Page 129 of Kaine

“Because men like you need to be taught a lesson. You can’t just toy with women and throw them away. You knew, you had to have known when I came to work for you why I did it?” Her eyes are wild, and I realize she’s crazy. She built up this fantasy about us in her head and when it didn’t happen, it pushed her into this insanity.

“You father asked me to, Jade. You know that, I was helping him out.”

“Oh, come on, Kaine! My father was just using me, he thought I could seduce you and we’d eventually take over your company as well. I’m the one who told him I wouldn’t. Because I loved you! I was trying to protect you! And you just reject me... for a complete... nobody!”

Something rings a warning bell in my head.

This isn’t just about me.

“Who are you talking about, Jemima?”

Her laugh grates in my ears and I struggle with the urge to cover them with my bandaged hands. I have to focus, focus on what’s happening here.

“Your precious, Jade. She thinks she can just strut into our lives and break us apart? No. If I can’t have you, she can’t either.”

She walks towards the door and even through the throbbing ache in my skull, I know I have to keep her here as long as I can. She hasn’t just mentioned Jade for the fun of it. It must mean something.

“Jem. Please. Wait.”

“It’s too late, Kaine. You had your chance.”

I have to play this smart. I’m already at a disadvantage, me in a hospital bed, pumped full of drugs. But if I’ve ever needed to concentrate, this is it.

“Jemima, stay Please. Don’t leave me like this, you wouldn’t... not if you really do love me.” I want to retch saying the words, but when she stops and spins around, I know the tactic is worth it.

“Don’t play me, Kaine,” she says, but her voice wavers.

“I’m not. I just... I don’t think I realized until now, at the thought of you leaving and me never seeing you again, that something is happening between us. Maybe I’ve been suppressing these feelings all this time,” I say, reaching out my bandaged hand in her direction, deliberately flinching in pain.

A frown flits across her face; it’s barely there, but I catch it. Insane, yes. But it seems her deluded affection for me is real.

I lay back on the bed, hissing between my teeth and pressing my hand against my chest, taking an exaggerated breath.

“Jemima... please. At least, can you get me some water. Please. My throat is so dry.”

Her whole body tenses and she looks at me, trying to read my real intentions. I try to empty all ulterior motives from my mind and lock my eyes with hers. She’s hiding something. Something she hasn’t admitted yet. I need to find out what it is before she walks out that door.

Her shoulders slump and she exhales, cursing under her breath as she reaches for the glass of water on my night stand, holding it up to my mouth.

I sigh, thankful, as I take a long, slow sip, trying to plan my next move.

“Thank you,” I exhale, letting go of the straw, smiling appreciatively up at her. She looks down at me, her eyes softening as she strokes the side of my face. I will the muscle in my jaw twitching in disgust to relax.

“I would’ve done anything for you, you know that?” She coos, and her fingers stroke the scar on my face. “I didn’t care that half of your face was so ugly, I would’ve loved all of you.”

“You still can. Stay, we can work this out.”

“What about Jade?”

“What about her? If you’d been around, you would’ve known, I sent her away yesterday, I told her I never want to see her again.”

“You did what? Why?”

“Yeah, I did. When I woke up from my coma, I realized I didn’t want her. You’re right, she was just a lying gold digger, just wanted me for my money. I should’ve listened to you earlier.”

“Yes, you should’ve. You were wrong. I was right.”

“You were.” I nod and she smiles, her eyes growing wider with trust.