Chapter 62

*Olga*

I hadn't made any headway with Jayden since I moved in with him. To my chagrin and dismay I found out that Frankie had also moved in and was staying in one of the upper rooms. I found out that same evening that I had moved in during supper when she came over in the evening but never left.

I had mentioned it casually when the clock struck ten asking if it was okay for her to be driving so late.

She had smiled at me and thanked me for worrying about her safety. However, she was spending the night as she would do until further notice. If I was a child I would have had a tantrum but there was nothing I could do and she was smiling at me.

I guess it was her idea to also move in. I also learned that Amanda was staying under the same roof as me in one of the upper rooms. I had heard a disturbing rumor about Amanda but the fact that she was staying here under the same roof meant it was true.

Jayden had come from work at four and headed straight to his office where he locked himself in. Brian was sitting in front of the large screen having an LAN video game party with his friends according to the four way split screen.

Looking at Brian had me wondering whether my baby was Boy or Girl. I sat at the kitchen counter and stared at Brian though I wasn't really looking at him.

If my baby was a boy, would he turn out to be like Brian? I didn't know much about Brian but I knew he was very intelligent as well as reserved. He didn't talk to people much and I was later surprised to find that Sierra had been his nanny. Would my boy be a nerd? Maybe an athlete? Would he be rough round the edges or a polished stone?

If it was a girl how would she turn out? Would she be reserved? Outgoing? Girlish and in touch with her feminine self or would she be a tomboy? Would she be a heels and dresses type of girl or a jeans and sports shoes lady?

As I asked myself these questions, I realized that I was woefully unequipped to handle being a parent, but at least I knew the child would never lack material things. I hadn't even thought of a name for the baby.

Well it was still early and I had more than enough time to prepare myself. Secretly though, I wished for a girl.

"Would you like anything else ma'am?" Maria asked me as she came to my line of sight. I shook my head and she excused herself for the night. I finished drinking the tea and placed the cup and saucer in the dishwasher.

Jayden had come out thirty minutes later and taken Brian up to his room and tucked him in. He then came down to the kitchen and found me still sitting at the counter.

"I hope you are comfortable enough in the suite," he had said. He poured himself some whiskey and diluted it with warm water and gulped it down.

"I would have preferred the upper rooms," I said, not wanting to give up the fight easily.

"You are pregnant, sooner or later the stairs would have become an issue as well as a health hazard to you and the baby. Either way you would still need to be at the bottom floor sooner or later so why not sooner," he replied, eyeing me coldly. "I will also assign a housekeeper exclusively for you but not Maria or Nala."

"Thanks to your shenanigans, Brian no longer has a nanny but I see he is getting along well with Nala so she will be assigned to him for the time being. Maria runs the house and I am not going to change that. As I said earlier, if I hear of any issues coming from any of my staff here or Brian-"

"Stop with the threats Jayden," I cut him short, "I am not stupid to jeopardize the future of our baby."

"Good," he said, "I have work to finish so have yourself a goodnight." He went back to his office and shut the door behind him. I watched the door for a few more minutes and then decided I had better get some rest too after taking a shower.

In subsequent days, I rarely got to talk with Jayden. He always left very early, but would come back later in the evening and either shut himself in the office or disappear to the belvedere. I noticed he always tucked Brian to sleep every night.

Frankie was more social and she talked to me though I wish she would just leave me alone. Lorraine would drop by unexpectedly on almost a daily basis, catch up with me, interact with Brian, or talk to Frankie. She only managed to meet Jayden once and they talked for long.

It was after dark and Nala and Brian were up in his room. I couldn't hear much as the two were outside but I did get some snippets to hear Lorraine scolding Jayden about his recent moping and attitude around the house.

Other than Hildie, Lorraine was the only other woman who could get away with raising their voice at Jayden. Though I had never heard Hildie shout at him angrily. From what I had observed, Jayden respected his elder sister.

The following morning, when I bumped into Jayden, he was in a better mood and he actually smiled at me as he headed to the kitchen. From that day he started treating me better and stopped locking himself in his office constantly.

It was during these times that Amanda, Frankie, Jayden and I were home having lunch with Brian when both Frankie and Jayden's phone buzzed simultaneously. Frankie was the first to pick her phone and she opened the text with a smile forming on her face.

"You better read your text," she told Jayden who then picked up his phone. He read his text and nodded looking at Amanda.

"Is something wrong?" Amanda asked looking at Frankie.

"If we act quickly, we can catch him," Jayden said standing up. He called for Dave to prepare the car and dashed up the stairs as he made a call.

