The Heiress (Book 2 of the Forbidden Series)

12

Kat and Beth sat in the family room discussing the excitement of the upcoming recording session. Both so proud of Layla’s sudden inspiration. Rolland had just settled into the chair beside his wife with a nightcap in hand when the door flew open, and Alexander stormed through the room. His temper blazing his eye’s narrowed in festering annoyance. He shouted for Layla bringing the room to their feet in curiosity. He called out again stalking up the hall toward the study. “Where is she?” He demanded and called out for her once more.

Layla came from inside the study a bewildered look on her pretty face as she wondered why her lover was so distraught. “Something wrong?”

“It’s gone. The whole thing went in one shot, the expenses, the doctors, the bills. My mother can keep the house free and clear. What the hell is that about?” He snapped outraged.

Layla lifted a silky brow in confusion. “The debt is paid?”

“Exactly!” He snapped. “In full, all gone.” He said barely able to contain his anger.

Layla shook her head in confusion. “Wait, if it’s gone isn’t that a good thing? Wasn’t that exactly what you were trying to do?”

“It was, but not this way. I didn’t ask you to bail me out.” He growled. “I don’t want your gifts!”

“What?” She shrugged not knowing what he was talking about.

“Movie passes are a gift Layla, not a million dollars.” He growled his hands white-knuckled as they fisted by his side. His tone was harsh. David rose from his seat behind his desk disturbed by Alexander’s rage over the matter. “I didn’t ask you for your money. I don’t want your damn money. Take it back now; I don’t know how but undo this right now?” Alexander demanded.

“Undo what? I didn’t do anything.” She swore. Alexander searched her questioning green eye for any sign of deception but found none. She had not been behind the mysterious donation.

“So, you are saying you didn’t clear my mother’s debts and pay off her house?” He asked trying to make sense of this information.

“No, I didn’t and thanked god I didn’t since it seems to have made you very angry.”

“I did it,” David said from the doorway of his study. His confession drew all eyes from the young couple to him. “I wired the money from my bank to my lawyers and let them sort out the details.” He snarled at Alexander’s lack of gratitude.

Alexander couldn’t believe his ears, why on earth would Layla’s father have done such a thing? It was no secret that the man despised Alexander what reason he would have to offer Alexander such extraordinary charity? He must have been trying to buy Alexander off either to please his daughter or to leave his daughter, either way; Alexander was not going to have it. He was sick of the manipulation. “I didn’t ask for your help either. I don’t want your money take it back; I don’t accept what I don’t earn.”

“You could show a little gratitude.” Layla snapped annoyed by Alexander’s attitude.

“Grateful, for what, having your family turn me into some w***e? Wham-bam-here is a million dollars. I didn’t ask for your money or his money, and I don’t want it.”

“Daddy, could you excuse us?”

David didn’t budge. “I didn’t do it for you. I don’t even like you.” David announced pulling no punches. He did not like the way Alexander was speaking to his daughter. “I did it for Maria that poor woman deserves to die in peace and I gave it to her.”

Alexander stared at David in awe, he knew his mother, and that she was dying. “How do you know my mother?”

“I looked into you and met her on the way. A wonderful sweet woman by the way, despite her failure in raising you. I felt she suffered greatly and deserved some peace in her final days. I can’t cure cancer, but I can buy houses and throw money around, so I did what I do best. I bought her a measure of peace before death.” He explained and stepped forward to look Alexander square in the eye. “And I will not have some selfish little punk bully me in to taking it back and stressing out that poor sweet woman just because his pride has been wounded.”

Alexander refused to back down from David’s advance. He was not intimidated. “You were looking into me?”

“Yes, and I know what you are, and I don’t approve.”

“There’s a surprise.” Alexander snarled. Layla ushered Alexander into the study and shut the door behind them; an awkward silence hung between them. She leaned against the door, and he gave her his back. He didn’t turn to look at her. His pride wounded, his head hung, his shoulders slumped like a wounded dog.

She didn’t understand why her father’s gesture would be received so poorly. “I’m sure it wasn’t his intention to offend you. I know you didn’t ask for his money, and that you might not want it, but you do need it. He liked your mom so much he just wanted to do something for her. It’s just a part of his better nature. He was in a position to make sure her wish came true.

