by Nia Arthurs
For heaven’s sake, he’d woken up to his incredibly tantalizing wife kissing the daylights out of him. How did she expect a man to respond?
At the memory, Trenton lay flat on the ground and started a new round of sit-ups.
Spent, he crawled to his chair and smashed his cheek against the cold metal desk.
Water. He needed some water. Opening his door a creak to check if Breana had come out into the hallway, he decided that the coast was clear and tiptoed down the stairs to the fridge.
Just before he set foot in the kitchen, Trenton spotted a dark figure sitting in the bar stool before the counter. He pressed his fist to his mouth as his eyes widened. What kind of brazen thief stopped to drink his soda?
Annoyed and slightly panicking, he slipped one of his slippers off his feet. It wasn’t as good as a bat, but at least he’d have the element of surprise on his side.
Drawing near to the man, he whipped the slippers across his head. The smack echoed through the room and the intruder bawled out.
“I’m calling the cops!” Trenton bellowed, shielding his body with his phone.
“Wait! Wait! It’s me!” The man turned around and Trenton recognized Denzel’s dark face. His body caved in with relief.
“Man, what are you doing sitting like a ghost in here?”
Denzel rubbed the side of his head and glared at Trenton. “What if I was a real robber? What would your slippers have done to me?”
“Hey, you’re alive because of me. Remember that.”
“You were the one who almost killed me in the first place.”
“Don’t try to play the victim. I recall you throwing more punches than taking hits.” Trenton poured himself a glass of water and stood near the opposite end of the counter. “You okay?” He sipped his drink and then glanced at Denzel. “I’m not asking this because I care. I’m only asking for Breana’s sake.”
“I’m better now.” He glanced around. “Where is Breana?”
“Where do you think?” Trenton said. He used the cup to cover his smirk. Sure, he was practicing celibacy thanks to his new wife, but Denzel didn’t need to know that.
The man sneered and looked away. “I guess you think this is over, huh?”
“Pretty much.”
Denzel laughed. “Even before I saw the divorce papers, I knew you and Bree would never work.”
Trenton folded his arms across his chest. “And why is that?”
“You see this place?” Denzel glanced around the spacious split level. “This isn’t who we are. Breana grew up on my street, where the roads flooded when it rained too hard, and we had to walk through rivers to get to school. Every other week, someone we knew was shot because of gang violence. And the people who made it out, don’t ever want to go back.”
Trenton swallowed, sincerely troubled by the picture Denzel painted. “That has nothing to do with us.”
“That has everything to do with you. In all your trying, you can never understand her like I can. You can never see the world from her eyes like I can. Everything, down to the color of your skin, has been setting you up to soar in this world. Me and Breana? We had to fight our way here.”
“Do you think it was that easy?” Trenton said. “I had to earn my spot same as any.”
“Nah.” Denzel shook his head. “It’s not the same. I bet your family paid for you to go to all the private schools from you was born to junior college. You probably had your life all figured out and let your pops take care of your bills until you could take over his company.”
“You don’t know me.”
“I don’t need to know you. You’re all the same,” Denzel said. “Your problems are emotional.” He pressed his temple. “In your head. Breana and I had to hussle, had to hang our heads and beg, had to sell our pride to stand here in the fancy house that your daddy gave you.”
“I can make her happy,” Trenton said, unsure why he even bothered to defend himself to someone like Denzel. “We can work through our differences.”
Denzel laughed. “Don’t you get it? You can’t work through these differences. They’re insurmountable. Impenetrable. Immoveable. No matter how much you care about her, you can never be all she needs.”
Trenton shook his head and chuckled. “I can’t believe I’m taking advice from someone who just kissed my wife in front of me tonight.”
“Fine,” Denzel said, “don’t listen to me. Either way, I’ll be here when your marriage crumbles and Breana needs a shoulder to cry on. I’m playing the long game.”
Trenton’s fists balled at his sides, but there had been enough violence tonight. He could only beat on a man so much before he realized how pointless it was.
“If you’re feeling alright, the door’s that way. Make it home without fainting again or Breana will never let me hear the end of it.”
“Thanks for the service, Rich Boy.” Denzel swaggered out the kitchen and slammed the front door shut.
Trenton sighed and walked to the door to lock it properly. Despite his best efforts to flog them away, Denzel’s words had burrowed into his mind and wouldn’t leave no matter how much he tried to think on other things.
Breana’s humble beginnings didn’t faze him. His grandfather hadn’t been born into success. In fact, the Lorde family saw some pretty lean years back then with Pops living with his in-laws and the company working on a loss until they could break even.
He also knew that those troubles had never been his own. No matter what his ancestor had been through, Breana had lived through far more harrowing circumstances than he’d ever allowed himself to contemplate.
As much as he could empathize with her hardships, he doubted he could actually walk in her shoes. Did that mean he couldn’t provide comfort when she needed it? Did it mean they were better apart than together?
He hated to think that Denzel Ramirez had any kind of point. In fact, he would love to write this night’s conversation off. The man was just trying to mess with his head, psyche him out so he lost confidence in his future with Breana.
