Forty-Five
He looked sad and I realized that probably wasn’t the smartest statement instead of what he’d told us the night before. “I’m sorry, that was insensitive of me.”
He shook his head. “Please don’t apologize; I know that you didn’t mean anything. You know something Victoria?”
“What sir?”
“First of all, stop calling me sir. It’s James. Anyways, I absolutely cannot stand Cassandra. I never could. I didn’t care that she was from the same social class as Alex, she was just rotten to the core and I knew it the first time I met her. I don’t know if Alex told you or not, but I’m a pretty good judge of people.”
“He did tell me and I agree with you about Cassie, I’ve always thought the same thing.”
“Well, what I wanted to tell you is that I think my son did about one hundred percent better this time. I read all the crap the tabloids printed and I could care less about any of it. Anyone with half a brain knows they don’t print the actual truth in those rags. If Alex loses a customer or two because of it, that’s their loss. I honestly don’t think anybody in this day and age is going to care anyways. My point is I hope you’re not letting any of it bother you. I know that all of this unwanted attention is probably new to you.”
“It is… and I was really worried about it at first. I wasn’t worried about how it made me look; I honestly could care less about that. I was worried about Alex’s business and I am worried about my son reading it someday. You know with the internet now, nothing ever goes away.”
He nodded and then looked at the baby who had snuggled against my chest and went back to sleep. “He’s a Reigns, so he will have to be taught about the press and the paparazzi at a young age, unfortunately, but I don’t think they’ll be able to tell him anything that’ll make him think poorly of his Mama.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded. “I’m going to see what Cook has cooking in there. I’ll let you two get on with your morning routine.”
He left and I sat in the rocking chair next to the window. The sun was streaming in and I leaned back and closed my eyes. After a minute Michael started fussing and when he did, I opened my eyes just in time to catch the flash of a shadow at the window. I screamed causing the baby to cry. I didn’t realize there was security inside the house, but a huge bald guy came running in.
“What is it, Miss?”
“There was someone at the window.” He called on his radio for backup as he ran out. I took Michael and went out of the glass-enclosed room. I was suddenly afraid to stand next to a window; what was happening?
“Victoria, are you okay?” James and Cook ran out of the kitchen.
“Yeah, there was someone at the window. Security went after him.” Cook put his arm around me. James looked torn as if he was thinking about going after them himself. Before he decided to do that, the big guy came back in. He was talking on his radio and carrying Jason by the scruff of his neck. I lost it as soon as I saw him. I pushed my poor baby into a shocked James’s arms and while the security officer still held him, I slapped him hard across the face. “You son of a bitch!”
The security officer’s lips twitched. Cook was laughing outright and poor James still looked shocked. “You know this guy?” Mr. Security asked me.
“Yes, unfortunately. This is Jason Bowers, my ex-boyfriend.”
The security officer whose name badge I can see now says “Joe,” tossed Jason into a chair. I could see then that his hands were cuffed together at the back with a pair of plastic cuffs. “Don’t move,” he said, threateningly. He got back on the radio and gave his superiors Jason’s name. They told him the police were on their way.
“What were you doing here, Jason? How did you even get on the property?” I wanted to slug him again. The coward wouldn’t even look up at me.
“He’s not talking to me either,” Joe said. “Of course as soon as I got ahold of him I shoved his face into the pavement and cuffed him. I guess he’s not fond of foreplay.” Jason was still looking at the floor.
I looked at Joe and asked, “Did someone call Mr. Reigns or should I do that?”
“He’s been called,” Joe said.
“Good, thank you.” I took the baby from James’s arms and told him, “I’m going to feed him and then shower. Will you let me know if they need me before that? I can’t stand here and look at him or my kick-boxing classes are going to start kicking back in.”This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
James smiled and said, “You pack a mean punch there. You go on ahead and I will call you if they need you.”
Still shaking from either fright or fury or both, I headed up the stairs. I sat in the nursery, far from the window even though it was upstairs, and fed Michael. He ate like a little glutton, finally passing out like a drunk on New Year’s Eve. I put him down gently in his crib and taking the baby monitor, I headed for the shower. I showered quickly and dressed. When I came back out, there was another security officer at the door of Michael’s nursery. He saw my curious look and took out his I. D. and held it out to me. I went over and looked at it and then I handed it back and peeked in at the baby.
“Thank you.” He gave me a nod and I went back downstairs to see what was happening down there. I found them all still on the sunporch, only now there were two more security officers and two police officers, and one man that looked like a detective in the room as well.
“Vicki!” I turned around and Alex was there. He opened his arms and I folded into them. “Are you and Michael okay?” I nodded and pulled back just a little so that I could see his face.
“We’re fine. I’m sorry you have to keep rushing home. You’re never going to get any work done.”
He laughed. “I don’t care, as long as you two are okay. I hear I shouldn’t make you too mad either. Dad says you fight like Ali.”
I laughed too. “Not quite… but yes, not making me angry is a good thing.”
“Did this idiot say what he was doing here?”
“Before he went upstairs he didn’t say anything.”
“His mouth probably hurt,” he told me with a wink. I looked in at Jason. He looked so pathetic. Just a year ago he was on top of the world. He had a great job and a big circle of friends. I have no idea how he fell so hard and so fast. He was still looking at the floor and refusing to speak.
The man in the suit came over to me and said, “Mrs. Reigns?”
“Victoria,” I said. I wanted to say, “Not yet,” but I wasn’t sure that was appropriate in this situation.
“Victoria did you see Mr. Bowers outside the window?”
I nodded, “But, I only caught a flash. I don’t know if he was actually looking in or just running by.”
“It doesn’t matter. This is private property either way. I’d like to know how he got in here. I had trouble at the gate.”
“Who was there when you came through?” Alex asked.
The detective looked at his notepad and said, “Elliot.”
Alex shook his head like he didn’t know him but I had a sudden thought. “What’s his last name?” The detective looked down again and said, “Hanson.”
“Oh my God!”
“What?” Alex and the Detective were both looking at me.
“Elliot Hanson is Jason’s best friend. They’ve been friends since they were kids.”
“Damn it!” Alex’s face was bright red and his fists were clenched. He took out his phone and called the front gates. “Is Elliot Hanson still here?”
“No. He left about half an hour ago.”
“Okay, I need his home address.”
“I’ll get it for you sir and call you right back.”
“Just text it, thanks.”
He disconnected the call and looked at me again. “What does he look like?”
“I haven’t seen him in a while, but last time I did he had short dark hair and a mustache and goatee. He’s about six foot and he’s broad-shouldered, usually.”