by K. L. Prince
She doesn’t meet any of the criteria that Caden’s father laid out for the future Mrs. Caden Mason. The only criteria that she barely meets is what Bill Mason said about high morals. She likes to think that she tries to do the right thing in most situations, but sometimes that isn’t true. She definitely doesn’t come from a successful, wealthy family, and if she and Caden were to get married, it definitely wouldn’t be a union that would be considered powerful.
As Caden sits beside her, she can feel, what she thinks is tension, radiating from his body. His body language says anger, and possibly annoyance to her and she wonders why he feels the way he does. When he turns and says to her, “You want to go for a walk?” she gladly says yes. She wants to question him about what has occurred. She looks at Olivia to make sure that she is okay with her leaving the table and Olivia gives her the okay.
She gets up from the table and follows Caden. He leads her outside and they start to walk the grounds of the venue, which is covered in lush greenery and beautiful flowers illuminated by the glowing overhead lighting.
After a few moments, she breaks the silence that is between them. “You don’t have to answer this, but are you okay?”
“I’m fine, why do you ask?” Caden says, turning towards her.
“Well, when you’re father spoke in there about you getting married, I noticed that your whole demeanor changed. I sensed that you didn’t agree with what he was saying,” she says, choosing her words wisely. She doesn’t want to offend him or appear to be too nosey.
“Was it that obvious?” he asks.
“It was,” she says, getting in line and matching his stride.
“Well, my father has this idea of who I should marry and I don’t totally agree with his vision. He thinks that I should marry a woman that has money and he totally disregards matters of love and connection. He thinks that power and wealth are what makes a marriage sustainable, not compatibility and common interests. I don’t see how a marriage could work without those things, but he doesn’t agree.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, where is your mother tonight?”
“My mother passed away a couple of years ago,” Caden says, sadness evident in his voice.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she replies, feeling crappy that she brought it up. She wishes that she would have known that Caden had lost his mother.
“It’s okay,” Caden says and smiles at her.
“Did your father marry your mother for power and wealth?” she asks.
“Not at all. He married my mother because he loved her, but at that time, he didn’t have nearly the amount of money that he has now. My father deeply loved my mother and their marriage had absolutely nothing to do with money, which is why I don’t get his views now. How can he expect me to do something that he himself never did? It’s hypocritical, if you ask me.”
“I can’t imagine marrying someone solely based on how much money they have, but I can see how someone would do it,” she says, playing devil’s advocate.
“I can’t. As far as I can see, marrying someone for his or her money is setting yourself up for a lifetime of misery. Money doesn’t make you happy. Marrying someone that you truly love is what makes a person happy to be alive.”
“I agree with you one-hundred percent, but people marry for far less than how much money the other person has. I think that a person would see marrying someone with money as guaranteed stability. I’m sure a lot of people would marry for that reason alone.”
“Stability alone is not enough for me. I see it like this - let’s say you get married for money and then down the road you end up getting divorced. Let’s say that in the divorce proceedings you end up getting nothing. So, after marrying someone for money and stability, it will all just be a huge waste of time. I think that marrying someone that you love and who is deeply in love with you ensures longevity. Longevity trumps stability with a lack of love in my opinion.”
“Well, I guess you’re going to have to find love, then,” she says and chuckles.
Caden chuckles and stops walking. He turns to her and says, “Can I have your number?”
“I don’t see why not,” she says and smiles. As soon as she is finished answering him, she notices Olivia waving and trying to flag her down. “I better see what Olivia wants,” she says and looks at Caden for approval.
“That sounds like I good idea,” he says, as they both turn and walk towards Olivia.
When they reach Olivia, she says, “Harper, I’m really tired and I have a long day tomorrow, so I think we better go.”
“Okay,” she says, regretting that she’s not going to be able to spend any more time with Caden.
“Well, I’m going to call the car and say goodbye to my parents,” Olivia says before turning to go find her parents, leaving her and Caden alone again.
Caden turns to her. “I really enjoyed talking to you and spending time with you tonight.”
“I did, too,” she says, feeling herself starting to blush.
“So, what about that number?” he asks and pulls out his cell phone.
When she is halfway through giving him her phone number, the words that Bill Mason spoke at their table about Caden’s future wife fill her mind. She can’t push them away and she can’t ignore them. Insecurities fill her mind and as she is giving the last two digits of her phone number, she switches them around. She gives him the wrong number.
As she watches Caden finish programming her phone number into his phone, she feels regret over what she has done, but she doesn’t say anything or change her mind about what she has done. She would love nothing more than for Caden to call her and for them to talk, but where would their relationship really end up going?
Everything that he said about marrying for love sounded really good, but she doesn’t believe everything he’s said, he will follow through on. She saw the way that Caden reacted to his father. Not only did she see anger and annoyance in his reaction to his father’s words, but she also saw fear.
She doesn’t need Caden to tell her that he listens to what his father says, and undoubtedly, obeys what his father tell him to do. He said himself that his father forced him to attend the charity event, despite not wanting to. She is sure that Caden does what his father wants him to and she doesn’t believe that whom he chooses to marry will be any different.