"Mark has come back to Selspur, his apartment was just accessed and it is empty," Frankie said. He then made a call to the police department.

When Mark's name was mentioned I almost gasped out nut I coughed instead and drank some water.

I waited for Frankie and Jayden to leave and then left myself. I had an idea of where he would have gone to. I wasn't worried about Amanda and Nala wondering where I had gone to. I drove to The Purple Mirage and fortunately I saw the name and floor of the person I wanted to see.

I knew he would be here as he would have missed me at my place and she was the only place he would go to. I climbed the stairs to the fourth floor and then walked to the door and knocked loudly.

"Were you expecting anyone?" I heard the muffled voice through the wooden door.

I kept on knocking. Finally I heard the door being unbolted from the inside and Lisa standing at the door. I pushed her aside and walked in.

"I know Mark is here." I told her.

It was plain obvious to me. I could smell his cologne in the room that was still very strong and there was only one place where he could be hiding. I threw a glance behind the door and saw the pair of male shoes confirming my suspicion.

"Mark come out, I know you are here," I shouted facing the closed bedroom door. The door was opened the door and there was Mark standing at the door a cheeky look like a boy caught with his hands in the cookie jar.

"You don't have much time, Jayden knows you are here in the city. That was stupid of you to take your items out of the apartment, you should have called me."

Mark came close and hugged me before growling, "Check your phone I called and texted you."

"Well it doesn't matter. I don't think they know you are stupid enough to come here," I said stressing on stupid. So that was why my phone was buzzing a while back during lunch. "But you should get going. Jayden received word about fifteen minutes ago that you had been spotted at your old place. I take it you went to my place too. All the roads are being watched but if you are fast enough, there is a train leaving in the next fifteen minutes."

Mark looked dismayed and he glanced at me first and then at Lisa who was watching us both. I couldn't tell for sure but it looked and I sensed that my timing had interrupted something and it favoured Lisa. She almost looked relieved.

"What about her?" Mark asked. I assumed he meant what if she talked and mentioned our interaction.

"Don't worry she won't say anything," I said. "Now go I will call you later on."

With that he left the apartment quickly and we both watched from the window as he stayed along the wall and then disappeared into one of the backstreets.

I then turned to Lisa, "Do you have any vodka?"

She nodded and served me a good measure, "Should you really be drinking?"

"You are starting to sound like my doctor," I muttered and swallowed the vodka relishing the burning effect it had at the back of my throat.

"How did you know I stay here?" Lisa asked.

"You did mention it during the party. Also you forget this is my town, it is common knowledge that The Purple Mirage houses mainly staff from The Enchanted Gardens. As for your exact house number, the plaque at the entrance. I told Mark that he wouldn't have to worry about you telling anyone," I said eyeing her. I wanted to scare her a little so I added, "For your own safety, you better not tell anyone, you never know what Mark will do."

"Oh I have a rough idea," she muttered then said out loud, "As far as I am concerned, the only visitor I had today was you to return my lost necklace."

I wondered what she meant by having a rough idea, "Yes the pearl necklace that you lost during the party."

With that done, I took another shot of vodka and left, heading back home. Frankie came back two hours later and I heard her tell Amanda that Mark had once again slipped through their clutches. Hearing that gave me relief. Neither Amanda nor Nala asked me where I had gone nor did they mention it.

Late in the evening, my phone vibrated and I opened the screen to see a text from Mark. He let me know that he had arrived safely.

We communicated via text and finally I agreed to go to the next town and meet up with him.

"You are glued to that phone," Jayden said walking down the stairs.

"I am communicating with a friend," I told him, "I will be travelling tomorrow so I will not be around."

"To where?" asked Frankie.

"The capital," I replied. Why did she have to be that nosy? "I left a few things the last time I was there."

Frankie and Jayden exchanged a look but didn't pursue the matter. "Did you find Mark?"

"We think he just came to collect his things," sighed Frankie and then continued, "We don't know how but he slipped through. At least the last time we knew he went to Seasbury, I assume he went back there."

Seasbury eh? I thought and smirked to myself. "So why are you looking for him?"

"He assaulted one of my employees," Jayden said quickly staring at me. Looking at his eyes I couldn't help but notice how sexy they were and I bit my lip while maintaining eye contact. He looked away and I smiled.

"Well I am retiring early," I said and walked to my door, "Unless you want to keep me company."

"Oh I am sure that Jayden would love to keep you company but we have work to do," Frankie said. I really have to find a way to get Frankie out of the house for good.