A Few Hours Later…
Jeremy Danielson…
After we had breakfast - we washed up the dishes and tidied the kitchen up, scrubbing the counters and the table down. Working so closely with her was easy, it was as if we automatically worked in tandem with one another. No words were needed but I could honestly see that there was something on her mind.
I know we were still technically getting to know one another but I knew this girl where it mattered. And for the past week or so, she has been distracted. And it wasn't just our relationship that was causing it.
Something was happening and for whatever reason - she was intent on dealing with it alone. For as frustrating as it was to watch her struggling and refusing to tell me what was going on, I couldn't not understand why she was being the way she was. From the moment that Anna pulled her away from us, this girl has been on her own. And by that, I mean - she has had to face whatever issues came up, alone. She has had to learn to rely on no one but herself. I understood it. I didn't like it, but I understood it.
All I wanted was to tell her that she could rely on me now, but I knew that simple words were never going to be enough. What Dakota needed was someone to show that she was the priority. For once, she needed to be shown that she wasn't alone anymore. And if it took to my dying breath, I would continue to prove that I have her back, always.
Once we finished cleaning up, we both decided to have a shower where we once again gave into the passion that flows so effortlessly between us.
Now here we are, curled up on the sofa in the home-theatre room, flicking through the streaming service trying to decide on what to watch as we continued to talk - taking the opportunity to get to know one another.
Jason.
My best friend.
Dakota's dad was the reason that we were rushing through this part - we needed to be solid because sneaking around is not something that I am entirely comfortable with. I mean, yes there is an element of sexiness to it but at the same time I hate lying to him. I can't actually remember a time when I have ever lied to him before. Our friendship was always based on open and clear communication.
However, Dakota needed this. I could see that. The girl has never had something that is simply just her's before. Never had the chance to be with a guy before, not like we are being together.
"...so, any specific part of Italy?" I asked her as we continued searching the catalogue on the screen, as I brought up the subject of last night's discussion.
"No. Not really. I mean ideally, I would like to travel from one corner to the opposite - but it's not really something that I could afford but I guess if I had to choose one spot, it would have to be Rome-"
"Why Rome?"
"I have always wanted to go to the Vatican -"
"I didn't know you were religious-"
"Oh, I'm not. Not by a long shot. I just always found that Churches and Graveyards are some of the most peaceful places on earth. I don't know how to express it other than the fact that I always find peace in those types of places so I guess I kind of built up the idea that the Vatican would be the ultimate venue for peace and tranquillity-"
"You never fail to impress me, sweetheart-"
"Why?" She actually began to pull back from me, but I tightened my grip around her, not ready to let her go just yet.
"Because you have had maybe one of the worst childhoods that I have ever heard about, you have had a less than supportive mother and have faced long odds that should by all rights have turned you into someone that you are so very clearly not," I tried my best to explain.
"I don't understand-"
"Well, I have heard stories of kids who have had less trauma-"
"I haven't had trauma!" Her voice was clear and determined. The very fact that she didn't even realise just how much she had sacrificed and faced was one of the things that made her entirely unique and maybe a little inspirational.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but you have. No child should have to take care of a parent at such a young age. No child should have to worry about bills and housework at such a young age. And no child should ever have to worry about strange men walking into their room in the middle of the night. I hate that you were put through all of that, and I hate that it was your mother who did it - she should have known better. She should have known that she was struggling and asked for help. I don't think that I will ever forgive her for what she put you through,"
Of course, I hated Anna for what she did to my best friend. I hated that she stole his daughter away and deprived him of the chance to watch her grow up. I hated that she kept Dakota from Jason on every level possible. No contact at all. I don't even think she cares what a toll that had on my best friend.
Anna is a selfish bitch who seriously only thinks of herself, but I despise her the most for what she has done to this incredible young woman in my arms. I will never be ok with the things she subjected Dakota to.
"I do-don't know-what to say-to-that!" Dakota lifted her head to look at me, "I never believed that what she did was anything other than normal for the longest time. I just figured that was what all parents did. I can't even remember when I started to realise that my home life was anything but normal. But what could I do? She told me, instilled in me from a young age that my dad didn't want us, that I was the reason that she wasn't with the man she loved, that it was because of me that we never saw dad again. And I believed her. I believed that he told her to take me and leave,"
"Oh, sweetheart, there is nothing that could be further from the truth-"
"I know that now. But at the time I felt alone. I felt abandoned. I felt like I had done something wrong. I often wondered what I had done to make him hate me-" the tears swam in her sky-blue eyes until they looked like the clearest waters in the Mediterranean ocean, and I could sink into them, swim in her for the rest of my life, "that is why I got into business, my plan was to get my qualifications, find a decent job, maybe away from mom and leave. I was at the end of my tether with it all and honestly, I didn't allow myself to believe that there was something better waiting for me because the minute I lost focus, the minute I let my guard down, that was when she would strike. So, I kept my plans to myself and worked as hard as I could-"
I hate that this was what her life was.
