Sleeping With The Enemy

by Parker, Ali

  “I know the Kendells. Very well actually. I went by their office to talk with Patrick and ran into his sister. I invited her to go along with me to Israel.”

  He slowly nodded. “I see.”

  I suddenly felt the need to explain myself. “They’re old friends.”

  He smiled. “Of course. The sister is a part of the business?”

  “Yes.”

  “And she negotiated a deal for you?”

  I grinned. “She couldn’t help herself.”

  “That should prove interesting.”

  “You have no idea,” I mumbled.

  “What all did you acquire?” he asked.

  I gave him a quick recap of the negotiated items. He was nodding with approval. “I was hoping for something different, but I guess I’ll have to take what I can for now. I did just get a new lead on a dig in Italy. I’m hoping it proves to be a good one.”

  “Did you get a chance to check out any of the other digs I sent you?”

  I smiled. “No. I chose to do a little sightseeing instead.”

  “Ah, with your lady.”

  “She isn’t my lady,” I told him.

  “But maybe she could be,” he said with a smile. “It would do you good to have a woman in your life. Although to think of you married with children is a little strange.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I don’t see how that’s going to do me any good. More drama. I’m not good at remembering to call or remembering birthdays and other important dates. It’s best if I don’t drag a woman into that. Not to mention children. I’m good at making deals, not at building relationships.”

  “I think there are plenty of women who would love to be your lady,” he said. “You are being too hard on yourself. The right woman is out there, willing to show you how to be a good boyfriend or husband.”

  I curled my lip at the very thought. “No thanks. I’m good.”

  He laughed. “Don’t knock it until you try it.”

  “What are you talking about? You’re single. I’ve never known you to have a girlfriend.”

  “I had a girlfriend for several months last year,” he corrected.

  That was proof I was a shitty friend. I had no idea he had a girlfriend. “Oh, what happened?” I asked, even though I was about a year too late.

  He shrugged. “She was clingy.”

  I burst into laughter. “And yet you are lecturing me about getting a woman.”

  “I didn’t say I needed a woman.” He grinned. “I said you needed one.”

  “So, tell me about Seattle,” I said in an effort to change the subject away from my love life or lack of.

  He looked down at his hands in his lap before meeting my eyes. “I got the job.”

  “Congratulations.” The word sounded hollow. It wasn’t heartfelt and he knew it. “I’m sorry,” I quickly added. “I don’t mean to sound like an asshole.”

  “It’s okay. I can’t really expect you to be happy for me.”

  I shook my head. “No. I am. I know you want to be home and I get it. I am happy for you.”

  “Thanks,” he said.

  “That doesn’t mean I won’t try and convince you to stay,” I said with a laugh. “I could double your salary. Or would you prefer to have a share in the museum holdings?”

  He winced. “You pay me very well. That was never an issue. I love my job here and I love the travel it has afforded me, but it’s time for me to make a change.”

  I was an idiot to ask. “Okay. When?”

  “I can stay a couple of weeks if you need me to,” he offered. The tone of his voice and the look on his face told me he really didn’t want to. I didn’t want a man around that didn’t want to be there.

  “But you would like to go now,” I quietly said.

  “I can finish the week. I’ve already started organizing my files and contacts for you. It will make it a little easier for you. Although I’m sure you already have all the same information.”

  “No. Anything you can do to help would be great.”

  He sighed, looking at me. “Are you going to hire someone to replace me?”

  I shrugged. “I think I have to. I don’t want to. This is going to sound cheesy, but you are irreplaceable.”

  He laughed. “I think that’s a compliment.”

  “It is. I probably should have told you more often how much I valued your work. You have been a right-hand for so long, I’m not sure I will be able to function without you.”

  “I am positive you will do just fine. If you buy out this Kendell company, maybe you can hire your girlfriend who isn’t your girlfriend.”

  The idea terrified me. “I don’t think that would be a smart move. Mixing business with pleasure is dangerous at best. She would never want to work for me anyway.”

  “I can put out some feelers,” he offered. “Hire my own replacement.”

  “It’s okay. I don’t think I’m ready to do anything just yet. For now, I’m good. I’ve got that shipment coming in and have a few of my own leads.”

  He nodded. “All right. I’ll leave you to it. I’m going to work on reorganizing those files.”

  “Thanks,” I told him.

  Once he was gone, I let out a long sigh. It was going to be difficult to run the business without him. It wasn’t just the business that would miss him. I would miss him. I would miss our jokes and our conversations about relics. I would miss the heated debates we often had over an item’s dating. Alec was the only friend I had.

  I was sure we would promise to keep in touch, and he would say he would call and vice versa. We wouldn’t. Because we didn’t have a strong personal relationship, he would fade from my life. I tried not to think about what it would mean to be truly alone in the world.

  Thinking about being alone made me realize how much I wanted Mae in my life. After leaving her at her door, I had only called a couple of times. The conversations were brief and more of a checking in than anything really meaningful. I was afraid to have anything meaningful with her until I talked with Patrick. I wanted to feel him out and see if there was any chance he would approve of me dating his sister.

