Betrayed by Love

by Hogan, Hailey

  Garth agreed. “I was never one to get caught up in the Hollywood gossip.”

  “This is ridiculous. Listen to this,” Eva said, as she turned up the volume on one of the entertainment reports.

  “Baby you’re a star. I don’t understand the hype, but some folks want to know everything about their favorite celebrity.”

  Garth massaged her feet as they switched from channel to channel later that night from the comfort of her bed. “I can go to sleep just like this,” Eva said, enjoying the feel of his hands.

  She moaned with he took each one of her toes in his mouth.

  Two hours later, they both were knocked out from an intense session of love making.

  ~ 35 ~

  Garth enjoyed spending time with Eva. Life for them was as normal as could be with her being a celebrity. The media calls had died down a little but he and her staff were still filtering some calls. He was engrossed in reading a report when Trevor walked in his office.

  “You’ve been scarce these last few days,” Garth said.

  “Soul searching. My personal life is in shambles and its about to get worse because reporters are camped outside.”

  “That’s the price you pay for being the man in the middle,” Garth joked.

  “Man, I don’t find it funny. Besides it’s not a good look for GT Securities.”

  “I’ll have Caroline take care of the reporters, so don’t sweat it.”

  Trevor said, “You’re awfully calm about all of this.”

  “Life is too short to let stuff like this wreck your nerves.”

  “You’re not the one in the limelight.”

  “I might as well be. Eva. You. Can’t help but be in it.”

  Caroline popped her head in the door. “Should I tell them you’ll be out to speak with them Trevor?”

  “Yes, he’ll be there,” Garth answered for him.

  “Man, I’m not going out there.”

  “Get yourself together. You took speech in college, so you’ll do fine.”

  For the second time in less than a week, Garth found himself outside in front of the media. He stood next to Trevor as he answered a few questions from reporters.

  “Trevor, did you know Cheryl had a history of stalking people?” one reporter asked.

  Trevor answered, “I was not aware of Cheryl’s mental history prior to us getting together.”

  Sandy Blair asked, “Did you cheat on Cheryl with Eva Ward?”

  “Eva and I have been friends since college. Cheryl was an insecure woman who made our relationship out to be more than what it was.”

  Garth was impressed with how Trevor handled the reporters. “See that wasn’t too bad,” Garth said, as they sat in Trevor’s office as Caroline brought them something to drink.

  Caroline said, “I’m glad to see you two worked out your differences. For a moment I was worried about the two of you.”

  Garth swore he saw Caroline wink at Trevor. He was tired so his eyes must have been playing tricks on him. “Caroline make sure we’re not disturbed unless its Eva calling.”

  “So what did you tell your family about Cheryl?” Garth asked, as soon as Caroline was out of hearing distance.

  “I got folks from everywhere sending me emails, messages on Facebook and Twitter…all trying to find out details. They don’t care about me. They just trying to be nosy. I haven’t been returning any of their messages. I’m just tired man. Tired.”

  Garth took a drink from his soda. “At least you found out about Cheryl before the wedding. Just think of the hassle if you found out about all of this after you were married.”

  “If you ever hear me talk about marrying someone else, shoot me and put me out of my misery,” Trevor said, as he leaned back in his chair.

  They both laughed. One of the few laughs they shared amongst each other since all the drama between them. Caroline came back into Trevor’s office. “Cheryl is here to see you Trevor. She said its’ urgent.”

  Garth stood up to leave. “Don’t. Send her in,” he told Caroline. “I need you here to witness this,” he told Garth.

  Garth sat back down. Cheryl walked in looking like a million bucks. Her hair looked freshly done and she was wearing what appeared to be a red designer pants suit. A far cry from the last time he saw her after the ruffle with Eva. “Good, both of you are here,” she said.

  She plopped down in the chair next to Garth. “Don’t worry. I won’t be long.”

  Trevor said, “Cheryl, there’s really nothing we have to talk about.”

  Cheryl handed him an envelope. Trevor asked, “What’s this?”

  “Bills from the wedding expenses.” Cheryl leaned back with a smug look on her face.

