When his mother walked out of the office with tears streaming down her face while adjusting her white dress, Hayden frowned but walked in after her and closed the door behind him.
"What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?" Are his father's first words when he finally takes notice of Hayden's presence in the room.
Hayden swallowed hard not uttering a single word and handed his father the stack of envelopes in his hand. He tried to keep his focus on his father's face as he ripped through every acceptance letter but Hayden's attention was on everything else in the room.
He noticed the papers and the office supplies were carelessly swiped off of the desk, resting all over the floor. He noticed his father's desk was on an angle when it was usually straight. He noticed his father's khaki shorts were slightly unzipped. He noticed something white on his desk that was slowly dripping into a puddle on the floor. He noticed a pair of torn—practically shredded—underwear on the floor that he assumed belonged to his mother.
"What have you done to her?" Hayden speaks his thoughts in a quiet whisper.
But his father seemed to hear every word, loud and clear. His eyes shoot up at him from previously looking at the paper, "What the fuck did you just say to me?"
__________________
It's Monday morning, I go back to work today and I have to face Dr. James and Dr. Reece. Dr. Horgan too, but she isn't as intrusive as the other two. I woke up this morning unsure if I should be upset that Hayden isn't here or if I should be excited that I was going to be getting my own office at work today.
I still haven't decided, but I do know I'm happy about one thing, I will be able to visit Hayden tomorrow. I will have to ask Dr. James for the morning off, so I can go see him.
"Are you ready Miss Greene?" Geoff asked as I grabbed my lunch off of the table.
"Yes." I answer following him out to my car parked in the front. The radio was playing softly in the car on the drive to Starbucks for Dr. James coffee, then to the office. I bid farewell to Geoff before going inside of the building riding the elevator to the correct floor.
There was a strawberry blonde sat at the desk, her hair in a bun, glasses sliding off of her face as she stares at the computer screen. I stand in front of the desk as she adjust her glasses and I meet with the gray eyes I met once before. It's Jessica, Jake's girlfriend.
I swear I'm being punished for something that I did.
Whatever it is that I did I swear I'm sorry.
I slept with her boyfriend while I was drunk and now I have to work with her every day, Monday through Thursday, from eight in the morning until five at night.
"Oh my god, Alice?" She is confused yet surprised to see me here. I wonder if Jake told her about what we did. If he did, her reaction would be more of an 'ugh Alice', right?
"Hi Jessica." I was nervous as I spoke with her but I tried not to show it.
"You come here?" She asked.
"I work here." I correct her.
"Oh well, it seems as we will be working together now." There was no trace of distaste or hatred in her voice. Which means that Jake didn't tell her. He knew himself that I wasn't going to leave Hayden to be with him. "I heard about what happened with your boyfriend. I'm sorry about that."
"Thanks." I give her a small smile and walk into Dr. James office. He was already sipping something from a Starbucks cup but makes a bitter face as he puts it down. "Good morning Dr. James."
"Oh thank goodness you're here, Miss Miller didn't get the right drink."
"I'm sorry I'm a little late." I mutter handing him his drink.
"No worries, how is Hayden doing?"
"He says he's fine."
"He's great at trying to convince himself of such lies." He takes a drink of the coffee that I brought him. "Oh, this is so good—it's his way of adapting to any grave and sudden change in his life. How are you doing?"
"Honestly?"
"I'd only hope you trust me enough to be honest with me."
"I'm trying not to put too much thought into our situation."
"Why not?"
"Because the reality of it is so mind-boggling to me. Hayden is in jail for supposedly raping Lina. That isn't something I want to dwell on daily." I try to pretend it isn't even real. Like the reason he's not coming home this weekend is because he's on a business trip. One day it's a business trip the next day it's a late night and early morning at the office.
"Do you believe he did it?" He surprised me by asking this.
"I want to believe that he didn't do it and he's being framed, but when I talk to him he doesn't deny it."
"So it makes you question his innocence." He finishes my statement.