Caden’s father would never approve of her and she knows it. There is no point in going any further than this one night. They will have to live with what could have been. She is not going to get in between him and his father. She is not going to be the person that divides a father and a son. She doesn’t believe that it would be a battle that she would win anyway.
Olivia returns just as the driver arrives with the limo and asks, “You ready?”
“I’m ready,” she replies and turns to Caden. “It was really nice meeting you and talking to you.”
“Again, it was really nice meeting you,” he replies and wraps her up in a hug.
She relaxes against his body and she wishes that she could stay in his arms, but she knows that this is the only hug she will ever receive from Caden Mason. The hug is bittersweet. It’s sweet because she’s glad to have had him in her life, if only for a brief moment, and it’s bitter, because she will never lay eyes on him again. She doesn’t plan on ever seeing Caden again. Furthering their relationship will be a disaster and a pointless endeavor.
“I’ll call you,” he says when he releases her from his grasp.
“Sure,” she says and looks at the ground. She feels bad for lying to him, but she knows that what she’s done is for the best.
“Bye, Caden,” Olivia says before climbing into the limo.
“Bye,” he says to Olivia and then to her as she climbs into the limo after Olivia.
As the limo pulls away from the venue of the charity event, she looks back and takes one last look at Caden. She is driving away with sadness in her heart. It feels terrible turning away from someone that could potentially make her
happy, but there’s fantasy and then there is reality. In a perfect world, she and Caden would have made a wonderful couple, but they don’t live in a perfect world. In their world, Caden comes from wealth and prestige and she comes from a world of struggling to make ends meet and a low paying job. They are just too different.
Chapter 2
“Ms. Bailey,” a voice calls to her as she sticks her key into the lock on the door of her apartment.
She can’t help but groan out loud. It’s Mr. Simon, her landlord. “Hi, Mr. Simon,” she says, turning the key in the lock and unlocking the door, dreading the conversation that she knows she is about to have.
“You’re rent is past due. I’ve tried to be lenient, but I can’t continue down this road. You need to pay your rent or I’m going to have to evict you,” Mr. Simon says when he reaches her.
“I know. I promise that I will get the money to you next week,” Harper says and sighs.
“Okay. I expect to see you next week. If I don’t hear from you, I will be forced to take action,” Mr. Simon says and places his hands on his heads as he scolds her.
“I know. I will definitely have your money next week. Not to be rude, but I’m in a bit of rush. I have to go,” Harper says, before disappearing into her apartment and leaving Mr. Simon standing in the hallway.
Harper makes her way to her bedroom. She is glad that her mother isn’t home to hear Mr. Simon’s demands for the rent money. She doesn’t want her mother to worry more than she has to or feel the pressure or stress of the impending doom of potentially being thrown out onto the street. That is why she handles the bills and the likes of Mr. Simon. She’s not sure at the moment how she is going to come up with the money, but she will. She always does.
Harper digs her ringing cell phone out of her purse. It’s Olivia. “Hello,” she says and throws her purse onto her bed and flops down next to it.
“Hey. What are you up to?” Olivia asks.
“Nothing much. I just got home from work. What are you up to?” Harper asks and closes her eyes. It’s been a long day of waiting on tables and responding to customer’s wants, needs, and demands. She just wants to relax, unwind, and not have to worry about dishing out bottles of ketchup and refilling glasses with soda.
“I’m just doing the usual, painting my nails and watching my soap,” Olivia replies casually.
Harper can’t help but roll her eyes. Some people are so lucky. She wishes that the most pressing part of her day was what color of nail polish she was going to chose to wear. “It must be nice,” she replies and rolls onto her side.
“It is,” Olivia replies and laughs. “Listen, I’m calling because I need to talk to you about something.”
“You sound serious. What do you want to talk to me about?”
“It’s nothing that serious. Wait, let me take that back. It might be serious to you,” Olivia says playfully.
“Now, you’re really scaring me,” she says and props herself up on her elbow, listening more closely.
“Guess who I just received a phone call from?” Olivia says and waits for an answer.
She wracks her brain, but no one comes to mind. Giving up, she asks, “Who?”
“Caden just called me,” Olivia says.
“Caden called you?” she asks, repeating what Olivia said to make sure that she heard right.
“Yep, he just called me two minutes ago and all he wanted to talk about was you.”
“Really?” she says her eyes popping open. She slowly sits up on the bed, as if sitting up will make her hear Olivia’s words more clearly.
“Really. He asked me for your phone number. He tried calling you, but the number you gave him wasn’t the right one. He thinks that he programmed it wrong into his phone, but I have my suspicions. Did you give him the wrong phone number?”
She contemplates lying, but she knows it’s useless. Olivia has radar and can detect a lie from a mile away. After a few seconds of silence, which is probably indication enough of what happened, she responds, “I did.”
“I knew it!” Olivia exclaims. “Why did you give him the wrong number?”
