Boxed Set: The His Submissive Series Complete Collection (Part One-Part Twelve) (72 page)

I gasped when her eyes flew open.

Thunder flashed in the gray as she took me in. "I don't look that terrible, do I?"

"No," I squeaked.

She gave me a signature look full of attitude. "You're a horrible liar. I guess that's a good thing though." She winced as she grabbed the remote and brought herself to a seated position. "Come closer. I'm not contagious."

I was ready to tug Jacob along for the ride, but I remembered the last thing I wanted was for her to see me weak and unable to stand on my own.

He's right over there
, I told myself, releasing his hand. And it wasn't like Alicia was gonna attack me, she had IV lines coming out all over the place. Truthfully, I was more worried about the blows she'd dole out with her words. The scars invisible to the naked eye, but inside, bright and purpled. Memories of that letter I'd found months ago, when she seemed so excited to meet me. And then our first interaction when she offered me a blank check to go away. Every run in after compounded until we hit the apology. It would take more than 'I'm sorry' to rebuild the bridge between us. And the last thing I wanted was for her to see just how much she affected me.

I walked to her bedside, chin up, posture perfect, eyes cool and unaffected. "Jacob said you wanted to see me?"

She cleared her throat and reached for a styrofoam cup. The clink of ice echoed as she tilted a few cubes in her mouth before responding. "Jacob, can you give us a moment?"

His gaze shifted from her to me, silently asking me if I was okay. I gave him a slight nod.

"I'll be right outside."

We watched him go, door clicking shut behind him. She put the styrofoam cup back on the table.

"I know you don't like me."

So we were jumping right in. "Alicia-"

"Don't bother denying it."

"Oh I wasn't gonna deny it," I said simply. "I haven't liked you since you tried to bribe me to get me away from your son."

She licked her lips. "Fair enough. I know the things I did to you, to Jacob, are enough to damn me. And what I'm about to share with you is cliché, but it's the truth."

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious. I crossed my arms, waiting.

"When I felt the first chest pain then it multiplied until I was somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness, I saw my life flash before my eyes."

Oh geez.

I won't bore you with my childhood or Carlton," she continued. "There was Jacob, only a few moments old, pure and screeching in my arms. He was such a beautiful baby. And I could see how much he loved me. Me—with all my faults. Me that needed someone that cared so badly." Her eyes were filled with tears and one dashed down her cheek. "I remembered everything I missed, every time I hurt him and that was the biggest regret of my life. And you are my second."

I froze, sure I'd misheard her. "What?"

“When I first heard about you, learned how in love Jacob was with this feisty young woman, I knew that being there for the two of you was my second chance. At that point, Jacob and I hadn't talked for nearly three years and the fact that he wanted me to meet you was an olive branch I didn't deserve.

I won't go into the same spiel about how I thought I was protecting him, because there's no excuse for things I've said and done to you. But I don't want that to be our story, Leila. I want to be more than your in-law. I want to be your friend. I want to give you the best damn wedding this world has ever seen."

My chin trembled and I bit my lip, nervous and apprehensive and another emotion I wasn't ready to attribute to her. Optimistic. Hopeful.

I still didn't want to do a monstrosity of a wedding, but she'd just told me her life flashed before her eyes and she realized she wanted a better relationship with me. With Jacob. Despite all the things she’d done, it counted for something.

She was looking at me.

Vulnerable.

Waiting.

I flashed her a smile. "You get some rest, okay?"

I left the room, seeing Jacob standing over near the window. He turned, like he could sense me. I rushed into his arms, not sure if I was ready to trust her, but knowing I could trust his arms.

"I take it she told you how her life flashed before her eyes and she saw the error of her ways." He stroked my back, knowing just where to touch me to help me relax."I want to believe this time is different, but I've been burned by her before."

I knew he was waiting for an answer from me, but I didn't have one. I wasn't sure if her near death experience meant she changed or should get a pardon or even deserved one.

"Just hold me," I sighed.

