His Hired Girlfriend Read online

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said, and there it was again, that voice! A delicious shiver tickled its way along her spine. She cleared her throat. “Sorry,” she repeated, walking over to the bin and tossing the wet napkins in. “You have a good day.” She waved as she turned to the corridor.

  He caught her before she had walked more than three steps, “Hey, you work here?” he asked.

  She turned and nodded, “Yeah, are you lost? Or has Peter deserted you, he sometimes does that.”

  “No, he didn’t. I...um...what’s your name? Are you a friend of Peter?”

  “Yeah, he’s a friend,” she replied and then hesitated for a moment. “It’s Alexandra, by the way. Look I have to go back to work. To get out just go this way and turn right and then down the stairs to the main reception.”

  Jay nodded in understanding.

  “Sorry again about the tea. As I said I’m not usually this clumsy. Bye now,” she rushed, and then she was gone.

  Jayden’s grin stayed with him all the way to the bottom of the stairs. Her eyes, he thought, such a deep brown, like the colour of melted chocolate – and she seemed very sweet and delicious too! There was something about those eyes that had drawn him in and left him feeling slightly breathless.

  Peter was waiting for him by the reception desk.

  “What took you so long?”

  “I couldn’t find the bathroom after all,” Jay replied.

  As they walked through the door of the hospital, Jay thought – so she’s not usually that clumsy, is she?

  ***

  ALEX GASPED AND span around, her eyes squinting in the sudden darkness. Had the light bulb blown again? Damn! She’d have to get the torch and replace it. She shook her hands out of the warm, soapy water, wiped them dry with a clean towel and headed round the bench-top. As she groped her way into the living area she heard a giggle, which sounded very much like Emma, and there, floating in the darkness was a huge chocolate cake, candlelight flickering across its surface. Now she could see her Dad was holding it, and her Mom, with her arm in his. Her best friend Ruby Williams came into view, removing any doubt over whose idea this was. Nikita Buchannan and Isabella Robertson were there too, and everyone was wearing big sloppy birthday smiles.

  “Oh my God!” she murmured.

  Emma giggled again, as though she couldn’t contain herself, and rushed to stand next to her. The strains of Happy Birthday, sung in the traditional arrangement of out of tune voices, filled the room. A sudden eruption of light revealed Timothy with his hand on the switch. Alex blinked away the after-image.

  Alex laughed. She hadn’t expected this, not after a busy day at work. Usually Saturday was rather quiet but not this one. It had been hectic and she was dead tired. She hadn’t except anything more than a family dinner and then a good night sleep. This was such a surprise. She blinked back tears as she tightened her arms around her Mom.

  “Happy birthday sweetheart,” Maly said, squeezing her hard. “Now make a wish.”

  Alex looked at the people surrounding her. Emma was urging her to quickly blow the candles in her teenage hyperactive way, just so she could have some cake. “You guys didn’t have to do this,” emerged from her suddenly tight throat.

  “Don’t be silly. It’s your birthday. Of course we have to do this,” Ruby insisted, her braced teeth flashing with candle highlights.

  “Please, just blow the candles out. We want cake,” Emma pleaded.

  “Make a wish, sweetheart,” Jacob said

  Alex looked at her dad and her eyes flooded with tears. She knew she only had one wish.

  ‘Dear lord,’ she whispered to herself, ‘I wish Dad would get his heart transplant and that he’d get well.’ She opened her eyes and moved closer to the flickering candles. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes and an image of Mr. Hot-Choc appeared in her mind. What the Hell? She shook her head to clear the image away, confused.

  “Come on, Alex, blow?” Nikita squealed.

  Everyone was holding their breath. She nodded, bent her head and all the candles winked out, to the sound of ever so slightly sarcastic cheering and clapping.

  “So what ya wish for?” Tim asked.

  Alex looked up at her younger brother. He was gorgeous, with jet black hair, dark brown eyes, a straight nose and Hollywood jaw-line. Lots of hearts were going to get broken when he goes to university, she thought, grinning. “Can’t tell,” she replied, hoping that her wish would come true. It had to come true.

