The Billionaire's Hired Girlfriend (Kiwi Bride 1)

CHAPTER 14

By the time Alexandra came out of the changing room, she found Jayden had gone. When Kelly told her he was going to lunch with Britney and Beth after all and that they had no idea when he’d be back, her heart shattered. She realized he wasn’t going to take her to Central Park. She had been looking forward to it. She wanted to spend time with him doing silly, regular things a girl did with her boyfriend. Not that he was her real boyfriend, of course.

Stephanie said as they were leaving Vera Wang, “We have loads of fun things to do.”

“What kind of things?” Alex asked curiously.

“Makeover and shopping!” Kelly shrieked excitedly.

“It’ll be fun,” Stephanie put in, clasping Alex’s hands as they stepped toward the limousine.

“Cool,” Alex said, pushing the disturbing thought of Jayden having lunch with Britney to one side. Perhaps the time spent window-shopping with the girls might be fun after all, an experience she knew she’d enjoy.

“I like window-shopping,” she said.

John stepped forward and opened the door for them.

“We are not window-shopping, Alex,” Gracie said. “We are shopping for your new wardrobe.” Then to John she said, “Thank you.”

The limo driver touched the tip of his hat.

“Say what?” Alex exclaimed.

“You need a whole new wardrobe. And a complete makeover,” Kelly commented as she nudged her in.

Alex looked at Kelly, confused, as she slid into the seat beside Gracie. “I do?”

“Of course you do,” Stephanie remarked, taking her seat opposite Alex. “Or didn’t you hear what that—” She paused, her face grim as she was about to say the word bitch. “Britney said?”

Of course Alex heard. But she couldn’t change the way she looked or who she was. She wasn’t like them, born with everything handed to them on a silver platter. And the fact was Alex wasn’t going to change herself just to fit in with them or to please them. She was who she was, and that was fine with her.

“Besides,” Kelly continued, “we do want to polish you up for my wedding. My brother’s one of the top ten bachelors in New York, not to mention one of the youngest billionaires in the States. As his girlfriend, you have to look good. Everyone will want to know who you are.”

Stephanie leaned forward as the limo started moving. “Oh, don’t be alarmed, Alex. Understand that we are trying to help you out. Can’t you see? Britney is trying to steal Jayden from you.”

“Like asking him to lunch with her dad, for instance,” Kelly said. “If people see, word will spread. She’s trying to show everyone she and Jayden are a couple.”

“Now, girls,” Gracie put in calmly, “Britney is not that bad. Shall I call Lawrence?”

“Oh, yes, Mom. It has to be Lawrence. Surely he must be available for us. This is an emergency,” Kelly said. “Besides, my bachelorette party is tomorrow night, and Alex must be ready by then.”

Alex heard her name in the conversation and said, “Bachelorette party?”

“Oh, Mrs. McCartney, you don’t know Britney. She’s capable of anything,” Stephanie commented. “Don’t you agree, Kelly?”

“Yes,” Kelly replied.

“Like mother, like daughter, I suppose,” Gracie murmured as she started dialing on her BlackBerry.

“What’s a bachelorette party?” Alex asked curiously.

“She’s no different from Sarah,” Kelly muttered, looking at Stephanie. “I’m glad Jay’s over her.”

It took a while for Alex to absorb that piece of information. Once she realized what it meant, she shouted, “What?”

“Lawrence? Hello? Lawrence? Is that you?” Gracie said into her cell. “Ah, Lawrence, are you free this afternoon? We have an emergency.”

Kelly widened her eyes and bit her lower lip when she realized what she had done.

“What do you mean? Who’s Sarah?” Alex asked.

Kelly laughed uncomfortably. “She’s nobody, Alex. Don’t worry about it.” She turned to Gracie. “Mom? Is Lawrence available?”

Gracie nodded and Kelly did a thumbs-up. “How about lunch first? Where to?” she asked, still trying to ignore Alex.

“I feel like Italian today,” Stephanie remarked. “What about you, Alex?”

“I don’t mind,” Alex replied, her mind still reeling on who Sarah could be.

Gracie said, “See you this afternoon, then, Lawrence.” Then she ended the call. “There. All sorted. Now where were we?”

“Lunch,” Kelly put in quickly.

“Yes, lunch,” Stephanie said. “Italian?”

At Buon Appetito along Madison Avenue, Alex watched as Gracie and Kelly strolled side by side into the flashy restaurant. When she was sure they wouldn’t be able to hear her, she quickly caught up with Stephanie.

“Stephanie? Can I ask you something?”

Stephanie gave her a smile. “Of course. Go ahead, sweetheart.”

“I was just curious. Well, I was kind of wondering, and you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. Who’s Sarah?”

Stephanie paused and grabbed Alex’s hand. “You poor girl,” she began, patting Alex gently. “Jay hasn’t told you, has he?”

This didn’t sound good. Now Alex wondered if she wanted to know who Sarah was.

“Well. No, not really,” she said, going along.

“She’s no good for him. Such a slut,” Stephanie said. “He loved her so much, you know. Then she goes and hurts him, sleeping with his best friend the way she did.”

Alex shut her eyes for a moment, trying to take it all in. What was Stephanie talking about?

“Wait! Stephanie, who loved Sarah? And who did Sarah sleep with?”