  I grabbed my phone and sent a quick text to Mae just to say hi and let her know I was thinking about her. It was a dangerous game. I wouldn’t say I was leading her on, but I was keeping the door open in case things worked out in my favor.

  My phone rang while I was still holding it in my hand. I looked at the number and saw it was Patrick. “Hello,” I answered.

  “Tyson, it’s Patrick Kendell.”

  “Hey, are you back in town?”

  “I am. I was wondering if you were still interested in discussing that little matter I spoke with your guy about.”

  This was my moment. I could tell him no, I didn’t want to buy the company. I knew Mae wanted it. She loved the company and saw it as her own. I didn’t think she would handle it well if I was the man who took it away from her. I wouldn’t have to worry about asking Patrick for his blessing to date her. She would tell me to take a flying leap.

  “I am,” I heard myself say.

  “Great. Does tomorrow work for you?”

  Again, my conscience reared up, trying to tell me to back away from the talks. “Yes, how about lunch?”

  “That works for me,” he agreed, and we quickly established a time and meeting place.

  I hung up the phone, feeling a little sick to my stomach. A text message came through as I held the phone in my hand. It was Mae. I opened the message that had a little bit of a flirty tone and smiled. I put the phone down, the smile fading.

  I knew Mae well enough to know she would not be happy to hear about her brother trying to sell the business. When she found out I was the one that was interested in buying it, she would lose her shit. Her words echoed through my head over and over. The business was the only real tie to her family that she had.

  I turned in my chair and looked at the email that popped up. It was from Alec with the title, Official Resignation. All good things had to
come to an end. Mae would realize that. There was still the chance I could accept Patrick’s offer to merge his company with mine. That could possibly preserve the relationship between myself and Mae.

  I quickly dismissed that idea. Mae would never want to be my employee. It would be an insult to her. The business was her tie to a shitty relationship with her family. My business was all I had in the world. She had Patrick and Hayden. She would get over losing the business.

  I hoped. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her, but in my opinion, she was talented and knowledgeable in her field. She would find another job. A job that would pay her well and give her the chance to buy that house she was talking about. She would be able to support her sister.

  The more I thought about it, the more I rationalized my buying them out. It would be better for her, Patrick, and Hayden if they cut ties to their past and their parents. The last tie that bound them to their abusive parents was the business. I saw myself as doing them a favor by taking it off their hands.

  Chapter 21

  Mae

  I grabbed one of my fries and ran it through the pile of ketchup in the corner of my plate. I was absolutely starving and making a total pig of myself. Thankfully, it was just Carrie watching the horrible scene.

  “When was the last time you ate?” she asked.

  I laughed. “This morning, but I’ve been running full speed all day.”

  “You are running through that plate of food like a woman who hasn’t eaten in a week.”

  I wiped my mouth. “I’m sorry. You were telling me about Ben’s new school.”

  “Yes. I’m terrified. How can I send my baby away all day?”

  “Because he will be five and they say that’s when kids have to go to school. He will be with lots of other babies. You did it. I did it. Everyone does it.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I was thinking about keeping him home one more year. I don’t know if he’s ready.”

  “Woman, he’s ready. You are the one who isn’t ready. You have to cut that cord or at least lengthen it. Do you want him living in your basement one day? He’s a smart kid, and holding him back a year is only going to be a detriment to him.”

  She pouted. “But I’m going to miss him.”

  “I know you will, but you will see him when he gets out of school. Are you going to keep working from home?”

  She nodded. “I make good money. Plus, I will be there when he gets off the bus and I can volunteer in his class.”

  “There you have it. You’ll still get to hover over him. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.”

  My phone vibrated on the table. I snatched it and smiled when I saw the text from Tyson. I liked that we took a little step back.

  “You’re smiling. Is it your man again?”

  “Not my man, but it is Tyson,” I said without looking back as I typed out a quick response.

  “Are you going to go out with him? I thought you would have gone out with him this weekend. I was ready for Hayden to stay over.”

  I shook my head. “He didn’t ask, and I figured it was probably better if I stayed with Hayden since I was gone earlier in the week.”

  “Now who’s hovering? At least my kid is four. Your kid is old enough to drive almost.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Not quite.”

  “Are you going to see him again soon?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. We have talked a few times and are taking things slow. I like that he is okay with a text here and there. I like that I don’t have to check in with him all day long. Do you remember that one guy I dated? He was such a pain in the ass. It was like babysitting a needy toddler.”

  She laughed. “Bryan. Yes, I do remember. He was ridiculous.”

  “Tyson is so damn perfect. It feels different with him because I already know him. We already have that bond from earlier. I don’t feel like I have to lie about anything. He knows my family and I told him about their recent downfall. He doesn’t judge.”

  She smiled. “I’m happy for you. I can’t wait to meet him.”

  I waggled a fry at her. “We are not there yet. We are not meeting friends and family.”

  “He’s already met your family and you said he doesn’t have any family,” she reminded me.

  “True, but for now, it’s just cute little texts that let me know I’m on his mind. That’s all I need for now.”