  “So, who wants cake?’ said Mom.

  “Me!” That was Emma, surprise, surprise. “I’ll help you cut.” She would make sure she had the biggest piece too.

  After the last of the cake crumbs had been licked form the plates, her friends dragged her into town claiming that she really needed to have some fun. Soon Alex found herself in the Octagon with her friends and, it seemed, half of the student body and large percentage of the town’s population.

  The air was crisp and cold, and Alex was relieved that she had chosen boots, skinny jeans and a blazer – much like her friends. If she had worn a flimsy dress and four inches heels, like most of the other girls on the crowded streets, she was sure she would have simply shivered and collapsed on the spot, quite apart from the fact that she wouldn’t be able to walk in those heels.

  “Come on, Alex, you haven’t been in Electrica since Uni,” Isabella pouted prettily. “It’s time you had some fun, girl.” Her friends dragged her across the street to where at least a hundred or so people were stamping the cold away, waiting to get into the bar. “All right,” said Alex, “let’s go clubbing,” laughing as Nikita filled the air with youthful “Yay!” and twirled around with her arms out. Nikita, Nikita! Always so bold and fun with her tomboyish way.

  The street was thronged with young people, some sober, some drunk, some making out, others greeting friends. A couple of guys appeared to about to go at it, pushing and shoving each other. Alex ignored a group of men standing nearby. Most were smoking and making no attempt to hide their obvious interest in her and her friends. Three of them were struggling to stay upright.

  Fifteen minutes later they finally reached the door. Alex kept rubbing her eyes and blinking. That was what glaring down a microscope at red and white blood cells for eight hours a day did to you – especially if you happened to wear contacts. She should have put some eye-drops before she had left the house, but the girls had been in such a rush.

  The huge doorman, probably Maori or Pacific Islander, waved Ruby, Nikita, and Isabella straight in. Not her though. He asked for her I.D. She could not believe it. She had just turned twenty-five, and the man wanted to see her I.D? Did she look that young? It was both flattering and annoying. The doorman glared at her driver’s licence for what seemed like a minute, the kind of look that said he knew it was a fake but couldn’t quite put his finger on why. He handed it back to her and stepped aside to let her through with narrowed eyes. Ruby gave her a look, but Alex just shrugged her shoulders as they rushed down the stairs.

  Music thumped the walls of the lower ground floor. The place was bathed in darkness, lit by sudden flashes of neon light, like lightning on a stormy night. Smoke snaked slowly across the dance floor, coiling around groups of dancers. A group of students squeezed past, bumping their shoulders. Alex glanced around. The people, the smell of sweat and perfume and alcohol suddenly seemed overwhelming, but there was Nikita enthusiastically pulling her into the crowd, pushing people this way and that, Alex didn’t have the heart to tell her friends that she really wanted to get out of here.

  Down on the dance floor, they excused their way to the middle, hips swaying, arms making shapes in the smoky atmosphere. Alex felt awkward; she hadn’t been clubbing for so long she could barely remember any moves! Her gaze fell on Isabella who seemed frozen in place.

  “Oh gosh,” Isabella said.

  “Hey, what’s wrong, Isa?” Ruby shouted, “You okay?”

  “Eric is here,” Isa whispered.

  Ruby glanc
ed at Alex, but she only shook her head. “What?” Ruby shouted.

  “Eric is here!” Isa yelled, pointing her finger toward the end of the bar where a group of young doctors were ordering drinks. Eric – Isa’s crush – was with them.

  “Go say hi,” Nikita nudged, her eyes bright.

  Isa shook her head, “No! Don’t be silly, Nik.”

  “Hey, what’s the harm? He used to be our high-school classmate.”

  Isa shook her head again. Nikita was about to drag Isa toward where Eric was sitting when a troop of new arrivals bowled past them.

  “Hey!” Nikita shouted in annoyance, but her voice was lost in the music. Then more people came in, shoving through and separating them.

