by CJ Thomas
I tilted my head and nodded, thinking that maybe Kelly could help.
He would be much easier to convince. I knew what he thought about me, how much he wanted me. All I would need was for him to see that I was worth the fight and then he could take his courtroom skills straight to Madam and convince her that my contract was only a silly piece of paper we could all learn to ignore.
My entire face pursed.
Except after finding what I assumed to be his signature on the files related to Madam’s business ventures, I wasn’t even sure he would want me to step away from Madam’s operation. And maybe it was his idea to have Madam use me as her delivery girl in the first place.
Tipping my head back, I closed my eyes and sighed.
I didn’t know what, or who, to believe. But one thing I was certain of: I was probably letting paranoia control more of my thoughts than the more rational side of my brain. Besides, I only saw the name Kelly B. It didn’t mean that it was my Kelly Black. In fact, there were millions of last names that began with the letter ‘B’ and probably another million Kellys in this world, too.
Looking up to the ceiling, I tapped my chin.
Who was I fooling? This wasn’t just coincidence. Of course that signature was my Kelly. I swore I needed to stop reading fiction and stop listening to the news. Too many conspiracy theories clouding my judgement. As soon as the elevator slowed to a stop on the lobby floor, I stepped forward only to be met by a sea of people waiting to get inside.
“Pardon me,” I said, stepping between the crowd.
Somehow I managed to brush shoulders with only one or two people before emerging on the other side. My feet danced across the floor, and when I rounded the corner I saw Mr. Anderson busy with paperwork. Smirking, I flung my body across his desk. “Sorry I’m late. Had a late night.”
He arched a brow.
“Doing work.” I wiped my forehead with the backside of my hand. “You know, keeping myself busy.”
“Uh-huh.” He nudged his forearm against my shoulder and swept me off his paper.
“Anyway,” I slid back to the floor, “I have a delivery?”
“Ah, right.” He held up his finger, working to finish his paperwork before retrieving my delivery from the backroom.
My foot tapped anxiously on the floor as I couldn’t wait to see what it was, though I was certain it was from Kelly. I mean, who else would it be from? Before he’d come around, I hardly got anything more than junk mail.
Spinning around, I rested my tail against the edge of the desk and smiled at the neighbors who came and went. We all recognized each other but our relationships never matured past a friendly nod here and there. And I was fine with that. I didn’t need to get involved in building gossip. Mainly because I had a feeling I was their gossip.
“Here you are,” Mr. Anderson said behind me.
I spun around so fast my hair flung over my shoulder. My hand flew over my mouth as I gasped. “Mr. Anderson,” I teased. “For me?”
He laughed.
“You’re such a sweetheart.”
He rolled his eyes, one to quickly recognize my sarcasm and roll with the punches. “Seems you are making quite the impression.”
Flinging my arms forward, I clamped both my hands around the bouquet and brought the dazzling array of colors to my nose. Closing my eyes, I got lost in their amazingly warm scent. As the swirls of smells made their way into my brain, my imagination reminded me of rainbows and butterflies and fields of happy hippies hula-hooping. All things that made me smile and keep me hopeful that this world was going to be all right after all.
“I assume they are from Mr. Black.” Mr. Anderson’s eyes sparkled.
Rocking back and forth on the backs of my heels I pulled the flowers into my chest, smiling. “He really likes me.”
“What’s there not to like?”
My lids popped open and I frowned. “I haven’t been completely honest with him lately.”
Mr. Anderson’s face twisted and I knew there was something he wanted to tell me.
“You don’t have to bite your tongue when you’re with me.” My brows pinched as I firmly nodded. “Go ahead, blanket me with your wisdom.”
He cast his gaze down to the floor. But only for a second. “I’m not here to tell you how to live your life—”
“—Then don’t.” I shrugged.
“But if you like him,” his bushy brows rose, crinkling his forehead, “then keep your relationship honest.”
I stood there with wide doe eyes staring back at my wonderful and honest doorman. “Thank you. I will keep that in mind.” I nodded as I knocked my knuckles against his desk. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have breakfast to go make.”
He glanced at the clock.
“I know.” I lifted my hand and waved my fingers over my shoulder as I turned to the elevators, walking away. “It’s already afternoon. But you know what they say—breakfast is the most important meal of the day!”
I could hear him laughing all the way to the elevator. Feeling appreciative, I couldn’t stop smiling. The flowers were gorgeous and I couldn’t wait to read the note stuffed inside.
What was it Kelly had to say today? I silently wondered.
Would he apologize for doing something he wasn’t at fault for? Or was he going to ask me out and forget everything that happened the other night? I felt like such a fool for acting the way I had but my imagination was quickly running away from me.
I followed one other person into the elevator and wedged myself in the back corner so that I could open and read the note in private as I got whisked up to my floor.
My pulse increased and I raised my brows, looking around the small elevator car nervously as I slowly opened it. Acting like I was reading something I shouldn’t be allowed to have, I bit my cheek and dropped my eyes to the paper.
I can’t stop thinking about you.
