Layla POV
“Why can’t we go to my house? I really don’t feel comfortable taking Mia’s clothes,” I say, but Richard storms through her room and into her dressing room. The girl has more clothes than in a normal shop. And not everything is here. Half of her clothes are at her mother’s house.
I look around in awe. I had been here before but felt weird to look around while she grabbed the least expensive things for me to wear, and now her own father was rummaging through her clothes to get me some overpriced dress.
“This one will do,” he says, showing me a red dress, and I shake my head.
“I am not wearing red on Thanksgiving. It has to be some neutral colors, something that will keep me discreet. I don’t want to put attention on me, your mother hates me already,” I say, and Richard shakes his head as he takes a
Layla POV“Are you sure I look okay?” I ask Richard what has been lost in his own mind since we left his house. He hasn’t said a word. I feel for his pain, and I will do everything I can to ease it, but I know it won’t be easy. I know it will be difficult, especially when it comes to that woman, his ex-wife. God, how I hate her.The car stops, and Richard looks out of the window and shakes his head slightly. The door opens for him, and he gets out of the car and walks around, opening my door. He offers me his hand, and I take it. I look around, and I can’t believe this is the house he grew up in. The massive, big garden in the front and I bet in the back.The front door opens, and Cruella walks towards the stairs wearing a white suit with a jacket and skirt. The woman looks like a personification of money and power. We walk towards her, and she smiles at Richard avoiding looking at me.“Ricky,” she whispers as he
Richard POV“Can we please change the subject?” I ask as my mother looks at me as if everything is my fault and I am the devil in person. I know I am going through this, and I did punch the guy, but who presses charges to a punch? I can lose everything because of him.“Nonsense, we are not changing the subject. This affects all of us,” my mother says and that’s when I lose it completely standing up and doing the button of my jacket with one hand. I look at her which has gone wide-eyed as my father stays quiet just watching.“I don’t think this affects you, Mother. This affects me and the time I can spend with my daughter, stay out of it,” I tell her before I walk out of the living room towards my childhood bedroom. I open the door, and by the time I sit on the edge of the single bed in the corner of the room, my brothe
Layla POVI sit quietly as everyone else does except for Robert. He looks at me and smiles. I think he is beginning to warm up to me, but when his eyes meet Savanna, that has the fakest smile ever on her face, he stops smiling and focuses on his newspaper again. I can hear the steps coming down the stairs, and I feel my heart slowing down a little. I don't think I even realized how fast it was beating. I am feeling extremely uncomfortable here."I am sorry," Richard whispers behind me as he leans on the back of the couch, speaking in my ear. I look up, and he smiles. Dylan sits beside Savanna, who immediately wraps her hand around his, smiling. I can tell he likes her but dip down. I had some hopes that he would fall for Jo. They would be the perfect couple."Dinner is served," a maid says as she stands near the door. Robert stands up, offering his hand to Cruella, that avoids his touch and walks past him. He shak
Layla POVI open my eyes to see Richard sitting beside me,, cradling my hand between his. His eyes are closed as he rests on the chair. I don’t know what time it is, but all I remember is the ambulance arriving and waking up here after Richard injected me with my EpiPen. Everything else is a little foggy.I move on the bed, adjusting my body that aches from being in the same position without moving, and Richard opens his eyes, leaning towards me.”“Are you okay?” Richard asks as he holds my hand, and I nod. I just have a slight headache right now, and I am tired, exhausted. I close my eyes, resting my head back on the pillow, when the door opens, and the doctor walks in, forcing me to keep my eyes open.“Layla, how are you feeling?” He asks as he holds a tablet with the chart
Richard POV“You have got to be shitting me,” I burst through the door, walking ahead of Julien. He follows me close behind, closing the door behind him. My new secretary is not in yet. It’s the third time in one week that she’s late. This is unbelievable.“Where the fuck is she?” I walk to my desk, open my laptop and connect to HR so they can contact her.“Sonia, I need you to contact my secretary. She’s late again. While you’re at it, fire her,” I shout through the line. Sonia stays very quiet as she takes a deep breath.“Outbursts like that won’t solve your problem,” she says, and I end the call. I am not in the mood for this kind of shit. I need someone that can actually do the fucking job without skipping work or coming in late.
