Hostage

Follow the Plan

Kimberly’s POV

"We're here." The car came to a halt in front of Monroe and Co. I stared at Isabel for a moment, my eyebrows narrowing in confusion.

"What are we doing here?"

" You said you needed answers." Izzy said as she pushed her door open. I watched her climb out. "We're here to get them." She said like it was the most normal thing on the planet. "Get down." She commanded. I opened the door and then alighted.

"I-" I paused, taking a good look at the magnificent building. "I don't think this is a good idea."

"Calm down." She walked towards me. "If lover boy is really as interested in you as Gloria claims, then I don't think there'll be much of a problem."

"Izzy, this is absurd." I protested. "For all we know, there are three Monroe brothers and we don't even know which one it was I met."

"Fine." She halted. "We can leave now. Get you all dulled up, dressed up and shipped off to Monroe County. That's where they all stay. You could meet all three of them." She swung her arms around in a dramatic manner. "That is what you want, isn't it? "

I bit my lip.

As crazy as it was, I needed answers.

"Let's get this over with."

"Good." She smiled and then began to walk towards the building. "Now that we're on the same page, I would like to carry on from where I was back in the car." She continued. "First, there's Jason Monroe, the youngest of them all." She paused. "From what I heard, he's really mean and not so stable. " She crossed her eyes in a hilarious manner. "There's no way he would have approached you. And no matter how crazy Gloria is, I don't think she would set you up with a teenager."

" How-"I was going to ask her how old he was, but she was a step ahead.

"Eighteen."

Izzy always knew what I was going to say even before I thought about it. I nodded. Izzy was right. As manipulative and selfish as my mother was, I didn't think she had it in her to set me up with a teenager.

Or did she?

I shook my head and then inhaled.

"Next is Andre. Twenty eight. He's devilishly handsome, and word has it, he's a ladies man." She continued as we walked into the building. "That sounds exactly like the man we're looking for." She paused. "But word also has it that his fiancé, Maece O'Brien was arrested in Australia two weeks ago so there's a very high possibility that he didn't even attend the party." She pretended to think for a second. "That leaves us with one more option, and he owns the grounds you're walking on." She halted and then turned to face me.

"Kennan Monroe." I whispered under my breath.

"Kennan Monroe." She confirmed it.

____________________________________

Jase’s POV

"Do not try to make this into a joke, Jason. What the hell is wrong with you?" Roxi was yelling at the top of her lungs. I had no idea how we had gone from thanking God for the gift of life to throwing swear words and pillows.

"You have no idea what I went through when I got that call from the hospital. I was worried sick about you. I didn't know what to expect. " Her voice quivered. I glanced down at my hands, clenching and releasing my fists. "How could you?" She sniffed. "After everything we've been through." She added softly.

I felt my smirk fall.

"You know Keen and Dre are out there trying to clean up this mess we created. Don't you even feel sorry for them?" She pushed further.

I could tell my actions had really hurt her.

But then again, why were they all so quick to believe that I had actually tried to kill myself?

And if I told her the truth, that there was someone else on the bridge that night who I'd dived in to save, what were the chances she'd believe me?

Where was she by the way? The girl from last night?

Had she survived? Who pulled me out of the water?

"Uhm-" Suddenly having the feeling that my brows were out of place, I ran my index finger through my left brow in attempt to fix it and then did the same to the right. "I really don't remember anything from last night. I was really drunk." I lied. "Everything is a blur."

She narrowed her eyes, her lips slightly parted.

"You remember nothing?" She asked warily.

If I had any telltale signs, thank God she didn't know them.

"Nothing from after we got to the party. " I glanced down at my hands. "I wish I did but I don't. "

She flicked her tongue over her lower lip and then carefully reached for my hands.

"Jase, do you think you need to go back to therapy?" Her voice was barely over a whisper. "I mean, I won't force you to if you don't want to, but do you maybe think-"

Over my dead body.

"I think I should get some rest, Xi. I don't really feel well." I faked a smile, withdrawing my hands.

She drew in a deep breath and then exhaled.

