Liar, Liar (6 page)

Benny goes quiet all of a sudden and I wonder if I have overstepped the mark of flirting.  Even though I feel out of my comfort zone working a case like this, the lightness and interaction between us comes so easily.  My body is aware of him, so much so that I knew he was watching me on the elliptical before I even turned my head.  How is that possible?

The worst part is, I have to remember that every moment spent with him is work.  This is not innocent.  It is not two people having fun, getting to know each other with the possibility of it leading into something more serious.  It is a lie.  I am a liar, and I have to play my part.  Drawing him in like a moth to a flame before I trap him and feed him to the wolf that is his wife.  The woman who vowed to love him and who is now trying to wring him for every penny I doubt she deserves.

For the first time in my career, I wish I wasn’t a liar.  Because I know when I hand the file to his wife and she files for divorce, Benny will find out the entire truth.  And he will never forgive me.  A searing pain shoots through my chest at the thought.  It is so sharp, my hand flies to the area and I soothingly rub the ache away.

“Benny,” I hear cooed.  I look up and see a beautiful woman approaching us.  Her eyes are firmly set on Benny, and even though she is trying desperately to hide it with softness, I notice a distinct hardness in her jaw and around her eyes.

“Monique,” Benny says tersely.

“Who’s your friend?” She stops by our table and her eyes slide to me just long enough for her to give me a warning glare before she looks back to Benny.

He sighs and gives me an apologetic look.  “Monique meet Makenna.  Makenna, Monique.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say with a smile, even though I want to tell her to get lost.  She completely ignores me, not even looking my way to acknowledge me in the introduction.

“I’m hurt,” she pouts.  “You never have juice with me.”

“Look, Monique, I’ve told you I’m not interested, and I meant it.”  He stands abruptly.  “Come on, Makenna.  I’ll take you home.”  He grips his bag in one hand and takes my elbow with his free hand.  I clutch my own workout bag and follow him as he strides out of the gym.  His tank is back on, covering his chest –
blasphemy
– but he is still showing a good amount of skin, and the distinct, unique smell of his cologne mixed with sweat fills my senses with every breath I take.

He opens the car door and I slide across the leather seat, just as Benny sinks down across from me.

He gives his driver my address without having to ask me for it, and I’m a little surprised he remembered it from the other night.

“Sorry about Monique,” he mutters.

“I guess she’s a little put out.  Is having juice with you a coveted and exclusive event?” I joke, wanting to lighten the mood in the vehicle and make those two deep, incredibly sexy dimples appear in his cheeks.

Thankfully, my tactic works.  “You tell me, you’ve experienced it twice now.  Are you impressed?”

“Oh, absolutely.  I always leave feeling a little disappointed that we only shared
one
drink each.  I’d prefer it if it were two, or you know, ten.” I grin wickedly.

“You’re one of a kind, Makenna Banks,” he murmurs, and I get the feeling he means it in a good way.

“As are you, Benny Duncan.”  I
definitely
mean it in a good way.

As the driver pulls up alongside the curb, I can’t help but wish I lived farther away. 

“Thanks for the ride home.”

“Anytime.”

I exit the vehicle and I’m surprised to see him follow me out.

“I have to do this,” he mutters.

“What?” I whisper as he steps in close to me.  I look at him from under my lashes as his palm comes out to cup my cheek.

“I’m going to kiss you now, Makenna,” he says softly.

My heart speeds up, skipping beats and thumping wildly as he slowly lowers his head down until his lips meet with mine.

My fingers grip his plain black tank at his waist as I let myself become consumed by him.

He doesn’t push me into a wall and ravish me.  He doesn’t wrap his arms around my waist and tug me flush against his body.  He controls me with just one hand at the back of my head, his fingers threaded through my hair, as his mouth possesses mine.

It is the best kiss I’ve ever had.

When his lips leave mine, we are both panting.  He places a light kiss on my nose, and then whispers in that raspy voice of his, “Have a great night, Makenna.”

“You too, Benny,” I reply.  I bend down and collect my gym bag that I must have dropped when he began kissing me, and then I head toward my apartment complex.  Just as I’m about to pull open the door to the lobby, I turn back around and see him watching me.  I throw him a smile and then duck my head before walking inside.

After I fix myself a snack, and then take a shower, I slide under the covers of my bed and replay the kiss over and over until I finally fall asleep with my fingers touching my lips.

