Love And Money (Love Series - Book 2)

by K. L. Prince

  Caden kisses her at the door of the apartment building and feeling his lips against her is painful. As she makes her way through the lobby, she takes a backward glance. Caden raises his hand to give her one last wave and a feeling of sadness comes over her. There is going to come a time when she will have to smash the plane of glass the lies between them and it scares her. She’s afraid that when she breaks the glass, instead of it uniting her and Caden, a shard of glass is going to slice her open and she is going to bleed to death while he walks away.

  When she is inside the apartment, instead of feeling excited about a wonderful date and Caden’s confession of his feelings for her, she just feels a depressed, heavy feeling. She knows what she has to do, but she doesn’t want to do it. The clock is ticking and time is running out for her. She won’t be able to maintain her lie for much longer. Time is fast approaching for her to tell Caden the truth and she feels frightened. She can’t run from it much longer.

  Her heart breaks as she makes her way upstairs to the master bedroom. She just wants to go to sleep to escape the pain and the uncertainty that she feels. She decides that when she wakes up tomorrow, she will decide when and where to tell Caden the truth about herself, and she will follow through with her plan. It will most likely be a devastating moment, but she will get through it, just like every other hard thing that she’s gotten through in her life. She will finally make things right between her and Caden once and for all. She is going to break the glass and suffer the consequences, whatever they may be.

  * * * * *

  “Hey, Girl,” Harper says when Olivia pops up on her computer screen.

  “Hey, yourself,” Olivia says, looking rested and relaxed.

  “You look good. I take it that your vacation is going well,” Harper says and smiles at her friend.

  “Italy is awesome. My parents and I are having an amazing time. I really wish that you were here though,” Olivia says and pouts.

  “I wish I was there, too. I need a vacation at this point,” Harper replies and grimaces as she is reminded of the predicament she finds herself in with Caden.

  “Oh, no,” Olivia says and groans. “I take it that you haven’t told him yet?”

  “I haven’t told him yet, but I’m going to,” Harper says, thinking about the plan that she’s come up with and that has been playing over and over in her mind. She has the time and the place picked out. She has come to a place where she is finally ready to do the dirty deed and except whatever the outcome will be.

  “Harper, I’ve already told you this, but I will say it again. You have to tell Caden the truth. He deserves it and you deserve it. You need to tell him before he finds out some other way. He needs to hear it from you.”

  “I know, Liv. I am going to do it for sure. I have it all planned out.”

  “Good, because we’re coming home soon and my dad is going to need his apartment back. He has some big meeting coming up when we get back and he’s going to be spending some time in the city.”

  “Okay. I’ll be out before you guys get back,” Harper says with sadness evident in her voice.

  “Harper, are you okay?” Olivia asks, sounding very concerned.

  “Not really. I’m just a little bit down about everything,” Harper replies and shakes her head.

  “I wish I could be there with you, but I will be home soon and we’ll get through whatever happens together, okay?” Olivia says, reaching out and touching the screen, giving Harper a virtual pat on the shoulder.

  “Thanks for the support, but I’ll be okay. I just want to get telling Caden the truth over with and move on. I can’t stand all the waiting and wondering what is going to happen. It’s driving me absolutely crazy. I’m worried all the time and it’s starting to make me sick.”

  “Harper, I honestly don’t think that you need to worry as much as you are. As you’ve probably already found out, Caden is one of the most kind and caring people. I really think that he will be understanding when you tell him the truth. I’m almost sure that he won’t see what you did as a big deal. He’ll probably just laugh it off. Have you ever thought that you might be pleasantly surprised by his reaction?”

  “Liv, would you just laugh off someone completely lying to you about every single aspect of their lives?” Harper seriously asks.

  “Harper, all you told him was that you came from money. You lied about one thing. It’s not like you lied about landing on the moon or something,” Olivia says and chuckles.

  “Well,” Harper says with a guilty look on her face.

  “You did only lie about the one thing, didn’t you? Please don’t tell me there’s more,” Olivia says and groans.

  “Liv, you know that once you tell one lie, you have to keep on lying. Caden kept asking questions about my life and I had to lie to keep up the original lie,” Harper says, feeling horrible.

  “What exactly did you lie about Harper?” Olivia says, crossing her arms and waiting for her friend’s response.

  “I told a bunch of little lies along the way, but the biggest lies that I told were how wonderful my father was and that my mother died in a car accident when I was really young. Now Caden is pushing me to meet my father.”

  “Harper! You don’t know your father and your mother is far from dead. What were you thinking?”

  “I wasn’t really thinking about the harm I was doing. When I was lying to Caden, all I was thinking about was keeping him around. Liv, I’ve fallen in love with him and I’m so scared to lose him. I know that what I’ve done is stupid and I know I’ve messed up big time,” Harper says and starts to tear up.

  “Harper, don’t cry. Everything is going to be fine. Just tell him the truth. Get it over with and let the chips fall where they may.”

  “As I’ve said, I’m going to. Something else happened to,” Harper says and wipes away a tear.

  “What?” Olivia asks.