"Do you think he did it Dr. James?"
He pauses eyeing me very carefully. I can see him picking his words wisely as to not say the wrong thing. "Based off of Hayden's last session with me, I would jump to tell you he hasn't done what he's being accused of. But you have to remember he has an addiction, as with any addiction he can relapse at any given moment. He can be good one moment and not two seconds later."
"So you're saying there's a possibility that Hayden raped Lina?"
"I'm saying Hayden is unpredictable."
Nothing else was being uttered between us. He was sipping on his coffee and I was desperately trying to keep Hayden innocent in my head. Innocent until proven guilty.
"Did you see your office yet? It looks incredible Alice." He hands me a set of keys switching topics entirely. I was happy for the topic change. "These are yours, from Hayden."
"Thank you Dr. James."
"Alice," I was on my way out of the room when he called me back in. "Don't give up hope."
I nod once with a small smile on my face as I walked towards the back hallway, in between our break room and Dr. Reece's office was my office. There was a plaque beside my door that read 'Alice Greene Office'. The keys in my hand were painted black with my name written in red. I think it's cute how much thought Hayden put into everything.
I unlock the door and switch on the light, amazed at the sight before me. This office puts my makeshift study at home to shame.
As expected, the walls were freshly painted white, with one large typewritten sentence in a red frame sat behind a white desk and a cushioned computer chair. The white desk had a svelte glass top that held an Apple iMac monitor and keyboard with the trackpad instead of a mouse, and a matching 8-piece black and red desk set; including a desk pad, a letter tray, a pencil cup filled with black pens, a letter holder, a pen stand with two fountain pens sitting inside, a memo holder, a letter opener, and a business card holder.
Across the room sat a red leather, S-curved, button-tufted chaise between the computer desk and the black fur carpet laid out on the floor. One white filing cabinet and one white and svelte glass six cubed bookshelf were leaning against the wall on opposite sides of the desk. Tears almost filled my eyes when I spotted the glass heart sculpture Hayden had made for me sitting on top of the shelf.
But how? He said the one from the house broke. Did he actually have another one made for me? Or did he lie? And to think I thought it wouldn't still be meaningful.
Looking around this room it all seems to make me miss Hayden more. It is just a reminder of him and the fact that he isn't here. I can't call him and thank him again the way I want to. I have to find a way to adjust to not having Hayden around me twenty-four seven.
***
"Miss Greene," Wade knocks on the bedroom door before entering. "Ryder Flowe is at the door for you."
"Oh," I don't know if I want to see Ryder right now, but then again, I want to question him about what he did to Hayden. I want to know if he blackmailed Heather. I want answers.
"Should I tell him to leave Miss Greene?" He asked.
"No, I'm coming down."
He nods once, leaving the room and I follow after him. "Would you like for me to stand guard?" Wade asks me.
"No thank you, I'm okay." I offer a faux, forced smile at Ryder, who was waiting patiently down the steps for me. I find it weird that he still attempts to come around after everything that happened between us.
"Hey Alice." Ryder's voice is casual as he pulls me into his embrace. I was stiff in his arms. Everything about this seemed weird and wrong to me. "It's been a while."
"It has." I reply, gracefully pulling away from him. I've missed Ryder, the old Ryder before Hayden came into the picture. But this isn't that person anymore. He changed, but unfortunately, not for the better.
"How have you been?"
"I'm fine." I was short with him in my response. "What brings you by?"
"I had to see how you were doing after I found out about Hayden being in prison."
"Why do you care so you can try to steal me away from him again?" All traces of bitterness was found in my voice.
"No Alice, it isn't like that this time. I genuinely want to know how you are. I went to your dad's to look for you there but he said I might still find you here."
I know he's lying about his intention for coming here but I have no proof of that. "Why did you try to take him away from me?" I wanted to know.
He ignores my question completely, "I must say how surprised I am to know that you're still here. After what he did to that poor girl Lina, I was sure you would've left him."
