The rest of the night, Taylor talked to the media and reporters about Dynasty Magazine. She told them about which area of the community she was trying to attract. There were countless interviews; in the end she felt pleased with her performance that evening. It was time to leave. She had done what she came to do.
She was kind of happy she didn’t run into Kalon again. Once she noticed him standing by the bar talking to a young woman. He looked her way, and she quickly turned her head. It dawned on Taylor that he probably thought she was available because she forgot to put on her wedding ring. After the broken windshield and the drama with Libby, she was a little discombobulated when she went home to get ready.
She walked outside and stood with a long line of others who were waiting for their limos to pull up to the entrance. “Pardon me.”
Taylor turned to see a distinguished older gentleman standing behind her.
“Mr. Knight asked me to give this to you.”
Taylor took the card out the man’s hand; it was a business card. “Oh, well you can give this back to him.”
The man backed up with both of his hands in the air. “Oh no, no ma’am. I was supposed to deliver this to you and I have to do my job. Good night.” He walked briskly through the crowd.
On the ride home, Taylor toyed with the business card in her hand. Kalon’s office number, cell number, and email address were on the front of the black and tan card. This man was bad business. She knew nothing good could come out of talking to him. She was a married woman, even if she was living with a man who cheated on her and had a daughter with another woman. The part that bothered her the most was that he betrayed her trust. Two wrongs don’t make it right. Taylor rolled down the window in the limo and threw the card out.
* * *
Beep, beep, beep. Taylor rolled over and hit the off button on her alarm clock. The LED display flashed 5:00 a.m. Time for her Saturday morning jog. Not one to hit the snooze button, she got up, slipped on her jogging outfit, and went into the bathroom. Splashing water on her face, brushing her teeth, and putting a sweatband around her forehead was all the primping called for this morning.
In the kitchen, she poured a quick glass of orange juice. It always had a peculiar taste when she drank it right after brushing her teeth but she kind of liked that. Putting the dirty glass in the dishwasher, she grabbed her watch and keys, which she’d left on the counter. Out on the porch, she set her watch to time her jog, then took off down the street.
Barely two blocks into the jog, her mind conjured up Kalon’s face. Wasn’t it enough that he had haunted her in her dreams last night? She sped up, as though she could outrun the image in her head. After a short distance, thoughts of Kalon did leave her mind—only to be replaced by reminders of the fight she had with Libby the other day. She owed her best friend an apology. She shouldn’t have taken out her frustration on Libby.
The truth was, she was mad at everything else in her life. She was mad that Ari was always gone. When he first told her in college he was going to major in engineering because he wanted to be a pilot, she thought it was great. That was a good career. She hadn’t taken into account that with him being a pilot meant he wouldn’t be around as much. She felt lonely and alone in her marriage.
She was also tired of keeping the secret about his child. She had built up the confidence to confront him a few months ago when he returned from California but she lost her nerve.
Then there was the magazine. It was wearing on her. She so wanted it to be a success.
With all these issues swirling around in her head, her tears started to fall. She refused to slow down, but kept running and throwing punches in the air.
During her sprint through the forest preserve, she noted that the wind had picked up and the leaves flew through the air. Even so, Taylor had started sweating heavily because of her accelerated speed. Now the perspiration on her skin made her chilly so she turned around to head back to the house. The strong gust at her back pushed her along. “Dang. I know Chicago is the Windy City but you don’t have to knock me over.”
Rounding the corner to her house, Taylor noticed Toni’s car in her driveway. She didn’t feel like having company but Toni had a key so she would come by and check on the property when she or Ari were away on business. Taylor was sure she was inside helping herself to everything in her kitchen.
“Good morning, Chica,” Toni said when the front door opened. Taylor saw her step away from the refrigerator, arms loaded with a yet-unopened pack of bacon and a dozen eggs.
“Good morning to you, too,” Taylor offered. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and sat on a kitchen barstool. “What brings you by so early?”
Toni took some pans out the cabinet above the stove. “I came by after my morning workout at the new gym up the street from your house. You know it’s open twenty-four hours?”
Taylor frowned, trying to remember the gym Toni was referring to.
“Anywho, I also came by to see how the magazine conference went last night. Being chief editor and all, I need to be prepared for any backlash that might be written about the company.”
Taylor was disappointed that Toni had so little faith in her to represent the company well. Her tone was chilly. “I don’t need this shit so early in the morning, Toni. You can take your breakfast to go.” Taylor got up so suddenly that the stool fell backward to the floor. She marched toward her study.
Toni ran behind her and grabbed her arm before she made it out the kitchen. “I’m sorry, Tay. I didn’t mean it like you screwed up or anything. You know I’m a perfectionist and everything just has to be right for Dynasty Magazine. You are the face of the company and the spokesman. I just want to know if people seemed to be interested in us. Are they on board with the vision we have for the community?”
Taylor turned around and faced Toni. There was no denying that Toni only had the company’s best interest at heart. Plus, Toni was a straight-to-the-point person, just like their mother. For both of them, their method of communication sometimes distorted their message. Taylor always wondered if that was the reason why Toni was still single at the age of twenty-five.
