Beautifully Twisted (30 page)

“Scotty, hands down. No decision.”

“Good. Now if you had to choose between London or Spain, which would it be?”

“London.”

“See, this is easy. Next question. You have to choose between your position at Patrick Collins Media and Scotty. Which one would you choose?”

Without hesitation, Alexa answers, “Scotty.” Then she opens her striking green eyes wide and stares at Martina, her mouth open slightly. “Jesus, Martina. Scotty. I would choose Scotty.”

“Perfect. Then you know what you need to do, right?”

Alexa nods. “Go to him.”

“Right. I’ll book your ticket tomorrow and you’ll tell him tonight.”

Alexa smiles. “Yes. I’ll tell him right now.” She digs her phone out of her handbag and dials his phone. She listens as it rings and rings, going to voicemail once more. “I guess he isn’t going to answer,” she states, softly.

“Then you can surprise him. He’ll know when he sees you how much he means to you. I’m sure of it,” Martina says, smiling.

“Yeah me too.”

“Let’s get you out of here and back to your place. You’re gonna have one hell of a hangover tomorrow.”

Alexa smiles and stands, wobbling only slightly, but fully aware that the only place she wants to be right now is in New York City with Scott Fucking Patrick.

Three days later, Alexa sits in her first class seat waiting nervously to land in New York’s La Guardia airport. Scott has no idea she’s coming and she hopes he’s at least open to seeing her. He refuses to answer her calls so she knows he’s still mad. After navigating the airport she steps out into the cold air of the city and hails a taxi. She wonders how it will feel to see Scott’s posh penthouse again. The last time she was there, he left her crying and naked on his bedroom floor. She never thought she’d be there again.
Maybe I won’t.

Alexa tells the driver Scott’s address and tries his phone one more time. Still no answer. She hopes he’s home. Looking out the window at the busy city, she sees thousands of people going on with their lives, while her future hangs in the balance. The only thing she wants, no needs, is to be in Scott Patrick’s arms again.

The taxi pulls up in front of Scott’s building and Alexa steps out, walking hesitantly inside.
What if he doesn’t want to see me? What if he hates me?
She walks to the front desk and confidently requests his apartment. The girl at the front desk appears slightly nervous but smiles politely and rings his phone.

“Mr. Patrick? Sorry to disturb you, sir, but there is a Miss Alexa Drake here to see you.” Alexa watches as the girl nods her head. “Yes, sir, Alexa Drake. Right away, sir.” The girl smiles at Alexa. “You can go up, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” Alexa says.
Well, that was easier than I thought.
She walks to the elevator bank and pushes the button for the penthouse suite. She loved Scott’s place. It looked over the entire city of Manhattan and was as beautiful as any luxury hotel she’d ever seen. It fit him, and his incredible physical beauty, perfectly. She walks down the plush carpeted hallway that leads to his foyer, her stomach turning as she nears his door. There were no other homes up here, just a spacious entryway wrapped in creamy marble and expensive art. Standing before the massive steel doors that led to Scott’s inner sanctum, she pauses for a second before ringing the bell. Beyond these doors, her life began, in that special room she would forever call The Garden. She remembers the first time she saw it.

“Are you ready, baby girl? This is the secret place I’ve been telling you about.” Scotty tells me as we stand before a large door.

“I think so,” I whisper, nervous but excited.

“It’s called The Garden. In here, we can do anything we like. We are only limited by our imaginations. I think you’re ready.”

I take a deep breath. “Why do you call it The Garden, Scotty?”

I watch his breathtaking smile fill his face. “I call it that because behind these doors, is paradise.”

She takes a deep breath and presses the doorbell, waiting anxiously for Scott to appear. She waits for a moment and when he doesn’t answer, she notices the door is slightly ajar. She walks in, calling out his name. Still no answer. The main room is dark, with just the late afternoon winter sun for light. Is it possible he’s already waiting in The Garden for her?

She removes her coat and sets down her handbag, then walks slowly down the hallway to her favorite room. As much as she would like to feel excitement, what she actually feels is closer to foreboding. Placing her hand on the crystal doorknob, she stands before the large black leather upholstered door that leads into the room containing Scott’s bag of tricks. Taking a deep breath she opens it and walks in and then…
Fuck
.

“You decided this, Alexa. I told you I was going to do whatever I needed to do to get over you. You are free to live your life,

isn’t that what you wanted?”

~ Scotty

“Hello, Alexa. What a pleasant surprise,” Scott says, his voice beyond cold. “Why don’t you come in and enjoy the show?”

