Chapter 47：Mountebank

"So did he take the bait? does he believe that you're Dahlia?" Preston asked the imposter.

"Yeah, he did. It was almost too easy actually.."She said with a toss of her hair. "The parents were easier though. they must have really loved my twin sister like their own daughter."

"Good. We have to move on to the next stage of our plan now." Preston pinched his chin. "You're going to have to reel him in and have him eating out of the palm of your hand..then we going to bleed him dry.."

"I might need a bigger cut in that case?"

"Don't get greedy Destiny. We already discussed this-you're going to get five percent of whatever we get out of Jordan. Nothing more nothing less-got it?"

"Fine-but I'm going to need a down payment so I can find a place to stay when I get out of the hospital." She grumbled.

"You're going to have to go and stay with the Davenports-just to keep up appearances. You can move out later."

"I can't go and live with total strangers-"

"This is not a negotiation." Preston glowered at her, wincing his eyes.

"Fine-but only for a week or two then I'm out." She challenged.

"Whatever-just don't mess this up..otherwise I will be very upset..and believe me when I say you do not want to see me angry little girl." He dug his fingers into her arm and she winced.

"You're hurting me.." She gasped.

"You're going to call Jordan and get him to meet up with you."

"Okay-then what?" She rubbed her arm that was slowly turning blue.

"Then you're going to do whatever it takes to make sure that he keeps coming back for more. I know you're a pro when it comes to enticing men so put that knowledge to good use."

"What about his wife?"

"Don't worry about her. My brother Scot once had his way with her so I'm sure he can do it again. It's just a matter of timing..which is where you come in my beauty.." Preston caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.

"What do you mean Scot had his way with her? Did he-" Destiny's eyes widened and her pulse quickened.

"Lana was playing hard to get so he drugged her and raped her..to his heart's content. Then the idiot skipped town." Preston muttered. "We're going to have to get her to drop those charges-one way or another.

"Now it's time for pay-back-I helped you get out of that brothel so I need a token of appreciation.." He ran his nose up and down her neck.

"But-the doctor said-"

"Screw the doctor-no actually you're going to screw me. Right here-right now..so bend over and spread 'em." He stood up and began to unbuckle his belt.

"I-we-someone can walk in-" Destiny felt trapped and knew there was no way she was going to get out of this without giving in to his demands.

"I love the thrill of being caught princess..don't you?" He licked his lips and she broke into a sweat.

She kept glancing at the door but it was shut and the doctor had already been in to see her. No one was going to help her out of this. With tears in her eyes, she turned around, lifted her gown then Preston moved inside her and made sure she paid her debt in full.

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Lana was discharged a week later and sent home. Jordan never left her side and catered to her every whim. The press swooped in on them as soon as they stepped out of the hospital and he told them the truth: Lana had a miscarriage and they would appreciate it if the media respected their privacy and allowed them to grieve. Lana grabbed tightly onto Jordan's hand as they pressed through the mob.

"What about the rumors of divorce?"

"My wife and I had our share of problems-like every couple-but not once did we mention the "D" word. We're in this for the long haul. Eternity is our goal." He lifted her hand to his lips.

"No more questions! Please step aside!" Jones's authoritative voice thundered as he cleared the way.

"Are you okay?" Jordan asked when they had settled in the car.

"Yes.." Her gaze lingered on him. "So..eternity huh?"

"I meant what I said-I'm not taking it back." He squeezed her hand.

"I'm not there yet..I'm sorry.."

"Don't be sweets-it's expected.."He trailed his finger down her delicate jawline. "But I will wait. No matter how long it takes-because you're worth it baby." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You hurt me. More than I thought possible..abandoned me..then ran back to Dahlia..it's all too much to take in-I'm sorry." She censured.

"Do you want to know the truth about Dahlia?"

"You don't have to-"

"I want to-please let me explain everything? I owe you that much don't I?"

Lana just shrugged like she was indifferent to the whole thing..

"When I met Dahlia I was going through stuff-I had lost my grandmother, I was struggling with the pressures of being young, famous and all alone in the world. I had no one to lean on-besides Kyle but he was always so busy with his own life that I couldn't always burden him with my problems. I met her backstage at one of my concerts. She was part of the crew members-she accidentally walked into my dressing room and found me in an uh-compromising situation." He cleared his throat and continued. She gave him a look of disdain but nodded for him to proceed.

"I met her again at an after-party where she approached me and teased about what she had witnessed earlier on. I jokingly said to her that if she wanted I could do a replay with her and she took me up on the offer..and since I didn't know any better-we-"

"I think I get it. You can skip that part, Carter." Lana said with distaste.

"After that, we realized that it wasn't just about a sexual connection. I never sleep with the same girl twice-but we became friends. We had a lot in common. She was a poor little rich girl that was just as lost and messed up as I was. We were bad for each other but I didn't realize it then... She was hospitalized on so many occasions for trying to take her own life and for a drug overdose. I was also admitted for the latter but Ryan and Jones insisted I go to rehab for a couple of months at least."

"Did it help you in any way?" Lana asked quietly.

"It would have..if I didn't succumb to peer-pressure all over again." He replied with remorse. "Preston and Dahlia would always suck me back in and I would be in a worse state than I previously was. She knew me better than I knew myself and would manipulate me into doing whatever she wanted. I had convinced myself that I was in love with her so when she suggested that we get married I agreed. We were engaged for six months due to my busy work schedule and would have been married a month later if I hadn't walked in on her and-Preston-in our bed-" Jordan grabbed the back of his neck and paused as the painful memories came flooding back.

"They were so wasted that she didn't even see me standing there..my heart breaking into a thousand pieces..they didn't even stop to acknowledge my presence-until I ran forward and jumped onto Preston. I had my hands around his neck and would have killed him if it wasn't for Jones..Jones dragged him out of my penthouse and sent him home with a driver."

"Jordan..I don't know what to say.." Lana reached out for his hand.

"Her parents banned me from coming to the memorial service and I didn't even get a chance to say good-bye. She left me a letter explaining how sorry she was but it didn't lessen the burden. I blamed myself for her death."

"But you can't blame yourself." Lana countered.

"I still don't know if it's really her that I saw in the hospital..she seems different somehow.."

"Aren't there ways you can find out? Like special moments or things you shared together that no-one else could possibly know about?"

"You mean kind of like the way you say my name when-" Jordan teased.

"Don't go there Carter." Lana punched his shoulder.

"Lana..I just want you to remember that I was a different person before I met you, sweets. I was lost and out of control. I used alcohol, sex, and drugs as a way to escape. It worked temporarily but the problem was always there afterwards. I hated what I had become-I hated my life. I was just going through the motions. Until I met you.."

"I know that saying sorry isn't enough-that it doesn't make anything right but I will have to act like it. I'm going to prove to you how important you are to me Lana. I know I messed up and you were always so patient with me and I take full responsibility for my actions-and I know it's asking for too much but...I just need another chance to make things right? Can you do that for me? For us?" He appealed as he held her hands against his chest.

"Jordan..I don't know-I can't.. I'm sorry.." She pulled her hands away and moved over to her side of the seat.

"Then, like I said-I am prepared to wait."

"I don't expect you to wait around for me-I'm a mess and I think I need space.." Her eyes dropped to their entwined hands.

"I understand baby. Take all the time you need." Jordan's heart sank to the pit of his stomach.

This was not how he thought things would play out but he had betrayed her trust and he had to win it back. the only problem was he never had to do this before; this was all new to him. Women always did the chasing, the groveling and proving themselves worthy of his time. He never had to beg anyone for anything in his entire life. Guess there was a first time for everything.