by Kira Blakely
“But that didn’t end up being the case.”
“You got it,” he said. “It was about a year into it, around when Hunter didn’t need his mother to be around at all hours of the day. She started going out more, hanging out with those same friends of hers that she’d been partying with. At first, I was fine with it—we had the money for nannies, and I figured she deserved to blow off some steam after going through the stress of pregnancy.
“The first night she came home trashed, however, I knew that things weren’t going to be so simple.”
“Yikes,” I said.
Connor nodded.
“And it just got worse. She’d spend more and more time out with her friends, leaving Hunter with nannies and being out of touch for nights at a time. As much as it pained me to admit it, I began to realize that Kendra wasn’t finding the life of a stay-at-home mother particularly satisfying. But it didn’t end there: She seemed to being finding the life of a wife and mother unsatisfying, period.”
“Then what happened?”
“I was in more denial than I’m letting on. Months went by like this, with her staying out later and later, being less and less present for Hunter. And I just kept telling myself that she’d snap out of it, that she’d work through whatever post-pregnancy issues she was dealing with and become the mother I’d hope she could be.
“One night, however, I came home to find neither Hunter or Kendra there. I gave her a call, and she let me know that she was ‘out on the town,’ and that she’d be back before too long. I demanded that she bring Hunter home now and that we have a conversation about all of this as soon as possible. We had it out on the phone, and she hung up. A couple hours later, I received another call. I was expecting Kendra, but instead, it was the NYPD. They’d pulled her over down in Sunnyside. Turns out she was driving drunk with Hunter in the backseat.”
“Jesus,” I said, sitting back and shaking my head.
“I was furious. I bailed her out and brought her home but she was totally unapologetic. Went on and on about how I was sucking the life out of her, how I made her start this life that she never really wanted, and so on and so on. I told her that she needed to sleep off her booze and think about what it was that she really wanted. I guess she did, because when I woke up that next morning she was gone. She’d packed a suitcase and took off. Left a note on the counter that said nothing but ‘it’s over.’”
“Then what?”
“I filed for divorce and that was that. I only saw her here and there in court. She told the judge she was fine with relinquishing custody. Last I heard she was seeing some Greek millionaire’s son. I guess all she really wanted was a man with money who’d bankroll her party lifestyle.”
“What a shame,” I said. “And Hunter…that poor kid’s growing up without a mother.”
“I’m lucky that I can afford Eliza and the rest of the help, but man, it’s not the same thing. Kid needs someone in his life who I’m not paying by the hour.”
I let the words hang in the air for a few moments.
“And that’s it,” I said, reaching forward and giving the trackpad a tap.
“That’s it?” asked Connor.
“Yep. Unless you’ve got some secret life as an international spy or something you’d care to share.”
“Hmm, well, I have been making a little extra money selling prescription pads to the kids at the private middle school down the block. It’s only a hundred or so extra bucks a month, but it’s really about the thrill of it, you know?”
I let out a laugh and reached forward to give Connor a playful slap on the forearm and giving the muscle a nice, hard squeeze. Damn, he was solid.
“Seriously, though,” he said. “This has been fun. Not just the interview, but having you around. It’s been good to see you.”
Sadness took hold of me at these words. With the interview done and Connor’s promotion assured, that was the end of our arrangement. I realized at that moment how much I didn’t want our time together to end.
“I’d say it’s been more than just fun,” I said, leaning forward and flashing him a sensual gaze.
“Maybe we’ll have to bid each other a proper goodbye,” he said.
Before anything else could happen, however, I heard the low vibration of a phone buzzing. A quizzical expression crossed Connor’s face as he slipped his phone out of his pocket. The confusion only seemed to deepen as he looked over the screen.
“Something up?” I asked, now curious.
“Just…um, someone from work.”
He shook his head and quickly tucked his phone back into his pocket.
“Anyway, I should get some dinner going for the little dude. Don’t forget about the goodbye party they’re throwing for me tomorrow night. Would be unseemly if my dearest fiancée wasn’t there.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Connor stepped back into the apartment, leaving me alone. Confused feelings flashed through me as I sat there, my face illuminated by the glow of my computer. I was conflicted and sad and frustrated and I didn’t know why.
But then it hit me: I wished it wasn’t a lie. I wished that I actually was Connor’s fiancée, that this whole pretend scenario was true. I wanted to be Mrs. Connor Rex.
I slumped back in my seat, the weight of my realization pulling me down.
Shit, I thought. Now what the hell am I going to do?
Chapter 23
Connor
The view from Lionel’s Midtown penthouse was stunning, to say the least. Martini in my hand, I took a slow sip of my drink as I looked out over the twinkling towers of the city. The sounds of my going-away party taking place inside the apartment were muffled through the glass.
“Taking it all in while you can, huh?” asked Lionel, stepping out onto the balcony.
“It’s easy to forget how amazing this city is when you’ve got your head down every day,” I said.
“It’s quite a place,” said Lionel, now standing next to me. “Been here for forty years. Moved here from Duluth and thought this city would eat me alive.”
