The Battle Within (16 page)

Chapter 17

April was a few minutes early for this hastily scheduled appointment, so she sat patiently in one of the plush leather chairs reading a financial newspaper.

She cleared her schedule for the rest of the afternoon considering it took some finagling to get on his calendar. April didn’t want anything to disrupt this meeting. It had to be successful because her future depended on it.

The office was quiet save for the administrative assistant typing on her computer. She’d already informed her boss of her arrival.

After a few minutes, the assistant’s phone rang. She answered and looked in April’s direction. Once she hung up, the assistant stood, “Ms. Linden? Mr. Benton can see you now.”

Kate walked April over and opened the door for her, “Mr. Benton…this is April Linden.”

Roman stood and walked towards April with an outstretched hand. April accepted it for a handshake.

“Mr. Benton.”

Kate was more than curious to know what this visit was all about. However, she kept her face blank as she walked out of the office, closing the door behind her. Roman would fill her in later.

Roman motioned for her to sit, “Ms. Linden, please have a seat.”

April looked around his office as she sat, “Thank you.” She couldn’t help thinking that Sandra Catchings definitely knew how to pick them. Roman wasn’t her type, black men usually weren’t, but there was no denying his wealth and that he was a very handsome man.

Roman broke into her thoughts as he went to sit at his desk, “What do I owe the pleasure of this visit? You mentioned it had something to do with the Linden Foundation?”

“I’m sorry, but that wasn’t entirely true.” April moved to the edge of her seat, “I’m here because I think you and I have a mutual interest that is of utmost important to both of us. That common interest is your fiancé, Sandra.”

He narrowed his eyes, “Ms. Linden, I don’t discuss my personal life, but I can assure you that there is nothing you could say that would be of interest to me about my fiancé.” He stood, “This meeting is over.”

April didn’t move. She remained perched on her chair, “Franklin Roth. Does that name ring any bells? If it doesn’t, it should.”

Roman froze in place. And, knowing he should throw April out of his office, his curiosity got the better of him.

“Interesting. I can see from the set of your jaw, the name definitely rings a bell.”

He slowly sat back down and leaned back into his chair. Roman pierced her with his gaze. He spoke slowly, “I’m familiar with him, yes.”

“Franklin and I have been in a long-term committed relationship for several years. As a matter of fact, we were engaged until I broke it off…”

Agitated he rubbed his chin, “Is there a point to this?”

“I would say…if you want your wedding day to go off without a hitch in the next couple of weeks, you might be interested in joining forces with me.”

Roman stood, “This is nonsense. I’ve entertained this conversation long enough.”

“Was it nonsense when I caught them having sex last night?”

“That’s a lie. I don’t believe that.”

“Really? Would you like to see proof?”

His mouth suddenly felt like cotton as April stood up, leaned over his desk, and showed him the pictures she’d taken with her camera phone.

He appeared hurt, but not surprised.

“What…you’re not surprised? No
, she would never do anything like that to me
? Of course not, because you know just like I do, that for whatever reason those two have some weird connection. I want to sever it once and for all.”

Roman’s voice came out rough, “Those pictures aren’t very clear. But,
IF
I believed that it was Sandy in them, and that’s a big
IF
Ms. Linden, what are you suggesting?”

“I’m suggesting we need to put whatever is brewing between them on ice. I’ve done my part over the last couple of years.”

“And just how have you done that?”

“Franklin thinks he has a mental disorder that will keep him from living a happy and fulfilling life. Once he finds out that he doesn’t have schizophrenia, how long do you think it’ll be before he comes knocking on Sandra’s door? The truth is not going to stay bottled up forever. I wish it could, but time is not on my side; which means, the best alternative is for you to whisk your future bride off to some remote island in never never land, and marry her before the truth is revealed. And, from what I’ve heard about the relationship she has with your mother and sister, and now this nasty incident with Franklin…it might be best. Otherwise, you two may never make it down the aisle.”

His eyes flashed with an almost uncontrollable rage. He’d entertained this conversation long enough, “Get out!”

