Maid for Me (17 page)

Driver frowned. “Don’t worry about that silly girl now. Besides, Amelia’s waiting for you?”

“Amelia?” Jaiden blinked. What Driver had told him that night was,
“Amelia is your biological mother. Master Jameson had an affair with her and Emma took you as her own child.”

Mom...

“Yes, Amelia needs you now.” Driver pushed Jaiden onward, clasping his hairy hand over Jaiden’s shoulder.

Jaiden entered the limo and felt faint. A sharp pain in his shoulder made him touch it. He noticed a spot of blood on his fingers and within three seconds, he was out cold.

Laughing like a hyena, Driver locked the doors. By the time Mina realized Jaiden was no longer next to her, Driver navigated through the crowds and sped down the street.

Before Mina could even register she had been ditched, someone took her wrist and pulled her away from the crowd.

The same person took Mina into his arms and against his chest. An oaky, familiar scent invaded her nostrils. Every cell in her body reacted. Kit held her in a warm embrace. The chaos around them seemed to dissipate.

“You look so beautiful tonight, Mina. Almost ethereal.”

“Thanks.” Though she didn’t know what ethereal meant, her knees turned jelly-like.

Kit lowered his head and covered his lips over Mina’s. His kiss was short and sweet, and yet she didn’t feel any fireworks or electricity.

“Come over tonight, Min. I’m dying to paint a portrait of you the way you look now. You can be my new muse.”

Mina blinked. Her inch long eyelashes fanned her rosy cheekbones. Tonight, she didn’t look like Mina Lin. In the expensive dress and makeup worthy to grace the faces of A-listers, she wore a façade and a mask. She felt more confident.
But once the dress is off and the makeup melts, will Kit still want to paint me? And isn’t Alyssa his current muse?

What the hell is going on here?

She commanded her heart stopped beating rapidly.

“Where’s Alyssa?” Mina asked, pushing herself away from Kit and looking around. She wiped her lips.

“Somewhere with Jameson Daniels.”

Fourteen minutes ago, a police officer had pulled Jameson aside to show him a piece of paper found taped to Madison’s dress. Written on the paper was:

Death to those who hurt the Daniels. Only I can hurt them.

Jameson had left with the police to assist in this case, which turned out to be an attempted homicide instead of a suicide.

Unaware of the seriousness of the situation and feeling unwanted, Alyssa pushed through the crowds, only to find Kit gazing into Mina’s eyes—like two lovebirds unaware of the commotion around them. Pent-up frustration could make Alyssa spontaneously combust at any second now. Both Daniels, father and son, had rejected her advances. The unfruitful night and sudden end to the charity ball made her want to rip out Mina’s beautiful curly hair. Instead, she planted herself between the two and said, “I don’t mind threesomes. I can share Kit with you, if you share Jaiden Daniels with me.”

Mina blinked. “What?” She shot Kit a glance and shook her head. “I just saw someone I know flat like a bloody pancake. I can’t deal with either of you now.” Mina turned around and Alyssa hissed. She launched her claws at the back of Mina’s head, ripping out barrettes and curls. Mina yelped in pain and jabbed her elbow behind her, right into Alyssa’s gut. Alyssa keeled over from the blow and almost vomited all the champagne and black caviar she had stuffed into her system earlier. Mina turned around and stared at Kit. She pulled out the rest of the barrettes that pinned her hair up and tossed them on the ground. She wiped her face, smudging her makeup until she looked like a blitzed clown. Her fake eyelashes dangled off her real ones.

“This is the real me, Kit, the girl who loved you unconditionally for the last five years. You never wanted to paint her.” She blinked and tears rolled out of her gleaming eyes. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving you, but right now, I think you two deserve each other.”

For a second, Mina thought she saw remorse in Kit’s beautiful green eyes. Then she realized he was probably just confused she had turned down his offer.

So with that, she walked away from pooki and mooki. Though tears streamed down her face, her lips were U-shaped from ear to ear. In a minute, she wouldn’t be smiling anymore, realizing she had to walk all the way back to North Uptown in her heels since she didn’t have any cash on her to call a cab or ride the subway. And not even two quarters to make a public phone call to the manse for someone to pick her up. Jaiden had left and Jameson was no where in sight.

Walking in these heels will just make my calves stronger!

This would have been true if Mina’s left heel didn’t crack in a pothole halfway back to North Uptown.

*THIRTEEN*

Eleven-thirty that night, after two hours of trekking across the city in wobbly shoes (Mina cracked off the right heel to match the broken left side), and climbing the North Uptown gates (they were locked and the booth guard was asleep) Mina returned to Eighteen Richmond Lane to find the manse completely lit, with four police cars parked in the front lawn.

A sudden sinking feeling filled her.

Is someone hurt? Is Mom okay?
Mina ran across the lawn to the front door, ignoring the shooting pain in her feet and ankles.

She rang the doorbell and waited outside for less than ten seconds before Jameson, eyes bloodshot, swung open the door.

“Where the hell is my son? You were supposed to protect him!” He pulled Mina into the manse, right before he shook her. Mina shoved Jameson away before he shook her brain out of place. She raised her hands as a sign of pacification.

“Jaiden’s not home yet? But he had left with Driver.”

“I’m going to kill Matt if anything happens to my son. Why weren’t you keeping an eye on Jaiden?”

“I—”

I was too busy dealing with Kit. I was too preoccupied with sorting my own issues.

