T. Leigh - A Tragic Wreck

“So you knew all this time that she was alive and you watched me struggle with it?” he said in disbelief. “I’ve made myself go mad at times, debating whether I lost my mind. I would see her everywhere I went. And when I finally gave up hope and had moved on, I met this girl. Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“I don’t know. I guess I was hoping that I was wrong because if I was right, I knew that someone else could figure it all out. If that’s the case, she could be in a world of danger. I’m scared for her. Your father wouldn’t fake medical records if it wasn’t necessary. You know that.”

Alexander looked around the table at the faces of his family and knew that his mother was right.

“Open the letter, dear. Stop trying to blame your father for everything. I know you like to retain control over everything and you think ignoring that letter is your last big act of defiance, but is it worth it? If I know your father, that letter won’t just contain apologies because that wasn’t his style. I can assure you that it contains information. You need to know. She needs to know. You need to come clean.” Colleen reached over the table, placing her hand on top of his. “For her.”

“Yes, Ma. For her.”

OLIVIA WAS REALLY STARTING to hate the constant security escort. Marshall wasn’t too bad, but at least with a male agent, she had some semblance of privacy when she went to the restroom.

“I’ll be fine in there, Agent Marshall,” Olivia said, pushing open the door to the ladies’ room.

Marshall held the door for Olivia and followed closely behind. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I have my orders. I could lose my job if I don’t follow them.”

Olivia exhaled loudly. “Controlling bastard.”

Agent Marshall laughed. “Yes, ma’am. He certainly can be.”

Olivia smiled at her, surprised at her response.

“I’ll just wait right here, Miss Adler,” Marshall said, pointing to a vanity sitting area in the posh bathroom.

“Okay. Thank you.”

Olivia went about her business. When she exited the stall, she was met with a tall blonde woman, Marshall close behind her.

“I’m sorry, Miss Adler. I tried to stop her. I’m under strict orders that she is not to come near you.”

Olivia looked at Marshall. “It’s okay.” She turned back to the blonde. “What do you want, Adele?”

“Just to have a little talk about my Alexander.”

She exhaled loudly. “Are you really this delusional, Adele? And, seriously, what is it about bathrooms that scream confrontation?” She was feeling rather snarky.

“Just take this as a warning from someone who has been in the same position as you. He will leave you. It may not be for me, although that would be great. I could really put his bank account to good use. But, regardless, he’ll toss you aside, just like everyone else. I’m sure he told you when you first met him that he doesn’t date. He only fucks. I mean, look at what happened to poor Chelsea. He left her at the fucking altar.”

“It’s different with us, Adele. We actually care about each other, not just the size of the other person’s bank account. We have something real.”

“I’m sure you do,” Adele said, raising her eyebrows. “It feels that way when he’s fucking you, telling you that your pussy and ass are his, right?”

Olivia looked at her, wide-eyed.

“And then all you can do is whimper out, ‘Yes, Mr. Burnham, all yours’, as he’s pounding into you.” Adele batted her eyes. “It certainly does feel real, doesn’t it?” She turned, leaving Olivia completely speechless.

She looked at Marshall through her water-filled eyes, unsure of what to say. “Excuse me, Miss Adler. I’ll deal with her.”

“Thank you,” she said, finally finding her voice, her chin quivering slightly. “I’ll just be another minute.”

Marshall followed Adele out of the ladies’ room, walking through the hotel lobby and catching up to her in the corridor leading to the banquet hall.

“Miss Peters,” she called out.

Adele spun around. “I know, I know. Alex doesn’t want me talking to his precious little Olivia,” she spat out vindictively.

Marshall took a few steps toward her. “You have no idea, do you? Do you know how precious she really is?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

Adele exhaled loudly. “I don’t care about that.”

“What if I said I know someone who could make it worth your while to care?”

Adele lowered her voice. “I’m listening.”

“My boss will offer you ten million to do something for him.”

Adele looked at Marshall, questioning her. “Alex wants me to do something for him?”

“No, not Alex. Someone else entirely.”

