Stark stole glances at Kira throughout dinner. Her beauty was hypnotizing. He talked, laughed, and remembered his father, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He watched the gentle way she interacted with the table full of strangers. Her kind bubbly personality quickly won over every person there. She had a way of making people feel at ease and relating to them. That’s part of her job. Maybe that’s just who she is. Despite their present surroundings he started to think about what was under that dress. Each time she moved or leaned he tried to catch a peak. He started to imagine having her all to himself when everyone else was gone. He wondered how much longer this thing would last. Maybe the two of them could take off after dinner. Just disappear for a while. Though it seemed like dinner lasted forever, eventually they began to clear plates and they made their way to the entryway to say good bye.
Kira still couldn’t get over the excess of Stark’s family home. The entry hall gleamed with ornate panels of rich woodwork. Kira found herself mesmerized by the geometric patterns in the wooden panels. She couldn’t decide if the carved cherub faces were beautiful or creepy, maybe a little of both. The goldenrod rug and matching tray ceiling gave the room a warm feel. She realized this one room was as big as her entire apartment. As Owen and Kira thanked everyone for coming, Simone resurfaced and squeezed her way between them. Kira grumbled inwardly. This platinum Barbie was just not going away.
As the last of the guests left, Simone turned and petted Starks arm as she said, “Owen darling, this has been such a long and difficult day, I’m going up to get a bath. Join me in my sitting room in a little while, will you? We’ve got so much to discuss.” Turning to Kira, she added, “if you’re going to stay here, I’m sure Rosalea can fix up one of the guest rooms for you. Our room is pretty full.” She kissed Stark on the cheek and went upstairs.
Kira stood speechless for a moment. “Wait. What the hell is she talking about?” she asked Stark. Once again Kira felt as if she was standing on the edge of a cliff, the whole world threatening to fall away. Her legs felt weak. “She lives here? You share a room?” She turned to Owen, tears brimming in her eyes. “What haven’t you told me? What is going on here? I can understand, barely, Paige walking around naked in your house. But Simone ?” Kira realized she was pacing. Suddenly the entry hall felt very small. The walls were closing in on her. She felt her breath escape her.
Stark took her by the shoulders and shook her gently. “Kira. Listen to me,” he said. “Simone has lived her for several years.” He exhaled slowly and painfully, “She lived here with my dad.” He dropped his head and shook it back and forth.
“So she took care of your dad?’’ Kira asked, trying to understand.
“Kira, when I came home from my first deployment, I came here,” Stark explained. “I walked in to the life I used to know to find that my girlfriend, my one-time fiancé, was shacking up with my dad.” His forehead wrinkled. His eyes shut in disgust. “Yes, she lives here, she has lived here in the master bedroom of this house for the last 8 years. I have an apartment of my own in the house.”
Kira was speechless. “OK. So wait, Simone and your dad? Were they married? Is she, like, your wicked step-mother?’’ Kira hated herself for making light of such and awkward situation for Owen, but seriously….
“Fuck Kira, Not funny,” Stark said rubbing his temples. “No, they weren’t married.”
“So just kick her ass out. End of story. Yellow brick road, the wicked witch is dead.” Kira was giggling now. He had to see the humor in this. She wondered why Paige never said anything about this. Surely Paige knew.
“God, Kira. It’s not that simple. Go ahead and laugh it up. You aren’t all caught up in this shit.’’
“Well, since I just flew half way across the country to be with you, yeah. I kinda am,” Kira said. She tried to reach out and touch his arm but he pulled away. “What is going on? Owen you have to tell me everything.”
Before he could stop himself the words just slipped right out. “You mean like you told me everything?” His eyes squinted, his brows set for battle. “We all have skeletons in our closet, Kira. Things we wish weren’t there, real or imagined.”
“Wait. Now what?” Has he been checking me out? Years of humiliation came rushing back with the contempt and pity in his eyes. “What are you talking about Owen. Imagined? Is there something you want to say to me?”
“You should have told me about what happened with that guy in college, the court cases, the therapy. Hell, Kira, we never would have played like that if you had told me.” His face softened with concern.
“You mean like you told me about your little sex club? Wonderful place there, Owen. It was so nice to see you on the big screens in the room with the bondage bed. You were part of some deranged orgie and you are judging me? You had no business digging into my past.” Kira was seeing red. She suspected Simone was somehow a part of this.
“Not my business? Kira, I have a duty to protect all this. No, it’s not my regular life but I have to take measures to ensure the longevity of what my family built. Simone is right. A law suit or a trumped up rape case could ruin all they have worked for. We all make mistakes. I want to believe that you wouldn’t do that on purpose. That you really believed it happened to you. But you should have talked to me about it. Trusted me enough to talk to me.”
“So you had me checked out? What you don’t believe me, either? You. Don’t. Believe. Me,” Kira choked out between gasps. Kira’s outstretched hand dropped limply to her side and she backed away. She turned and ran up to the guest room that Rosalea had fixed for her. She slammed the door, then locked it.