Richard POVAs I open my eyes, I feel like I should still be asleep. It’s still dark outside, and the room is completely silent. Layla sent the night away from me, and I hate it. I wish she would just move in here, but I know it’s too early in the relationship to ask her to do that. She is a very independent woman, and I don’t know if she would even consider it.I place both my feet on the floor and look at the table next to my bed. The clock shows 5:31 in the morning. Great. I could sleep another two hours, but my body decided nope. Not today. I think that a run will do me some good. I get my gym clothes ready, and as I walk out of my house I start running. There are no paparazzi at this time, I guess they all decided to have a night off.Running is like therapy to me, the music blasting in my ears as the blood pumps all over my body making my hea
Richard POV“Anya, I have class,” he barks at the girl, and I raise an eyebrow watching how he disrespects the girl.I shake my head, and he looks at me.“What is your problem?” He barks at me, and I ignore him. The last thing I need is to go to jail for sucker-punching a minor.“Hey, stay quiet,” Anya tells him, and he flips her. I take a deep breath crossing my arms in front of my chest when the door opens, and Pamela walks in, followed by Mia. She has a bruised eye, and I immediately stand up walking to Mia.“Who did this?” I ask, and she looks down at her feet, staying quiet as Pamela stands quietly next to my daughter. Whoever did this is going to regret the day they were fucking born. I will make sure the kid that did this will be expelled from this excuse of a school.“Richard, control
Layla POV“Hello,” I answer the phone as I see Mia’s name appear on the screen. I have been worried sick about her. The fact that Pamela is not letting Richard see Mia is breaking my heart. I know that he is suffering because of it, he doesn’t show it, but I know he is.“Layla, hi,” she says, and I smile as I look out of the bus window.“Hi, sweetheart, how are you?” I ask as I smile to the lady that just sat down next to me. I don’t usually get the bus, but the day is unseasonably warm, and I thought it would be better than the subway.“I am good, I am with Dad, and we are wondering if you would like to come for lunch with us?” She asks, and I feel my heart beating faster.“Of course,
Richard POV“I can’t believe this is actually happening” I let out and Dylan smiles as he adjusts my butterfly tie. I take a deep breath and I have to say I am nervous as hell. The door opens and Fred walks through the door.“Hey, how are you feeling, old man?” He asks before he pours himself a glass of champagne. I shrug my shoulders and Dylan looks at Fred shaking his head.“He is nervous as fuck” he says and Fred laughs as he crosses his legs.“I bet you are, after all, it’s the second time you're doing this,” Fred says and I shake my head focusing on his face.“Third,” I say and his mouth opens wide and Dylan frowns looking at me.
Layla POV “What are you doing?” I ask as Richard blindfolds me and guides me to the car. I smile as he places one hand on my lower back while the other holds my hand. “Come on, where are we going?” I ask but again all I get is a small kiss on the lips after we are inside the car. The drive takes more than one hour. I have no clue where we are now. There are so many places that he could’ve taken me in one hour or so. When the car comes to a stop and Richard helps me out of the car I feel the cold wind blow and I realize we are somewhere open, without buildings or trees. My hair flies in every direction and I bet I will look like I have a helmet on my head. “Where are you taking me?” I ask at the same time he scoops me off the floor. I let out a small squeal as I feel him going upstairs. Where the hell are we? “Good evening Mr. Ashford” I hear someone say.
