Chapter 25 #2
The luxury car maneuvers between the busy traffic, but my mind is far from sightseeing.
I am stuck with the ‘see what I am made of’ comment from Adrian.
What did he mean by that? Does he think I am not going to last in Joshua’s world?
I put my head back onto the headrest and close my eyes.
What am I made of? And what of the ‘Joshua’s Stanton’s world can be pretty harsh’ comment?
What the hell does that mean? Does he mean the other women in Joshua’s life are going to make my life a living hell?
God, I’m so out of my depth here. Am I really considering giving up my safe little haven to move to… whatever the hell I am moving into?
My mind then moves to Josh, beautiful Josh, and I smile.
He’s so worth the fight, any fight. You know what?
I would move to the moon to be with him.
So, if someone wants to make my life hell…
then bring it on, bitches, I’ll be waiting.
I just have to promise myself that I won’t let anyone put it over me.
Stay true to myself. Yes, that’s the only way I have any chance of surviving La-La Land and its Botox beauties.
I glance down at my faded jeans and slouchy off-one-shoulder black T-shirt.
Is this even acceptable in Josh’s world?
I’m the world’s biggest dag. I make a mental note to get my shit together and buy some new clothes—funky ones that kick ass. Hmm, yes, good plan.
Adrian smiles and grabs my hand again. “You’re quiet.” He smirks.
“I suppose,” I answer. “This is all very new to me, Adrian. I’m feeling out of my depth.” He smiles a sympathetic smile and nods. “Will you promise me something, Adrian?”
He nods. “Anything”
“If I am put into a situation where you think I will be with someone who I can’t trust, will you tell me?”
He smiles an honest smile. “Of course, Tash.”
I nod, feeling better. “What will you say?” I ask.
He frowns. “What will I say?”
I nod and smile. “Yes, code for snake.”
He laughs out loud. “You want to have a secret code for someone you can’t trust?”
I smile and pick up his hand and kiss the back of it. “Exactly.” I narrow my eyes as I sum up my diabolical plan. “So the word for snake is?” I ask.
He smiles again. “Cinderella.” He giggles.
I frown. “Cinderella, that’s a pretty lame code word. I was thinking Mole Patrol or Booby Trap.”
He bursts out laughing. “If I say the word Booby Trap, I’m pretty sure Joshua will catch onto our plan.”
I nod. “Oh right, good thinking. But why Cinderella?” I ask. “That’s what Ben and I used to call you before we met you.” He smirks.
My mouth drops open. “Why would you call me Cinderella?” I ask.
“Because Joshua was besotted with you and we used to tease him.” I frown as I sum up his words, hmm, I like that piece of information.
My confidence gets a much-needed boost and for the first time since leaving the airport I feel a little excited about seeing Josh’s house.
We enter a road with beautiful trees and get to what looks like a guard station.
The driver slows down and the gates are buzzed open and we drive through.
“What was that?” I ask.
“This is a gated community, otherwise Joshua would be hounded night and day by photographers.” I nod again, feeling stupid.
The car turns a few corners, and the houses are all amazing.
We slow and pull into a driveway with massive sandstone gates, the driver punches in a code and the gates slowly open.
Shit. This can’t be his house, surely? It looks like something out of a magazine only a thousand times better.
There is a massive circular driveway that joins onto a huge, and I mean huge, dark charcoal-rendered space-age palace.
Fuck. The gardens are impeccable and have beautiful lights shining up into all of the trees.
There is a huge water fountain in what looks like a tropical heaven.
Jeez, this is opulence at its best. There are a few cars parked in the parking bays to the left and Ben looks around at Adrian and raises an eyebrow.
“We had better wait in the car until Joshua gets here.”
Adrian nods. “Good idea.”
Huh, whose cars are they? And why do we have to wait here?
“I would like to go in please,” I announce.
“No, we will wait for Joshua,” Ben snaps and I frown at Adrian.
“Is Cinderella inside?” I whisper. Adrian winks and nods. Right, that’s it. I barge the car door open and start marching up the stairs toward the front door. Adrian bundles out of the car behind me.
“Natasha, stop now.” This only infuriates me more. What, is the house frigging full of Penthouse bunnies or something? I can hear music and laughter coming from the house as I get close to the huge metal double doors.
Adrian catches up with me. “Tash, I’m not playing Cinderella anymore if you are going to act crazy every time I say it, and trust me you will hear it a lot.
” I scowl as I open the door and march in.
I stare open mouthed at my surroundings.
There is a massive foyer with a beautiful pendant light lighting up the area.
The floors are all dark polished concrete and the walls all stark white with massive abstract art adorning them.
The place is so modern it looks industrial, almost.
A red-headed lady in her fifties comes around the corner and gives us a loving smile.
“There’s my boy,” she laughs in a German accent. She pulls Adrian into an embrace and gives him a cuddle, which he returns. “Where is my other boy?” she asks as she looks out the front door for Joshua.
“This is Brigetta, Joshua’s housekeeper. He is on his way. Brigetta, this is Natasha.” I smile as I shake her hand. Her eyes shoot to Adrian, he smiles and nods.
