Running From Destiny Read online

  The concrete wall that he brought down just went back up and it’s sturdier than ever. Never, will I allow someone into my heart, into my soul. No way, no how. It’s too painful to endure and I never want to go through this again.

  I finally sleep, but not well. I toss and turn, my mind flashing back to the story of Jackson and Madison. I finally give up and get out of bed, heading to the coffee pot. It’s only six a.m. and I have a long day ahead of me. Laundry, house cleaning, typical Saturday chores. Might as well get an early start.

  I’m knee deep in bathroom cleaner when my phone chirps. I pull my rubber gloves off as I head to the living room in search of my phone.

  H - Rdy for 2nite?

  A - Yep. What shld i wear?

  H - I’ll bring u a dress.

  A - K

  Not sure why she is bringing me a dress, considering we don’t wear the same size. I can only imagine squeezing my ass into one of her dresses and I refuse to go out looking like a popped can of biscuits.

  She gets here early, no surprise there. She walks in carrying a fire engine red sheath. “Wow, where’d you get that?” I ask as I take the dress from her.

  “Sample sale. Local department stores open up their doors a few times a year to get rid of samples, you should come with me sometime. It’s like Filene’s Basement and the battle of the wedding dresses. Large crowds gather and when the doors open, everyone charges in like its Pamplona running from the bulls. It’s awesome. I spotted this and grabbed it.”

  “Nice. Thanks. I hope it fits.” I say as I hold the dress up. She’s already dressed in a navy, satin dress and matching strappy heals. She looks amazing with the blue bringing out her eyes. She follows me into the bathroom, “Can you do my hair?” I ask her.

  “Sure, get me some bobby pins and a clip. I’ll do your makeup too.” She’s jumping around giddy. She pulls my hair up into a French twisty thing, leaving locks surrounding my face. “We need to get you some highlights.” She says as she struggles to get a pin in my hair. Her face scrunches up and she’s holding three pins in her teeth. I really wish my phone was with me so I could take a picture. She really is a sight.

  She finishes my hair and does my makeup. Smokey eye, heavy on the liner. Lots of mascara and just a light pinch of color on my cheeks. She finishes with a clear, glossy red lip gloss. I don’t even look like myself. I actually look....pretty hot. Something I am not used to, but it works.

  I slip into the red dress and it fits amazingly. “It’s a size twelve, Heather.”

  “I told you your clothes were too big.” She tells me as I stare into the mirror.

  “But I wear a fourteen. Have I lost weight?” I wonder out loud. “Maybe a few pounds. The last month has been stressful, stress can cause you to lose weight. Plus, you’ve not worn your true size in years.”

  “I guess.”

  We head out around eight o’clock and stop through a drive through on the way, chatting and chowing in the back of the cab. We talk about work and other boring shit going on in our lives and it’s fun so far, just me and Heather. No talk of men, sex or getting laid like the last time she dragged me out of the house.

  Club D is already crowded and the music is thumping with blue strobe lights spinning around the dance floor. There’s a heady vibe in here and you can almost smell the sex. Strong combinations of perfume, cologne and sweat permeate the air, bodies grinding on the dance floor, girls between guys, guys between girls and the solo girls jiggling their boobs and shaking their asses hoping to gain the attention of someone.

  We squeeze through the crowd and find two bar stools and sit down. The bartender is with us immediately and I order my typical wine, but Heather orders a whisky sour. Guess she’s going all out tonight. We turn our stools and face the crowd, watching and shaking our crossed legs to the beat of the music. “This is fun!” Heather yells over the music. I just nod, because she probably wouldn’t hear me anyway.

  Then like clockwork, a hunk of a man approaches Heather, his eyes straying to her cleavage, which is exposed in the low cut neckline of her dress. He leans into her ear and whispers something. She nods and takes his hand, heading toward the dance floor. Great. She’s done it again. This is the reason I don’t like to go out with her. She always finds a guy and I’m left sitting at the bar. Case and point? Miami.