***

Tap, tap.

“Ms. Banks, are you busy?”

“Come on in, Josephine,” I answer.

She enters my office and comes to a stop in front of my desk.

“I love your dress,” I say, admiring her just above-the-knee, black, sleeveless dress. 

“Thank you.  I just wanted you to know that Juliette Maas called in twice yesterday.  Once to request an appointment with you, which I denied, and the second time to ask for your cell number, which I also denied giving.”

“She’s persistent.”

“Yes, she is.  She was waiting outside the office for me when I arrived at work this morning,” she tells me.

I raise my brows sharply.

“I refused her entry and she left unhappy.  I think she’s very unstable.”

“I tend to agree with you there.  Have you documented all the contact from her?”

“Yes, ma’am.  I’ve also made a list of the phone calls I believe are from her when she is using an alias.”

“Could you make me a copy, please?”

“Certainly.  I’ll do it now.”

She leaves the room and I tip my head back, exhaling a frustrated breath.  The last thing I want to do is get the police involved, but I think it’s time I made a report.

Walking into the conference room, I see Mitchell already seated.  I give a smile and say good morning, while I take my usual seat across from him.

“I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever,” I say.

“We’ve both been busy.  Business is good.”

“It is,” I confirm with a smile.  Our little business is growing in leaps and bounds, and we are busier than ever.  Our client list grows every day, and if it keeps building, soon we will have to think about employing some investigators.

“How did it go with the Shaw case?  I haven’t had a chance to speak with you since you took that on.”

“It went well, and was as easy as you predicted.  I’ve already met with Michelle Shaw and passed on all the information and pictures I collected.”

“Great news.”

I nod.  “What about you?  How did the meeting go for the contract you were hoping to land?”

“Still haven’t heard back yet, but I’m quietly confident we’ll get it,” he replies.

“Keep me posted.”

“Always.  I wanted to talk to you about something else.” 
Is that hesitation I detect in his tone?

“What’s up?”

“I’ve got to travel out of state for the Wells case.”

“Okay?” I’m not following.  We go wherever the case requires us to go to get the information we need.  Sometimes it’s to the gym, sometimes it’s across town, sometimes it’s out of state.  The latter doesn’t happen often, but it isn’t unheard of.

“I want to take Josephine with me.”

“Ahh.” I grin.  I
knew
he had a thing for her!

“It’s not like that,” he rushes out and I can’t help but grin broader at his clear discomfort.  “It’s just that she has been helping me a lot with this case, because it’s such a large and complex enquiry.  I’ll need an assistant to come with me, and Josephine’s the logical choice because she’s already been working it with me.”

“We’ll need a temp to come in.”

“I know.  I took the liberty of looking into that already.”

“Oh, you did?  So, you were quite sure I’d agree?”

“Just hopeful,” he says sheepishly.

“I’m fine with it, so long as the temp is adequate,” I say and he lets out a relieved breath.

I fill him in about Juliette Maas and he encourages me to make a report with the police. In the very least, they will be aware of her harassment.  I agree to make the call before I leave work this afternoon.

“How’s the Duncan case coming along?”

I hesitate for a beat.  I’m unsure of how honest I want to be.  “Going well,” I say simply.

“Good.  I’ll be gone for ten days, leaving tomorrow.  I’ll sort out the temp situation before the end of the work day, and Josephine and I will see you when we return.”

“Have a good trip.” 

***

Later that day, when I have finished compiling reports and documenting my notes, I pick up my phone and call the police station.  Josephine provided me with the list of calls and three separate incidents where Juliette had showed up here at the office.  All in all, there was a total of twenty-two occurrences.

The officer at the front desk transfers me through and I speak to Officer Whitlock.

I explain everything to him, and he asks me to come down to the station and to bring the document with me.  I assure him I’ll be there within the hour.

I gather my handbag and my cell phone and leave the office for the day, saying goodbye and wishing Josephine a safe trip as I leave.  The walk to the police station takes me about forty-five minutes, but it is such a nice afternoon out, I don’t mind.  The day is slightly cooler than it has been the past week, and there is a cool breeze blowing through.

“Hi, I’m here to see Officer Whitlock.  He’s expecting me,” I tell the lady behind the desk.

“Sure, one moment.”  She phones through to him, and then gives me a nod before telling me to head on back to the second door on my left.  I find it easily enough, given there is a sign on the door indicating it is his office.

