I rose bright and early the next morning, padding barefoot to the large kitchen area, still in my sleepwear.
Breakfast was on the counter. Julian wasn't present. Again.
I hissed. Was he trying to avoid me? Or was he hiding something from me again?
I distracted myself by having a shower and reading a book. A text message came through. It was Amelia.
I logged onto Skype.
“Hello, Amelia. How’s everything?”
Amelia looked panicked. “Why didn’t you tell me you broke your leg?”
Oh gosh. I totally forgot. Here I was so caught up in my own affairs, concerned for Julian’s welfare, and I totally forgot to let Amelia know.
Joanna and Teresa were our friends, but it was Amelia I was closest to. I just wanted to drum my head on the kitchen counter. Why had I neglected my friends?
“I’m so sorry, Amelia. Everything happened so fast. I didn’t get to send you a message.”
“I don’t care about a message. I was just so shocked when Mr. Henderson told me. That’s all. It’s unlike you to fall down a flight of stairs. You always wear heels. You even run and dance in them. So why did you fall?”
I couldn’t tell her someone pushed me. She was already worried enough as it was. If I told her, she’d freak out even more.
“Just one of my clumsy moments. Please forgive me.”
“Kimmy, it’s not time to joke around. Are you okay? Were you hurt? Shall I come up to see you?”
“Wow-o, just hold your horses, woman. I’m fine. My leg's all healed now. I’m just resting here for a few more days. Then I’ll be able to go back to work.” When I saw her worried face, I added, “Seriously, I’m fine. Julian's here to look after me.”
“Julian? You mean Mr. Devereux?”
Oh shit! Now everything was coming out of my mouth.
“Ah, yes. That Julian,” I confessed, heat fusing up my cheeks.
“Kimmy, I thought you hated him? Mr. Swanson said you two didn't get along.”
“Well, how can I put it? You know, fire and ice. When it’s together, it melts. Just like us.”
Amelia slumped her face in her palm. “Oh, Kimmy.”
“What? What's that all about?”
“You, you love him, don’t you?”
“Yes. Yes, I do,” I said. I loved Julian. And I wasn't afraid to admit it to anyone.
“I knew it. I just knew it. You've loved him since you guys saw each other at the conference that night. I saw the way you two looked at each other, and I knew.”
“But you didn’t say anything?”
“Of course I couldn’t say anything. If you love him, then I’m fine with that too. But what about that other guy, the one you met in Miami a few months back. Didn’t you say you liked him too?”
“Um… Amelia, the guy I spoke to a few months back, that was him. That was Julian.”
“Oh, Kimmy.” She giggled.
“Now you’re laughing.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.” But now it was her turn. I turned the tables on her. “How about you, though? How’s it going?”
“Me? What about me?”
“Oh, don’t play dumb.”
“I’m not playing dumb. What are you talking about?”
“You and Sebastian.”
Her face flushed red as soon as I said his name. She looked down and nervously pulled a thread out of her sleeve. I knew something was bothering her. That was her behavior. She was always pulling out threads from her sleeves if something bothered her.
“Amelia, what is it? Is there something bothering you.”
“There’s nothing.” She looked up, smiling. But I wasn’t convinced.
“Did Sebastian do something to you?”
“No. No. He’s my boss. There’s nothing bothering me. Corinne is doing well. I’m doing well.”
“Amelia, don’t lie. I know something's going—” My phone vibrated. Someone was texting me. Possibly Julian. “Sorry, Amelia. Julian’s texting me. Could you wait a minute?”
I looked down at my phone and frowned.
Wake up!
Ah? Wake up? Who was texting me?
“Kimmy, what’s wrong? Is something troubling you?” Amelia asked, seeing the look on my face.
“No. Nothing.” I shook my head. “Someone must have texted the wrong number. Now where were we? Oh, yes, Sebastian doing some—”
My phone vibrated again. I looked at the incoming text.
You’re his pawn
What? What was this? I shook my head again.
“Kimmy. Kimmy, what’s wrong?”
“Huh?” I glanced up at her blankly, lost for a second. “Oh, yes. Yes. I’m fine.” I became flustered, panic rising inside me. “I’m fine, Amelia, fine.”
But I wasn't fine.
The next text came through. I was now shaking.
This is his real woman.
I stared at that last text with the image attached to it.
“Amelia. I… I have to go.” I was flustered.
“Kimmy. Kimmy, wait. What’s wrong? Tell me. What—”
“I’m sorry, Amelia.” I apologized. “Something came up. I’ll Skype you later.”
I shut my laptop and rushed to the bathroom, locking myself in there.
I couldn’t breathe. Bile was lodged in my throat. I wanted to vomit, but I couldn’t make anything come out. I was trembling all over. Tears flowed out of my eyes. I slid to the floor of the bathroom, no longer having the energy to move.
I took my phone out again with shaky hands. I read the texts together.
Wake up. You’re his pawn. This is his real woman.
And then I looked at that image.
Julian. Julian was touching her face. He was touching that woman’s face. With love.
And the woman was…
Caitlin.
* * * * *