With a murderous expression on his face, Jayden burst the door open. He wasn't surprised to see Kyle and Britney there with Sarah. They were sipping champagne—a toast, no doubt—to congratulate themselves at pulling off such a splendid show.
The three people looked at him in shocked surprise. Jay didn't give a shit that he was interrupting their little party as he stalked to Kyle, his chest heaving and his hands fisted tightly.
"Shit!" Britney muttered under her breath.
"Jay!" Sarah said, rushing toward him. "I thought—"
She didn't finish. He shoved her aside and flung his fist forward, smashing Kyle's handsome face, hitting him against the wall.
Sarah and Britney stared at the scene before them in shocked silence. Neither of them dared to move as they watched Jay knock Kyle's face again.
Kyle groaned and touched his bleeding nose and lips. "Shit, man!"
Jayden turned to face the two women, his eyes dark with disgust. "Stay out of my life. If any of you interfere again, I swear I'll make your life a living hell." He turned to Kyle, rage contorting his face. "We've never been friends, Kyle. Like I warned you before, I can do more damage than bashing your face." Then he marched to the door. Just as he was about to leave, he said to Sarah, "It really is over, Sarah, you and me. I don't care why you left me, and I'm glad you did. You and Kyle deserve each other." Then he slammed the door shut.
In the elevator, he rested his head against the wall, his heart heavy.
"Alex," he murmured under his breath. "I'm sorry."
She'd be home, he was sure, and soon he'd be there to apologize and explain everything. His cell rang. He frowned, wondering who would be calling him at this time.
"Jayden speaking."
"Boss, it's me."
"David? What's up?"
The elevator door dinged open, and he stepped out into the lobby.
"You have to come and see. It's about Mr. Marcelo's Island. Jeff is here with me. We've got all the information we needed."
Jay noted the excitement in David's voice. "Yes. We talked about that. Not buying." He headed into the hall where the celebration of his sister's wedding was still in full swing.
"Oh, you'll change your mind when you see this."
Jayden paused, his attention caught. "What is it?"
"Oil! They don't know they have oil under all that rocky, barren soil."
"Shit!" Jayden swore.
"Yeah, shit all right, boss." Jay heard a chuckle. "You coming?"
"Yeah. Coming." Jay terminated the call and headed to his parents.
"Where's Alex?" Gracie asked, noting the uncomfortable look on his face that he had difficulty hiding.
Jay didn't know what to tell his mother. "She—she's left."
"So early? Is she unwell?"
"No," he muttered, his face dark. "I mean, yes. Look, I have to go to the office. It's an emergency. I'll see you back at home. Tell Alex I'll be home soon, okay?"
"All right," Gracie said uncertainly. She watched him as he rushed to the door, a troubled expression on his face.
Jayden sped his BMW across town to the office on the other side of New York City. He expertly did a parallel park in the off-street parking lot, got out, locked the door, and raced to the modern building with the sign McCartney's Realty Co. As he headed toward the entrance, the security guard saw him and quickly pushed on the open-door button.
Jayden rushed in as the guard greeted him warmly. "Evening, Mr. McCartney."
Jay nodded and waved his hand as he headed to the elevator.
In the office, he met Jeff and David, who excitedly led him to the desk with pieces of paper scattered everywhere.
Three hours later, Jeff asked, "Well?"
"We're buying it," Jayden said.
"He's going to think we're stupid," David commented.
"Let him think that. It's what he wants," Jay said.
"Yeah. Definitely," Jeff agreed.
Jayden flipped his cell and dialed Mr. Marcelo's number. The phone rang a couple of times.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Marcelo. It's me, Jayden."
"Ah, Jayden. I do apologize I couldn't make it to your sister's wedding today. There was some problem here. I did inform your father. So how is it?"
"Never better," Jayden said, and he couldn't care less what the hell his problem was that prevented him from going to the wedding. "I know it's late, but it has to be done now."
"Yes?"
Jay paused for a moment, touching the property's portfolio. "Straight to the point, I've decided to buy the island. How about we meet up tomorrow and seal the deal?" He heard the older man laugh—loud and clear, like he had just taken over the world.
"Good man. Make the meeting at ten?"
"Yes. See you then," Jayden said and ended the call. He turned to Jeff and David. "Good job, men."
"Thanks, boss," Jeff said, grinning from ear to ear.
"Well, good night and see you tomorrow."
"But what about the contract? We need to write that up before tomorrow," Jeff pointed out.
"Shit! Yes." Jayden raked his fingers through his hair. He wanted to go and see Alex, but he knew he had to finish writing up the contract before the meeting tomorrow. "All right. Let's begin."
The three men had their jackets off and their shirtsleeves rolled up to their elbows as they brainstormed what to put in the contract. Late into the night, they all fell asleep, David on the sofa with notes on his chest, Jeff on the seat with his head resting beside the laptop, and Jayden in the armchair near the window that overlooked the city of New York.
* * * * *
The house was so quiet Alex could hear her own heart beating in her chest as she lay there in bed. She thought a good shower would help clear her head and calm her anger and frustration, but she was wrong. Now more than ever, she was upset with herself. She simply couldn't believe Jayden betrayed her trust. Everything was a lie. She punched the pillow a couple of times before snuggling her face against it.
An hour later, her BlackBerry rang. Who could it be? Jayden? Is he calling to apologize?
