by C. D. Samuda
“Nah,” he denied. “I just wanted to make sure she ate.”
“And that’s not being worried?” Kurt asked. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m not worried, I’m just….”
The ringing of his cell phone interrupted him. He activated the hands free feature in the car. “Hello?”
“Mr. Harrington, this is Attorney Marten. I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
Braeden slammed the brakes, his heart thudding rather loudly. “Yes, Attorney.”
“Your grandfather suffered a massive heart attack last night. He did not make it.”
“Oooh boy,” Kurt murmured.
“I’m on my way to the estate now.”
The attorney cleared his throat. “Could you come see me at my office instead? We need to talk about your grandfather’s will.”
“I know what in his will already, Mr. Marten.”
“I don’t think you know, Mr. Harrington. Come see me, you might be surprised.”
Both he and Kurt glanced at each other. When he hesitated, Kurt nodded his approval. He told the lawyer that he would be there within the hour. After hanging up with Mr. Marten, Braeden turned the car around while Kurt called his FBI friend to cancel the visit to the mansion.
“There’s something I have to tell you too,” Kurt said after some silence. “You’re going to be shocked as hell.”
“What is it?” he took his eyes off the road for a second to glance at his friend.
“It’s about Shade,” Kurt said. “I had my friend do some digging and I found something truly shocking about her.”
For the second time in ten minutes Braeden pressed hard on the brakes. “You what?”
“He didn’t find anything with her prints, but he ran her photo…”
“Who the fuck gave you the authority to do this?”
“You might want to know who she really is,” Kurt said. “That’s why I did it. You yourself said there is something about her and you were right.”
“I never asked you to invade her privacy.”
“Don’t you want to know about her past?”
Braeden shook his head. “It doesn’t matter to me.”
“I can understand. She won’t be your wife for much longer, but you still might want to know who she is.”
“I don’t care to know,” Braeden adamantly declared. “She’s Shade to me, and that’s all that matters.”
“You’ve fallen from her.”
Kurt’s statement would be left unanswered as he wasn’t in the frame of mind to deny it. He gunned the engine and sped across town to reach the attorney’s office. Afterward, he’d go home and try to work out a new deal with Shade. He’d help her find a job and offer to let her stay at the apartment until she got on her feet. Her past didn’t matter. What mattered to Braeden was her future. A future she would share without him.
The pain in his chest intensified at the thought of that, but he was used to living with pain. He was used to the people he loved leaving him.
“I love her,” he whispered to himself.
“I know,” Kurt replied.
It was meant for his ears only, but Kurt knew all along. There was no denying it any longer.
“Just promise me to leave her past alone,” he said. “She’s had as rough a time as I have, and I don’t want her getting messed up over it.”
“I promise.”
Chapter 26
A light headed feeling washed over him as he read the one page will his grandfather left. What was more confusing was the date, from twenty years ago, not long after his father’s death.
They were at the attorney’s office. Braeden and Kurt both occupied two arm chairs that were set in front of a desk. Behind the desk was Mr. Martin, his black rimming glasses perching precariously on his nose.
“You mean, all he put me through was all for nothing?”
“I never agreed to these games your grandfather played,” Mr. Marten said. “Everything belonged to you. Who else would inherit it?”
“But he showed me a will without my name.”
“That was just him messing with you, he knew you resented him for what happened many years ago and he wanted you to continue resenting him.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Your grandfather never forgave himself for what he did to your mother and eventually what happened to your father. And the other day what he did just drove him over the edge.”
Braeden racked back in the chair he was sitting, stunned out of his mind. “Why punish me.”
“He was punishing himself. He said he never wanted you to forgive him. He lost his only son because of what he did. He didn’t deserve forgiveness.”
“What he did to my wife,” Braeden breathed, blinking and gripping the back of his neck. “I have heard him call our servants nigger so many times, that can’t have been a part of the game.”
Mr. Marten gave him a pitiful look. “He was the bigot, he hated anyone that did not conform to his standard for sure, and when you turned up with a black girl … I think he just went too far.”
Standing to his feet, he pushed the will back to layer “I can’t accept this. Not after all he’s done. He can’t justify his actions by saying he wanted to punish himself. Did he even realize the pain he put me through?”
“You can’t just deny your inheritance Braeden,” Kurt said, standing up and gripping his arm. “It doesn’t work like that.”
“Then give it all to charity.”
“What about your wife and your contract with her?”
“She will understand.”
Kurt spun around, trying to find some other reason to convince him. “Mr. Marten, isn’t there some clause concerning family assets that state the heir cannot just give away their inheritance especially when shareholders and employees are involved?”
“I-I …” the man hesitated.
Braeden rested a hand on his shoulder. “It’s no use Kurt.”
“At least take some time to think about it. Promise me.”
“I second that,” Mr. Marten said.
“Very well, I’ll think about it.”
