“You used my credit card for all this,” she says, gesturing at the apartment. “I want it back. Now.”
“Hmm,” he says.
“Hmm? Just hmm? If you don’t give my card back right now, I’ll call the police and have them charge you with fraud and whatever else I can think of,” she says.
“You can certainly try,” he says.
She flushes with a combination of anger and confusion, and he thinks she looks lovely.
“Are you sure about that?” she asks uncertainty.
“Yeah,” he answers, “Go right ahead.”
She chews her lip, and he watches her face change from pink to red to splotchy and livid. “Cook something for me, and I’ll consider giving the card back to you,” he says.
“And my money,” Gabrielle adds, “I want my money back too.”
Jackson stands and approaches her. He’s a head taller than her, and he guesses that her head would fit perfectly at his neck. He’s tempted to close the gap between them and try, but he stops mere inches from her. “Do you think I’m rich?” he asks, “Do you think I just have that kind of money to return to you?”
Gabrielle shakes her head despondently and walks into the kitchen.
Leilani hurriedly lifts the blankets and tries to climb out of the hospital bed. She needs to find her sister immediately before she becomes the victim of another bad man.
“Mrs. Bamford, where are you going?” Robert asks with alarm, “The doctors say you can’t leave your bed yet.”
“I’m going to find Gabrielle,” Leilani answers firmly.
“The doctors said you need to rest for two days, Mrs. Bamford,” Robert says. “Please, think about your health. Think about the health of your child.”
Leilani grimaces at the mention of the baby, but she continues to wobble across the hospital room. She’s barefoot, and the cold tile floors feel cold against her small feet — Robert groans and runs to grab her a pair of shoes. Leilani stumbles out of the door and immediately collides with Leonie.
Leonie is dressed in a well-cut pink suit, and she’s carrying a wicker basket filled with exotic fruits. She gasps and drops the basket, and the fruit goes bouncing across the floor. She still clutches a piece of paper in her hand. “Leilani, dear, where are you going?” Leonie asks, “Why are you in such a hurry?”
Leilani squints at the paper in Leonie’s hands—it looks suspiciously like medical records. Leonie quickly shoved the paper into her purse, as if she hopes Leilani won’t notice.
“Why are you, barefoot?” Leonie asks, glancing at Leilani’s feet. “You know, you’re an odd woman, Leilani—aren’t you worried that you’ll catch a chill and hurt the baby?”
Before Leilani can answer, Robert, jogs into the hallway carrying a pair of ballet flat style shoes. He places them on the floor in front of Leilani’s feet, and graciously helps her slide them on.
“Robert, Leilani needs to eat more fruits,” Leonie says. “I brought her some mangos, papayas, and passionfruit, but I’ve clumsily dropped them all. Can you help me with them, please?”
Robert immediately stoops over to collect the fruit, carefully inspecting each piece to make sure it’s not bruised or damaged in any way. He places them all in the background and jogs away to leave it in Leilani’s room.
“Leilani, I heard that you were hospitalized, so I come to see you,” Leonie says. She smiles nastily, “I was worried when I heard the news—it’s so dangerous for a pregnant woman to experience any kind of stress.”
“Well, Leonie, I’m sorry to disappoint, but I’m afraid I haven’t miscarried,” Leilani says.
“What are you talking about?” Leonie asks, smiling slightly too big. “I really am worried about you. Tell me, how are you? Do you feel better? What have the doctors told you to do?”
“The doctors recommended silence,” Leilani says dryly.
“I don’t mean to bother you,” Leonie says in an injured tone. “I just care about you.”
“I don’t need you to care about me,” Leilani says. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have places to be.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you,” Leonie says. “I guess I just feel especially invested in your pregnancy, you know. The Bamford family means so much to me, and I know how important this child is. Besides, I have to admit that lately, I’ve been hoping that one day I’ll be pregnant too. Anyway, I know you have things to do, so I’ll be on my way now.”
Leilani frowns—Leonie’s speech seems strange and rambling. In the old days, Leonie was always artful and scheming, but now she seems flighty and confused. Leilani shakes her head to clear the thoughts of Leonie. She needs to focus on rescuing Gabrielle for now; she can wonder about Leonie later.
Leilani follows Leonie down the hall and toward the elevators. Quick footsteps following behind her, and she turns around to see Waylen.
“Why are you here?” Waylen asks Leonie.
“Well, I was incredibly worried about Leilani,” Leonie says, “And I was already at the hospital for some tests anyway. I have to go now, though.” Leonie smiles and rushes into one of the elevators.
Leilani watches the elevator doors close with a strange feeling in her stomach. Just before the door slides shut, Leonie smiles strangely. Waylen clears his throat and grabs Leilani from behind, scooping her into his arms.
“Why did you run out of the room?” he asks. “You’re not well enough to be on your feet yet. Don’t you care about this baby?”
“I want to find Gabrielle,” Leilani says. “She’s in danger again.”
“Well, I won’t let you risk the life of our child for your sister,” Waylen says.
Waylen gently puts Leilani on the bed and pulls the sheets up to her waist. He sits beside her and takes her hand in his, lightly playing with her fingers. She sighs and closes her eyes, but a cough from the doorway quickly makes her open them again. A nurse stands awkwardly at the door, waiting for someone to notice her. Leilani immediately pulls her hand away from Waylen and nods at the blushing nurse.
“I’m just here to take your temperature, Mrs. Bamford,” the nurse says.
With professional speed, the nurse prepares a thermometer and takes Leilani’s temperature. Waylen shifts impatiently as the nurse waits for the results. As soon as the thermometer beeps, the nurse makes a note on Leilani’s chart and rushes out of the room.
“So, what was that long phone call about?” Leilani asks Waylen.
“Nothing important,” Waylen said, kissing her hair. “I don’t want you to worry yourself with anything besides getting better.”
“Waylen, you’ve been at my bedside for so long, aren’t you worried about the Bamford Group?” Leilani says. “If you need to return to work, I won’t mind.”
Waylen squints suspiciously at her. “Are you trying to get rid of me?” he asks.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.