by Pamela Yaye
“I can’t believe you fell for her lies! It’s petty gossip. That’s it. We’re not doing anything about it, and as far as I’m concerned this conversation is over.”
“Harper, I never said I believed her. I said she sounded convincing, that’s all.”
“Who is she?” he spat, pressing his palms down on the counter.
“I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me her name.”
“Did you even ask? Or try to find out what her story is?”
A cold chill crawled down Azure’s spine. “I—I tried, but when I pressed her for more information, she hung up.”
“Sure she did.”
“I’m telling you the truth, Harper. I have no reason to lie.”
“You’ve been lying since the day we met, Alice.” His eyes sliced across her face with the precision of a blade, and his cold, mirthless laugh pierced her ears. “Wow, you must really
want to score some points with your boss. I know he’s been pressuring you to dig up dirt on my family, but I never imagined you’d sink this low.”
“Is that what you think? That I’m going to use this information against you and your family? I haven’t told Leland about this, and I’m not going to.”
“Right, I bet you’ve been shopping this story around for weeks.”
Azure stood beside the pantry door, dead silent. Harper’s ice-cold tone chilled her to the bone. Her body was numb with fear, and it felt as if her tongue was glued to the top of her mouth. This was her worst nightmare come true. Harper was mad at her, blaming her for something she didn’t do, and his accusations hurt her deeply.
Hearing her cell phone start up again, Azure reached into her pocket. Taking the call would give Harper a moment to cool off, to consider what she’d said. The screen read Unknown Caller. Hoping it was Demetri Morretti’s Chicago-based publicist, Azure put her cell to her ear and greeted the caller warmly. It was a challenge, and although she had a smile on her lips, her face felt harder than stone. “Hello, Azure Ellison-Hamilton of Eminence magazine.”
“Frank Hamilton had an affair that resulted in the birth of a child. A daughter.”
Azure gulped. How did she get my cell phone number? Her hands were shaking so hard, so slick with sweat the phone started to slip from her grasp. Catching it before it hit the floor, she swallowed the knot in her throat and prayed she wouldn’t get sick on the marble floor.
* * *
Harper rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. His head was spinning like a yo-yo and it felt as if his heart were going to explode out of his chest. He had to get out of the kitchen, had to get away from Azure before he lost his temper. He started for the staircase, but when he heard the fear in her voice, he pivoted back around. Harper watched her eyes widened and the color drain from her pretty, delicate face.
“I’m not interested in the information,” she said to the person on the line. “Please don’t call me again. If you do, I’ll contact the police and have you charged with…”
Harper held his breath. It was her anonymous source, the woman who’d called her earlier in the day. Had to be. Deep down, in his heart of hearts, he didn’t believe that Azure would sell him out for a headline. The evidence against her was trivial, circumstantial at best, but Harper couldn’t risk being humiliated again. His head and heart were in turmoil, both throbbing so hard, and so loud, he couldn’t think straight. What if he was wrong? What if it turned out that Azure and the caller were in cahoots? Would he be able to survive being burned by love again?
“I don’t believe you. You’re lying!” Azure dropped the phone on the island, as if it were contaminated with a deadly virus, and stepped back. Shivering, she wrapped her arms around her shoulders and stared suspiciously at her discarded cell phone.
“Was that your anonymous source?”
Nodding, she dropped her gaze to the floor.
“What did she say?” Harper demanded, raising his voice.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to risk our relationship over a stupid story.”
“Our relationship? What relationship? This was a business deal, and nothing more.”
Azure swallowed. It took all of her effort to breathe, to keep from bursting into tears and falling to her knees. “I don’t mean anything to you?”
Harper pretended not to hear the question. “I’m going to ask you one more time. What did your anonymous source say about my father?”
Raising her head, she faced him. His gaze was filled with hostility and aimed directly at her. Azure was prepared to fight, to defend her good name. She had to. Being without Harper was a terrifying concept, one she didn’t think her heart could survive. “It’s only going to hurt you and I won’t do that.”
“Tell me what she said, or else.”
“Harper, calm down. Please, let me explain—”
“Explain what? How you stabbed me in the back to advance your career? I should have known you couldn’t be trusted. You’ve been lying to me since day one.”
“No, I haven’t,” Azure argued, unable to hold her tongue any longer. “I’ve been up front about everything. I haven’t lied to you.”
“You lied about your name, about why you wanted to interview me, and now you’re lying about your anonymous source. Did your boss put you up to this, or did you plot my family’s demise on your own?”
Azure reached for him, to caress his face, to give him a physical reminder of the love they shared, but Harper stepped back, out of reach.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Baby, don’t do this.”
Harper angled his body away from her. His father’s words came back to him. Reporters are sneaky, cutthroat types who’ll do anything for a headline. And your wife works for Leland Watson. That man would sell out his own mama for a story.
The truth struck, smacked him upside the head like a racquetball.