“All you had to do was ask me how it went instead of acting like I hurt the company’s reputation.”
Toni went back to making breakfast, laying strips of bacon in a frying pan and cracking eggs into a bowl.
Taylor picked the stool off the floor and once again took a seat. “There were a lot of reporters at the conference and they already knew a lot about us and our vision to write about young entrepreneurs approaching the scene in 2012. I talked to a lot of other magazine CEOs and editors, too.”
Toni placed a plate in front of Taylor with bacon, eggs, and fresh cut strawberries on the side.
“Thanks, sis.” Taylor grabbed a fork and dug in.
Toni took a seat beside Taylor with her plate of food. “Well, everything sounds like it went well. Libby told me how scared you were at first and I told her not to worry about you. You’re a Briggs.”
Taylor cackled at her sister’s comment. “You’re right, Toni. I am a Briggs.” Taylor fidgeted with her fork before turning to face her sister. “Can I ask you a question?”
Toni took a sip of her orange juice. “Sure. What’s up?”
“Do you know Kalon Knight?”
Toni turned toward Taylor, eyes bulging out her head. “Who doesn’t know Kalon Knight? His company is located on the north side. He is the most sought-after, confirmed bachelor in Chicago. Girl, he has been rumored to have dated models, actresses, and pretty much anything in a skirt.” With a, you’ve-got-to-be-kidding kind of look, Toni added, “Wait a minute. Please don’t tell me he tried to talk to you.”
“No, I just met him at the conference, that’s all.” Taylor scooped food into her mouth. She wasn’t about to divulge that she actually became another victim of Kalon Knight’s charms.
“Oh, well don’t get me wrong, that man is sexy and gorgeous.”
Taylor started choking on her
orange juice.
Toni looked at her sister with a sly grin. “I know you, Tay. This man has affected you. I can see it all in your eyes.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just asked you about the man because I found his organization interesting and thought we should sign up.”
Toni raised her eyebrow like Taylor was leaving out some key information but she didn’t push the issue. “Sure, we can sign the company up. Angel Kids helps a lot of unfortunate kids and it will be great to add that we are involved in charity work into our mission statement.”
“Great then. Monday morning I want you to enroll us.” Taylor knew the only reason Toni agreed was because it could help the company.
Taking her plate to the sink, Toni grabbed her designer bag. “Will do, sis. And thanks for the breakfast.”
Taylor kidded, “Did I have a choice?”
Toni laughed and walked to the door. She stopped halfway and turned to face Taylor. “Can I ask you a question?”
Taylor sat wondering why her sister was looking so serious. “Sure,” she said nervously.
“Why are you still married to Ari? Father won the re-election almost a year ago and you haven’t mentioned what your plans are about this situation.”
Taylor rolled her eyes at her sister but didn’t brush her off. “To be honest with you, Toni, I haven’t had time to think about my situation with Ari and this child. I know I can get out of the marriage anytime I want but I’m just not sure if I want to.”
Toni put her hands on her waist and stared down at her sister like she was temporarily insane. “Like I said before, you’re a Briggs. You’ll figure it out.” Toni gave Tay half a smile and left.
* * *
Sunday was a blur for Kalon. He had tried making himself busy all weekend to keep his mind off Taylor. He was upset that he didn’t get her last name. He wanted to ask her out for lunch or dinner. It didn’t matter where they went, as long as he could be in her presence. Sitting in his corner office decorated in black and red, he picked up his phone and dialed a number. After three rings, the person answered.
“Hey, this Kalon Knight. I need you to locate someone for me.”
The man on the other end said, “Shoot.”
“At the magazine conference Friday night there was a woman by the name of Taylor, sitting at table ten. I don’t have her last name. I want you to find out her full name and the company she is representing. Can you handle that?”
The voice on the line ensured Kalon he could find this woman and he would be in touch within an hour.
Kalon hung up feeling confident. He had several meetings lined up that evening, and when they were over he still hadn’t heard from his informant. In his twenty-six years, he had never pursued a woman this hard. He had never had to. Most women approached him. Some even became stalkers. He couldn’t understand why he was going to such great lengths to find out who this woman was.
Walking back into his office, he took off his suit jacket and tossed it on his red leather couch. Because of a mild migraine, he could do nothing at first but rest his head and close his eyes. Five minutes later, he sat up, taking his time not to make his headache worse. Looking over at his phone, he noticed the red message button flicking on his desk. Migraine or not, he jumped off the couch and punched in his message code.
“Hey, Kalon. I really enjoyed last night and hope I can see you tonight. Please call me. You have my number.”
“You wish,” Kalon said, and hit the delete button. He only hooked up with women one time. He never did double dips. That’s why he wanted this Taylor woman. She had all the right curves, and all he needed, wanted, was one night with her. He closed his eyes. He could still smell her peach rose fragrance from the night before. Licking his lips, he fantasized about her tight frame in the palm of his hands; immediately he had a full erection.
Kalon came out of his daydream when he heard a knock at the door. “Come in.” Glad he was sitting behind his desk, Kalon crossed his legs.