“I’d say you’ve done alright for yourself,” I said. “Aside from the hair loss.”
Lionel gave me a sly look as he ran his hand over his smooth head. My gaze tracked to the dozens of party-goers in the apartment behind him, all of them chatting and drinking and enjoying the occasion.
“You should pray you look so good when you’re this age, Connor.”
I let out a laugh.
“But I’m not the only one who’s done well in this town,” he said. “You’ve taken this city over in ways that I could’ve only dreamed of when I was your age. And now you’re leaving it for a promising position at one of the best hospitals in the country. And a lovely wife to support you through it all.”
I felt a pang of regret at the mention of Alice. This thing had all started as an innocent lie to help me get the promotion that I wanted. But now it all seemed to be taking on a life of its own. I felt less and less in control with each passing day.
“Thanks, Lionel,” I said. “Happy to have been a part of the team.”
Lionel smiled, then turned, craning his head to get a good look at the party.
“Speaking of which, where is that fiancée of yours?”
It was a good question. I’d come here straight from work, and Alice let me know that she’d be over as soon as she could make it.
“She’s said she was going to drop off Hunter at one of his friend’s.”
“Well,” said Lionel, placing his hand on my upper back. “Let’s hope she doesn’t miss too much of the evening. Shall we?”
He held his free hand out toward the balcony door and the two of us stepped inside. The focus of the party turned immediately to me, broad smiles appearing on the faces of the many guests. Personally, I didn’t care for the attention—the party was the board’s idea, not mine. But these were the men and women with whom I’d been working for years, and I did appreciate the chance to bid them all
farewell before the wild rush of the next couple of weeks and the transfer.
“So, the golden boy is headed to LA,” said Richter, stepping up to Lionel and me and sticking out his hand.
A brief, skeptical expression formed on my face as I shook Richter’s hand. He squeezed my palm hard—not vice-like—but just enough to remind me of the tension between us.
“That’s right,” I said. “Nothing but sunny days and drinks on the beach ahead. Right, Lionel? That’s what you promised me, after all.”
Lionel let out a laugh at my little joke.
“If a life of worry-free leisure was what you’re looking for, I think you might’ve picked the wrong line of work.”
“Well,” said Richter, “it’s good to see you moving up in the world. Hopefully, your star continues to rise. Excuse me.”
And with that, he was off. Not before giving me a strange look, one that seemed to suggest that there was something on his mind he wasn’t telling me. Before I had the chance to think about the matter for too long, however, the front doors of the apartment opened and a figure stepped through. Certain that it had to be Alice, I turned my body and prepared to walk over to greet her.
But it wasn’t Alice. Instead of a winsome, green-eyed brunette, it was a redhead packed into a skintight black cocktail dress, her cleavage looking as though it might come pouring out at any moment. The wide-eyed looked on Lillian’s face vanished the moment she realized that she was in the right place, and I could almost feel the eyes of every man in the room lock onto her.
“Holy moly,” said Lionel. “Girl’s just poured into that dress, huh? What I wouldn’t do if I were your age, Connor. And, ah, not engaged.”
Seeing Lionel openly ogle a girl like this was a little bit of a surprise. The girl was a bombshell, though—I had to admit it. But far from being attracted to her, my thoughts were more on how blatantly she’d been hitting on me during her first day at work.
“Evening, gentlemen,” she said, stepping past us with a walk seemingly designed to catch the eye of just about every guy there—as if she didn’t already have it.
Her eyes lingered on me for a long moment, and it was clear that she wasn’t wasting any time in letting me know that she was there for the taking.
There was no temptation, however. Alice had been the only girl on my mind since things had heated up between us, and the idea of even flirting with another woman seemed almost strange.
“Girls like that make me glad that I’m squirreled away on the top floor,” said Lionel. “Can’t imagine getting a damn bit of work done with a body like that in my face all day.”
I let out a polite laugh, letting Lionel have his fun. Quickly, I slipped out my phone to see if Alice had called or texted. Nope—nothing. I fired off a quick “where are you?” text, then dropped my phone into my pocket and turning my attention back to the party.
The next hour flew by as guest after guest stopped by to say their goodbyes. While I was still not all that excited about being the center of attention, it was a pleasure to be able to speak one last time with all of the men and women with whom I’d been working. It was bittersweet to be bidding both Beth Sinai and the city farewell. The reality of everything happening was beginning to dawn on me.
But all I could think about was how much I wanted Alice at my side. We’d been a team through all of this, and despite my attempts to keep myself emotionally distant, the closeness formed between us over the course of our time together was undeniable.
“You’ll all have to excuse me for a moment,” I said, addressing the guests with whom I was currently speaking. “I need to give my fiancée a call.”
Lionel pointed me in the right direction toward his private office and I was off. I passed Lillian on my way there, and she directed a very pointed gaze at me, her lips wrapped around the straw of her cocktail.
I closed the office door behind me, pulled out my phone, and dialed up Alice’s number. After a few rings, it went straight to her voicemail.
“Hey,” I said after the beep. “I’m at the party right now. Where are you? Give me a call or shoot me a text or something whenever you get this.”