“Agent Marshall…”

“So, can you help us or not? Ten million could certainly go a long way, Miss Peters.”

Adele stood there and thought about that. She could stop chasing rich guys and finally provide for herself. “What do I have to do?”

“When the time comes, you’ll receive a piece of very important information.” She handed Adele a burner phone. “And your only job is to use that information to drive a wedge between Alexander and his little Olivia. Follow?”

“Well, how do I do that?”

“Oh, Miss Peters. You’re smart enough to figure it out, I’m sure,” she said before narrowing her gaze at her, her voice stern. “You mention a word of this to anyone, and I don’t think I need to spell out what the consequences will be.”

“Agent Marshall…”

“Please. Call me Cheryl. Do we have an agreement?”

Adele paused briefly before sighing. “Yes, Cheryl.”

“Good.” Marshall turned and walked back toward the ladies’ room. “And feel free to get a jump start. I’ll try to give you a wide berth.”

Adele stood there, holding onto the cell phone, thinking about what she just agreed to do. She knew that Alexander was happy with Olivia, and she did care about him. Could she live with herself if she caused their break-up? Well, if it led him back to her, maybe she could.

~~~~~~~~~~

Olivia needed some air after her confrontation with Adele. Quietly opening the door to the ladies’ room and scanning the lobby, she breathed a sigh of relief when she found it to be relatively clear, at least of her security team. She discreetly left the restroom, walking through the large lobby, her heels clicking loudly on the marble floor as she slid out the front door of the hotel.

She leaned against the brick building, thinking about what Adele had said. She knew so much about what Alexander liked intimately. Olivia knew that she wasn’t the only one, either. But then she thought about all the times that Alexander was so gentle with her, almost as if he was telling her something with the way he moved inside her body. Almost as if he…

No, Olivia thought. She pushed that thought far away, scared to even think about it.

IT WAS A CHILLY March night, but Nathan Roberts didn’t care as he sat on a bench on the outskirts of Boston Common Park, his eyes set on the Four Seasons. He was desperate to keep his eyes on Olivia. He knew Alexander was protecting her, but he couldn’t help himself. Nathan needed to keep her alive.

About three hours after he saw her enter the hotel with Alexander, he was shocked to see her walk through the front doors alone. His mind started to race. He kept his eyes trained on her, looking for anything suspicious as she leaned against the large building.

He watched her stand in the cold for several long minutes, shivering. He contemplated going up to her to give her his jacket, but he couldn’t approach her. He would risk her remembering, and he didn’t know what she knew already.

Nearly ten minutes after she exited the hotel, Nathan saw a frenzied motion from within the lobby. Turning his head in that direction, he saw Alexander and one other agent running.

~~~~~~~~~~

Fear covered Alexander’s face as he searched the lobby, frantically shouting something. He headed toward the front doors, yelling orders at his other agent.

“Olivia!” he bellowed, running outside, searching up and down Boylston Street, desperately looking for her. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her standing against the building, her teeth chattering.

“Jesus Christ, Olivia,” he said, running to her and wrapping his arms around her trembling body.

“What is it, Alex? What’s going on?” she asked, staring at him with a confused look on her face.

“I didn’t know where you were, love,” he said softly. “We were all so worried.” He embraced her tighter, pulling her to his body, planting kisses on her head. “You’re shivering.”

She looked up at him, her lips turning blue. “It’s freezing out here.”

Alexander peeled off his tuxedo jacket and draped it around her shoulders, covering her arms and back. As she gazed into his brilliant green eyes, she was immediately reminded of the night that they first met, amazed at how far they had come since then.

He tilted her chin back. “I was so worried that I lost you. Agent Marshall told me that Adele accosted you in the ladies’ room. I want you to understand that you mean so much more to me than she knows, Olivia. I hope you know that.”

She exhaled. “I know, Alexander. I know Adele’s just trying to get me angry with you. We both have a past, but all I care about is the present. You’re my present, Alexander, and I know I’m yours. It’s going to take a lot more than some vindictive words to make me run. I told you. I’m done running.”