Heart of a Stripper (22 page)

Closing the front door to his penthouse,
Mitchell took off his coat and hustled to Nevaeh’s room. He hated that he had to leave her home alone, but he had to work. Making it to her room, he saw her lying on her bed in the fetal position. Going over to the bed, he sat beside her and brushed her hair aside to see her face.

“You ok?” he asked.

“Is that a trick question?” she asked irritated.

“You just look a little weak. Have you eaten today?” he asked ignoring her crabby attitude.

“No.” she muttered sitting up.

“Then let’s make you some food, or better yet I can take you to dinner.” He smiled staring into her beautiful brown eyes.

“I just want to go home.” She insisted, shaking her head.

“I told you, you can stay here as long as you need to.” He protested.

“Or until you kick me out?!” she shouted jumping up from the bed and leaving the room.

Mitchell
followed her as she hustled down the stairs.

“I would never kick you out.” He protested as they stood in the living room.

“Yeah. Right. I’m sure your wife would love to move in here with me and you so we can be one big happy family!” she shouted pointing at a picture of him and Kaitlin.

“Nevaeh—”

“Save it. I just want to go home. I don’t need to be pitied by anyone! I’m not pregnant anymore so you have no obligation to me!” she shouted as tears burned her eyes.

It was the same argument they’d had the night before and
he wasn’t about to relive it.

“
For the last time, I
don’t
pity you. You’re the strongest
woman
I’ve met since my mother died.” He replied stalking over to her and caressing her face as he glared down at her.

“You’re just saying that.” She replied looking away.

“No, I’m not.” He answered.

“Still doesn’t change the fact that I want to go home.” She insisted.

“Don’t do this again.” He begged. “I love you Nevaeh.” He blurted out.

Nevaeh gasped as her eyes met his. That was the last thing she expected him to say. She had said those words to him on a few occasions, and he always sidestepped the situation. She never envisioned those words coming out of his mouth given their circumstances.

“I need to get out of here.” She replied turning her back on him.

“Why are you running from me?!” he shouted frustrated.

“Because you—” she was shouting and caught herself.

“I what?” he asked staring at her with the same heartbroken blue eyes that she was used to.

“You’re getting married. So just take me home.” She insisted.

“I just broke off my wedding for you, for
us
.” He stressed and her eyes widened in shock. “What part of hearing me say “I
love
you” didn’t you get?”

Staring at him, the tension built as she tried to gather her thoughts. All she really wanted to do was run and hold him, but the rift between them was there. No matter how much she wanted to just believe being with him would be peaches and cream, she knew different.

“I have a boyfriend.” She replied, as the doorbell rang.

In that instant, she was happy to have the conversation end. Rushing to the door, she
opened it to see Adam. He instantly felt the tension in the air as he walked into the penthouse.

“Hey Nevaeh, how are you holding up?” Adam asked
, giving her a hug.

“I don’t know.” She said truthfully. “Adam, could you give me a ride home?” she asked.

“Sure.” He said, as Mitchell bolted upstairs. “Um, give me a second to talk with Mitchell.” He insisted.

“No problem, I’ll wait for you outside.” She said slipping out the door.

Adam hustled upstairs and found Mitchell in Nevaeh’s bedroom, removing everything she ever touched.

“
Mitchell, what is going on?!” he asked, watching his friend throw everything on the floor.

“I’m getting rid of everything in this room.” He grumbled.

“I can see that, but why? Why is Nevaeh leaving?”

“You ask her that.” He bit.

“Is it over Kaitlin? Did you kick Nevaeh out?” Adam asked, still watching his friend as he stopped what he was doing.

“I broke o
ff my wedding for her. I told her I loved her, so you ask her why she’s leaving.” Mitchell snapped, through gritted teeth.

“
Mitchell, you didn’t.” Adam said.

“I did.”
Mitchell barked.

“Why on Earth would you do that? She broke up with you once already.” Adam pointed out.

“Because I love her! You once asked me if I did, and I was afraid to admit it, but almost losing her—like
really
losing her made me realize I don’t want to be without her.” He sighed.

“
If that’s how you feel, she’s right outside. Go get her.” Adam insisted.

“No. She made me look stupid twice!” he shouted.
“Twice! I won’t give her a third.”

“
Mitchell, calm down.” Adam insisted. He’d never seen his best friend so riled up.

“Why?!
Apparently everyone wants me to lose my fucking mind and be miserable!” he shouted, grabbing the things he scattered on the floor.

Opening the window, he chucked the stuff out and Nevaeh’s
clothes flew in the wind before floating to the ground. Looking up, Nevaeh was shocked to say the least as here things fluttered to the ground.

“
Mitchell calm down!” Adam replied.

“I am calm!” he shouted.  

Pushing past his best friend, he hustled down the stairs and Adam followed. He was more than worried about his best friend. This was the first time he saw him really show his true feelings, and it was scary to say the least.