  “When Caden and I were at the charity event for the hospital, we ran into Caden’s ex, Madison.”

  Olivia groans. “I know Madison well and you don’t need to even tell me how that went, but I’ll ask anyway. How did that go?”

  “She was pissed. She walked in on Caden and I kissing. She called me a tramp and a bitch. She said that she will do anything to get Caden back. She told me that she was going to find out about me and that I better watch my back.”

  “Like I’ve said, I’ve known Madison my whole life. She can be vindictive, conniving, and sneaky when she wants to be. She’s entitled and if she doesn’t get her way or she thinks that you’ve crossed her, she can be a nightmare. If she said that she was going to find out about you, she probably will. Stay away from her, Harper.”

  “Don’t worry, I intend to. I was just wondering if I should be worried about her or not. I didn’t know if I should take her threats as just idle talk or if I should take them seriously.”

  “If Madison has her claws out against you, I would say you have a serious problem. If she wants Caden back, she won’t stop. I remember when we were teenagers, a girl stole her boyfriend and Madison started vicious rumors about her and destroyed her reputation. Things got so bad that the girl was forced to leave school and move away with her family. Madison was proud of what she had done and made it known. I felt so bad for that girl, but there was nothing I could do to help her. The damage Madison did to that poor girl was widespread and vicious. After that I made a point to stay out of Madison’s way and I made sure never to cross her.”

  “Well, that makes me feel better,” Harper says and shakes her head.

  “We were teenagers then, but I’m pretty sure that Madison hasn’t changed. She can be a mean piece of work when she wants to be.”

  “Great. Now I have her to worry about, along with everything else. Do you think that she would try to hurt me?” Harper asks, feeling defeated.

  “Honestly, I can’t say for sure. I would hope not. I’ve never known her to beat anyone up or be physically violent against anyone, but I know that she has a mean streak
in her. Anytime I’ve ever heard of her doing anything mean or evil, it’s been the usual things that women do, like starting rumors and things like that. Would she go farther than that, I can’t say, but I wouldn’t put it past her, especially when it comes to Caden. She and Caden were together for awhile, so there is history between them and the love she probably feels for him might make her do something that she wouldn’t normally do.”

  “Well, Madison might get her wish of getting Caden back after I tell him the truth,” Harper says in resignation.

  “I highly doubt it. I never knew what Caden saw in Madison anyway. I personally never thought that she was his type. I was surprised that they lasted as long as they did to be honest. I guess it was a situation of opposites attracting because to me they are nothing alike in the least. Caden doesn’t play around with matters of the heart and he doesn’t lead people on. If he ended things with Madison, it’s over for sure. I’m pretty sure that she cheated on him, so I’m pretty sure that it’s done between them. Plus, he’s moved on with you. He wouldn’t have started anything with you, if he was still hung up on Madison. I’m a hundred percent sure of that.”

  “Well, I might be sitting next to Madison on Caden’s never getting back together with list very soon.”

  “Unfortunately, you might be right, but it won’t be the end of the world,” Olivia says, trying to make her feel better but being realistic at the same time.

  “It will definitely feel like it. Caden is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. If he dumps me, it’s going to take a long time for me to get over him.”

  “I’m sure it will, but I will help you. We’ll take a day at a time,” Olivia says and smiles.

  “Thanks for your support, Olivia. I appreciate it,” Harper says and returns her friend’s smile.

  “Honestly, I wish that I had forced you to just tell Caden the truth. I wish that I hadn’t helped you to continue to lie to him. I did it because I thought that I was helping you and I didn’t think that things would get this far. I thought that you were going to continue the lie for a little while and then you would tell him the truth. I didn’t realize the harm I was doing and I’m sorry for that. I hate seeing you this way.”

  “It’s not your fault at all, Liv. I did this to myself. I know that you always have my best interests at heart. Nothing you did caused me to be in the situation that I’m in. You’re a great friend - the best, actually.”

  “You’re my best friend and I love you. Whatever happens between you and Caden, I have your back, regardless. Tell him the truth and get in contact with me after you do it. Let me know how things play out. I will be back soon and we’ll figure out whatever happens, okay?”

  “Okay. Have a good rest of your trip,” Harper says.

  “I will and call me if you need me.”

  “I will. Bye,” Harper says, clicking of her computer after Olivia has said goodbye.

  * * * * *

  Harper is in the last stretch of her shift at the restaurant. It’s been a tiresome day and it has been even more stressful with the weight of telling Caden the truth sitting on her shoulders. Not to mention Mr. Simon has been calling her phone and hounding her for the overdue rent. She’s decided that she needs to relieve some of the stress in her life, so tonight is the night that she is going to tell Caden the absolute truth and she is not looking forward to it. When she gets off work, she is going to go to Olivia’s father’s apartment and Caden is supposed to come over. She is going to sit him down and break the news to him.

  She can’t stop looking at the clock that hangs on the wall of the restaurant. As the time to see Caden gets closer and closer, the feeling of dread she feels deep in her bones gets worse and worse. As she watches the minutes tick by her heart sinks more and more. She feels like she’s a woman on death row and she is waiting for the time of her execution that’s fast approaching.

