the slut a lesson, but I was grabbed from behind and flung into a wall. Bryce then picked me up by my collar and punched me in the ribs, then again in my jaw. Fuck, that hurt. But man, he just gave me a massive boner. He kicked me again in the stomach, when Alexis screamed for him to stop, and he did.
“Get the fuck out of my building, now, you piece of shit.” He is sexy when he’s angry. I laughed. That was f
un. I spat blood at his feet and looked into his gorgeous eyes. I could see it, I could see he knew, and I loved it, I could see he knew I was back. Yes, Bryce, Scott has come back for you.
***
Alexis had been staying with Bryce on and off since the Tel V Awards. I saw them walk to his elevator after a few drinks that night, and practically fuck each other before the doors closed. It was in that moment I realised she was a major fucking problem I needed to take care of. He was mine, and no one else’s, and I was not going to allow that bitch to take him away from me.
I had to be smart though and not let my anger get in the way of my plan. Scaring her away or making minor threats obviously was not going to work anymore. I needed to take action, action that would see her out of Bryce’s life for good. Alexis Elizabeth Summers needs to have an accident, yes; an accident, one that will fortunately render her no more, and I know just how to do it.
COMING SOON
FULFILLMENT
(Book 3 in The Temptation Series)
Life couldn’t be happier for Alexis and Bryce. They are finally together and expecting a baby, and all the challenges they faced to get to this point have been overcome—or so it seems. Someone lurks in the shadows, threatening to put an end to the fulfillment they have both achieved. Will they live happily ever after? Or will Scott get his ultimate revenge?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My amazing husband - You not only picked up the duties I dropped to write this book, but you also allowed me to bounce ideas off of you in the middle of the night when I woke up slightly crazy. Not only did you share the lack of sleep with me during the writing process of books 1 and 2, you also brought me a cup of tea every single night before you went to bed as I sat in front of my laptop and typed to the early hours of the morning. I honestly couldn’t have done it without you and my nightly caffeine shot. Thank you for your support and for always being my rock you wonderful, wonderful man.
The two little loves of my life - You were told many times during the writing of this book—‘Shhh. Mummy is trying to type’. I am so sorry for saying that over and over. And I promise to go back to nail painting and lego building now.
Satisfaction (The Temptation Series #2) Page 34