Alexa’s mouth hangs open at the scene in front of her. Scott sits back in his large wooden chair, naked, some blond chick collared and sucking his incredible cock. Alexa’s eyes shift around the room and she notices another woman shackled to the bed, clearly waiting her turn. Hot tears burn her eyes as she turns back to look at Scott.

“Are you next, baby girl?”

“Fuck you, Scott.”

“Is that why you came all this way? To get another dose of my cock?” He reaches between his legs and grabs the girl’s hair, pulling her mouth away from him for a moment. “Do you want this to be you? You’d give Alexa your collar, wouldn’t you, Jacinda?”

The girl turns her pretty head and bats her big blue eyes at Alexa. “Whatever you wish, sir,” she says obediently.

Alexa turns to leave, disgusted with herself for thinking she could fix things, and disgusted with him for acting out in this way. She walks as fast as she can back down that hallway but it seems a hundred miles long. Her legs feel barely capable of carrying her and her heart beats fast in her chest. She’s not sure she can take this, not sure she’s strong enough. Scott Patrick may just have succeeded in breaking her.

She gets to the end of the hallway, but pauses, holding herself up against the wall. Her tears break free and she tries with all her might to breathe, clutching at her chest as though somehow that will help. Stumbling into the living room, she snatches her coat and bag from the couch as she walks to the front door in a haze. Before she reaches the door, she trips on the floor rug, dropping her handbag and spilling its contents across the floor. She stares at the mess wishing she could will herself to be back in London and far, far away from this place. Crawling across the marble floor, she collects her things, and sobs nearly to the point of hyperventilating. Pulling herself to her feet, she wipes her face and heads back to the door, stopping at the sight before her. Scott stands in front of the door, blocking her exit, wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants. She stares at him knowing only that she needs to get out of there as fast as possible.

“Get out of my way, you fucking bastard,” Alexa says, her voice full of determination.

“You came to my house, Alexa. I’ll decide when you leave.” He grins at her. “Come back to The Garden with me.” She can tell from his voice that he’s been drinking.

“Fuck you. I mean it–Fuck. You. I hate you!” She charges towards him, deciding she will just have to push her way past him.

He grabs her arms preventing her from passing. “You don’t hate me, or you wouldn’t be here right now. Why did you come, Alexa?”

“Get out of my way.”

“Answer me first.”

“You want to know why? Because I thought you were telling me the truth when you said you loved me, and I thought I was too when I said it back. But this isn’t what love is supposed to feel like, Scott. This isn’t what love looks like. You don’t know how to love a person any more than I do. I was right all along, we are not good together.”

“You decided this, Alexa. I told you I was going to do whatever I needed to do to get over you. You are free to live your life, isn’t that what you wanted?” He looks angry but Alexa can hear the hurt in his voice.

“By fucking two women at once? That’s how you get over me?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“For the record, I came here for you. I came because I finally realized that you’re the only man I’ve ever loved and ever want to. I came…” she pauses and wipes another tear from her cheek. “I came to lie at your feet and give you everything I have. I came to love you. It may be a fucked up, dysfunctional love, but it’s all I have and it’s all for you. It’s clear to me now, I made a mistake. Goodbye, Scotty.” Alexa stares at him with a resolve that finally convinces him to step aside, letting her walk out his door.

Alexa descends in the elevator, feeling her heart sink as each floor passes. She knew Scott was capable of many things but that scene was more than she ever could have expected. He wanted her to see it, wanted her to feel the pain flowing through her body. She decides to walk back to her hotel, hoping the airport shuttle successfully delivered her baggage to the hotel while she left her last shred of dignity lying on the floor of Scott Patrick’s penthouse. When she gets there, she’ll call the airline and see how fast she can get the hell out of New York. She walks through the crowded city, weaving in and out of the throngs of people enveloping her. Only in New York can you be surrounded by so many people and feel like the loneliest person on the planet.

She walks the six blocks to her hotel and enters, walking straight to the lobby. “Reservation for Alexa Drake,” she says stoically.

“Yes, ma’am. The shuttle delivered your bags and we brought them to your room. Room 516,” the young man at the front desk explains.

“Thanks. Do you have a spa here? I need a massage.”

“Yes, of course. When would you like an appointment?”

“As soon as possible.”

“How about…” he stares at his screen, “two hours from now?”

“Perfect. I want a bottle of your best whiskey delivered to my room too, please.”

“Certainly, ma’am,” he says professionally, even though he must think she’s a complete lush.

Alexa steps out from the shower, feeling a little better after cleansing the day’s events off of her. She looks around at the room, wishing she was home. Wrapping her hair in a bun, she prepares herself for the massage she so desperately needs.