Her parents’ home was her second stop. Her first was Piper’s apartment. She needed to talk, and despite the abrupt end to their last conversation on the subject, she knew Piper would listen because she was the only one who knew Kayla’s true feelings for Ethan.
Piper was surprised when she opened the door and found Kayla on the other side. “Girlfriend, what are you doing here?”
“Can we talk?”
“Of course.” Piper ushered her inside. She watched Kayla go immediately to the couch and plop down. “Oh, this calls for some wine.” Piper went to walk to the kitchen, but Kayla stopped her.
“I can’t have wine, maybe tea?”
Piper stopped short and turned around. She knew what no wine meant. “Okay, I’ll be back in a sec.”
She returned a couple of minutes later to the living room and joined Kayla on the sofa. “I turned on the kettle. Now you want to tell me what the heck’s going on? Is this about the article in the paper?”
“Not entirely.”
“Fill me in.”
Kayla sighed. “Where do I begin? Do I start with the fact that I’m in a loveless marriage? Or maybe that my husband is having an affair with our new spokeswoman, his ex-girlfriend, or perhaps that I just had unprotected sex with my husband in my office and can now be pregnant?”
“Oh, my goodness!” Piper slouched down on the couch.
“You’re telling me,” Kayla responded.
Piper ran her hands through her shock of red hair. “Okay, first things first. How do you know he’s having an affair?”
“I saw them with my own eyes at the launch party, Piper. She was sidled close to him and poised to give him a big kiss and he didn’t push her away. I couldn’t bear to watch anymore.”
“Did you confront Ethan about his duplicity?”
Kayla shook her head. “I couldn’t. If I did, he would know how much he hurt me and I don’t want or need his pity.”
“Yet you had unprotected sex with him after knowing all this?”
“I know, I know.” Kayla dropped her head in her hands in despair. “It’s awful, isn’t it? That I have no self-control? We got into a fight about the article and my lunch with Ayden and one thing led to another and we were having sex on my desk.”
Piper rolled her eyes upward. “Kay, I’m sorry, but this story keeps getting juicier. How did Ayden get back in the picture?”
“Courtney and I ran into him the other day while playing tennis and we just so happened to have lunch today of all days. I wasn’t trying to get back at Ethan because of the article.”
“But that’s how he took it?” Piper asked. “Sounds like he was jealous.”
“No, more like possessive. I’m his, and even though he doesn’t want me 100 percent, he doesn’t want anyone else to have me. So he promptly staked his claim by having his way with me in my office and I foolishly allowed it to happen.”
“And now you could be pregnant? Oh, Lord, this is a royal mess.”
“What’s worst yet is that I love him, Piper. I honestly love him and he doesn’t love me,” Kayla cried. “And if I’m pregnant with his child, it will be a reminder of what never was and what will never be. I don’t know if I can deal with that.”
“Oh, Kayla.” Piper scooted closer and hugged her best friend. “No matter what happens, no matter the outcome, we will get through this. I promise.”
Her father was surprised to see Kayla at the breakfast table the following morning. She’d stayed late at Piper’s the previous evening because she hadn’t wanted to answer any questions. She’d snuck past Victor to her old bedroom without anyone seeing her, but now it was time to pay the piper, no pun intended.
“Baby girl.” Her father kissed her forehead. “I’m surprised to see you home, but happy nonetheless.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” Kayla gave him a halfhearted smile. She sipped on the tea Victor had made her earlier.
“So how long are you here for?”
“Oh, I don’t know, a few days,” Kayla replied nonchalantly. She didn’t want to get into a long conversation on why she was staying at home.
Her father stared at her. “And Ethan is okay with that? I know I don’t like to be away from your mother for very long.”
“Yes, Ethan knows and he’s okay with it.”
“Well, that’s great!” He squeezed her shoulder and reached across the table to pour himself some coffee. “We are happy to have you here, if only for a little while.”
“I’m happy to be here, too,” Kayla responded. She needed the comfort that being home provided her. She had a lot to think about. Namely, what she was going to do if she were pregnant. Would she want to keep the baby? Did she want to continue this marriage? And could she, if she were carrying his child knowing that he didn’t love her? She wouldn’t be able to stay in a pretend marriage because making love with Ethan in her office could have changed her life forever.
