Duplicity 2 (Duplicity New Adult Romance) (7 page)

Downstairs, I asked Donna at reception if she would mind booking my cab for the airport, and watch my luggage for me. It was the same small flight bag that I’d arrived in New York with, just two weeks previous. The designer clothes? I didn’t need them any more, and had dropped them off at a thrift store first thing.
 

“Sure, no problem,” said Donna. “I’ll ask the concierge to leave it in the luggage room. And what about the box?” The pathetic little cardboard box was the last bastion of my failed corporate life.
 

I smiled, lifted the box, and handed it to Donna.

“It’s trash.”

And in a heartbeat, I was free.

***

Who should I meet as I was leaving the building, but Gavin Hains. Seeing me, he blocked my pathway, so I was forced to stop.

“Well, if it isn’t Holly Martin,” he sneered. “I hear you’ve split up with Nick. What a surprise. Maybe you’d like to go out with a real man sometime?”

Well, that was it.
 

I imagined Tara, goading me on.

“Fuck off, asshole,” I replied, pushing him aside.

***

The doorman at Nick’s building remembered me.

“Mr. Van Hoogen’s at the hospital, miss,” he said when I inquired. “He told me he won’t be back till late.”
 

I breathed a sigh of relief. That was perfect. I would be gone by then.
 

“But I promise to give him the letter, miss.”

“Thank you.”
 

I pressed a twenty into his hand and hurried off.

CHAPTER TEN

Dear Nick,

I owe you a huge apology. For running away. For not telling you everything before now, because I could never find the right time or the right words. But that’s no excuse. I should have told you at the start, before everything spiralled out of control.

Before we left London, I made a mistake that will stay with me forever. I cheated on you, with my friend Adam. It wasn’t pre-meditated, and I don’t remember the details. I was drunk, but that’s no excuse either.
 

I didn’t tell you because it didn’t mean anything. I was ashamed, and I thought there was no need for you to ever know. That you would never find out. I blamed Adam for what happened, and I didn’t take responsibility for my own actions. I know now that was wrong.

But the truth has a way of catching up with us, and maybe that’s not a bad thing. I learned only a couple of days ago that I’m pregnant, and I don’t know who the father is. It could be you, or Adam. I’ve thought this through and if anything good can come of this situation, it’s that there’s a miracle growing inside me and it puts everything in perspective.
 

I never planned to be a single parent or to start a family so young, I always thought that my career came first. I had no time for love, until I met you. I had no thought of babies, but now I can think of nothing more wonderful or important than the little life that’s growing inside me. That’s my priority now, to build a safe and happy life for my child. A child who is very much wanted and will be cherished and adored whoever their father turns out to be.

 
Not that it matters now, but Don Gribben has been trying to blackmail me. He knows all about my deceit, and has a video of my night with Adam. But please believe me Nick, that I’m not leaving because of Don, I’m leaving because I think it’s the right thing to do, for all of us. I hope that Don won’t use the video against either of us, but that is out of my control.
 

I have learned a lesson that I will never forget. A relationship built on lies can never survive. I don’t deserve your love. Sarah is a very lucky woman. I will always cherish the memories of our time together. My love for you was true.

Please don’t come after me. After the baby is born, I will contact you to arrange a paternity test. I understand if you never want anything more to do with me, but I hope that time will heal old wounds.
 

I wish you only the best of everything, always and forever.

Yours,

Holly x

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I arrived unannounced at Gribben’s office. Big mistake.
 

“I’m sorry, but Mr. Gribben is unavailable,” said his prim assistant. “He never sees anyone without an appointment. Would you like to come back next week?”

I glanced at my watch. It had taken me longer than I thought to get across town from Nick’s place. I didn’t have much time to get back to the office.

“Please,” I pleaded. “Can you tell him it’s Holly Martin? I’m sure he will see me. I have a plane to catch, and I think he will want to know.”

“I’ll tell him,” said Miss Prim. “But he’s not here right now.”

