by Tia Siren
I cringed. “That’s going to be a very weird conversation.”
“Yes, it will be, but it needs to happen. Don’t run away from him. Give him a chance.”
I dreaded having to tell him. I didn’t want him to think I had done it on purpose. I wasn’t trying to trap him. It was the last thing I wanted.
“I have to tell him,” I finally conceded.
She nodded. “Yes, you do. Go to the ball and then, when it’s over, tell him you’re going to be turning into a pumpkin.”
Giggling, I rolled my eyes. Her sense of humor could always be counted on to lift my spirits, even if most of the jokes were made at my expense.
“What am I going to do with my hair?” I said, looking at the gorgeous diamond earrings he had sent with the dress.
“Up. We need to get you a pretty hairpiece, something with pearls and some bling. Keep it simple on the jewelry. The earrings are plenty for that dress. Let your body be the star of the show,” she said, nodding her head.
I was going to trust her instincts. She was the designer after all and had an excellent eye for even the smallest details.
“All right. Let’s go shopping. We’re in the Hamptons and no one has found me yet, so I think it’s safe. I need to get some makeup as well. I left all mine at Dylan’s. I haven’t needed anything while I’ve been here, but I’m not going bare-faced and looking like death to a grand charity ball. That would kill the fantasy,” I said, getting excited about the big event.
It would likely be the last time I got to dress up in something so gorgeous for a while. I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. Plus, it was for a good cause and I was excited to see Dylan present the check I knew he was donating that would be the kick-off to the foundation he was working on putting together.
“Woohoo!” Vanessa cheered. “We finally get to leave the house!”
We both quickly dressed and were ready to hit the trendy shops within thirty minutes. I loved her grandparents’ home. It was private and fairly reclusive. We relied on the movies they had stocked and the full library for entertainment if we weren’t at the beach. Her grandparents were old-fashioned and the house was their retreat. They liked to keep the world out while they enjoyed each other in what they fondly referred to as their golden years. It was nice and peaceful, and I loved not having the interference of the outside world. I was sure it would get old after a while, but for the short time I had been there, it had been a welcome reprieve.
“Let’s grab a coffee first,” Vanessa said.
Inside the shop, I wrinkled my nose, staring at the selections written in hot pink on the black board. “Am I supposed to drink coffee?” I asked, suddenly not sure.
She looked at me, then my stomach, then the board. “You better stick with something decaf. We can’t have you messing up that little embryo.”
I sighed. “I’m going to miss coffee.”
“Nine months. You can do it.”
“You have to do it with me,” I blurted out.
She grinned. “Oh hell no. I do not. I didn’t get the experience of making that little embryo, so I’m not about to sacrifice my coffee. You got to have the man, so think about that every time you get a craving for a little coffee.”
“That doesn’t seem fair.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Use a condom next time.”
My mouth dropped open. “Rude!”
“Truth!”
I wasn’t sure how far along I was, but I remembered using a condom the first time. I guessed I was only two to three weeks pregnant. It was early, but the symptoms were strong. I couldn’t imagine being sick for the next three months.
We stopped at one store, looked around, and didn’t find what we needed. We strolled down the street, chatting and enjoying the cool sea breeze. It felt good to be normal again, even if my world in New York City was anything but normal. As we walked past a newsstand, my eyes were drawn to a newspaper. I froze when my brain caught up with what my eyes were seeing.
“What the hell?” I muttered, taking a couple steps backward and focusing on the photo of my father on the front page of the newspaper.
I stared at the grainy black-and-white photo. He was holding a sign with a bunch of numbers on it up for the camera. I couldn’t remember a time when I hadn’t seen him wearing a suit and tie. In the picture, he had on what looked to be the infamous orange jumpsuit that declared he was an inmate.
“Oh God, they got him!” Vanessa cried out. “He’s been arrested!”
I grabbed the newspaper, walking away while I read the caption.
“Hey! That’s a dollar if you want to read it,” the guy at the newsstand hollered.
I ignored him, devouring the words under the picture of my father’s mugshot while Vanessa paid the man his dollar.
“He’s in jail,” I whispered, needing to say the words out loud to believe them. “He’s in jail. He’s been in jail for days. I don’t understand. It’s over. I can go home.”
Vanessa put her arm around my shoulder and squeezed. “Yes, it’s over. He can’t hurt you. His little minions are locked up as well. I’m so glad you’re safe.”
I nodded my head. “He’s going to prison. I just know he is.”
Vanessa came around to stand in front of me. “How are you feeling?”
“Relieved. Guilty. I don’t know,” I said, my eyes glued to the picture. “How should I feel? I feel like the worst daughter in the world, but I’m glad they got him. He’s not a good man.”
