2: A stranger in bed

Hayden Clark.

I came out of the casino, I didn’t wait for the meeting to be over before I stepped out. I was running late for my business meeting in London, and I had a flight to catch.

“Mr. Clark, hope we’ll see you again!” A man shouted from the casino.

I waved him off with a hand without sparing him a glance and headed across the street where my Ferrari 812 was parked. I stared at my white suit if there was a stain from the wine I had earlier at the casino.

There wasn’t any and I was good to go.

I opened the car door, got in, and closed the roof of my Ferrari. I must’ve forgotten to close it when I left for the casino.

I speed off to the airport, a strange smell hits my nose while I am driving like an intoxicating feminine perfume and blood. I scrunched my nose, there was no such smell when I left the car.

My eyes caught something through the rear mirror in the back seat of the car.

I threw my head over my shoulders immediately, there was probably something or someone in the back seat.

Fuck.

I screeched to a sudden halt.

I unfastened the seatbelt and came out, walked to the side of the car, and opened it.

My jaw dropped seeing the sight before me, I was dumbstruck for a moment at her striking beauty.

But how did she get in here?

I leaned closer and saw the blood over her arm, and her body.

I froze.

I stepped back from the car and glanced sideways if anyone was watching, and then felt her pulse.

She was still breathing though it was quite faint, and she had lost a lot of blood.

I ran a finger through my hair and exhaled. I couldn’t drive to the airport though I was already close to it.

I slammed the door and went to get my phone.

“Hello, Sir.” My assistant answered from the other end.

“Are you on your way to London?” he asked sheepishly.

“Cancel the meeting.” I snarled.

“What?”

“But the president of Franco’s company is here, and other members...”

“You heard me, the meeting has to be canceled.” I grounded my teeth.

“Yes, Sir.”

I ended the call and threw my phone back into the empty seat beside me in the car. He can’t tell me what I can and cannot do, he should have the meeting rescheduled.

My hands tightened on the wheel, and I maneuvered the car around, driving back to the mansion.

“Hello, Mr. Clark.” My Butler picked up the call, I stared at the phone and back at the road.

“Prepare the guest room and inform Doctor Kendrick to be in the house in five minutes,” I ordered.

“Are you hurt, Sir?” He mumbled, concern laced in his voice. He was the only one who could dare to hold a conversation with me, he has been serving me for more than a decade now.

“I will be home in five, do as I say.” I hung up and stole a glance at the back seat. Her eyes were still closed, and she appeared to be getting worse.

I increased the speed limit of the car and drove back home.

I parked the car on the lawn, hurried to the backseat, and took her out of the car in my arms.

The workers in the house stood in linear motion, their hands folded in front of them and their heads facing the ground, and chorused a greeting.

They didn’t lift their heads till I was inside the mansion.

I kicked the door of the guest room open with my feet, and placed her gently on the bed. The red hair wig she wore fell off her head, and I picked it and placed it on the table.

Her black flowing hair was beautiful, her face was perfectly shaped, her eyes were closed, and from her nose to her plump pink lips was gorgeous. I have seen pretty ladies but I haven’t seen anyone that comes close to how stunning this lady was and how she was able to grab my attention despite being in a state of comatose.

Her skin was flawless.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her for a minute until someone spoke behind me in a shaking voice. “I’m sorry, I’m late.”

I spun around slowly, and met the short man in a green shirt and black pants, his hand quaking on the surgical box he held.

“If you fail to do your job, I will make you sorry.”

He lowered his head in submission and stepped aside. I walked out of the guest room.

I went to the bar section of the room and took a bottle of Hennessy and an empty glass. I sipped from it and exhaled deeply, my hands were stained with her blood, and my shirt too.

“Sir, do you need anything?” The Butler asked, I shook my head but he was reluctant to leave. “What about your meeting, Sir? It was an important meeting.”

I chugged down the liquor and stared into space.

“Get out of my sight.” I said with a scowl and refilled my glass.

“Yes, Sir.” He retreated his steps.

I drank for a long time, and I was getting tipsy, I stood up and went to the guest room, her wound had been cleaned, “Why isn’t she dressed yet?!” I barked.

The maid came running into the guest room.

“I told you to dress her up when he was done treating her wound!”

“I’m sorry, Master, I was…” She lifted her eyes and stared at me.

“Lower your gaze!”

“Guards, take her away...”

“Master Clark, have mercy!” She fell on her knees, I have given out instructions, and it should be carried out.

I have no mercy for incompetent fools.

“Feed her to my dogs.” I waved the guards out.

“And bring the head servant.”

I took a few steps to the bed and glanced over at the doctor. “How is she?” The tone of my voice lowered on its own.

Sir, she’s out of danger, and she’s resting.”

That was all I needed to know, he had bruises on his face. It wasn’t there when he came in, I didn’t need to ask, she probably fought him in her sleep.

“The guard will lead you out.”

The head servant came into the room, and apologized for the maid's mistake. “She’s new, and it’s my fault. I haven’t been able to lecture her about...”

“Save it.”

“Yes, Master Clark.”

She went ahead and dressed her in something more comfortable.

When she was done, I watched her sleep so peacefully.

The head servant bowed and left the room.

I strolled to the side of the bed with my hands stuffed in my pocket. I hunkered beside the bed, taking a closer look at her.

I took my hand from my pocket and reached out to her face, I tucked the loose hair off her face neatly behind her ears, and my eyes caught those damn kissable lips. There was a slight scar on her forehead, and my fingers lingered on it.

Snap out of it, Hayden!

I withdrew my hands.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

Why was I worried about someone I didn’t know?

I have never reacted to a woman this way before, and not a stranger with a gun wound on her arm.

I would have her out of my house the moment she woke up. I won’t let her stay in my mansion.

“Head servant!” I called out.

“Sir!”

“Tell the guards to take her out when she wakes up, I don’t want to see her the next morning.” I moved away from her, before I left the room, I chained her to the bed.

I didn’t want her doing something crazy at night.

But I wanted her out of my house the next morning.