“See you later,” Brent said. He started walking closer, but stopped.
She could tell he wanted to kiss her because she wanted to kiss him. But they’d both agreed to keep their public displays of affection to a minimum while at work. He waved and she waved back.
After Kem’s meeting, she returned to her office. She could barely get inside because it was filled with flowers from people she’d known congratulating her on her engagement to Brent.
“Ellen,” she called out.
Ellen rushed in the room. .“Yes, Kem?”
“Can you do me a favor?” Kem asked.
“Sure. Anything for you, boss.”
“I know this isn’t really part of your job but can you take a picture of all these flowers for me? Take the cards off each one and identify which flower arrangement it came from so I can send thank-you replies to each person. And then when you finish, I would like to donate some of these flowers to the hospital. I do want to keep the ones from O and the president of the network though.”
“You got flowers from O? Wow.” Ellen seemed amazed.
“That big bouquet is from her. Aren’t they beautiful?” Kem admired the bright flowers. They reminded her of springtime. She adored them.
“Do you want me to continue to filter your calls? Everyone’s been calling and want an exclusive.”
“Charlotte’s sending out a press release so there’s no need for me to talk to anyone.”
“Okay. Just checking.” Ellen picked up her iPad and began snapping pictures of the flowers.
Kem left and went to the next shoot. She was exhausted by the end of the day. She was glad Brent was there to drive her home because she didn’t feel like dealing with rush-hour traffic.
Brent had to wake her when they pulled up in front of her house because she’d dozed off.
“I wish you would have stopped and gotten something to eat because I’m so tired, I don’t feel like cooking,” Kem said as they entered her house.
The mailman slid the mail through the mail slot on the door so a week’s worth of mail was on the floor. Brent picked the mail off the floor while Kem keyed in her alarm code.
Brent handed her the mail. “Tonight sounds like a pizza night or some Chinese food. Your choice.” Brent walked through the house to make sure things were secure.
They were now both in the living room. Kem informed him, “I think I want Chinese. Order me some sweet and sour chicken and shrimp fried rice.”
“Got it.”
Brent ordered their food as Kem went through her mail. She removed her iPad from her purse and logged on. She needed to pay her mortgage and utility bills but instead of writing a check, she paid them all online.
“You can pay mine too while you’re at it,” Brent sat beside her.
“I can’t afford your bills.”
“I bet your net worth is more than mine.”
“I guess since we’re getting married, we do need to have the finance conversation.”
“Whenever you’re ready,” Brent responded.
“We can table the discussion for now. I’m blessed to have money so I can pay my bills but why does the electric have to be so doggone high? Shoot, I spent the majority of the time at your place last month so why is this bill so high?”
“I wish I knew. We’re in the wrong business. Forget entertainment, we need our own utilities company.” Brent held his hand up as if he was adding something up. “We could retire in one year.”
“You know it.”
After dinner, they watched television in Kem’s room. They were on the top of the comforter on Kem’s bed. She had stretched out with her feet toward the headboard. Brent sat with his back propped up on pillows. They each were on an electronic device online.
“Babe, did you hear about the man who called 9-1-1 because his wife wouldn’t have sex with him?” Brent laughed.
Kem laughed too. “That is so crazy. I’m still trying to go through all my email. So much junk.”
“Well, the Max Squad loves you. They think it’s romantic you and I found love on their favorite show.”
“Awe. Tell them I said thank you.”
Kem snuck a glance at the gossip sites although she said she wouldn’t. Some people did make some mean and derogatory comments about her but she didn’t allow them to get under her skin.
Kem signed into her fake social media account and responded to some of the comments just for fun. She typed, “Looking at your picture, you’re not the most attractive thing on this earth either so I wouldn’t talk about my girl Kem like that. Face it, she has what you want—Brent McKenzie. Get over it.” Kem chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” Brent asked.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.” Kem signed out of her fake account and went back to checking her email.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Brent and Kem hadn’t slept in different quarters in over two months. It seemed strange to Kem to be at home by herself. Brent was away filming a short film for the weekend. He was doing one of his friends a favor. She admired him for that because, from what she understood, he wouldn’t be getting paid for the gig.
It was the middle of January and cold. Being alone had given her plenty of time to think. She’d been upset with her mom for not being completely truthful with her but she was able to forgive her. She realized her mom was a woman and sometimes a hurt woman would do things that were unheard of. Her lashing out at her dad was all she knew. She should have lashed out at Sam, the man who didn’t want anything to do with her after their affair was discovered. The treatment of her dad was a result of misplaced anger.
When it came to Kyle, Kem’s heart was melting slowly. But she still wasn’t in a place where she totally trusted him. She wanted to but she kept asking herself why he hadn’t reached out to her once she grew up. He’d responded to her questions concerning it, but Kem couldn’t wrap her head around his response. She’d hoped he would have gotten the nerves to contact her.