"He didn't do anything to her. I know Hayden, he would never do anything like that."
"Think about it Alice, how was his behavior the night you came back from being out with your mother?"
"He was regular." I lie. I knew that Hayden was a little different and something was wrong, but I know Hayden would not rape Lina.
"I know you better than anyone, Alice I know when you're lying."
"Stop accusing him of something he never did. You should go talk to that poor girl Lina and tell her to stop making up ridiculous lies against him."
"Don't you see what he's done to you?" He shakes his head, "He's got you wrapped around his finger."
"What are you talking about?" It was in this exact moment I realized this conversation was over. I don't have the energy to deal with this Hayden-hating-bozo.
I just used the word bozo and I don't regret it one bit.
"You're blaming the victim and not the offender. Alice you're blinded by your feelings for him and you can't see that he's a bad person."
"He's not a bad person Ryder. He has his problems, just like everyone else, but they don't define who Hayden is."
"Alice I don't believe this. How can you stick up for him? You don't know what he was doing here while you were gone. You don't know what he does when he stays late at work and you're here alone. You don't even know how long ago this has happened."
"You're sick Ryder, just like Lina. I want you to leave."
"No Alice, I'm not leaving. You need to see that this man you're so in love with is fucked up and can't ever be helped."
"Wade!" I call for Wade. I want Ryder out of here and I never want to see him again.
"Shh..." Ryder shushes me putting his hand over my mouth and pushing me into the railing of the steps. I push against his chest to move him but his strength outweighed mine. "Alice I won't stop until you see him for the real sick animal that he is."
Wade and Geoff run to me just as Ryder finishes off his statement. They both must've seen what was going on in the surveillance room. Wade pulls Ryder away from me, taking him out of the door. "Are you okay Miss Greene?" Geoff asked me, his eyes watching as Wade argues with Ryder outside of the door.
"Yes, I'm fine. Can you do me a massive favor?" The thought just came to me when I mentioned the video surveillance.
"What is it?"
"I want to see the surveillance of the night I was out with my mother."
"Are you sure?"
Am I sure? Yes I'm sure. Why would he have to ask that? Did he already watch the footage?
Did Hayden really rape Lina? Do I want to know if he actually did? Do I want to witness it actually happening—on footage? Shit, now he's making me nervous. Or I was already nervous about it and I started overthinking it.
"Yes, I'm sure."
"I will help Sam rid of the guest, then I will pull up the video for you."
"Thank you so much." He nods dismissing himself and going outside. I go into the kitchen to get a drink.
"Are you okay Miss Greene? Do you need anything? I couldn't help but overhear the conversation between you and Mr. Flowe."
"I'll just have a drink."
"Anything in particular?" I shake my head 'no' sitting myself down at the breakfast bar.
"It's a lot different here without Mr. Stymest being around isn't it?" She asked passing me my drink.
"Very different. Even though he's been away for business trips and I stayed behind, I was always okay because I knew he'd be coming back to me. But now..." I pause, fighting any tears that tried to make their way through. "Now, I don't know if he's ever going to come back."
"He will be back. He may have his problems, but he would never do what he's being accused of."
I sigh. I hope she's right. "Your old friend, Ryder, he really has it out for Mr. Stymest."
"Yeah, my relationship with Hayden has caused a huge drift in my friendship with Ryder. I choose Hayden over Ryder, I always will."
"If he can't look past your relationship with Mr. Stymest, and continue to be your friend then he's just not worth it. He's filling your life with a negative that you don't need right now."
"Miss Greene," Geoff interrupts our conversation, "Mr. Flowe has left the premises, if you would join me in the security room."
"Sure." I stand from my seat grabbing my glass of wine and following Geoff into the security room.
I don't come into this room often, or at all really. Wade and Geoff spend most of their time in here just watching over everything, trying to ensure no one can get in or out of Hayden's entire lot without either of them knowing.
He sits in front of the camera system and twenty-two monitors then starts clicking a few buttons, typing things on the screen. "Have you watched it already?" I asked Geoff, watching as he rewinds the surveillance video.