"I'll be in the next room if you need me." She placed a hand on my right cheek as I raised a questioning eyebrow. "The girl who saved you." She explained. "She's okay aside from a few bruises-"

Was she now? That little b***h!

"But Doctor Grayson insists she gets examined so I'd better go see how everything's going." She lowered her hand. "Call me it you need me. I'll be right here." She reached for her purse. "I'll be right here." She repeated.

She stood still for a few seconds like she was expecting me to say something but all I could do was let my eyes follow her until she was out the door.

_____________________________________

Kimberly’s POV

"Do you have an appointment?" The receptionist asked for the umpteenth time.

I rolled my eyes. We had been going round in circles for the past ten minutes and honestly, I didn't think it had gotten us anywhere.

"No! "Isabel let out a frustrated sigh.

"Then you cannot see Mr. Monroe. I am sorry "

She didn't look sorry. She didn't even sound sorry. Instead, her gaze was focused on the computer in front of her, and her concentration, on the piece of gum in her mouth.

I sighed.

"At least, place a call." I said rather calmly, when as a matter of fact, I was feeling everything but calm. "Let him know we're here."

She looked up from her computer.

"Do you have an appointment?" She asked again, smacking her gum in a very disturbing manner.

Kill me already.

"I already told you, I - "

"Let me handle this." Izzy stepped closer to the table. She stuffed her hand in her pocket and then got out a rumpled old piece of paper. " You see, - "she started in a whisper.

Why on earth was she whispering?

"I know you " she continued, still whispering. The receptionist snickered.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave before I call security." She glanced up for a mini-second and then returned her gaze to her computer. "Some of us have work to do."

Ouch.

"Izzy-"I tugged Isabel's arm.

"You know, I happened to work night shift at cheesebreakers on Saturday." Izzy smirked. "I might not have a fancy air-conditioned office there but I happened to see something... interesting." She paused. "Might have been you in a purple dress, walking hand in hand with David Scott. You know how Mr. Monroe feels about David. Especially after the break in that night."

The receptionist tensed. I could sense how nervous she became all of a sudden. She'd even stopped smacking her gum.

"But there's something I know that he doesn't." She leaned close to the receptionist. "I saw you in the bus that night." Her eyes narrowed. "I know who the real mastermind behind the break in was. And I know your name." She paused. "Phoebe."

Phoebe gulped. Her hands were shaking and I don't think she'd noticed how much she had began to sweat.

"And I believe you owe me a phone call." She continued. Phoebe inhaled.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I took a picture." Isabel smirked, folding her arms beneath her breasts.

I recognized that look.

She had Phoebe exactly where she wanted.

"Bullshit." Even though the receptionist tried to appear unmoved, I could see beads of sweat gathering on her forehead.

"Well, I'll bite." Izzy spat back.

Silence reigned and for a few seconds, I watch the both of them stare directly at each other until Phoebe looked away, glancing down at her landline.

She reached for it and then placed the phone close to her ear after she'd pushed a few buttons.

" Mr. Monroe, you have visitors...No, they do not have an appointment but it sounds pretty important sir." she paused." It's Isabelle Grayson and-"she paused.

"Kimberly Hastings." Isabel mouthed, pointing at me.

"Kimberly Hastings." She paused for a moment and then frowned. "Yes sir." She said finally before he put the phone down. She looked up at the both of us. "Mr. Monroe will see you." she said slowly.

"Finally." Isabel hissed.

"Not you." Phoebe shifted her gaze from Isabel and then turned to me. "You." She paused. "Just you."

I frowned

Say what now?

"Please follow me." She stepped away from the desk. I turned to Isabel and she nodded, urging me to go ahead.

"You're going to be fine." She mouthed. I nodded as Phoebe led me towards a set of double brown doors. She pulled one of the doors open and then stepped away, holding it open for me. I drew in a deep breath.

"You're going to be fine Kim."

I told myself as I walked into the office slowly, cautiously, ready to run if things got too difficult to handle.

"All you have to do if follow the plan." I muttered under my breath. I heard the door shut silently behind me.

Follow the plan,

Follow the plan,

Follow the plan.

And then I halted.

There was no damn plan.