My hand moved over my heart.
Sorry I didn’t call.
My lips curled upward as I looked around.
I need to see you again. Call me when you get this. ~ Kelly
I stepped off the elevator feeling as beautiful as the flowers. Truthfully, I was glad he didn’t call yesterday. I needed the time alone to figure some things out. But that didn’t mean that I was going to tell him that. As far as he was concerned, he was right. He should be feeling guilty for not calling to check up on me.
Fucking asshole, I giggled.
Skipping down the hall, I plowed through my front door and marched straight for my cell phone still sitting on top of the nightstand. Scrolling to call Kelly, the screen lit up and it started ringing.
My eyes popped wide open and my heart skipped a beat as I waited to see who it was, hoping that it was Kelly. Then I let out a monstrous growl when I saw that it wasn’t him, but instead Alex.
“Did you think I was dead?” I answered with narrowed, teasing eyes.
“What? No.”
“Oh.” My shoulders curled as I moved back to the living room and collapsed onto the couch. “I thought maybe you would have since I didn’t stay at your place last night.”
“Where are you?”
“Home.” I lifted my feet up from the floor and hugged my knees to my chest. “Why, what’s up?”
“I’ve been thinking.”
“That’s a first.” I snickered.
“Kendra, I can’t stop thinking about your boyfriend’s questioning into Nash’s involvement around that dead girl and the missing money.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, I said, “And I couldn’t stop thinking about what we talked about the other day.”
“Did you look?”
“I did,” I said, glancing to the stacks of files still left out from last night.
“And?”
“Kelly’s definitely Madam’s lawyer.”
“No surprise there.”
“Except I think he might be more involved in her escort business then he initially led on.”
“He told you
he was part of it?”
“Well, not really. Only a suspicion I had.”
“So you don’t have enough information on him to prove your theory one way or another?”
“No. Not yet.” I dropped my head into my hand, feeling a headache coming on.
The line went silent and then I heard a car engine turn over.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“Outside his office.”
My feet dropped to the floor and I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Kelly’s office?”
“I can’t believe it either.”
“No, that’s great.” My voice floated softly through the air as I tried to imagine what she was seeing.
“You sound surprised.”
“Because I am.” I wet my lips. “I didn’t think you would actually spy on him for me.”
“Me neither, and I don’t know why I am. There’s nothing going on here.”
A slow smile spread across my face.
“Oh, shit.”
“What?” My brows furrowed. “Do you see something?”
“Kelly just came out.”
“Did he see you?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“You’re not going to like this, but he’s with another woman.”
My stomach hardened. Staring down at his promise ring and still smelling the flowers sitting only feet away from me, I knew I shouldn’t be feeling the jealousy that flowed through my veins. “What does she look like?”
“She’s gorgeous.”
“Not helpful.” The crease between my brows deepened.
“Long blonde hair. Curvy, even behind the loose-fitting yellow dress. And he just said something to her to make her laugh.”
My hand balled into a tight fist as I punched the soft couch cushion.
“She just hooked her arm through the crook of his and…”
“And what?” My hands trembled.
“They’re getting into a car.”
“Alex! Follow them.” I stood and began pacing across the floor of my living room. “Whatever you do, don’t lose them. I need to know where they go.”
“Okay, I’m on it.” I heard her switch over to speaker. “Can you still hear me?”
“Talk louder.” She tested the line again. “Much better.”
“Who do you think she is?” Alex asked once she’d started driving.
“I don’t know, his sister?” Sarcasm laced my words. Her guess was as good as mine.
“With our luck, it would be his daughter.”
Alex snickered, thinking back to the time we spied on Nash, catching his daughter kissing him on his cheek. We’d overreacted then and I could only pray that we were doing the same now.
Alex announced the cross streets of every turn she made. Her descriptions created a good visual for me to follow inside my own head but, still, I wanted to see it with my own eyes.
“You must have seen this coming,” Alex murmured. “Otherwise you wouldn’t have asked me to spy.”
“Where are you?”
“Slowing down. They just turned into—”
“Turned into where?” The line went silent. “Alex!”
“What the heck?” The line crackled.
“Alex, where did they turn into?”
“A cemetery?” Her voice sounded skeptical, like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
My mind raced to understand why he was at a cemetery and why he would bring a woman Alex described as gorgeous there. Then my head snapped up to my own front door when I heard a knock coming from outside.
“Kelly has his arm over her shoulder. Her head is down.” Alex continued the play-by-play. “It looks like she might be crying.”
There was another knock on my door. This time a little bit louder. Hurrying to see who was at my door while still listening for what Alex had to say next, I turned the doorknob without thinking and answered it.
“Hey, Kendra.” He smiled but it never hit his eyes.
Slowly, I lowered the phone away from my ear. I could hear Alex screaming my name, asking if I was still there, but I couldn’t move. I was frozen with big unblinking bug eyes staring directly into the face of my uncle.
“Can I come inside?”
23
Kelly
Pushing through the front glass doors, I stormed into Kendra’s building with my blood boiling hot.