They left the lawyer’s office with Braeden angrier than before. He couldn’t very well hate a dead man forever, so he channeled his resentment into anger. How could Richard keep driving the wedge between them when they could have both healed and moved on from their pain?
Perhaps he could find it in his heart to forgive him for his past, but he could never forgive him for what he did to Shade. Never. The fact remained that Richard hated black people and that never changed. The lawyer admitted the same.
After dropping Kurt back at his office Braeden headed home, anxious to share his day with Shade. The apartment seemed extremely quiet and Spike did not come out as he’d been doing for the past week or so. That cat had become like his shadow, and Braeden had come to expect him when he entered the living room.
“Spike?” he called expecting the cat to come sauntering in.
“Shade?”
Looking in the kitchen yielded no fruit so he ventured down the passage and knocked her bedroom door. The door was ajar and he pushed it. The first thing he noticed was that the cage in which she used to carry the cats when she went out was gone and so was the litter box.
Except for those and the cat themselves, everything else was there. All the clothes and shoes she’d bought where still in the closet. Braeden was about to head to the living room again when he noticed something sticking to his door. He rushed up to it and grabbed it. It was an envelope. Upon opening it, his credit card fell out along with two folded sheets of paper.
He picked up the items, his heart threatening to break through his ribs. The first one he opened was a letter encouraging him to make up with his grandfather. As he read the letter his eyes stung. The only family he had was indeed gone and he could no longer face him to tell him how he really felt. All the pent up anger would be buried with Richard.
Instead of that letter, Braeden wanted Shade there. He nee
ded her to tell him that he would be fine. He needed her to embrace him and hold him close like she’d done before.
He knew what the second paper held before he even opened it. It was her letting him out of their contract.
“No.” he shook his head, a tear wrestling its way through his lids to run down his cheek.
It’s been twenty years since he cried. The last time was at the hospital when his grandfather called him a wimp. That day had been the worse day of his and today might come in a close second. He lost the only tie left to his father today and now, the only woman he’d ever allow in his home – into his heart.
Fighting back the tears he stuffed the contract and letter back into the envelope. Twenty years ago he couldn’t do anything about losing his father. Today he could do nothing about losing his grandfather. But he could do something about Shade.
The first person he called was Kurt. He needed his best friend as he wasn’t certain he couldn’t do this on his own. He’d never got close to any woman before let alone trying to convince them that he needed them. He would need some support for that.
“How’d she take the news of the old man passing?” was how Kurt chose to answer the phone.
“She’s gone,” his voice strained as he answered his friend. “She left.”
“That’s good right? that means you don’t have to worry about her anymore.”
Braeden didn’t think he was hearing right. “I need her back Kurt.”
“Look Braeden, you’re my best friend and listen when I tell you man, she might be better off leaving. Allow her to go back to where she belongs.”
“Fuck the hell off Kurt,” he shouted. “You know what? Just fuck off!”
Hanging up the phone he sprinted to the lift, he almost collided with the thing before the doors open. As soon as he reached ground level, he was heading though it before it opened wide enough. He knew where Shade stayed at the old butcher warehouse. That was where he headed.
It was around seven thirty that evening when he reached the building. The place was in darkness and seemed deserted. He locked the car and entered the building. There was no one inside. There was a metal door across from a large room which he assumed used to be the main butcher area.
The metal door was bolted shut. He could detect no life inside. He called her name several times, even calling Spike as well. There was no purring of cats, no human sound. Braeden was afraid that she’d found somewhere else to live and that he would never see her again.
Chapter 27
The day his of his father’s funeral twenty years ago had been a wet and chilly day in late November. Today was the opposite. It was a sunny day in mid-July. The gathering mostly consisted of shareholders and employees. The funeral service at the chapel was short as done per Richards wishes. The same short laying to rest of the body was done at the graveside.
In all, between the chapel and graveside, less than two hours passed. The man even requested that there be no repass and that no one should return to the house to gather on his behalf. Might as well, because Braeden wasn’t looking forward to condolences and pitiful words of remorse.
Kurt accosted him as they were about to leave the graveside. “Braeden, listen up.”
Ignoring him, his started to make his way to the car when he saw a movement behind a tree. The person started walking towards the entrance they were wearing old jeans, a t-shirt that was too big for them and a ski cap. He was sure the t-shirt belonged to him.
“Shade.”
Kurt grabbed his arm. “Won’t you listen a minute.’
“Not now, I have to catch her.”
Sprinting towards the gate he was able to see when he boarded a taxi. He jumped into his car and started following her. The taxi let her off near to an interception in a shady neighborhood a block from her butcher house. He followed her in his car, ignoring the looks from the neighborhood men.
When he was able to pull alongside her, he pushed his head out, the car moving at snail’s pace. “Shade, we need to talk.”
“Go away,” she shooed.
