Money, Power, and Fame || Jonathan Toews Book 1

Chapter 57 : Baby Steps

I take a look around my surroundings. I was Alec's house. I found myself here after two hours of waiting at a bus stop. The big house stares down at me waiting for me to make move which I do. I walk up the door and knock.

The door opens shortly after and Alec stands there in his boxers. "Alina." He says surprised. I raise my eyebrows questioning him about him answering them door with some boxers on. "I thought you were Andy." He says. "I don't think that's a good answer." I say thinking about it. "Right." He says before moving aside for me to walk in.

I walk in and he closes the door after I'm fully in. "What brings you here?" He asks. Alec didn't go to the wedding he had business to do with the LA Kings care foundation. I gladly let him go since his job was way more important in this situation.

"Jonathan. We didn't get married." I say finally. "Oh Alina. What happened?" He asks walking over to his couch and sitting down.

"Well I don't know actually. A change of heart most likely. I don't know. I thought we were just getting to be happy again." I say. "What do you mean by 'we were just getting to be happy again'?" Alec asks raising an eyebrow.

"Well we've been through a lot and I've been down lately." I say. "Such as?" Alec asks. "Our house robbery." I say. "Well that's a lot Alina. Do you know what they wanted?" He asks.

I shake my head and Alec nods. "Does he know about the baby?" He asks. "No. He ran off, I wasn't going run after him with a baby in my stomach." I say. Alec nods and we both stay quiet for awhile.

"So what are you gonna do?" Alec asks. "To be honest? I don't know. But I do know where to start." I say. Alec turns to me curious and I take a deep breath. "Go back to Chicago move my stuff out of the house and into a storage unit then go on my tour." I say. "Now about my love status. That's unknown to me." I say.

Alec nods and I grab my purse. "I'll be back in two days." I say. Alec raises his eyebrows surprised at me rushing. "And yes I'm okay." I say.

~*~
I sat in the airport waiting for my flight to Chicago. I was on my phone checking emails before someone sat next to me.

"Hope you don't mind." He says smiling. I shake my head before turning back to my phone. "Your married?" He asks looking down at my engagement ring. "Oh, no actually." I say.

He furrows his eyebrows and I smile. "I was suppose to get married, but to the looks of it you look like a busy man who doesn't need to listen to a strangers bad day." I say turning to him.

"No, please. I have a lot of time on my hands. My flight to Seattle got delayed." He says smiling. "Very well." I say nodding.

"My fiancé and I were supposed to get married today, but when I begun to walk down the aisle he slipped out the back with his ex. Long story short, I was ditched." I say not wanting to get too deep into it.

"Sounds horrible, but my ex-fiancé was way more horrifying." He says. "Well do say." I say. He nods and turns to me.

"It was our wedding day, and I was about to go sneak a peak of the bride, because well I was eager to see her in her beautiful white gown. As I was sneaking my peak I saw her bent down on a table with my best man. They've been having the affair the whole six years me and her were dating." He says.

"That's pretty bad." I say nodding. "Yup not your ordinary day." He says. "And this is?" I ask laughing. "Two strangers in an airport telling each other how horrible our weddings went. Very unusual." I say.

"But how would life been fun if things were unusual or unordinary?" He asks. "Very boring." I say drinking some of my water.

"My point exactly-um what's your name?" He asks. "Alina, Alina Kane." I say holding out my hand for him to shake. "Louis Jackson." He says smiling as he shakes my hand.

"Flight to Chicago now boarding." The announcer says. I stand up and Louis looks at me. "Will I see you again?" He asks standing up with me. "Life would be ordinary if I told you. Let's leave this in fate's hands." I say grabbing my bag.

Louis smiles and I give him one last smile before turning to board the plane.

~*~
I land in Chicago and the cold air hits me. The snow had just fallen. It was soft. I walk towards the doors of the exit so I can catch a cab to Jonathan's house. Not mine, not ours, his.

I whistle as loud as I can in Chicago's traffic. A cab pulls to the side and they open the trunk so I can place my bags in there.

I climb into the cab shortly after and tell them the address of the Jonathan's house. If was thinking of things to do if he was there. I would probably do nothing, stay quiet and just pack my belongings then leave. If he wasn't I'd do the same.

I pass by the things I'd miss. The corner coffee shop, the arena, and of course the places we had memories at. I shake the thoughts out of my head as the cab stops.

I pay the driver then get out. I grab my belongings then walk inside the house. There was laughter in the kitchen, but as I close the door they go quiet. She is here. The girl I. despise at the moment.

They walk out the kitchen and stare at me. "Oh hey." Jonathan says causally. I nod at him before grabbing my keys and taking off the house key and tossing it at him. "The ring." He says as Danise crashes into his chest as if they were drunk.

"The ring? You want the ring?" I ask. "Yes, I did say it didn't I?" He asks. My hand shakes as I move to slip off the ring. A tear falls down my cheek as I take it off and reveal the tan under it.

I toss it and Jonathan and walk to the stairs. "Oh Danise took care of the packing." He says. "Of course she did." I say stopping in my place. I grab the bags and start rolling them to the kitchen so I can get my keys.

"It's my car." Jonathan says. I drop my bags and turn to him. "What else do you want for me? What! You take my heart, my ring, my dignity, my car, my life! It's all I have Jonathan. What do you want now? I'm leaving with that car wether you like it or not." I say grabbing the keys.

"Well then I'll just report it stolen." He says. "Fine take it. Not like I have anything else to lose." I say throwing the keys at him. He smiles and turns to Danise before slipping the ring on her ring finger.

I stiffen and turn my head away from them. The front door opens and I look up to see Patrick.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jonathan asks. "This is business between Alina and I." He adds.

"If it was then why the hell is she here?" Patrick asks. "Because she's in this." Jonathan says. "No she isn't. Last time I checked Jonathan we were running on my rules. You hurt her and I swear you will pay the price for every tear you made her shred." Patrick says pointing at me.

"Have you even listened to her? Asked her if she was okay? Did you even care for her?" Patrick asks. "Let's listen to her then." Jonathan says crossing his arms and starring at me.

Patrick nods and I sigh. "All I ever wanted was someone who would be my best friend and husband. Who would find my mistakes to be their best mistake. Who would love me for eternity even for the things I did wrong. But everything mine I get close to love they find all the reasons why I shouldn't be with them. You don't know the feeling of how hard it is to not be loved." I say. Jonathan laughs and I frown. "I'll be getting out of your hair now." I say grabbing my things.