Secret Obsession

by Kimberla Lawson Roby

  “I get that, and if you don’t want to talk to me, I’ll respect your decision.”

  “I don’t mind talking to you, but if Camille finds out, she’ll feel as though I’m betraying her.”

  “I won’t say a word. Camille will never know that you and I spoke.”

  “I hope you mean that.”

  “I do.”

  “So, what hotel are you staying at?”

  “One of the Westins downtown. Not too far from my job.”

  “I know a couple of travel folks who might be able to get you a decent rate, and I’m glad to call them if you want.”

  “My hope is that I won’t be here for very long, but I’ll let you know.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “You know,” he said, changing the subject. “I had my suspicions about your sister long before I received those email messages.”

  “Really?” she said, pretending Camille hadn’t told her. “I had no idea.”

  “Well, I did. I know you and I chatted about all the time she was spending away from home, but what I didn’t tell you was that I always felt like she might be messing around. The thought of it was unbearable, though, because this kind of thing seemed so unlike Camille.”

  “I agree.”

  “And then there’s the fact that I’ve always loved every inch of her and have never once had an affair. I’ve never even touched another woman in the wrong way since I married her.”

  “I believe you, and you can’t blame yourself for any of this.”

  “Still, I’ve never been more hurt in my life, and I don’t understand how we got to this point.”

  “Maybe this is some sort of a mistake,” Paige said for lack of anything better to say.

  “Oh yeah? Well, email messages with dates and times don’t lie.”

  “Maybe they’re fake.”

  “They look authentic enough to me. And did she tell you about the flowers?”

  “No, what flowers?”

  “William had roses delivered to our home while I was there, and the card said something about her leaving me.”

  “No way. I spoke to her this afternoon, and she never said a word.”

  “Wait a minute. She didn’t tell you?”

  “No. She told me you came by this afternoon and had already left. That was it.”

  “Then she was definitely lying.”

  “About what?”

  “About the flowers and how she had no idea who this William person was or how someone had gotten our address.”

  “Maybe she doesn’t.”

  “No, she’s lying, because if she didn’t know who they came from, she would have told you about it. She would have called you as soon as I walked out the door.”

  Paige didn’t say anything.

  “Why are you quiet? Because you know I’m right?”

  “Pierce, I don’t think we should talk about this anymore.”

  “Wait a minute. You know something, don’t you? I can hear it in your voice.”

  “Pierce, please.”

  “Okay, look. I know you love Camille, but I really need you to be honest with me.”

  “About what?”

  “Camille and this William cat. Is she seeing him or not, Paige?”

  “I think we’d better end this.”

  “Paige, come on.”

  “Pierce, please don’t do this.”

  “I promise you. Our conversation will be kept completely confidential, but I really need to know.”

  Paige sniffled and tried mustering real tears. “She’s my sister.”

  Pierce sighed. “I know that, and I’m sorry for placing you in such a tough position. But if Camille really is seeing this guy, don’t you think I deserve to know?”

  “I’m sorry, but I have to go,” she said and hung up.

  But only seconds passed before her brother-in-law called her back.

  “Pierce, I’m begging you to please leave this alone.”

  “All I’m asking is that you please just do this one favor for me. Just this one time.”

  Paige paused for a few seconds and finally said, “Yes. She’s been talking to him for months now, and then she finally started sleeping with him.”

  “Gosh,” Pierce said. “This can’t be happening.”

  “But I think it’s over now,” Paige hurried to say, trying to sound positive.

  “Even if it is, the bottom line is that it happened, and Camille has been lying to me all along.”

  “She made a huge mistake, but I know she’s sorry for it.”

  “Well, sorry isn’t enough. Not with this.”

  “See, that’s why I didn’t want to tell you. And why did you make me betray my sister like this? My sister who means everything to me.”

  “I’m sorry I asked you to do that, but I’m also glad I know the truth now. I’m glad I know who and what my wife really is.”

  “Camille is a good person, Pierce, and you know that.”

  “Yeah, well, she definitely has a funny way of showing it.”

  He didn’t comment any further, and Paige knew this painful news of hers had broken him. “Is there anything I can do?”

  “No, but I do appreciate your honesty. It hurts like hell, but at least I’m not in the dark anymore.”

  “Are you going to be okay?” she asked.

  “I hope, but regardless, I’m going to hang up now.”

  “I wish there was something I could do, and I hope you’ll call me if you need me.”

  “I’ll talk to you later.”

  “You take care of yourself.”

  Paige ended the call and was amazed at her luck. Not once after those flowers had been delivered had she expected Pierce to move out and into a hotel. She certainly hadn’t expected him to call her this evening either. Things were falling into place rather nicely and a lot quicker than she’d planned on, but she definitely wasn’t complaining. She welcomed all that was happening and looked forward to what would evolve tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that. She wouldn’t seduce Pierce immediately, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he came to her willingly and innocently. He would come to her as a brother-in-law, and Paige would play the kind and sympathetic sister-in-law who only wanted the best for him. She would do everything he expected until it was time.