  “I don’t need this.” Trevor threw it back at her. The paper hit the floor. Garth reached down and picked it up and placed it in Cheryl’s lap.

  Cheryl looked at Garth. “Tell your girlfriend that I will be suing her for deformation of character.”

  Garth responded, “It’s defamation and if I were you, I don’t think you want to go there. You’re still not totally out of the clear.”

  “I didn’t do anything but call her what she is and that’s a man stealing whore. Now if they want to put me in jail for that—than so be it, but I tell you I am not the one who has been harassing Eva. I have better things to do with my time.”

  “Well evidence shows otherwise,” Trevor said.

  Cheryl scooted to the edge of her seat. “I don’t care what your so called evidence says. I’m a grown woman and I don’t have time to play those type of games.”

  “Obviously, you do, or else you wouldn’t be in this situation,” Garth stated.

  “Look, this conversation is between me and Trevor. So I suggest you stay out of it.”

  It took all of Garth’s willpower to remain calm. He knew Cheryl was only trying to push his button so she could cry foul to her attorney and the authorities. He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.

  Trevor said, “I don’t think there’s much more for us to talk about. I don’t need your apology so unless you’re admitting to harassing Eva, I suggest you leave my office.”

  Cheryl responded, “I’ve said all I have to say on the subject. Any other questions should be filtered through my attorney.” She stood up.

  Trevor said, “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

  Cheryl looked confused. Trevor looked down at her hands and said, “I want my ring back.”

  Cheryl took her hand and looked at the two carat ring on her finger in various directions. “The rule is if the man breaks off the engagement, the woman gets to keep the ring, so sorryyyy.”

  Trevor seemed to restrain himself. Garth saw him clinch his fists. “You cheated on me and you think I’m going to let you keep the ring.”

  “I’ve checked with my attorney so we can take this to court but Tre baby, you would lose.” Cheryl eyed her ring and flashed a huge smile.

  Garth felt bad for Trevor, but knew there was truth in Cheryl’s statement. He said, “Man, I’m afraid she’s right.”

  “Keep the ring and the expenses, because I’m not paying for a doggone thing,” Trevor said.

  Cheryl stood with one hand on her hip and used the other hand to make a motion. “Don’t make me sue you.”

  Trevor stood up behind his desk and looked at Cheryl directly in her eyes. “I don’t think there’s a court under the sun that will award you anything for sleeping with your fiance’s best friend.”

  Ouch. Garth thought to himself. He wanted to slip out of the room before the scene got any uglier.

  Cheryl’s neck and hand seemed to be in unison as both body parts moved from side to side. “Oh I know you didn’t. You’ve been messing around with Eva since the beginning of our relationship.”

  “Our relationship is a thing of the past. Move on. I know I have.”

  Cheryl turned around. “It’s not over. You’re going to help pay these expenses or else.”

  Trevor shifted behind his desk. Gart
h used his hand to signal him to remain where he stood. “Your idle threats don’t mean a thing to me.”

  “You’ll be singing a different tune soon enough. Good day,” Cheryl said, as she turned around and twisted out of the room.

  ~ 36 ~

  Eva listened to Garth as he told her about Cheryl’s office visit. “As long as she doesn’t show up around here, I’m cool,” Eva said, over the phone.

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay? I have a client who is requesting me personally. I can assign someone to come by the house.” Garth sounded concerned.

  “Now that Cheryl knows we know it’s her. I don’t think she’ll try anything stupid. Besides, she will need to get past the security gate first.”

  Eva hung up with Garth and went upstairs to run her some bath water. “Awe,” she said, as soon as her foot touched the hot water. It didn’t take long for her to relax as she laid her head on the back of the tub and closed her eyes. Her eyes shot open when her alarm chirped.

  She nearly slipped getting out of the tub. She ran out of her master bathroom and went and locked access to her bedroom door. She dialed Garth’s number. “The alarm chirped. I’m upstairs so I’m locked up in my bedroom.”

  Garth tried to calm her. “Trevor’s closer so I’ll have him come check it out. In the meantime, call the police just in case. Don’t leave out your room for nothing okay.”

