Chasing Imperfection (Chasing Series 2) (24 page)

   
“
R
ubbish!
S
ince we’re discussing you getting better, a therapist will
make a
house visit once or twice a week
, d
epending on how you’re handling things. This is part of the bargain mate—so not a chance
in Hades
for you to back out.”

     “That’s wonderful, Blake,” my beautiful beloved exclaimed.

    
If only
….I’m simply being fanciful but right
now
is not the time
n
or place to be doing so. 

      “Indeed
,
”
I
murmur
ed
to both of them
.
They
were
both distracted
catching up with
one another
.

    
We’re back on the road
driving her back to her apartment
. H
er spirits have been replenished by seeing Chad
. Apart from his apparent weight loss and weakened state, his personality is back to being happy and vivacious.

     “Do you want to eat somewhere? It’s almost five thirty, I’m sure you’re famished.”

     “Thanks but I have other plans for tonight.” She was staring at the window.

    
Plans with
whom
…Kyle?
I wanted to inquire but held my tongue in check. She wouldn’t appreciate being interrogated like that.

     I gripped the steering wheel harder.
Bloody hell
, compose yourself Knightly.

     “I see, as you wish.”
I can’t see
. All I hear and
see
is my
darkened jealousy and my blood pulsating
like a manic boor.

     I took hold of my phone and dialed Toby
before I combust in wrath
and
ire
. “Are you available for a few lagers?”

    
He laughed, “
Sure mate
.
Lucy’
s driving my head in and I’m going
bonkers.”

     “
See you in thirty
minutes then at the usual spot.” I ended the call and was about to put it away when it rang again.

     “Knightly
,
”
I bit out.

   
“Have
I caught you
in
a terrible moment?”
William Knightly II graciously spoke.
Give it to granddad to mock me at the most uncertain times. If I didn’t love the stubborn man, I would’ve retaliated.

    
I scoffed
,
“Apologie
s grandfather, it’s been quite
frantic
for the past
few days.”

     “That comes with the territory lad.
I must say that
f
rantic
is rather endearing, you will stumble upon greater
quandaries
much later
on
in the business.
Hence t
he nature of my call
, I want
to congratulate you with
the
rather
smooth acquisition of the Australian mining company. I’ve tried countless of times to close the
gargantuan
deal for the pas
t two years but miserably failed
.
But you
—my dear child—did it
in
two weeks. That’s quite astonishing
.
I suppose
the old man
trained you
superbly
well,
eh?
” he chuckled.

     “You did and quite
excellently sire,
I am eternally in your gratitude.”

    
He chuckled
throatily
at
my response, “Don’t be silly child, you
are
my blood and my heir. Your brilliance runs profoundly through our veins as did your departed father’s.
Do s
ee me when you get back from Dubai, we have much to discuss.” William sounded rather tired
.
I do hope he’s been taking care of himself. I need to see his assistant and make sure things are running smoothly in his household. I’m sure they are but I want to ease my mind and conscience. I will not forgive myself if he’s been neglecting himself and I didn’t do much to abate it.

     “I
certainly will
,
G
randfather. I’ll come
straight to England after Dubai. I will see you Saturday.
”

    
William cleared his throat—it was evident that he’s smoking his favorite Cuban cigars from his labored breathing. “Splendid! I will buoyantly await your arrival.” After another minute of bidding safe travels, we ended the call. My granddad is a brilliant wise man and I pay heed to his knowledgeable opinions and guidance.

     My cell rang again. “Such a busy man you are Blake.”

    
I glanced at the lovely woman beside me
.
“Indeed, my sweet.”
I k
iss
ed
her hand and kept it with me.

     “Knightly
,
”
I barked, p
icking up the blasted call that kept me from being with her.

     “
Alas, i
f it isn’t the
notorious Ro
meo of the twenty-first century,
bloody fucking Knightly
finally
picking up my call
.
”
Clive Barrington
greeted me
with derision.

    
Bugger
, calling him back escaped my mind
,
yet
again.

     “I
assure
you, it was
purely
unmitiga
ted bypass of consciousness
,
dear cousin. Are you about town? Watson and I are meeting at The Stag.”
Clive
is
three years our senior
. S
o he
took the liberty of becoming our teenage mentor,
a
mentor
for all our
mischiev
ous devilry and atrocities.

     “By all means, I could do with a pint or a dozen. I’ll be on my merry way
then
my dearest
baby
cousin.”

     “
You arse,
a baby
I’m
certainly not.
My
memory
can’t expunge the absurdity of you getting caught exposed and undressed in a nudist party
which
disgracefully landed
you
on the front page of scandal rags,”
I
l
aughed
at his silliness. His scandal along with other socialites hit the National Enquirer
with mad uproar and quite the backlash.

     “Need we rehash my nefarious string of follies?
My noble parents c
ertainly are in dire need
of
new rubbish to
ostracize and castigate
.
It’s strenuous and I’m going barmy
,
”
Clive grumbled.

    
“You do sound unbalanced but alas I’m driving, I
’ll
see you in a bit. We can carry on at The Stag and hear
your
rather boring life.” Ending the call with a rather
more
jovial mood than the state I was in before taking both calls. And
both came from family mind you.

    
The
aristocratic
Barrington’s are similar to the Watson’s
but
rather a tad bit more rational.
Henry and Blanche Barrington most likely shared a coronary attack after the story was exposed.

     My second cousin
,
Clive
Barrington
, heir to a massive shipping fortune, is known for his notorious fixation to having
and living the
fast life. The media adores him and he basks in the adoration. But
most
of all,
Clive
wa
s famous for sporting
two
girlfriends at all times. Next to him, I’m a bloody
fucking
saint.

     “Was that your infamous blonde cousin?” my ever silent beloved asked.

    
We were a minute or two away from her place.
“Si
cara mia
. I’m meeting him for drinks after I drop you off.”

    
Sienna snorted, “I’m sure both of you go rampant when
you’re
together. It’
s rather uncanny how
both
of you are
playboys and have a
thing
for
threesomes
with insipid beauties
.” Her derisive sarcasm grated me. My light
ened
mood vanished
instantly
from her obvious disdain.

     “
Right
darling
, darting daggers at my impropriety
…
when
you—
my love
—were the one who indulged in an all-nighter
shag
fest
two nights
after
you had begged for my cock to
fuck
you
until your were vapidly mindless from orgasms
,
milady
.”
I retorted.

     She gasped
,
wide-eyed and appalled
by
my counter
-quip
. “
Fuck you
, Blake!
Seriously
, you and I have nothing to discuss. Apart from being civilized around our friends and our common goal with Chad,
do not
ever fucking talk to me. Save your stupid
,
crappy declaration of love. I don’t need this shit.”
She screamed like a banshee, angrily opened the door and stepped out
of the car
and
haughtily
marched
towards her building.

    
Bloody fucking
Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Sienna is without a doubt the most infuriating, exasperating, unreasonable, and incongruous and
the
most unpredictable woman this entire planet has ev
er beheld!

    
Fine
, be it. Blast my incorrigible affections towards her. How many times do I have to be
scornfully dismissed and rejected before my thick-headed skull accepts the bare truth—that Sienna will never
,
ever be mine?

    
At
times
, a man has to learn and admit defeat.

16

Sienna

      Opening the building door, I quickly turned left and leaned against the cool marble wall.
Truth hurts but when spoken out loud, it obliterates you in half.