I stared at the man I had loved with all my heart for so long. I didn’t see the warm, kind eyes I remembered him having when I was a little girl. He didn’t look the least bit sorry for his crimes. He was actually smirking in the picture. Why hadn’t I ever seen the evil look in his eyes before? I had been blinded by loyalty and unable to see the man’s true colors. I had this image of him I had been relying on even though that man hadn’t existed in a long time. At some point, he had changed. He had become cold and ruthless. I’d explained it away, pretending he was having a bad day or that he was lashing out due to stress. Now, looking back, I could see it had been him all along, the real him.
“You okay?” she asked, leading me away from the newsstand.
I nodded. “I think so.”
She fished in her purse for a pack of tissues and handed me one. I hadn’t even realized there were tears streaming down my face. The worst part was, I didn’t know if they were tears of joy or sadness. I felt both.
“I can’t believe my baby’s grandpa is a felon.”
Vanessa laughed. “He hasn’t actually been convicted, but everyone comes from somewhere.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to be bringing a baby into this crazy world I’m now living in. I must be out of my mind.”
“That baby is going to be loved and spoiled like crazy. Don’t let yourself pay for your father’s crimes. He did this. What he did doesn’t reflect on you. Got it?”
I nodded, then wiped my eyes once again and smiled. “Thank you. I’m okay now. Let’s get back to the shopping.”
“Good. I was hoping you would say that.”
Tossing the newspaper in the trash, I moved on, not wanting to carry around the physical evidence of my father’s bad decisions. Soon I would need to get back to the city and figure out what to do next. I was his only living relative. Things were a mess and I had no idea if the company would even survive. If it did, I would need to act fast to save it. Sadly, I had a feeling the days of Adams Enterprises were long gone.
Vanessa and I wandered into one store after another, picking up little things here and there. I knew I probably should have been a bit more frugal considering I most likely didn’t have a job or an inheritance to speak of any longer, but just for today, I wanted to be the old Kendall, out on a shopping spree with my friend.
I had plenty of time to be the grown-up Kendall, holding the baggage her father had dumped on her. Next week was soon enough for that.
Chapter Thirty-One
&n
bsp; Dylan
Saturday
The tux was choking me. The stupid bowtie felt like it was cutting off my throat and the jacket felt tight. I hated wearing the stupid thing. I made my way around the ballroom, shaking hands, smiling, and nodding. All the while, my eyes scanned the room, looking for Kendall. I prayed she wouldn’t stand me up. I wasn’t sure how I would deal with that.
I’d waited at the townhouse until the last possible moment, hoping she would show up so we could go to the ball together. When it became clear she wasn’t going to show, I had reluctantly made my way to the hotel where the ball was being hosted.
I had tried to call her several times, but she never called back. I knew she’d gotten the delivery. The ball was in her court. If she didn’t want anything to do with me, I couldn’t force the issue. I would have to move on.
As I shook the hand of another wealthy man known for generous contributions, I caught a flash of red out of the corner of my eye.
“Excuse me,” I said before making my way through the crowd, my eyes landing on Kendall.
“You came.” I breathed out in so much relief, I felt as if I’d exhaled twenty pounds from my chest.
She smiled. “I figured I better wear this stunning dress while I still could.”
I took her hand and kissed it. “You look absolutely gorgeous.”
“Thank you. You have very good taste in women’s clothing. I would have never guessed,” she teased.
I leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I’m dying to kiss you right now.”
When I pulled away, a blush was on her face. “Maybe later,” she whispered.
“Are you wearing everything I sent?”
Her cheeks pinkened, and I knew she knew exactly what I was talking about. “Maybe.”
“You’re killing me,” I muttered, taking her hand and walking toward the bar. “Can I get you some champagne?”
“No!”
“Okay. That’s fine. I’m sure they have other choices.”
“I’ll just have a sparkling water if you don’t mind.”
I nodded my head. “Stay right here. Don’t you move. I will find you.”
Going to the bar, I quickly ordered our drinks before finding her again in the crowd. She was practically glowing, chatting with another woman who had been complimenting the dress.
I managed to pull her away, claiming she had promised me the next dance. I wrapped her in my arms, pulling her body close to mine as we slow danced to some song I didn’t recognize. It didn’t matter who was singing. All that mattered was the woman in my arms.
I could have spent the entire night dancing with her. I loved the way her body felt as it moved against mine in perfect harmony. It was as if we had been built for each other. She fit perfectly in every way.
“We should take our seats,” she whispered.
“I don’t want to. I want to stay right here with you.”
“We’re the only ones out here,” she hissed.
I looked up and, sure enough, everyone else was making their way to their designated seats, getting ready for the dinner and the speeches that were coming up.
“Fine, but I want to dance with you again. I’d much rather dance with you than shake hands with all of them.”
She laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
We took our seats at the head table, enjoying our meal while making small talk with the others seated at our table. I noticed Kendall only picked at her food and made a note to ask her about it later. I was really growing concerned for her health.
“I’m up next,” I told her.
“Good luck,” she whispered, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.
When my name was announced, I made my way up to the podium, giving my prepared speech before presenting a check for two-million dollars. I received a standing ovation, which made me uncomfortable. Kendall was looking at me, smiling while she clapped her hands. I focused on her, ignoring the rest of the room. If my donation made her happy, that was all I cared about. I only cared about what she thought of me.
