Ten minutes later, she approached her apartment. As was customary on her street, most of the residents were out tending to their usual evening routines. Friendly words and nods greeted Kathryn and though she longed to stop for a chat or admire the beauty of roses in full bloom, she hurried upstairs to her apartment.
Though she had compulsively checked her phone for any texts from Sandra, none had appeared and Kathryn grew more agitated by the minute. Taking her laptop into the bathroom, she showered quickly and changed into comfortable sweats with one eye on the Skype screen. Too anxious to eat, she settled for a sandwich and a glass of wine to calm her nerves.
As soon as she stepped onto her balcony to enjoy her meal in the cool evening breeze, a text message chimed from her phone. Almost reluctantly, she checked it to read that Sandra and Sam were waiting for her on Skype. She returned inside to her desk to see them already online and settled into her chair with growing anxiety.
Kathryn initiated the camera and stared at Sandra sitting next to a distinguished older man with a shaven head and neatly trimmed goatee.
“Hi Kat,” Sandra said. “Sorry it took a little longer than expected.” She turned to Sam with a smile. “Sam, I’d like you to meet Kathryn Denton. Kathryn, meet Sam Farmer.”
“Pleased to meet you, Sam,” Kathryn said.
Sam produced a dazzling smile. “Pleasure’s all mine.”
“I‘m so grateful for your help. I don’t know what I would have done otherwise.”
“A friend of Sandra’s is a friend of mine, should we get started?”
“Please,” Kathryn said as she sunk low in her chair, preparing herself for whatever Sam would reveal.
Sam opened a manila filing folder and scanned its contents as he spoke. “Kathryn, how well do you know Heather Jennings?”
Jennings—it occurred to Kathryn that she had never even known Heather’s last name.
“Not that well,” she said. “I met her shortly after I started working, and I’d only seen her occasionally until she invited me to lunch. She seemed pleasant enough at first.”
“Pleasant is probably the last word I’d apply to her,” Sam said. “She’s vindictive, confrontational, and very dangerous.”
Though Sam’s words were not unexpected, they still filled Kathryn with a sense of dread.
“Dangerous?”
“She’s been to rehab twice for cocaine addiction. She was also charged with aggravated assault. This was long before her engagement to James Manticorp, but thanks to her father’s influence and money the details were kept from the media.”
“And from James?” Kathryn asked. “How is that possible?”
“Her rehab sessions were creatively disguised as extended spa stays or jaunts to cosmetic surgeons,” Sam said. “It’s so common among that class of women no one would question her absences.”
Kathryn bit her lip as she thought of James’ plan to call off the engagement, she could only imagine how determined he’d be once he found out about Heather’s sordid past.
“You ok?” Sandra asked, apparently picking up on Kathryn’s unease.
“James wants to break it off,” she practically whispered, still struggling to wrap her own head around the idea of James being available. “He says his relationship with Heather is nothing but a political move that was set in motion a while ago.”
“Does he know what happened that afternoon after your lunch date with Heather?” Sandra asked.
Kathryn sighed. “I almost told him, but I held off because I wanted to know what you found out first. I thought it would be better to approach him with undeniable evidence.”
“Well, undeniable proof is definitely not going to be an issue,” Sam cut in.
He raised several color photos to the screen. They showed Heather standing in a dark alley talking to a heavily tattooed man. In her hand, a white bag of powder and another bag of pills could clearly be seen.
“My God, what’s happened to her?” Kathryn murmured as she registered Heather’s emaciated frame and bedraggled appearance.
“It could be the crowd she’s hanging out with,” Sam said. “I’ve seen this so many times before. They probably know Heather’s a conduit to money. They like to party hard and Heather’s always been attracted to that lifestyle.”
“What’s the next step?” Kathryn asked, eager to act before Heather could get any worse.
“I’m preparing a file,” Sam said. “Sandra will bring it with her tomorrow. You can look through it and decide what you want to do.”
Kathryn felt uneasy at the scope of the decision facing her. She had come so far with her career and hated to jeopardize it, but Heather had become an unpredictable threat.
“You have a responsibility you may not want,” Sandra said, “but this is what’s best for James and for the company, you have to trust that.”
“I’ve seen what the worst human nature has to offer,” Sam added. “So when I meet good people like you who are trying to do the right thing, I have no problem arming you with the tools you need to resolve the situation.”
“Is it that bad, Sam?” Kathryn asked.
Sam sighed. “I believe it is. Unless she seeks help, Heather’s downward spiral will only end in tragedy.”
Chapter Seven
Of course sleep had been impossible after the Skype call with Sam and Sandra. Kathryn had tossed and turned until the early hours of the morning, her chaotic thoughts like a hive of angrily buzzing bees. As soon as she finally managed to fall asleep, the persistent ringing of the phone roused her from a groggy stupor. It was Sandra, and it was ten a.m. Moving like an Olympic sprinter, she showered and got ready in record time but nothing banished the grinding exhaustion she felt.
By the time Kathryn finally stepped out of the elevator, it was almost eleven thirty. She had considered taking a cab to save time, but decided instead that a walk in the brisk morning air would do her good. It had also given her time to clear her head and calm down before facing the difficult decision she knew awaited her at work.