What is more important to you right now, that she die in that house as she wanted, or that you don’t accept his gift? If he takes it back, she will lose that house.” Layla explained softly, her hand rubbing Alexander’s back to soothe his foul mood.

Alexander shrugged her off crossing the room to the window. His arms folded across his chest. He gazed aimlessly out the window contemplating the price of his pride. His mother’s happy face engraved in his thoughts. She was so ecstatic to hear her worries were over, and she had such little time left in which to be happy. How could he take that from her? He could always pay David back the money. He could continue with his financial plans only paying the sums to a different party.

“No, leave it the way it is.” He spoke, his tone withdrawn. Turning, he fixed his dark eyes on the cause of his disgrace. “But I will pay the money back; I’ll consider this a loan.”

“If it makes you feel better.” Layla twined her arms around Alexander’s neck. “Is everything good again?”

“I suppose, as long as it doesn’t happen again.” He sighed his shoulders relaxing as he returned her embrace. “Why don’t you come back with me, you can see how happy she is.” He grinned dying to spend some time with Layla.

“I would love to but I can’t. I have a lot to get straightened out before Monday. Dane’s release is in two days, and I start recording Monday morning. If all goes well I should be released just before award season.”

Alexander felt rejected. “I see.”

She crossed the floor to pick up a stack of papers off the desk. “Daddy has my first single to be released two weeks from now. It’s awesome timing the single will get the media talking and then with the album release the same week awards start I should get a tone of exposure.” She sounded excited. Rambling on about things he did not understand. She might as well have been speaking another language for all it meant to him.

Alexander stared blankly at Layla as she went on about her plans and busy schedule. Overwhelmed, Alexander put his hands up to stop the flow of information. “I get it; you are busy. I’ll let you get back to work.” He exited the room leaving the door open. As he passed the family room, Alexander saw the family gathered quietly. At the sight of Alexander leaving David rose only to have his wife touch his arm and shoot a warning look his way. David did not like Alexander that was clear. The others tried to make him feel welcome with little success. However, Alexander and David agreed on one thing… he should have kept his hands-off Layla; things were getting complicated.

Layla stood alone absorbing the cool interaction between herself and Alexander. Her father had insulted him, and now he was feeling ignored. Layla ran after Alexander catching up with him on the driveway. She grabbed his arm and crushed her lips to his in a hungry seductive kiss. His hands went to her hips pulling her close melding her body to his. “Why don’t we go out tomorrow?” She breathed against his lips. “Sunrise to sunset, just you and me.”

“Sounds nice.” He said through a throaty moan. “I’ll hold you to it.”

“I’ll see you first thing in the morning. Will you be coming home tonight?”

“I wasn’t planning on it but for a day with you, I will.”

***

Alexander waited all morning sitting alone in his room to avoid the stares and uncomfortable silences from the rest of the household. He was fast growing tired of his position in the Thompson house. By the afternoon Layla was still M.I.A, Alexander decided to stop waiting and get on with his day. He had already wasted enough time waiting on her.

Alexander headed over to Rick’s apartment downtown. A few of his co-workers and other mutual friends had joined them in the tiny apartment bringing beer and munchies. They gathered around the fifty-two-inch TV to watch the hockey game, cheering on their favourite team.

With all the screams and cheers Alexander had almost forgotten his disappointment in being stood up. He felt at home for the first time in weeks. Surrounded by his peers, blue collared homeboys like himself. No designer clothes, no million-dollar cars and lavish furnishings. A few of the boys had brought along their latest girlfriends, who hooted and hollered at the plays more than the men in the room. Their hair tied up, their bodies draped in their boyfriends’ jerseys over shorts or jeans. Simple and bargain basement taste completely different from his beautiful heiress.

Alexander leaned over the countertop dividing the kitchen nook from the living room. The couch sat just on the other side. He watched Rick’s girlfriend Sara curse at the referees when she did not agree with their call. A tall, leggy, brunette that had been seeing Rick for two months. She practically lived in his apartment. She was rough around the edges and far from ladylike but much better than Rick’s last girlfriend.