Deep down, Trenton couldn’t brush the warning off so easily.
Deciding he needed some air, Trenton headed to the office and lost himself in the pile of paper work waiting eagerly for him there. When he glanced up, he was surprised to see the sun rising in the sky and Jamison walking through the door.
“Sir?” His assistant checked the watch on his wrist. “I saw your car in the parking lot, but I was hoping I’d been mistaken. What are you doing here so early?”
Trenton rubbed his gritty eyes. “I came in to get a head start on the building contracts.”
“They were far from urgent,” Jamison said, coming deeper into the office. “Is something wrong, sir? I heard there was a bit of a kerfuffle after I left the party yesterday.”
“It was nothing.” Trenton scrunched his nose. “And who says ‘kerfuffle’, Jamison?”
“Nothing?” Jamison lifted his chin. “Is that why you’re cosplaying as a raccoon?”
Trenton grappled for his cellphone and groaned when he saw his reflection in the glass. The bruises around his eyes had deepened severely.
“So… it was a little more than nothing.”
“Care to share?”
He sighed. “Breana’s ex came to the party and made a move on her. I had to defend my wife.”
“You had to defend your wife or your territory?” Jamison looked down his nose at Trenton. “Something tells me Mrs. Lorde isn’t the type to need too much rescuing.”
“How do you know that?”
“She’s kind of like my wife.”
Trenton wiggled his finger at his assistant. “I’d love to meet your wife someday.”
“I’m sure she would love to meet you too, but sir, if I may…?”
Trenton nodded.
“Coming from such polar opposite backgrounds, I think it’s important for you to remember one thing.”
“Which is?”
“Don’t expect to be able to fix her. You can never
fix her. Only one Person can do that, and then only if she asks. No, your job is to listen, to support, and to be there. Every time.”
“Predictability.”
“Huh?”
“It’s what her mother told me a few weeks ago. She told me to be someone Breana could rely on.”
“It’s sound advice.”
“I don’t know. What if I’m not the guy she needs?” Trenton shook his head and stared into the distance. “What if I’m not the right one for her?”
Chapter 17
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Breana stared at her cell phone as if her laser-eyed focus could usher Trenton’s text onto the screen. No matter how hard she stared at the old thing, however, it refused to vibrate. Had her service dropped the call? Had his text gotten lost in the swirl of cyberspace?
Breana sighed and leaned her chin on her open palm. After the heavy make out session last night, she’d decided to give Trenton his space, but she never expected to find him gone when she woke up this morning.
Guilt flared in her chest, and Breana desperately wanted to make things right, but she could only do that if Trenton was open to doing so too.
“Oh,” Melissa groaned and threw herself on the desk. “I can’t believe it.”
Breana frowned and turned away from her friend. Melissa had been walking around like a zombie all day thanks to Denzel’s disappearing act in the wee hours of the morning.
“Oh,” Melissa grunted, clutching her chest. “I can’t believe it.”
“What can’t you believe?” Breana asked, realizing she needed to humor her friend to get her to leave.
“It was so close. My fairytale ending was so close… and I let him slip away.”
“Mel, there are plenty more guys out there that are better than Denzel.”
“You can say that because the two sexiest men that have ever walked the path of this fine Caribbean nation are fighting to be with you.”
“I’m married to Trenton so he doesn’t need to fight over me.”
“Right. I forgot. They were just wrestling in the grass for fun, right?”
“Mel,” Breana groaned, “I’m really not in the best of moods right now—”
“Totally understand. Backing off.” Melissa sat up and swung to hop off the desk. The reprieve lasted all of ten seconds before she slid right back. “But… just to be clear, Denzel didn’t say anything about me, did he?”
“For the last time, when I woke up they were both gone, okay? Give it a rest!”
Melissa reeled back and blinked. “Sorry, Ms. Grumpy Pants.”
“I’m sorry for shouting. It’s just… been a hard day—”
At that moment, her phone chirped and Breana scrambled to pick it up. When she saw Trenton’s name sliding across the screen, she brightened and desperately pressed the buttons to access the text.
Something came up. I need to leave for a few days. Will call you later.
“What did he say?” Melissa asked, straining her neck to read the message. “Was it Trenton? Did he say anything about Denzel?”
“No,” Breana said, cupping the phone to her chest. “No, he didn’t.”
Her head bowed, and her heart fell to her toes. After just accepting the fact that she had feelings for her husband, Breana was being abandoned. It hurt, no matter how much she understood where it was coming from.
“You know what…” Melissa whispered, peeling herself off the desk. “I’ll just go back over there.”
Breana didn’t even register the retreat. Her day had just taken a downward spiral. Unfortunately, it was about to get worse.
“Hellooo, peasants!” A squeaky voice rang. The noise in the office stilled so that every clop of the newcomer’s heels rang like tiny gavels.
“C-Cady!” Melissa jumped to her feet. “You’re back.”
“Don’t all rush me at once,” Cady said. She wore a bright red hat and a simple white dress. The gown was very unlike her fashionable boss, but Breana figured the move was intentional as it allowed every eye to be drawn to her bulky jade necklace.