  Alex found herself in a darker corner where there were less people. She had no idea where her friends were. She searched stood on tiptoe but all she could see were the shadows of wide shoulders and heads. Now was one of those times when she wished she was taller. And her eyes were getting worse by the second. Moving around the corner she exited the dance floor into a quiet, dimly lit corridor. Alone, the insistent boom-boom-boom of the music rattling the walls, she paid attention to her eyes. She blinked hard and rubbed a finger across the lids. “Fudge!” she swore, as the contact lens flicked out of her right eye. In a panic, she blinked harder and groped around on the floor for it. Then the other one did the same. “Oh, for God’s sake!” she added. Now she couldn’t see anything. She was reaching into her handbag and for her glasses when a hand grabbed her upper arm and pulled her around.

  He was tall with dark hair. Though she couldn’t see him properly, she knew instantly that she was in trouble. She tried to shift away, to avoid him, and he caught her other arm and pulled her closer. The odour of sour alcohol washed over her face, and she wanted to gag.

  “Hey, sweetheart,” he breathed.

  “Let go.” She shoved at his arm and he caught her again, his fingers digging painfully into her flesh.

  “Come with me,” he slurred.

  “Leave me alone,” she snapped, shoving ineffectually at his chest.

  “Get lost!” she snapped, louder this time.

  “What’s that sweet..sweetheart?” he laughed, “Co...come with me, ya know ya wanna.”

  “Get lost,” she was shouting now, her heart beating faster, a cold sweat beading her skin. She was frightened of what was going to happen. She was scared of what he was going to do to her. She felt trapped.

  “Ruby? Nik? Isa? Where are you guys?” Her eyes darted around, hoping to see her friends, or anyone for that matter. She was alone with the drunken stranger.

  She was pushed against the wall as his face loomed closer to hers. Holy Crap! Alex didn’t want to be kissed by a half-drunken man she didn’t know. She felt his other hand fumbling at her belt. A sickening feeling rose up in her stomach. Her head started to swim. She managed to struggle one hand free and slap him hard on the face, shouting at him to leave her alone – her body shaking. He didn’t let her go, and he didn’t even flinch. A scream was building inside her when suddenly the man was yanked from behind, a fist crashed against the side of his face cannoning him into a corner. His body crunched against the wall and slid to the floor, blood welling from his nose and lips.

  “Leave her alone!” The voice was icy, hard, commanding.

  Stunned and shaking, Alex looked up at her rescuer. She could only make out a silhouette, a strong and powerful shape. The drunk in the corner muttered something, but nobody was listening.

  The newcomer gently pulled her to his side. The gesture was almost feral ‘She’s mine’, it signalled, not just sexually but personally. His stance, the way he angled his body, indicated a readiness and willingness to pursue more violent action. Alex could feel his strength radiating over her, keeping her from harm.

  The drunken man’s eyes widened, and held up his hands, realising his mistake. “No worries, bro, thought she was free,” he mumbled as he pushed by them.

  Alex squinted at her rescue, but without her contacts or glasses she really could not see any detail, even this close. She glanced down at the hand that still held her wrist. Odd that only moments before she had felt frighten when she had been alone with the drunken man, but now alone with him, she felt safe. She offered him a tentative smile, “Thanks” was all her trembling lips could manage.

  “Why are you here alone? It’s dangerous.”

  There was that voice again! She could barely understand what he was saying. There was hint of an American accent, familiar somehow, but the connection eluded her.

  “I dunno...the loud music...the crowd...” she explained, “and my contacts. I’ve lost my contacts. I can’t see properly.”

  She tilted her face but she couldn’t see his features, couldn’t concentrate, and tears welled in her eyes. She was going to cry. ‘God dammit, Alex!’ she snapped at herself, ‘You’re a big girl. It’s stupid to cry in front of a guy.’ She blinked and wiped her eyes clean with her the back of her hand. “I didn’t see that guy coming, that’s for sure.”

  “Hey, it’s okay. Where are your friends?” The harshness had been replaced by soothing warmth.

  “My friends?” she touched her forehead hesitantly. “I’m not sure, I’ve lost them.” She shook her head a little. “I’m fine,” she lied, really wanting to just go home. She felt very tired, and there was work tomorrow, and the meeting with Peter. A sigh escaped. “Can you help me find them?”

