It was difficult getting to my house from Lexi's. We had to shake the reporters off multiple times. That meant taking routes I hadn't before and pretending we were going out with groups of people. They did get bored after hearing some other celebrity was in town. That was good. After getting some things from my house, we got Mocha some tags and a tracker. Once again, we got chased by reporters.
"Here. Put these on," I said and handed Lexi a pair of sunglasses.
"Thanks." She sighed and put them on. "Where are we going this time?"
"A friend's house. It's not that far out."
We spent ten minutes in silence before I realized she was trying to get my attention. All her sighing and restlessness was finally catching my eye. What was her problem? I don't think she should be the one looking for answers. It was me who wanted to know a lot.
"Look...about Monday," I started. "Forgive me on that part. I had just found out what you had done Saturday night. Sunday wasn't any better with you still sleeping."
"...It's nothing to get angry over, Asher. I wouldn't have done it if Adrien didn't want it so bad," She said.
"Does he have it now?"
"No. Even if he did, I wouldn't have gone to the Agency to give it to him."
Good point. It was worth the shot. I wonder if she has it on her. Like would she risk taking it some place she didn't know about? I could easily have her kidnapped and force her to tell me where the drive was. Or I could seduce her into giving it to me. That's never failed me. Especially when we were dating. Even after ten years, she was still fazed by what I thought of her. Nothing seems to have changed about her.
"Lexi, you're making it harder on yourself. If it falls into the wrong hands--"
"We'll all be in trouble. I know, I know. It's already going somewhere safe later today." Lexi assured me. "Once it's in that person's hands...you'll never get it back again."
"Are you saying it's safer with some unknown person than Cameron?" I asked doubtfully.
"Exactly. If Cam had it stolen, it means he didn't think much of it until now."
Ugh. Another great point. I was going to have to try harder if I wanted to get Lexi to eat out of the palm of my hand again. I knew just what to say. I just needed to know how and when to say it.
"Ari seems...new," Lexi noted. "What's the new updates?"
I smiled. She remembered.
"You didn't forget?" I asked in disbelief.
"How could I? She was like my best friend." Lexi laughed.
Best friend? Ari wasn't a human. I mean...Lexi was weird, but I never knew she thought of my car that way. That was surprising.
"Oh. Well, I got her out of the shop two weeks ago. Ari now has a better security system. Her body and windows are bulletproof." I'm glad I brought Ari last night.
"You got them tinted too."
Why is she noticing everything?
"Yeah...I had too many encounters with the media before coming back here." I stopped at a red light. "She can also hack into any facility within a 650-mile radius. She can sense a newcomer. Like if I have a stranger in the car. I had the guy working on my car put in a GPS, so I'd be able to find her whenever I need to. If I feel uncomfortable with anyone, Ari senses it and has the police on speed dial."
Lexi looked highly impressed. Yes, I am a rich man and I do care about my car. Not as much as my son, but yeah. If I was half the man I was years ago, I would have made sure Ari forgot every moment she had with Lexi. I'm not, so she's lucky.
"Do you think she remembers me?" She asked cautiously. "It's been awhile."
"Of course she does. She never forgets anyone," I said. "Ari, say hi."
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Thompson," Ari greeted. "Have you been well?"
"Yes. Has Ash been treating you well?"
"As always. It's nice to hear you again."
So funny. Ari and her jokes. I glanced at Lexi and her smile sort of warmed me inside. I guess she wasn't that mad at me from before. I was still mad, but she didn't know that. I was glad I was able to control my emotions well now. Which made me think. I still had to get that man out of my basement.
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The thirty minute drive seemed endless. We managed to keep up a long conversation about nothing. I did tell her about Vincent and how he did in school. She told me how her kids were doing and the nanny they had hired. If I had known about this, then I would have told her to bring them to me on my days off. It would have been great for Vincent since he loves them like his own brother and sister. They kind of are but whatever.
