Dirty Billions: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance: (A Chicago Suits Second Chance Romance) (35 page)

M
y head throbbed
, as though my brain was sliding around and ricocheting off my skull. I wanted to sleep. Sleep more. Sleep forever. But my stomach churned and I went staggering from the bed, looking for a spot to throw up.

Through a headache so bad I couldn’t see straight, I managed to locate an ensuite, just in time to vomit in its toilet. I knelt, sank my behind into my ankles, and rested my head against the coolness of the toilet seat.

A flash of heat hit my body and I cozied up to the toilet to get any coolness I could from the porcelain. I vomited again, and stayed in my spot. My eyes closed from exhaustion. It must be the middle of the night. I had to get back to bed.

I rinsed my mouth in the sink, splashed some of the water on my face and in a moment of lucidity, wondered where the fuck I was. Alarm bells started ringing on top of my already sore head. My heart pounding, I moved to the door to get out of here. Flee. Something was wrong, and I needed to get help.

But each step became harder, my legs so heavy I could barely lift my feet as I zig zagged towards the door. In more a crumple than a fall, I ended up on the floor. And closed my eyes.

* * *

“
A
bbie
, are you okay?”

“Huh?” I peeked my eyes open to see a man. Jay?

He scooped me up in his arms, and cuddled me against his body. He smelled just like Jay. I opened my eyes again. In the gray light of the room I could make out his facial features. They were the same I had laid in my bed and traced over with my fingers. Definitely Jay.

“You sleep more, you’re safe here.” He laid me in the bed, and stroked my hair. Comforted, I fell back asleep.

I don’t know how much later, I woke again needing to pee. I climbed out of bed and returned to the ensuite. The dizziness wasn’t as bad, and it was a bit easier to walk in a straight line but I felt like I’d been hit by a Mack truck and hadn’t slept in a week.

More lucid than my earlier trip to the ensuite, I re-entered the cavernous space. Tiles were on every surface, massive walk in shower, granite counter with his and hers sinks on it.

What had happened to my clothes. I was wearing a loose white nightie that came almost to my knees. I’d think I’d borrowed it from my mother, except the top was low cut with spaghetti straps. The diamond pendant still hung around my neck.

I walked back into the bedroom. The blinds were drawn and it was difficult to see, especially with my pounding head. The space was larger than my entire condo, with a sleigh bed as wide as it was long. But I couldn’t remember the night before, or how I ended up in Jay’s bed. Those questions would come later, right now I needed to get back to sleep.

As I climbed into the bed, I noticed a glass of water and bottle of ibuprofen had been set on the bedside table. Wonderful, though I think I’d need more than one bottle to get rid of the pain in my body.

I closed my eyes, my mind racing in slow motion with the questions of what happened at the night club and how I got here but it was a blank. As much as I knew I should find Jay and demand answers, exhaustion overwhelmed me and I fell back asleep.

The next time I opened my eyes, a flash of heat hit me and I flung the covers back to get some relief. I was lying there, like a starfish, when the bedroom door opened.

* * *

“
J
ay
?” I asked my voice almost inaudible. The dizziness returned, my head swimming at the sight of him.

Jay rushed to my side and perched on the side of the bed. “How are you feeling?” he asked, stroking my hair.

“What? How?” I couldn’t get the words out.

“Don’t worry, your safe now.” My brow furrowed with confusion and I gave my head a little shake. The movement sent my brain screaming in pain, and I reached my hand to my forehead to calm it.

“I don’t understand.”

“Do you remember anything?”

“No,” I said. Jay shuffled closer and leaned on his arm, my legs underneath his arm.

“You were dancing, with a guy. Do you remember that?”

“Sort of, I think.”

“He drugged you. Slipped something in your drink.” My heart thudded hard and fast at his revelation.

“Drugged me?”

“Yes. And tried to do things to you in the VIP lounge.” None of this sounded familiar to me.

“Did he…rape me?” I was afraid of the answer.

“No. I stopped him. You’re safe.”

“But.” I struggled to put the pieces together. “How am I here?”

“I brought you here. You can stay here as long as you need to recover. The doctor said it might be several days.”

“Doctor?” None of this sounded remotely familiar to me.

“Yes, but you’re fine. She said you would feel terrible when you woke but that each day will be better until you’re back to normal. You will be fine in a few days.”

“But I might not have been fine. I was…” I started crying at the prospect of what might have happened to me. Except Jay saved me.

“You rest now. I’ve instructed my house keeper Rosie to keep an eye on you. She will get you anything you need. Are you hungry?”

The prospect of food churned my stomach and my face grimaced. “No.”

“I didn’t think so. The doctor has left some medication to keep you hydrated.”

“Oh.”

“You rest now,” he said, and stood. I watched helplessly as he crossed the room.

“Jenny?” I managed to say as he reached the doorway.

“Don’t worry, your friends know you’re safe.” He left and closed the door behind him.

* * *

I
fell
in and out of sleep. Jay and Rosie always seemed to be at my side whenever I woke, day or night. Bringing me water and pills. Mopping my sweaty brow with a cool cloth. Sometimes I even ate a few crackers or a bite of banana.

