Stephen
S he was on a date. A month after I had my face buried in between her legs and she was on a date.
Normally I would chastise myself for this overreaction but given what I found out, this was simply unacceptable.
I had to act quick. I had to act now.
It took me a few days to get my affairs in order and to set this plan in motion. I have less than 24 hours until I need to be back in LA and I’m not wasting a single second of that.
I found her easily enough and fortunately for me, the hotel she chose to live in is one that’s owned by the Hudsons.
I went to med school with Colton Hudson, the youngest of the Hudson siblings. We both come from families who have high expectations and not following the same career path was frowned upon to a certain degree.
After Ava and Reese moved to LA with Dad, I suddenly had all this free time. I ended up hanging out with him quite a bit, given our families ran in the same circles. We realized over time that we had a lot in common including the fact that we were both getting restless in med school. Since he had a background in hospitality and his family owned hotels across the country, when he mentioned he was opening a lounge bar in West Hollywood, I jumped on his offer to co-own it. Naturally, there were a lot of raised eyebrows and whispers when we dropped out around the same time.
But then Dad had a heart attack. Instead of being an active partner in his business, I opted to be a silent one. I invested pretty heavily, using my connections to gather enough interest and now it’s one of the prime spots for celebrity sightings with a waitlist a year long.
I made one call to him and ten minutes later, I was sitting in the lounge bar watching as Vanessa entered the hotel. I waited a respectable amount of time–okay two minutes–before following her up. However now that I stand outside her door holding a master key card, I realize I could never and would never violate her privacy like that.
As I curl my fist to knock on her door when a loud smash comes from inside the room. I don’t hesitate, as soon as the light turns green on the door I shove it open.
My heart drops as white hot anger courses through my veins at the sight of Vanessa facedown on the carpeted floor, being held up her hair. She’s holding on to the bottom of the desk, flailing on the floor as she struggles to get free from the man hovering over her with a nasty scowl and what looks to be a nasty cut on his face. Her assailant’s head flies up at the sound of me running into the room and because my eyes are locked on Vanessa, I don’t see him moving until he’s on me. He lets her go and rushes me in his attempt to get away.
“STEPHEN!”
I hear Vanessa scream my name but my only focus is to get this asshole before he gets away. The man’s shoulder knocks mine and instead of dodging it, I lean into his attempt to knock me over causing him to lose his balance. Then I lunge and the man yelps as I smash his face against the wall.
“Ge-get the fuck o-o-ff me-me!” He bellows like he just didn’t assault a woman in the same way. The slurring leads me to think either he’s drunk or high. Possibly even both.
I don’t even want to think about what the asshole would have done to her had I not been here, especially in the state he’s currently in.
“Shut the fuck up!” Looking over my shoulder, I spot Vanessa curled up on the floor in the farthest corner of the room partially obstructed by the desk chair that tipped over. That must have been the loud crash I heard earlier. I can hear her silent sobs and it breaks my heart.
“Vanessa?” I call out softly, not wanting to startle her.
She whimpers but continues to cry into her arms that wrapped around her knees. I can’t see her face and it kills me that I can’t get to her right now.
Her attacker continues to struggle but he’s so clearly inebriated that his attempts are half assed. I move him from the wall to the floor, twisting his arms and holding it in one hand. I sit on him for good measure and take great satisfaction at his pained grunts. With my free hand, I send Ben a quick SOS then make a call to Colton, letting him know someone broke into Vanessa’s hotel room and to look into it.
I can hear Vanessa’s cries quickly turning into wracking sobs. It’s taking everything I have in me not to smash something against this man’s head. Simply so I can knock him out and hold her.
“Vanessa, baby, you’re safe now. Give me a few minutes to get to you. My security team should be here any minute.”
“Okay…” She whispers back, a second before the door swings open.
Two members of my security team file in with the hotel manager in tow. Colton must have advised him about who I am because he practically flies towards me in an attempt to apologize.