I pulled into the driveway and found the garage empty. I thought Rico would be home by now. I guess not. Before I could turn off the car and open Lexi's door, she shot out the car like a rocket. What? Did she not want to be in the car with me anymore? What was the point of coming with me if she was going to do that? Gosh, I guess she really did change.
When she noticed me staring when I got out the car, she ducked her head. Tell me, Lexi. I promise not to kill. I won't promise I won't hurt you.
"Sorry," She apologized. "I get...claustrophobic sometimes."
I laughed and went to unlock the door. Women. I could never understand them. No matter how many women I've been with. Cool air blasted us and I realized the AC was still on. I guess Rico didn't care about his bills while he was here. I wouldn't either. Lexi came in after me and I led her to the living room.
"Do you have anything...to drink?" She asked.
"Yeah. I can make some Chai Tea," I said. "Do you want that?"
She didn't say anything for awhile.
"You remembered?"
"...Sure."
No. I didn't know what she was talking about. Chai Tea was something my maman was good at perfecting whenever she came back home. For some reason she never really drank anything besides that and water. She told me it calmed her when she thought of papa. Not much I could say about that, but I guess I got used to it.
I walked back into the living room with two cups of tea. Lexi grabbed one and took a deep breath. She hasn't even drank it! What are you sighing for? I don't get you. I sat on the couch with mine. Lexi didn't move an inch as I unsubtly moved closer to her. I know what I'm doing, but do you know what you're doing?
"I'm sorry I didn't ask you about revealing Vincent before. It was very selfish of me," Lexi started. "...Luca--"
"I don't care for Luca," I interrupted. "It's not your fault. Anything involving him indirectly forcing you to do something you weren't going to do isn't your fault."
"Are you sure? Because not caring means more trouble for me and Vincent."
"What about me?"
"Has he threatened to kill you yet and hide your body where no one will ever find you?"
"...No."
"Alright then. He's done it to me and he'll threaten me with Vincent's life to get me to listen to him. I don't want you to feel sorry for me."
"I never said I was feeling sorry for you."
Lexi rolled her eyes. She set her mug on the coffee table and turned to me. I did the same. Once my hands were empty, she took them in hers and held it against her chest. I tried hard not to laugh at how fast her heartbeat was. I thought I was the nervous one. That man in my basement was a loud one. I made a mental note to feed him when I got home tonight.
"You know what this means?" She asked. I shook my head. "It means I'm nervous. I'm nervous that...you want nothing to do with me anymore. I'm nervous, because I still love you and you have a girlfriend."
I was at a loss for words. Lexi loved me? My long time ex-girlfriend was still in love with me? Cold hearted Lexi Roberts still loved me and I don't even know if I want to reciprocate her feelings. Gosh, I feel like the bad guy. Jenni is amazing and I really love her. Even after seeing Lexi all over again like this...I would rather marry Jenni.
"...What is it? Did I say something wrong."
"You did," A new voice confirmed. "You said something very wrong."
Our heads snapped to the foyer entrance and Lexi dropped my hands. Ricardo stood there with his hands in his pockets. His eyes were trained on Lexi like he wanted to kill her for being in his house. Jenni was next to him looking at me like I was the one in the wrong here. How had they pulled in quietly?
"...Lexi, what are you doing here?" Rico asked. "Did you not consider the fact that I may not want you in my home?"
"Rico," Lexi mumbled. "I'm sorry. I'll go."
Lexi stood up and one last look at me. I stood up too. Why would she leave because he said so? She never listened to him. They always liked each other. Sometimes they seemed to be dating and not me dating her. What had happened to them?
"She's not going anywhere," I growled. "She hasn't done anything wrong to you."
"Oh?" Rico scoffed. "There's so much you still don't know about your cheating whore."
"Ricardo!" Jenni stomped on his foot. "What has she done that's got you so angry with her?"
"I don't think I need to be the one to tell you, Asher. Why don't you tell him, Lexi?"
I looked at Lexi in question. Her face said it all. She had done something and I didn't know what it was. What had she done that had her on edge? Did it also have something to do with Kathryn's father? Come on, it couldn't be that bad. Lies. It can be and it probably is.