“Hey, man what’s going on?” Kalon’s best friend and business partner, Ephraim, came through the door and took a seat in the chair in front of his desk.
“Hey, bro. Nothing happening. Just trying to get a handle on all these phone messages.”
Ephraim smirked and crossed his legs. “All those women keep calling you, huh?”
Kalon started flipping through some papers on his desk. “You know how I do. I can’t hand in my player cards like you and settle down with one woman. I got a lot of love to give.” Both men broke out in laughter.
“Look, bro,” Ephraim said, “being with one woman is the best thing that ever happened to me. I got tired of bedding a different woman every night and the next morning I couldn’t remember their names. I keep telling you if you continue down this path, you’re going to meet some woman who is going to do a number on you.”
Kalon laughed again. “Ain’t no woman gonna to get close enough to do a number on me. You must have forgotten my heart is made of steel.” Kalon pounded his chest like Tarzan.
“Okay, man, take this as a joke. I’m telling you. You can’t continue to play this bachelor role forever. Love is out there and it’s on the hunt. You can try to hide from it but it will find you.”
Kalon felt a sharp pain on the left side of his chest at Ephraim’s words. He always feared that he could fall in love with someone. That’s why he came up with his one-time dip rule. This gave him complete control.
“If love is after me, then let it take its best shot.”
“Man, I know you ain’t—” Ephraim cut his words off when Kalon’s phone rang.
“This is Kalon Knight.” He listened intently. “Great. Thanks for your help.” When he ended his call, he got up from his desk.
“Where are you going?”
Kalon turned with a wide grin. “Love just called.”
Chapter 8
Maci stood behind the bushes watching Taylor take her morning jog through the forest preserve. Ari wouldn’t let her go on anymore trips with him and Adrianne, and this made her furious. She would have to force Taylor’s hand, make her end their marriage. This was the only way that she, Ari, and Adrianne could be a family.
Maci hated Taylor. Frankly, she wished she would die. Why should Taylor get to live out her dream in that big fancy house? Maci didn’t want to be a single mother. She was in love with Ari and one person was standing in the way of her happiness. Things were changing; Ari was slipping away from her. The older Adrianne got, the more desperate Maci became.
The pocketknife she retrieved from her back pocket was usually kept in her car for protection. Still hidden in the bush, she followed closely behind as Taylor finished her jog and ran up her driveway. Maci slipped through the gates without being noticed. Maci didn’t recognize the car that was parked beside Taylor’s. She stayed put behind a tree and waited for Taylor to enter the house. Damn. I need another plan.
* * *
After Toni’s visit, Taylor stayed in the house the rest of the weekend cleaning and thinking about the question her sister had asked. Why hadn’t she left Ari? The honest reason was because she was afraid of what people would think. She felt embarrassed, betrayed, and stupid that she hadn’t known her man wasn’t happy in their relationship. Under no circumstances was she ready to face her mother and father and tell them that Ari had a child out there and it wasn’t by her. Damn you, Ari.
The canopy king-size bed she lay in swallowed her dainty form. She cried until sheer exhaustion tranquilized her into a fitful sleep. Kalon Knight’s face floated everywhere in her dreams that night.
Monday morning was better. Taylor awoke feeling good. She swore to herself that she had shed her last tear for Ari’s indiscretions. It was time to move on with life and forget about something she didn’t even know for sure was true.
Peach fragrance saturated the air after she showered and rubbed her body down with her favorite lotion. It had a calming effect on her. She donned a two-piece, black pant suit a
nd hurriedly brushed her reddish brown hair into a high ponytail on top of her head. Grabbing her Coach tote bag and slamming the door behind her, a groan came from her lips when she realized her keys weren’t in her hand and she might have locked herself out. Preoccupied with feeling around inside the side pocket of her tote bag, she looked up when her hand grazed the key ring.
“Whew.”
But her relief was short-lived. She dropped everything on the ground when she caught sight of her Beamer.
“Oh my God! Who did this to my car?” She ran up to the car, then circled it, scrutinizing the key marks engraved in her paint. All four of the tires had been slashed. The word bitch was carved on the hood and the word hoe was carved on the trunk.
Taylor snapped. She picked her keys and bag up off the ground and jumped inside the car. Racing down Madison Avenue, she broke every speed limit posted.
She whipped her car into a spot in the visitor’s parking lot at city hall. Inside the building, she went to the elevators and pressed twelve. The only door located on the east wing of that floor was the office of Mayor John Briggs.
Her father’s bodyguard greeted her as she entered. “Good morning, Mrs. Gallagher. It’s been awhile.” Frank, a refined man who Taylor guessed to be in his fifties, had been her father’s bodyguard sense he was an Illinois State Senator four years ago.
Taylor rarely visited her father at work. She knew he was a busy man and she didn’t want to burden him with her problems. However, today was different. She needed guidance and he was the only one who could help.
“Good morning, Frank. Is my father available?”
“Yes, he just wrapped up a meeting. Go on in.”
“Thanks, Frank.”
Taylor opened the door to her father’s office. He was seated behind a humongous L-shaped, oak executive desk. He looked up from a stack of papers and smiled.
His Betrayal Her Lies Page 6
