Chapter 83 Chapter 83
I began pulling at my shirt. “Shit, you’re burning up. I need to get you into the shower,” she said, helping me up. She began taking my shirt off. She helped me up and into the shower. I caught the scent again. Tessa.
I grabbed her, pulling her into me, and I took her mouth, kissing her. She pulled away.
“Mr. Rhyland, I’m… not…” She tried to say, but I didn't give her a chance; I had her against the shower wall, my mouth on hers. She felt like a fucking lifeline. Like Tessa, she smelled like Tessa too. I deepened the kiss, and she groaned into my mouth. I fisted her hair, and she moaned, and that sound hit too close to fucking home.
My eyes opened to sunlight, then the smell of sex. I sat up and was hit with a headache. I looked around the room; I was alone. I fucked up. I got off the bed and realized I was naked. My foot hit something wet. When I looked down, my suit was on the floor. I walked into the bathroom. First, a shower, and then I needed to think. When I passed the mirror, I stopped . There were hickeys all over my chest, one on my neck when I turned, there were scratch marks on my back. What the fuck did I do? No. Who the hell did I fuck last night?
I stood under the water and tried to think back, then it hit me. Fucking Garrison. She drugged me. She was helping me out, and then another woman stepped in. I remembered her voice and the way she touched me, and then I remembered she whispered a name, but I couldn't remember what it was. I turned the shower off and walked back into the room; the room door opened, and Jax came in.
“Boss, we came as soon as we got the call,” he said.
“What call?” I asked.
“It was at three this morning; I received a call from your phone. A woman called, using your phone. She said you were in your suite at the Astoria, that you were drugged by the woman you were with, and that she brought you to your room and that she’ll wait until we get here.” he said
“And did she?” I asked.
“Yes and no. The minute we stepped into the hotel, she called again and said she was leaving and that we were already here. She… boss… She sounded…” He said it but stopped.
“She sounded like what?” I asked.
“She sounded like Tessa. I have Joe checking all security cameras, everyone that was in this building last night, including the catering company,” he said.
“Garrison?” I asked.
“Not found, don't know where she is. Rob and the others are checking for her,” he said.
“Okay, I’ll get dressed, and we’re leaving. This doesn’t get out,” I said, and he nodded and walked out, closing the door. I saw my phone, but I spotted the notepad first. I walked over and picked it up.
“Mr. Rhyland. Last night was an accident. You were drugged, and I do not hold that against you. I am not sick; I have a clean bill of health. I am not, nor will I show up pregnant. I will not mention this to anyone. You kept calling me Tessa. If you are in a relationship, I am sorry. The woman you were with paid Alvin Porter, one of the servers, to add the drug to your drink. I only found it out by accident. They were huddled in a corner, and she asked him, "How many drinks did you have?" He told her ten, and he drugged all ten. I stepped in when she was trying to leave with you. I do not want or need anything from you. If you need to ask me something, my number is (202) 555-0143.”
She left a number; she actually left a fucking number. I grabbed my phone and called the number. It was answered on the third ring.
“Hello?” the person said, and if I didn't know any better, I would have thought it was Tessa.
“What is your name?”
“Umm. You called me. Wait…” She said, and then there was silence. “Mr. Rhyland?” She asked.
“Yes. “Bishop’s garden in thirty minutes,” I said, ending the call. I hurriedly dressed and grabbed the note and phone and walked out. I handed the note to Jax.
“Verify this. But take me to Bishop’s garden now.”
“Yes, Boss.”
The drive to Bishop Garden was nerve-wracking. I had Jax park and keep an eye out. I made my way into the park and stood under one of the large trees. It was early yet; there were not many people at this hour.
I was letting Joe know what to do when someone cleared their throat. When I looked up, I froze.
“Mr. Rhyland?” She said she sounds like a dead ringer for Tessa. I looked at her. She was short, five-something, the same as Tessa. She had long blonde hair. Her eyes were black, and if I didn't know any better, I would have thought it was Tessa, my Tessa, but I knew she was gone.
“What is your name?” I asked, my voice low and cold.
“Anna,” she replied.
“Anna what?” I asked, and she rolled her eyes, and that annoyed me.
“My name is Anna Ryan. I am thirty years old. I reside right here in DC. born and raised. My friend is the caterer, and I help with events like last night when she is short of staff. I can attest that I have no interest in you. It happened, and it can’t be undone. Now I really need to go because I have to get to work,” she said, smiling.
“Fine, I will compensate you,” I said, looking at her carefully; she was wearing a hoodie and jeans. “Isn’t it too warm out for hoodies?” I asked, and she looked at me and grabbed the neck of the hoodie and pulled it down. Her entire neck was covered in hickeys.
“Sorry,” I murmured.
“It’s fine. I don't need or want to be compensated for anything. I just want to forget it happened and go back to normal. Anyway, good luck, Rhyland.” She said before turning and walking away. She called me Rhyland; only Tessa calls me that. Something was off about her, but I couldn't pinpoint it. She didn't walk like Tessa; sometimes she sounded like Tessa, and she acted a bit like Tessa, but the main thing is she wasn't Tessa.
I watched her as she disappeared. I headed back into the car and looked at Jax. Anna Ryan, find everything on her. Head to the airport.”
“Yes, Boss.”
On the short flight back to Manhattan, my mind was a mess. I kept comparing Tessa to Anna; she was similar, but she wasn't Tessa, and that was the truth. When I got home, I called the police over and made a report. I gave them Anna’s number so she could give her statement, and then I had the PR team and lawyers contact Nomad Global.