  “Until you need a little something else,” she said with a cheesy grin.

  I laughed. “It is going to be a little more difficult to have those little dates if you know what I mean. I can’t very well have him come by for a visit with Hayden in the next room. I don’t want her to think that’s okay. I have to be a good example, which means no hanky panky.”

  “She’s not being raised as a nun,” she pointed out. “Explain to her you are an adult and he is your boyfriend.”

  “If it gets to that point, then I will talk with her about it, but for now, I don’t think it’s a good idea to have booty calls with an impressionable thirteen-year-old girl watching my every move.”

  “Probably a good idea. Whenever you get a little hankering for a little dirty business, send her my way.”

  I laughed. “I will keep that in mind. Now, I have to eat and run. I have a meeting with a local museum owner that is interested in some of our stuff.”

  “Fraternizing with the enemy?” she questioned. “Your boyfriend might not like that.”

  “Not my boyfriend and I am still in the business of making money.”

  I grabbed another fry, left a twenty on the table, and dashed out of the restaurant. I was already late. I had just gotten in my car when I got another phone call. I grabbed it, checked the screen, and groaned with displeasure. It was my mother. I was dreading the conversation.

  I didn’t want to risk angering her. It would only come back on Hayden. For now, Patrick and I had agreed to do our best to keep the peace. We were pretending nothing happened and Hayden was just having an extended sleepover at my house. We didn’t want to rock the boat.

  I cleared my throat. “Hello?” I answered, trying to sound calm and professional.

  “Mae, is that you?”

  I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. She called my phone. Who the hell did she think was going to get on the phone? “Yes, it’s me.”

  “How are you?” she asked.

  That was strange. “I’m fine.”

  “How is Hayden?”

  “She’s good, Mom. She’s doing very well.”

  “I’ve changed,” she whispered. “I’ve realized my mistakes and I have changed. I’m better now. What you saw that day, it was a bad weekend. We don’t usually get that bad. It was just a rough couple of days, and we got a little carried away.”

  It was always the same story. “It was really bad, Mom. Really, really bad. The house was trashed. Dad was passed out cold and you were out of your mind.”

  She sobbed. “I know and I am so embarrassed by all of it. I’m not that person. I never let that happen. It just got away from me.”

  “I hope you can get some help,” I told her. “You and Dad both.”

  “We are!” she practically shouted. “We have talked about it and we both know we have to make some changes. We have made changes. We know what we did, and we are sorry for it. We’re ready to take our daughter back.”

  I blew out a breath. “That isn’t a good idea.”

  “We appreciate you watching out for her, but she needs to come home now.”

  “No,” I said firmly. “No, she isn’t going home.”

  “Mae, I think you forget who you’re talking to. I’m your mother and I’m Hayden’s mother. She is my daughter. I’m in charge here, not you.”

  I could feel the conversation going south. I wanted to try and hold on to the civility, but I felt it slipping away. I felt my anger growing and fought to keep it under control. “You need help.”

  “I just told you we have changed.”

  “No, Mom. This isn’t something that chan
ges overnight or in a week. You need to get clean and get your shit together. You’ve done this before. You get right for a few days or weeks and then you fall off the wagon. Hayden needs stability and you cannot offer that. You will destroy her. If you love your daughter, you will leave her alone.”

  “You can’t do this!” she shouted.

  “I have done this, and I will do this. She’s not going home.”

  “I will call the police!”

  I sighed, exhausted with the whole drama. “Go ahead. No judge is going to let you keep Hayden. I will file to get full custody if you try anything. Get some help and leave her alone.”

  “This is not over. I will call my lawyer and I will sue you.”

  “Go ahead. You don’t seem to understand that you are an addict. Dad is an alcoholic. You are not fit to be human beings, let alone parents. You are selfish and unreasonable. Do not make this any worse than it has to be.”

  “Who do you think you are? She isn’t your child!”

  “No, she isn’t, but I will treat her better than you can. You are sick. You need help. Get some help and prove you can stay clean for more than a couple of weeks. If you can prove you have well and truly changed, maybe there is a chance you can have a relationship with your daughter. Both of them, if you want.”

  “You sure are high and mighty. What makes you think you are so much better than me?”

  “I’m not better than you. I’m sober. Hayden is safe with me. Let her be happy, Mom. Please. Give her a chance to have a normal life. She doesn’t need to see you high and drooling. She doesn’t need to see Dad passed out to the point it’s hard to tell if he’s even alive.”

  I hoped she would let the words sink in. I hoped she would dig deep and find that maternal instinct and realize I was right. “I’m calling the police. I’m going to tell your father right now. You have her bags packed and ready to go.”

  She ended the call. I stared at the phone in my hand, barely able to see the screen because my hand was shaking so badly. “Fuck,” I groaned.

  There was a very good chance she would follow through with her threat. If she did call the police, there was nothing I could do to stop them from taking her home. I knew my mother well enough to know she would clean up for the event. She would put on that fake smile and wear her outdated designer clothing and present herself as the perfect, upstanding mother. She would give the police a long line of bullshit about me, and Hayden would be the one to suffer.