"That I can do." He pressed his lips against my forehead and started to pull me in before he stopped. "I forgot to ask you last night because we were...indisposed, but you told me you wanted to talk about the wedding?"

I looked up into his eyes, the same shape as his mother's.
I want to give you the best damn wedding this world has ever seen.

"It wasn't important," I lied. He brought me back in without another word. Without catching the lie at all.

Maybe I was a better actress than I thought.

Part Twelve

G
etting the chance to drive Jacob's 'baby' should have been a momentous occasion. I'd fallen in lust with the Maserati the moment I saw it. With its smooth lines, contours and an engine that you could feel vibrating all over your body, I often imagined what it would feel like to wrap my hands around the steering wheel. To feel the wind whipping my hair as I set the asphalt on fire.

But when he handed me his keys and opted to drive my Sonata, all I felt was an aching wariness. Apparently Alicia Whitmore ‘didn’t do sports cars’. She looked even less thrilled about riding in my sedan.

I watched Jacob ease his mother into the passenger seat then slide behind the wheel. I took a few steadying breaths and started the Maserati, following their car to Alicia’s hotel.

Before you think I'm the worst, I was
thrilled
when she made a quick recovery. The doctor said she was practically at a hundred percent and green-lit her discharge from the hospital. I couldn’t have been happier—for both human decency and selfish reasons. Selfishly because it meant Jacob could spend more time at home instead of the hospital. And I had compassion for the woman and was genuinely glad that she'd recovered after the heart attack and was doing well enough to be released.

It didn’t change the fact that I had an unsettling feeling at the bottom of my stomach. Her clean bill of health also meant she was doing well enough to make good on her promise to give me and Jacob ‘the best wedding since the royal affair’.

Our definitions of 'best' differed. Mine wasn't prestigious enough to put in history books. I just wanted something small and memorable because it focused on me and Jacob. Alicia's concept called for an army of people. From her rumblings as she ignored the doctors pleas to take it easy as she plugged away on her Mac, she was going to fix the national economy crisis with our ceremony alone.

She hired Lindy Alistair, one of the most prolific (and expensive) wedding planners in the States, who'd been ferociously corresponding with Alicia since she paid her monstrous fee. I had to grin and bear it through conference calls, nodding hesitantly as they came up with the concept for the wedding. A concept that I’d been trying to escape since Jacob and I first started dating:

A Cinderella Story
.

The only thing we'd agreed on was that we didn't want it held in a church. They'd decided to do it at Greenwald Gardens instead, a historic, Victorian house just outside the city with acres of lush green landscaping and marble statues that screamed money. Lindy called it ‘delightfully luxe’.

I’d only seen pictures online—and I hated it.

As we eased onto the bustling street, angled toward Alicia's hotel, I kicked myself. Not literally, but mentally, I was bruised from head to toe. With every smile, every nod, every lie, I dug myself deeper in a hole, suffocated by regret. I was dreading my own wedding. It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life and I was scrambling to pick a date so I could start a countdown until it was over.

"What's wrong with you?" I said aloud, the scold echoing through the empty car. I didn't bother with a response because it would be a little strange having a conversation with myself and also because I knew the answer. Jacob was worth billions of dollars. Small and simple wasn't in his dictionary. All eyes were on us, everyone and their mama already verbally affirming that he'd downgraded by choosing me. If we didn't have the huge affair that all the gossip magazines and shows were hinting at, completing the Cinderella narrative they'd created—

They? Them? Why are you listening to everyone but you? And Jacob? It is your wedding, right?

But that wasn't exactly true. Jacob was a public figure. And as his fiancé, his future wife, so was I. That meant whether I liked it or not, the public pinned their hopes and dreams on us. It was the price of fame.

We pulled into the valet lane in front of Alicia’s hotel and I almost laughed as the valets practically rock/paper/scissors-ed for the chance to drive the Maserati. I opened the door and handed them the keys, a tiny part of me annoyed that I didn't even enjoy the likely one and only time Jacob would let me drive it.

I barely had time to dwell on the rueful moment because Alicia was beaming, holding out her elbow for me. Like we were old friends about to go on a friendly stroll.

