Spare Key

POV: Leah

After we had finished showering, Adrian took his time drying me off. Inch by inch he paid special detail to my bruises and cuts from yesterday. He planted soft kisses on each of them in an attempt to heal my body, mind, and soul.

This was a side of him that I was happy to see, not happy enough to end things with Jared or Cam though.

He acted as if my legs were broken because he carried me from the bathroom to the bed. Ordering us room service to curb the appetite we had worked up spending over two hours in the bathroom.

We had an array of food from burgers and shakes to a veggie tray. Anything I wanted he ordered to the room.

"What's one place you always wanted to go?", he asked me.

"Hmm. Tahiti to stay in one of the villas in the water.", that was a dream of mine.

“So, what’s your favorite food?”, I said dipping my fries in his chocolate shake.

“Tacos.”, he answered as he dipped his finger in the shake and put a little on my nose.

“Favorite movie?”, I scrunched my nose at him.

“Too easy, The Town.”, he grabbed some of my cheesecake.

"Would you ever get married again?", he was heating up the questions.

"Honestly, I don't know. I didn't enjoy my last marriage. And I am enjoying life right now, aside from yesterday.", I wasn't ready to give up three guys to be with one.

He stopped with the serious questions; I think he got the hint.

We sat and talked until my thoughts became foggy. My body was worn out and my mind was no longer able to process. We fell asleep sometime in the early morning hours on Thursday.

POV: Adrian

She was so peaceful as she laid there naked and asleep. The curves of her body on display as I sit here and gaze at her. I never knew I could feel such things for a woman.

I covered her up and started to join her in slumber.

*Knock, Knock*

“Adrian, can we talk if you are done taking out the trash?”, Monica had not left.

I stood up with a clenched jaw and throbbing fists. Opening the door, she took a few steps back giving me room to walk into the hall. Before I locked and closed the door, she leaned over to get a glimpse of what was happening.

“Hmph. You never let me spend the night in your bed.”, she pouted.

“I never wanted you to spend the night in my bed.”, I walked toward the living room leading her far away from Leah.

“You’ll feel differently once our baby is born.”, she rubbed what little bump she had.

“Monica, you know that baby isn’t mine.”, I stood facing out the window.

“I haven’t been with anyone else Adrian. I love sex, but not enough to sleep with every man who throws himself my way.”, she brushed her hand across my back.

"Plus, I am the busiest person in the company besides you and Cooper. I don't have time to sleep around.", she added.

I shrugged her off, “What do you want?”.

My thoughts turning hostile with each of her manipulative behaviors.

“I will take a paternity test, if that will ease your mind.”, she walked over to a chair and sat down.

“Are there a lot of risks involved in doing it now?”, I wanted her to be safe in the off chance that it is mine.

“If we do it while I am pregnant, yes. I could have a miscarriage. We can do it when I deliver the baby.”, she seemed a little worried.

“That’s fine.”, I didn’t know what else to say.

My mind was racing trying to place all of the pieces together. Was she trying to trap me because I was next in line to be Cooper's successor? She had put in a lot of hours making the company run, not sure if she had a hand in the illegal dealing. Monica was very valuable to the company and while she was annoying, I always planned to keep her on until I exposed all of the corruption.

A scream ended our conversation.

“Ahhhh, HELP! Please anyone help me!!”

It was coming from Leah. I ran to her, but I forgot the door was lock and my key was inside. I didn’t think twice before busting down the door in one swift motion.

She was lying in bed, tangled in the sheet having a nightmare.

I ran to her, grabbing her and picking her up.

“Leah, shhh. I am here.”, I tried to soothe her.

POV: Leah

I started to hyperventilate while my heart rate increased, and my arms started to fall numb. It was pitch black, my hands were bound, and my mouth was gagged. I didn’t know what else to do, so I screamed for anyone to hear me.

“Ahhhh, HELP! Please anyone help me!!”

I knew no one would come looking for me, I was a nobody.