Each time I woke, I felt a little better. My head hurt a little less. My joints and muscles ached a little less. But as my physical ailments subsided, my mind became more and more unsettled.

How did I get to Jay’s house? How long have I been here? I hadn’t really talked to either Jay or Rosie, only for utilitarian issues. I need water. I need more painkillers. I need to sleep. But now I felt a little better. I needed answers.

* * *

J
ay came in
. I was sitting on the bed, happy my head no longer hurt to be upright, at least not more than it hurt lying down.

“You’re sitting, you must be feeling a little better.” He opened the blind, and I squinted as bright sunlight flooded the room.

“So much better than I was.”

“Good.” He sat on the end of the bed and twisted his body to me.

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You don’t need to.” The corners of his lips moved, almost forming a smile.

“What happened?”

“The man drugged you. The doctor thinks with GHB because of how severe your symptoms have been. You’re lucky, it can be fatal.”

“But how did I get here.”

“I saw you at the club, and stopped the man.”

“Why were you at the club?” I asked, trying to fit the puzzle pieces together.

“I saw you there. Dancing with him. Rubbing up against him on the dance floor. The flash of red of your shoe soles as you moved.” I stared at him, disbelieving this was happening to me. “And then he took you upstairs. He was all over you, but I realized you’d been drugged. Your body was floppy and your eyes glazed.”

“And you stopped him.”

“Good thing I was there to protect you. God knows what he would have done to you.”

“Yes, thank you.” Though I still didn’t understand why Jay was at the club, I would be eternally grateful for his intervention.

“The necklace looks beautiful on you, I’m glad you decided to wear it.”

I turned red. My hand went to the necklace, and ran my fingers down the chain until I was holding the diamond between my fingers.

“Thank you for this too. How,” I hesitated, “How long have I been here?”

“Three days. Do you feel up to coming downstairs? You must be sick of this room.”

Three whole days? The news shocked me. Still, I liked the idea of getting out of bed. The idea that I
could
get out of bed now that my body didn’t feel like I was on the verge of death. “I think so.”

“Good, there’s a robe for you in the top drawer. I’ll wait for you outside.” He patted my leg, and left the room.

I pulled myself from the bed and stretched. The muscle pain I’d felt had given over to tightness and cramps from being in bed so long.

A selection of robes were inside the top drawer. All pale white. One silk, one terry, one cotton, one satin. Those were on the top row. There were more underneath but I didn’t want to keep Jay waiting. I grabbed the cotton one and pulled it on.

I gripped the doorknob, ready to turn it when I paused. What would be waiting for me on the other side?

J
ay was leaning
against the wall, opposite the bedroom door. It was a wide curving hallway with several wooden doors and alcoves with vases of flowers. He took my hand. The contact with his skin sent the familiar spark of electricity through me. I squeezed his hand, needing reassurance.

“Wow, your house is amazing,” I commented as we came to a large, sweeping staircase.

He looked at me and smiled, then led me down the stairs, through a huge landing and into a living area. Georgian style windows spread across one wall, and an elegant white fireplace on the other.

I sat on the sofa, already tired from walking the short distance, and he sat in the adjacent armchair. He stared straight into my eyes. The way he used to. I shifted in my seat.

Rosie walked in carrying a tray with a pot of tea, a pot of coffee and some cups. Without saying anything, she placed the items on the low table and left.

“Tea or coffee?” Jay asked. He hadn’t taken his eyes off me when Rosie came in. And now, like then, he continued to stare into me.

“Tea, please.” I fixed my gaze on my mug, keeping my eyes away from his.

Jay picked up the teapot and poured me a cup, then poured himself one. He then picked up my cup and passed it to me.

“Thank you,” I said. I’ve said thank you to him so many times in the past few minutes. And I did have many things to thank him for. I could almost feel my body warm, but then I remembered the email. Not so much the photo. But the words James McAllister screaming out from the text.

“Would you like any food?”

“Uh, yes please. James.” I tried the name out on my tongue. He visibly flinched when I said it but quickly regained his normal composure. He took something from his pocket, a small plastic oval with three buttons on it. He pushed the blue button.

“The blue button is for Rosie,” he said, handing it to me. “You keep this while you’re here, and she will come to you.”

“Yes?” Rosie asked as she entered the room.

“Abbie and I will have lunch soon, in the dining room”

“Yes, sir.” She turned and left the room as quickly as she had entered it.

We finished our tea and I followed him into the dining room. I gawked at the room as we entered, the table sat twenty and original artwork graced the walls.

We talked through our meal, the easy flow of conversation still between us. I realized how famished I was after not eating for three days, and lapped up all of the chicken soup placed in front of me.

“Did you get enough to eat?”

“Yes, thank you.” That phrase again. Thank you for everything Jay, except for being a liar.

“Come, you should get some rest.” He stood and without protest I followed him back to my room.

“Where’s your room?” I asked as we approached my door.

“Down the hall.” He didn’t indicate which way down the hall.

I stepped into my room and he closed the door, with him on the other side.

* * *

T
ired and confused
, I climbed back into bed and fell asleep.