Sara was the type of girl Alexander should be with, someone that came from the same place he did, someone that could understand him. Someone that was crazy about him the way Sara was about Rick, even if it was only temporary. It was not as if he was looking to fall in love, but would it kill Layla to make a little time for him outside the bedroom. He was starting to feel even more used than he did on the dancefloor. At least at a show, he knew what they wanted from him. Layla’s intentions confused him. She had tried so hard to get to him and when she did she suddenly did not seem to want him any further.

“You look like you are thinking too much.” Rick teased coming for another beer. He cracked the top and leaned over the counter beside Alexander.

Alexander grinned. “Women, you know how they can wreck your evening even when they aren’t around.” He joked sipping his beer.

“So, you are seeing someone? I thought you were a bit scarce lately.”

“To tell you the truth, I’m not sure. We fool around, but besides that, there’s not much more to it.”

“Sounds like the perfect relationship, if you ask me. s*x without commitment or strings.”

“I didn’t say there weren’t strings.” Alexander frowned.

Rick lifted a pale brow in query. “Like what?”

“It’s complicated.”

“How did you meet her? Is she hot? When do we get to meet this girl?” He listed off a string of questions.

Alexander laughed. “At my new job, yes, and you already have.” He listed his string of answers.

“I have? When?”

“Do you remember our last show together? In the club.” Rick nodded. “Do you remember the stunning little redhead?”

Rick’s eyes widened with envy. “Hell yes, she has been in my spank bank for weeks.” He grinned picturing the vixen in his mind. “You work with her?”

“I work for her.”

“You are banging the boss.”

“No, the boss’ daughter.”

Rick laughed so loud he drew the attention of his guests. “Alexander here is banging the boss’ daughter. That sexy little spitfire from the club, the redhead.” He filled in his buddies. Alexander’s other three colleagues jumped to attention. Surrounding him, his s*x life now the focus of attention. “So, what’s her name?”

“Layla.”

“Layla what?”

“Thompson,” Alexander said softly taking a swig from his beer. He suddenly felt the need to get very drunk.

All eyes were on him now. Sara sat perched on the couch staring up at him. “Layla Thompson? As in David Thompson’s Layla?”

Alexander nodded confirming her suspicions.

“As in the Heathen’s, David Thompson?”

Alexander sighed. “That would be the one, yes.”

Rick chuckled in astonishment. “You are having non-committal s*x with a legendary rockstar’s gorgeous daughter, and you are bummed out about that? Are you on drugs?”

“No.”

“Should you be?”

Alexander finished off the last half of his beer dying to change the subject. He placed the beer on the counter and requested another one. “You don’t understand. She barely sees me outside the bedroom, and her jerk of a father paid off my debt in full-”

“Oh, you’re right; you got to be in hell. The rich, sexy vixen is hot for your body, and her family is willing to through insane amounts of money at you. How do you deal?” Rick mocked.

Alexander grinned when he put it that way it didn’t sound so bad. “I don’t like being turned in to a w***e or worse a gigolo. As it is it makes my living arrangements and work environment difficult. Her father doesn’t like me; he thinks I’m trying to rob his baby blind or corrupt her or something.” He stared into his beer watching the liquid swish as he moved the bottle. It would only get worse, and things were tense enough. “Do we have another show booked soon?”

“Not for another two weeks. By then we will have a replacement for you don’t worry about us.”

“I’m not; I’ll do the show,” Alexander said his mind made up. Things with Layla were quickly turning in to a bad situation. He’d been in enough self-destructive situations to recognize them in advance. “I’m going to stay with Raw Body.”

“What about your new job?” Rick asked realizing the severity of Alexander’s unhappiness with the situation. If he was willing to give up such a well-paying job when he needed money things must be tenser and more stressful, then he let on. This girl had to have done a number on Alexander to drive him away from the big bucks.

“I don’t think I’m going to stay on there much longer.” He lifted his bottle in a toast forcing a charming smile in Sara’s direction. “Stick to what I’m good at.” He winked. A dreamy grin curved her thin lips upward. He guzzled back the drink in one long swig while the men chanted chug to egg him on. He slammed the empty bottle down on the counter taking a long breath. It was time for some mindless idiotic fun.