Kira leaned back against the door, panting and sobbing. Her whole world just crashed. She could hear Stark in the hall approaching at lightning speed. Then he stopped.
“Owen,” Simone’s voice interjected, smooth as silk. “Come on Darling, give her some time. Come into my sitting room. We’ve got so much to discuss before tomorrow.”
Kira listened for him to approach her door. But he never came. She heard him walking away with her. Why was he so upset about Simone? What power did she have over him? Did he still love her? Kira made her way over to the massive four poster bed. No amount of furnishings or tapestries could soften the loneliness of this moment. Kira collapsed on the bed in a heap of tears. That look on his face was one she had seen so many times before. The pity, the questioning. He was not really seeing her. Kira knew there was more to this story. If he really despised Simone as much as he let on, he could just get rid of her. But no. No, she wasn’t going anywhere. For Kira, it all started to make sense.
Simone and Stark made their way through the Master Suite into Simone’s sitting area. “God damn it, Simone. What the fuck? What the hell have you done?” His voice was tense. His hands trembled with rage.
“Me, darling? You did that all by yourself. You are smart to just come out and talk to her about it. I mean can you imagine getting all caught up with a girl who made up a rape case in college to get back at her boyfriend? You’ve got enough to deal with without taking on all that baggage.” Simone sat back on a Chaise lounge in her black satin gown exposing long delicate legs and manicured toes.
“I don’t know, Simone, she was pretty upset. I think she believes it really happened.”
“Oh, great. So the little hill jack isn’t just a gold digger, she’s a psycho,” Simone spat. She rolled her eyes and shook her head dramatically. “The last thing you need is to end up in court because the little bed wetter got her heart broken again.”
Simone motioned for him to sit beside her. “You know the rules, Owen. Fraternization will end you both. What is she going to say if you guys get caught? Oh, he raped me. You’ve gone too far this time.” Simone’s slick voice was dripping with concern.
“I don’t think she would do that, Simone. That was a long time ago. She really seems to believe it happened. Besides, we aren’t going to get caught. We have been extremely careful.”
“So no one knows your litt
le secret, then?” The innocence in her eyes turned dark and calculating.
“Fuck, Simone, you wouldn’t dare. Stop being a bitch,” Stark said. He shook his head but he knew she was capable of anything.
“One call and I can end it for both of you. Is that what you want?” Simone sat back. A satisfied smile crept across her ruby red lips.
“I don’t care anymore, Simone. Go for it.” Stark was fuming.
“Really. You need to think about what you’re doing. What do you think Kira’s daddy dearest would say about his baby girl being dishonorably discharged? Well, I can say that will be a first. You will actually make a dishonorable woman out of her.” Simone chuckled.
“What do you want Simone?” Stark asked, his fist clenched. He had killed people for far less. Blackmail was so low, even for Simone. He actually thought she couldn’t get any worse. He vowed silently to get her out of his life at all cost.
“You know what I want. Leave the army and marry me like you were always supposed to.”
“Fuck no! You sort of derailed that when you fucked my dad.”
“I wouldn’t have had to resort to that if you hadn’t gone all bat-shit
G.I. Joe.” Simone stood. She closed the gap between Stark and her. “Owen, while you ran away to the army, I followed our dreams. I stuck with school and got the degrees needed to run this company. I interned with your dad. All I ever wanted to do was stand side by side with you and lead this company into the next generation. Somewhere along the way you lost sight of our dreams, but I didn’t. I have worked long and hard. Your dad and I fell in love. Do you think you were the only one who lost your mom and Maggie? Well, you weren’t. We lost them too. And…and then we lost you” Tears brimmed in Simone’s eyes. She turned away.
Despite how much he hated her sometimes, he knew what she was saying was true. He stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulder. Simone turned and looked up at him.
“Leave the Army, Owen. Leave it and come back. Come back and be the leader you were always supposed to be. If not for me, then think of Kira.” She looked up, her glistening eyes pleading. She leaned so close as she spoke. Their faces where almost touching.
* * *
Kira had started down the hallway in the direction of the heated voices. She was pissed. She wanted to confront Stark and that plastic bitch. How dare they look into her past. How dare they judge her. They weren’t there. They had no idea what she went through. Being drugged, the rape, the shame and humiliation, all swirled back. Her heart raced and her chest heaved as she turned the corner to the sitting room. There was Owen and Simone in an embrace. What the hell?
Simone tilted her head and kissed Owen deeply. It seemed to linger forever. She stopped dead in her tracks and backed into the hall. Oh my God! I need to get out of here!
Stark pushed Simone away like one would a venomous snake. “Simone, I’m not leaving the army for you, or Kira, or anyone else. I’ve told you I am married to that first. That’s not going to change!” His voice bellowed down the hall. “I don’t know where Kira and I stand right now. But I am not leaving the military. Look, when my enlistment is up I am going to re-up. There is no question. No negotiation.”