Sandra gave a visibly fatigued Kathryn a once over before picking up an unmarked file from her desk and following Kathryn into her office. She closed the door, nodded toward James’ office and put her finger to her lips as Kathryn settled herself at her desk.
“James came in early this morning,” she said quietly. “He’s been asking for you. I told him you weren’t feeling well. Did he call you?”
Kathryn checked her phone to find two missed calls and a voicemail from James. Hearing the concern in his voice as she listened to his message warmed her heart. It wasn’t often that he left messages and instead of deleting it, she saved it as a memento.
“He certainly did,” she said, “but I had the volume turned off. I was so rushed I never bothered to check for messages.”
Sandra set the file on Kathryn’s desk.
“He’s been nosing around all morning. I swear that man must have been a bloodhound in a past life, he just wouldn’t stop asking questions.”
Kathryn stared at the file as though it were a venomous insect. Somehow, she just couldn’t bring herself to touch it.
“What am I going to do?” Kathryn dropped her forehead into her palm and squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to quell her nagging thoughts.
“You have to tell him,” Sandra said.
Kathryn reached for the file, reluctantly opening it and staring at the neatly clipped photos. She removed them and glanced through the images Sam had showed her last night along with several others. Most were of Heather meeting various drug dealers, sometimes alone but mostly with Antoine. Surprisingly, most of the deals seemed to occur at respectable venues or what even appeared to be private homes.
Peering more closely at the images of Heather, Kathryn noticed how much thinner she had become. Gone was the svelte model’s figure to be replaced by a frame bordering on anorexia. Her once perfectly sculpted face was drawn and shadows ringed her eyes.
Kathryn finally tossed the photos back into the
file and closed it. That she already felt a tension headache brewing at her temples did not bode well for the rest of the day.
“So Heather is a mentally unbalanced drug addict,” she said.
“That about sums it up,” Sandra said dryly.
“So what’s changed?” Kathryn asked. “Even when we went to lunch she seemed fine.”
“Sam thinks she into a new street drug. Some of these exotic cocktails are pretty deadly and sooner or later they hit the media when casualties start racking up.”
Kathryn stared at Sandra. “Casualties? You make it sound like a war.”
“It is,” Sandra said. “Make no mistake about it. If Heather’s determined to go down, that’s her decision, but she’s not taking us with her.”
Kathryn slipped the folder into her desk drawer. There was no arguing with Sandra’s logic.
“When should I tell him?” Kathryn asked. “I was thinking maybe lunch?”
“No,” Sandra said. “Keep it private. There’s no telling how James will react and the last thing you need is a scene in public.”
“Okay, we’re going to be working on the Gala today. I’ll bring it up when it seems appropriate.”
“Just give me a heads up beforehand,” Sandra said. “That way I can make sure I’m out of the way.”
She had barely finished speaking when they heard a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Kathryn said.
James strolled in with a tray of coffees and grinned.
“Good morning, ladies,” he said cheerfully. “I brought sustenance.” He looked at Kathryn. “I hope you’re feeling okay. When Sandra told me you weren’t feeling well I got concerned.”
Kathryn smiled and gratefully accepted her latte. “I could get used to this,” she said.
“At your service,” James said with a courtly bow.
Sandra sipped her coffee and headed for the door. “On that note, I’ll get back to work. Call me if you need anything.”
James perched on Kathryn’s desk and swirled his coffee around in his cup. “Is there anything you want to tell me? I’ve never known you to be five minutes late before.”
“You know the saying,” Kathryn said. “All work and no play makes Kathryn a very tired image consultant.”
James erupted into laughter. “Well, maybe we can make up for that,” he said. “I know we’ve got a busy day ahead of us, but how about dinner?”
“And how does that fit into our busy day ahead, Mr. Manticorp?”
“By combining business with pleasure. We’re going to test drive the dinner menu that will be served at the Gala. Chef is preparing it just for us this evening so we can make any necessary changes beforehand.”
“I have to admit that sounds like a very delicious idea,” Kathryn said. “Is he preparing the vegetarian and vegan versions as well?”
“Absolutely,” James said. “And depending on the menu, everything will be handmade, locally produced, organic and grain-fed.”
“That’s sounding more and more appetizing by the moment,” Kathryn said with a smile. “Okay, go ahead and confirm for seven. I’ll make sure I skip lunch.”
She handed him the phone but James headed toward the door instead. “I’ve got a few calls to make so I’ll be in my office. Afterward I’d like to talk to you about updating the guest list.”
“Okay,” Kathryn said, hoping everyone’s good mood would last after she talked to James about Heather. Perhaps she would broach the topic after dinner, when they were more relaxed.
She turned on her computer and began reviewing the Gala media invitation list. A few moments later her phone rang.
“Kathryn Denton.”
“Good morning, Kathryn,” Frank Manticorp said.
“Good morning, Frank, what can I do for you?”
“Did James tell you about the test dinner tonight?”
“Yes, and I have to say that’s a great idea.”
“We were lucky to get Chef Bernard, but in view of our stellar guests, I wanted only the best for the Gala.”
“I can’t wait!” Kathryn said.
