Mine to Steal (Mine to Love)

by T. K. Rapp

  Faith responded to my second message sounding very much like Brad, but if you don’t know Brad, you obviously wouldn’t know the difference.

  Young, Faith

  October 16, 2014 9:41 AM

  To: Marshall, Hattie

  Re: Recommendation

  Ms. Marshall,

  I wouldn’t call me a rising star. I still have so much to learn, but I’d be happy to work with you if you are willing to take a chance on me. Until I’m feeling better, would you be okay with communicating via email? If you would like, you can work with Brad until I’m back to myself. Everything I’ve learned has been from him. He’s been a great mentor and has wonderful ideas. I think you’d like him very much.

  Just let me know.

  Thank you,

  Ms. Young

  Faith Young

  Public Relations Manager

  Rock Solid

  I waited before responding to the message. I showed it to Jett, and he laughed outright because the entire response was too contrived and Brad-centric. We decided Hattie needed to step it up and start falling for the lies, finally asking for Brad’s email address to which ‘Faith’ was all too willing to share. The entire conversation shifted when that happened.

  Marshall, Hattie

  October 16, 2014 11:13 AM

  To: Emerson, Bradley

  Subject: New Client

  Mr. Emerson,

  My name is Hattie Marshall and Faith Young suggested that I contact you since she is sick. I was referred to her by Jaysen because of the wonderful work she did for him. Evan Baker and I have been together for two years and he recently asked me to marry him. Since he’s in the middle of football season, he is unable to interview publicists, so he has asked that I find someone to handle the PR for our engagement and pending wedding.

  As I mentioned, Ms. Young has come highly referred, and I would very much like to work with her. However, until she is feeling better and able to talk, would you mind working with us?

  Regards,

  Hattie Marshall

  Brad wasted no time in responding to ‘her’ email.

  Emerson, Bradley

  October 16, 2014 11:26 AM

  To: Marshall, Hattie

  Re: New Client

  Ms. Marshall,

  I would be happy to help. Faith has been out quite a bit lately, and I’ve been taking on her load anyway. I’ve worked with her since she started at Rock Solid, mentoring her and doing my best to help her grow.

  While I think she could handle everything for you, I feel it necessary to notify you that she’s being investigated for leaking information regarding another client. I wish I could say with absolute certainty she did not do this, but I simply cannot at the moment. However, I can assure you, that as your representative, I will do everything I can for you and Mr. Baker.

  I look forward to working with you and if you have any questions, please contact me direct.

  Regards,

  Brad Emerson

  Senior Public Relations Coordinator

  Rock Solid

  The story Brad spun claimed I had somehow gotten to Cavette and turned him against Rock Solid and ultimately, Faith. But here it is in black and white, him selling her out, all to make himself look good. I never answered the message because I decided to let him sweat it out and wonder if he divulged too much.

  Since it’s the end of the day, what better time to draft a response and see what other little nuggets he’ll divulge.

  Marshall, Hattie

  October 16 2014 5:21 PM

  To: Emerson, Bradley

  RE: New Client

  Mr. Emerson,

  I have talked to Evan and we agree that we need discretion regarding us. He’s in the public spotlight, being a professional football player, so it’s important that whomever we work with has our best interest at heart.

  I feel I should tell you that given what you shared with us about Ms. Young, we are concerned about going forward with Rock Solid altogether. I know there are some local PR and marketing firms that we could go with like TM Enterprises, Jackson & Smith or even Reliable PR, to name a few.

  We will continue to explore our options.

  Regards,

  Hattie

  His response is rapid and reeks of desperation.

  Emerson, Bradley

  October 16, 2014 5:29 PM

  To: Marshall, Hattie

  RE: New Client

  Ms. Marshall,

  I understand your concern, but as a marketing manager here at Rock Solid, I can assure you that Faith Young acted alone and while I state she is being investigated, it’s merely a formality while we gather the information to terminate her as soon as possible. Rock Solid is an industry leader and I hope that you do not hold the actions of one incompetent employee against the entire organization.

  While there are local firms that could help you, they do not have the resources or knowledge that Rock Solid has. For instance, TM Enterprises is run by Trey Miller, a relative unknown in the marketing world who has been known to utilize shady practices. In fact, he heard about Faith Young’s recent actions and has reached out to hire her on with his firm.

  Please be sure to research the firm you are leaning toward and if I can be of any help, I will be happy to share what I know. I have several references I can send you. I will be in town on Friday, so if you are free, I would be happy to meet with you and Mr. Baker in person.

  Rest assured, if you choose Rock Solid and me, I will take care of everything.

  Regards,

  Brad Emerson

  Senior Public Relations Coordinator

  Rock Solid

  His response elicits several reactions, one of which makes my stomach turn. How can Faith not see what this guy is capable of? How can she blindly take him at his word and not bother to hear me out? I both admire and hate her loyalty to this guy, although he doesn’t deserve it.

  He’s coming to town this weekend, which means he’s coming to visit the same woman he is betraying, and he wants to meet with Evan and Hattie at the same time.