She picked it up and noted it was from New Zealand.
"Hello?"
"Alex, it's Dad."
Alex felt the knot in the pit of her stomach. "Hi, Dad. How's things? Are you all right?"
There was a long, intense pause. "Alex, I know what's going on. I know you're not in New York for a conference."
Alex felt as though her heart dropped down to her shoes. "Wh—wh—what?"
"I know you're with a man." Another pause. "I'm very disappointed in you, Alex."
"But, Dad, I—" She knew when her dad said he was disappointed in her that it was a big deal. He never said that to her except when she did something very stupid. Her throat was so tight with emotions that she couldn't find a way to express it.
"I want you home, Alex. I don't want you with a man who treats you like you're worth nothing. You're better than that. We love you. Come home."
Her voice shook with emotions as she said, "All right. I'm coming home."
She hung up the cell and just sat there, staring into space as tears brewed in her eyes. Then she tossed the BlackBerry to the side of the bed, threw herself onto the soft pillows, and cried her heart out.
* * * * *
When morning came, and New York City was buzzing with life again, Jayden woke to find Jeff and David all neatly dressed in their brand new suits, both sitting behind their prospective laptops, furiously typing away.
"Sorry, boss," Jeff said. "Couldn't wake you because you looked so tired. Thought you needed it. You know you could have slept in your bed next door."
"Yeah," Jay muttered as he stretched his body. "Forgot about that."
Just then a middle-aged PA by the name of Mrs. Smith bustled in with a cup of strong coffee in her hand. "Morning, Mr. McCartney. How was your sleep last night?"
"Good, thanks," Jayden replied, taking the cup she handed him and ignoring her smirk. He sipped the coffee gratefully as he headed next door to his private bedroom. He opened the wardrobe, took out a new suit, and laid it on the bed. Then he hit the shower. Once he was dressed and looking fresh and alert as the young and handsome, powerful Jayden McCartney, he headed back to the office.
"How's the contract coming?"
"Good. Nearly done," Jeff responded, still typing away furiously.
"Why don't you have some breakfast, Mr. McCartney?" Mrs. Smith suggested, laying a silver tray of cereal and another cup of coffee in front of him on the table.
"Thanks, Mrs. Smith," Jayden said, picking up the spoon.
Fifteen minutes later, Jeff printed out the contract and Jayden finished his breakfast, just in time to go to the Marcelo Hotel for the meeting.
On their way, Jayden kept ringing home to speak to Alex, but no one picked up the phone. He became frustrated after three tries and cursed fluently.
"Calm down, boss," Jeff said as they came to a red light. "You know it's not like you're not going to see her again. You both have your whole life together."
"Agree on that one," David confirmed from behind.
Jayden just shook his head. All he knew was he wanted to see Alex. He needed to speak to her. Only he couldn't. Not yet. Not until he was finished with this first.
"I can't believe you let me drive your car, boss. Never have driven a BMW before," Jeff said. "Well, not like this one."
"Then after this, you deserve one, both of you, and a hefty pay raise and a good vacation," Jayden commented.
Jeff widened his eyes. "Really, boss?"
"Yeah."
Jeff and David looked at each other, grinning from ear to ear.
At ten sharp, Jayden found himself sitting in front of Mr. Marcelo and his attorney in an immaculate office overlooking Central Park. David and Jeff stood on either side of him, acting as his left- and right-hand man.
"You've done the right thing, Jayden," Mr. Marcelo said, handing over the contract in a neat folder.
"I know I have," Jayden replied softly, his eyes sharp. "Five million dollars," he murmured as he scanned through the clauses. Once he was done, he passed it over for Jeff to look over. Jeff took it as David handed their contract to Mr. Marcelo.
"Yes. Five million dollars," Mr. Marcelo said, grinning, not bothering to look at the contract handed to him and, instead, passing it to his attorney.
Once the contracts had been thoroughly read and checked by both sides, they put their signatures on the dotted line. Jayden now owned a barren island with oil that was worth billions of dollars, and Mr. Marcelo has just lost billions of dollars he didn't know he had.
"Nice doing business with you, Jayden," Mr. Marcelo said, shaking the young man's hand.
"Same to you, Mr. Marcelo." Jayden smiled coldly. Suddenly, he couldn't stand the man's presence any longer, and with the deal done and everything settled, he and his men headed to the door.
"What a stupid boy," Mr. Marcelo said under his breath.
"A very stupid boy indeed," the attorney agreed, nodding his head. They both started laughing.
Jayden felt as though a mountain had just lifted off his shoulders. Now, it was time to go and see Alex.
They were near the door when his BlackBerry started ringing. Jay looked on the screen and saw it was from his mother. "Hello?"
"Jayden, Alex is leaving." There was a hint of panic in his mother's soft voice.
"Wait! What?"
"Alex is leaving. We're at the airport now. She's going home. What's going on, Jayden? She's terribly upset. She changed the plane tickets this morning."
"Shit!" Jay swore under his breath.
"Jayden. Hurry."
"I'm coming," he shouted into the phone as he started running to the door.
"Boss, what's going on?" Jeff shouted.
"I have to go. Alex is leaving!"
"What?" David yelled, confused.
Jayden yanked the door open and raced to his car. He jumped in, started the engine, and then sped out into traffic.