“Hi, Officer Whitlock, I’m Makenna Banks.”

“Makenna, thanks for coming down.  Take a seat.”

“So, as I mentioned on the phone, I have a lady who has been very persistent in trying to gain contact with me.  She has gone as far as to repeatedly phone my office and ask my receptionist for an appointment with me, to turning up unannounced, to requesting my cell number.  On one occasion, I did meet with her, as she had used a fake name to gain entry, and then once she was in my office she created an entire scenario about her needing my services before confessing who she was.  She then asked me out for drinks, and when I declined, she asked for my cell number, which I again declined.”

“Right.  Do you have the list of contact times and days with you?”

“Yes, my receptionist detailed every occurrence, including those she believed was Juliette using an alias.”  I hand him the paperwork and he scans over it.

“Persistent indeed,” he murmurs.

“What would you suggest I do?  How should I handle it?”

“I think filing a restraining order against her would be the wisest decision.”

“What about if you could just give her a warning?  Maybe that’s all she would need to back off a bit?” I ask hopefully.

“We could certainly try.  If she contacts you just once afterward, though, I would highly recommend the restraining order.”

“Thank you so much, Officer.”  I stand to leave.

“Keep aware of your surroundings, Ms. Banks.  She may stop phoning you, but she may replace that with following you.  Be sure to document every happening, as you have been.  Don’t hesitate to contact me.”

“I won’t.  Thanks again.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

I leave the station feeling slightly exhausted, but also very alert and jumpy.  Needing to burn off some energy, I hail a cab and go to the gym.  Even though I won’t admit it out loud, I am also hoping I’ll get to see Benny again, and not just for the benefit of the case.

The sound of Regina’s voice hits me the minute I walk through the front door.  It has me wishing I had the stamina to stay at the gym all night.  I ignore her phone conversation and make my way to the bar to pour myself a glass of whiskey.

“Oh, you’re home,” she says, her tone sickly sweet.

I grunt in confirmation and take a sip of my drink.  The alcohol burns a trail of warmth down my throat, settling in my stomach and heating my blood.

“I’ve been chatting with mom,” she informs me casually, coming up behind me and resting her hands on my lower back.  Instinctively, I move from her touch.

“We’re not getting any younger, Benny, and I think we should try for a baby.”

I almost spit my drink out.

I wouldn’t mind kids.  I like them, and I think I’d make a pretty good dad.  But I won’t father children with Regina.  Fuck no.

“You want to bring a child into a relationship like ours?” I scoff in disbelief.

“All my friends have either had children, or they’re pregnant at the moment.  I don’t want to be the odd one out!” she cries.

“So you’re reasoning for wanting a child is not love and cherish it, it’s to keep up with your social circle?” I sneer in disbelief.

“Isn’t that why any well-to-do woman has a child, Benny?  Do you really think women of my stature, who work hard on their appearance, appreciate the changes that a baby makes to their body?  Do you think we enjoy the dark circles under our eyes that come from a crying baby all night?  Or the lugging around of all the diapers and bottles that a baby needs, and the time it takes to prepare that stuff?  Time that could be well spent shopping or having our hair done so we look decent in public.  Prominent women, like myself, have children so we aren’t ousted from our society groups.  If I become the only person not to have a child, I won’t be included in any functions that apply
only
to mothers.  I’ll miss out on things, and I don’t enjoy missing out on things, Benny.  I like to be included in
everything
.”

“You’re unbelievable.” I shake my head, unable to comprehend what she is saying, but knowing I shouldn’t expect anything less from her.

“You wouldn’t be expected to entertain the child or what have you.  We’d hire a nanny for that.  Goodness knows, I won’t be the one changing dirty diapers and preparing bottles at three a.m.”

“Move,” I growl, fed up with her unbelievable spiel of bullshit.

“Pardon?” she splutters.

“Get the fuck
out of
my way. 
Now.
” I dodge past her and bound up the stairs two at a time.  Rage is boiling through my veins, making my fists clench in anger.  I burst into my room and lock the door before going into my bathroom and slamming the door with enough force to send it flying off the hinges.  I tear off my clothes and angrily turn on the faucet.  I step in, letting the frigid water spray over me until it heated up. 

