“Well, you know I was at your house and I happened to stumble across a few notebooks.”
“You always like to get your fingers into things you shouldn’t, or lets say you have no business in.”
Kevin leans back in the chair, takes another sip of his vodka tonic, “Look you have to help me or you will go down too.’
Here he goes again, with his threats, “What, do you mean I will go down. I have done nothing.”
Kevin shifts his body close to mine, “Shut the fuck up, you better listen.”
I just want to pin him on the ground and slap him so hard, but I feel sick being inches away from a man who I really hated and despised.
“Meeting Robert for a drink is going to cost you big fucken time, forget about losing your job, you’ll be in prison for murder. So fucken listen.”
Hard thumps knock at my chest, so hard that I hold the edges of my seat. I feel sick, terrified of his threat. I had nothing to do with Robert’s death.
“What do you want Kevin?”
“Finally you have come to your senses.”
“Get on with it,” I say.
“I need a hundred thousand dollars, to get me the fuck out of here.”
My heart pounding, feeling like a trapped animal, praying I don’t have an heart attack. Keep Calm.
“I don’t have that kind of money.”
“Well, ask your dear father. He is loaded, fuck he stole money from the family like your mother said.”
Another secret he knew from my journals.
“I wish I had the money.”
“Ms. Joan signed everything to you.”
He really knows how to push my buttons, “It’s not mine to take.”
“Get it somehow, because it would be a win, win for you and me. You won’t go to jail and you’ll be rid of me. I will never bother you again.”
“So you are blackmailing me?” I ask.
“Maybe.”
Getting rid of him was music to my ears, but I knew this was not going to end things with him, because he would come up with something else he needed.
“So what is going to be?”
“Give me a few days to get the money together,” I say.
“Three is the most I can do, no funny business either.”
I look at him, thinking please.
Driving back to the office, I see three more text messages from Bo. I text him back, he doesn’t respond, though I can see he read my message. I call Heather to see if she had any messages.
“Julie, Bo Brady, was here looking for you. Man is he hot. I had to drink some water to cool off.”
I swallow hard, “He was?” I ask.
“Yes, he had lunch, he said it was a quickie chicken finger meal.”
What bad freaking timing, I should have been there. I should have told him I was meeting Kevin, but I didn’t because I knew he wouldn’t understand.
“Man, what else happened?” I ask.
“Well, he asked where you were, and of course, I said out to lunch.”
I feel hot and clammy, wondering if I should just pull over to the side of the road.
“Alright, I’ll handle it. I’m going to the Martin’s case deposition so I’ll see you later.”
“OK.”
The suspense of what he text while I was having lunch had me pull over.
First text, “Hey, I’m coming over, but that doesn’t mean you should come without me.”
I smile, my eyes become watery, shit here was my dream man, saying lines I dreamt of and I wasn’t there.
Text two, “Playing hard to get, aren’t you. See you in 15.”
Text three, “Let’s have a quickie, I’m already hard.”
Text four, “You are not there, where are you? Are you with Kevin? If I don’t hear from you in 15 minutes I’ll take it as a yes.”
Tears streaming down my cheeks, I fear I have lost the one man who I can be myself with. I dial his number, it goes straight to voicemail. I text him, “Please call me.” I see he has read the message but doesn’t text back. I call again, the call goes straight to voicemail. My eyes burn, the tears keep streaming down and there is nothing I can do to stop them.
In three days I will see Violet, I can’t wait to talk to her and hopefully she can guide me, but for now I have to go with my gut. My emotions are tearing me apart, I should have been honest with Bo.
I stop by to see Ms. Joan, she was asleep, leaving her things for the nurse. I stayed to watch her peacefully sleep, thankful that she is getting better, there is still so much I don’t know about her. I ask the nurse if she knew where the copies of what she signed were. She says Kevin didn’t leave any. I felt it didn’t matter because his days are numbered.
Going home I stop to get some wine and dinner. A hot bubble bath is calling.
I open my front door, to just stare at the living room and dining room. Walking up the stairs there is a hint of anxiety attached to every step I take, but Kevin got what he wanted.
I have three days, to get him $100,000. I’ll have to call James about that. Still I can’t shake off the feeling that Kevin is going to jump out. I look around but he isn’t here.
Tomorrow I’ll get a security system, I walk in my bedroom, it looks like I left it earlier. I open the drawer of the nightstand to see the picture frame of Kevin and I, I throw it out in the garbage.
Time for a bath, to sort my thoughts. Many outcomes floating in my mind. I enter the bathroom, my phone right next to me. I text James, giving him an update. I turn the water, sitting next to the tub until it gets midway before going in.
James, texts back, “The nail is in the coffin, thanks to you.”
I smile, so ready to get in the tub. I undress, step in the hot water, just the way I like it. The heat of the water, makes it feel like a sauna. My body is mostly submerged, shutting the water off I close my eyes, feeling my limbs relax. I slide down further, my nose is the only thing not under. I wonder if this is how I felt in my mother’s womb?
