Chapter One Hundred and Ten - Hailey's Decision

I poured the balance of wine into the glass and gulped it, rubbing my chest when I burped.

Grimacing at my body functions, "so unladylike" I mumbled, putting my head on a cushion, with all my thoughts on, can tomorrow come next week instead?

BAM!

What the hell! Picking myself up from the floor, looking around, as I tried to get my bearings.

Right! I fell asleep out here and fell off the nice soft couch unto the cold hard tiles.

Picking up the empty bottle and dirty glass, I ventured into the kitchen, wondering why didn't anyone wake me up.

All the lights were on, but the place was so quite.

Disposing of the empty wine bottle and washing the wine glass, I took a bottle water and headed up to my room, turning back to switch off the lights the guys forgot to turn off.

Slapping my pockets, missing my phone, I returned to retrieve it from the veranda, switching it on, I headed back to the staircase, waiting for it to load.

"HAILEY!" I heard Mel shout behind me, scaring the hell out of me. My body jerked in fright and I stumbled, falling to my knees, my phone hitting the ground.

Picking myself up, Mel runs towards me frantically, "what?" Annoyance etched in my eyes, as I gaze from Mel to my phone. I stood up, turning my phone over to check for damages.

"Gerard!" Mel screams. I raised my eyes from the phone to search Mel's face, wondering what the hell is wrong with her and why the hell is she screaming.

"We have been looking all over for you." Mel started, as Gerard approaches me with quick strides and a smile of relief. Pulling out his phone, he started dialing a number.

"What do you mean, by that?" hoping it wasn't what was now running through my mind. "Did you think that I ran away?"

"Yes, she is here" Gerard was saying to someone on the other line and I am guessing that it's Adian. "Yes, she fine, except confused" Gerard continued speaking on the phone with his kind eyes on me. "Yes, okay." He says and hangs up.

With my eyes going between Mel and Gerard, "what is going on?" I asked slowly.

Shaking her head with a sigh, "we searched the entire house and we couldn't find you" Mel explains, "and Adian said that maybe you were upset when you came into the office and left before I could gather the strength to tell you what happened." Mel continues, her sad eyes, silently pleading with me.

I took a seat at the lower stair and Mel came to join me. With a apologetic twist of my lips, "I'm sorry you had to leave your kids to come here because I was missing." I told Gerard, throwing an arm around Mel, pulling her head on my shoulder.

Frowning, Gerard stares at me, "where were you?" he asks, confused.

I point towards the kitchen and Mel asked, "we searched the kitchen." She sound just as confused as Gerard.

Like a idiot, I point towards the kitchen again, "the veranda." I responded, wondering what would be Adian's reaction, when he realizes that he wasted time searching for me when I was here all along.

Chuckling, Gerard walks towards the door leading towards the veranda, opening it, he looked around, then secures it.

Laughing, Mel said, "it's Adian's fault, for not remembering that part of his house." she says, chuckling. "Basil will really give him a good cuss out." She tell us, standing up, "I need a drink" she says turning to Gerard, "what do you want?" she asks, but he just shrugs, following her into the kitchen.

I got up and went into the living room, throwing myself on one of the couch, trying to restart my phone, when Mel and Gerard return with three beers. I reached for the beer, then pulled back my hand. "Uh, no, I don't think I should." I told her, but she still held the bottle out to me so I reluctantly took it and started taking slow sips because I am definitely not, a beer person.

Adian and Basil came in to find us sitting around quietly drinking beers.

"Celebrating without us?" Basil mocks, sitting beside Mel and taking the bottle from her hand, he starts to drink her beer, smiling at this couple thing.

Adian throws himself beside me, "where the f*** were you?" he asked, his tone definitely confirming his anger.

Ignoring his question, "can Gerard leave to go with his kids or is he spending the night." I asked and Adian turned to Gerard raising his eyebrows.

Chuckling, "I'm leaving" he confirms walking to the front door, "good to know that you are safe." he smiles, shaking Adian's hand as Adian walked him out.

Basil drinking the remains of Mel's drink, shakes his head, "where did you go to.?" he asked.

Before I could explain, Mel butts in and told him everything from the moment she screamed out my name.

Adian returned to sit quietly beside me and took the beer out of my hand, taking a sip, twitching his mouth in disgust at the lukewarm taste.

Basil stood up, pulling Mel with him, "goodnight" both he and Mel chorused, leaving Adian and I alone.

I know that I owe Adian a proper explaniation, "I went to the veranda to call Mr. Knox and I hang up on him, shutting my phone down. I was so angry, that I laid my head down to ease my anger and must of fallen alseep and didn't wake up until, I" pausing, wondering if I need to go into that embarrassing part .

"Until...?" Adian prompted.

Sighing, "until I fell off the couch." I finished, looking to see his reaction but he remained silent, deep in thought.

"Knox, gave me something for you at the courthouse earlier today." He says, as if he just remembered.

He takes my hand.