Powerful: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World)

by Kathleen Kelly

  “Excuse me, Mr. Livingston, Ms. Goddess, but I believe the view from Ms. Goddess’ room on floor twenty, room fifteen is spectacular.”

  Grinning, I nod and begin walking.

  “That’s not fair!”

  “I don’t know. You get me.”

  With a cocky smile, I continue to the elevators.

  ***

  “We need to talk.”

  Four words a guy never wants to hear. Lowering Athena to the bed, I kiss her lightly on the lips and then sit beside her.

  Her head is down, and her hair is hiding her face from me. “I lost my temper over Sophia.”

  Reaching up, I tuck some of her hair behind her ear and shake my head. “No, you lost your temper with me, and that’s okay.”

  With tears in her eyes, she looks at me. “I made such a scene. I stormed out. She just made me so mad.”

  “Sophia has a special way about her.” I make a clicking sound with my teeth. “And to be fair to you, I did leave once before, no explanation, no nothing.”

  “You’re not supposed to be defending me, I’m trying to apologize.”

  I shrug. “You don’t need to apologize.”

  “You followed me.”

  “Where you go, I go. It’s the way it has to be.”

  Athena smiles and wipes her face. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Bad memories?” I ask.

  She shakes her head. “Not really. To begin with, yes, but I met a reader as I got off the plane, and she didn’t give me a chance to be alone or afraid.”

  “A reader?”

  “Someone who reads my books, a fan. She told me I was her favorite author. And she arranged a dinner with some other readers for Thursday night. You could come?”

  “Where you go, I go,” I repeat with a smile.

  Athena threads her fingers with mine. “What do you want to do today?”

  “Stay here and make love, but I have a feeling you want to explore.” Athena nods once. “Well, let’s go explore.”

  “We could go tomorrow?”

  Giving her a sideways glance, I stand. “There is something we need to talk about.”

  Athena straightens up and slowly rises. “What’s that?”

  “The press will find out who you are. They always do. Are you going to be prepared for the questions about your rape?”

  Athena’s knees give out, and she flops back down on the bed. Her face has gone white, and I feel like a bastard for even using that word in front of her. Kneeling, I take her hands in mine.

  “I-I don’t know.”

  I kiss her fingers. “It’s something we need to go through so we both say the same things.” I look up at her. “So you are covered.”

  Athena nods. “Do you want to know?”

  No.

  No, I never want to know.

  I don’t want to have those images floating around in my head.

  But I love her, and if I genuinely do, then I need to face her nightmares with her.

  “Only if you want to tell me.”

  Athena stands and pulls me up. “This isn’t a conversation I want to have in the bedroom.”

  We sit on the sofa, me with my back up against the arm and Athena with her back against my front with her body between my legs.

  “Comfortable?”

  She doesn’t answer my question, she holds my hand to her lips and begins to speak. “I was undercover pretending to be a party girl, trying to get close to the head of the cartel. I was stupid…”

  My arm goes across her chest, and I lean down inhaling the scent of her hair as she pours out the whole horrid story.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Athena

  Exhaustion takes over as I sit nestled in his arms. It feels good to have talked everything out, even if, at times, it felt like I was going to split apart from the inside. Through it all, Kris held on, he cried with me and let me talk until I couldn’t talk anymore.

  Protected in his arms, we lay like that for the longest time. Kris trails his fingers up and down my arm. I listen to him breathing, wishing we could stay like this forever. Then my stomach lets out a loud growl, and I feel him laugh.

  “Hungry?”

  “Depends… are we talking about food? Like real food?”

  Again, I feel his body shake with amusement. “Yes, Athena, real food and a walk through Central Park.”

  I twist, so I’m facing him. “Can you do that?”

  With a smirk, Kris answers, “What? Walk?”

  “Funny.”

  “I’ll buy a baseball cap.”

  Moving off him, I shake my head. “Will that work?”

  “Sometimes it does.” Kris puts his feet on the floor. “Come on, let’s go shopping.”