I think of her, how much I miss her. It is time I start uncovering the hurt I feel. I think it has to do with my mom and her drinking and my parent’s unhappy marriage.
I touch my stomach, awaking the unknown if there is a baby forming in my womb. The last time I had my period, was two weeks ago. I am sure I ovulated today or yesterday. The shock of having a child isn’t as scary as I felt it to be. Time will tell.
I push myself up a bit to stare at the wall, my life is full of unknowns, but I known deep in my heart I would keep the baby.
Chapter 63
Bo
I open the door to Julie’s room, no sign of her. I almost walk out until I hear movement in the bathroom.
I turn around, open the bathroom door, seeing Julie. Her eyes closed.
I just stare at her, she’s so beautiful. Why was I such a dick? I wonder if she is mad at me for not returning her texts.
I undress and step in the tub, she jerks up. I bend down to kiss her.
“I will never leave you again.”
Chapter 64
Julie
I open my eyes, to see Bo watching. I slide up, startled.
“You are so beautiful,” Bo says.
My nipples become harder, my insides burning, feeling like I am about to cry. My eyes burning, feeling a lump in my throat.
“You are perfect.”
I look down at my belly, feeling so exposed.
“I’m not.”
“You are to me, and I was the stupid one to not return your texts.”
My eyes are becoming watery, my breaths are deeper. He leans down and we kiss. I fall back, his kisses forceful, yet soft and dreamy. Our mouths open, his tongue lunging deep in my mouth. I feel weak, he keeps kissing, and I keep moaning as he thrusts his tongue in me.
I slide my right hand between his legs, he moans.
“I want you so badly,” he says.
Yet, he pushes my hand away, “I want to please you first but let’s go to the bed.”
He gets out of the tub, grabs a towel wraps it around him.
“I will dry you off,” Bo says.
My heart races, feeling naked. This was something different, but I was up for it.
After I am dried, he kisses me again. He moves from my mouth down to my neck, slowly making his way to my breasts. Taking his right hand to cup my right breast, sucking and nibbling it.
The anticipation of him and I on the bed is driving me mad.
He slowly goes down to my private, just feeling him breathing on my skin.
“Spread your legs,” he says.
His tongue lunges in, and I sit down on the edge of the bathtub, my hands holding the edges too. I keep arching as he keeps sucking my juices. I moan louder each time, as he feasts. His nibbling brings me joy and pain. I am torn, feeling the pain yet liking it too. How can I not decide?
It’s OK, I think. I realize pleasure and pain can intertwine. Bo stops, his dark eyes, looking up at me. He is breathing hard like a panting animal. His bare, toned chest has me panting too.
“Stand up,” he says.
I hardly can feel my legs get up.
He then carries me out to the bedroom, keeping his eyes on mine, like he knows how I feel. I never thought that was possible, but with his eyes locked with mine. I feel like he knows me more than anyone.
“Julie,” he says.
I smile, “Yes Bo.”
“I love you,” he says.
My eyes become watery, a single tear stream down, allowing for others to follow.
He lays me down on the bed, and he does what I want without having to tell him. He works himself into me and I’m in heaven.
Chapter 65
Kevin
If she thinks I am going to walk away for one hundred thousand dollars she is dumber than I thought. But it doesn’t mean I won’t take it. I am hoping she takes it from Ms. Joan’s account so it will burn her in the end.
I told Julie that I would give her three days to get the money, this gives me time to see what else I can find at Julie’s house.
I was there earlier, looking around, it was easier since I got the key off of Joan’s key chain when I was at the hospital. I hope that bitch dies. Cheryl did her job, shouting at Joan acting like she knew her daughter. Fuck, people are easy to screw with.
Three days gives me time to fine tune my plans and catch up on the others who are due to give me money as well. I have my framework, but not the support, so I will be calling those bitches.
I eventually want to leave here for good, leaving without a trace.
The daughter of the late Mr. Kemp has frozen his accounts. I was suppose to walk away with five million dollars, that was promised to me.
Too much too soon, isn’t good, my father use to warn me, and here I am right in between too soon and too good. Fuck my life.
I have been avoiding looking at the Orlando Official Records, to see what I am dealing with. I don’t have an official address any more and I have been moving around, staying at motels. So I haven’t officially been served anything.
I type my name and the charges that appear, are lies. Fuck it, I will take the hundred grand and get out of here.
Chapter 66
Julie
Two days have pass, James has the money for me. Everything is arranged.
Violet calls and says she has an opening for this afternoon. I say the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
Sitting at my desk I think about one of our first sessions. I have to chuckle thinking about it. It was on the topic of masterbation.
Violet had asked if I had ill feelings about it. I still have to smile thinking of the way she said ill, like a professor; so refined and put together. Looking back, I realize she was right because I did.
“It’s a natural desire, you shouldn’t feel like it isn’t.” Again reflecting about that session, she was careful not to say, “It’s a natural desire to fuck yourself.” That would be something Kevin would say, which turned me off to it completely.
