Chapter 53

Mia

It was a few hours later when I was browsing through the sweetshop section when I caught sight of something I wanted. Cakes! Sweet would surely please Andy.

I literally had my nose on the glass window of the display cabinet as I tried to decide which one of the cakes looked the best and which Andy would like to have. There were a few of his favorites there: carrot, chocolate, and then there was…strawberry shortcake.

The moment I saw the delicious-looking cake with white cream and a neatly placed strawberry on top, my heart ached in sorrow.

“Mom,” I whispered under my breath, feeling tears brewing in my eyes. Suddenly upset, I took a step back. Bam! I bumped into a body. A soft shriek followed that.

I hastily turned around in fright and apology.

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry,” I said, crouching down to help the person up. People were looking at us, at me, for causing an unnecessary commotion.

“I didn’t know you were behind me,” I admitted.

On her backside on the floor, the girl chuckled as she tucked her long hair behind her ear. When she looked up at me, I couldn’t help but stare, my mouth open in awe.

This girl was a beauty. Delicate features and emerald-green eyes. When she smiled at me, her eyes were bright. But then something odd nagged at me that there was something deeper beneath that beautiful smile. Sadness? Loneliness? A craving for something deep? It was as though this was the first time she had smiled in a long time. Now why did I think that? I wasn’t sure. But there was something in her look and her demeanor that told me she and I were in the same boat of a sort.

“It’s all right,” she said softly. “I wasn’t looking… I mean I didn’t see you in front of me. I was too busy trying to figure out which cake I should buy.”

I laughed, both uncomfortably and apologetically. “Me too,” I said, trying to make light of the situation. I didn’t want to offend her, after all.

“I have a few favorites, so it’s always hard to decide,” she said, smiling.

I nodded in agreement. Then I thought I’d get along very well with this girl. Though she looked a little younger than me.

“Chocolate cake is always a safe bet,” I said. “I think I might get that one for—”

The name James Maxwell suddenly popped up in my head. Why James? But then I thought chocolate cake would suit his taste. It would definitely suit him as a person too. As with the cake, he was enticing, rich in flavor with a hint of bitterness, and utterly sweet. Once you had a taste, you could never stop. He made me crave him, for his touches, his kisses and so much more, just like the cake.

Suddenly my heart ached. The weight of the invisible pain crushed me around the chest like a ton of bricks. I wanted James with me now even though I knew I’d see him again tonight. Why was I like this? Why was I so dependent on him now?

I’ve become attached to him, I realized. And that wasn’t good.

The girl nodded. “I think chocolate cake with white icing,” she said. “That one would suit him.”

Him? Her words drew my attention away from my dismal thoughts. The girl must be buying cakes for her boyfriend then?

I smiled. “But strawberry shortcakes are nice too. It’s sweet and light. I love strawberry shortcake.”

“Really?” she asked. “I’ve never tried it before.”

“Yes, Mom used to—”

I stopped short. I was about to tell her how Mom had used to bake it for me on my birthday, but the reminder only brought forward a jab of unpleasant pain in my heart.

The girl licked her lips and tucked her hair behind her ear. I suspected that it was her habit to do that. “Are you okay?” she asked.

I nodded my head, pleasantly surprised this girl was so perceptive of my emotions. “I’m fine.”

At that moment, the saleswoman asked us what we’d like. I told her I’d like four slices of chocolate cake, two carrot, and two strawberry shortcakes. Once I had completed and paid for my order, I stepped out of the store, thinking about heading back to the hospital. Patrick was once again not too far away, standing out from the crowd and looking suspicious as usual. I wanted to laugh. He was definitely a bodyguard, and he definitely didn’t belong in the mall. But then I noted that he wasn’t alone. There was another man in a black suit not too far away too, standing by the cake store.

I was looking at him when the girl I had bumped into before rushed over to me.

She licked her lips shyly and said, “I bought the strawberry shortcake because you said it was delicious.”