“Mister Torres. I can’t even begin to express my–”
Ben is quick to grip his shoulder in a not so subtle order to shut up before he gestures for Luis, my personal bodyguard, to take hold of the intruder. Luis grabs hold of him and he must realize he’s outnumbered because he slumps forward in silence. Luis cuffs him, dragging him outside where I spot another member of my security team Angelo who follows them out as back up.
I take a few steps closer to Vanessa, standing in between the desk and bed to block their view of her. Then I turn to the hotel manager because this needs to be said, “No amount of apologies can undo what your blatant mismanagement and disregard for the safety of your hotel guests has done. You are responsible for this.” I practically sneer at him. A red haze fills my vision and I have to remind myself of what’s important.
Vanessa.
I know Ben's got this part handled so I nod at him, “I want to know every single thing there is to know about that asshole. I want to know how he was able to sneak in here, why he did this and why he targeted her.”
He answers with a look of understanding before escorting the manager out. My phone rings and a quick glance tells me it’s Colton. I send Ben a quick text detailing what I walked into, with a promise to send whatever Vanessa divulges to me. I also ask that he keep Colton in the loop as well and to let him know that the plan is still on but to give me an hour.
With a heavy sigh, I tuck my phone inside my pocket and approach Vanessa slowly.
Her head pops up from between her folded arms and she peers around me like she’s checking we’re alone then she jumps up, launching herself in my arms. I wasn’t expecting it, thankfully the bed is there and I end up safely sitting on it. I reposition her in my arms so I’m holding her, rubbing soothing circles on her back like I did with Ava when she experienced a few recurring nightmares after her miscarriage.
Vanessa’s face is buried in the crook of my shoulder, soaking my suit in tears but I don’t give a damn. The rage comes back but it’s quieter, taking up less space as a surge of overprotectiveness threatens to overwhelm me.
I let her cry until she’s let it all out.
Eventually she stops shaking and her tears subside. Her arms loosen around my neck until they fall off completely and she leans back, her red rimmed eyes tentatively meeting mine.
The second our eyes connect, I feel something shift.
Somehow it feels monumental. An intense feeling that starts at the pit of my stomach, leaving my hands clammy and my heart racing.
I didn't know what it meant before but I think I do now.
I know there is nothing else I can do to take away the pain and fear she feels but I can damn well make sure that she never feels unsafe again.
“What can I do?” I ask her softly.
Vanessa shrugs, positioning herself off me and onto the spot next to me.
“I don’t know. I’m still trying to wrap my head arou–” Her eyes widen as realization settles in and I brace myself for the inevitable question. “How-Why are you here?”
She looks around at her hotel room and I allow myself for the first time since coming here to take a look too. The sidetable is littered with her personal things like her charger and tablet. The closet by the door is open and I spot clothes hanging with a suitcase under it. She’s also got a variety of grab and go food spilling out of a tote bag on the floor. I suspect it fell over during the struggle.
She looks back at me with a bit of hesitation and a hint of embarrassment tainting her cheeks.
“I’m here because I’ve been looking for you, Vanessa Lopez.” I nudge her shoulder gently, hoping to break the tension between us. The faster we get this going, the quicker I can get her checked out. There are no visible marks on her, atleast as far as I can see but that’s not always a good thing. He had her by the hair when I walked in so I’m getting antsy and worried about her head.
“Looking for me? Why?”
Where do I even begin? I stick to the most basic of truths.
“I need you.”
She raises an eyebrow in surprise, “For what?”
I ignore her question and respond with my own. “Why are you here, Vanessa?”
Vanessa has three tells when she’s about to lose her temper. I’ve only ever witnessed it directed at me so I’m well aware of them.
Her nostrils flare and she jumps to her feet. Standing directly in front of me, she throws her hair over her shoulder before shoving both fists on her hips. She gives me the dirtiest of glares and I take great pleasure in the fact that I was able to get Vanessa out of her head for a bit even if it meant making her angry at me.