The jewelry glinted in the harsh afternoon sunlight, and Cady touched it delicately, delighting in her workers’ reaction.
“How was Mexico?” Melissa asked.
“It was fantabulous,” Cady said. “So refreshing. Exactly what I needed.”
“Meet any cute guys?” Melissa wiggled her eyebrows. Breana glared at her and the woman shrugged in response.
“I’m glad you asked!” Cady sat on Breana’s desk and folded one leg over the other. “I met the most dashing salsa instructor named… Juan.”
“Juan?” Melissa echoed. The office leaned in to hear more while Breana glared at her boss’s back.
“We had a beautiful week at Playa de los Muertos. The beaches were to die for, and the water was so clear and blue.”
“Did Juan give you that necklace?” Melissa asked.
“As a matter of fact, he did. We were playing this wondrous game of running down the beach as fast as we could. Then Juan pulled me passionately into a narrow alley and held my cheeks.” Cady touched her tan face. “He pulled this necklace out of his backpack and told me to hold onto it in memory of him before he disappeared.”
“No!” Melissa yelled. “That’s so romantic!”
“How do you know it’s real?” Breana asked with a sour expression.
“You wouldn’t ask that if you could feel how heavy this is.” Cady tapped the jade lovingly. “It feels like I’m hauling a suitcase with my neck.”
“Oooh,” the office sighed.
“I’m glad you had a great time,” Breana said, nudging Cady off her desk.
“I did. It opened my eyes to a lot of things. Actually, if you don’t mind, I’d like to see you in my office Breana.”
“What if I say I do mind?” Breana muttered.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
Cady sashayed forward and glanced over her shoulder. “Aren’t you coming?”
“Just a minute,” Breana said.
As soon as Cady turned the corner, Melissa rushed to her desk and grinned. “Isn’t it great? She found someone else and got over Trenton! Maybe her reign of terror is at an end. You’re finally off the hook!”
“One can only hope,” Breana said. “I guess the Queen awaits.”
Melissa shot her two thumbs up, and Breana saluted in response before she walked down the hallway and knocked on Cady’s door.
“Come in!”
She pushed the door open and spotted her boss leaning against the desk. The white espadrilles added to the over-all casual air of her dress, and Breana briefly wondered if Cady had indeed turned over a new leaf.
“I know we didn’t leave things on the best of terms before I went to Mexico.”
That was a good way to put it. Breana kept her thoughts to herself, however, and just smiled agreeably.
“I think it would be good to clear the air. Get all the bad energy out, right now. Juan taught me that during our salsa lessons.”
“Alright…”
“I think we can both see that I’ve dealt with my feelings for Trenton. He’s married to you, and I was wrong to try and destroy that.”
“Really?” Breana’s eyes bugged. “You mean that?”
“I’ve just… always had a plan for my life,” Cady said. “And Trenton was always in those plans, but Juan taught me that sometimes, when life goes off the rails, it can take us to places better than we could ever imagine.”
Breana’s eyebrows shot up as she listened to her reformed boss. This was definitely not the Cady that had driven to Trenton’s house just to bust his car windows. Though she didn’t really believe people could change, Cady seemed determined to prove her wrong.
“Well…” she awkwardly searched for something encouraging to say. “I’m happy for you.”
“I’m happy for me too!” Cady squealed. “I hope there are no hard feelings. Trenton’s really important to me, even though my infatuation is
gone. I realize that if I want to keep him in my life, I need to make sure things between us are good.”
“I appreciate that.”
“So,” Cady walked around her desk and sat down in her large chair, “how are you two?”
Breana cleared her throat and shuffled uncomfortably. “Wouldn’t you rather talk about work or the Museum of Belize project—?”
“Absolutely not!” Cady waved her arms. “I’ve followed Trenton Lorde around like a puppy since I was thirteen years old. If you’ve got any questions, just lay them on me.”
Breana hesitated. She really shouldn’t be discussing her private business with Cady Barrington of all people, but her boss did have a point. After spending years obsessing over Trenton, Cady must have picked up a few things that could help her.
“This has nothing to do with me,” Breana said firmly.
“Of course not.”
“I have this friend who has a… husband.”
“Mm-hm.”
“The husband got upset with her in the night and then left early in the morning. My friend got a text from him later that day saying he was on a business trip, and he wasn’t sure when he’d be back.”
“Oh dear.”
“From your experience, particularly with Trenton, what does that mean?”
“That’s an interesting question.”
“Remember, it’s not me. It’s my friend.”
“Well,” Cady grinned and clasped her hands together. “Tell your friend this is a pretty classic male response to commitment.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means she’s being clingy,” Cady said, “or needy. She’s doing something that’s turning the guy off.”
“Really?”
“Yup,” Cady said, glancing at her fingers. “The relationship is winding down. It won’t be long now.”
“Long before what?”
“Before they break up.”
Chapter 18
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The air was crisp, clean, and refreshing. Birds twittered from the branches of the lime trees that bordered the construction site. Despite the invasion of the heavy machinery and mounds of sand his company brought in for construction, the natural, picturesque beauty of Cayo remained untarnished.