  She tries to pull me along with her, but I pull back shaking my head. Not interested in being the bottom piece of bread in a macho sandwich so I wave her off and nurse my wine. I see the wall flowers in the corner, waiting for a hook up. Their eyes light up every time a man walks by, but none of them get asked to dance. That’s where I belong, alone and watching. But I decide to keep my seat at the bar. If I stand too long in these heels, I won’t be able to walk later.

  So I sit and watch. I can see Heather on the dance floor, bumping and grinding against the guy she is dancing with. Or is it guys? I squint, trying to focus through the blinking lights. Yep, she’s got one at her back, the other at her front. Slut. But she is a lucky slut. I watch her smile and throw her charms on both guys while I sit here nursing my drink.

  This is what happens every time we go out. She has fun while I’m left on the sidelines. Why did I decide to come out with her? Oh, because I actually thought WE would have fun. I mentally smack my head, cause inside....I knew that wasn’t possible.

  I order another glass of wine and Heather finally comes back, bringing Frick and Frack with her. Great. She’s hanging on the arm of Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. His friend moves to my side and looks me up and down, then smiles. He probably thinks I’m an easy lay, so I smile back and just let him think whatever he wants to think. They order drinks and Heather introduces us. She is draped over Doug and his friend is Jordan. Jordan isn’t bad looking, but he’s no Jackson Bentley. About 5’11”, light blonde hair and tan. A little beer belly, but overall not bad I guess.

  “You want to dance?” He asks me.

  “No, thanks. I have no rhythm and don’t feel like looking like an idiot.” He laughs at me.

  “Nonsense, no one is paying attention. C’mon.” He pulls me from my stool. I hesitantly drag behind him. I’ll dance one song, then it’s back to my drink.

  The Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling” comes on and I love this song so I find the beat and actually start to enjoy myself. We dance and he grinds his cock against my back side. Is he hard? Oh no. This isn’t happening. I turn back to face him so he gets his dick off of me and step back a little. He keeps moving forward, trying to get closer and I keep stepping back. He finally backs off as the song finishes and I thank him and turn to go back to the bar, cause that’s the polite thing to do. Thankfully, Heather is still there with Doug so Jordan follows me, with his hand on my back causing a shiver, and not a good shiver.

  We hang at the bar talking, and turns out, Jordan is actually pretty nice. We discuss work and life in general. I’m about to tell Heather that I’m ready to go when Jordan invades my space and leans his head in for a kiss. I’m partially drunk at this point, so I allow him to kiss me. His lips are dry and his tongue snakes out trying to gain access. I pull back and smile, hoping he will get the hint and back off but no, he takes it totally the wrong way and plasters his lips to mine. He presses hard and my teeth cut into my lips. It’s painful, so I push him back off me. “C’mon, babe. Let’s go back to my place. I don’t live far from here. I’d love to see that full figure of yours, naked.” He whispers.

  I am totally grossed out and I push back harder, “No. I’m not leaving with you.” I struggle against his chest and begin to panic. He tries to force himself on me again and I push with all my strength to get him to back off. I glance at Heather and she is in the middle of a game of tonsil hockey herself, so I am on my own. “No, back off!” I scream at Jordan, but he doesn’t hear me.

  He pulls me off of my stool and urges me toward the door, I shove him back and tell him no again, but he is relentless.

  “I believe the lady saidno.” A familiar voice comes up be
hind us. We both turn and my jaw drops. Jackson has gotten in this guy’s face. Well, not exactly. Jackson is about four inches taller than Jordan, so he is looking down at him, his beautiful green eyes look almost black with rage.

  “Dude, sorry man. I thought she was here alone.” Jordan backs up, his hands in the air in mock surrender.

  “Jackson, what are you doing here?” I ask him loud enough for him to hear me over the music.

  “I could ask you the same thing, Alexandra.” He takes my hand and leads me out of the bar, into the lobby area.

  “Did that guy hurt you?” He asks, his hands are on my face, but his eyes are scanning my body.

  “No, he didn’t. But I didn’t need you to come to my rescue, I’m a big girl. I could have handled him.” I tell him.