  Is that a good idea? I have no plan to put them in that position, but it may be the next step we have to take to get more dirt on Brad.

  Chapter 30

  “Hey. It’s me, Faith.” Her voice sounds sad and quiet and she actually says her name as if I could forget her voice - or anything else about her. It’s a far cry from the Faith I’m used to hearing.

  “I know it’s been a while, but I need to talk to you. Call me when you have a chance?”

  It comes out as a question but it’s an expectation, one she knows I can’t ignore. Especially after the way things were left when Brad showed up at her apartment last time I saw her.

  A week has passed since I’ve talked to her and a week of catfishing her boyfriend has consumed my time before, during and after work.

  “What’s your problem?” Jett asks when he walks into the living room. “Why are you all sweaty?” He looks in the direction of my room and back to me. “Someone in there?”

  I laugh and shake my head at his attempt at humor. “I got back from my run a few minutes ago, and I have a voicemail from Faith.”

  “And?”

  “She wants to see me.”

  “Are you going to tell her everything?”

  I look at the counter and the mass of papers I’ve collected over the last week. The pile contains “Hattie’s” communications with Brad as well as the stuff that Grayson sent over for Cavette and the information I have on Rock Solid as a whole.

  “I’m not sure. I don’t know why she wants to talk to me.”

  “Guess you’ll find out,” he states the obvious. “Did you call her yet?”

  “No. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Yeah you do. Call her up and meet with her already.”

  Showers always calm me; I do my best thinking there. The run was good, but I have a whole new set of things to consider now, so I stand up to do exactly that.

  “You headi
ng out?”

  “Yeah, I’m spending the day with Cayenne.” He shifts uncomfortably, and I notice he’s dressed up. It’s Sunday afternoon and my brother looks like he’s going to church. Well, if he was a church-going guy, it’s what he would look like. “Her parents are in town.”

  “You’re meeting the parents? And you’re okay with that?” My jaw goes slack and my eyes widen at what he’s admitting to me, but I try to hide my shock.

  “Yeah; I guess I am.” He runs a hand through his hair and offers a nervous laugh.

  “Good for you.” I smile at my little brother, who looks completely different from the guy who moved in three months ago. “She’s a nice girl.”

  He nods in agreement before grabbing his keys and heading for the door. “Good luck with Faith.”

  “Good luck with Cheyenne,” I say, but offer him a piece of advice. “Jett, why don’t you try calling her by her actual name, and not Cayenne - you know, impress the parents.”

  He scoffs at my words and walks out the door without saying anything. Silence fills the apartment so I bring up the message from Faith and put it on speaker to listen to it again for any hint of what she wants to talk about, but there’s nothing, so I dial her number before I have a chance to think about it.

  “Hey,” she answers on the first ring.

  “I’m glad you called,” I say; because it’s the truth. Hearing her voice does something to me, it gives me hope.

  “So you got my message,” she says before she continues. “How’ve you been?”

  “Since you kicked me out of your apartment?” I spit. I don’t mean to attack her, but she acts so blasé that I can feel my nerves spike.

  “I’m sorry about that, but what did you expect me to do? Brad was there.”

  “Nothing, Faith. And that’s exactly what you did.”

  “I don’t want to fight, Trey.” She expels a heavy sigh. “Are you free today?”

  No.

  “Yeah.”

  “Would you be willing to meet me in an hour?”

  “Yeah, I have some things I want to talk to you about, too.”

  “Okay. The park? Two o’clock?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

  “See you then.”

  We don’t say goodbye, no mention of looking forward to it, and I know this isn’t going to go well.

  * * *

  The park is rather empty, but then again, it’s thirty degrees out, not exactly outdoor play date temperatures. There’s a large jungle gym in the center of the park with a slide to one side and a swing set to the other. Faith is bundled up in a big black coat and a hat covers her head. She sways back and forth on one of the swings and the wind blows through her hair while her gloved hands grasps the chain.

  I watch her drag her feet across the ground beneath her, and she looks sad.

  The sky is an overcast grey as snowflakes dust through the air. She is oblivious to anything going on around her, including my approach.

  “Hey,” I call out as I near her and watch as her head swings around and her eyes land on mine. Her smile is small, almost timid, and I can’t help but wonder why.

  “Thanks for coming,” she says, pointing to the swing next to her. I left the folder in my car because I’m not sure why it is that she wants to meet with me so I’m going to let her go first.

  She continues to move on her swing and as I walk to sit in the one next to her, I glance down to see her red nose and glassy eyes. Her voice is calm and shows no trace of what I assume to be the sadness I see on her face. Her eyes are trained on something in the distance but when I clear my throat, she finally looks at me.

  “How’ve you been?” she asks like it’s any other day.

  “Faith, you called me to meet you. Clearly you have something to say, so will you come out with it?”

  “I told you; I don’t want to fight.” She stands up from the swing and sends it flying behind her. “Brad was in town again.”

  “How does this concern me?”

  Her head swings in my direction and something flashes in her eyes, but disappears as quickly as it appeared. “It doesn’t concern you, Trey. But I wanted to give you a chance to tell me what really happened.”