"Yes ma'am, we were ordered to watch it and to hand over a copy to his lawyer."
"Oh." I crack a smile. Hayden is still giving orders though he's in jail. Each screen is taken back to the 5th after Hayden and I both left to go out with our mothers. The different cameras recording vacant rooms, except for the kitchen—where Hayden was.
Hayden stands in the kitchen talking on the phone. This is making me miss him so much more, seeing him walk around the kitchen not having a clue later this week, he was going to get arrested. My poor baby.
Wade enters the room and looks at the monitors to find me watching old footage, "Geoff, can I speak with you outside?"
"Excuse me Miss Greene." I nod at him, not removing my eyes from the screens. Geoff and Wade exit the room leaving me alone to watch the footage.
I see Hayden laughing as he talk on the phone and as adorable as he looks, I worry that he's on the phone with Lina. He did tell me he spoke to her while I was out.
Soon after Hayden's conversation ended he got his first drink then left to go to his office. I avert my eyes to the office recording. There was nothing suspicious about his behavior at all. Hayden just sat at the computer doing work, taking calls on his office phone, and walking to the window to jot down quick notes.
It was while he was writing on his window, his neck snapped in the direction of the door. He walked out of the room and went straight to the front door. I guess the alarm system went off because he was pushing buttons on the screen and spoke into the system. He then walked away going back into the kitchen and pouring himself another drink.
I watch as the entrance door opens and Lina walks in. Hayden let her in? She stares at the heart sculpture before she meets him in the kitchen, he pours her a drink, they sit and talk for a few minutes before she decides to touch his hand and Hayden shakes his head standing up from the chair. I wish there were audio for this video. I want to know what they were talking about.
Lina stands after him shouting at him, and I can tell he started shouting back. What the hell are they arguing about?
Lina attempts to touch Hayden again but he backs away just in time. She then falls to the floor, dropping her face into her hands, and I can tell she begins crying.
Being the loving person that he is, he gets down on the floor with her, shushing her and wrapping her in his embrace. Hayden has always hated for girls to cry, especially when he feels like he's the reason behind it. He tries to do anything to make it up to them.
Lina wraps her arms around his back, her head in his chest, his hand running down her hair. I almost want to cry watching how sweet he's being with her.
Hayden pulls back holding onto her at arm's length, they exchange more words and she nods, trying to bring her head back onto his chest but Hayden wouldn't allow it. She looks up at him with the sad puppy dog eyes and I watch Hayden's shoulders drop and Lina begins moving her head to his. I was completely shocked by what happened next.
She kissed him! Hayden backs away but she does it again. And again, this time longer. I feel like I'm going to be sick as I watch Lina and Hayden kiss again! My eyebrows furrowed as I managed to continue watching the footage.
Hayden says something to her that makes her stop and move backwards. He stands while she still sits on the floor, her face surprised by whatever he said to her.
He speaks again and she stands walking towards the front door. She stares at the ornament before she picks it up and yells while she throws it on the floor, causing it shatter into pieces. I don't need the audio to see that she said "fuck you". She then leaves the house slamming the door behind herself and I see Hayden let out a loud, frustrated "fuck".
He wasn't lying to me when he said it broke, but he did avoid telling me the truth about what happened.
He goes back into the kitchen, pouring himself another few drinks before cleaning up the glass from the floor, cutting himself in the process, then going back into his office to do more work. From that point he stayed in his office never leaving, nothing else had happened until I came home. I don't think I could watch Hayden and myself talking and kissing or anything more.
I walk out of the room to find Geoff, who was still outside. "Sorry to interrupt, but it's over. Thank you for letting me watch it."
"Sure, are you okay?"
"Yes." I smile at the two men before going back inside and into Hayden's office. As I look around his study my vision get blurry with tears and I don't try to stop them, I just let them fall. I've cried so much this weekend, I feel like I'm grieving a lost soul. God, I miss him so much.