“What? Are you crazy? Did you hear anything I’ve just said?”

“I heard everything you’ve said. You’re psychotic and need to leave…
NOW
!”

Frustrated, April stood as she hissed, “You should be thanking me not throwing me out of your office! I’m warning you…if we don’t do something soon, we may not be able to stop Sandra and Franklin from reconciling.”

“Get the hell out of my office!”

On cue, Kate came bursting in looking from April to Roman, “Mr. Benton is there a problem?”

“Yes. Please show Ms. Linden
out
.”

April glared at him for a moment, “I can show myself out.”

Kate followed her out of Roman’s office until she was on the elevator. She then returned to her desk and called security. “A young woman in a brown two-piece suit just left Mr. Benton’s office. Please make sure she leaves the premises. And, make sure she’s not ever allowed back into this building.”

*****

After making the call to security, Kate went back into Roman’s office, “What the hell was that all about?”

Roman sank into his chair and closed his eyes, “Can you get me a couple of aspirins?”

“Sure. After you tell me what is going on? You’ve been out of sorts for the past couple of weeks. Who was that woman and what did she want?”

Roman knew he shouldn’t be confiding in Kate especially about Sandra given that he sometimes wondered if Kate was attracted to him. Maybe Kate was just what he needed, “Can you clear our schedules for the rest of the today. I just want to get out of here. Maybe we can go somewhere quiet and talk.”

She nodded, “Of course, Roman.”

*****

An hour later, sitting at the bar of a hotel with Kate, Roman had probably had more than his fair share of alcohol. While he wasn’t drunk, he was close.

It felt somewhat like betrayal talking to Kate about Sandy. Why the hell should he care? She’d been screwing Franklin last night. It killed him to think his mother and sister had been right all along.

Kate made sure to keep her drinking to a minimum. She nursed her one drink as she listened to Roman pour his heart out.

Roman closed then opened distraught looking eyes, “That woman that came to the office today is the girlfriend of Sandy’s ex. She came to tell me that she’d caught them together last night.”

Inwardly, Kate was jumping for joy. She couldn’t have planned this any better. Considering, his mother and sister hadn’t been very effective at stopping this train wreck of wedding. However, Roman didn’t need to know that, instead her hand went to her throat in mock surprise, “My God Roman. Caught like how? Having sex?”

“No! Not sex, but close enough.”

“Maybe she was lying. Do you believe her?”

He sighed, “She took pictures.” Roman trusted Kate and needed to get his doubts off of his chest. He just needed to talk to someone. “I know that they dated for a brief time, and it ended. But…”

Kate rested her hand on top of his as she spoke softly, “But…go on.”

Hurt was evident in his eyes, “The night I proposed to Sandy, I was on cloud nine that she had accepted my proposal. However, before we could celebrate privately, we ended up in the emergency room. Her best friend went into labor.”

“That was the night we had those issues with our overseas plant,
right
?”

“Yes. If you’ll recall, I was a bit distracted.”

She nodded. And, she also remembered that he’d told her, he wasn’t sure if Sandra was over an ex.

“When you called to inform me of the problem, I was at the hospital. But, I left to come into the office right away. However, when I made it to the parking lot, I realized I’d left my keys in the waiting room. When I went back to get them, I came across Sandy and Franklin in a very intimate moment. They were holding each other in a tight embrace confessing how they would never stop loving each other.”

“My god Roman! That’s why you were so pre-occupied? Did you say anything to them?”

“No.”

Kate sat incredulous, “Well, why not?”

“The scene before me appeared more like a goodbye. Maybe, I just hoped it was a goodbye because I didn’t want to hear the answers to my questions. I love her Kate.”

It hurt to hear those words from him. Kate tipped his chin up to meet her eyes, “Roman, I know you may not want to hear this, but maybe you should postpone this wedding?”

He didn’t want to think. He was in too much pain and angry. Roman covered her hand with his as he stared into her eyes, “Maybe what I need is a distraction until I can figure out what I’m going to do?”