  “No one touches what is mine, Ally. No one.” He leans in and kisses me. But I push him back off.

  “No Jackson. Not now, not here. You haven’t told me why you’re here, I thought you were in New York.”

  “I came back for the weekend, to check on the remodel and a few othermattershere.” He tells me as he pulls me closer, staring at my lips. “I saw his mouth on you, Alexandra. That mouth belongs to me.” And he swipes his tongue over my lips, licking into my mouth in one swipe, forcing my lips open to welcome him in. He makes me so weak. I can’t resist him. His every essence consumes me and I give into him.

  But I quickly come to my senses. “Jackson, stop.” I push back against his chest. His body heat and firmness tingles my palms. “You left, it’s over. I’m not going to go back.” I tell him. But he doesn’t listen. His hand moves up from my hips to my breast, caressing the upper swells that are peaking out of my dress.

  “It’s not over, Ally. Come with me.” He pulls me toward the door, but I dig my heels in and stop.

  “I am not coming with you, Heather is here and I’m not leaving without her.”

  “Fine, let’s go find her. She’ll go with us.” He says. I laugh. Out loud, yes I do. If he thinks he can command Heather to go with us, he’s sorely mistaken, but he takes my hand and leads me back into the bar toward where she is still sitting, sucking face with Doug.

  “Heather.” I tap her on the shoulder. She looks up from Doug’s face and her eyes flash open. She looks like she’s seen a ghost. “Heather, we need to leave. Now.” I tell her.

  “Unh uh, not going yet.” She purrs as she looks up at Doug. “You go, I’ll catch a cab home.”

  “Heather, please come with us. You’re drunk and you don’t know what you are saying, come on.” I tug on her arm.

  “Get off me! I’m staying.....arghhhh!!” Jackson cuts her off when he picks her up and throws her over his shoulder. Damn he’s strong. Doug just looks at Jackson like he’s going to kill him, but when he stands up from the bar stool and peers up at Jackson’s eyes, he sits back down.

  Good move. I wouldn’t mess with him either when he’s like this.

  “Put me down!” Heather squeals. Jackson moves like a cheetah to the exit and like a lost puppy, I follow. I’m shaking my head because I don’t understand this at all. He’s so damn controlling. He leaves for New York, doesn’t call for weeks and now this. Well, bring it on Mister, because I got news for ya, I’ve had weeks to prepare for this!

  The Bentley limo is parked out front on the curb and the driver is standing there holding the door. He tosses Heather in like she weighs nothing, “Get in.” He tells me. I scoot in beside Heather who is now angry. Yikes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this angry before.

  Jackson speaks to the driver briefly then gets in the car.

  I’m hot. And no, not that kind of hot. I’m hot as in fuming, steaming, kick someone’s ass mad. Rage has filled my being and my fists are clenched at my sides. My chest is heaving and I’m short of breath. Oh no, not a panic attack! Not now. I close my eyes and take deep breaths trying to calm myself, but it only works enough to bring tears to my eyes. I can feel them prick the insides of my lids and I struggle to fight them. One tear slides down my face, but I’m able to swipe it away before he sees.

  We pull up to the front door of the building and the driver opens the rear doors. No one had said a word during the entire drive, including Heather. As the driver opens the doors, I finally look at Heather and she’s passed out cold on the seat, her head settled in Jackson’s lap. I have to fight off a laugh. Yeah, she was angry before, but she’ll be glad she was rescued before ending up raped or dead somewhere.

  Jackson gets out and lifts Heather into his arms. I stare at his arms and chest as the muscles flex and bulge. I need to get over this quick if I’m going to battle. I can’t even look at him or I will turn into a puddle of goo before this fight has even begun; and I plan to fight.

  I slide out of the car and follow Jackson as the concierge opens the door for us. “Ma’am.” He nods his head at me.

  “Frank.” My voice catching on his name. We ride up in silence, and Heather hasn’t moved at all. The doors open into the penthouse and Jackson goes straight for the stairs, taking Heather to one of the bedrooms so I walk into the great room to the windows that overlook the streets.