“Mr. Black.” The doorman approached me.
“Where is she?” I hurried to meet him with furious eyes darting across his face.
“I don’t think now is a good time,” he said with a slight head shake.
I narrowed my eyes and rubbed my face. “What do you mean? She’s home, isn’t she?”
Clenching my hands into tiny fists, I watched Mr. Anderson’s gaze travel the length of my arm. “I can’t let you go upstairs when you’re like this.”
My nostrils flared as I bore my gaze deeper into his unwavering eyes. He was older and shorter but a hidden strength kept him standing firm. It was admirable but it wasn’t going to be enough to stop me from getting what I wanted. “I need to see Kendra.”
He held up his hands, showing me his palms. “Like I said, now is not a good time.”
I took one step closer, peering down over the man dressed in his silly black suit. “Don’t make me regret this.”
He nodded, still holding his palms an inch away from my chest. “She has a visitor.”
My eyes widened as fury zipped to my extremities. Without hearing anything more, I stepped to the side. Mr. Anderson grabbed me by the arm but I broke free and hurried to the elevator with him threatening to call security. I didn’t have to ask who Kendra was with because I already knew. His tone gave it away.
Kendra was with another man.
Stepping in front of the elevator, I repeatedly jabbed the button like it would speed things up. My breath was steaming through my nostrils as I clenched my teeth. Looking down, my hands were still balled in fists and my heart beat fast enough to cause a heart attack.
I didn’t know who she was with but just the thought of her being with another man was enough to make my head pop. “C’mon!” I screamed while sending my fist into the metal door a second before they opened.
I pushed the woman stepping out of the car to the side, only to turn and see Mr. Anderson on the phone staring in my direction. He wasn’t the kind of man to bluff so I knew my time was limited before security would track me down and kick my ass out.
The journey up to Kendra’s floor couldn’t have taken longer. Time slowed and there was nothing I could do to make it speed up. I tapped my toes anxiously on the floor, wondering if security would be waiting for me before I had a chance to see who Kendra was with.
I paced.
Rolled my neck.
Cracked my knuckles.
By the time the car slowed to a stop, I flexed my muscles, puffed out my chest, and held my breath, waiting to see what I would be met with once the doors opened.
Peeking my head around the corner, the hall was empty. I sighed.
Marching at a quick clip, I pounded my fist against her door, demanding she open it. “Kendra!” I continued knocking, the force of each blow growing more intense with each second that passed. “Kendra. Open up!”
The door creaked open. “Kelly?”
Her eyes were bright with surprise.
Glancing over her shoulder I could smell the scent of another man.
“I was just about to call you.” She opened the door all the way, and without waiting for an invitation I pushed my way inside.
I looked toward the couch. Nothing. Then I hurried to the bathroom. Still nothing. I searched her bedroom and her closet. The man was nowhere to be found.
“What’s going on?” She followed me around like a lost puppy. “Is something wrong?”
Making my way back to the front, I saw the flowers I’d sent her and thought back to what I had written in the note.
“They’re
beautiful.” She clasped her hands down in front of her and flashed a weak but appreciative smile. “Thank you.”
“Last night,” I took a deep breath in, “where did you sleep?”
She furrowed her brows and gave me a questioning look. “Here.”
I cocked my head to the side and gave her a look.
“I swear. Kelly,” she hugged herself inside her arms, “what’s going on?”
“I don’t like not hearing from you.” I watched her eyes glance over to the note folded on the table next to the bouquet of flowers. She was right, they were beautiful. “Contrary to what I said in that note—” I pointed to the flowers, “—you need to let me know where you’re at—at all times.”
Silence hung in the air between us and I watched Kendra plant one hand into her hip while the other lifted to rub her forehead. “I see.” Then she turned to face me. “How did you get up here, anyway?”
The muscles in my neck tensed.
“Fucking shit, Kelly,” Kendra cursed. “If this is the way you’re going to treat me, you can’t just come up here and expect me not to consider this visit an invasion of my privacy.”
My brows raised. “You’re supposed to do as you’re told.”
She jumped, bringing her heels together and standing tall while saluting me. “Yes, sir!”
“It’s our arrangement.”
“Why didn’t you call if you missed me so much?”
I stroked my chin, staring at her out of the corner of my eye.
“Huh?”
My head gently shook as I couldn’t stop looking at her thick moist lips and the way her tongue slid over them.
“And since you brought it up, maybe I should ask where you were early this afternoon.” Her brows raised as she took one step toward me. “Huh? Who were you with?”
I pinched my runny nose between my fingers as thoughts of this morning’s anguish filled my head. I didn’t ask how Kendra knew because I didn’t care. My visit to Nora’s grave with Kaycee was our affair. Not Kendra’s. Those were our memories, our emotions, and if I started talking about it now, I knew that it would cause more unnecessary distress than even I was prepared to handle in this moment.
Turning my back, I rooted my hands into my hips and tipped my chin to the ceiling.
“I should have known,” Kendra murmured.