“How about you answer one of my questions, ? What the fuck? Why are you here?”
Not being able to help myself I pull her between my legs, she squeaks and her hands fall on my shoulders.
Perfect.
With me sitting down and her standing over me, we’re at eye level.
My hands fall to her hips and I smirk knowing she’s about to get more than she bargained for.
“I called. I texted. I even went to your apartment. You disappeared on me. Quit on me. So to reiterate, I’m here because I’ve been looking for you and because I need you.”
“I’m not sleeping with you, again . It was a mistake.” She dips her head, breaking eye contact. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a mess. The last thing I need is to complicate my life even more when I’m already so fucking broken.”
Well, that was a gut punch if there ever was one.
I pretend what she said doesn’t pierce me as much as it does. This woman went through hell and back, I’m not about to muddle her head further. Atleast not right now.
“Technically, we never slept together and–” I tip her chin up with a finger, “You may be broken but I can help fix you. That’s also why I’m here. Let me help you.”
“Help me? How can you possibly help me? You don’t even–”
I cut her off, “Marry me.”
“ MARRY YOU?! ” She practically screams as she searches my face.
“Marry me, Vanessa.” I repeat with more conviction this time. Now that I’ve said it out loud, the urge gets stronger and louder, “Let’s solve all your problems and mine. Come live with me as my wife for a year and help me run the bar.”
Vanessa shoves herself off me and starts to pace. It takes her a few minutes before she sighs in resignation and leans on the desk. She stares at me in bewilderment, gesturing for me to continue. That’s when I see it in her eyes, she’s not fully opposed to this.
A small kernel of hope grows in my chest, growing with each second she has yet to say no.
“How-how did you find out?”
“Pints and Twists? At its current state, it’s months away from foreclosure. Your old boss, who by the way is going to rot in jail, ran it to the ground. It not only needs a complete overhaul but new management as well. That’s where you come in. We have to close the place for atleast two months. I need someone I trust to oversee that among other things while I take care of things at TEG. Given what you know about my family, you know we like to keep it–”
“Within the family.” She whispers, “But that still doesn’t explain how you found out.”
“I’m desperate and I swear I’m not trying to feed you a line here when I say that I need you, Vanessa. You are the only person I trust with my business so I had my security team look you up. Finding where you were was easy enough but understanding the reasons behind it, surprisingly was even easier. Eventhough his last will isn’t public record, your grandfather hasn’t exactly been subtle about anything. He’s told more than a handful of people about what he’s stipulated in his will. Ben didn’t even need to do a deep dive because your grandfather has been loud and proud of the fact that he has once again roped you into a leash. Every single one of those dates of yours knew the score going in. They knew what they would stand to inherit had you gone and chosen them as your husband.”
Her mouth drops and she looks stricken. I realize my words came out harsh but seeing her and my sister’s abuser name laid out on that will, it pissed me the fuck off.
At first, I thought about just bailing her out of here because to hell with her grandfather’s manipulation tactics. Vanessa is my sister’s best friend. She has never wavered in her loyalty to our family. She could easily make money off of selling us out to the media or taking advantage of our status to elevate hers but not once has she even attempted to do so. Hell, she’s been working her ass off this whole time, living in that shit hole of an apartment and even willing to comply with her Grandfather’s demands, all to avoid asking us for a hand out.
She is well aware of the fact that all she would have had to do was ask Ava or Dad or even me and we would give her more than her grandfather ever could. With us, she would have the freedom to do whatever she wanted, with zero strings attached. But then that would mean Dean Logan inherited what was rightfully hers. I understood her reasoning for sticking it out.
Hence my proposal. Doing this would cut all that bullshit out. This is what we needed to do to solve our problems.
Not that I had any complaints with that part of the deal.
Knowing that I’ve said my piece and all I can do now is wait for her to decide, I give her time to let it sink in. I check my phone, noting that Ben has transportation set up downstairs and a medical team awaiting our arrival. We just needed to make a quick stop first.