‘Force of habit by now. The pain is definitely manageable.’
They walked some more then Hayley spoke again. ‘Quils…have you thought where you’ll go when you leave the hospital?’
Quilla nodded. ‘Grady and Flori have offered me their guest room for as long as I need to find a place.’
Hayley sighed. ‘Good, because I had visions of you renting some tiny apartment on your own.’
Quilla smiled gratefully at her young friend. ‘You are so like your sister, sometimes.’
‘Thankfully, neither of us is like our mother, though,’ Hayley rolled her eyes.
‘I hear ya.’ Quilla sighed. ‘I’m going to have to find a new job, though if I want to get an apartment of my own.’
Hayley was confused, and then her heart sank. ‘So, there’s really no chance of you and Jakob….?’ Hayley felt tears threatening. She so wanted the couple to find each other again. ‘He’s been doing really well, Quills, and he’s respected your wishes about staying away. He’s working on the foundation project with Flori and Grady.’
Quilla was surprised. The foundation had been her and Grady’s brainchild, an arts foundation that would help low-income artists fulfill their dreams of a college degree and mentoring in the art world. She had been talking to Grady about it the day she and Hayley had been abducted.
‘Really? It was just a vague idea last time I was involved.’
‘Grady told Jakob about it, and Jakob swung into action. I’ve helped out too, in-between classes and coming here.’
Quilla smiled at her gratefully. ‘Skandar must hate me, stealing so much of your time.’
‘Are you kidding me? Skandar hero-worships you – or ‘she-ro’ worships you, ha, ha – I think if we both went full lesbian on each other, he’d cheer us on. He keeps talking about what he can do for you.’
‘Just keep being him, and always look after you, love you, treat you like a goddess and we’re good,’ Quilla grinned. She drew in a long breath. ‘Lord, I think I need to go back to bed now.’
Hayley helped her to the elevator and got her settled back in bed. Quilla smiled wryly. ‘I get puffed walking, but as soon as I get back in this damn bed again, I want out.’
In an hour, Quilla was asleep, and Hayley kissed her forehead and crept silently from the room. Driving home, she thought about Quilla and Jakob, wished that she could think of a way to bring them back together.
When she got home, she met Skandar, returning from practice, in their driveway. Now Gregor Fisk was dead; they had been able to shed a few layers of protection, although Skandar had insisted on Hayley’s security guard being in place whenever she went out in public. She wouldn’t admit it, but she was grateful for it, and they were so discreet, she hardly noticed they were there.
Skandar, his skin tawny from playing outside in India over New Years, grinned at her. His skin was covered in a fine layer of dewy sweat, his blonde hair sticking up each and every way.
‘Wanna help me shower?’ He grinned, and she laughed.
‘Why, yes, I do.’
In the shower, he kissed her as the cool water ran over their bodies, and she pressed her breasts into his chest. ‘God, I love you, Skandar Mallory.’
He picked her up and stepped out of the shower, lowering her to the tile. Grinning, Hayley wrapped her legs around his hips, reaching between his thighs to stroke his hardening cock and Skandar spread her labia with his long fingers, the crest of his cock nudging at her entrance as he fingered her clit. With one long thrust, he took her and Hayley moaned with pleasure as his huge cock filled her, the friction on the sensitive nerve endings of her vagina utter, utter bliss. She never wanted this feeling to end, and she looked up at the glorious, wonderful man above her and felt such an overwhelming love for him, which tears sprang from her eyes. Skandar grinned, knowing they were tears of joy, kissed them away and gathered her to him as they fucked.
Afterward, they ordered take-out and sat on the couch in their robes, idly flicking through the t.v. channels. ‘I wish I could think of some way to bring Quils and Jakob back together,’ she told him, but Skandar shook his head.
‘Not yet, Hays. If it gets to a critical level, then maybe we need a rethink. But at the moment, don’t get in between them. Quilla needs her space, and Jakob is giving it to her. Believe it or not, that’s a good thing just now.’
Hayley wasn’t convinced. ‘How can it be? They need to be talking this shit out.’
‘And maybe they will but us interfering will not help. Just leave it, boo.’