She was mulling those thoughts over when Shane joined them in the breakfast room. “Sis, what did we do to deserve the honor of your presence?” he asked jokingly, though he had some idea why she was back home. He’d seen yesterday’s paper and Ethan was in the gossip section.
“Just needed to get away from the old ball and chain.” Kayla attempted a joke.
“Are you sure that’s all there is?” Shane inquired.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
An uncomfortable silence fell over the table. “Well, I have to get going,” Kayla said. “Meeting at the office. I’ll see you both at dinner.” She didn’t want to discuss her marriage any more than was necessary especially when she didn’t understand it herself.
“Ethan?” Daniel called out when he came to the estate after work because Ethan had phoned in sick two days in a row, which he never did. So Daniel came to see for himself what was going on. When he did, he found Ethan closed off in his study in the dark. He was still in yesterday’s clothes, hadn’t shaved and an empty decanter of scotch sat next to him.
“Leave me alone!” he roared.
Daniel turned on the light switch, flooding the study with light. “What’s going on, Ethan?”
Ethan shielded his eyes with his hand and lowered his head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Where’s Kayla?” Daniel inquired, coming forward to stand in front of him. He couldn’t imagine she would allow Ethan to behave this way. “Gone.”
“What do you mean gone?”
“She’s decided she’s had enough of me and needed a break,” Ethan responded and turned his back to Daniel
“So you decided to get drunk alone?”
“That’s about right.”
“Ethan, listen. I think it’s about time you started facing facts.”
“Oh, really? And what might that be?”
“That you love your wife,” Daniel stated. Ethan turned around and glanced up at him strangely. “Don’t look like the idea hasn’t crossed your mind. You love Kayla and you’re upset that she’s gone, so you’re drowning your sorrows in liquor.”
“Even if that were true—” Ethan pointed at Daniel, or at least in his direction, since his vision was a little fuzzy “—which I’m not saying it is, she doesn’t want or love me back. If you could have seen how she looked at me after we made love in her office, it was horrible.”
“You had sex in her office?”
Ethan nodded. “Yeah, we both got overcome by—”
Daniel held up his hand. “You don’t have to explain to me. I get the picture. The question is, what are you going to do about it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to tell Kayla how you truly feel?”
“I can’t make someone love me, Daniel. And after what I did to get her in this marriage, how could she?” He sure wouldn’t. He’d put her through so much. He didn’t deserve Kayla or her love.
“You will never know that unless you tell her.”
Daniel had a point, but Ethan wasn’t sure he could. He’d never put himself out there for any other woman before. He wasn’t even sure of the right words to say. “Thanks, Daniel, I appreciate the advice.”
“I just hope you listen to it.”
Ethan cleaned up his act and made it to the office the next day. He wasn’t much in the mood to work, but he was CEO of Graham International.
He was trying to focus on work, but couldn’t stop mulling over what Daniel had said. Was it possible Kayla could love him, too? He was interrupted from his thoughts when Byron Adams stopped by his office. What had prompted Kayla’s father to come? As he recalled, Byron had vowed to never come back to GI’s office ever again. “Byron, I’m surprised to see you here.”
“This is not a social visit, Ethan. I’m here to discuss Kayla,” Byron said from the doorway.
“Come in, please have a seat.” Ethan motioned for Byron to sit down.
“I’ll stand,” Byron replied and walked over to the window across from Ethan. He stared out for a long time and said. “I’ve allowed this farce of a marriage between you and my daughter to go on for too long, but no more.” He turned to face Ethan.
“Byron…”
“My daughter is miserable because of you, Ethan, and I can’t let this continue a moment longer.”
“What goes on between Kayla and me is our business. You have no right to interfere.”
Byron shook his head. “I disagree. You made it my business when you forced her into a marriage to save our family’s company, and I’m here to tell you that you can have it.”
“Have what?”
“Adams Cosmetics,” Byron stated. “You wanted it. You can have it lock, stock and barrel. That’s what I’m going to tell Kayla, so that she is free to leave you with a clear conscience and find someone who loves her and who she loves back.”