Ten years I have been with Regina.  Ten long fucking years.  In the past it had been easy to disconnect from her, detach myself from the life I was forced to live.  It didn’t mean I liked it, but up until recently, I could ignore it.  But tonight, with Regina spouting her shit about becoming parents and the reason she wanted to do it, feels like the straw that broke the camel’s back.  If there was any doubt deep in my mind about going through with the divorce, that had been eradicated.  Tomorrow I would go in and sign the divorce papers.  She would be served and I would be free from her bullshit.  The only thing I would have to worry about then would be the repercussions from my family, and possibly Regina’s.

Regina’s parents would be easy to handle.  Their main prerogative would be keeping their social standing.  They wouldn’t want any gossip or rumors to defame the family name.  No doubt they would make me out to be the bad guy, claiming all the sympathy, fake or otherwise, that people were willing to dish out.

My parents, on the other hand, would be a different story.  They would see me issuing divorce papers as an attack on them, as a way of me trying to defile them and ruin their reputation.  They wouldn’t ask the reasons why, they wouldn’t care about me at all.  Just the Duncan name.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they took me to court and stripped me of my surname, just so I wasn’t associated with them anymore.  I couldn’t care less.  They can do whatever the fuck they want, because I’m
done.

***

Early the next morning before I make my way into the office, I stop by Stellan Legal to sign the divorce papers Barney had prepared.

“We’ll serve these to her today,” he informs me.

“Good.  She’s having lunch with her friends, so it probably wouldn’t be the wisest decision to do it then.  She should be home in the afternoon.”

“I’ll call you when it’s done.”

“Thanks, Barney.”  I shake his hand and then have my driver take me to work. 

It occurs to me that I never asked Makenna where she works.  She said she’s a waitress, but at what establishment?  She must work days, seeing as she is always at the gym at night.  I can’t stop thinking about her, knowing my divorce is going ahead, knowing I’ll finally be free.  Hoping she’ll be open to me pursuing her.  The kiss we shared was fucking magnetic.  I want more of it.

“Estelle.” I nod to my assistant.

“Morning, Mr. Duncan.  I tried to call, but couldn’t reach you.”  She gives me an apologetic look.

“What’s up?”

“Your mother’s waiting in your office.”

“Fucking great,” I mutter under my breath.

Striding through the door, I see my mother impatiently waiting by the window.  She is dressed in her usual impeccable manner, and today she’s wearing a mint green skirt with matching jacket, with a white blouse underneath.  Dorethea Duncan wouldn’t be caught dead in jeans and a sweater.  Not even when I was a kid and she and my father attended my private school sports games, would she dress even semi casual.

“Do you always arrive late to work?” she snaps.

Ignoring her, I decide to cut right to the chase.  “What do you want, mother?”

“Your father and I had a discussion with Rose and Wilson yesterday,” she informs me.  My fists clench by my side.  Rose and Wilson Peterson are Regina’s parents.  I can only imagine what their
discussion
entailed, especially considering Regina had spoken to her mother last night and then spouted her shit to me about having a baby.

“Riveting,” I mordantly quip.

“Have some respect!  It’s about time you own up to your responsibilities and start acting your age.  You’re not in your twenties anymore, Benjamin, and Regina isn’t getting any younger.  You need to have children, and it needs to happen within twelve months, or the consequences will be severe,” she threatens.

“Respect?  Respect is
earned
not demanded.  I’ll give you respect the minute you deserve it,” I spit.

“I honestly don’t know where we went wrong with you,” she sighs. 
She’s so fucking hard to please.

“What if I don’t want children?” I taunt.

“Then you’ll just have to deal with it, won’t you?  We all have to do things we don’t want to do, Benjamin.  You’re no exception.”  She starts toward the door before she stops and turns back.  “Twelve months, Benjamin.”

“I’m not having kids with that woman, so go ahead and do your worst,” I tell her.  Her eyes widen and the look of shock on her face is almost laughable.

She shakes her head despairingly.  “You’ll be sorry.”

“I doubt it,” I mutter as she slams the door behind her.

What does the woman think she can do to me?  Since her entire being revolves around money and social ranking, I wouldn’t be surprised if she kicked me out of the business and froze my accounts (again) before disowning me.  I’m the kind of man who learns from the past though, so she can freeze my accounts all she wants, because over the last six or so years, I have squirrelled away millions of dollars that she has no idea about.  I have investments that nobody else knows anything about.  So she can do her best, but she won’t control me any longer.