Marley was working late again. It had been a long week, but now she was looking forward to going home, enjoying a weekend with Ran. She flicked off the lights in the lab she was working in and walked slowly back to her car, half reading some notes she had just completed. When he spoke, she jumped violently.
‘Hey, Marley.’
Jakob. ‘Shit, Jakob, you scared me half to death,’ Marley put a hand on her chest, breathing deeply.
‘Sorry.’ He grinned sheepishly. He was dressed casually in jeans and tee-shirt and looked healthier than he had for months. ‘Come to think of it; I shouldn’t really be skulking around a parking lot, but I was trying to get up the courage to talk to you. Sorry if I scared you, I didn’t mean to.’
Marley shot him an annoyed look, then laughed softly. ‘Don’t worry about it. Look, why don’t we go grab a quick drink and talk but, Jakob, I warn you, I won’t try and persuade Quilla of anything she’s not ready to do.’
‘That’s fair.’
They went to a small bar on 7th. Both of them were driving so it was soda for Jakob, sparkling water for Marley.
‘How’s my pops?’ Jakob asked, obviously nervous. Marley smiled to herself.
‘He’s great, thank you.’
‘You make him happy, you know? I like that.’
Okay….. ‘Jakob, why don’t you just tell em what you need?’ Marley took a long sip of water and waited.
Jakob fidgeted nervously. ‘Obviously, I wanted to talk about Quilla, but don’t worry; I just need your advice.’
Marley nodded. ‘Go on.’
Jakob sighed. ‘I love her, and I miss her every day, but I know I messed up. I know what I have to prove.’
‘Sometimes, Jakob, people just need some time apart to see things clearly.’
‘I know, and believe it or not, this separation has been good for me too. Cleared my head. Shown me what I want.’
‘Which is?’
‘Quilla. I want to make a home with her, have kids, dogs, cats, pet snakes even. I want to work hard at my job; I want Quilla to achieve the success she deserves in her work. I’ll be a stay at home dad, if she wants, no problem. Anything.’
Marley studied him. ‘Why do I feel there’s a ‘but’ coming?’
Jakob grinned sheepishly. ‘But I don’t know how to prove all that to Quilla. At the moment, it's just words and I wouldn’t blame Quilla for never trusting me again. I didn’t protect her – it was my actions, albeit twenty odd years ago – that kick-started Gregor’s psychosis. I cheated with Padme then left her to Gregor’s mercy.’
‘I know all this and yet you’re here asking for my help.’
‘No, not your help, that’s the thing. I know this has to be all me. Your advice would be welcome, though.’
Marley considered for a few moments. ‘What you don’t want to do is control what Quilla wants to do, or what she does when she leaves the hospital. I know you’ve been working on the Foundation but don’t take it over. Make sure Quilla knows it’s just being set up ready for her and that she can change anything she wants within the organization or even not go ahead with it at all.’
Jakob nodded, his eyes looking more alive. ‘That’s good; that’s good stuff.’
‘The important thing is to do the work but don’t take the credit. Just be the investor, which you would have been if Quilla had had the chance to set this up before she was taken. Let Grady or Flori make any public announcements. Be the foundation
stone but be invisible.’
‘I got it. Man, thank you, Marley…but there is one thing. I want to make sure people know that it was Quilla’s idea without me going on t.v. and gushing – she’ll see right through that. Any ideas?’
Marley gave him a smile, her expression soft. ‘Actually, I do.’
‘And you’re sure you feel up to it?’
Quilla smiled down the phone. Parker had called three times to make sure she felt okay to leave the hospital. ‘Honestly, Parker, I feel good. It’s not like I’ll be running a marathon when I get out of here. Flori has already told me she has box sets and snacks for us both.’
Parker chuckled. ‘Well, okay then. Look, Asia and I will be up to Seattle soon to see you all.’
‘Can’t wait.’
Grady and Flori were accompanied by a very excited Hayley. She hugged Quilla. ‘Marley says she’ll be over to see you later unless you’re feeling too crowded. I said you’d send her a text message.’