I made my way back to the table, accepting pats on the back and numerous handshakes from people I had never met.
When I finally sat down, Kendall was beaming. “You are a really good man.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you think that.”
She giggled. “I think everyone thinks that.”
“I don’t care what they think. I just want you to know I’m not a bad guy.”
She nodded her head, her eyes darting away from mine. I could see she was uncomfortable, but I didn’t press the issue. We sat through more speeches and more checks from various donors as the night stretched on.
When we were given the all clear for more dancing, I didn’t miss my chance.
“Dance with me,” I said, taking her hand.
She giggled. “I never knew you were such a fan of dancing.”
“Neither did I. Really, it’s just an excuse to be close to you. That dress is making me a little crazy.”
She stood on her tiptoes, her mouth close to my ear. “Your tux is making me a little crazy.”
I grinned. “If I could find a way to wear it and still have my way with you, I would do it.”
She winked. “I’m sure we can figure something out.”
“You want to get out of here? I’m ready to leave, right now. Let’s go.”
She giggled, then gave me a look of shock and disgust when she realized I wasn’t kidding. “No! This is a big night for you and it isn’t over.”
“I’ve missed you. Why haven’t you returned my calls?” I asked, pouting a little as I moved with her across the dance floor.
She let out a long sigh. “It’s a long story.”
“Tell me.”
“I needed some time to work things out. Can we talk about this later?”
I nodded my head. “I assume you heard about your father?”
“I saw his mugshot in the paper a couple days ago. Did you know?” she asked, stepping away a couple inches to look me in the eyes.
I nodded. “I wanted to tell you Sunday when you left, but you weren’t exactly talking to me.”
She smiled. “No, I wasn’t. I’m sorry about that. I guess I was having some kind of nervous breakdown. I had to get out of the city, away from everything. I know it was childish to run, and I’m back to stay. I have to figure out what is going on with my father and the company and what I need to do. I have a lawyer, or at least I had one. I have no idea what to do next. I’m kind of lost right now.”
“I’m sorry. Truly, I am. You can stay with me as long as you like. You don’t have to run from me. I’ll help you figure out how to navigate all this.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that. I still can’t believe how everything turned out.”
I smirked. “It isn’t over yet.”
There was a strange look on her face. “No, it definitely isn’t over.”
The music stopped, and the host of the event took the mic. “Everyone, can I have your attention please?”
I groaned, not willing to let her out of my grasp again.
“Come on. We’re being rude,” she scolded.
I followed behind her as she grabbed my hand and led me back to the table. Once again, there were more speeches and then a few testimonials from the parents of children who were sick and in the hospital. It broke my heart to see the sorrow on their faces.
Looking over at Kendall, I saw tears streaming down her face. I handed her a tissue from the box that had been strategically placed on the table after the dinner dishes had been cleared. A few kids also took the stage, really pulling at the heartstrings of those in attendance. I knew it was a calculated tactic used to get people to open their hearts and checkbooks.
“I can’t imagine what those families are going through,” Kendall murmured, pulling more tissues from the box.
I put my hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry. These things can get pretty rough sometimes. It’s for a good cause, but it is hard to see
and hear. I wish more people could see what we’re witnessing. It would benefit the charity and the families.”
She nodded her head. “I wish I knew what my financial status was. I would gladly give them a huge chunk of cash, but honestly, I don’t know if I have any cash to give. I swear, if this thing with my dad wraps up and there is still an Adams Enterprises standing, the company is mine and I am going to make sure it is far more charitable.”
I kissed her on the tip of her nose. “I hope so.”
“You have inspired me. I think about my shoe collection and feel like a complete asshole,” she said.
I chuckled at her word choice. “You’re not an asshole. You like shoes. You worked hard for your shoes, and, honestly, I happen to like them on you. They are sexy as hell.”
She gave me a watery grin, and I was happy to have lightened the mood. I hated to see her crying, even if she was in good company in the room.
“Is everyone ready to hear the grand total raised so far?” the host asked, stirring up the crowd.
A cacophony of applause began as attendees cheered and raised their fists in excitement.
“I want to personally thank you, and I know the families that will benefit from your hard-earned money want to thank you for your extreme generosity as well. Tonight, my good people, you have raised close to ten million dollars for the children’s cancer research center!”
The room erupted into screams of excitement. I was shocked to hear the staggering number. It made me happy to know there were people willing to donate their cash for a good cause.
“That is amazing,” Kendall shouted close to my ear to be heard over the boisterous crowd.
I laughed when I saw her grab another tissue and dab at the tears pooling in her eyes.
“It is amazing. Are you okay?” I asked.
She nodded. “I’m fine. I get a little emotional when kids are involved.”
I nodded my head. “Me too.”
“I think your donation set off a bit of a domino effect. You set a high standard and the people here didn’t want to look bad,” she said with a smile.