“I also wanted to let you know that a meeting I had scheduled for this evening canceled, so I’ll be joining you and James.”
Kathryn swallowed her disappointment. The dinner would have given her and James a rare opportunity to spend some time together away from the office.
“That’s wonderful, Frank,” she said with forced enthusiasm. “Now we can compare notes.”
“Are you free sometime this afternoon?” he asked. “I’d like to discuss the media list.”
Kathryn glanced at the document on the screen but raised voices from the reception area distracted her. She frowned and glanced at the door, certain she heard Heather’s voice. Her heart sank.
“Hello?” Frank asked. “Are you there, Kathryn?”
“Frank? I’m so sorry. I almost spilled my coffee. The media list is almost complete. Just reviewing it now. I’ll email it shortly.”
The raised voices descended into a heated argument, and she now heard James’ angry voice.
“Excellent,” Frank said. “Stop by later and we’ll chat.”
Kathryn hung up and rushed to the door but Sandra appeared and waved her back.
“Was that—”
“Yes, and she’s—”
Heather barged into the room. Thin, pale and dressed in baggy, unbecoming sweats, she was far from the glamorous fashionista Kathryn had met when she started the job. She could barely contain her surprise at Heather’s transformation. Seeing the photos had been bad enough, but in person, her appearance was even more shocking.
Heather glared at Sandra then turned her Kathryn with a spiteful look, but James rushed in before she could speak.
“We’re not finished, Heather,” he said quietly. “This is none of Sandra or Kathryn’s business, so I suggest you if you’re going to cause a scene, you can either leave or come back to my office and speak in a reasonable manner.”
“Who the hell are you to give me orders?” Heather cried, her face turning a bright scarlet. “We haven’t spoken two words to each other in weeks and every time I try to call you ...”
James expression transformed into a dark, dangerous look Kathryn had never seen before and hoped she never would. Even Sandra seemed uncomfortable and stepped back.
“You keep behaving like this and we’re not going to see each other. Period.”
Absolute silence descended, the tension so palpable it literally choked Kathryn. Heather twitched with rage. Kathryn glanced uneasily at Sandra, who imperceptibly shook her head.
Heather looked at James with such hatred that it was clear whatever love might have existed between them was long gone. It was only then that Kathryn noticed Heather’s engagement ring was missing. Sandra, noticing the direction of her gaze, also glanced at Heather’s bare ring finger.
“I came here to try to talk to you,” Heather said tightly, “and all I get is attitude. I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
James laughed derisively. “Time to look in the mirror, Heather, because I sure as hell don’t recognize you. You gave Sandra attitude the minute you stepped from the elevator, then you charged into my office like a toddler about to throw a tantrum. Now you’re here embarrassing yourself and everyone else, and you’re lecturing me about attitude?”
“You seem to be more worried about what everyone else thinks,” Heather retorted. “What about me? When did I disappear from the radar?”
“What about you, Heather?” James said coldly. “And more specifically, what about us, because I don’t really think ‘us’ applies anymore. It’s nothing but a tired, overused term for a relationship that was never more than window dressing.”
Heather stared vindictively at James. Her body tensed, and from her posture, Kathryn feared that she might spring at James like a rabid animal.
The phone rang from Sandra’s desk, startling everyone. Sandra quickly slipped past James to answer it and closed the door behind
her. Kathryn wanted to follow but she was trapped at her desk and wasn’t about to risk being attacked by Heather.
James simply stared Heather down. “I suggest you leave, go cool down somewhere and maybe then we could talk,” James said, “but if you continue to be confrontational, I’ll have security escort you from the building faster than you can blink.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Heather sneered with botoxed lips that seemed grossly disproportionate against her gaunt face. “You don’t think I’ll speak to Daddy about the way you’re treating me?”
“Feel free,” James said, opening the door and gesturing toward the elevator. “In fact, let’s go see him together. I’m sure he’d take some time from his busy schedule to hear what you have to say.”
He paused to look closely at her. An inscrutable expression crossed his face when his gaze rested on her bare ring finger.
Kathryn felt a moment of sadness. Regardless of what had happened between James and Heather, it could not have been easy for James to accept that his relationship had been a sham.
James shook his head as though acknowledging Kathryn’s thought. “I don’t know what the hell has happened to you, Heather, but you’ve changed. I don’t even recognize you. Maybe you should take a hard look at yourself, because I sure as hell don’t like what I see.”
He stormed from the office and stabbed the elevator button. When it opened, he held the door and glared at Heather.
“You coming, or do I have to call security?”
“You’re bluffing,” Heather said. “You wouldn’t do that to me.”
“Try me.”
Kathryn watched the standoff with growing discomfort. Though she couldn’t see Sandra, she knew she would also be watching.
Heather gripped her purse until her nails left indentations in the leather. The elevator pinged a couple of times but James firmly held the door open. Kathryn noticed that Heather’s hands began to shake and wondered if she was coming down from some kind of drug.
Finally, Heather relented and marched into the elevator, but not without brusquely bumping against James as she passed.
James released the door. “Think about what I said.”
Shattered (Book Two of the Beautifully Broken Series) Page 7