Kate didn’t immediately respond. Were his eyes saying what she thought they were? Her arm tingled as she stared back at him. Was this her chance to finally show Roman what he meant to her? How good they could be together?

He pulled his hand away, “I’m sorry. I’m being a jerk.”

“No. No, you’re not. Maybe what we both need is a distraction.”

He held her gaze for a long time before finally speaking, “Are you sure?”

She nodded.

“I’ll go get us a room.”

*****

Kate was lying naked in the crook of Roman’s arms with her arm thrown around his waist. She’d been waiting years for this moment and today she’d finally had an opportunity to spend two glorious hours making love to Roman.

However, to him it was just sex with the wrong woman. He immediately felt guilty. He cared about Kate but not like this. And, he loved Sandy. Could this day get any worse?

Her leg was thrown over his. Touching his body skin to skin was so delicious, she didn’t ever want to move.

Roman looked at the clock, “It’s late. I’d better get home.”

Kate stretched her body against his, “Stay. Stay with me tonight. I mean we have the room at least until noon tomorrow.”

He whispered into the darkness, “You know I can’t do that.” Roman tried to gently remove her arm from around his waist and disentangle their bodies.

“Why not?”

“You know why.”

“Roman, she cheated on you. You have nothing to feel guilty about.”

“And, I just cheated on her.”

“It’s not cheating if you’re going to leave her ass!”

“Who said that? She and I have a lot to work out, but I never told you i was leaving her.”

“So, you’re playing a game of tit for tat?”

“Kate…I’m sorry. This shouldn’t have happened.”

“You’re having doubts. Otherwise, you would have never slept with me. You know she’s having doubts. Don’t you think it’s best to put your relationship on hold until you can at least get it all sorted out?”

“I don’t have any doubts. We have problems, but I don’t have any doubts.”

“I’ve always been here for you Roman! I can’t believe that tonight didn’t mean anything? That what we just shared didn’t change anything for you.”

“Kate, I’m sorry but I love Sandy, and us being together like this was a mistake.” He got out of bed and started looking for his clothes.

She sat up and pulled the sheet to her body, “Roman, this is crazy. I’ve loved you for years. You have to know that. And, we were good together tonight. Sandy’s only going to hurt you.”

He was shocked to hear her proclaim
love.
Although, Roman suspected she cared for him, he never would have guessed that. He’d made a bad situation worse…
dammit
.

“Kate, I’ve got to go home. I’m not ready to give up on my relationship. You are an incredible woman and if things were different…” He ran his hand over his face, “It’s late, or early however you want to look at it, but I need you to get dressed so that I can take you home. I messed up with you…with Sandy but I’m hoping our friendship is strong enough to deal with this.”

She just stared at him. Was he serious? Did he honestly think he could screw around with her and act like nothing happened? He must be out of his mind.

Never losing eye contact, Kate angrily threw the covers off of her naked body as she stood in front of him and put on her clothes. He turned his head.

Yes, she’ll go quietly into the night
tonight
but only to figure out what her next move was going to be. She loved Roman too much to give up on him.

Chapter 18

It was 3:07 AM and Roman still hadn’t come home. Sandy lay on her back looking up at the ceiling unable to sleep. She’d left him a couple of messages, but he hadn’t answered any of them. They hadn’t spoken since that terrible argument the day before. Their wedding was only a two weeks away, yet everything was falling apart.

How did she allow his mother and sister to drive a wedge between them so easily? She knew what they were up to? She knew that they didn’t want them to get married. Yet, she still fell into the trap.

Then, there was Franklin. She was finally able to let go of what they’d shared, but the guilt of what almost happened between them still weighed heavily on her.

If she and Roman even made it to the Alter, Sandy didn’t want to go into their marriage with lies and secrets between them. She was going to have to tell him, “I’m done self-sabotaging this relationship.” She sighed, “I just wish he’d come home so we can talk. I hate this.”

Finally, she heard the garage door opening. Relief swept over her. A few minutes later the sound of his footsteps began to get closer and closer to their bedroom. She held her breath as he stood silently on the other side of the door.