“I’m sorry,” Mina said, head down.

Jameson screamed, spit landing on Mina’s face. Mina turned around when she heard footsteps behind her. She spun around, hoping Jaiden had returned.

“Yelling at her will do nothing, Jameson.” A young man in a black t-shirt and ripped blue jeans had appeared through the front door and placed himself between Mina and Jameson.

“Sorry I’m late—got stuck in traffic. But I’m here now, so calm down, James my boy.”

“How can I be calm when my son’s missing? God, Matt must have plotted this for a while.” Jameson ran his fingers through his hair and cursed.

Detective Graham patted Jameson’s shoulder. “That’s why you should always be nice to your employees.”

Jameson glared at Graham. Graham, unfazed, turned to face Mina. He looked at her and smiled, flashing white but semi-crooked teeth. With stubble around his face, his dark blond hair unruly and collar-length, and his eyes a deep gray, the guy looked like an unkempt cowboy. He even had an accent and drawled every sentence. He extended a hand for Mina to shake.

“Detective Graham. You must be Miss Mina Lin. The maid turned pretend girlfriend turned bodyguard.”

“Uh, yea.” Mina shook the detective’s hand. She had imagined him to be much older and a Dick Tracy-type when Jaiden had mentioned he had hired a private detective. Instead, Graham looked as young as Jaiden. Maybe even younger.

“So does this mean Driver, I mean Matt, is the Stalker?” Mina forced herself to remain calm. If anything happened to Jaiden on her watch, she would never forgive herself.

Graham waggled his finger. “The Stalker comprises of three individuals. One is in the UMC ER right now as we speak.”

Mina wrinkled her brow. “Madison?”

“Very clever, dear Watson. We’ll chat later. First, let’s get rid of the coppers, Jameson. Stop wasting the taxpayers’ money. You know I work best solo. Though I can use a sidekick.” He grinned at Mina.

“This is Jaiden’s life we’re talking about. I will not leave my son’s life in your hands alone. I trust the police and the Commissioner.” Jameson rubbed his temples and looked as if he were about to cry. To Mina, Jameson had always seemed composed, cold, and calm. He was more like Jaiden’s friend and mentor than father. Right now, he acted just like how any normal, worried sick parent would act.

“The police will only hinder things. Everything they do is about legalities and procedures. You wait and there’s a fifty percent chance they will fail. I get the job done, you know it.” Graham crossed his arms. “I’ll give you a minute to decide, Jameson.”

“You sound more like a vigilante than a detective,” Mina said. “I agree with Mr. Daniels. The police can help find Jaiden faster. You shouldn’t treat this like a game.”

Graham arched his brow, glanced at his large black watch, and tapped his foot.

“Fine, I’ll do things your way.” Jameson rubbed his face and walked away.

Less than five minutes later, all the police left the manse. Jameson returned to tell Graham, “I don’t care how much I have to spend. I want Jaiden back home, sleeping soundly in his bed this time tomorrow.”

“This is not a good idea.” Mina shook her head. “Are you sure you’re going to trust a kid?”

“Me a kid? I’ll take that as a compliment. I’m twenty-five in December, Watson.”

Mina ignored Graham and stared at Jameson.

Jameson sighed again before he made his way up the stairs to his bedroom.

Mina became speechless for a minute. “You’ve got to be kidding. He’s leaving you in charge of saving Jaiden alone? Is he crazy?”

“I can cause the entire Uptown to blackout with one mouse-click, Mina. I had provided Jaiden with a list of a thousand suspects in less than a week’s time. The list included all three of the Stalkers.”

“Madison, Matt, and—”

“Come along with me and I’ll tell you, Watson. Even heroes need sidekicks.” Graham’s eyes scanned Mina’s face and then her broken heels. “I’ll even give you ten minutes to change and wash that stuff off your face first.” He pulled a fake eyelash away from her eye and she flinched.

Mina had forgotten she looked like a drunken clown zombie with her makeup smudged and melted and her hair resembling a bird’s nest. And her entire body probably reeked from sweating buckets.

This is not a good idea.
Despite her mind reasoning for her to not go along with Graham and Jameson’s plan, her feet reacted. She bolted up the stairs and ran into Jameson in the hallway. He walked toward her and took her hand, placing a black remote in her palm.

“This is a tracking device. Keep it with you. It will help the police follow you and Graham. He’s right. They don’t know where to start. Matt had left no clues in his apartment and nothing in the manse.” Jameson muttered a curse. “When you find Jaiden, press this button.” Jameson pointed at the large round button in the center of the remote. “That will signal to the police to close in.” He patted Mina’s shoulder. “I’m sorry about what happened earlier, but you can understand how feel, right?”

Mina nodded. “I’ll do whatever it takes to save Jaiden.”

Jameson closed his eyes. “I will reward you well when you do.” He pointed at the necklace she wore. “You can keep that if you save my son.”

Mina shook her head and removed the necklace. She handed it to Jameson. Jameson stared at it and thought about his ex-wife. If she were here now, he’d have someone to comfort him.

“It’s my fault Jaiden’s in danger. I don’t need any rewards. Do you think you should come along?” Mina scratched her head.

“I would only hinder things.” Jameson shook his head. Jameson did not tell Mina how he suffered from anxiety attacks and a congenital heart condition. His body could barely take the worry flooding through him.

“You look pale, Mr. Daniels. Will you be okay?”

“Don’t worry about me. Just be careful.”