CONNOR
I couldn’t hold the words back.
Jealously, rage erupted from me as I entered the bar following the tracker only to see Grace sitting with another male.
How dare this man sit close to my woman? And even had the effrontery to call himself her potential boyfriend. It took every self-control in me not to punch him in the face.
She wouldn’t be going back to that work tomorrow. Not while I’m still breathing.
If she had opened her door last night when I knocked and knocked, if she had answered her phone at least once, then both of us wouldn’t have to be in that situation. I would have told her everything while we look for ways to solve the problem together.
But she actually believed I left her to get engage with someone else, why would I ever do that? She had no idea how much she and our child meant to me.
I knew I was going to regret saying I was the father of her child that way in public but it was the only way to make that delusional prick get his hands of my woman.
I hurled her into my arms, leaving Marcus to take care of the so called director and other on lookers in the bar. We couldn’t let the news get out like that. Grace would never forgive me.
She looked so vulnerable in my arms with her eyes closed and her lips parted slightly and even while I tucked her carefully in the back seat so as not to wake her up. She passed out while I was bantering with that egotistical prick.
I guess he was the one in the blue car that came to pick her up and drove her to work that day I almost lost my mind.
I went around the car to sit by her side and alerted the driver to take us home.
Marcus and I were in the middle of sorting out some serious issue regarding to the text Marcus got on my business phone. Someone had sent a threatening text with a hidden number. I always left my business phone with Marcus so only my personal phone stayed with me.
Only family members and now, Grace had my personal number and could reach me directly.
We had been trying to track the IP of the hidden number and my tech team couldn’t even go home on time. No one messes with me and go scot free.
I had enough on my mind already, and Grace calling drunk late in the evening with jazz music sounding from the background was the brink of the shit I had to take in for a day. I was worried as hell.
What if she was all alone there drunk and not knowing how to find her way back home? What if a predator or abusive male was close by looking for vulnerable women to take advantage of? What if her so called director had sinister plans in his mind?
I shook the irking thoughts off my mind. The consequences of such happening was something I could never bring myself to imagine.
As we drove through the highway, I sat close to her and let her rest her head on my shoulder. It was a great relief she thought about calling me. Something she would never have done if she was clear headed. At least I know she would be able to protect herself if she was clear headed, who knows what that dumb director planned to do, anyway?
“We are here sir,” the driver announced before rushing down to open the door for me. I got down and went round to carry her out from the car. The driver wanted to help but I stopped him.
She was mine alone.
I know that made me sound like a possessive freak but I couldn’t care less. I carried her in my arms all the way to my room, her beautiful dark hair flowing down making her look like the sleeping beauty. Her tight knee length beige skirt and black satin shirt buttoned up to her neck looked uncomfortable so I took off her clothes piece by piece while she lay on my bed fast asleep.
Somehow she looked most cute when she was drunk but she would have to be drunk with me alone if she ever has a reason to drink in the future. I knew I was the reason she went that far today, and it tore my heart how much pain she must have been through.
She was sweating so I turned on the air conditioner, cover the quilts up to her neck. A strand of hair fell across her face so I brushed it out gently, tucking it behind her ears. The feel of her skin to mine sent tremors coursing through my veins.
I took her phone and called her friend NK to know if Laurel was with her or Jody.
I think it’s time to make her start living here, and if she disagrees like the Grace she is, I would have to make her let me pick Laurel up before she leaves for work. I know my child is safe with her friends but I deserve more time with her too.
NK picked up after several rings. “Hey, Gracie,” her voice sounded muffled like she was sleeping, “What’s up?”
“Uhmm, it’s me,” I said, trying to find my voice.
“Connor?” she sounded surprised, “Is something wrong with Grace? She’s not hurt right?” the tone of her voice was bordering between alarm and hysteria.
“No, no, NK,” I said louder now trying to calm her down, “Grace is fine, she’s here with me, in my house.”
“She is meant to be at work and not in your room, Connor Shelby,” her tone suddenly turn spiteful, “Please put her on the phone, I need to speak with her,”
“She’s asleep, NK and I just want to know if Laurel is with you.” I uttered calmly, hoping she would do the same.
“Wake her up and put her on the damn phone, please” she spoke through clenched teeth. She was concerned, I get it.
“I can’t, she’s drunk.”
“Why would she be drunk and sleeping in your place?”
“Look NK,” I walked into the restroom so as not to wake Grace up with my banter with her friend. “You’ll be the first person she calls when she wakes up. But for now, I can assure you she’s in safe hands. I just need to know if Laurel’s with you.”
“Fine.” she begrudgingly conceded. “Laurel is here, sleeping, and she’s in safe hands too.” she stated sarcastically and ended the call.
I was about to let out a sigh of relief when I heard my phone vibrating from the bed stand. I rushed to pick it up before it woke Grace up.
It was from my mother. I had picked already before I knew it, damn. Not again, please lord.
“Mother, I can’t talk right now, I have-”
“The date have been set, Son,” she said so coolly like she didn’t just cut me off, “Just go this once, Connor, please. If it doesn’t work out, I promise to drop the issue, trust me.”
“Mother, seriously,” I gritted my teeth in frustration.
“I’m texting you the venue, date and time.”
“Can you just let me speak?”
“Sorry, a reporter is calling,” she giggled, and I knew she was threatening me again. “Just go okay, mama loves you.” she finished with her cringe worthy affection and the line went dead.
Great, I thought, slapping my forehead and staring down at Grace sleeping with such a peaceful expression. How do I tell her about this dumb set up while we still had issue of the engagement news to settle?
My phone chimed again, and sucked in my breath hoping it wasn’t my mother again, but to my relief, it was Marcus.
I answered the call. “What’s the update, Marcus?”
“The video of you in the bar is already spreading in the internet, sir” Marcus uttered with a downcast tone.
“What? How?”
“Apparently as soon as you came into the bar, someone started a live recording.” he explained, “We couldn’t salvage the situation quick enough. I’m sorry, Alpha.”
“It’s okay, Marcus,” I tried to reassure him even though I wasn’t feeling that way myself. “It’s my mistake, I should fix it. We’ll try and sort everything out by morning tomorrow, you can go home and rest tonight.”
I sat on the bed close to Grace, feeling overwhelmed with how much happened in just a day. Grace calling drunk, me making the situation worse, the threatening text and then my mother.
It couldn’t get any worse.
“Connor Shelby…” I heard Grace mumble in her sleep with a sad smile on her face and a single drop of tear streaming down her cheeks