  Chapter 17

  Paige positioned her black Gucci sunglasses across her nose and dialed Camille.

  “Hey, you on your way?” Camille asked.

  “Leaving now. I should be there in about twenty minutes.”

  “I’m heading out, too. See you there.”

  Early this morning, Paige had called to see how Camille was doing, and although Camille hadn’t wanted to talk in front of the children, she’d sounded very upset and had asked if Paige would meet her at their favorite café for lunch. Of course, Paige had told her yes, and was dying to know what was bothering her. Clearly it had to do with this whole marital disaster between her and Pierce, but she’d sounded like something specific had happened since yesterday.

  Paige pressed the button on the console in the ceiling of her car, saw her garage door closing, and drove away. It was another gorgeous Indian summer day, and she felt good. She was happier and more content than she’d been in ages, and she knew it was all because of Pierce and how close she was to having a life with him. She’d dreamed about this for years, and now she wished she’d taken him from Camille before she married him. If she had, she wouldn’t have been forced to spend the prime of her life dating men she hadn’t cared about and then sitting back wondering when she’d find the perfect mate. She’d tried and tried and tried, but finally, she’d had to accept the fact that no man would ever excite her or turn her on the way Pierce did.

  Paige turned on her radio, pressed the preset button for XM Satellite’s Heart & Soul channel, and turned up the volume when she heard Kem’s “Share My Life.” It was a song from his Intimacy CD, and she loved it. She could listen to it over and over, and sometimes she di
d whenever she played the actual disc. The chorus talked about sharing your life with someone, trusting in that person, and then professing how they were all you wanted and were everything you needed. These sentiments described how she felt about Pierce exactly, and they would soon describe the way he felt about her. She would be all that he imagined in a woman, and she would please him eternally.

  Paige bobbed her head to the song, sang along with it, and when it ended she turned on her compact disc player and listened to it again. Then she played more of Kem’s songs, because the entire collection was remarkable. The man was truly talented and not nearly as publicized or recognized as he should have been, and while Paige hadn’t considered it before, she was going to see what she could do about that. She worked hard for her clients and was very good at what she did, so maybe she could help him. Maybe she could skyrocket his career and make him as popular as some of the more well-known R&B artists. She would certainly try if he would have her, and she was planning to contact him. She wouldn’t be able to do it just now, but she would connect with him as soon as she and Pierce were a couple.

  When Paige pulled into the parking lot, she saw Camille waiting in her SUV and parked right next to her. She turned off the ignition, grabbed her purse, and got out of her car.

  “Hey,” Camille said, hugging her.

  “Hey, honey,” Paige said, and they strolled toward the restaurant.

  “Thank you for coming, because I know you probably have a lot of work to do.”

  “Yeah, kind of. But that’s one of the benefits of owning your own business. You can take off anytime you want.”

  “I guess that’s true.”

  “Good afternoon, ladies,” the fifty-something woman said when they walked in.

  “Hello,” the sisters said.

  “Will it be just the two of you?”

  “Yes,” Camille answered.

  “Then right this way.”

  Paige and Camille followed her to their table.

  “Will this be okay?” the woman asked.

  “This will be fine,” Paige told her, pulling out her chair.

  When they sat down, the hostess set menus in front of them and said, “Your waitress will be right with you.”

  Camille hung her leather tote on the back of her chair. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” the woman said. “Enjoy.”

  Paige scanned the area. “I love this place. Such great food.”

  “I know. I do, too.”

  “So, how are you?”

  Camille’s demeanor slightly changed. “Not good.”

  “I could tell something was wrong when I called you this morning.”

  “Well, first of all, two more email messages came from William last night, and even worse, they were in response to two messages that were sent from my account. And this time I actually saw all four of them.”

  Paige frowned. “Are you serious? But you never saw any of the others, did you?”

  “No. So I’m not sure what that’s about.”

  “Did you tell Pierce about them?”

  “No, of course not. But I did call this computer expert, who sometimes works with the police, to see what he could figure out.”

  Paige kept her composure but was also a little nervous. “And?”

  “They could see that the outgoing emails actually were sent from my computer, but they couldn’t tell where the incoming messages were being generated from.”

  “Then I can see why you’re so frustrated.”

  “No, but it’s more than that.”

  “What?”

  “Pierce called me this morning, saying that there was no sense in my lying anymore because he now knew for sure I was having an affair. Even said he had proof.”

  “Proof? What kind of proof?” Paige asked, but knew his proof had come from her when she’d lied and said Camille was messing around on him.

  “I begged him to tell me, but he wouldn’t.”

  “That’s insane.”

  “Tell me about it, and I feel so defeated. I’m so tired of defending myself and pleading with him to believe me.”

  Paige held Camille’s hand. “I’m sure you are, and I just wish there was something I could do,” she said, repeating the same words she’d told Pierce last night before hanging up with him. They were such caring words, and she could tell from the look on Camille’s face that she believed they were genuine.