Stephanie sighed. “Come on. I’m hungry,” she said, and they started walking toward the restaurant again. “It’s Jayden, of course.”

Alex came to a halt. She suddenly felt sick.

“Hey, Alex?” Stephanie stared at her. “You all right?”

Alex blinked and said in a shaky voice, “I’m fine.”

“Good. Oh, I see.”

Alex was confused. “Huh? What? What do you see?”

“You’re tired and hungry. You’re so pale just now. Come on. I don’t want you to faint. We have a lot to do this afternoon.” She led Alex into the restaurant.

They saw the maître d’ in a very neat black-and-white uniform, leading Gracie and Kelly toward a table near the window. As they were approaching the two women, Alex asked, “Was Sarah Jayden’s ex-girlfriend?”

“Yes,” came the prompt reply from Stephanie.

Alex could feel the room swirling around her. “Who was Jayden’s best friend?” she asked. She couldn’t help herself. She simply needed to know.

“Kyle Shore. Never liked him much, to be honest.”

Alex was feeling shaky as they took their seats. She grabbed for the glass of water Kelly poured for them and gulped it down. She told herself to calm down before she embarrassed herself and fainted.

“Alex, are you all right?” Kelly asked.

Alex put the empty glass down, her hands still shaking. “Where’s the restroom?”

“That way,” Kelly directed. “You don’t look too good.”

Alex saw that Kelly was staring at her intensely, as though she thought something had disturbed her emotionally. Alex knew she mustn’t let anyone know Jayden had lied to her. She swallowed. She could feel herself sweating.

“I just feel sick at the smell of food, that’s all.” She lied, and before any of them could ask her any more questions, she rushed away.

Gracie said, “Oh.”

Alex was in such a hurry she didn’t look where she was going and bumped into somebody along the corridor.

“Sorry,” she said apologetically, glancing up.

“Watch where you’re going!” the woman snapped, her hazel eyes intense on Alex, her bright-red lips twisting in obvious disgust.

Alex thought the woman was incredibly gorgeous. She had long blond hair sty

led elegantly like a movie star’s and a pastel-green suit that fit her perfectly, showing off her Victoria’s Secret body.

Alex wanted to get past her, but the blond woman seemed to be in no hurry to move.

“Excuse me,” she said, stepping forward.

“Ugh,” the woman gasped. “Don’t come near me.”

“Huh?” Alex was shocked and confused as to what she meant.

The blonde glared at her. “Get out of my way,” she snapped.

Alex quickly stepped to one side because the woman looked as though she were about to shove her back. Before she moved, the blonde frowned at her and shook her head. “Your manager should train you better.”

Alex was too stunned to reply.

“You know you shouldn’t treat people that way,” a male voice said from the end of the corridor.

Alex glanced to her left and saw a handsome young man there, leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. The moment she met his eyes, she regretted it. His stare sent a chill down her spine. There was also a glint of something in his eyes that told Alex he was not to be trusted. He looked ruthless.

The woman flicked her blond curls over her shoulder and said, “It’s none of your business, Kyle.”

Kyle moved forward and brushed his finger against her cheek. The blonde shoved his hand away and snapped, “Don’t touch me.” She glanced over at Alex and said, “She’s your type. Low and dirty. If you don’t get to sleep with that slut Britney tonight, go for her.”

“Sarah, that’s enough,” Kyle said, his voice hard.

“Make me,” she mocked, sneering at him.

Alex thought this woman looked like an angel, but her character was like the dark lord Satan himself.

When Kyle glared at her, Sarah stood back and folded her arms across her chest in satisfaction. She turned to look at Alex and said, “Those toilets are dirty. Do your job properly.” Then she strode away, her expensive heels clip-clopping on the expensive marble floor. Kyle shook his head and followed her.

Once Alex had freshened up and felt better, she returned to her seat.

“Feeling better?” Gracie asked.

“Yes, thank you,” she replied.

As the other three women made small talk while they waited for their food, Alex was consumed with anger. She couldn’t believe Jayden had lied to her. She couldn’t believe she actually had believed him. Oh, how he tormented and teased her. Then the picture of her half-naked in front of him rushed back to her in full force. She blushed at the thought. He had seen her breasts, touched her bare skin, and kissed her. She was furious thinking about it as she stuffed down her spaghetti Bolognese.

“Alex?” Kelly’s voice echoed faintly in her head. “Are you all right?”

Alex paused. She had just realized that her plate was a mess of red sauce, meatballs, and spaghetti and that she was eating without manners. She sighed. It was all that damn Jayden’s fault. She didn’t normally behave this way.

“I’m sorry. I’m just suddenly very hungry,” she said apologetically, putting her fork down. “This is delicious.”

Gracie reached out and patted her hand. “You’ll need the energy for the long afternoon,” she said, winking at her.

Alex blinked. “Yes, that’s true,” she replied absentmindedly. She’d need all her strength to confront that lying son of a— “Don’t swear, Alex,” she murmured under her breath.

“What was that?” Stephanie asked, looking at her.

“Nothing,” Alex replied and even managed a full grin.

“Eating lots is good, as long as you eat healthily. You are eating healthily, yes?” Gracie asked.

“Yes, of course,” Alex replied, nodding her head.

Alex gritted her teeth as she glared at the meatballs. Blast you, Jayden! I’m going to kill you when I see you. And blast that Britney! She was going to have a complete makeover, and that was that!

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