Healing Her Heart

by Kimberly Smith

  “I’m sorry that people have made you feel bad about who you are, but I love you just like this, and I promise that we will be better than the people who have caused you any pain or made you feel anything other than awesome. You belong with me now, you and this new life we made.” Edwin may not have experienced the type of prejudices that Denise had, but he didn’t want his child to experience those things and feelings either.

  **

  The next few days were better for Denise, except for the morning sickness. She and Edwin had decided not to tell anyone of their marriage and about the baby until Denise had seen her doctor. In the meantime, they waited to hear from Max and Hank about the DNA test results.

  They had started discussing moving to a bigger place, and Edwin had asked Denise to reconsider her job as a bounty hunter. Denise hadn’t been out on any more hunts, but Edwin wanted to make sure that she didn’t end up on anymore, now that she was carrying his child. Denise told him that she would consider it.

  As she sat at her desk gathering information about the next jumper the team would be going after, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She had a new text message. She opened her message app and read the text.

  Mrs. Heart Stealer,

  Max and Hank have the results of the DNA test and want us to come by Max’s place after work. Meet me at home, and we’ll ride over there together.

  Dr. Sexy.

  Denise was ready to know the truth. If this worked out, she’d save her new family’s business and give a virtual finger to her biological father at the same time. She typed a message sending it to Edwin with a smile. All the problems of her past had kept her trying to protect her heart from any more heartache, but Edwin had breached her defenses and made her break all her rules. He had healed her heart. If she was able to help him or his family she most certainly would.

  Dr. Heart Healer,

  Can’t wait to see you at home tonight.

  Mrs. Dr. Sexy

  Alec entered the office and stopped at her desk. “Sweet cheeks, what has you smiling so big?”

  “None of your business, nosey.”

  Alec sat on the corner of her desk, “Are we ever gonna talk about your new piece?”

  “What are you talking about,” Denise asked leaning back in the chair. She never carried a gun in the office. It was locked up like everyone else’s.

  Alec eyeballed her left hand. “The ring, sweet cheeks.”

  Denise held out her hand, looking at the simple silver band on her finger. Edwin wanted to get her a diamond wedding set, but Denise refused. She was happy with her simple band. “I’ll tell you about the ring when you stop calling me sweet cheeks and start using my name.”

  Alec made a face and got off her desk. “I like calling you sweet cheeks.”

  Denise grinned at him. “I like keeping my business personal.”

  Alec laughed and left the room, going to his office in the back. Denise had told Jacob about the baby and her marriage because she felt he needed to know so that he wouldn’t have her in the field on any dangerous assignments. He promised that he’d keep it to himself until she was ready to tell everyone.

  Even though Alec flirted with her, Denise knew that he didn’t mean it. Nana D. had let it slip on a recent visit, that Alec like white women. Her exact words had been that he listens to punk rock music and the kind of white women who are into that thing. Denise pictured him with someone like her sister-in-law, Ash. Maybe she’d arrange a meeting for them.

  23

  Victoria greeted Denise and Edwin as they got off the elevator. She stood with the large doors open. “It’s so good to see you again,” Victoria said hugging Denise, and then Edwin. Max and Hank greeted them as well. They sat at the long kitchen counter. Hank sat beside Denise while Max stood on the other side. Victoria was busy cooking. “I thought you might like to stay for dinner.”

  “That would be nice,” Denise said nodding.

  Hank placed a large white envelope in front of Denise. Denise touched the envelope, looking from Hank to Max. “Have you looked at it yet?”

  “No. We thought you should be the first.” Max said leaning his palms on the countertop.

  “Okay,” Denise glanced at Edwin as she opened the envelope sliding the two-page document out. She set it on the table. The first page simply stated that Denise had ordered the test. It also listed both her name and Tiffany’s along with their dates of birth. It then explained the method of the analysis. The second page contained a table with a column labeled DNA System, and the other two columns held Denise and Tiffany’s names.

  Hank pointed to the information in the columns, explaining what the information was. “There are two numbers in each column. The first number is a value assigned by the X chromosome and the other the Y chromosome. As you can see you and Tiffany have some matching numbers. In the section at the bottom, the tester had rendered his conclusion.”

  Denise and Edwin read it together, but Denise read it out loud. “Based on our analysis, it is practically proven that Ms. Denise Samuels and Ms. Tiffany Westlake have a common parent.” Edwin rubbed Denise’s back. “So, this means that Oliver can give me the shares in his company and the contract will be fulfilled, and he is out of the deal. His company won’t belong to Bradley Westlake?”

  “Exactly. We need to have you sign some paperwork. I’ve got the documents with me,” Hank said opening a folder in front of him. “Oliver will sign his part tomorrow.”

  Denise signed the papers where Hank told her to. “What happens now?”

  “I’m going to use Max’s phone to make some phone calls to set up an emergency meeting regarding the contract. Then we’ll let Westlake know that he’s out,” Hank said gathering all of the documents.

  “It would be great if you could be there too,” Max said to Denise. “But I understand if you do not wish to.”

  Denise tucked her hair behind her ear, thinking. “I want to.” She’d have to make sure that she left her gun at home. She didn’t want to ruin everything by shooting the bastard who had violated her mother and then having to spend the rest of her life behind bars.

  **

  Hank had been able to arrange the meeting for the next afternoon at three. Jacob was kind enough to give Denise the afternoon off to handle her business as he put it. She and Edwin were waiting in his father’s office down the hall from the conference room where Bradley Westlake and his team of lawyers waited.