“
Mitchell, calm down.” Adam insisted.

“No! I don’t think she understands the sacrifices I’ve made for her, and this is how I get repaid?!” he shouted
, slamming his fist through the wall.

“Bitch!”
Mitchell shouted, as pain exploded through his hand.

Nevaeh froze as her heart sank. Hearing the “B” word fly from his mouth had hurt her.
She thought he had meant it for her, but he had in fact meant it for the wall because his hand was leaking blood. Spinning around as his hand throbbed, he saw Nevaeh standing there.    

“What do you want?! I thought you were leaving.” He snapped. “If you’re here to take what’s left of my heart then you can forget it.

“Mitchell this isn’t what I want for us.” She cried.

“
Save it, if you wanted me you could’ve had me.” Mitchell grumbled.

“I do want—I just—”

“Want me when I’m unavailable right? It’s more intriguing when I’m with another woman I’m guessing.” Mitchell pondered.

“No.” she protested shaking her head.

“Yeah it is. Well guess what? I’m going to do what everyone wants and marry Kaitlin. This time for real, no more flip flopping. Maybe then you’ll want me more, and by then, I won’t want you anymore!” He snapped.

Tears burned Nevaeh eyes as he yelled at her. She couldn’t believe that he was being so harsh, and it was her fault.

“I don’t want you to marry her.” She pleaded.

“Why not?
You persist on throwing her in my face every time I try to be with you. You obviously don’t want me. So go run back to you little boyfriend and the shithole that you call home.” He growled, and the moment he said it he wished he hadn’t.

Nevaeh burst into tears
, and ran from the house as Adam watched. Mitchell wanted to run after her, but he stood his ground. There was no way he was going after her anymore. He felt like he had done enough to show how much he loved her, but she pushed him away. So now he was going to do the same to her.

“What the hell?!”
Adam shouted shoving Mitchell. “That was low, especially coming from you. I know you’re hurting right now, but that doesn’t give you the right to do what you just did.”

“So it’s ok for her to hurt m
e though huh?” Mitchell grumbled.

“
Look, I don’t know what happened between both of you, but this isn’t how it’s supposed to be. This isn’t
you
Mitchell. You’re sounding like your father.” Adam replied disappointed.

“Good, maybe he’ll learn to respect me then.”
Mitchell bit sarcastically.

“
Whatever. I’m going to take her home. Maybe you’ll cool down then and realize how much of a jerk you’re being.” Adam replied leaving.

Chapter Twenty

Mitchell
stared at himself in the mirror, as he fidgeted with his black tie. He couldn’t seem to tie the darn thing right because of the splint on his hand. Driving his fist through a wall had damn sure been the wrong thing to do. He’d fractured his hand in a few places, and had been in pain ever since. He was in the dressing room of the very wealthy manor that Kate rented out for his wedding. Looking at his reflection, he felt like he was watching his life play out in a dream. More like a nightmare.

“Let me do it for you.” Adam insisted
, walking over to his best friend.

Grabbing the tie, he adjusted it perfectly and gave it a once over.

“There, was that so hard?” he smiled slightly.

“Yeah, it was.”
Mitchell replied, sarcastically holding up his splinted hand and Adam chuckled.

“Look, the wall beat your hand fair and square.” Adam shrugged.

“Ha-ha.” Mitchell smiled slightly. “Do you think I look ok?”

“If I weren’t the best looking guy here, you would have the trophy.” Adam smiled. “But, since I look so debonair in this tux, I have to give you 2
nd
place.”

“Oh, well thank you for showing me up on my own wedding day.”
Mitchell laughed, shoving him playfully with his good hand.

“My pleasure.
Names Bond, Adam Bond.” He laughed.

Mitchell
looked at himself in the mirror again, and sighed. He couldn’t believe how fast Christmas had arrived. Before meeting Nevaeh, he knew this was exactly where he wanted to be, but after meeting her, he knew that walking down the aisle was his ultimate nightmare. She had opened his eyes to things that he was blind to before. She was the sole reason he knew what being in love was, but she also turned his life into a wreck. The things he’d learned, he wished he hadn’t. It killed him to know that his soon to be wife went behind his back and slept with his father.

Looking out of the window,
Mitchell saw the paparazzi swarming outside. He never really understood the whole fascination they had with him because of his father’s money. Ever since he could remember, he had cameras shoved into his face. His mother had always tried to shield him from that life, but his father was against it. So growing up, he watched his mother hide behind fake smiles as she lived in the lime light beside Bruce, but going home he would always see his mother in tears.

He always knew she hated being married to his father even if she never truly admitted it. It was something she unfortunately took to her grave.
Sighing again, his thoughts got cut short by a knock on the door. Adam answered it, and it was the wedding planner. She was dressed in a grey pants suit, and had a head piece on.

“You two need to be walking like right now.” She demanded
, and Adam nodded.

Looking over to
Mitchell he asked, “You ready?”