Laraine spent the day in bed, once again. It seemed like she could not catch a break; every other day something negative was happening to her!
She thought about what took place last night. In hindsight, she should have guessed that Cathy would try something like that again but was surprised that she had gone as far as to drug her. What did she even want from her!?
Would Laraine still have gone if she knew Cathy was going to drug her? No, Laraine thought. The risk of exposure was too great. God had given her another chance at life, and she did not want to ruin it if her secret were to get out.
The other thing motivating her to highly guard her secret was Andrew. At first, Andrew seemed like a cold, unemotional bastard, similar to what she had heard about him in her past life. However, the more she got to know him, the more attracted she felt towards him. He had a soft side to him, granted it came out only once in a while. Laraine thought back to all the events that had happened to her the past few days. In each instance, Andrew had saved her. He had been kind and compassionate towards her. He had picked her up and cradled her when she could not walk. He had tended to her injuries and stayed with her when she was ill.
Laraine felt a flutter in her heart when she thought about Andrew being so close and tender with her. What had changed within him? Why was he acting caring towards her? Was this something God had granted her? Another chance at love, perhaps? Was this part of her new life?
Laraine sighed in contentment. She would not complain if she could get Andrew to herself. She could imagine a life with him, that is, if only Cathy and Nathan gave her any reprieve, she rolled her eyes.
________
Andrew hated it when someone did not take him seriously. That was few and far in between though ever since he had taken over the family business. Most people took one look at his face and would take him seriously. If they did not, well, they sure did after Andrew taught them a lesson. It was not easy leading one of the largest business empires in Harbour. It took sweat, blood, and dare he to say it tears to get to the point where he was at now.
During that time, he did not have any extra time to give to anyone else. Sure, he had his fair share of one-night stands. After all, he was a man and he had needs and when beautiful women were throwing themselves at him, who could blame him?
However, he had not found ‘the one.’ He had never had any feelings for any of those girls other than the pure lustful desire of s*x. He remembered back to the girl in the hotel; that sure was one of the best s*x he had in his life. He liked it raw and rough and something about the girl’s moans and whimpers just spurred him on. He had lost control that night, he admitted with shame. Usually, he liked to please the girl as much as they pleased him. However, that night, an unadulterated and animalistic instinct took over him. All he thought in his mind was thrust harder. If only he knew who that girl was…
Andrew thought back to Laurence. Now that was an enigma all in itself. He had never paid any attention to his stepsister before. Sure, he knew his other siblings did not treat her well but that was not enough to garner his attention. Ever since a few weeks ago, it seemed like someone had changed within Laurence, it seemed like she was a new person. Her eyes seemed brighter and stronger; her personality seemed stronger as well. Whenever he gazed into her eyes and listened to her voice, it seemed like he was talking to someone familiar. However, he could not quite place where that feeling was coming from. After all, she had lived with him almost her whole life.
His fists clenched at the thought of everything she had been through at the hands of Nathan and Cathy Hill. He had known of the siblings from before; what he could not envision was how pathetic they would be to attack someone repeatedly. That too being a member of the Jones family, adopted or not! They needed to be taught a lesson which is why he had asked Aiken to bring over Nathan to his office.
“Mr. Jones, Mr. Hill is here,” Aiken interrupted his thoughts just at the nick of time.
Andrew closed off his mind to all other thoughts other than anger. He did not want anything to interrupt him other than his anger at Nathan hurting Laurence. That would be the best way to get revenge.
“Bring him in.”
“Hello, Mr. Jones,” Nathan walked in with a slight tremor in his eyes. He looked haggard, with tired eyes and wrinkled clothes. It seemed like he knew what he was getting into.
“Did you need something from me?” Nathan continued while gulping. He did not like the look in the eldest Jones’ eyes.
“You’re asking me if I need something from you?” Andrew replied mockingly.
Nathan looked at him questioningly though deep down, he knew exactly why Andrew was acting the way he did. He could only hope that playing dumb might save him.
“Perhaps I should ask you what you need from Laurence?” Andrew asked in a deadly tone.
“Lau…Laurence...um…no…I do not need anything from her,” Nathan replied in a shifty tone.
Andrew noticed sweat had started to gather on Nathan’s forehead which told him that bastard knew exactly why he was here and what he had done wrong.
“Then why the f**k did you come after her not once but twice!” Andrew asked in a calm yet deadly tone.
“I only came to question her that day and she responded rudely to me while I was nice towards her!”
“Oh?” Andrew raised his brows. “Are you forgetting the instance where you pushed her at the party?”
Nathan stared at Andrew with wide eyes. “I did not…I did not push her! I was not even at the party!”
Andrew burst out laughing. “Oh, you are a funny one! Your plan is flawless, I must admit. But there is one little detail you forgot. Security cameras.” Andrew then turned his computer screen around and pointed to the stills of Nathan at the party. “I did not think the Hill children would be that stupid considering your father was pretty smart. Or was he? After all, the apple does not fall far from the tree.”
“DO NOT talk about my father!” Nathan yelled at Andrew.
Nathan did not know what happened next. At one point, he was yelling and the next he was face first on the floor with the taste of blood in his mouth.
“That is for yelling at me in my own domain,” Andrew muttered.
Another kick landed on Nathan’s stomach making him grunt in pain. “This is for hurting Laurence at the party.”
“This is for assaulting her on the sidewalk.”
“This is for your sister attacking Laurence in her car”
“And this is for your f*****g sister drugging her yesterday.”
All Nathan felt was pain.
“Take him away,” Andrew growled at Aiken.
Andrew bent down and grabbed Nathan’s chin. “Consider this a warning. If you come near her again, the consequences will be much worse.”