  Hand in hand, we walk out of the hotel. There are a few paparazzi outside, and Kris happily smiles at their cameras.

  “Kris, who’s the woman?” yells one.

  “Athena Goddess, author.”

  “How long have you known her?” asks another.

  “My whole life.” Kris kisses me then looks back to the paparazzi. “Now, fellas, we’d appreciate some space.”

  “You got it,” says one, and Kris gives him a two-fingered wave. “We’re here for Oprah, anyway.”

  Kris laughs. “Happy hunting.”

  He walks up to a street vendor and buys a black cap with the initials NY embroidered on it in white and a pair of black wrap-around sunglasses.

  “See now, I’m incognito.”

  “What about me?”

  “Who’s going to recognize you?”

  Right on cue, Harriet and Harry walk toward us.

  “Athena!” yells Harriet as she waves enthusiastically.

  Kris chuckles and goes back to the vendor, “I’ll have another cap and another pair of sunglasses.”

  “Oh, Athena, it’s so good to see you,” gushes Harriet.

  “You only saw her last night,” reminds Harry.

  Harriet slaps his arm playfully. “Hush now. So, Athena, what are you going to do today?”

  Kris hands me a cap and some sunglasses and then takes my hand in his. “We’re going to go for a walk through Central Park.”

  “Harriet, this is Kris. Kris, meet Harriet and Harry.”

  Kris shakes hands with them. Harriet is polite, but she only has eyes for me.

  “What are you doing for dinner tonight?”

  “Well, Kris has a special night planned, but we’re still on for Thursday, yes?”

  Harriet looks a little upset, but Harry puts his arm around her and pats her arm. “That’s fine, Athena. Come on, Harriet, let these two enjoy their walk.”

  Harriet nods and kisses me on the cheek. “See you Thursday night.”

  Harry waves as he drags his reluctant wife in the opposite direction.

  “She didn’t even look at me.”

  “Well, I am her favorite author.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Kris

  Hand in hand, we walk into her publisher’s offices. Athena is wearing a red pencil skirt with a matching jacket and a white silk blouse. We went shopping yesterday, and I bought an assortment of Athena-approved clothing. I’m dressed in jeans, a white t-shirt, and a blazer, the type with patches on the elbows. She says it makes me look distinguished.

  “Why are you here?”

  “Raquel wanted a sit down with Multi-Media to discuss making one of my books into a movie.”

  “Which one?”

  “Like you’ve read any of my books.” Athena grins at me.

  “I’ve read some. Come on, which one?”

  “Ms. Goddess?” A woman in a black suit approaches us. “Ms. Storm said to put you in her office. She’ll only be a moment. If you will follow me?”

  Absently, I hold Athena’s fingers to my lips and kiss them as we are shown through the building to her publisher’s office. When we get there, the woman in black looks at me.

  “Jesus! You’re Kris Livingston.” She goes back and forth betw
een Athena and me. “Are you endorsing the book for a movie?”

  I hold up my hands, but Athena answers, “No, no, no. Nothing like that. Kris is my, well, he’s…”

  Seeing that she’s having a hard time giving us a label, I finish her sentence, “I’m her boyfriend. I’m here for moral support.”

  The woman nods, raises her eyebrows, and looks at Athena. “Smart.”

  She winks, then leaves the room.

  “Boyfriend?”

  “Should I have said lover? Consort? Fuck buddy?” I tease.

  “Boyfriend sounds so…” she looks around the room, “… high school?”

  I chuckle. “Fine, I’ll introduce myself as the guy who’s loved you your entire life. The guy who’d wither away and die without you. The guy who’s totally and utterly in love with you.”

  Athena walks closer to me with every word I speak. When I’m finished, she has her body pressed to mine, and I have her beautiful face cupped in my hands.

  “I like the sound of that,” she whispers.

  “Well, I am an actor, I make everything sound good.”

  “Say it again.”

  “I. Love. You.”

  Athena kisses me hard, walks me backward until my back hits the wall and doesn’t stop.