Aunt Edna tried to talk to her a few times about it. She tried to impress on her that people make mistakes. We could either choose to forgive them and move past them or keep holding on to anger and be miserable.
Kem decided to release the pent-up anger. She would move past her insecurities in her own time but she’d just wished it would happen sooner.
Sean Maxwell’s latest hit was her ring tone. When she heard the song, “Loving You…Is All I Ever Wanted to Do,” she knew it was Brent calling.
“What are you doing?” Brent asked.
“Nothing. Just sitting here thinking about life.”
“Anything you want to share?”
“No. I’m good. I want to bridge this gap between me and my father but don’t know how.”
“Baby, I told you just take your time. You guys are still talking every week, right?”
“Yes. Sometimes I want to call him but don’t.”
“Then change that. The next time the urge hits to call him, do it. Don’t think about it, just do it.”
Kem thought about it. Brent was right. She wanted to talk to her father so as soon as they hung up she did just that. She called Kyle. Kem talked to him for over an hour. The only reason they got off the phone was because his phone started beeping because the battery indicator came on.
Kem felt better after their call ended. She sent Brent a quick text letting him know she’d talked to Kyle and appreciated the suggestion.
Brent missed having Kem by his side. It’d been two days since they’d seen each other. The schedule was tight because of his friend’s low budget. This was also Brent’s first project where he would be listed as a producer so he was excited about the twenty-minute short film.
Once the film wrapped, he hopped on the earliest flight to Los Angeles he could get. He’d arrived back in Los Angeles around three in the morning, so instead of goi
ng to Kem’s place, he went home.
A few hours later, he was awakened by the sound of the chirping birds near his window. He squinted his eyes as the bright sun beamed through the curtains. He grabbed his phone off the nightstand and sent Kem a message. He was due on set later that afternoon so he didn’t have to rush to get dressed.
Aunt Edna met him at the end of the stairway. “Hi, Auntie.”
“Brent, baby. There’s a slew of reporters outside. I had to call the police to get them off the property.”
“Aunt Edna, you should have woke me up.”
“Truthfully, I didn’t know you were even here until I saw your suitcase by the door.”
“I was so tired. I didn’t feel like bringing it up the stairs.”
“I don’t know why they are out there, but apparently they want to talk to you.”
“I’m getting ready to go to the studio. I’ll find out what they want when I leave.”
“I didn’t see anything on the news. The Internet service is down so I couldn’t check online.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s probably a slow news day.” Brent went to the kitchen and grabbed a quick bite to eat.
The doorbell rang. “Aunt Edna, I got it,” Brent yelled.
Brent went to the front door. He peered into the peephole and then opened the door. “Charlotte. Jason. What are you two doing here?”
Jason Lewis, wearing a crisp, blue pinstripe suit walked in right behind Charlotte, who was wearing a gray dress suit with a purple blouse. Jason was one of Charlotte’s top associates at her management firm.
Charlotte’s phone was up to her ear. “We’ll be in touch,” Charlotte said to the person on the phone.
“We came to get your side of the story,” Jason said.
Brent shrugged his shoulders. “About what?”
“The child you threw away.”
“The…what?” Brent stuttered.
“Jason, you could have asked him more delicately.” Charlotte looked at Brent. “Let’s take this to the living room.”
“I still don’t understand what this is all about.”
Once they were seated, Charlotte explained. “There’s a woman named Alize Jenkins who swears you are her son’s father. She’s been paid by several news sources to give an interview and it will be airing later today.”
“She’s lying.” Brent frowned.
Jason added, “This reporter, Sandy Blair—someone I can’t stand, by the way—claims she’s seen proof of a birth certificate with your name and signature on it.”
The veins in Brent’s forehead seemed like they wanted to pop. “Whatever that woman says is a lie.”
“Do you know her?” Charlotte asked. Charlotte’s phone rang. She sent the call to voice mail.
“Yes. She’s my ex-girlfriend, but her son is not my child.”
“Are you sure?” Charlotte asked.
“I’m positive.”
“Is this your signature?” Jason placed his iPad in front of Brent’s face.
Brent stared at the photo of a birth certificate with his name and signature on it. It brought back old memories. “Yes. That is my signature on the birth certificate but I am telling you, Alize’s son is not mine.”
“Brent, you’ve got some explaining to do, buddy. And you need to start now because this story has gotten out of control,” Charlotte said.
Brent wasn’t sure if she was coming at him like that as his manager or because of the concern for her friend. Either way, he didn’t like her attitude.
“Charlotte, no disrespect, but what happened in my past is no one’s business. All you need to know is that Alize is lying. The child is not mine and it’s been proven.”
Charlotte eased her stance. “Then help me help you. You just confirmed that’s your signature on the birth certificate.”
“I don’t have the information right now, but let me make some phone calls and then I can get you the information you’re requesting. But I want you both to know this is some bull. I’m going to be in touch with my attorney and sue for defamation of character. If there’s nothing else, I need to get dressed so I can go to work. You can see your way out.”