I hate that I wasn't there to shield her from the worst of it.
I know that somewhere along those lines - that most people would have an issue with me wanting to be there to protect her and me wanting her in such a carnal way now. And for the most part I am weirded out by it all, but there is nothing I can do about that now. This is where we are, and I wouldn't change what I am feeling for all the money in the world. In fact, I would give up every cent I own if it meant that I could keep her safe and by my side.
"I am proud of you sweetheart!" It was really the only thing that I could say in this moment.
"Thank you," she smiled up at me as she positioned herself so that she was lying with her head in my lap, looking up at me with those beautiful eyes.
I would give up everything for this woman.
My woman.
Even my best friend. I want Jason in my life, but I need Dakota in my life.
My best friend. Jason and I have been friends for so long that it is more like we are brothers than just mere friends. We have seen one another through so much that I can barely remember a time when he wasn't a part of my life. And I hate lying to him. I hate that I am betraying him the way I am.
But here is the thing - Dakota is the epitome of my ideal woman. There is not one single thing about her that I don't love. Not one single thing about her that makes me question whether this is right or wrong. "You know that I will always be here for you, right?" I asked her, my hand brushing through her long satin smooth locks of hair.
"I do!" She nodded, her eyes dropping with contentment, "and the same goes for you,"
"I know, sweetheart!"
I don't know what I did to deserve this amazing creature but there wasn't a damn thing that anyone could do to make me believe that I didn't deserve her.
Dakota was mine.
Jason was going to have to get on board with this relationship and I have a feeling that he will. Eventually. It might take some time and I could honestly understand that. This was his daughter and he had been kept from her for so long that it was inevitable that he would be slightly over-protective of her. I could understand that because honestly, I am the same way.
I love her. I am head over heels in love with her and I know how quickly that has happened, but it doesn't make it any less true. I will do whatever I have to, to ensure she is safe and protected because as her man, that is my right and my job.
The Following Morning…
Dakota Roth…
Being the person that is in charge of Jeremy's calendar - I know exactly when I need to make my move. I know when I can get away from him without him being able to follow me or insist on coming along with me. Not that I want to get away from him. I hate that I am being reduced to this. I hate that I am now lying to the man I love but honestly, what else am I supposed to do?
Last night, we agreed to sleep in our beds because my dad and Charleigh were due back first thing this morning and we didn't want to risk getting caught out.
Think about that for a minute - I am hiding my relationship from my father. I am hiding the man I love from my dad because the man I am in love with is my dad's best friend. It is something straight out of an airport-shop romance book. I never thought that I would be here. I never thought that my love life would ever become so complicated that I would end up hiding something so damn fucking important to me. I feel sick at the thought if I am being honest.
Anyway, we made love last night - for the first time it wasn't rushed. It wasn't wild and feral. No, last night it was almost tender if I am being honest. Something had changed between us over the weekend. I don't know what it was - but was it possible that he was in love with me too? It had, certainly, felt like maybe he did last night.
However, when I stumbled back into my room in the early hours of the morning - I had a back-log of texts from Stuart. Each one more disgusting and disturbing than the last one. So much that I had ended up throwing up in my little en-suite and that was where my plan had begun to take shape.
If there was one thing that has become abundantly clear to me, it was that there was no way I was going anywhere with my mother and her disgusting pig of a boyfriend. There was just no fucking way. I had just finished reading a book about a young woman who had started working for a CEO of a large company and they were both attracted to one another, gave into the attraction and then she was accused of selling the company secrets to a rival company, it was implied that the man she was now in love with had ordered her questioning. The girl ran. It was the only option left to her, she wrote a letter to her parents, packed a bag, and emptied her bank account and took off.
Yes, I am taking a leaf out of her book. Literally.
I just had to be careful and keep my timing on point, which is why I am now standing up from behind my desk and making my way over to Jeremy's office door where he will be getting ready to take his first of four back-to-back conference calls.
"What's up, beautiful?" He looked up as I walked into the room as he was setting his needed papers in some sort of order.
"While you are on your calls, I need to nip out of the office-"
"For what?"