I shook my head as I clicked off my phone and put it away. Turning toward the window, I took a seat on the edge of the desk as I wondered where Alice could’ve been. It was past the time of being irritated—I was beginning to get worried. The crisp taste of my martini lingered on my palate as I took a sip and shook my head.
A light knock on the office door snapped me out of my thoughts. I crinkled up my face, wondering who it could be.
“Come in,” I said.
The door opened and in stepped Lillian, a coy expression on her face.
“Good evening, Dr. Rex,” she said, slowly shutting the door behind her.
“Lillian,” I said, furrowing my brow in skepticism. “What’s up?”
She leaned back against the door, her hands clasped in front of her in a way that pressed her breasts together and made her dress look ready to burst at the seams.
“Just thinking about how disappointing it is that we’re not going to be working together,” she said, looking away, a trace of childish lilt to her tone.
“Well,” I said, keeping my own tone dispassionate and professional. “I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunities to develop other workplace relationships.”
“It’s just such a shame,” she said, now stepping toward me, one leg placed in front of the other slowly in a very obvious attempt at seduction. “Because I thought you and I had developed quite the…connection.”
Now she was only a few feet from me. I realized that this situation was getting more precarious by the second.
“Lillian, it’s very flattering that you’d be interested, but I’m engaged. So, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Oh, spare me the bullshit,” she said, that sly expression still on her lips. “I know all about your med school days—that cock of yours has quite the reputation. Now, why don’t you let me give you the goodbye present I know you’re really wanting?”
It couldn’t have been further from the truth. Even at that moment, Alice was on my mind.
But before I had a chance to say or do anything else, Lillian reached out with lightning speed, grabbed my tie, and wrapped it around her hand. With a tug, she pulled me close, a one-side-raised smile forming on her mouth, bringing me in close for a hard kiss.
There wasn’t even a second of hesitation before I clamped my hands down on her shoulders and pushed her back.
“Stop this now, Lillian,” I said.
Over Lillian’s shoulder, I spotted my reflection in the mirror above the office fireplace and saw that my lips were now smeared with candy-apple-red lipstick—not a good look.
“Just give me what we both want, Dr. Rex,” she said. her voice heavy and breathy. “Right now.”
She closed the distance between us and pushed me back into the desk chair. My tie still wrapped around her hand, she moved in, straddling me and coming in for another kiss.
Before she could, however, the office door opened abruptly. My eyes shot over, and my heart sank upon seeing just who was standing there.
It was Alice. And at her side was Lionel. A handful of other guests stood with them, Richter among them, a narrow-eyed expression on his face.
“Connor!” Alice shouted out. “What the fuck is going on?”
And I had nothing to say.
Chapter 24
Alice
I ran from the party as fast as I could—I didn’t want anyone to see me cry. I didn’t care one bit how insane I must’ve looked weaving through the guests. All I wanted was to be as far from Connor as humanly possible.
Once I got back down to the street, however, the tears came pouring out. But I knew I couldn’t waste time standing around. Surely, Connor was heading down in the elevator at that very moment, ready to come find me and launch into a big diatribe about just how sorry he was.
Or even worse: That it wasn’t what it looked lik
e.
I know what I saw. I’d walked in on Connor, some redhead floozy on his lap, a big smear of tacky red lipstick on his face. That was all I the proof I needed.
I flagged down a passing taxi and held back my tears long enough to climb into the back. Once the door shut, however, they started right back up again. I was barely able to mumble out my address through the sobs racking my body.
I was mad as hell—no doubt about that. But the anger wasn’t just directed at Connor. I saved a healthy share for myself, as well. After all, I was the one stupid enough to think that Connor had changed his ways, that he wasn’t still the same sleazy womanizer he was all those years ago.
My eyes on the passing city as the cab crossed over the Williamsburg Bridge, I shook my head in disbelief at how stupid I’d been. Why did I even think this whole stupid thing would go any way but how it had? I thought I was all grown up, some brilliant, mature, professional woman who knew all the angles. Yet here I was, ten years later, getting played by Connor, just as I had been in high school.
After all, it takes two to tango, and a heartless cad like Connor needed his stupid, doe-eyed girl. I just didn’t think it was going to be me.
Move phone buzzed and buzzed in my purse, and I didn’t even need to look to know it was Connor blowing up my inbox with message after message about how we just needed to talk about all of this, that we just needed to get it all straightened out. Sure enough, that’s just what I saw when I took out my phone. I dismissed the messages without bothering to read them and powered down my phone.
I wasn’t in the mood for excuses. Sure, I’d gotten played just like I had before, and I couldn’t change that. But I could change how I reacted. By the time the cab pulled up to my apartment building, I was braced with a sense of determination. I wiped my tears and strode up the several stories to my apartment.
After grabbing a beer out of the fridge, I stepped up to the window, cracked it open, and looked at the sprawling Manhattan skyline. The city had always been an inspiration to me, but right now all it managed to instill was a sense of claustrophobia. Letting my beer wash around in my mouth, I realized that I needed to get back home, back to Hemswood.