  Hank knocked and opened the door, “We’re ready, are you?”

  Denise had chosen to wear her black Anne Klein pantsuit with her Louboutin miragirl pumps, with the black silk wrap that she had tied into a big bow at the back of her ankle. She kept the button on her jacket done since she was only wearing a beautiful black lace bra under it. Denise looked fantastic, and she knew it. Denise had left her hair curly, but she’d styled it so that it fell over one shoulder and was held back on the opposite side with a beautiful black comb. “Yes.”

  Oliver and Edwin entered the conference room followed by Hank and then Denise. Bradley, Tiffany and his team of lawyers sat on one side of the table, staring at Hank and Denise. Denise was sure that Bradley and Tiffany knew who Hank was. Tiffany may have seen Denise at the McAlister anniversary party, but her father had no idea who she was. Denise gave them both a wicked smile before turning her attention to Oliver. Tiffany glared at her.

  The lawyers that worked for Oliver sat on the other side. Oliver walked to the head of the table. “Robert, Scott, Jason, you are all fired. Security is waiting in the hall to escort you out of my building.” The men looked around. “This is not a joke. Get out now!” The men rose from their seats.

  The older one looked Oliver in the eye, “Do you know what you’re doing?”

  Oliver returned his stare, “Robert, I know exactly what I’m doing, but don’t you worry. I’m sure that there will be a job for you somewhere, maybe with Westlake Inc. Now if you would please leave. I have a meeting to conduct.”

  As Robert snatched his belon
gings off the table and exited the room, Oliver held out his hand to indicate that Edwin, Hank, and Denise should sit in the vacated seats.” Hank sat between Edwin and Denise, with Edwin beside his father.

  “What’s going on here, Oliver?” Denise maintained eye contact with Tiffany who was shooting daggers at her.

  “What’s going on here, is that my new attorney found the clause that you included in the contract. The clause that Robert, under your direction, kept from me. This clause would have cost me my company because my son doesn’t want to marry your daughter as part of the merger.”

  “You can’t possibly blame me for the incompetence of your legal staff. You do understand that if you do not satisfy the terms of the deal, you still lose your company.” Westlake’s attorneys nodded in agreement but said nothing.

  “That’s where you’re wrong. Your own out clause states that the only way out of the contract and deal is for me to give my shares in this company to you or one of your offspring.”

  “You’re correct and if you do that you lose,” Bradley’s lead attorney said smugly. Tiffany smiled as if she and her father held all the cards.

  Hank spoke as he opened the file in front of him. Do you remember an employee named Mary Williams?” Hank slid a copy of her photo across the table. “I’ll take the look of shock on your face as a yes. You had a child with her. We located your other daughter, and per your terms, Oliver has given her the shares, and this nullifies your deal.”

  Bradley’s face was flushed. He stood banging his hand on the desk, “Horseshit!”

  “I assure you it is not. Bradley Westlake, may I introduce you to Denise Samuels. Mary Williams’ daughter,” Denise leaned over and whispered into Hank's ear. Hank straightened up and smiled. “Denise Samuels-McAlister. She and Edwin were married a few days ago.” Tiffany’s stoic face faltered. She looked from Denise to Edwin with disdain.

  For a second it looked as if Bradley Westlake would keel over from a heart attack. Then he pulled himself together, “You have no proof that this…person,” he said pointing in Denise’s direction, “… is my child.”

  Denise smiled as Hank laid a copy of the report on the table between them. “Oh, but we do. Gio, Tiffany’s hairdresser, provided us with a DNA sample, and as you can see from the report, Tiffany and Denise share a common parent.” Tiffany read the document, then raised her eyes seething with hatred, to Denise’s.

  Bradley snatched the paper from Tiffany’s hand. He crumpled it up and tossed it at Hank. “This could be a fake. I’ll see you in court!” He rushed from the room with his lawyers scrambling to follow him. Tiffany stood looking at Denise with a hatred, Denise had never known. She moved around the conference table to leave.

  Tiffany stopped near the door, looking at Edwin, “Would you really rather be with that nigger, than to be with me?”

  Denise didn’t even realize that she’d moved until she felt Hank grab her around her waist, holding her back. “Catch me outside! Bitch! Denise yelled as she struggled against Hanks hold.

  “I’d choose her over you every time,” Edwin said standing between the two women. Tiffany glared at them all before walking out the door. Hank released Denise. Edwin captured her face in his hands. He smiled at her, “Ms. Bad Ass, I know you wanted to beat the snot out of her, but you can’t go getting into brawls. At least not until our baby is born.”

  Denise had calmed down as she looked into Edwin’s eyes. “Okay,” Denise said with a pout. Edwin placed a quick kiss on her lips. “I love you.”

  Edwin kissed her again, “I love you too.”

  Thanks for reading Healing Her Heart!

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  Turn the page to see Denise’s full list of dating rules.

  Denise’s Dating Rules

  Never initiate flirting with a guy unless you can control the outcome.

  Never send a text to a hot guy after your third glass of wine.

  Never agree to go on a date- outings and hookups are okay.

  Never fantasize about a man you haven’t slept with.

  Never attend an event with a guy that requires your impress him or others with your appearance.

  Never admit that you want anything other than sex.

  Never let a man in your personal space. Have sex at his place.

  Never fall asleep after sex or stay the night.

  Never meet his friends or family.

  Never respond to emotional messages or expressions of feelings especially those related to love.

  Never leave contraception to the man.

  Never, ever say I love you, not even during sex.