Brent clenched his fists. He was so upset that he stormed out of the den, leaving Charlotte and Jason behind.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
There was a lot of excitement on set for a Monday. Ellen pulled Kem to the side and said, “Did you know Brent had a child?”
“No, we decided not to go with that storyline, remember?” Kem responded.
“You’re misunderstanding me. I didn’t say his character Max. I’m talking about Brent.” Ellen placed her cell phone in front of Kem.
“What is this?”
“Just scroll down and keep reading,” Ellen responded.
Kem read the blog where it stated there would be an interview with a woman claiming to be the mother of Brent McKenzie’s child. Kem handed Ellen back her phone. “This is absurd. You know better than to believe everything you read online.”
“Did you scroll to the next page?” Ellen asked.
“No. And I don’t want to hear anything else about it.”
Kem checked her cell phone. The only message she’d received from Brent was the one letting her know he would be in later. If this story had any merit, Brent would have tried to reach out to her. Well, at least she hoped he would have.
It was close to two and time for Brent’s scenes to be filmed.
“Ellen, where’s Brent?”
“He just got here so I rushed him into hair and make-up,” she responded.
Kem went to the area where Brent was changing clothes and getting ready for his shoot. “Hey, babe,” Brent said.
Brent hugged her and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
“We need to talk.” Kem looked at the people who pretended not to be listening but she could see that their ears were perked up. “Later. When we can have some privacy.”
The whole time they were filming Brent’s scenes, Kem couldn’t get her mind off the blog post about this upcoming interview with the woman who claimed to be the mother of Brent’s child. Brent had a lot of explaining to do, but she would wait to see what this Alize Jenkins woman had to say before confronting him.
Kem stared at the screen. She read over the same passage over and over. Nothing was making any sense. The script wasn’t making any sense. The woman’s accusations weren’t making any sense. She usually called Brent when she needed to discuss something but it was about him so instead she dialed Charlotte’s number.
“Girl, I have several fires going on right now. I’ll have to call you back,” Charlotte said, without giving Kem a chance to say why she was calling.
She dialed Mona’s number but her call went straight to voice mail, which meant she might still be filming.
Frustrated, Kem stared at her computer screen.
Brent completed his scene. He wasn’t able to talk to Kem alone until much later. She’d seemed distant. He knew she must have heard about Alize’s accusations by now, but if she didn’t bring it up, he wasn’t mentioning it.
“I have a lot to work on, so you should go home and I’ll call you,” Kem said as soon as he entered her office. She barely looked at him.
“I can wait. I haven’t seen you since Friday morning. Don’t you miss me?”
Kem smiled but barely. “Of course I missed you. But I have to do these changes or else I’ll be up all night. I would rather take care of them now so I can give you my undivided attention later.”
Brent wasn’t buying it. She could easily take the work home or take a break, but he would give her the space she wanted.
“I’ll see you later. Your place or mine?”
“Meet me at my place.”
Brent used the time in rush-hour traffic to return phone calls. The first cal
l he returned was to his attorney.
“Mr. Dudley, this is Brent McKenzie. I was calling to see if you’d gotten the information to prove my innocence yet?”
Mr. Dudley’s voice blared through the car speakers. “I’ve got someone working on it. We should have the information tomorrow. I apologize that we weren’t able to get it today. This is a special case and the director was out.”
“No problem. I understand. Thanks for handling this for me.”
“Mr. McKenzie, if you want to follow through and file a lawsuit, we can.”
“I thought about it. Once I clear my name, I’m not going to pursue it. I really want her out of my life for good.”
“Okay. Well, if you change your mind, let me know.”
Brent hit the end button on the steering wheel. A car behind him blew his horn. “I’m going as fast as I can,” Brent yelled.
Brent’s phone rang. It was an incoming call from Charlotte. “Do you have what I need?”
“Not yet. My attorney’s working on it.”
“Brent, I was hoping to be able to have it to share with the outlets. Alize’s story is going to air tonight.”
“I know and I hate it but there’s nothing I can do to prove I’m not the father until my lawyer gets the document you need.”
“This is your friend talking now. Have you told Kem about this?”
“I’ve been trying to talk to her since I found out, but she’s been busy.”
“I suggest you do so before she hears about it. She may have already. She just called me but I avoided talking to her,” Charlotte admitted.
“I plan to talk to her tonight.”
“Okay. Well, let me go. We’re going to be busy these next few days. Once you get that document, I already have Terrance J on standby for you to tell your side of the story.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you supporting me like this,” Brent acknowledged.
“That’s why I get paid the big bucks.” Charlotte laughed.
Brent tried to laugh too as they ended their call. Charlotte supported him. He hoped once he shared the news with Kem that she would be supportive too.
Secrets Uncovered Page 14
