C11 LOVEY-DOVEY EDWARD

Bailey was found hyperventilating at the balcony. She looked so pale and frozen, the only sign of life being the quick, short puffs she struggled to breathe in.

“Bailey? Ma’am, are you okay?” Natalie asked worriedly. She quickly helped Bailey inside and sat her down on the couch, rubbing her back gently.

Natalie quickly made a cup of hot chocolate and offered her.

“A dose of chocolate fixes everything. Here.”

But Bailey couldn't hear her. Her heart constricted painfully as she remembered Diana’s words.

It's Carla. Someone came for her.

Remembering those words, a fresh bout of tears filled her eyes and before she could help it, rolled down her cheeks.

“Bailey!” Natalie enveloped her in her arms, cooing and rocking her as she cried.

“Hey, it's okay, alright?”

After long minutes of intense crying, Bailey managed to rein in her emotions.

“I'm so sorry, Na…”

“Shush! Now, you're going to take some hot chocolate then go to bed. I won't allow any excuses.”

Bailey chuckled drily. If only her problems could be solved by taking a nap.

“I really appreciate that you're being helpful, but I can't sleep now. I…uh…need to go.”

Natalie peered at her, hands akimbo. She resembled a drill sergeant at the moment.

“I will have to inform Mr Aston of…”

“No!” Bailey jolted up from the seat at that. Telling Carlos about this was the last thing she needed.

“Is everything alright, Bailey? Carlos might be mean to you, but you're family now and no one can harm an Aston. You should confide in him.”

“No! Please Natalie, don't tell him anything. Girl code?” She pleaded, baiting her lashes.

“Alright. But if this kind of thing happens again, Mr Aston will hear about it.”

“Thanks a lot. It won't happen again.”

“That's right, it won't.”

Feeling a lot better, Bailey walked to her bedroom; her closet. She brought out the duffel bag she had stuffed into a drawer.

Rifling through the pockets, she found the wallet she had hidden. She double-checked if the door was locked before she made the call.

“Dimitri Volkov.”

“It's Ms. Whitney. Do you remember me?”

“Aye, Madam.”

“It's about my daughter, Carla. Someone's after her. Find him.”

***

“Hey, girl! What's…wrong?” Ava’s enthusiasm was cut short as Bailey walked into her office, looking so gloomy.

“Do I look that bad?”

“Yeah. You look like a sex addict who hasn't had sex in hours.”

“Ava!”

“What! Sex addicts look innocent and depressed. You have those two qualities right now.”

“Are we really talking about sex addicts, right now?” Bailey groaned as she sat down.

“We can talk about anything you want, dearie. Though I'd prefer we talk about your mood. It's been a while since I crushed balls.”

“Can you ever be non-violent or less blunt? Why are you my friend?” Bailey groaned even more. She had come to cry on Ava's shoulders.

“First question, nope. Second, you can never find someone better than me. Now, shoot girl! Whose balls am I crushing?”

Taking a deep breath, Bailey spoke up, “ Diana called.”

Ava, who had been scribbling furiously on her notepad stopped abruptly.

“Please tell me it's Diana Ross. When did you ditch me for her?”

“It's Newman, Ava. Diana Newman.”

Ava stood up, and walked to the door, double-checking for eavesdroppers, then she locked it and closed the windows. She sat down beside Bailey with the most serious facial expression ever.

“How bad?” Ava asked.

“Really bad, Ava. Someone knows.”

The women exchanged knowing glances between themselves. Only four people knew of Carla’s existence; Bailey, Ava, Diana and Dimitri.

“A man came, asking questions.”

“What do you want to do about it?” Ava asked.

“I already called Dimitri. But I'm really scared. I hid her well, Ava. Nobody should know.”

Bailey groaned as the tears threatened to return. Her daughter's existence should be kept hidden until the right time.

“Do you think it's Carlos?”

“No. Carlos would have dropped enough hints to drive me crazy and make an irrational decision. He derives joy in seeing me in pain.”

Ava snorted at that. She believed that Carlos still loved Bailey, but the two were too blind to see that.

“You think my Dad knows?”

“Edward? Nah. He’s too hung up on Melanie to care.” Ava replied nonchalantly.

“Who's Melanie?” Bailey's ears perked up at the new name.

Ava looked up from her phone in utter disbelief.

“Please tell me you're kidding.”

“I’m not. Who's Melanie?”

“Your freaking mother-in-law!” Ava screechsd.

“Shit! I forgot about her.” Bailey cursed, facepalming herself.

“Wait. My Dad likes Melanie. How the hell did you know?”

Bailey was shocked. Her father; strict and focused Edward had a crush on another man’s wife, who happened to be her mother-in-law.

Yeah, pigs can fly.

“On your wedding. The looks between them were suspicious. But Melanie loves Henry. So, your Dad's the miserable one, making him more of a grump than he is.” Ava spat out, applying her lipstick.

It wasn't a secret that the Whitneys hated Ava and the feeling was mutual. Excluding Bailey.

“You can't tell from just looks. I was about to have a heart attack.”

“Sweetheart, I'm a lawyer. Trust me, I can and I will prove to you that your Dad wanna tap yo…”

“We were talking about Carla.” Bailey didn't let her finish her statement, knowing fully well that it would involve obscene words.

“I think you're overreacting though.”

Bailey arched an eyebrow quizzically, waiting for her to explain further.

“You could tell Carlos…”

“No!”

“You didn't let me finish. Your husband needs to know you have a child. It's a general rule.” Ava said, shrugging.

“He already sees me as the greatest whore in history. I can't tell him that. He could divorce me!”

“I don't really see anything bad about that, unless you still have feelings for him.”

“What…that's ridiculous!”

“Not as much as your Dad and your mother-in-law.”

“Stop that, Ava!”

“Stop what?”

“Stop saying my Dad and my m…”

Ava burst into laughter, as she teased her friend.

“Hey, you should tell Carlos, but if you don't want to, it's fine.”

“Thank you, Ava.”

“You just need to calm down, relax and take things slow. Whatever happens, I'm here for you.”

Bailey hugged her friend tightly. She would be lost without Ava, so she was ever grateful.

“Now, that's by the way, can we talk about your father and his latest crush.”

“Ava!”

“I'm not pulling your eyes, girl. You should have seen your Dad sending her lovey-dovey eyes.”

Bailey laughed hard as she pictured her father loving someone.

Suddenly, her phone rang, interrupting their gossip session.

“Shit. It's my Dad.” Bailey gasped.

“Tell him to go for it. I'm sure Carlos would prefer to have you as a sister.” Ava said, giggling.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Where are you?”

The women tensed up, sending wary glances at each other.

“I'm at Ava's firm. Is there a problem?”

“You're with that woman? She's a disgrace to our family name!”

“Hey, Edward! Nice to speak with you too. I will also love to remind you that Bailey is no longer a Whitney. Good riddance!” Ava chipped in, laughing boisterously.

Bailey stared at her horrified. Ava loved annoying the Whitneys.

“Bailey. Be at my office in twenty minutes.”