“I can’t believe it, Jay. I can’t believe it. But you know, in a way I am glad because I now know what he’s like. I now know I don’t love him.” She gazed at him then, moving her face to him. “I realize I still love you, Jay. Sweetheart, won’t you forgive me?”
Jayden snorted. “Sarah, I don’t—”
“Oh, Jay, please,” she begged. “I love you. Don’t leave me. Please.” She pulled him to her and started kissing him. Jayden tried to push himself back up, but she only held on to him tighter.
The door flung open. There was a loud gasp.
Jayden glanced up in shock to see Alex standing there staring at them in confusion.
“Alex!”
Alex, trembling, shook her head and murmured, “No. No. No.”
“Jay,” Sarah said seductively, tightening her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. “Come on, babe, tell me you want me. Tell me you love me.”
Alex felt the world spinning around her mercilessly. Her ears were deafened by the noise of her thumping heartbeat. She was having difficulty breathing. Oh God! She stepped back, her knees barely holding her. She turned on her heel and started to run down the corridor.
“Alex!” Jayden shouted.
“Jay,” Sarah purred.
“Alex!” Jayden yelled. He shoved Sarah from him and headed to the door. “Alex!” he shouted, racing after her. “It’s not like what you see.”
“You liar! You’ve always lied to me, Jayden!” Alex shouted, tears in her eyes. She ran into the elevator and pushed the ground floor button. She watched as Jayden got closer. The door shut just moments before he reached it.
Jayden pushed the down button a couple of times in frustration. The elevator door, however, didn’t open. He swore under his breath and headed to the stairs. He ran down two steps at a time and headed to the elevator on the lower floor. He pushed the down button and the door opened. But not the one Alex was in. He quickly got in.
Down on the ground floor, he raced through the main lobby to the entrance. Outside, he saw Alex getting into a taxi.
“Alex!” he shouted. “Alex, wait!”
Alex closed the door and told the taxi driver to go.
Jayden ran after the taxi. Once he knew he couldn’t catch up, he stopped, standing in the middle of traffic. He swore under his breath and then growled loudly.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 26
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?”