  The door to the office opens, and someone clears their throat.

  “Um… Athena?”

  Athena turns around, and I wrap an arm around her waist.

  “Hello, Raquel, good to see you.”

  “Do you want the room?” asks Raquel with a knowing smile.

  Athena pulls me forward. “Raquel, this is…” Athena looks at me. “This is my Kris.” She smiles and looks back at Raquel. “This is Kris Livingston.”

  “Oh my God. Are you interested in the book, too?” Raquel shakes my hand and gestures for us to sit. “You’d be perfect for the lead.”

  “No, Raquel. Kris is here for me, not for the book.”

  Raquel gives Athena a sideways look and nods. “Sure. I get it. You’re playing hard to get. Okay, okay. Well, Gerald is in the boardroom. So, let’s get you two in there.” Raquel stands and winks at me. “Follow me.”

  Slowing Athena down, so we are further behind Raquel, I whisper, “What book are you pitching?”

  “Lost.”

  I stop dead in my tracks, stopping Athena mid-stride. “Lost?” I repeat.

  “Yes.”

  “You’re making our story into a movie?”

  Athena’s eyes bulge. “You’ve read it?”

  “Yes, I’ve read it,” I reply indignantly as I place a hand to the back of my neck. “To be fair, Todd may have lent me his copy.”

  Pursing her lips together, she smiles at me. “So, you’ve only just read it.”

  “It was good, but it’s our story, isn’t it? Except you gave them a happy ending.”

  Touching my chest and grabbing my other hand, Athena looks up at me. “We’re getting our happy ending. Right here, right now.”

  “Um… Athena?”

  We both stare at Raquel. “Are you coming?”

  Athena smiles and drags me forward. Sitting in the room is a man who’s doing his best to look bored. I’ve met his type many times before—the producers, the directors, the fellow actors who treat you like you’re nothing. I don’t get treated like this anymore. Recognition goes across his face, and the boredom disappears replaced with excitement at having me in the room.

  “Kris Livingston?”

  He holds out his hand, and I grasp it in mine. “Yes, and you are?”

  “Gerald Anderson, Multi-Media.”

  I let go of his hand and look at Athena. “This is the woman of the moment, Athena Goddess. New York Times, USA Today best-selling author and keeper of my heart.”

  Gerald shakes her hand and looks at Raquel. “Well, aren’t you a keeper of secrets.”

  “Oh, this is all Athena, and has nothing to do with me,” replies Raquel.

  “Okay, Athena, tell me about your book.”

  I stand and kiss Athena on the top of her head. “I’ll be right back.” Then I point at Gerald. “And whatever he offers you, it’s worth twice that much.”

  Raquel bursts out laughing. “That’s my job.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  I wink at Athena and walk out into the hallway shutting the door behind me. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my cell phone and dial Andy Westin.

  “Hello, Kris.”

  “Hey, Andy, do you have a minute?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’m in a meeting with Multi-Media about a book called Lost. It’s written by Athena Goddess. It made all the lists.”

  “Hang on, I’m putting you on speaker.” There’s a noise, then he comes back on the line. “What’s the book called?”

  “Lost by Athena Goddess.”

  “I’ve read that, Andy. Hello Kris,” chimes in Dottie.

  “Hey, Dottie, did you like it?”

  “Hmm, yes. Better than Sparks.”

  “Why are you telling me this, Kris?”

  I begin to pace up and down the hallway. “Multi-Media is looking at it. I think it could be an incredible movie, and I want the lead but only if you direct it.”

  “Ballsy. Let me read it. Dottie, do you have a copy?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Okay, I’ll read it, and if I think it’s worth my time, I’ll call you back.”

  Laughing, I say, “I look forward to your call.”

  “Ballsy.” Andy hangs up, and I walk out to the front to the waiting area. Athena doesn’t need me to hold her hand. She’s a strong, independent, powerful woman. With Raquel, they’ll work out a deal. They don’t need me.

  After an hour, Athena finds me with a huge grin on her face.

  “Where have you been?”

