style="font-size:15px;"> ‘You know I will never do that. Give me the damn note.’ Her voice indicates that she is not to be messed with. There is absolutely no playfulness left, so I reluctantly hand it over.
She reads it and abruptly collapses to the floor in a crumpled heap as if her legs can no longer bear the terrible weight she carries. She rips the note to shreds as if it is poison in her hands and her entire body starts trembling. ‘What am I going to do? She’ll never leave me alone. Unless we find her, she will find me. We know that’s the truth. She probably knows exactly where I am right now, even after your surprise detour. I can’t take any more of this, I just can’t. I’m captive here and I’ll be captive there. There’s no way out, no end in sight.’
There is nothing I despise more in myself than being at a complete loss for words or unable to take action. Unfortunately, that is exactly how I feel at this precise moment … utterly redundant. Moments pass as we wonder what will happen next. I don’t know what to say or how to console her.
Fortunately, Robert walks back inside leaving the kids outside drying themselves with their towels. Alexa looks up at his face and suddenly kicks into gear in a way that shocks us all.
‘Right, if you want to know how to support me in the short-term, this is how. Robert, you’re on kid duty as the responsible parent for the next twenty-four hours. Jeremy, I need a drink and make it strong. I need to feel numb for a while.’
Robert and I both try to speak at the same time before her words and strengthened voice override ours. ‘I don’t ask for much and this is what I’m asking.’ She then adds in the same clear, firm voice. ‘I’m deadly serious. I need a drink. Now.’
Okay, clearly we have reached breaking point. Robert and I look at each other and nod, knowing full well that if we were in her shoes, we would have demanded exactly the same thing days ago.
Adam appears, suggesting that we make our way up the spiral stairs to the sun deck and he’ll bring up some drinks. I nod in agreement and attempt to dislodge Alexa from her seated position on the floor surrounded by the scraps of scattered white paper. She appears to have gone back into shock.
Eventually, realising she is incapable of moving herself, I pick her up in my arms and carry her upstairs away from the children and deposit her on a comfortable sun lounge with a view as far-reaching as the eye can see. She has her swimmers on under her robe. She must have been going out to join the kids.
I’d go down and fetch a hat but I don’t want to leave her in this state so high up, given the nothingness in her face. This whole situation has finally taken its toll, become too much. I think back to being at my hotel, One Aldwych in London, just after she had been abducted. All I wanted was a drink to numb the pain. How can I condemn her for wanting the same thing? Her body is immobile so I gently push her head back and stretch out her legs so she is fully relaxed on the lounge, as I wait anxiously in the silent breeze for Adam.
Finally, he arrives with two Long Island Iced Teas. I raise my eyebrows, questioning his choice.
‘Well, she did say strong. Here’s the intercom if you need anything else.’
I thank him for the drinks and wave one in front of AB’s face to get her attention.
‘Your drink, m’lady,’ I try to say as light-heartedly as possible. She finally comes out of her trance and takes hold of the long glass, rips the straw out along with the umbrella Adam has decorated it with, and gulps it down. This could get very messy, very fast. She draws breath only to repeat her action, downing three-quarters of the drink in record time. I have to physically prevent myself from stopping her by removing my added extras and taking a sip as well. Finally, she makes eye contact.
‘This is good.’ And polishes off the rest. ‘I’d like another.’ She looks directly at mine and I deliberately take a huge mouthful before handing it over. Bloody hell, it’s strong even for me.
‘Promise me, you’ll at least try to sip it?’ I add hopefully but to no avail.
After about ten minutes of silence between us, with me anxiously awaiting her next move, she finally speaks. ‘Ah, that feels so much better.’ She picks up the intercom. ‘Hi, Adam, that was perfect. Would you mind making another just like it? Excellent, thanks.’ I can tell by the look on her face that she is enjoying my reaction to her shenanigans. ‘What a great guy Adam is, don’t you think?’
‘Yeah, he is. Looks like you two will get along just fine.’
‘Don’t look so disheartened, Jeremy, I’m meant to be the one feeling that and for the next few hours I just want to forget about everything. Otherwise my brain and heart may implode. Can you do that for me?’
She discards her robe and I’m left with the breathtaking vision of her curvaceous body in a retro, red halter-neck bikini, soaking up the sun. For someone under so much stress, she looks stunningly gorgeous. If anything, having kids has given her body more shape and her breasts look sensational. I can’t believe my dick instantly springs to life. I feel like a teenager with the impact she has on me.
‘Yes, I will always do anything for you, sweetheart.’
She scoffs. ‘Only if it is aligned with what you want.’
‘And you know that what I want is always what is best for you.’ I kiss the top of her forehead. ‘I’m just going to get your hat, sunglasses and your next round of beverages. Stay put.’
‘Where else could I go?’
When I return with a tray holding the drinks, some Lebanese bread, tzatziki dip and sunscreen, Alexa is nowhere to be seen. Her robe is still on the sun lounge, but she has vanished. I slam down the tray on the side table and quickly scan the area. Shit, please no. Not again. My stomach goes into free fall. I have been gone less than five minutes. I race around the structure where the stairs come up from the apartment, then to the other side, my heart pounding in fear.
Nothing. No one. I run to the edge of the balustrade and look below, hoping, knowing she would never jump. It’s not in her nature. I scan the sky with the fleeting thought that maybe a helicopter has scooped her away, not that I heard any noise. Oh, god, no. Please, this can’t be happening again.
Then suddenly I feel her fingers pinch my butt and I turn around in a frenzy to grab hold of her with all my life, sheer relief mixed with angst and anger at her antics. She tries to run, but I capture her around her waist and haul her over my shoulder.
‘Never — do — that — to — me — again!’ I slap her butt on each word, and she is screaming and laughing as I unceremoniously dump her beautiful body back on the sun lounge. ‘I swear to god, Alexa. You just about gave me a heart attack.’
She’s laughing uncontrollably now; once she starts, she always finds it hard to stop. Still beside myself with fear, adrenaline surging through my veins, I quickly pick up the tie from around her robe and deftly wrap it around her wrists, tying each of her hands to the side of the lounge.
‘What … what are you doing? You … can’t …’ She staggers between her hysterics, laughing so much she has no hope of preventing my actions. I ensure they won’t loosen.
‘This way, at least I know you will stay put.’ Much better, I think to myself. She looks so sexy restrained to the sun lounge in her bikini. Now that I know she is safe, I’m pleased that she has had a good belly laugh.
‘Jeremy,