  My brain feels like a ping pong table, the ball going back and forth and I feel a headache coming on, but I dare not let on or this conversation will go nowhere.

  I don’t hear him come into the room, but I feel him. His presence sends chills up my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I see his reflection in the glass, so I know he’s right behind me. “Alexandra.” Is all he says.

  I take a deep breath and turn to him. “Jackson.”

  He leans in for a kiss and I back up. “No, you will not try and distract me. I am so angry at you right now. I’m so angry I could spit nails, and you don’t want to be in the way when that happens.”

  “Come, let’s sit.” He holds his hand toward the sofa.

  “Actually, I’d rather stand. What the fuck was that back there, Jackson? You can’t keep doing this!”

  “Doing what, Alexandra. Protecting what’s mine?”

  Mine

  “I am NOT yours, Jackson. I am ME! I don’t need, nor do I want, you jumping in to save the day. I don’t need saving, Jackson, and I need you to leave me alone.” I wrap my arms around my waist and glare at him. His eyes move to my breasts as my arms have pushed them up a little higher than they usually are. I notice this and drop my arms.

  “Yes, you do. I saw you in a dangerous situation with a man that wasn’t taking NO for an answer.....” he says.

  “Wait, YOU won’t take no for an answer either, what makes you any different than him?” I start shaking because I am so angry.

  “Sit, Alexandra. Please. You’re shaking and I don’t want you falling in those shoes.” He says as his eyes focus on my stilettos, then travel up my legs. Geez. I feel his gaze as it travels up my body. Yeah, the same damn body that thinks it’s okay to betray my brain.

  But he’s right, I feel like I’m on the verge of collapse so I sit on the other end of the sofa. He moves toward me and I scoot back as far as I can go, my back hitting the arm. “Stay back, Jackson. Please don’t come any closer.” I whisper at him.

  He obeys and stops, but his eyes have not left mine.

  “I can’t do this Jackson. You need to go back to New York and get on with your...life, the life that doesn’t include me. I’ve tried to fight you and as long as you’re here, I.....” I drift off.

  “What Alexandra, please continue.” He says as he slides a bit closer to me, placing his hand on my knee. I look at his hand and back to his face, and he removes his hand. Good. Glad to know I have the power to control him with just a look.

  “I know, Jackson. I know all about what’s been going on in New York and I realized I was just a distraction for you, a challenging game. Well, you won. Game over, Jackson.”

  He drops his head into his hands, scrubbing his fingers through his hair.

  “It’s not what you think, Alexandra.”

  “Bullshit!!!” I scr
eam at him. “It is EXACTLY what I think it is, Jackson. Tell me, were you ever planning on telling me that you’reengaged?Huh? Were you ever planning on telling me that you are actually an attorney and the magazine is just a side job? You expect me to tell you everything about my life, but you divulge nothing! I had to search for you online to get any information. Then, the news was covering your....Madison’s troubles.”

  “Shit.” He says. “Alexandra, please let me explain.”

  “There’s nothing to explain, Jackson. We. Are. Done. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get Heather and go home. There’s nothing left for me here.” I say, hoping it hurts as much as he’s hurt me.

  “We are not engaged anymore. We didn’t tell that to the press because she has enough on her plate to deal with right now. We haven’t been engaged for years. I broke it off when she refused to seek treatment and it only made it worse, so I stepped in to help. She has issues and I can’t abandon her right now. Please understand.”

  “What I understand is this. You lied to me.... and to quote you, ‘I don’t take well to liars.’ Jackson.”

  “No, I didn’t lie to you....”

  “Yes, you did! Omitting important facts is the same as lying. Did you think I would have agreed to any of this had I known?” He shakes his head in denial. “I can’t do this. I won’t do this. I will not be the other woman.” I say as I walk toward the room where Heather is sleeping.

  “Ally, you aren’t theotherwoman. You are theonly woman. Please believe me.” He begs.