Page 156 of Stanton Unconditional

Shit, this situation is totally out of control. “Joshua, calm down. Stop it,” I yell.

“Start talking, stupid,” he screams.

“Five million,” she coughs.

He shakes his head. “One million today in cash and I want my men to go with you and take your computers and phone and all copies on the spot.”

She frowns. “You can’t take my computers and phone.”

He raises an eyebrow. “I can take anything I fucking want.”

“I want five.”

He shakes his head. “This is my first and final offer. One million, take it or leave it.”

She hesitates as she thinks, and we all stay silent. “I will show her,” she stammers.

Joshua smirks. “And then I will kill you…the choice is yours.” Her eyes flick to Ben who right at this moment I think might actually kill her…fuck this is crazy shit. They are even scaring me, and I know neither of them is capable of this violence. My heart starts to race as fear grips me.

“I want cash,” she looks at Joshua nervously.

“I can have it in thirty minutes,” Joshua sneers.

“What’s it going to be?” Joshua yells.

She’s scared it’s obvious. I’m fucking scared and I am friends with these two.

“You go and get the money, Joshua, and Peter and I will escort little miss here to get the computers and extra copies,” Ben says flatly.

Joshua’s eyes meet mine. “Search her house,” I snap at Ben.

He nods and grabs her by the arm and pulls her toward the door.

“One hour,” she sneers. “One hour back here with my money.” Joshua glares at her and I start to panic again. I think he’s losing control.

Natasha

Weeknights are meant to be relaxing and calm, but I have never been so anxious. I was a regular person. I had a normal life…that is until Joshua Stanton came back into it. Now it seems I jump from one nightmarish situation to the next. Totally unrelated stupid things that are making my head spin. I feel like I am in an out-of-control plane and I don’t know if the landing is going to be ok or if I am going to crash and burn.

Cancer, serial killers, hit men, bodyguards, paternity…Jesten, Joshua’s feeling about me. I just want some damn peace…with a boyfriend who I know loves me. Why can’t I be in love with a normal man…a boring, weedy, slightly overweight man? My stomach clenches as nerves fill my system and I look at my watch for the fiftieth time tonight. Why haven’t they contacted me yet?

It’s Tuesday night and I’m waiting for the call from Bridget and Abbie to let me know that the fight between Jesten and Joshua is over…and that Jesten is still alive. Nine pm, it’s got to be on soon. I got home from the hospital at seven and have been waiting ever since. I put my head into my hands as I sit on the toilet. This is a nightmare. How am I supposed to be calm when I know what is going on in the Luna Park Convention Centre just across town? My phone rings, it’s Abbie.

“Hello,” I answer. “Hi, it’s Abbie.”

“I know who it is, what’s happening?” I snap.

“Right, so Joshua is fighting Jesten. I just saw it on the draw.” “Shit.” I was hoping that they wouldn’t be put against each

other. “Are they fighting right now?” I ask.

“No, not yet, I will call you when it starts.”

“Ok,” I hang up.

I walk into the kitchen and pour myself a vodka with soda and go out onto my balcony and light a cigarette. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I need to calm my nerves. I’m a walking basket case.

I pace up and down my balcony for another forty minutes with my stomach in my throat. What if Joshua actually hurts Jesten? What if Jesten hurts Joshua? No, that won’t happen, Joshua is too strong. Maybe I should have gone. Shit, this is total bullshit. I dial the number again.