  Eva’s heart started beating fast. “What if it’s?”

  Garth didn’t let her complete her thought. He said, “Stay by the phone. Put it on vibrate.”

  The alarm company had already alerted the police so hopefully it wouldn’t be long. Eva put her ear against the doorway to see if she could hear anything, but she wasn’t able to. She remembered the surveillance equipment set up in her closet. She moved past the clothes and viewed the two seventeen inch screens. Eva didn’t see anyone. She used the mouse to turn the angles of the hidden cameras in different directions but the screens still remained blank. Eva thought about giving up, but instead, she clicked the mouse and the outside cameras showed someone running towards the gate at the end of her property.

  Garth called her just as she was about to dial his number. “I see someone running towards the gate but I can’t tell if it’s a man or woman!” Eva said.

  “Trevor should be pulling up any minute,” Garth assured her.

  Eva watched the mysterious person climb over the gate. A few minutes later, she saw Trevor drive up to the gate. He entered in the security code and drove up the driveway with his lights off. Eva hesitated before opening the door. She did not feel safe. Eva watched Trevor survey the outside of the house. He dialed her number.

  “Unlock the side door,” Trevor said.

  Eva went to her closet and hit the button that Garth had installed. She watched the screen as Trevor went from room to room. Apparently there was only one culprit. When she noticed him outside of her door, she rushed out the closet to open it. “Thank God you made it,” she said, so happy to see him, that she hugged him tightly.

  “I came as soon as Garth called me,” Trevor responded.

  For a moment Eva forgot about how hurt she had felt when learning of Trevor’s engagement. Being in his arms felt like old times; except this time, she was now seeing Garth. She pushed her lustful feelings for Trevor to the side.

  Trevor must have felt the same attraction because before she could protest, his lips were on top of hers. Eva pushed him away while wiping her lips. “What are you doing?”

  “I thought,” Trevor stuttered.

  Eva turned around so he couldn’t see the uneasiness she felt. “Look. We both got caught up in the moment. No big deal.” She decided to drop it.

  “Did you call the police like Garth told you?” Trevor asked. “They should be here by now.”

  “Good thing you showed up when you did,” she responded, as she followed Trevor downstairs.

  “I saw someone on the camera jumping the fence. In fact, wait a minute.” Eva looked at Trevor and started backing up. “No, can’t be.”

  Trevor looked confused. “Eva’s what’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing.” A chill went up her spine. Her stomach became queasy. “I forgot something upstairs. Come get me when the police get here.”

  Trevor reached out to her, but Eva jerked back, stumbling on the stairway. She moved his hands as he attempted to help her up. “I was just trying to help you up,” Trevor said.

  “I’m okay.” Eva tightened the belt on her robe before rushing upstairs. As soon as she was in her room, she closed the door and locked it. She dialed Garth’s number. “Garth I need you. Please come and hurry.”

  “What’s wrong? I thought Trevor was there,” Garth responded.

  “He is but I will feel safer when you get here.” Eva debated with herself whether to tell Garth her suspicions. She was not safe with Trevor. She wanted. No. She needed Garth.

  “What is it you’re not telling me?” Garth asked.

  “Tre is wearing something similar to what the person who I caught running from the house wearing.” Eva’s heart rate had not slowed down.

  Garth, in a calm voice, said, “Eva stop being paranoid. Tre is fine. Go let him know you’re okay.”

  “He’s downstairs now. I’ll just remain here until the cops come,” Eva said. She heard sirens. “Sounds like it’s them now.”

  “I’ll be there shortly. There’s a wreck and traffic is at a standstill,” Garth said, before she ended the call.

  Trevor had opened the gates to the police. By the time Eva got downstairs, there were several police officers standing in the foyer. “Ms. Ward, are you okay?”

  The officers looked at Trevor and then back at her. She contemplated telling them her suspicions but because she was still unsure of Trevor’s guilt, she responded, “Yes. Trevor, is with GT Securities.”

  One officer said, “We need to get your statements and find out what happened.”