He was the one who made it dirty, like he made everything else in my life.
My phone vibrates, its Bo. I pick up.
“Hey there,” I say.
“Hi Julie, how’s it going?”
“Much better, hearing your voice.”
“Ah, same here.”
“There are a few warrants out for Kevin’s arrest, did you know that?”
I swallow hard, of course I knew, “Yes, I did.”
There is a silence over the line, yet I could hear Bo breathing.
“I don’t know what to say,” Bo says.
I lean my head against the office chair, why is it when things are so good between us, something tries to get between it.
“I did a little searching myself, when Kevin started bothering me. The first time you wouldn’t return my calls, the day I stopped by your place, when you said your stomach hurt. Well, I went to Orlando to find out more about his charges,” I say, hoping Bo would understand.
“I see, but you didn’t tell me.”
“I didn’t want to get you worked up. I was afraid what you may do.”
“But you were willing to get yourself hurt or killed, Julie, that would have changed my life forever.”
My eyes become watery, I got what he was saying. He was feeling how I was.
“It’s OK, now. Listen I have a meeting with a friend, Violet, at three. I’ll call you after.”
I hang up, understanding Bo’s concerns, yet still feeling I need to do this alone. I need to end this madness with Kevin, or I will never be free of him.
There is a knock at the door, “Come in.”
“Hey, it’s me.”
“You look great, did you get a new haircut?”
“I did.”
“I love it.”
“Guess what?” Heather asks.
“Let me guess, you met someone, aren’t you?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“It is, you look happy and relaxed.”
“Who is this lucky guy? I mean I still have to approve him, but so far he seems to be on my good side.”
Heather lets out a laugh, “Stop it, but yes, he is a good guy.”
“He is actually a cop too, I met him at Dunkin Donuts of all places. Can you believe it?”
“I can, so is he going to be stopping by the office anytime soon?” I ask.
“Tomorrow we are having lunch, so you’ll get to see him.”
“Awesome, I look forward to it.”
“How are things with you?”
I let out a sigh, “Great for now.”
“How did the lunch go? I mean did he finally get the I’m breaking it off with you?”
I shook my head, “He did, he really did.”
“So is he gone for good?”
“He should be in a few days, he said he is going faraway.”
“The farther, the better. I swear if he comes back, you should get the cops involved. I’m just saying,” Heather says.
“I will.”
Looking at Heather I realize how I wasn’t a hundred percent truthful to her either. She had become a good friend, but I have a gut feeling to keep my plans hidden, for only me to know.
I’m not sure if this happened as a result of working here, or just being sick and tired of Kevin’s bullshit trying to control my life. I just don’t know for certain and I don’t ever think I will know.
“Well, if you need me for anything, I’m here.”
“Thanks Heather,”
I look at my phone, there is a text from Kevin.
“Meet me at Speakeasy tomorrow at 5 pm with the money.”
I so want to throw my phone, the only consolation is knowing that this will be ending one way or the other.
“Will be there.”
“No funny business or else.”
I laugh now, who does he think he is, using a line from countless movies.
I don’t even respond, it’s now two-thirty time to go and see Violet.
Chapte
r 67
Bo
Well, I was disappointed that Julie didn’t say anything about Kevin’s warrants, but I couldn’t be mad at her. She was right, I would have gotten my hands on Kevin and I probably would be in jail right now, forever away from her.
Still I can’t help but want to catch him. I wish I could say that Julie is not telling me everything about Kevin. She said she was meeting a friend at three. I just had to know if she was meeting Kevin.
“When can I see you?” I text Julie.
I see she is texting back.
“Around five,” Julie texts.
“OK.”
“At my place,” she writes.
“Can’t wait.”
Well, she text back. I really shouldn’t think she is hiding anything from me, but with Kevin running loose. I can’t help but think he is still calling the shots. Who knows maybe Violet is Kevin.
I don’t know what to do? I decide I’ll drive by her place and see if his car is in her driveway.
I think of Ms. Joan and wonder how she is doing. I should see her, maybe she has something to tell me. Still I will drive by Julie’s, since it is on the way.
Turning on Julie’s street, I keep a watchful eye, no one outside. Familiar cars parked in the driveways.
I see Julie’s driveway is empty, at least his car isn’t there. I decide to drive down a few streets south and north of her street. Still no sign of his BMW. Feeling relief, I head over to the hospital.
I stop by the gift shop and get Ms. Joan a get well balloon.
I go up the elevator, feeling uncomfortable. I don’t really like hospitals because people die in them. The elevator door opens to see the nurse station. There is just one nurse, looking at the computer. I walk over.
“Hi, I’m here to see Ms. Joan.
She smiles, “Well, perfect timing because she just finished her snack. She is two doors down to the right of the hallway in room 302.”
“Great, so how is she doing?”
Great for Now (Book Two of The Now Series) Page 18