  “Yeah, sure, come on.”

  Her hand was neatly enveloped by his as he led her toward the door. Ruby came rushing through, the music swirling around her. “Alex? Alex, there you are. Are you okay?” Nikita and Isa were just a step behind.

  Alex breathed in relief at the sight of her friends. “Yeah, I’m fine. Can we go now?’

  Nikita gave her a look. “Yeah. I think I’ve had enough. Too many people here, not fun being shoved around.”

  Isa eyed the rescuer and grinned, “Thanks for helping Alex find us. So you know each other?”

  He nodded unseen in the darkness as Alex interrupted, “No, we don’t know each other. Now can we go?”

  “Yeah,” Ruby said, “Let’s get out of here.”

  As they made their way toward the stairs Alex turned. “Thanks,” she said, “for everything.”

  At that moment Jayden wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but he damn well couldn’t do that, could he? He was a stranger to her. She would think he was no better than that bastard who he had pulled off her. Why he felt this way toward her he didn’t know, except for the fact that she was Peter’s friend, and possibly his future fake girlfriend.

  He made sure that Alex and her friends were safely out of the bar before he returned to Peter, Mary, and some other interns sitting in the corner.

  Peter asked, “Long line?”

  “Yeah,” said Jay, not willing to tell the whole story. He picked up his BlackBerry and saw that there was a message. It was from David Peterson, his executive officer from head office in New York for his real estate company, the J.M McCartney Group.

  Hey, boss, contract ready for you. Documents all sorted. Need you to check and sign. Check your email. How’s the vacation? Hope to see you soon.

  ‘Hope to see you soon’ – Jayden thought – probably too important to ignore, it usually was. He leaned across to Peter, “Hey, I think I’m gonna call it a night.”

  Disappointment flashed across Mary’s face, a slight blush reddening her neck. And this little black dress had been just for you – she thought.

  “You all enjoy yourself. I have things to do in the morning.” He got up and stretched. “Bye, everyone, nice to meet you all,” as he headed to the stairs.

  Peter hid a smile at Mary’s discomfort. “See you guys at work,” he said, following Jayden out.

  *****

  CHAPTER 3

  THE AROMA OF coffee greeted Alex the moment she stepped through the door of SAN café. It was toasty warm inside compare to the sharp, cold air outside, and she
sighed with pleasure. She headed to the counter and ordered her hot chocolate she had been craving for since Friday. Afterwards she grabbed her number and took a seat that faced the door, to make sure that Peter would be able to spot her.

  Alex glanced about her surrounding, noting the busy staff, the happy customers and cosy, classic décor of the restaurant. SAN café does the best hot chocolate in town, not to mention their Cambodian food. It was always busy and to get a table on a Saturday night you had to pre-book a week or two in advance because it was so popular. She and her friends had always met up there for their hot-choc sessions.

  She took off her blue coat nervously. In fact her inside was shuddering with anxiety as she waited for Peter and his friend – whoever he was – to show up.

  Peter had called her very late last night – and after he had sang her a happy birthday song very loudly – he had told her that she shouldn’t be nervous meeting his friend who was supposedly a very nice person. She trusted Peter since she knew he would never introduce her to anyone who had a questionable character. Except for that one time with Andrew. Of course he had admitted later that he knew very little of the guy himself and vowed never to do that again.

  Peter had said his name was Jayden, and Jay could help her with her problem. Peter had hinted that it was about her dad. Again that anticipation raised in her chest.

  A pretty waitress arrived and placed the tall cup of hot chocolate on her table.

  “Thanks.” Alex nodded her head at the waitress in appreciation.

  “No worries. Enjoy,” the woman said sweetly and then went away.

  Alone, Alex grinned and inhaled the steamy liquid – her nose almost touching the thick brown, chocolaty foam. She picked up one pink marshmallow and dropped it into the hot chocolate and then picked the white one and popped that into her mouth. She smiled as the light, sugary goodness melt on her tongue. Then she picked up the cup and took a sip. The warmth and sweetness of the liquid soothed the coldness in her body.