  Trevor moved to the side, so Eva could pass. They all went into the living room. Eva took a few deep breathes and then relayed to the officers what had taken place. She was trying to keep them there as long as she could because she felt uncomfortable being there by herself with Trevor.

  Where is Garth? Eva asked herself as the questioning came to an end.

  One of the officers handed her a card. “If you can think of anything else, let us know.”

  Trevor’s phone rang so he was conversing on the phone, when the interview ended.

  Eva walked the officers to the door. She wrapped her arms around herself as she stood in the doorway and watched the officers drive away. She stood there until the gate closed behind them. She jumped when she felt Trevor tap her on her shoulder. “You’re a little jumpy aren’t you?” he asked. “Told you, you have nothing to worry about. That was Garth. He’s still stuck in traffic and wanted me to stay with you until he gets here.” Trevor smiled, Eva didn’t.

  Eva started coughing and pretending like her throat was dry. “You want something to drink? For some reason I’m rather thirsty.”

  Trevor was fast on her heels. Eva wished he would have stayed behind so she could have called Garth without him being in her presence. She dialed Parris’ number. He wouldn’t do anything to her if she was on the phone. At least she hoped he wouldn’t.

  “Parris, how are you?” Eva asked, as soon as she got Parris on the line.

  Parris responded, “This morning sickness is about to kill me, but I wouldn’t trade it for nothing in the world.”

  “How’s my boy doing?”

  “Girl, still going shopping crazy. I told him he needed to at least wait until I get out of my first trimester.”

  “CJ is something else. Well tell him I called.”

  Parris asked, “Is there something wrong?”

  Eva looked at the kitchen doorway to see if Trevor was around. Just when she was about to open up her mouth to tell Parris her suspicions, Trevor appeared. Eva’s face went pale.

  ~ 37 ~

&nb
sp; Garth got off on the first exit he could. Traffic was not going to move. It was bad on and off the freeway because others had the same idea he had. His cell phone battery died on him and he couldn’t locate his car charger. As long as Trevor was there with Eva he wouldn’t worry too much.

  He entered in the code at the gate outside of Eva’s yard and parked behind Trevor’s vehicle. Before he could ring the doorbell, Eva threw the door open and rushed into his arms. “Calm down baby, I’m here,” Garth said.

  “I think Tre,” she cut herself off when Trevor spoke out.

  “Man, I was beginning to think something happened to you,” Trevor said.

  “My phone died so I couldn’t call.” Garth noticed Eva was shaking a little. He said, “Tre, thanks for staying, but I got it from here.”

  “No problem. We’ve had our differences, but I won’t let anything happen to our Eva. You take good care of her now,” he said, as he leaned down and kissed Eva on the cheek.

  Eva jumped back. Once he was gone, Garth blurted, “Okay what happened here?”

  With her arms folded around her, Eva responded, “I think Trevor was the one I saw on the camera.”

  “Eva, I’ve told you, you’re probably seeing things. Come on, let’s go look at the footage.”

  She moved away from him. “I don’t need to. I say it was Trevor and I don’t know why you don’t believe me. Look at him. He’s a little too calm.”

  “The threats started long before Trevor found out you and I were interested in one another,” Garth reminded her.

  “Maybe he’s gotten over the fact that I’ve moved on with you, but something just isn’t right. He was upset before. Now he acts like we’re all just the best of buds. I don’t trust him.”

  Garth rubbed his forehead. “If it’ll make you feel any better, I’ll check into it. But I know Tre. I know you’re wrong about him.”

  “Then who is it? You can’t show that it’s Cheryl. You don’t believe that’s it Tre. Then whoever it is must still be out there.”

  Garth stood and held Eva in his arms. A few minutes later, he went to her upstairs room and reviewed the footage. The person did appear to be wearing the same thing as Trevor. Unfortunately, it was hard to tell if the culprit was male or female. Garth was at a crossroads. He had known Trevor for years and this was so out of character. Things between the two friends hadn’t been solid recently so you never know what a person will do when put under pressure. Trevor had been under a lot of pressure lately. Maybe Eva and Cheryl were right. Maybe Trevor was behind this. For now, he would try to comfort Eva and not feed into her vivid imagination.