My eyes darted to Jacob and he sent me a silent order.

Behave.

I took her arm with a smile and glared at Jacob over her head.

We stepped inside and the concierge was waiting, a bubbly girl that didn't even look old enough to have such a job, complete with blond hair and a Valley Girl accent.

"Mrs. Whitmore, I did as you asked and let the photographers camped out hear me say that you'd be staying with your son.” She was practically giddy with excitement. “They cleared out almost immediately!"

I glanced at Alicia who was smiling conspiratorially with the young woman. "Thank you, Delilah." She looked back at me and winked at my surprise. "This isn't my first time at the rodeo, dear."

It made sense that she’d know the old bait and switch play. At the height of his fame, Carlton Whitmore was sure to have had photographers hounding him and his family. I was only known as an extension of Jacob and now that we were engaged I could barely get a cup of coffee in peace. To have any privacy, any sense of normalcy, one had to get creative.

More than surprised I was impressed that she’d thought ahead and worked something out with the hotel staff. Her misdirection was genius and we didn’t have to deal with flashing cameras on top of everything else.

I stopped in the lobby, waiting for Jacob.

Alicia shook her head, her salt and pepper bob swishing. "We can head on up to the apartment. Lindy is waiting."

My eyes bulged. "What?"

"There's so much to be done," she explained, dragging me in the direction of the elevator. "If you want the ceremony as soon as possible as you’ve stressed on several occasions, we have to set everything in motion."

Just tell the truth!
"Um-” I racked my mind for something, not sure she could handle the truth. She’d just been hospitalized for crissakes. “Should you be doing anything strenuous?"

She gave me a look before punching her floor button. "It's wedding planning, not a 5K."

Classical music spread through the silence as I stood there, silently freaking out. I was glad the elevator didn’t stop for other passengers because I was pretty sure I'd explode if I had to move one inch.

This was too much. I had to say something—or it really would be too late.

The doors parted and I didn't realize I was still standing inside the elevator until she said my name.

"Leila?"

I blinked and Alicia was in front of me, concern in her gray eyes.

The doors started closing so I hit the door open button, then wished I hadn't.

"Is everything alright?" Her name rung out and the truth I was about to finally release was wasted. She'd already started down the hall before I could say 'No'.

I sighed and followed her, finally seeing Lindy Alistair in the flesh. She seemed much younger than Macy Scott, both physically and demeanor-wise. She had long, jet-black hair except for blunt bangs that slashed across her forehead. While most would hide their freckles behind foundation and concealer, she rocked hers proudly. The spots sprinkled one cheek before spreading over the bridge of her button nose and spilling onto the other cheek. Big blue eyes were framed by dark, thick lashes. I was surprised by her casual dress, her thin body clad in an oversized plaid shirt, denim shorts, and gladiator sandals. She looked ready to meet a friend for coffee, not discuss the wedding of the century. And standing in the hall of Alicia’s posh hotel, she looked downright dowdy.

She held out her hand, bubblegum pink nails glittering. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Leila!"

I shook her hand gingerly and stood their awkwardly as she and Alicia hugged like they were best friends.

“And you,” she said, holding Alicia at arm’s length, worry clouding her face. “Are you alright? We totally could have done this after you got settled in.”

Alicia plunked her key from her clutch and we spilled into her suite. "Don’t be silly. Thanks for meeting us, Lin."

"Of course," Lindy answered, picking at her bracelet. "I'm still a little shocked you wanted to see me so soon after you left the hospital."

Alicia waved her hand, dismissing the statement. "I'm not an invalid. And we have a lot of ground to cover if we're going to get them down the aisle in three weeks."

"Three weeks?" I hissed, clutching my chest. Heart attacks weren't contagious, but damn if I wasn't feeling all the symptoms. Pressure tightened my chest. Nausea settled in my stomach and the urge to vomit was overwhelming. I couldn’t catch my breath and my heart banged in my chest.

Lindy took my reaction in slowly before looking back at Alicia. "I was under the impression the bride was aware of the date?"