“Can I wait?” I asked. “Or can you call him for me? It’s really important. I can’t leave without seeing him.”

She lifted the phone, and I heard her speak, telling Gribben I was here to see him.

“Mr. Gribben won’t be back till later,” she announced, setting the phone down.

“Fine, I’ll wait.”

“Suit yourself,” she snapped.
 

She watched me as I sat down and stared out the window. An adrenalin rush was the only thing that was getting me through today. I knew it would fade as soon as I got on the plane, and exhaustion would take over. I hadn’t even had a chance to call my parents yet.

The seconds ticking by turned to minutes, until the clock on the wall told me that I could wait no longer. I scribbled a note to Gribben and left it with Miss Prim.

Outside, I was overcome with a ravenous hunger. The little bun in my oven was screaming, “Feed me!” and I felt guilty for not having eaten properly for days.

I noticed a hot dog vendor across the road, and hot dogs all of a sudden seemed like the most appealing food I could ever have wished for. In my excitement to get one, and at the same time trying to answer my ringing cell phone, I looked to the right before stepping off the sidewalk. That’s when I saw Gribben, but this time he didn’t save me.

***

I watched the young woman rush onto the pavement at Fulton. Clutching her phone, she looked the wrong way before her mistake cost her dear.
 

I screamed to her to stop but it was too late to avoid the path of the oncoming vehicle. The car approaching couldn’t stop in time. The bump of the initial impact was followed by the thud of her body as it landed.
 

A crowd gathered around. Her eyes were open, like a rabbit caught in headlights. I met her gaze and saw myself, scared and alone.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Now I know why my mother told me always to wear nice underwear. And it wasn’t anything to do with getting laid. Speaking from experience, whether you get run over by a cab or get lucky when you least expect it, your underwear doesn’t matter. No guy cares if your bra and panties don’t match when all he wants to do is get them off as fast as possible. And in the accident situation, well let’s just say your undies are going to get all messed up anyway.
 

Lying on the hospital gurney, every time I closed my eyes all I could see was the slow motion replay of the accident, over and over again. This time I wasn’t the spectator, I was the star of the show.
 

A sudden thump that swept me off my feet and threw me upwards, the bounce off the hood, and a weightlessness as I flew through the air before coming down to earth with a crash of splintered bones. The screech of brakes and the smell of burning rubber as the car on the other side of the road ground to a halt, inches before I was flattened.
 

The cab driver, inconsolable, shouting to passers by to call 911. Me, lifting my head and smiling, saying “Don’t worry, it wasn’t your fault,” and seeing the concern in his eyes. And wondering if he would be the last person I ever saw. Not Nick, not my mum or dad. A look of kindness from a stranger who had mown me down in broad daylight because I was stupid enough to look the wrong way.

I had flickered in and out of consciousness, aware of the sounds of sirens. Shouting voices. The pain of being moved. Every part of me ached, but mostly my head. The rest of the pain was disjointed, like the dots didn’t meet. Relief when it all went black. They said that was my body’s way of shutting off the pain.
 

I didn’t know how long I’d been here, it seemed like an eternity.
 
At last, a nurse approached with an orderly, who started pushing me along the hall. I winced as the trolley shook me about. The ride was bumpy and the wheels rattled.

“We’re just going to take you somewhere private, Holly. Where you can rest in quiet,” explained the nurse.
 

She pulled back a green curtain and helped the orderly move me onto the bed. Bolts of pain shot through me and I clenched my teeth, all of which had miraculously survived.
 

“There, there dear. I know you’re sore, but it could have been much worse. Just a few broken bones. We’ll have you stuck back together in no time. The doctor will be along to see you soon.”
 

The brisk nurse pressed more tape over the IV tube in my arm. “Is there anyone we can call for you?”
 

“No, thank you,” I croaked. “Please,” I could hardly get the words out. “May I have some pain relief?” Jeez, where was Tara when you needed her. She was a walking illegal pharmacy.

“That’s not possible, honey.” The nurse stroked my forehead with a wet wipe. “Not with … well, we’ll see when the doctor comes. Soon, I promise.” The nurse patted my hand and left me alone.