“Speak to me, child.” She smiles.
“Um, hello, nice to meet you,” I stammer. She laughs and claps her hands together and holds them under her chin as if praying.
“Australian, so you’re the beloved Natasha.” She pulls me into a cuddle. Yep, I like her already. Anyone who calls me beloved Natasha is in the good books. A man’s voice echoes from the room next door.
“Brigetta, where’s my drink? I’m not a fucking camel.” Adrian rolls his eyes and Brigetta shakes her head.
I frown. “Who is that?” I snap.
Adrian gives me a sympathetic smile. “Carson,” he says, deadpan. “He’s Josh’s best friend.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re his best friend, Adrian.” He smiles and grabs my hand. The voice echoes again. “Brigetta, is this a fucking joke?” Brigetta goes to walk off but I grab her by the elbow.
“Why don’t you two wait here?” Adrian frowns, not understanding my meaning.
I storm into the next room. Oh shit, this is worse than I imagined.
There are five men in the lounge room all sitting on the biggest leather lounge I have ever seen.
They are all drinking and have a tray of what looks like frigging cocaine on the coffee table.
Is this for real? Adrian walks in behind me and the boys notice him and all start yelling.
“Murphy, you’re home. Where’s Stan? We thought we would host a little welcome home party. Brigetta, drinks…fuck.” Oh my god, he did not just yell at her to get him a drink. I cross my arms in front of me.
“This is Natasha,” Adrian says. They all ignore me and go back to their conversation. OK, I have had enough of this shit. I am fuming. Who are these losers? I walk over to the stereo and turn the music off and they all look up to see what happened.
Carson speaks first. “Brigetta, you speaka de English? I want a drink.”
I glare at him. “And I want you to treat Joshua’s staff with some respect. Please get your own drinks.”
Adrian grabs my arm from behind and I snatch it away. “Don’t,” I snap.
Carson looks up at me. “Who the hell are you?”
I cross my arms. “Who the hell are you?” I snap.
He narrows his eyes at me. “I’m Joshua’s best friend and I don’t take orders from bimbos. So, fuck off.”
I smile a sarcastic smile and raise my eyebrows. “Did you just tell me to fuck off?” I asked way too sweetly.
Adrian steps in. “Carson, this is Natasha…you know Natasha Natasha.” He widens his eyes.
Carson stands up. “I don’t care if she’s the fucking Queen of England. I don’t take orders from anyone. And there is no way in hell I’m listening to her.”
I smirk. “We’ll see, asshole,” I snap. Brigetta puts her hands over her eyes and leaves the room as Joshua comes in the front door.
He looks around the room and quickly sums up the situation.
The animosity in the air is stifling. He puts his arm around my shoulders and kisses my temple as he pulls me into him.
The boys all jump up and run to Joshua to shake his hand.
“Stan the man…you’re back.” Oh, get off it, you losers, so fake.
“Boys, this is Natasha, my girlfriend.”
Horror dawns on their faces and you could hear a pin drop. I smile at the boys. “Nice to meet you, now get the fuck out,” I snap.
Joshua coughs in shock. “Natasha,” he gasps.
“They go or I do Josh. There is no way in hell I am staying here with these drug-fucked assholes.”
His shocked eyes shoot to Adrian. “What’s going on?” he asks him.
“Your mate Carson just told me to fuck off, so you can stay here with him and I can stay at Adrian’s or they can leave and I will stay, have it your way,” I snap.
He frowns at Carson. “Is that correct?” he asks.
Carson glares at me. “I don’t take orders from chicks, you know that. And I am not going anywhere, she can leave.”
Oh god, I hate this man with a passion. Joshua looks at him deadpan and runs his tongue over his top front teeth. He’s annoying him too. Good.
“Natasha is not going anywhere. In fact, she’s moving to America and in with me, so you will show her respect in her own home.
Go home. I will call you all tomorrow.” Joshua then walks over to the staircase and starts to go up to his bedroom.
“Ben, can you show the boys out?” he calls from the stairs.
I stand still on the spot and cop the full wrath of Carson’s evil glare.
“I give you two weeks. He won’t put up with your shit,” he snaps.
I smile a little too sweetly. “Such a pleasure to meet you, boys, pity you had to leave so soon.” I think Bridget’s bitchiness is contagious. I head into the other room to find Brigetta and locate her in the kitchen.
She grabs me in an embrace. “Natasha, Natasha,” she whispers.
I giggle as I return her cuddle. “Brigetta, don’t put up with their shit. Joshua isn’t like that. He won’t let them speak to you like that.”
She nods nervously.
Adrian comes into the kitchen and picks me up and spins me around. “You’re a tough little thing, aren’t you?” He smiles.
I roll my eyes. “Maybe I’m stupid. I think I just made hating me all that much fun.”
He nods. “Baby, all of LA is going to hate you. You have just nabbed yourself one of the world’s most eligible bachelors. They don’t know your history with Josh, and they will try to test you but tonight you passed with flying colors.”
He smiles as he rubs my shoulders and gives me a wink. “Mission accomplished.”