At Grady and Flori’s apartment, Flori showed her the guest room. ‘All new furniture and a flat-screen,’ she muttered to Quilla, ‘I still can’t get used to this ‘money is no object’ thing.’
‘Me too,’ Quilla whispered back. ‘It looks lovely in here, thank you. That bed looks bliss after that hospital one.’
Grady left the woman and went to work. Flori tucked Quilla onto their couch, and Quilla grinned, enjoying the fuss. Flori dragged over a crate. ‘Box sets, she explained, then stuck her head into the crate, ‘West Wing, Grey’s Anatomy, Grimm, Orange is the New Black, Friends…?’
‘Oh, Friends, definitely.’
‘Are you sure? You might laugh and…’ Flori put her hand on her belly and pulled a face. Quilla grinned.
‘Good thinking…but no hospital stuff….Grimm? A lot of fine looking men in that.’
‘Perv.’
‘Yep.’
They all laughed and Flori put the disc into the Blu-ray player, the familiar theme tune starting.
Sitting, watching t.v. and chatting, munching on the snacks Flori had provided, Quilla felt relaxed, her family around her. She still got fatigued quickly, but her body felt better, lighter. She couldn’t push herself too hard, but she found, she didn’t want to. She wanted this. Chilling out with much loved friends, feeling relaxed, as if she didn’t have to worry about anything. She had locked Jakob away in a corner of her heart until she was ready to deal with him. After a few episodes of the show, she felt her eyes closing.
A few hours later, she opened her eyes to find Hayley gone and Flori is moving silently around the room. Quilla sat up stiffly. ‘God, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.’
Flori grinned. ‘Don’t worry; Hayley said she’d come back tomorrow if you want. You’re going to be tired for a while; I was, even after I came home from hospital.’
She came to sit by Quilla and the two women smiled at each other. ‘We survived,’ Quilla said to her and Flori grinned.
‘Yeah, we did. And now that asshole has gone for good, thanks to you. How do you feel about that?’
‘About killing Gregor?’
‘Yeah. I know Marley’s been worried that it would affect you, maybe even more than what he did to you.’
Quilla shook her head. ‘Honestly, I thought it would too, but I can’t feel bad. His knife was in my gut, I kicked him off, I grabbed the gun, and I shot him. If I had to do it again, I would. I don’t spare a moment’s thought for Gregor Fisk.’
Flori nodded. ‘Good. Good. That’s how I would feel. No-one knows unless it’s happened to them so don’t let anyone guilt you. Gregor made his own bed.’
Quilla hugged her. ‘Agreed. And now he’s gone, and we can get our lives back.’
Flori held onto her for a long moment. ‘Quilla? Have you thought about…?’
‘Jakob? Of course, I’m just…I haven’t got it straight in my head yet.’
‘Maybe you should talk.’
‘I’m starting to think that. I just don’t know if I’m ready yet.’
But by the end of the second week, she was ready. Not wanting to reconcile with Jakob over the phone, she asked Grady to set up a dinner for them.
Jakob was waiting for her when she entered the restaurant and for a moment, they just stared at each other.
‘Hi,’ she said in a gruff voice, her hands trembling badly. Jakob saw her shaking and stepped forward, taking her hands in his. His big dry hands felt so comforting, so familiar, she almost lost her composure and threw herself at him; only her pride and her still healing body stopped her.
‘You look beautiful, sweetheart.’ Jakob’s own voice was shaking, and she gave a half-smile.
‘I feel like we’re on our first date.’
Jakob led her to their table. ‘Well, if that’s the way this evening’s going to end…’ He grinned wickedly and she laughed, relaxing. She knew he was kidding – her body wasn’t ready for that kind of reunion, even though, when she saw him, a familiar ache started inside her. Desire.
But there was still too much to be sorted out. They ordered and made small talk before Jakob reached over to take her hand.
‘How are you, Quilla, really?’
She didn’t pull her hand away. ‘I’m okay, really. You look…well.’
He smiled. ‘Am I allowed to say that you look lovelier than ever? That you make me weak?’