Laying still was the only way to stop the pain, so I tried not to move. I couldn’t close my eyes without the cab coming towards me again, just before it hit. Instead, I stared at the ceiling. How had it all gone so wrong?

The pain of my broken bones was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.
 

The stakes were high on a house of cards that came tumbling down. I had gambled on a lie and lost everything.

***

My handsome hottie arrived unannounced, while I lay sleeping. It was dark but this time I could see his face.
 

***

When I wakened he was there, holding my hand. I thought I was still dreaming.
 

“Hey,” he whispered, stroking my hair away from my face. “You had me worried, Holly Martin.”
 

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “You didn’t think you could get away from me that easily, did you?”

My chin quivered and tears welled up. “Oh Nick. I’m so sorry. So, so sorry for everything. How did you find me?” I tried to sit up, but nothing was working. My head sank back into the pillow.

“Your Cathwell’s pass was in your purse. I came as soon as I got the call. Do your parents know?”

“No. I’m going to call them later. But first, there’s something I have to tell you, Nick, and I want you to know that if you can’t forgive me, I completely understand.”

A look of surprise crossed Nick’s face and he raised his eyebrows. “I’m sure there’s nothing I can’t forgive you for, Holly. But first, I need to tell you that Sarah passed this morning. Her mother and I were there, but Don didn’t make it in time. He’s completely distraught.”

“Really? Oh, Nick. Poor Sarah. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
 

The tears started again. If that car hadn’t stopped in time in front of me, I’d be a gonner too.
 

Nick’s face was etched with grief. “Holly, please don’t leave me. I need you more than ever. I’ve made my peace with Sarah and said my goodbyes. I think she was trying to say goodbye too. I have to live with my guilt forever for what happened to her. I couldn’t protect her, but I want to look after you for eternity. Please, let me try. I’ll do whatever it takes for you to give me another chance.”

“Nick, I love you very much, but I don’t deserve you. I’ve lied to you, but I have to tell you the truth. All of it. I’m pregnant, or at least I was. I was bleeding after the accident, so I don’t know yet if the baby is okay. I’m waiting to have a scan.”

It was Nick’s turn to get choked up, big fat tears running down his cheeks. His hand, clenched round mine, gripped me tighter.
 

“Holly, this is a miracle. You don’t know how much this means to me. I understand why you didn’t tell me, with Sarah, but please, no more secrets. I’ll go and find a doctor for the scan, we need to find out if everything’s okay.”

Nick’s chair scraped the floor as he leapt up.
 

I called after him, “Wait, Nick, that’s not all. The baby might not … ”

We were interrupted by the curtain being pulled across.
 

My mouth fell open.

There he was, as cheeky and cool as ever.
 

“Hey, Holly.”

“Hello, Adam.”
 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“Sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing,” grinned Adam. “You’re pregnant, Holly? Wow. That’s brilliant news. Congratulations.”

If I could have jumped out of bed and strangled Adam there and then, I would have had a go, but it was out of the question.

“Adam, I have no idea how and why you are here, but can you please leave? I was just in the middle of telling Nick something.” The bile was rising in my throat.
 

“Nope. Sorry to ambush your confession, Holly, but I have to stop you right there.” Adam held one of his hands up in a halt sign.

“Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” said Nick, agitated.

“Sure,” said Adam. “I’d be happy to. Let’s see. Holly’s about to tell you that she cheated on you and the baby might not be yours, but everybody calm down. It’s not true. I set her up. All a big scam, thanks to Don Gribben.”

“What?” said Nick, clenching his fists.

“Is this true, Adam?” I asked. “What about the tape?”

“Gribben’s bluffing, Holly. Two minutes of you dancing around like a stripper then you conked out on the bed. So I wiggled on top of you for a bit because that’s what Gribben was paying me for. But sorry to disappoint you babe,” Adam winked. “We didn’t do it.”

“So why are you telling me this now, Adam?”