Chasing Paradise (Chasing 3)

“And there’s a lot of women that would wish you… gone.” Gareth said the word gone in a tone that gave me goosebumps all over. “Although, there were a few who stood out, like Ivanna, Amelia and Miss Camilla Clayworth; his ex-betrothed.”

Three big names; ones I’d thought of as well. “Whoever pushed me down the stairs, do you think they meant serious harm or did they want to warn me?”

“Miss Sienna—” he started, but I paused him before continuing.

“Please, just call me Sienna.”

Gareth’s brown eyes studied me a second before sighing. “All right, Sienna. Can I tell you something, but have you promise me we’ll keep it between us?”

Shit. I swallowed, daunted from his tone. “I promise, whatever I hear from your lips, won’t be repeated with anyone else.”

“Thank you,” he said, stirring the contents of his coffee, studying it with utmost care. It took him half a minute to proceed. “Mr. Knightly hired several teams to investigate the accident and I was told to stay away since I wasn’t really there at the time it had occurred so I respected that, even though I felt like I’m responsible for your fall. Had I been there, this wouldn’t have occurred, yet you’re a very persistent woman and had Mr. Knightly under your thumb that evening so I gave in to your request.” Gareth leveled his gaze with mine, serious and cautious with his words. “The next day, my cousin—who actually works at the bar at the very same hotel—called me. His call didn’t surprise me due to the occurrence being pretty much the only thing the employees discussed ever since it had all happened.” He paused, again. “He informed me that he might’ve met one of the suspects. He served a drink to a Middle Eastern man who ordered fizz at the bar. Finding it bizarre, he shrugged it off and gave him his order, however what caught his attention not long after was how his eyes pretty much kept scanning the crowd, as though they were studying, or possibly looking for, someone in particular. It could be the other person involved or he was keeping an eye on you.”

“The Middle Eastern man could’ve been someone’s date at the Gala. What time did your cousin say this was? I ordered a drink at the bar, too. That was when I was handed the note actually…” I trailed off, trying to rehash the memories that played through my head. For weeks, I had recalled most of the events in my memory, though I hadn’t really focused on the bar or the people that were there.

Gareth shook his head before he tried to explain himself again. “True, my cousin mentioned the man wearing a tux, but why would he order a non-alcoholic drink at a bar? He barely drank any of it because he had been so preoccupied with looking around.”

Now my heart was galloping wildly. Gareth was right. The man did sound fishy. “Can I meet your cousin? I want to speak to him. He might have more clues that could help me.”

“They aren’t allowed to speak to anyone that isn’t part of the team Mr. Knightly hired. Calling me about it already crossed that line. I’m not sure he’d be willing to cross it twice without getting in a lot of trouble, Sienna.”

I had to speak to him. “Well, assure him that I will make sure he doesn’t get in trouble. If he will, tell him that I will ensure Blake won’t jeopardize anything for him.”

He nodded, sipping his coffee. “I’ll make the call when he lands in London.” Gareth then looked amused. “I’m sure he’d be thrilled to know that there’s a woman out there that could bring Mr. Knightly to his knees.” When he saw my raised brow, he explained, “Blake Knightly is not only wealthy, but he’s one who has a lot of influential connections in the country. He’s a very powerful man, and let’s just say, most people prefer to be on his good side. I have heard how vicious and cruel he can be in the business world, although he seems more terrifying in the outside arena. I wonder, sometimes, how you made him… I think the word I’m looking for is subdued?”

I couldn’t help it, I had to laugh at that. Little ole me had one of the most sought after bachelors in England crazy in love with me. “Would you believe it if I tell you that he befriended me, knowing his intent, and waited until I broke up with my boyfriend? Let’s just say that he’s one of those kinds of men that never gives up until options A to Z are exhausted.”

“He’s very much in love with you, Sienna. Mr. Knightly is a good man. I think there’s no other woman that would suit him better than you. It’s pleasant to see a strong willed, all kinds of smart and very put together man go bonkers for his lady.”

“One day, you’ll know what means to have the same thing,” I referred to what he’d told me about not really being in to love and marriage because his fiancée had proved how deceitful love could be.

“Not holding my breath for that to come,” he muttered as he stood and readied to leave for the airport.

“Never say never, buddy.” I grinned at him, making him shake his head as if I had lost my mind.

It was true, though. I thought Kyle had been the man for me—my everything—and when he’d called to tell me he was seeing another woman, I thought my world had crashed with no hope for a future, but how wrong had I been? Little did I know that my life had barely begun. That my life would brighten the second Blake pursued me and showed me what true love was. The insane, insecure, the complacent and all the other words in the dictionary that would describe all sorts of highs as well as their opposites, because that’s what it was; everything. When you fell in love, you gave your all—your everything—to this one particular person. You gave them the power to hurt you, though sometimes, a person simply had to get over their fears of getting hurt again because, most times, the things that had been so scary, were the ones that were the most worthwhile.

Blake Knightly was a drug I had been hesitant to try, touch or even consider, but Lord, the second I got a taste; there were no chances of me turning away. Blake didn’t let go of his hold until he’d securely wormed his way into my heart; making me fall for him while also making me feel how he truly felt for me.

So, I had braced for the impossible.

Six

Sienna

Without Blake for a month, we had compromised a lot to get in touch and set times for our video calls. It was difficult, however I wanted to make the best of it. Blake worked rigorous hours and, if I planned to spend the rest of my life with him, I had to accept it at the same time that I attempted to make it the best for both of us.