  “Now you want to hear it? You haven’t talked to me in a week, but you’re going to ‘give me a chance’ to talk. I guess you think I owe you some sort of explanation.”

  She chooses to ignore my comment and rephrases her question.

  “The day everything happened, you came to my place and claimed you had some stuff to tell me, because you’d figured some things out about Brad.”

  “Are you still with him?” I ask without hesitation, because if she is, I know she’s already received the spun version of the story.

  “I’ll get to that later.”

  “Why don’t you tell me what happened? I’m pretty sure you already have your mind made up anyway.”

  She throws her arms up into the air and spins to walk away. “Trey, I don’t want to play your games.”

  “My games?” I stand up in front of her and grip the chain of her swing above her hands. “I think I’ve been pretty clear so far about everything. So please, tell me, how am I playing games?”

  She looks up at me and shock registers on her face. Up to this point, I haven’t raised my voice to her, but I’ve finally reached my limit.

  “Brad asked me to marry him,” she says with no emotion in her voice at all. She looks away and her shoulders slump in defeat. “He warned me that you were trying to get close to me to ruin my career.”

  “Did he?” I purse my lips and nod as I try to keep emotion out of my tone, too. “And what would I have to gain from that, Faith?”

  “The entire Cave job.” She shrugs.

  “Sure, I want the job, but Cave isn’t the end-all be-all in clients. Why would I ruin your career over it? It’s not a multi-million dollar account that’s going to set me up for life, Faith. And why I would want to hire someone who’s got the reputation of being incompetent? Yeah, it makes sense. I offer you a job with me, so I can completely tank your career.”

  “So what happened, then?”

  “What did you say?” I ask, going back to her statement.

  “What are you talking about?” Her brow furrows while she tries to figure out where my head is.

  “He asked you to marry him; what did you say?”

  “We’ve been together for over a year,” she says before I interrupt her.

  “Yeah, and how much of that has been spent having this open relationship?”

  “That’s not fair,” she argues, but there is no fight in her words.

  I don’t fight to contain the scoff that escapes, but I say what I’m thinking anyway. “You can’t marry that guy, Faith.”

  “And why not?”

  The words in my mouth are going to get me in trouble, but I have nothing else to lose at this point.

  “You don’t love him.”

  “What?” She sounds like the wind has been knocked out of her lungs and tears form a pool in her eyes. “You have no idea what I feel for him. Besides, it’s the natural thing.”

  “The natural thing?” I repeat. “Is that why people get married these days, because it’s the ‘natural’ thing to do?”

  “Screw you,” she yells as she turns and heads back toward her car.

  “Why did he propose?” I yell after her and she stops in her tracks.

  “Because he loves me.”

  “But why now, Faith?” I walk toward her and start to place my arms on hers, but stop short. “A little suspicious, don’t you think? You and I start spending time together on a client so he puts a ring on your finger to stake his claim. I didn’t realize you liked that type.”

  “Why are you being like this? I thought we were supposed to be friends, so why can’t you be happy for me?”

  “Are you kidding me? Friends? You want to play that card? I mean, we were a little more than friendly when you left the bar with me. And it was only a
few weeks ago you were throwing yourself at me.”

  “You’re ridiculous,” she argues. “I don’t have time for this. I wanted answers and clearly I’m not going to get them from you. I’ve said everything I came to say; I need to go.”

  “Back to Brad, I assume,” I sneer as frustration courses through my veins.

  “You can assume whatever you want, I don’t care.”

  “Dammit, Faith, if you’re not going to listen to me, at least listen to Lennox.”

  “How dare you!”

  “You told me his words stuck with you; that you would never settle for less than what he wanted for you. So why are you doing this?”

  “You don’t know anything about my brother, and I can’t believe you are using that against me.” A tear makes its way down her cheek, but she angrily swipes it away.

  “I know your brother left you with the best advice I’ve probably ever heard a sibling give another. I know Brad doesn’t make you the center of his world because if he did, you never would have slept with me or ended up in my arms all those times; and I know you felt something every time, because I felt it, too.”

  “You’re something else, you know that?”

  I invade her space and lift her chin so her eyes meet mine, hoping to God she has heard me. “Are you in love with him?” I have to ask before she’s gone for good. “You owe me that much.”

  She gives me a lifeless shoulder shrug and bites the corner of her mouth. “I don’t owe you anything, Trey.”

  Nodding my head and looking directly into her eyes, I take her words for what they are, lip service. Her omission tells me more than she’s willing to say outright, but there’s nothing more I can do.

  “Alright then. Congratulations on your engagement,” I say as I walk away from her. I can hear a faint sniffle behind me, but I won’t stop. I can’t look at her. She’s made her choice and only she knows why she’s made it.

  My car is parked next to hers, and I watch her walk back to the swings. She sits down and wipes her eyes as I turn the ignition. The car roars to life and she glances over her shoulder, but I throw the car in reverse to get away as quick as I can. I came out here, hoping she would tell me why she made me leave, or why she believes him. Hell, I had hoped I would be handing over all the information I collected over the last week, but now I don’t care. I wish I didn’t care.