Quilla grinned. ‘Seriously, dude, if you’re trying to get me to put out…’
They both laughed, and then Jakob’s smile faded. ‘Baby, I want to ask for your forgiveness. I was scared and immature, and I messed up. Big time. I couldn’t handle what Gregor had done to you, and so I freaked out. It was monumentally selfish and hurtful, and I’m so very, very sorry, baby. I love you so much.’
Quilla found her throat closing. ‘Jakob…I have to say this out loud so, please let me finish.’
He nodded, his eyes wide and scared. She drew in a deep breath. ‘I did not sleep with Gregor voluntarily. He was going to kill Hayley and me if I didn’t make it look…real. I had no idea he was taping it, that you’d ever see it, so I acted the part – overacted if you ask me – but he was convinced. I’m not going to apologize for that.’
Jakob nodded. ‘Nor should you have to, darling. Call it immaturity, call it male ego…it killed me to see that, and when I thought you were going to die, I couldn’t handle being left with that image of you – and him.’
Quilla nodded, looking down. She was knotting her napkin, twisting it around in her fingers. ‘All I could think of was you. The whole time, I kept reasonably sane by thinking of you and me and us, in our little hideaway in Venice, especially. On the island, when we got married. I built this image up of a fairytale and the crash to reality was hard. I needed time. You hurt me, Jakob more than anyone I loved ever has. Even my mom. You broke my heart.’
Jakob’s expression was soft, regretful. ‘I know, sweetheart. What can I do to make it up to you?’
Quilla smiled. ‘You’re doing it. You gave me the time; you didn’t harass or pressure me. Ran told me you’re going to N.A.’
‘Every week without fail. I might not have taken that coke but the thought that I might have scares the crap out of me.’
‘Good for you. God, I’ll always remember that first night in Venice. You stayed then, and you’re staying now. This is the way to make it up to me. Be the man I fell in love with so deeply. I’m not ready to give up on us.’
Jakob was quiet for a second, and when he spoke, his eyes were fierce with passion and his voice shook. ‘I love you so much, Quilla Chen. So God damned much. Can we start again?’
She smiled at him. ‘I would like that. Let’s take things slowly, this time, let’s do the whole dating thing.’
‘Whatever you want, baby,’ Jakob was beside himself with joy, ‘I’ll court you good, I’ll court you like a boss.’
She burst out laughing. ‘Seriously, have you been hanging out with Hayley and Skandar too much? ‘Like a boss’? Ow, oww,’ she clutc
hed her belly as she giggled and Jakob joined in with her laughter.
‘There’s one more thing I have to talk about with you,’ he said, and she raised her eyebrows, finally stopping her laughter. She wiped her eyes.
‘What’s that?’
‘Your foundation.’ He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheaf of papers. ‘Everything is set up ready for you. Grady, Flori, and Hayley are all ready to go, so you just have to say the word. Any changes, anything, we’ll change it, but it’s yours, darling.’ He handed her the papers and she took them, smoothing them flat to read them.
The Quilla Chen Foundation for the Arts.
Tears pricked her eyes as she read the title and mission statement. ‘To open the world of art to everyone,’ she quoted and looked up at Jakob with shining eyes. ‘I don’t; know what to say…it was just an idea and now…wow.’ She shook her head. ‘Thank you, Jakob, for my beloved Jakob, thank you. This is…’ She couldn’t go on, the tears dropping down her cheeks. Jakob got up and moved his chair next to her so he could take her in his arms.
‘It’s just the start, Quilla. It’s just the beginning of what we could achieve together.’
He kissed her, his mouth gentle at first then as she responded, they both forget where they were. Finally breaking away, they gazed at each other for a long moment.
‘There is just one change I would like to make,’ she said softly, stroking his cheeks with her fingertips. Jakob smiled at her.
‘Name it.’
‘Could we change the name to The Quilla Chen Mallory Foundation…that is my name after all.’
Jakob grinned delightedly. ‘Yes, of course, my love, and yes it is…’
Epilogue
‘Ask her if Asia’s pushing yet? Is she pushing?’
Jakob handed a pacing Quilla his phone. ‘Hayley says ‘put the psycho on the phone.'’
Quilla, grinning, took it from him. ‘What’s happening, you little jerk?’
Montgomery Billionaire Series Page 125