Suddenly, I heard a crash and then my body warmed all over.

I went from being bound in a trunk to held in a warm embrace. I heard a familiar voice and as I opened my eyes, there was Adrian.

“Leah, shhh. I am here.”, he saved me… again.

The dreams that haunt me are usually ones with my parents. I mostly dream of being trapped in a car, alone and upside in a deserted location. In my dream tonight, I am trapped for days and no one comes looking for me.

The rain starts pouring as I cry out for anyone to save me. My biggest fears consume me and take over until I wake up. No one will ever love me or look for me if I go missing.

This dream was different, I was abducted and thrown into the trunk of a car. I have no family, no husband, no children… no one would come looking for me. Whoever took me would kill me because I wasn’t worth a ransom.

He looked down at me with concerned eyes. His brows furrowed and his lips pressed tightly together. Not letting go of me until the panic attack induced by my dream was over.

I was covered in the thin sheet as I sat up from his embrace. I looked around and noticed the door had been busted in.

“I am sorry.”, I turned to look up at him.

“Don’t be, I am right here.”, he rubbed my arm with his hand.

“Oh great, I tell you I am having your baby and she gets all the comfort.”, my eyes shot to the door.

Monica was standing there tall in her glory. Even with a slight protruding belly, she was an image of perfection. They would make a beautiful baby, and who am I to stand in the way of that?

I pulled the sheet all the way up to my neck and grabbed it tight before standing up. I ran to the bathroom to change into something I packed before coming over here. I pressed my ear to the door to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“Monica, you’re not welcome here.”, he told her.

“Well Adrian, you see. I have a key to this penthouse and my own room.”, she was spiteful.

“Then go find your way to it.”, he wasn’t up for her shit.

“We weren’t finished with our conversation. Since this is your baby, you need to be involved.”, she sounded proud of herself.

“I don’t know if that is my baby.”, he retorted.

“It is and you can step up or I will make her life miserable.”, assuming she was talking about me.

“Leave Leah out of this.”, he warned.

“You were all about me until she came along. Hurry up and take out the trash, then come home.”, she was malicious.

“Don’t you…”, I cut him off as I walked out of the bathroom.

There was no way I was going to get in-between whatever was going on with them. I looked at her with pure disgust, then I turned to him.

“You know, I feel much better now. I think I am going to leave.”, I made my way to what was left of the door.

“Leah, you stay. She can leave.”, he was torn, and I could tell.

“It’s fine. I have some things I need to do anyway. It’s nearly noon and I slept the day away. And you have a door to fix.”, I was pinned in the room by Monica and broken pieces of the door.

She stepped to the side before whispering, “I guess I will take out the trash.”.

Following me to the elevator, I could hear the victorious chuckle coming from under her breathe. We waited for the operator to open the door and then I stepped on. Monica handed her key to the operator to scan.

Before the doors closed, she let her claws out, “You are nothing to him, don’t get it twisted. Once he is done fucking you, he will come back to our baby. I suggest you leave him alone, or I will make you.”.

I put my hand in the door to keep it from closing, “Are you threating me?”.

“No honey, I am making you a promise. Now leave before I have security escort you out for stressing out a pregnant lady.”, she was pure evil.

I turned my phone back on in the elevator and it wouldn’t stop buzzing. Jared, Cam, and Jenny had all tried to get ahold of me. After what just happened, I think Jared would be the best person to help me figure things out.

I did need to let Cam know that I was safe and back in the city. I hoped his father wouldn’t be too mad that the door had been broken down.

As I pull up his message thread, I see he sent a photo to me.

It was a selfie; he was in the emergency room with what looked like a broken nose. I didn’t even have to ask who did it because it looked just like Jared’s when Adrian hit him.

While I wanted all of these men, Adrian and his quick fists were going to be a huge problem.

I shot him a quick message, “Hey Cam. Are you okay?”.

It didn’t look like he had made it back to the city, so I headed for Jared’s. I knew where he kept his spare key.

-To be continued-