The Casino Billionaire

Chapter 10

The knock upon the door awakens me. I am alone now on the couch. The sun blares through the front window making it hard for my eyes to adjust. Finding my way to the door, Doc Tom smiles at me, "Good morning, how was your night? Shawna sleep soundly?" I haven't had time for my brain to take in what is happening in my own apartment. How can I answer his questions?

"Uh, yeah, not a peep from her all night." I am obviously distracted as I shut the door after the Doc and he notices.

"Miss Jennifer? Are you alright?" He looks concerned.

"Yes, Jason came here early this morning. He was pretty beat up. I cleaned him up and he slept with me here on the couch. Now, I do not know where he is." Peeking into the kitchen and down the hall. The bathroom door is open so he is not in there.

"Maybe he went out for something. I am sure he will be back. Let's get Shawna taken care of. She should be starting to feel much better." He pats my arm and heads to Shawna's room.

Following the Doc down the hall, my mind will not leave Jason. Is he alright? Where could he have gone? Doc Tom opens the door and moves to the side. Jason is sitting by Shawna's bed. "Jason? What are you doing here?" I am so confused.

"I never got to apologize to Shawna for what those men, my men did to her. She was stirring a while ago. You were sleeping so peacefully, just came in to see what I could do to help her." He puts his hand on hers, "She was awake. We had a really nice talk and she forgives me." His eyes well up with tears, a wary smile spreads across Shawna's lips.

Going quickly to her side wanting to cry myself, "Hi honey, how are you feeling?" I run my fingers through her disheveled hair.

"Still very sore but better. Jason told me what you did Jen, That was so stupid. I love you so much." Her voice is still scratchy. I am sure that the still fading bruise of a handprint on her neck had pushed down hard on her larynx. 

I can't help but let out a laugh, "Rest, you still have much healing to do." Moving out of the way so that Doc can do his thing. 

Jason and I go out to the living room to give her some space. Doc Tom yells out after us telling Jason to sit on the couch, he will look at him in a few moments. As he goes to the couch, I put on a pot of coffee. It isn't really my thing, guessing the Doc and Jason may want some. Bringing a tray out to Jason with a mug, sugar, and creamer so he can make it how he likes, he looks up to me, "I am so sorry about last night. I should not have come here. I didn't know where else to go." He grabs the mug wincing as the hot liquid touches the cut on his lip. "It was very inappropriate of me."

"It's alright Jason, honestly, I was worried about you." He looks at me with this tenderness in his eyes. Has no one ever been worried about him? So much I do not understand. When I look at him I see this cold, unfeeling businessman that will do whatever it takes to make his companies run smoothly, his posture is always rigid, when he speaks it is always precise. Then when he looks at me it all changes. Like there is another man inside that is screaming to come out, to be known. When he starts to come to the surface, the businessman pushes him back down.

About a half-hour of awkward silence later, Doc Tom comes into the living room, "She is resting again, The IV is out, all of her vitals are strong and from what I can tell she is healing well. Without x-rays, I can only feel what is happening." He hands me two bottles, "I gave her another shot of the strong pain meds which will keep her out for another eight hours at least. When she wakes, giver her one of these," He points to the one with a blue cap, "They will keep the pain dull enough for her to rest, then every morning give her one of these," He points to the one with a white cap, "It is a mix of vitamins, minerals and amino acids that will aid in the healing process. Now, Jason, let me see what you've got going on here. What happened?" Doc puts on some thick glasses and starts examining Jason's lip, eye and checking to make sure his nose isn't broken, "Might need a few stitches in that lip or you are going to keep breaking it open and could tear it even more."

While Doc gets the things needed to stitch up his lip, Jason vaguely tells him what had taken place last night. When the long hooked needle comes out it is time to take my leave. Needles make me feel like fainting. Always have. I stand and Jason grabs my hand, "Please stay here with me." What is it about this man that makes me just want to do as he says? Is it because of his demanding stature or that I feel he has this need for me that keeps growing stronger each time we are together? I am too afraid to ask him what it is about me that he won't just stay away. Am I a surrogate mother? Please tell me that isn't so. All of these confusing feelings he brings out in me, to find out he is using me because he has mommy issues would crush me. I know that when he picks a woman it is not going to be some poor girl that works in a foundry. He needs a powerful woman on his arm or maybe a model. That is what you see all of these billionaire moguls with, a beautiful woman that commands your attention. That is so not me.

"All done." Doc Tom's voice pulls me out of my own head. "These will dissolve on their own in about five days. Try not to pick at them or get them caught on anything as they loosen." He pats Jason's shoulder smiling, "You will live."

"Thanks, Doc. I appreciate all you've done for us here." Jason stands to shake his hand and shows him out of the apartment. He turns back to me, "I should probably head out myself. I need to get myself cleaned up and over to the casino to make sure the new crew is getting along nicely. Take care of Shawna and tell her, I am glad she pulled through this like a champ." I stand and move to the door where he is standing. He wraps his arms around me pulling my body tight to his. He whispers, "Thank you, Miss Blake, you are the strongest woman I have ever met. It has been an honor." He lets me go and half-smiles, due to the fact that the side with the stitches is still numb from whatever Doc shot into them before doing his magic.

I smile and nod to him and then he is gone. Sitting on the couch, I stare out the front window and then begin to cry. Was that goodbye forever? Will I ever see Jason Joens again? In the back of my mind it has always been apparent that he could never be mine but what we have just gone through in the last four days felt like a lifetime and for him to disappear isn't right. It's just not right.