Of course Azure was in cahoots with her source! She’d been trying to dig up dirt on his family from day one, but he’d been too busy lusting after her to take the threat seriously. But it wasn’t too late. He could fix this. His family meant everything to him and he wasn’t going to let Azure, or her evil, malicious boss, destroy his father’s reputation.
“We can get past this, Harper. I know we can.”
“Get past what?” he repeated, a disgusted expression on his face. “Our wedding was a publicity stunt to generate headlines, remember? Quit acting like this is a real marriage. It’s not.”
Her legs gave way, buckled under the weight of his cruel taunts. Azure felt her eyes water and blinked hard to stop the tears from flowing. “Harper, you’re the most important person in my life, and I want a future with you. Baby, I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone, and I would never, ever do anything to jeopardize our relationship.”
Harper pointed to the door. “Get out. Our business is through, and so are we.”
“Baby, you don’t mean that. You’re just upset.” Azure was burning up, and she couldn’t slow her erratic heartbeat. The thought of leaving, of bailing on Harper when he needed her most had never crossed her mind. “Let’s drop it for now. We can discuss this later, when we get back from Common’s album release party—”
“I’m not going.”
“Fine, we’ll stay home.” Azure gestured to the stack of take-out menus beside the phone. “What do you want for dinner? Chinese? Moroccan? Greek?”
“Pack your bags. I want you gone by the morning.” Turning his back to her, he scooped his cell phone up off the table and strode off.
“Where do you expect me to go? Maggie and her boyfriend—”
“I don’t care where you go. You’re not welcome here anymore and I want you out.”
The matter decided, Harper stalked out of the kitchen, leaving Azure all alone. She was beyond scared, and her trembling body
proved it. The thought of being without Harper, the only man she’d ever truly loved, was terrifying.
To ward off an emotional breakdown, Azure squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep, cleansing breath. One didn’t work, so she took two more. Her heart was broken, shattered into a million little pieces, but Azure willed herself to keep it together. There’d be plenty of time to cry later, to lament the loss of the man she loved, but right now she had to go upstairs and pack. Because after her explosive argument with Harper, she was not only hurting, but she was homeless.
Chapter 20
Azure awoke with a start. Disorientated, and half-asleep, she groped around the rickety side table for her ringing cell phone. Scooping it up with her hands, she tossed aside the stiff flower-printed blanket and swung her legs over the side of the queen-size bed.
Praying it was Harper, she cleared her throat and pressed the phone to her ear. The line was cutting in and out, and a shrill sound whirled in the background. To improve the connection, Azure stood and paced the length of her motel room. “Hello? Hello? Harper, are you there?”
“How are you doing, honey?”
Azure frowned. “Dad?”
“I better turn off the weed whacker. I can barely hear you!”
Waves of disappointment crashed down on her. Dropping onto the tacky plaid couch, her shoulders hunched in defeat, Azure took a moment to compose herself. The past seventy-two hours had been depressing, the most miserable time of her life. Harper wasn’t taking her calls or responding to her text messages and emails. And if not for checking his Facebook page, she wouldn’t know how he was doing. Why hasn’t he called? Doesn’t he miss me? Not even a little?
“Alice, are you still there?”
“Yeah,” she said, mustering all the enthusiasm she had, “I’m still here.”
“Is your husband around? I’d like to formally welcome him to the family.”
“Sorry, Dad, um, Harper isn’t here.” Azure didn’t want her parents—or anyone else—to know that Harper had kicked her out. Every day she went to work with a big, fat smile on her face and gushed about how wonderful married life was. But inside, she was dying a slow death. How am I supposed to fix things if he won’t talk to me? Azure wondered, swallowing a sob.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you guys next month,” Mr. Ellison said, his voice now loud and clear. “Alice, you think Harper can get me courtside tickets to the Sixers game?”
Panic seized her, drenched her skin with sweat. She couldn’t let her parents come visit. Not now. Harper was mad at her, and she hadn’t seen or heard from him in days. Azure would love to see her parents, but until she made up with Harper, she had to keep them in Tampa and out of Philly. “You guys can’t come visit next month. I’m going out of town on assignment.”
“For three weeks?”
“Yeah, I’m, uh, doing an in-depth interview with…with…Demetri Morretti.”
“The slugger with the golden arm and lightning-quick speed?”
Azure felt like a fraud, and as she spun a tale sure to impress her dad, she wondered if the accusations Harper had made were true. Azure loved her husband, and her family, and didn’t want to hurt them. That’s why she told the occasional little white lie. But when her dad asked for an autographed baseball to add to his prized collection, her guilt was so strong, so powerful, Azure felt as if she’d been socked in the stomach. Maybe Harper was right. Maybe it was time she stop trying to be everything to everybody and speak her truth. No matter what.
“So, you’re not upset about missing the charity gala for the Tuck Me In Foundation?” she asked.
“I was only going for your sake,” Mr. Ellison confessed with a chuckle. “I’d rather play golf than schmooze with the rich and boogie any day!”
“Tell Mom I’m really sorry. I’ll make it up to you guys soon.”
