Abandoned but Not Alone (13 page)

“
I
’
d prefer if we sat on the couch, if you don
’
t mind.
”

Okay, he
thought, a feeling of unease washing over him; already sure he was not going to
like what she had to say. Not wanting to be impolite and prepared to give her
the benefit of the doubt, he rose from behind his desk and followed Hope, who
had already taken a seat on the couch in front of the large patio doors Jason
had opened to allow a cooling breeze to pass through the room while he worked.

Taking a
seat beside Hope, he inquired as to Aviva's whereabouts. A flash of what he
thought to be impatience passed so quickly across Hope
’
s face, he was unsure he had gauged the expression correctly.

“
Aviva is in the kitchen speaking with the
help. It seems to me she spends more time than she should in there. Heaven
knows what she could be speaking to them about or what they could have in
common.
”
Hope was a first
class snob, but the really funny part was, she had no idea, or didn't care
about this particular shortcoming. Apart from a shake of his head, Jason gave
no other reaction.

“
I see, and where
’
s Steve?
”
This time
Hope
’
s stare lingered long
enough for Jason to catch her look of annoyance.

“
He had to run out to the store, something
or other about forgetting to pick something up. Now that you know where
everyone is, maybe we can get on to the reason I came to see you.
”

“
Sure.
”
Amused at her surliness, Jason relaxed back into the couch
waiting for her to say her piece.

“
As you know I
’
m getting married in a few hours and I think it
’
s time you and I settled this thing
between us.
”

“
What thing between us, Hope?
”
Jason asked raising a curious eyebrow.

“
Don
’
t do this now Jason, not now, not when Steve and I are getting
married in a few hours.
”

“
Hope, get to the point of this
‘
talk
’
, because as sure as I
’
m sitting
here listening to you, you're making no sense.
”

“
You don
’
t have to pretend Jason; it
’
s just the two of us in here and if this is going to happen, it
needs to happen now.
”

“
What needs to
‘
happen
’
, Hope?
”
Jason asked, the hairs at the back of
his neck rising; a sinking feeling lodging in his gut.

“
You know what I
’
m talking about, so I
’
m not going
to beat-around-the bush, I know you want me, I
’
ve known it from the first time we met. I
’
m about to get married and if you think I
’
m going to sleep with you once I am, then
you
’
re sadly mistaken.
”

Jason
couldn
’
t believe her twisted
logic and duplicity.
“
Let me get
this straight; you want to have sex with me hours before your wedding to my
best friend, have I got that right Hope, and it has to be now as you don
’
t cheat. Is that it, feel free to jump in
and correct me any time you like.
”

Hope was so
pleased Jason understood that the smile she was known for the world over shone
across her face.
“
Yes, oh
Jason yes, Aviva is busy and Steve will be gone for a while, it
’
s the perfect opportunity. I
’
ve always wanted you, God, have you seen
you! You make my mouth water. I love Steve, yes I do, but you
…
I just want to get hold of you and fuck
your brains out; you look so big and nasty. The things I wanna do to you would
make your toes curl.
”

Jason felt
a cold anger settle over him as Hope finished her vocalizations of her
feelings, and sat with distaste written across his face. She was so wrapped up
in giving them their last opportunity to cheat on his best friend and her fianc
é
e, she took his silence as consent and
threw herself onto him, pressing her lips against his, grinding on his lap.

In one huge
surge Jason rose to his feet dumping her on the couch he had just vacated.
“
Have you lost your mind?
”
He bellowed, so angry he knew he had to
take a few moments to pull himself together as he began pacing around the room.
Coming to a stop with his back towards Hope, he drew in a deep breath through
his nose and released it through his mouth. He had to repeat the breathing
exercise four times before he felt ready to speak without really losing his
temper with her. With rage simmering just below the surface, he reached deep
within to keep it in check
–
but it
wasn
’
t easy. My God, this
will kill Steve if he ever finds out Jason thought massaging his temples,
frustrated at the situation.