“That’s nice,” I said. “You’ll enjoy it.” Then I thought maybe it was about time I started picking up on baking again, especially on making the strawberry shortcake. I had to let the cold emptiness and pain of losing Mom and being without her go at some point, hadn’t I?

“Er… what’s your name?”

“Huh?” I blinked in surprised. Why would she ask me my name? Wait? Did she want to become my friend or something? The thought made my heart burst with delight.

I smiled and said, “Mia… Mia Donovan.”

The girl tucked her hair behind her ear again. I noticed that her hair had the habit of falling back into place, resting and covering the side of her beautiful face.

“I’m Savanah White,” she said. “Do you…” She licked her lips. “Do you live here in Las Vegas, or are you a tourist?”

How should I phrase this? I didn’t live here nor was I a tourist of sort.

I said, “No, I don’t live here.”

“Oh…” She sounded a little disappointed at that. “Well, enjoy your trip then,” she said, trying her best to smile. “See you later.”

She turned and walked away. I wanted to stop her but then again what? What do I tell her after that? She was clearly disappointed I wasn’t from Las Vegas, that I didn’t live here.

I sighed and was about to turn on my heel also when I noted that other man in a black suit I had seen earlier was following behind her. Then he offered to carry the bag of cakes for her, of which she obliged.

I watched her go, my heart suddenly sad and aching. Here I was about to make a friend in my new life and my new world, and I blew it because I didn’t know if I was a tourist or a Las Vegas girl.

What if I told her I was a mistress to a billionaire who ruled the underground business world? She’d freak out and run away for sure.

I headed out of the mall too. Patrick, to my pleasant disbelief, did the same as the other bodyguard and offered to carry my bags of cakes for me.

Once back at the hospital, I gave some chocolate cake to the bodyguards. Patrick looked pleased while the other one, Tim was his name, thanked me profusely.

I said, “Thank you for your hard work,” before heading to see my brother.

Andy thoroughly enjoyed the carrot cake I had bought him and told me that I definitely should start baking again. I personally didn’t know if I could as yet. The pain was still there… The reminder of Mom and me in the kitchen, laughing and enjoying our moments together as she taught me how to cook and bake.

It was five in the afternoon when I kissed Andy on the forehead and then left for the day. On the drive back to the hotel, I couldn’t help but ask Patrick some questions that had been burning in my mind since I was with Savanah.

“Patrick?” I began.

“Yes, Miss Donovan?”

“Do you know anything about that bodyguard we saw this afternoon?”

“Ah… That one? Interested, are you?”

I frowned. “Yes. I am.”

He chuckled. “He works for Mr. Bosworth.”

I had no idea who this Mr. Bosworth was and was about to ask when Patrick said, “That girl belongs to Mr. Bosworth.”

Gosh! Patrick was blunt. So Savanah was Mr. Bosworth’s girl?

I felt sick to my stomach, and a lump formed in my throat. Savanah wasn’t that different from me after all? She belonged to Mr. Bosworth. It sounded like she was that man’s property or something. His toy.

Then I wondered contritely if I, too, was merely James’ property…for five years. His toy. My heart ached at the thought.

“Is everything all right, Miss Donovan?” Patrick’s voice reached me.

I took a deep breath and managed to nod my head to tell him that I was indeed fine, which was a total lie of course. I wasn’t fine. I think I was lovesick. I think I was in love with James, who only thought of me as his toy, and that was heartrending and agonizing. I was a toy to a dark billionaire and nothing more. I was worth two million, and I felt awfully besmirched thinking about that.

Back at the hotel, I tried to be positive and forget about how Savanah and I were in a similar situation as I showered. I wanted to forget about the fact that I was James’ mistress because of two million dollars. I wanted to forget about the fact that I was nothing to him but his toy. But of course it was impossible.

Then I thought about his kisses and his promise this morning, and I felt a little better. I knew I was deluding myself into believing James truly liked me for real, but I couldn’t help myself. Deep down, I knew I was putting myself deeper into a trap where I could never escape, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be okay with that.