I was prepared for this. I knew that he would ask. I knew that he liked to know where I was at all times and it was one of the things that I loved the most about him, "just some feminine products," I replied, keeping my voice as even as I could, "I will be back before you are done with your calls,"
"Or you could just wait, and I will come with-"
"Don't be silly, that will only take time away from our time at the hotel-" yes, I was also prepared for this too, "I just want to be prepared, I am not due for another couple of days, but I need to make sure that I have all I will need. And I don't want to waste our already short time together by having to stop and do this,"
"Ok, well take my car!" He started to rustle around for his keys.
"It's not far, baby, and it is a nice day out. I can just walk; I will enjoy it!"
"Ok baby, keep your phone on you in case I need you!"
"Of course," I nod my head and turn towards the door but don't get far before he is tsk-ing me, "what?" I turned to look back at him - sitting there behind his desk, all imposing and sexy as Hell.
"I don't get a kiss now?" He growled at me, crooking his finger, and beckoning me towards him - as if I am some sort of puppet, my legs move as if independent from the rest of me and before I know it, I am in his lap with his arms wrapped tightly around me, "this is going to be a long couple of hours, so I need some sugar to get me through it!"
I can't help it. A giggle worked its way out of me as he brought his lips to mine and kissed me stupid. I swear when he set his mind to it - he could turn me into an air-headed bimbo. All thoughts. All sense leaves me so quickly that my body begins to act on impulse only. Shifting around until I am straddling his thighs and kissing him deeper and harder.
By the time we pull apart, he is looking as dazed as I feel. Brushing his hand through my hair, he smiled, "hurry back. I like looking out my door and seeing you right where you belong!"
"I will be as quick as I can," I nodded knowing that it was going to take me a little longer than he imagined. I just had to hope that I could think of a good enough reason by the time I get back.
Grabbing my bag and jacket from my chair, I give him a little wave as I climb in the elevator and press the garage button. Walking out the main front door is not a good idea because I am not stupid enough to believe that my mom and Stuart aren't watching my every move. Once in the garage there is a back exit that would bring me out onto the street behind the building and it was a short walk to the bank from there.
Once I have all but cleaned out my account, leaving a couple thousand dollars in place to ensure the account stays open. I stuff the money into my bag, after taking some notes and placing them in my wallet for the next part of my plan. I leave the bank feeling a little paranoid that people will know I am walking around with thousands of dollars in my possession. Being careful, and watchful of my surroundings, I make my way to the closest Walmart where I can grab my sanitary items and a burner phone from their small collection. Then I grabbed a few items of clothing and a duffel bag to place everything into.
The airport was my next stop which meant I had to grab a cab for that part of my plan.
By the time I got to where I needed to be, I had been gone for almost an hour. I just had to hope that Jeremy didn't notice and the fact that there were no texts or calls was a good sign.
Moving to the desk I make the necessary enquiries about flights to Rome. On Friday. And when I secure my seat on the flight leaving at 6am, I feel better and a lot calmer than I envisioned feeling. Moving to the locker area I purchase a locker and dump all of my new items inside it along with the money buried inside the duffel bag.
Four days.
I have four days left before I leave.
I have four days to cram full of memories that are going to have to last me a lifetime.
Four days left with Jeremy.
Now the last part of my plan hinges on the fact that my mother and Stuart won't be watching the house where I am currently staying 24/7. Surely, they have to sleep. If I can continue to act casual, keep my movements today as secret as possible, they will believe that I am playing by the rules. Right?
I just have to ensure that no one suspects that I am acting weird. I have to stick to my plan. Hopefully that will mean making a clean exit.
The thought of leaving my dad is killing me. I don't feel like we have gotten any time to get to really know one another. I feel like I am being forced into this and I will always hate my mother for that little fact. I hate her.
I hate who she has become.
I hate who she is sleeping with.
I hate that she won't take her diagnosis seriously.
I hate that she has just accepted Stuart into her world, and he has become her everything. It makes me sick if I am being completely honest.
Why does she even want me back?
Why can't she just let me be happy with my dad?
I don't know how she managed to get the money to fly out here, let alone the money to stay where she and Stuart were staying because I knew that little hotel was not cheap. I just have to hope that I am going to be able to carry this off.
I will do it though. I will do it to ensure my dad and Jeremy's friendship prevails and to ensure that I am not about to spend the rest of my life being raped and abused by that man my mother seems willing to give everything to.
And as always, I can't stop the thoughts of what she said to me in the hotel - she wants Jeremy for herself. My own mother wants the man I am in love with. Seriously, you couldn't even make this shit up.