Paid To Love

Episode 36

Paid To Love EPISODE 36

Henry's POV

I stopped for a moment. Could this be a joke?

“Wait what?”

What could have happened to her. And why was Zoey breathing so heavily. Could they be at a hospital? The never ending flood of questions came along and I needed some answers.

“Henry? She’s fine though, it wasn’t that bad.” she said, reassuringly.

“If she’s fine then where is she and why isn’t she the one who called me. By the way how did you get in an accident, who was driving?” I started the raid of questions.

“Henry like I said she’s fine. She’s just giving a report to the police. She’ll speak to you in a minute. “

I felt like I could breathe again, but I was still full of questions.

“I hope you weren’t freaked out by the way I told you. I shouldn’t have started like that. Victoria’s just kinda freaked out right now. And she is really feeling bad about the car. Here she Is, I think she is done with them. Here it’s Henry, Victoria.”

“Victoria are you ok ?,” I said immediately. She was okay. I needed to hear her voice.

“Yeah just a scratch I guess. But like Zoey told you, I accidentally ran into one a toll gate at a rail crossing. The head lights are totally gone and there’s broken glass scattered all around your wind screen. I’m really sorry, Henry. You can take it out of my money.”

“No, no just forget about it,” I said, with the hunk of files still in my hands and some sweat from my forehead dripping on them. “Where are you? I think you’ll need a ride home.”

“No it’s fine, I think I can drive. I already notified the some traffic people and they’ll come checkout what was wrong with the toll gate.”

“Where are you?” I repeated. “I’ll pick you up my self. ”

“Ok don’t be mad. I know you’re still upset about the car and I’m sorry.

We’re actually on the route to the coffee place. The one you said was better than ours. You should be able to get here in like ten minutes from your office.”

“I’m on my way,” I said before hanging up.

I rushed out of my office and caught Gerald on his way down. “Victoria crashed the car. Can you bring it back to the rental place?”

He turned to me, eyes wide. “Wait. What? How is she?”

“She’s okay.”

“Are you okay? You’re really sweaty and you look anxious.”

“I’m okay.” Was it that obvious that I was worried?, I grabbed a handkerchief and wiped my face a little and looked into the reflection on the glass in the elevator. I guess I did look really anxious.

Gerald kept looking at me like something was wrong with me.

“Jana’s was just rushed to the hospital Henry.”

“She was on her way back from the club with Jack, Henry.”

“I don’t think she will make it, Henry.”

“Jana...Noooooo.”

“Jack isn’t fit for this role. The negative publicity is bad for us so you’ve got the chance you always wanted, now take over, Henry.”

“Henry?”

“Jana..”

I snapped out of it, Gerald standing next to me with a worried expression. “What?” I snapped at him.

I was thinking about it again, I didn’t want these memories anymore. It seemed like it was just yesterday but its been over three years now. Gerard came with me to go see Victoria. Gerald kept giving me that look from earlier and he didn’t say a word to me through out the ride.

The broken glass from the head lights made finding the Mercedes pretty easy. The toll gate was bent in half and the glass was everywhere. Victoria stood by the car, standing right next to Zoey who was seemingly trying to cheer her up. I parked the car and Gerald and I both got out.

“Henry,” Victoria started as I marched up to her. Her eyes were pleading innocence, she was trying to apologise again for the car which was evidently smashed at the head lights.

I put my hands on her lips as she tried to explain.

“Its ok.”

A blush spread across her cheeks. “Sorry,” she said again.

I shook my head. “It’s fine. Gerald will take care of it. I’ll take you home.”

She chewed on her lower lip, eyes travelling over to Gerald. “Sorry, Gerald.”

Gerald waved a hand in dismissal. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

There he goes stealing my thunder. I should have said that first.

“I hope you were actually insured. It would be a shame for this beautiful car to just go like that.” Zoey spoke up, her smile lightening the mood. “The rain made the roads very slippery and we were speeding a bit.”

“Like I said, its all okay don’t worried about that”

I cleared my throat and turned away from her. “The rain is picking up again. I think you two should get in my car let me go drop you off.”

“Are you sure? I'm already a bit wet. I could mess up your seats. Maybe I should go with Gerald.”

“We’re going home,” I said decisively.

She made a face to argue but probably thought better of it. Zoey made eye contact and it almost sparked movement that lead them both inside my car. Gerald said his goodbyes and took the keys to the Mercedes.

“Have insurance check out the head lights. Good bye Gerald.”

“I will. Goodnight Mr. Davies.”

I walked back to my car, sliding into the driver’s seat. Both Victoria and Zoey were sitting in the back seat. “Why are you both seated like that, I’m not your driver,” I said pointedly.

Victoria sighed and began pulling herself through the middle gap between the two front seats. I leaned away from her, eyeing my leather. “Watch your feet! You know you could have just gotten down and entered through the door.”

“ Yeah, but it’s pouring outside. And please turn of the A.C its chilly here.”

I switched the A.C off while she snapped on her belt buckle.

I stared at her.

She avoided eye contact and focused out the window.

What was up with her? Was she mad at me? Was she feeling bad about the car? Or was it something I said?

“Zoey, where are you heading?” I spoke up.

“My car is at the Coffee place just down the road. After that i can take it from there.”

I started driving down the road.

The rain was starting to fall heavier now and the only noise in my car was the sound of the Zoey texting away and my wipers clearing my wind screen. Every now and again I’d peek at Victoria, but she kept a constant gaze at the outside world.

“Yeah right here. By the way Henry, James says hi.” Zoey smiled as she left.

So that’s who she was texting. Victoria seemed to be caught by surprise with that one too.

Zoey said goodbye as she hopped out of my car, running through the rain to hers. I drove away immediately her car left.

The car moved for almost twenty minutes and still no word, I was driving slowly because the rain grew into a huge storm and the road lost its traction. The silence was killing me because I didn’t understand the reason behind it. Why was she not speaking to me? I felt like I’d been worried for nothing.

“Victoria.” I finally called.

“What? You scared me.”

Her head twisted towards me quickly.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing.”

“Then why haven’t you said a word?”

“Why do I need to talk ?”

The attitude wasn’t necessary at this moment in time. “Are you seriously giving me attitude after you crashed my Mercedes?”

“I’m so sorry. I just...,” she mumbled. “I’m sorry. I should have known the roads were a bit wet and .... For goodness sake it was raining all day. I should have know. I’m sorry about the car. I’ll definitely pay for the Insurance costs.’

“Stop apologizing I’m only mad because you made me worry about you.”

She shot a little blush that disappeared into amazement. “ Why were you worried? I was fine.”

I looked at her quickly and then back at the road.

“You don’t have to worry about me,” she added.

“But I have to..” I stopped myself.

“Thank you, I guess I kind of forget what it’s like to have people worry about me, only you and Zoey at the moment” she added.

“Just be more careful next time. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Had I taken it a bit too far? Was I overly concerned?

She smiled. “Yeah, there won’t be a next time. I’ll make sure of that. Plus I kind of feel attached to that car so I might want to take it off your hands if you would sell though.”

I stared at her while she kept talking. A moment ago she was dead silent and now she’s just going on and on.

I wondered how Victoria had made her way into my life and left such a deep mark.