  She is clearing a table, when the bell above the restaurant door chimes to announce another customer. Her eyes are drawn to the door and her heart skips a beat, as she watches Madison and a couple of other women stride into the restaurant. She watches as Madison and the other women sit at a table that is assigned to her. Usually she would be able to switch tables and be able to avoid Madison as much as possible, but the other waitress working with her is on break, so she has no choice but to serve Madison and her crew.

  Her heart has started to beat faster and she feels herself starting to sweat. What is Madison doing in her restaurant? Is it a coincidence? In light of Madison’s threats and what Olivia told her about Madison, it doesn’t seem likely. She wonders how Madison figured out where she worked. Has Madison been stalking her? She starts to feel uneasy at the thought that Madison has been following her and she hasn’t known it. Madison appearing inside the restaurant where she works makes her feel violated.

  Even if she didn’t have to serve Madison and her friends, she feels that Madison isn’t at the restaurant for its good food and that some sort of interaction would undoubtedly take place. She knows that Madison’s visit is purposeful and the purpose isn’t a good one. Madison showing up means trouble and nothing else.

  When she can’t stall going to the table any longer, she grabs some menus and forces herself towards the table. Just do your job, she tells herself, as she gets closer. She tells herself to not let Madison get under her skin, no matter what happens. She can’t let Madison see that she is bothered or she has won the battle. Madison is not going to win.

  “Hello,” she says to the women, as she places menus in front of each of them. She avoids making eye contact with Madison.

  “It’s about time,” Madison says, ripping a menu out of her hand and opening it.

  “Can I get you some drinks?” she asks, ignoring Madison and her rudeness.

  Each of the women gives her their drink order and she leaves the table to fill them. She is glad to be away from Madison and her awfulness. She has no idea how she is going to get through having to serve Madison and keep her cool. She has no idea how she is going to be able to bite her lip and remain professional.

  When she returns to the table with the drinks, Madison doesn’t waste any time. “Are you going to act like you don’t know who I am?” Madison asks and grins at her friends.

  “I know exactly who you are. Are you ready to order?” she asks, trying to get the women served and out door as quickly as possible.

  “And I know who you are,” Madison says, as if she knows something that she doesn’t.

  “That’s nice. Are you ready to order?” she asks again, ignoring Madison’s comment.

  “We’ll order after I’m done talking to you,” Madison says and gives her friend’s a look.

  “There’s nothing for us to talk about, Madison,” she says, getting more annoyed at each passing moment.

  “Oh, but I think there is, Waitress,” Madison says, using waitress as a derogatory word. “Listen closely, Waitress, Caden and I go way back. I know him and his family very well. I would say that I know Caden and his family better than anyone – better than you ever will, by the way, seeing as I was just in his bed…like yesterday,” Madison says with a huge smirk on her face. Harper doesn’t say anything in response and Madison continues, “That being said, Caden and his family are very powerful and rich and I’m pretty sure that they would be very displeased to know that they were consorting with the help. I know for a fact that Caden’s father would definitely not approve of someone like you dating his son. Does Caden know that he’s dating a... waitress?” she asks, spitting out the word waitress as if it’s the most disgusting thing that she has ever had to say.

  “Are you ready to order or not?” she asks again, ignoring Madison’s comments.

  Madison eyes her up and down in disgust and says, “I’ll take that as a no. I’m sure that Caden will be very interested in knowing what his new girlfriend does for a living. I think that he will be very interested to know that his girlfriend works in a dump like this,” Madison says and moti
ons towards the restaurants surroundings.

  “Madison, you think that you know everything, but I don’t think that you know Caden as well as you think you do,” she says, fed up with Madison’s comments.

  “I guess we’ll just have to see, won’t we. I think that he will be very interested to know some of the things I’ve found out about you. I also think that we’re ready to order now,” Madison says and grins at her friends with a look of great accomplishment on her face.

  She takes the women’s orders and disappears into the kitchen. The feeling of panic that she feels is overwhelming and it causes her whole body to shake. Madison is going to tell Caden about her. She has to get to Caden first. She can’t have Madison tell him the truth about her. She has to be the one to tell him.

  She needs to leave the restaurant and find Caden right now. She finds her boss and tells him that she is not feeling well and has to go home. She is grateful when her boss releases her without question.

  As she quickly gathers her things and rushes through the restaurant, she can’t help but notice the smirk on Madison’s face as she passes by. She can’t help but notice the laughter that Madison and her friends share as she rushes by. There is no doubt in her mind that they are laughing at her.

  She feels disappointed and disgusted that Madison is forcing her hand. She had planned to tell Caden the truth later tonight, but now she is forced to move up her plans. Madison has put her into a position of having to do it under duress and she feels pissed off. Madison has thrown her into a panic and she hates the way that she feels.

  When she gets inside of her car, she tries to call Caden, but there is no answer. She frantically leaves a voice message, letting him know that she really needs to speak to him as soon as possible. She tries to call again, but still gets no answer. She wants to keep calling and calling until he answers, but she refrains.