Layla POV“How is she? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” I ask Dylan as he takes a deep breath after telling me that Jo spent Christmas in the hospital. We both had shit holidays.“You were recovering from brain surgery. Do you really think I was going to tell you that Jo had a panic attack and ended up hooked up to fluids in the hospital?” He asks as if I am the crazy one.“Yeah,” I say, grabbing my phone and dialing Jo’s number. She answers almost on the first ring.“I am sorry, I am so sorry, I really am sorry,” she says as she answers, and I feel my heart beating so fast I can’t even cope with it. I place one hand over my chest where my beating heart is and take a deep breath.“No,
Layla POV“I open my eyes, and I find my mom sitting on a chair next to me. I frown and look around, realizing I am in a hospital room. I blink several times until my vision focuses but no luck. I lick my lips, but my tongue is so dry it feels like I have sand in my mouth. Argh, my entire body hurts. I try to remember what happened, but I really can’t.The door opens, and Louise walks in, followed by Mia. When her eyes meet mine, the biggest smile appears on her face while my sister stays exactly the same way. “Layla, finally,” Mia says as she ruses to stand next to me. My mom hearing the voices opens her eyes and walks to me, holding my hand between hers.“Oh my God, how are you feeling?” My mom asks, but as I try to speak, it becomes a little difficult. I frown as my voice doesn’t sound the same. “Relax, baby, you ha
Richard POVWe’ve been sitting in these uncomfortable chairs for hours. Mia is asleep with her head resting on my shoulder while my brothers are wide awake with me. I keep trying to push away the horrible feeling I have in the pit of my stomach. I take a deep breath, and Mia opens her eyes.“Is everything okay?” She asks. I offer her a small smile and stand up. My entire body is aching at this point. We have been here for hours without news because we are not related to Layla. Her mother is on the way, and even though I said I am her fiancé, the doctor, and not saying anything. This is ridiculous.I have tried to throw money around, I tried to offer a big donation to the hospital If they allowed me to go see her, but it didn’t work. My father kept asking me to stay calm. This is a hospital, people are sick, and at least we know she is
Richard POVWhen we arrive at the house, I feel every hair in my body rises. I shake my head as I cross my arms in front of my chest. I am behind the police barrier, and they're not allowing me to go inside with them. This is ridiculous. He could be hurting Layla as we speak, and they are here playing police officers and trying to negotiate with him. Just fucking go inside and bring her out. Or even better, let me go inside, and I will bring her out after I knock him down.Jude is standing next to me, and he is keeping my father and my brothers updated while I walk around like a maniac trying to escape the torture I am being put through. “When are you going to invade the place?” I ask the detective, and he looks at me as if I have three heads. What the hell is wrong with people?“We need to make sure he is alone. I can’t just send my men blind,” he says, and I scoff as I shake my head
Layla POV“James, let me go,” I plea as he tightens the zip ties around my wrists. It hurts me, and I flinch as he stands in front of me, his nose almost touching me. I feel the tears rolling down my cheek while he smiles and rubs his nose over my cheek as he inhales deeply. I shut my eyes tightly, turning my head away from him.“You smell so good,” he finally says, and I feel my stomach turning. I have no clue where we are, it’s dark and there’s only a small light in the corner of the room. I can see windows, but it’s too dark outside to even know where we are.“James, please, let me go,” I cry but he doesn’t move. He stays in front of me, and slowly, he places both his hands on my legs I try to push him away but my ankles, but I can’t. I have zip ties around my ankles as well, holding me on the chai
Richard POV“Pamela dear, there’s been a mistake. You are not sitting here. You’re on my table,” my mother says, and I swear I could just shout at her right now. This woman is infuriating. The way she tries to make Layla feel shit in front of her is crazy. I look at my mother with a smile, and I can tell by Dylan’s eyes he knows what I am about to do. “Excuse me, I need to freshen up,” Layla says, walking away before I even have a chance to do anything.“That was rude,” Pamela says, and I look at her as Mia rests one hand on my arm. “Dad, don’t,” she pleas with me, and I take a deep breath. I take one step closer to my mother, and between greeted teeth, I start talking. “Layla will sit next to me, whether you like it or not, she is my fiancé, and you better keep up with the program
Layla POV After the silent auction, we are all taken to the dining area. This is an event like a wedding, with round tables with beautiful linen spread all around the room. Big vases with red and green flowers and ornaments. I have to say that Cruella can definitely put on a show. She really knows what she is doing. Kudos to her. Mia walks to her table, and she scrunches her nose when she notices who’s sitting next to her. Richard walks to her, checking on the sitting chart, and I can tell he is not happy either. I have no clue where we’re sitting, and when he offers me his hand, I take it, and he places a small kiss on my finger next to my beautiful diamond ring. I can feel my cheeks go warm. Damn, this man has the ability to leave me flushed. “I promise I will make this right,” he says, and I frown, looking at Mia and then at Richard, and that’s when I realize