“You can’t do that!” Ethan rose to his feet. Fear coursed through him. Kayla would listen to Byron because she respected his opinion. She idolized Byron. And if she listened, Ethan could lose her.
“And why the hell can’t I?”
“Because I love her!” Ethan roared back.
Byron took a step backward, stunned by Ethan’s revelation. “Does my daughter know that?”
“No.” Ethan ran his large hands down his face, shaking with fear. “I haven’t told her.”
“What the hell are you waiting for?” Byron asked. “An invitation?”
“I don’t know,” Ethan said, grasping his head. Deep down he knew why. He was afraid, plain and simple. He was afraid of being rejected. Whenever he’d offered his love to Carter it had always been met with derision and disdain.
“Well, you’d better figure it out because her ex-boyfriend, Ayden, is back in the picture and sniffing around again, and I can promise you that if you snooze, you lose.” The same thing had happened years ago with him and Andrew Jackson. He and Elizabeth had dated in college, but Andrew had taken her for granted. But Byron realized what a gem Elizabeth was and had swooped in for the kill. They’d fallen in love, gotten married and had three beautiful children, which is why he and Andrew had been enemies ever since.
“I thought you didn’t want me with Kayla.”
Byron laughed. “I don’t, but you were right about one thing, Ethan. This isn’t about me. It’s about Kayla. You and Kayla. And if you truly love my daughter and she loves you, I won’t stand in the way. I want her to be happy.”
“Even if that’s with me?”
“Yes, even if that’s with you.”
The rest of the week since she’d been home had continued much as it had in years past for Kayla. She’d gone to the office, stayed late much and then came home to dinner with the family. Everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells around her, maybe because they all knew if there were problems in her marriage; it would not bode well for the company.
It was her father who finally stopped into her bedroom on Saturday morning. He knocked on the door and poked his head inside the doorway. “May I come in?”
“Sure, Daddy.” Kayla motioned for him to come in. “What’s up?”
“Why don’t you tell me, baby girl?” Her father searched her face.
“What do you mean?”
“Kayla.” He sat down on her bed. “This is me you’re talking to.”
“Daddy, please don’t go there.” She turned away refusing to look at him. If there was one person she had to be truthful with when pressed, it was her father.
“I have to, Kayla.” He scooted closer to her on the bed. “I hate to see you so miserable.”
“I’m not miserable.”
“Yes, you are.” He pointed to her. “And don’t try to deny it. Why don’t we start with why you’re back home?”
She swallowed hard and managed the feeble answer, “I don’t want to get into it.”
“You don’t have to tell me, because I already know. You’re in love with Ethan.”
Kayla turned to face him. Tears bordered her eyes and she smothered back a sob. “How…how did you know?”
Her father brushed away her tears with the back of his hand. “I’m your father and I know you, Kayla. Perhaps better than you know yourself.”
“Ethan doesn’t love me, Daddy. You and I both know he coerced me into marrying him because he wanted our company. He knew I would do anything to keep Adams Cosmetics, even if it meant sacrificing myself.”
“And you did that even though I never asked you to. Why?”
“I guess it was easy because I’ve always loved him,” Kayla answered honestly. If she couldn’t be honest with her father, who could she be honest with? “I’ve loved him ever since I was a little girl. And I guess this was a way to have him, even if it was in the wrong capacity.”
“Are you sure he doesn’t share your feelings?” Byron asked. It wasn’t up to him to tell Kayla how Ethan felt about her, but he had to get her to see that there was hope for her marriage.
“Yes, I’m sure. There’s a lot you don’t know, Daddy.” He had no idea about Noelle and that Ethan had been carrying on with her for Lord knows how long. If he did, he would hate him even more, and Kayla couldn’t deal with that, so she remained mum. “I’ve been giving this some long, hard thought over the last week and I think it’s time I asked Ethan for a divorce.”
“If you love Ethan, there’s still hope. You need to be sure before you end your marriage. You should go and talk to him.”
Kayla was surprised to hear her father say she should try to save her marriage. She thought he despised Ethan. “Whose side are you on, Daddy?”
“Yours, of course. I only want what’s best for you and what will make you happy. Please take my advice, Kayla. You know I wouldn’t steer you wrong.”