“I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me,” he replied. “Get in, please.”
“I don’t wanna talk to you.”
“Please, just a few minutes.”
“Yo, hombre,” someone said, coming up to shield her. “She ain’t getting in yo ride. So skedaddle outta here.”
“I just need to talk to her.”
“She not that kinda girl,” the guy said. “You can get one a them kind down the street.”
Braeden halted the car and stepped out. He was not leaving until he spoke with her and he wasn’t going allow some ghetto muscle to hinder him from doing that. The guy was large with tattoos on both arms, his neck and across one cheek. The blue ink almost blended in with dark mocha complexion.
“Look, I’m not looking for trouble, I just need to talk to Shade.”
“She told you she don’t wanna talk, so what’s the problem man? You can find plenty of girls down the street.”
“I don’t want plenty of girls, I want her.” He was fast losing his patience with the fellow. “She is my wife. I think I have a right to talk to my wife.”
The guy turned to Shade and looked from one to the other. “What he talking about Shade?”
“It’s okay Brick, I’m okay.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Aight?” Brick said, stepping a few feet away. “I be watching y’all.”
“What do you want?” she asked, looking annoyed.
He stepped close to her, ignoring the warning sound Brick made. “I want you to come home.”
“This is my home, Braeden.”
“Then make my home your home …”
The words were barely out of his mouth when a van belonging to a television crew along with a few patrol vehicles drove up, behind them was Kurt’s car and Braeden knew he was behind this. What did he hope to gain my doing this? This marriage ws supposed to be a secret, now the entire world would know he was married.
“That’s her,” one reporter said, jumping out of the van.
Braeden moved in front of her while Brick made himself scarce. “Can’t you people leave us alone? My grandfather isn’t even cold in his grave and you are here to make a story?”
“Sorry Mr. Harrington, we are not here for you. We need an exclusive from Miss Steinberg.”
“Who?” he was confused.
“Erin Steinberg,” the reported replied. “That’s her.”
Even as Braeden laughed and assured the reporters that they had the wrong person, a strange feeling washed over him. Kurt had been trying to tell him something and he wouldn’t listen. It hadn’t been important to know who she was and it wasn’t important now.
“Mr. Harrington, we understand that you two are married. How does it feel to know that the most eligible bachelor in NYC is married to the daughter of Conrad Steinberg, the man with the Midas touch?”
“You’ve got the wrong person,” he insisted.
The look on Shade’s face told him it was true but the disappointment there broke his heart. She thought he betrayed her. He leaned close to her and spoke softly in her ear.
“I didn’t do this, I swear. I will protect you with my last breath.”
“How long have you know who I was?”
“A few seconds,” he said keeping his eyes in direct contact with her. “Now listen, you don’t have to admit anything. Just pretend you know nothing. I will deal with my traitor friend later.”
“Let’s go,” she said. “I’ll come with you. For now.”
They got into his car and drove away. The television van following fast after them. He did not immediately go home as he knew he was being followed. He made a few detours and meandered around the city. He stopped once to get gas and continued to drive around. When he was certain that he wasn’t followed he made his way towards his childhood home – the Harrington estate.
“You don’t have to tell me anything you don’
t want me to know,” he said after the long silence. “I swear on my father’s memory that I didn’t know who you were and I didn’t call the media.”
“I believe you,” she sighed. “I knew it would happen sooner or later. I feared going to jail in case they figured out Shade Montgomery was fake.”
“I love the name Shade Montgomery,” he replied. “I fell in love with Shade Montgomery.”
‘Stop the car.”
“Why?”
“I said stop the damn car.”
He pulled over to the side of the road. “What happened?”
“You don’t get to do this Braeden. It’s not fair.”
“What did I do?
Shade sighed. “You don’t get to drop something like that on a girl, just like that.”
Braeden unbuckled his seat belt, his heart going at a zillion beats per second. Leaning across her, he also unlatched her seat belt.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Dropping it the right way,” he murmured, his lips brushing hers. “I don’t care who you are, I don’t want you away from me for a second.”
“Braeden …” His lips hindered her from completing her sentence.
He pulled her to him, as her arms crept around his neck. This wasn’t the right place. He needed room when he kissed her properly. He wanted her closer to feel her warm body pressed up against him. He broke the kiss to re-buckle seat belts.
“This won’t do.”
When he started the car and was about to turn around, Shade touched his arm. “Where are you going?”
“I can’t take you to the mansion, not after what happened to you,” he said. “I’m sorry, I never thought what you going back there might mean. All I wanted was to keep you away from the media since I know they’d be camping at the apartment.”
“You think I’m a wining little twit who would get all emotional because something bad happened to me there?”
“You don’t mind going back there?”
“I think it’s the perfect place to be. In a little while you will have to say goodbye to it, no?”
He straighten the car and revved the engine. “What do you mean?”