When I woke, my eyes blinked at the weak sunlight. I wish I knew the time, but I didn’t have my phone and couldn’t see a clock in the room. I pushed the blue button, and Rosie appeared soon after.

“Yes?”

“Do you know the time?”

“It’s a little after four. Is that everything?”

“Is it okay if I go downstairs?”

“Of course, I’ll let Mr. McAllister know.”

Once she’d left, I got out of bed and went back to the dresser with the robes in it. I pulled the top drawer open and ran my fingers over the contrasting fabrics. With Sam’s voice in my head, I closed the drawer and opened the one underneath. It was full of underwear, bras and socks, of all fabrics and colors, all of them my size.

I opened the next drawer down, it was full of casual tops, all my size. The drawer underneath that was full of pants. My heart raced at the sight. I shut the drawers and went to the closet, the walk in closet. Inside every rail was covered in dresses, skirts, blouses, smart pants. Every one of them my size.

I staggered backwards, until I bumped into the closet doorframe.

There was a soft knock at the bedroom door, and I rushed over to open it.

“Jay.”

“What’s wrong? Why are you so upset?”

“All the clothes, why are they here?”

“So you’d have something to wear when you felt a little better.”

“But Jay. James. There’s enough here to wear something new every day for a year.”

“I didn’t know what style you’d want, so I got an assortment.” Assortment. Unbelievable. The hair on the back of my neck prickled. Why did he do all of that?

“Oh, okay.”

“Do you want to get dressed? We can watch a movie.”

He flashed his beautiful smile at me, but more than that, his words were something to get me out of my isolation. I pushed my worries to the back of my mind. ‘I would loved to watch a movie. A romance?” I said hopefully.

“Sure, you can pick it. I’ll wait out here for you.” He ducked back out the door and shut it behind him.

I went back to the dresser and looked for something comfortable. Jeans and a t-shirt plus a oversized cardigan. All Gucci. Of course. I shook my head, and opened the door to find Jay waiting in the same spot as before.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thanks,” I said laughing. Jeans and a t-shirt after several days with no shower. Yeah, real beautiful.

We retraced our last route, but went past the living area we’d sat in, down a long passageway and through a set of double doors. I blinked twice to make sure I wasn’t seeing things, then realized of course, someone that spends three thousand dollars on lingerie is going to have a home cinema.

The smell of popcorn and butter smacked my lips. Rosie stood to the side at an old fashioned looking popcorn cart and scooped some of the popcorn into tubs for us.

I turned around, looking for a place to sit. There were both sofas and high backed single seats, enough to seat twenty people. I wasn’t sure which to pick, so hung back to follow Jay’s lead. He chose a single seat, and I sat in the one beside him.

“What movie do you want to watch? Any one you want.”

I was going to say Gone With The Wind. Or Breakfast At Tiffany’s. But a thought struck me, and I said “Fatal Attraction.”

He looked away from me, his head angled up, before turning back. “Okay.”

* * *

T
he movie reflected my anger
. And hurt. Being lied to, then lied to again. But when she got that kitchen knife, I realized it was Matt I was so angry at. Matt had caused my hurt and pain. Matt had broken me, not Jay. Jay had saved me.

I shook my head. Jay had saved me. But he also hurt me. He also lied. But he saved me. I’m in his house. He doesn’t want money from me. He doesn’t seem to want anything from me. I’ve been here days and he’s done nothing but take care of me.

I became lost in my thoughts and didn’t see the rest of the movie. Why does my heart want Jay when my brain knows better?

After the movie, we returned to the dining room for dinner. My body was still in need of restoration, and I ate all of my roast chicken with mashed potatoes and vegetables.

“You look tired,” Jay said from across the table.

“I am exhausted.

“That’s normal, the doctor said to expect that.”

I smiled at him. At all he’s done for me. Was it enough to make up for the lie? I don’t know. After all, Jenny did say his motivation for lying was different from Matt’s, and understandable.

“I think I’m going to go to bed.”

“Of course. I’ll walk you up.”

He took my hand, and I followed him back to my room. He let go of my hand and opened the door. I looked at him, my heart fluttering the way it had on that first night after D’Angelo’s.

I searched his eyes, looking for a clue. Something, anything of what he was thinking. I only saw warmth.

“Good night,” he said, and kissed my forehead.

* * *

I
n the morning
I felt much better again. Almost normal. Almost. I got out of bed and had a shower. Washed the days of filth off of me. The water cleared my head as I held the diamond pendent in my fingers.

Jay was so easy to spend time with. His touch was electric. And he saved me. His behavior during my time here had been nothing but that of a good old fashioned gentleman.

But he lied. Maybe if I could make him understand how Matt hurt me, I could understand the reason he lied.

I tied my wet hair back, pulled on another Gucci jeans and t-shirt outfit, and went searching for Jay.

* * *

“
A
bbie
, you’re up. I hope that means you’re feeling better.”

“Yes, thank you. I’m feeling a little more normal.”

He came over to me and clasped my hands in his. He looked straight into my eyes, and said “Stop thanking me.” I blushed. I had so much to thank him for.

I took a deep breath. “Can we talk?”

“Of course, come with me to the breakfast room and Rosie will get us some coffee.”