Kira froze in the hall. Stark’s words cut her like a knife piercing deep into her soul. She felt a cold sweat break out all over. They continued to argue but Kira moved away numbly. She had heard all she needed to hear. Simone would always be in his life. He was never leaving the army, not for her or anyone else. He had a choice to make and he had already made it. Kira made her way back to her room and changed her clothes. She left the lovely smoke gown on the bed and left the room. She made it to the stairs before the tears overtook her. As she fled down the steps she heard Stark on the landing above her.
“Kira, wait! Where the hell are you going?” His voice was pitched higher in panic. He crossed the landing and descended the stairs in a run. “Stop. You can’t leave.”
“Why not Owen? Why not? You have made it clear I don’t belong here in your platinum world. You inspected me for flaws. Congratulations. You found a whole closet full. I don’t know why you even bother with Colorado. Clearly you’re just as shallow and hollow as Simone and your dad ever were. I don’t even know who you are. Yes, there is a part of me that wants to stand here and beg you. Love me. Be with me. Choose me. But the truth is, you already made a choice and it wasn’t me.” Kira turned and walked to the door. He started after her. “Don’t follow me, Owen. I’m taking a cab back to the airport. You have a life here and you have a life back at base. The one thing they have in common is I don’t fit in either one. I have been kidding myself. But not anymore.” She opened the door and stepped out. Turning back she said, “Good bye Owen,” and shut the door.
CHAPTER 24
Stark sulked as he stood by the bar adding the empty shot glass to the upside down row. The smooth Irish whiskey did little to ease the bitter ache inside him. How had this fucking happened? He drummed his fingers on the empty glass. The question had plagued him for days. For the first time in 10 years, his life had seemed so perfect. How had he let it all go to hell? Stark motioned for another glass across the noisy bar to the barkeep. The barkeep just shook his head and reached for a new bottle. Stark began to mull over the last few days. How could he have trusted Simone? He knew better than to listen to that conniving bitch! He thought of Kira’s soft tear-streaked face as she left the house. He knew he would never see her again. It was really over. The thought was splitting his heart and mind into a million pieces. This was the right thing. He knew he was doing the right thing. He couldn’t risk both their careers. He ran his fingers through his hair in an attempt to ease his aching head.
“You’re going to drink them out of Jameson,” Chip sighed, knowing it was useless to say anything. He had never seen his friend this wrecked over a girl. Sergeant Colin tried everything he could think of to cheer up his friend. They sat at the bar at Jack Quinn pub. The Irish pub had always been one of their favorites. They came here for their hail and farewell parties. He had hoped some good food and a pint of Guinness would help his friend, but Stark had gone straight for the whiskey. In the three hours they had been there Stark had disintegrated into the scouring drunk who sat beside him.
Chip ordered another pint. He realized this was going to be a very long night. The animated crowd moved with the lively music that filtered from the stage area. The tempo sped up, carrying with it the rising excitement of the patrons as the Commoners wailed out a round of The Rattlin Bog. A tipsy blond bumped into Stark as she made her way to sing along with the band. He was in no mood to even notice her. As the barkeep approached, Stark took the glass without saying a word. The bar lights shone down on him as he tipped the glass and engulfed the stringent liquid. He no longer felt a burn when it flowed down his throat. He couldn’t feel anything. The crowd continued to row around him. The busty blond was draped over the lead singer as they sang a soft melody. Chip seemed entranced with the swaying beauty but Stark had Kira on his mind. The music had changed to some Irish ballad that reminded him of her smile. He ached to see her again.
Just then the bar door opened and though for everyone else the world played on, for Stark it fell silent. It was her. He couldn’t tear his eyes away. She walked in. The room began to spin. He watched her walk through the crowd in his direction. His heart began racing. Either she didn’t see him through the sea of bodies or she ignored him completely. The white dress she wore hung perfectly over hips. It flowed with each graceful step. She walked to the other end of the bar and ordered a drink. She looked happy, beautiful. The little shit was with her and well as a few other officers. He watched helplessly as her delicate hand grasped the tonic and pulled it to her lush lips. Effortlessly she drank and laughed with her friends. The shit put his hand on her shoulder as they spoke. Stark could barely contain his fury and panic as he zeroed in on the little shit’s fingers caressing the soft fabric of her dress. He knew he was staring but he didn’t care. He couldn’t look away. Hi
s tension was rising, causing a small sheen of sweat on his palms. A waiter approached them and began to guide her party to a booth.
He almost fell back into the large mahogany bar as they began walking toward him. She looked away as they passed but she was so close he could almost touch her. The scent of her perfume swirled around and transported him to another place. He could see her lying naked on his silver sheets. He was kissing her wildly. They were entwined together like two perfect circles. He’d dreamt that flawless moment would last forever. He could still taste the sweetness of her lips. He could feel the heat from her embrace. Memories flooded into his mind and he remembered that she was gone. He suddenly felt helpless and hopeless and desperate. The music rose to a high tempo and shook him back to the present. He frantically searched the bar for her. He caught a glimpse of her back at the door. Holy hell, she’s leaving! She turned just for a moment and met his gaze. Their eyes locked. She stared directly into his soul and before turning and disappearing through the door.
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