Chapter 5 Grandiose Living

Kelly stood apart from her Aunt and Uncle, scared. Jennifer had been rushed to the hospital in an ambulance and Kelly had taken a taxi after them.

She wasn't dead but from the immediate reaction her cousin's condition had elicited, Kelly knew she was in a severe state and she had caused it; she had almost killed her.

Despite the hatred she still held in her heart for the Hardys, Kelly was still shaken by what had happened, she wanted to hurt them, to take revenge for what they'd done to her but kill?

Hell no, she didn't want to kill anyone.

For the past twenty three years of her life, Kelly had never intentionally or unintentionally to the best of her knowledge hurt anyone, she was always in the shadows and her presence barely ever noticed but now?

She'd almost killed Jennifer, this wasn't the revenge plan she had, it was supposed to hurt them where it hurts most not… Her thought were interrupted when she sighted Alexander approaching.

Her heart ached at the concern etched on his face for her cousin, his steps were brisk ones and soon enough, he was standing in front of her.

"How's she doing?' He asked her, his voiced laced with worry.

"I don't know, the doctors are still in there with her and…"

"Get away from her Alexander!" A voice said authoritatively, it was Aunt Maddie.

She walked up to them, "you did this to our baby girl! After everything I've done for you Kelly, you pay me back by attempting to kill my daughter!" She yelled accusingly. From the corner of her eye, Kelly saw Alexander star at her in shock.

He took a step back, "Kelly, is this true?' He asked disbelief in his voice.

And despite knowing he was with her cousin, he was still her Alexander, the man she'd dreamt about for so many nights and had hoped would one would be hers and so her heart twisted when she saw the expression on his face as he looked back at her.

"I didn't mean it I swear, we'd gotten into an argument and I was trying to get her off me and I must… I was…" She trailed off in a scared voice, hoping he could somehow look into her eyes and see the truth but he was looking at her with a strange look and when she looked down at herself, she realized she was still in her torn pink dress she'd had on for work.

"Oh for God's sake! I know you're lying, you're a lying, scheming bitch and I want you out of my house. Do you understand me? I never want to see you in my life again or I swear God help me Kelly…" Alexander interrupted her,

"I understand you are angry Mrs Hardy but this isn't the time to make such decisions, I know Kelly and I don't think she's the kind of person who'd intentionally go lengths to hurt someone as Jennifer is hurt.

I believe there's a misunderstanding somewhere and letting our anger take control right now isn't the best move." He said in a calm voice and Kelly's heart soared at the fact that he hadn't believed any of the vile things Aunt Maddie had called her and had actually come to her defense.

Kelly could now finally see that the apple had actually fallen from the tree and Aunt Maddie was just as terrible as her daughter and husband, all these time she had believed her aunt was a good woman who had been unfortunate enough to be with people as black hearted as her husband and child but Aunt Maddie was every inch like them.

Kelly could finally let it all sink in; her aunt and her husband had orchestrated the death of her parents and they had no remorse over their actions.

"No Alexander! I want Kelly out of my house and my life forever, I do not want to see her again or have anything to do with her." Aunt Maddie said with venom.

Kelly's voice came out steady, "Okay Aunt Maddie, I will get my things out of the house but I promise you, you haven't heard the last of me." She stared back boldly at her Aunt before turning on her heels and walking away, Alexander came after her.

"What are you doing Kelly? If this was a mistake like you'd said then why don't you just calm down and let me help you clear this whole thing up? You don't have to move out, where do you plan on going to?"

He asked and Kelly's heart warmed at the show of concern, if anything at least she still had a friend in Alexander, he was a good man and she would never understand why he was with someone as vile as her cousin, he deserved better but she couldn't be deluded into thinking that better was her, people like her had zero chances with people like him, it had been futile thinking otherwise.

"It's been coming for a long time Alexander," She said speaking to him clearly for the first time. "I guess this whole issue with Jennifer just set to motion thoughts that has been brewing and as for where I will go, I really haven't thought of that but I guess a motel would do for now." She said with a shrug.

He stared at her for few seconds before saying, "You're staying with me until this whole thing gets sorted out and even if it doesn't you could get an apartment of you own, there's absolutely no way I'd let you stay at a motel." He said in a tone that said he wasn't to be argued with but Kelly still tried to protest,

"Oh no sir, I couldn't. That would be against office ethics, I'm fine, I…"

He cut her off, "I'm your boss Kelly and I've decided office ethics be damned if I have to help you and I do not want to hear anything else!" And he led the way outside where his driver stood in front of the car.

"Go with her and help move her things back to my place, I'll call Benjamin to get a room set up.' He turned to her, "Get yourself settled in and ask the butler if you need anything, I will have to stay back here and see how Jennifer is doing."

Kelly nodded her head and stepped into the car and as the car pulled out of the hospital's parking, she saw him still in the same position watching as the car drove away.

Kelly could barely believe the turn of events, in less than twenty four hours, she'd found out her parent's death hadn't after all been an accident, she'd hurt Jennifer and gotten kicked out of the house she'd lived in for most of her life and in the same breath, she'd been offered the opportunity to be a guest at Alexander Hanks home.

Kelly couldn't believe how much everything had spiraled but it had, it definitely had.

Skip barked happily as he caught sight of her entering the house and Kelly felt for him, she hadn't thought of the dog when she'd been kicked out but she knew there was no way she could bring him along with her, he wasn't even hers for starters but she also knew he was going to suffer terribly without her, no one else bothered about him enough to see to his meals.

"I'll come back for you old friend." She promised him quietly before going to her room to pack up, not owning much after all these years, Kelly put up all her stuff in few boxes and with the help of the driver, everything was placed into the car's trunk.

The dog began to bark louder when he detected the finality with her leaving this time, Kelly stoke him lovingly before entering the car and as they drove off, she could still hear Skip's whimper, it broke her heart.

Alexander's house was even more beautiful in the day time and Kelly could only gawk at the beauty she was going to be living in even if the arrangement was temporary, it still felt like a dream. She got down from the car and the butler hurried over to her.

"I'll show you to your room miss." He said politely.

"Thank you, I'll just get my…" She made to go for her bags.

'Please do not worry about them; they'll be brought up for you." He said and Kelly was reminded she was now in Alexander's world, where there were people to do things for her and for the first time in her life.

she didn't have to be the one doing things for herself or anyone else for that matter. She went alongside the butler through the flight of stairs and the house got grander with every step Kelly took, she was awestruck by the elegant taste of Alexander; the man was almost too perfect to be real.

"I know mom and I'm going to do all I can but I definitely am not promising anything and you know how stubborn Alexander is."

Kelly saw at the end of the hallway they were walking through, a man stood with his back to them, phone pressed on his ear, she wondered who that was because from the conversation she'd heard.

he seemed to be on a certain familiarity with Alexander, He turned at the sound of their steps and when Kelly saw the similarity between him and her host even though he looked a bit younger, she knew this was Mike Hanks, Alexander's younger brother.

"You should be able to get the…" His words died off on his lips as he caught sight of her. Kelly smiled shyly at him, uncomfortable from his unwavering gaze, she saw him swallow before saying to the person on the other side,

"I'll call you back." And he hung up just as he reached her in few strides, still not breaking eye contact.

"Wow."He breathed out as he stood directly in front of her. "Hello, it's an absolute pleasure to meet you." He said in the most genuine tone Kelly had ever heard.