"I-I have to go." She picked up her purse and ran out before I could say anything.
"Lexi, wait!" I glared at Rico, then went after Lexi. "Don't the both of you move."
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I don't know how she did it, but Lexi managed to take my car. My Ari. You couldn't hotwire it. There was no way she would figure out which wires to use anyway. With her only leaving the house seconds before me, there was no way she would be able to convince Ari to unlock the doors. Not unless I left Ari in sleep more. Which I...did. Dang it.
"I told you she was trouble," Ricardo muttered.
"Shut up," I snapped. "Let me have your keys, Jenni."
"Why?" She asked.
"You were supposed to be taking care of Vince anyway. Yet, you are here. I need your keys."
"I'm not giving them to you."
"What do you have to hide? It's not like you did something wrong. Not unless..."
Jenni snuck a quick look at Ricardo and that confirmed my suspicion. I hadn't known Jenni to stoop so low so fast for someone not nearly as sexy as me. She promised she'd never ruin my family image. Especially after I informed my maman I was going to marry her. If I know my maman like I know her, she's probably already told the whole mafia about my plans.
"Asher, it's--" Ricardo finally took his hands out his pockets.
"Not what I think? Ricardo, there's no reason for you to deny what I think. I can't even fathom why you would do this to me. Nikki wouldn't be happy to be your mother."
"Leave maman out of this."
"I wouldn't have brought her in if she knew her son was sleeping with her nephew's girlfriend."
"Wha--"
"Save it," I growled. "Jen, you promised you wouldn't do this to me. He's a married man!"
"I don't want him, Asher!" Jenni exclaimed. "You're always assuming the worst."
Rico sighed and looked me in the eye. What? Are you going to deny it once more?
"So what if I am sleeping with her? At least I'm not the guy who doesn't know his "perfect" ex-girlfriend slept with his oncle. How do you even know that Vincent is yours?"
"Wha-what?" I was the one for a loss of words.
"Yes, Asher. I'm calling her a whore. The name seems to suit her well."
I saw red. Then Jenni was pulling me off of my cousin. I wasn't even surprised when she succeeded. What was Ricardo thinking? He was sleeping with my girlfriend and called my best friend a whore? He would never get away with this.
Jenni's hand slipped and I was destroying my cousin's face once more. He couldn't defend himself fast enough, so his face was a hot mess by the time the police arrived. Of course she called them. Why? I worked with them. They wouldn't put me in jail. I'll get to leave with a warning and they'd let me go. Jenni ended up defending Rico and not me. Typical.
"Come with us, Mr. Monteil."
I reluctantly allowed myself to be taken away. Jenni rushed over to Ricardo. That made me even angrier, but I had to let this go. Jenni wasn't for me. That conniving little--Never mind. I wasn't going to deal with her anymore. I shouldn't have trusted her in the first place.
"What do you mean it's not there? I need my car back. My keys are gone!"
"...Asher, she hasn't been by here. Even if she had...I wouldn't tell you."
"Are we really going to argue about this? If something happens to my car, you both owe me two million dollars."
Luca scoffed and shook his head. I'd immediately gone to him to see if Lexi had come home. She hadn't and I wanted my car back. I missed Ari so much. According to Luca, she hadn't called him, so he wasn't worried about her whereabouts.
"Dude, she's pissed. Let her have some space," He said. "You keep chasing her and you're only going to lose her more. She'll call when she gets ready."
"Is Rylie still here?" I asked.
"No. She left just before you came back." Luca eyed me. "Why?"
I didn't answer. Instead I ran a hand over my face and sighed. This was harder than I thought. Luca went back inside to answer a call. He came back with the phone to his ear, Dominic and his keys. Where was he about to go? I took Dominic and questioned this. He only held up his finger and cursed. What!
"What is it?" I asked.
Luca ignored me and continued listening to the person on the other end. I was getting impatient.
"What is it?" I demanded. "What happened?"
"Lexi," Luca said. "She's in the hospital."