“All right, Daddy. I’ll go talk to Ethan, but I make no promises.”
“Kayla, no matter what happens, this family will be okay. I don’t want you worrying about what could happen to Adams Cosmetics. You’ve done enough for this family and this company. We will not have you sacrifice any more for us. He can have Adams Cosmetics. Do what is best for you, baby girl. Promise me you’ll take that into consideration.”
Kayla crossed her fingers across her heart. “I promise.”
When Kayla arrived at the mansion later that afternoon, she found a sports car she didn’t recognize sitting outside. It gave her pause. Had she made the right decision to come? Perhaps her father was wrong. Maybe there was nothing salvageable in this marriage and she should just cut her losses. But she’d promised her Dad that she would try and so she would. Slowly, Kayla exited her Porsche and went to meet her fate.
She was in the hall, checking the mail on the console, when she heard someone upstairs. Ethan was home! She had to go to him. She had to find out one way or another how he really felt about her. She was walking up the stairs when she encountered Noelle standing at the top of the staircase.
It was jarring to say the least, but Kayla didn’t let that deter her. “What the hell are you doing in my house?” she asked once she made it to the top.
Noelle chuckled. “I could ask you the same thing. I’d heard that you’d exited the premises.”
“Excuse me?”
“Everyone at the office is talking about how you and Ethan are sleeping in separate homes, and I just came here to see if there was anything that I can do.”
“You mean to help yourself to my husband. Do you think I’m a fool? I know what’s been going on between you two.”
“If you’re worried about your marriage, perhaps you should stay a little closer to home,” Noelle responded, “rather than blame me for your shortcomings.”
“My shortcomings?” Kayla replied. “You’re the one who’s sniffing around my husband like a cat in heat. Perhaps you should go back to your litter.”
“You little witch.” Noelle grabbed Kayla by the arm. “How dare you talk to me like that! Do you know who I am?”
“Let go of me.” Kayla tried to wrestle her arm free, but Noelle had a good hold of her.
“You don’t even have a real marriage with Ethan,” Noelle continued her tirade. “He only married you to get your company and everyone knows it. You mean absolutely nothing to him, make that less that nothing.”
It hurt to hear Noelle say the very thing she’d thought herself, which was that she meant nothing to Ethan. Her father was wrong and she’d made a mistake in coming.
“You’re a despicable human being,” Kayla said. “And I don’t have to stand here and listen to one more word from you’re lying, cheating mouth. If you want Ethan, you can have him.” She yanked her arm free, but didn’t realize she was so close to the staircase. Before she knew what was happening or could stop it, Kayla felt herself tumbling down the stairs. Seconds later, she was unconscious at the foot of the stairs.
Ethan knew what he had to do. Speaking with Byron yesterday had only confirmed what he already knew. As he pulled into his driveway, he was determined to pull out all the stops to get Kayla back. He was going to wine and dine her and then he was going to tell her that he loved her and couldn’t imagine his life without her. He’d already put his plan into motion and called ahead to have a romantic dinner made.
He was unlocking the front door when he heard raised voices inside. As he entered the foyer, he could see Kayla and Noelle at the top of the stairs. What the hell was Noelle doing here, and what was she doing upstairs?
He didn’t have time to find out because Kayla came tumbling down the stairs and landed right at his feet. “Ohmigod, Kayla!” Ethan rushed to her side and Noelle came bounding down the stairs.
“Ethan, I…I don’t know what happened.” Noelle was screeching at the top of her lungs. “We were arguing and I grabbed her arm and…and then she pulled away too quickly…”
“Just shut up.” Ethan bent down and listened to Kayla’s breathing sounds and checked for a pulse. When he found both, he reached inside his pocket for his cell phone and dialed 911.
“I…I didn’t mean for her to fall.” Noelle tried to explain once he was off the phone, but Ethan didn’t want to hear it.
“Kayla, can you hear me?” Ethan pleaded in her ear. “Baby, please wake up, I need you.” But she was unresponsive. She was just lying there not moving, and it scared the bejesus out of him. He was happy when he heard the sound of the ambulance in the distance. This was all his fault! He should never have brought Noelle into their lives. He just prayed to God that Kayla would be all right.