“You can tell her yourself. She’s right here. Sheryl, come get the phone. It’s Alice!”
“No, Dad, it’s okay—”
“Hi, honey! I was just thinking about you.”
Azure sighed. Why couldn’t her dad just pass on her message? “Hey, Mom. What are you up to? Puttering around in your garden again?”
“I sure am, and once your dad gets rid of all those pesky weeds, I’m going to have the best-looking rosebushes on the block,” she explained, her voice dripping with pride. “But enough about my garden. Let’s talk about you. What does your gown look like?”
“My gown?”
“Yes, the one you’re wearing to the charity gala. I hope you didn’t buy anything strapless or backless, because you don’t have the right shape to pull off that style.”
“Don’t hold back, Mom. Tell me how you really feel,” Azure mumbled, staring up at the hideous, canary-yellow ceiling.
“What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t tell you the truth?” she asked, her tone high-pitched. “I watched your interview on City Spotlight and was stunned to see how chubby you looked. You’ve only been married a couple weeks, but you’re packing on the pounds!”
“Relax, Mom, I haven’t gained any weight. It was just the cut of the dress.”
“The camera doesn’t lie, Alice!”
Azure rolled her eyes, and when her mom launched into her diet and nutrition spiel, she decided it was time to end the call. She never worked on weekends, but the thought of staying inside her small, dingy motel room all day was depressing. Azure wished Maggie wasn’t out of town with her boyfriend, Greg. She needed someone to talk to, someone she could trust, and although she’d hit it off with Harper’s cousin Marissa and Jake’s fiancée, Charlotte, Azure didn’t feel comfortable confiding in either one of them.
“You don’t want to be one of those brides who gets married and then just lets themselves go,” her mother warned. “Harper Hamilton is an attractive, successful attorney who probably has women throwing themselves at him all day long, and if you don’t want him to leave you for someone younger and thinner, you better quit stuffing your face and head to the nearest gym.”
“Mom, stop! Just stop it!” Azure yelled, knocking over the coffee table as she surged to her feet. Years of hurt, pain and frustration spilled out of her mouth, and when she was finished unburdening her heart, she felt emotionally drained. “I’m sick of you criticizing my appearance and putting me down. There’s nothing wrong with me. Harper loves me just the way I am, and more importantly, I love myself.”
“Alice, honey, relax. You’re yelling—”
“And you’re being mean,” she tossed back, giving voice to her anger.
“I—I—I didn’t mean to upset you. I was only trying to help.”
“That’s just it, Mom. You’re not helping. I don’t need you to be my dietician or my stylist, or my virtual trainer, either. All I need is for you to be my mom. That’s it.”
After a moment of silence, Mrs. Ellison said softly, “I can do that.”
Azure felt her heart rate slow and an overwhelming sense of pride and relief flow through her. Being with Harper—a man who praised and encouraged her every day—had bolstered her confidence and given her the strength she needed to stand up to her mother. And from now on, she wasn’t going to let anyone mistreat her.
“Maybe when I come visit next month we could spend the afternoon together doing girlie stuff. We could make it a mother-daughter day.”
“No, thanks,” Azure quipped, refusing to even entertain the idea. “The last time you suggested a mother-daughter day we ended up at that health and wellness ranch in Pensacola. I like to exercise, but those grueling, three-hour hikes almost killed me!”
Mrs. Ellison spoke with a smile. “I know you’ll be busy helping out during the charity fundraiser, but I’d still like us to spend some quality time together while I’m in town.”
Azure opened her mouth, but her conscience wouldn’t
let her repeat the lie she’d told her dad about going out of town on assignment next month. Admitting the truth was going to make her look like a failure in her mom’s eyes, only confirming what her mother had always believed, but Azure didn’t care. Thanks to Harper, she was confident in who she was and could defend herself. “You can’t come to visit, Mom. Harper kicked me out and I’m staying in a cheap motel.”
“What happened, honey? Talk to me, Alice. I want to help.”
Comforted by her mother’s words, she told her about the explosive argument she’d had with Harper and the countless phone calls she’d made to his cell over the past three days. This was the kind of relationship Azure had always longed to have with her mom, one where she could share, and although being away from Harper made her heart ache, she was glad she could confide in her mom. “I don’t know what to do anymore. He’s completely shut me out.”
“He needs some time to cool off,” Mrs. Ellison explained, her tone softened with understanding. “You should come down here for a few days. Getting out of Philly will help clear your mind, and it would be great if you came to celebrate your dad’s birthday with us.”
“That might not be a bad idea,” Azure thought out loud. “I could come for the weekend.”
Mrs. Ellison whooped for joy. “Your dad would be thrilled. It will be the first time in years that you and your sister were both here for his birthday.”
“Eden’s there?”
“Yes, she got in last night. She’s doing a photo shoot for Shape magazine this afternoon, and her agent got her a small role in an independent movie being filmed in Prague next month.”
“That’s great!” Azure cheered, wandering over to the window and gazing out at the bright morning sky. “I told Eden she had nothing to worry about.”