“Olivia, you heard what his Caden’s dad said at the event. He made it very clear that Caden is going to marry someone rich. The last time I checked I was nowhere near being rich and becoming rich isn’t anywhere on the horizon.”
“Harper, you have got to be kidding me! Since when do you do anything because of something someone said? That is not your style. You’re not the type of person that lets other people’s opinions affect you. Why would you let what Bill Mason had to say get in between you and Caden?”
“Liv, this is different. This isn’t something like whether or not I should apply for a job or something. This is about relationships. Not to mention, did you see the way Bill Mason looked when he was talking about who Caden is going to marry?”
“No, I was enjoying my dessert way too much. I don’t think I tore my eyes away from my plate unto the thing was devoured. What did Bill Mason look like when he was talking about Caden’s future wifey?”
“It’s hard to explain, but he had this look in his eye like things were going to be the way he says or else. The look in his eye was actually kind of scary. The look made me wonder what would happen if Caden didn’t listen to his father. It was freaky for sure.”
“Now that you mention it, I’ve heard rumors over the years about Caden’s dad. I’ve heard that he can be a real jerk – mean even. I once heard that his father beat a guy almost to death with a golf club for trying to rip him off in a deal,” Olivia says, sounding like she’s whispering.
“Why are you whispering?” she asks her friend and chuckles.
“I don’t know,” Olivia says and giggles. “I guess I don’t want Bill Mason to hear me and come and beat me with a golf club.”
“You’re crazy,” Harper says and laughs. “If that story about the golf club is true, why isn’t Caden’s dad in jail?”
“I asked the exact same question and the answer I got was that the guy was so scared, that not only did he pay Bill Mason the money he stole, he left town never to be seen again and he never went to the police.”
“You don’t think that Caden’s dad killed the guy, do you?”
“I’ve never heard that, but honestly, I wouldn’t put it past him. You know that I’m a good reader of people and something about Bill Mason gives me the creeps. It always has. Whenever I see him at the country club, I get out of his way or go the other way. In fact, I wasn’t exactly thrilled that he was sitting at our table at the charity event. When I saw him sitting at our table, I groaned inside, but I didn’t let on how I was feeling of course.”
“Liv, you’re not really making a case for Caden,” she says and sighs. “The more you talk about Caden’s dad, the more I’m leery about getting involved with Caden.”
“Harper, Caden is nothing like his father. He’s the most gentle and loving guy you’d ever want to meet. He would treat you really well, if you’d let him.”
“Now that I’ve gotten more information, I don’t think that getting involved with Caden is a good idea. Not only do me and Caden come from two totally different worlds and I don’t see how we could properly mesh, his dad might be a psycho.”
“I did say that what I heard was a rumor and not fact, didn’t I?”
“You did say that, but what if it’s true? If Caden’s dad finds out that we’re dating, what if he freaks out and hurts me or hurts Caden?”
“Harp, have you ever heard of secrets? Caden’s dad never even has to know what’s going on. You could sneak around and what is more fun that a secret affair? You could sneak off to swanky hotels to be together and check in under assumed names. I think that it would be exciting.”
“Olivia, that is not how I want to lead my life. If I’m going to be with someone, it’s not going to be something that I have to keep a secret. You know how I am. I’m really not into playing games. You know that I’m straight up.”
“Harper, could yo
u be any more boring? I swear you don’t have enough fun. You really need to think about what you’re doing. Caden is a good guy and he’s sexy as hell. You are absolutely crazy to turn him away. Just think of all the fun you could have rolling around in the hay with a guy like that. By the way, I’ve heard that Caden is good in bed. I, myself, have never had the opportunity, but I can’t say that I would turn the chance down if the opportunity were to present itself.”
“Olivia!” she exclaims.
“I’m just keepin’ it real. Caden is as hunky as you can get, rich, and he treats his women with the utmost respect,” Olivia says.
She imagines that her friend is shaking her head on the other end to the phone in disapproval of her decision to avoid Caden, before saying, “You left out with a psycho father,” and shaking her own head.
“I don’t know what else to say to you to convince you, but I will say one last thing,” Olivia says and pauses.
“What?” she asks, anxious to hear what her friend is going to say.
“I gave him you’re real phone number, so I’m going to assume that he’s going to be calling you anytime.”
“Olivia!” she exclaims.
“What?”
“I just told you that I don’t want to pursue things with Caden,” she says, placing her head in her hand.
“Well, how was I supposed to know that? I talked to him before I talked to you. Plus, truth be told, I would’ve probably given him your phone number even if I had spoken to you first. You need to get out and Caden can take you wherever you want to go.”
“Olivia, I’m only going to say this one more time – I do not want to pursue anything with Caden. Being with him would be a train wreck. I just know it. It’s a gut feeling.”
“How can you say that? You have absolutely no idea how things would be with him, unless you actually spend time with him. Plus, how many times has your gut feelings been wrong in the past?”
“Okay, you got me there, but I’m sure about this. My decision is final and that’s the end of discussion.”