  “I know you do, and I love you for that,” she said, squeezing Paige’s hand. “But there’s nothing anyone can do as long as Pierce believes what he believes.”

  “If you want, I can try to talk to him again.”

  “That’s up to you, but at this point, I don’t think anything is going to matter unless I can clear myself.”

  “Well, then that’s what we’ll have to work on. Finding out who really did this to you guys.”

  Tears rolled down both sides of Camille’s face.

  “Honey, please don’t cry,” Paige said.

  Camille wiped the water away with both hands, and a young man walked up.

  “Hello, ladies. I’m Jason, and I’ll be your waiter.”

  “Hi Jason,” Paige said.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked, looking at Camille.

  “Everything’s fine,” Paige answered.

  “Then can I get you something to drink?”

  “We’ll have two lemonades.”

  “Coming right up. Also, just so you know, our specials for today include a fabulous tuna croissant, a chicken Caesar salad to die for, and a ten-ounce ribeye with creamy garlic mashed potatoes.”

  “Sounds good,” Paige told him.

  “Actually, we can order now if you want,” Camille said, and Paige closed her menu.

  “Sure. I’ll have the chicken Caesar.”

  “And I’ll have the tuna croissant.”

  “That was easy,” the waiter said, smiling. “I’ll get your order put in and will bring your drinks out shortly.”

  “Thanks,” Paige said.

  When the young man left, Camille breathed deeply and shook her head. “I just don’t know what I’ll do if my marriage is over. I don’t know what the kids or I will do, because you know how much they love their father.”

  “You haven’t told them anything, have you?”

  “Not the truth. Pierce and I agreed that it was better if we simply told them he was going to be away on a business trip for a while.”

  “Actually, that’s probably the best thing for now. And what about Mom and Dad?”

  “No, because I don’t wanna upset them. Plus, I’m so ashamed.”

  “Yeah, but you didn’t do anything,” Paige said, although she was glad Camille hadn’t told their parents the news, because this way her evil mother wouldn’t suspect that Paige was up to anything.

  After the waiter brought their food, they ate, but Camille didn’t say very much. Now they were finished and ready to pay the check.

  “I’ll get this,” Paige said, taking the slip of paper from her sister.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “You pay all the time, so please let me do this.”

  “Okay, if you insist,” Camille said, placing her wallet back inside her bag.

  “I do.”

  “Thank you again for meeting me.”

  “No problem, and if you want me to drop by later I will.”

  “I think I’m going to take the kids out to dinner, but I’ll call you if I change my mind.”

  Paige took care of the bill, and they went outside.

  “I’ll see you later,” Camille said as they hugged.

  “I love you,” Paige said. “And please don’t ever forget that.”

  “I won’t. I love you, too.”

  Paige got into her car, dialed Pierce’s cell phone, and waved goodbye to her sister.

  “Hello?” he said.

  “Hey, I know you’re working, so I won’t keep you. But how are you today?”

  “Hurt.
Angry. Stunned. You name it.”

  “I could tell how upset you were last night, and that’s why I wanted to call and check on you.”

  “Have you spoken to Camille?” he asked.

  “Yeah, we just had lunch.”

  “I’m glad to hear she’s going on with business as usual.”

  “Maybe you should try to call her.”

  “I don’t even wanna hear Camille’s voice, and I certainly don’t wanna see her. I do miss my kids, though, and it’s killing me to be without them.”

  “I’m sure they miss you, too.”

  Paige waited for him to respond but when he didn’t she continued. “Like I said, I know you’re at work, so I’ll just check on you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, Paige. You take care now.”

  “You, too.”

  Paige dropped her BlackBerry onto the passenger seat, slipped her sunglasses back on, and zipped out of the parking lot. It was only two o’clock, but by golly, her work was already done for the day. Boy was she good.

  Chapter 18

  Paige separated her whites, darks, lights, and towels into four different piles and poured liquid detergent into the washer. Then she added a full scoop of powdered OxiClean and the appropriate amount of fabric softener and tossed in all her white clothing. She turned the washer on, closed the top of it, and went back into the kitchen. She’d eaten lunch with Camille about five hours ago, but she was starting to get hungry again.

  Poor, poor Camille and all the trouble she was dealing with. Having an affair, lying about it, and then trying to figure out what she and her children were going to do now that Pierce was gone. If things had been different between them, and Paige had loved her the way most sisters actually loved each other, she might feel sorry for her. But the truth of the matter was, she didn’t. She did care about Camille, she guessed, and she loved her niece and nephew for sure, but she couldn’t and wouldn’t allow Pierce to go back to them. She couldn’t let him slip through her fingers after all the hard work she’d put in, not to mention all the waiting she’d done. Plus, PJ and Crystal would be fine. They would still have an extremely close relationship with their father and would go on to be very happy children, once they saw that their father was better off with their auntie.