  “Right here, waiting for you.” She puts her arms around my waist, and I rest my forehead to hers. “How’d it go?”

  “There are a few things to work out, but I’m pretty sure they want it.”

  With her hand clasped in mine, I take her outside into the sunshine. Athena holds her face toward the sun’s rays closing her eyes.

  “I asked Andy Westin to weigh in.”

  Athena’s eyes fly open. “Why?”

  “You’ll need a good director, and if he says yes, I want the lead.”

  “Kris, I don’t need you to do this for me.”

  “No, Athena, I’m doing this for us. Where you go, I go, and if I can help in your journey along the way, I will.”

  Athena does a little dance and throws her arms around me. “Yes!”

  “What was that?” I ask, laughing.

  “What?”

  “Was that like an interpretive dance?”

  Scowling, Athena puts her hands on my chest. “It was a victory dance.”

  “Hmm, needs work.”

  “Oh, hush.” She kisses me and lets out a contented sigh. “What do you want to do today?” Athena asks.

  With my fingers clasped around her back, an idea forms. “What about if we go shopping?”

  “We did that yesterday.”

  “Yeah, but I have something special in mind.”

  “Hmm, I like the sound of that.”

  Releasing her, I thread my fingers through hers. “Come on, New York is an amazing city, and I want to buy you something.”

  “I’m intrigued.”

  “All will be revealed.” I wave my hands in front of my face, and Athena laughs.

  Pushing my hair out of my eyes, we walk through the streets. New York is one of those cities where people rarely make eye contact. If you do happen to catch the attention of someone, they normally try to sell you something. It can be anything from a CD to a t-shirt or a bus ride for the tourists. People rush past, it’s one of those cities that never sleeps. You can be up at two o’clock in the morning and find a Starbucks and conversation.

  With Athena’s hand held firmly in mine, we walk toward Rockefeller Center. A man dressed in an orange sarong ho
lds out a flower to Athena, she reaches out to take it. I pull her hand down and shake my head.

  “If you take it, you have to pay for it.”

  “Really?”

  Laughing, I nod. “Yep. Eyes down or on me, and don’t take gifts offered to you from strange men. Didn’t your mother teach you anything?”

  Athena laughs. “Right. Eyes on you.”

  Raising her hand to my lips, I kiss it. “That’s right, babe, on me.”

  Athena pulls her hand out of my grasp and shoves me. “You’re so full of it.”

  Taking her hand again, I nod. “Here I was thinking I had you fooled.”

  “Nope, this time, I’m in this with both eyes open, and we have history, so I know what to expect.”

  Stopping her, I take both her hands in mine. “I’m not that guy.”

  “What?”

  “I’m not that guy anymore. You’re not that girl. This, what we have right now, feels right. I want you with me. Always.” Athena goes up on her tiptoes and kisses me. “That means one of us has to move.”

  “Are you asking me to move to LA with you?”

  “Or I can move to Boothbay, but I’m not doing the long-distance thing. I want you with me.”

  The smile she gives me lights up her face. “Kris, I can work from anywhere.”

  “So that’s a yes?”

  She hasn’t realized it, but I’ve walked us into a store.

  Athena nods and kisses me. “Of course, it’s a yes.”

  “Oh! How wonderful!” Both of us look at the saleslady in the store. “They say it happens in here all the time, but you two are my first.”

  Athena frowns, bringing her eyebrows together. “Pardon?”

  “My first proposal.” The woman claps her hands and gives us a crisp nod.

  “No, no, no,” Athena shakes her head and looks around Tiffanys. “Kris?”

  Taking her hand lightly in mine, I shrug. “I’m not letting you go. I want you with me. Why not make it official?”

  Athena cocks her head to the side. “Official?”

  Dropping down onto one knee, I take her hand in mine. “I’ve loved you since I was seventeen years old. I should never have left you. I’ll never leave you again. Athena Boswell, will you marry me?”

  Tears form in her eyes, and I hold my breath waiting for her answer. “Do you promise never to leave me again?”