“
I want you to listen to me Hope, and hear
me when I say, I have never felt anything for you other than friendship, and
that's only because Steve loves you, heaven only knows why, if this is how you
behave behind his back.
”
Shaking
his head Jason laughed, in Hope
’
s face. 
“
Lady, are you for real!  Have you started
believing the hype those idiots spout about you supermodels, that you can get
anyone you like? Well I
’
m here to
tell you, don
’
t believe
the hype. I want you to believe what I am about to say, even if you never
believe another word that passes my lips. Even if you were not going to marry
the man I regard as my brother, I wouldn
’
t want you
–
because
Lady, you
’
re just not
my type, and you never will be!
”

Throughout
his denouncement of her, Hope sat in stunned disbelief. How could she have
miscalculated so badly? Then it dawned on her, of course he had to make that
speech, he and Steve were friends.
“
Oh Jason,
you don
’
t have to worry, I won
’
t tell if you don
’
t.
”
Hope said
rising to her feet, her smile once again in place; sure that Jason had not been
serious in his rejection of her.
“
It will be
our little secret, your wedding present to me, how does that sound?
”

“
This woman has got to be kidding
”
Jason mumbled under his breath.
“
Are you for real, did you hear anything I
just said?
”

“
Come on Jason, it
’
s okay, I don
’
t mind
working for it. As for your type darling, I know I
’
m your type. I am everybody
’
s type, and I
’
ve seen you
with more models than the full count at Paris fashion week.
”

Exasperated,
he decided to spell it out to her one last time before he picked her up and
tossed her out of his house. There was no way this woman was going to marry his
friend; he wouldn
’
t wish this
duplicitous witch on his worst enemy.

“
Okay, Lady Dumb Ass, I
’
m going to say it one last time.  I
–
do
–
not
–
want
–
you.  I have not wanted you in the past,
I don
’
t want you now and I
will not want you in the future.  Do you get it now?
”

Hope
blinked rapidly at what she was hearing, realization slowly seeping into her
mind that she may have just gambled and lost. Fucking Jason would have been a
blast but she had no intentions of losing Steve. To cover her back the bitch
took over.

“
I suppose next you
’
re going to tell me that you prefer
someone like Aviva over me.
”

“
Yes ma
’
am, you would be completely right on that score.
”
Jason replied without hesitation.

Hope had
seen the budding attraction between them, anyone with eyes could see the way he
had been all over Aviva at the party last night, and they had left together.
After looking in her room and being unable to find her a feeling of vexation
had assailed her to the point of wanting to rush into Jason
’
s room and demand that Aviva couldn
’
t have him. She was on her way to do just
that when Steve had appeared and asked her what she was doing. She told him she
was going to check with Jason if Aviva was okay. Steve had given her an odd
look and told her to leave them alone. Realizing that insisting would only
raise suspicion on Steve
’
s part; she
had reluctantly retraced her steps towards her room, keeping her back to him as
the jealousy running through her was still clearly written on her face. By the
time she reached her room the jealousy still remained, but her face was now a
mask of serenity. Turning to Steve she had bid him goodnight with a light kiss
to his lips. She had had the forethought of getting his consent to spend their
last night before their wedding in separate rooms under the pretense of
tradition. Steve had said he understood, hence his bid of goodnight at her room
and not his suite. Kissing her lips one last time, he had left.

Hope had
made sure she would not be spending the night with Steve as she had every
intention of spending it with Jason. It now looked as though that was not going
to happen. However she had to be sure. Hope had waited for ten minutes then
made her way back to Jason
’
s suite.
Opening the door she had silently made her way across the sitting room to his
bedroom door and turned the handle. There she had seen them lying together
asleep, Jason curled spoon fashion around Aviva
’
s body. Silently she had withdrawn the sleeping figures never
knowing of her intrusion. Back in her room she had given vent to her anger by
ripping apart the three-thousand dollar outfit she had bought to begin her
honeymoon.

Returning
to the present and still in bitch mode, Hope concluded she had to do something
to ensure Jason remained quiet about what had just taken place. Deciding within
the space of one breath that if Jason King loved Steve Blackman so much, then
he couldn
’
t have him,
she would sever their bond if it was the last thing she did.
“
I
’
m going to tell Steve you made a pass at me, and when I rebuffed
you, you tried to rape me.
”

Jason was
so enraged at her words a deadly calm settled over him. Holding on to his anger
by a sheer force of will, he spoke through clenched teeth.
“
Pack your bags and get out of my house
–
now!
”

“
Oh I
’
ll go, but I
’
m taking
Steve with me
–
your
brother but not for much longer,
”
Hope
scoffed derisively.
“
When I get
through with you, Mr big bad Jason King is going to be all alone. As for little
Aviva, well she
’
s my
friend, she only met you yesterday, who do you think she
’
s going to believe, you or me?
”
Hope laughed at the look of Jason
’
s disbelief. She winked at him and
smiled. Contorting her face, Hope closed her eyes for two seconds, when they
reopened; they were filled with tears that spilled over, running down her face
in perfect rivulets.

Before
Jason could say another word, Hope wrenched open the door, and rushed out
screaming. 
“…
no Jason, I
said no, I
’
m marrying
your best friend, don
’
t you care
about anyone but yourself?
”
Having
taken no more than two steps through the door Hope collided with Aviva.