A Tangled Web (Dangerous Secrets) (5 page)

CHAPTER NINE

In the months after losing Kimberly, Kent found himself losing touch with the softer side she’d brought out in him.

But while his assistants and coworkers seemed to find him less pleasant to work with, the female sector appeared to be paying him rapt attention. He wasn’t sure if it was because of his relationship with Kimberly that he missed most of it before—blinding himself to the temptations out of respect for her—or if word of their split had somehow gotten out and the women had gotten bolder; after all, he had some power, lots of potential, and he knew from previous experience, plenty of magnetism.

Besides, it had been awhile—months. He couldn’t help but notice the sly smiles, the blushing, the flirtatious manners of some of these women. He hadn’t been paying attention to the needs of his body and deprivation had made his senses more aware.

Despite this, he still felt like he was with Kimberly.

She managed to avoid him—his calls, his attempts to visit—either by ignoring him or sending a relative to lie for her and say she wasn’t home.

It drove him crazy at first, but eventually he calmed down some and began to mourn her, them.

He knew he needed to accept she no longer wanted to be with him, but he was wary of the opportunistic members of the opposite sex surrounding him—he needed to be careful and protect his assets—all of them. He needed to proceed carefully.

However, there was one female who was relentless in her pursuit. She worked in an entirely different section from Kent’s yet managed to run into him every now and then and even offered to help him.

“Hi, I’m Amy. I can help you in any way you need,” she had told him on one occasion, to which he responded, “That’s not in your job description,” and went on his way.

But it didn’t seem to discourage her at all.

To Kent’s surprise, there she was again—the only one who had made it onto his radar. A beauty with wavy, strawberry blond hair, clear blue eyes, an hourglass figure that she made sure was noticeable by wearing just the right clothes and the most heavenly perfume.

She always made sure she crossed paths with Kent, even dropped a pen once so she could bend down in just the right way to retrieve it.

He remembered her introducing herself and offering to help him once but he knew what she really wanted.

Now here she was again, entering his office with the file he had requested.

He knew he hadn’t spoken with her about it—she must have intercepted his assistant who was probably only too happy to avoid him.

“Here’s that file you wanted Mr. Davenport.”

“Thanks, but I didn’t ask you to get it.”

“Mr. Davenport, I was just helping out…”

“Great! Now help yourself out.”

He could see that almost did it for her. But as she reached the door, she turned back to him and said: “I offer many services Mr. Davenport. If there is anything you need…” she looked at him suggestively, “...I am at your disposal.”

Kent thought about her many advances, then it really registered how deprived he’d been in the sexual department. And here she was, offering carnal pleasure with no strings attached. Definitely the kind of girl he liked back in the day. And he did need a stress reliever…

He put down his pen, got up and went straight to her, one hand shutting the door she’d been about to exit.

He took in her beauty, those inviting eyes, that intoxicating perfume and said:

“Listen Shelly...”

“It’s Amy, Mr. Davenport.”

“Whatever. Look, I know what you want so quit the games. Meet me at my place tonight and you’ll get what you’re asking for.”

She mocked disappointment and pouted.

“You mean I don’t even get dinner?”

“We both know it’s not your stomach you want to feed. But if you really want to, I’ll put something in your mouth.”

She seemed suddenly very excited.

“Oh Mr. Davenport, you’re a bad boy!”

“Tonight you can call me Kent. Meet me at eleven. On second thought…”

Her shoulders drooped.

“Meet me at the
Lucky Six Motel
instead.”

A whore should be treated like a whore
, he thought, watching her let out a sigh of relief.

“Same time.”

***

Kimberly sat thinking on her bed. Her time was almost near. She had about
two
more weeks, and the baby she and Kent Davenport had made would be here.

She touched her protruding belly. She had to tell him soon. But how?

For now, she knew she was safe because no one would be expecting her to deliver early anyway. Everyone still believed it was Kent’s.

***

As soon as Kent let himself into the rented room Amy was all over him. She pulled his head down for a long, sensual kiss and her hands started working on his buttons.

“A little eager aren’t we,” he said as her mouth went from his lips to his neck.

“Oh Kent, I’ve wanted you so much for so long…”

He stopped her feverish kisses, held her head in his hands and looked her in the eye, then brought his mouth down against hers. By now his shirt had been unbuttoned and she started tugging it off. Once that came off, they were kissing again.

“Oh Kent,” she said in between kisses.

“Kimberly,” he replied, snapping them both out of the moment for a second. She didn’t bother to correct him this time—clearly not about to let anything stop her.

“Call me what you want you freak,” she said, smiling, resuming her activities.

Kent ignored his verbal blunder.

***

Kimberly had to call him. She knew she had to tell him, somehow.

Before she realized what she was doing, she had picked up the phone and dialed Kent’s cell.

***

Amy groaned.

“Please don’t get it,” she pleaded.

They were in bed, and she was down to her lingerie, while he was down to his boxers, and having just grabbed a condom, they were about to get down to business.

“Are you crazy? This could be important! Probably something at work…”

He got up and grabbed the phone.

“Kent Davenport,” he answered, but there was no response.

He knew someone was there, and he knew then, it had to be Kimberly.

Was she having the baby? Was she wanting him there at her side as she gave birth? Was she finding it hard to speak now because she felt bad it was Damien’s baby? His mind flooded with possibilities. It was as if all he’d buried bounced back and now, he could think of nothing else.

He was certain it was her, but he wasn’t certain why.

He had to find out what was going on with her.

“So who is it?” Amy shouted from the bed.

Kent heard the phone disconnect.

He started yanking on his clothes.

“Something came up at work,” he said. “You can show yourself out.”

“Is this to be continued? Some other night?” she asked pleadingly, looking up.

He didn’t answer.

***

Kimberly stared at her phone in horror. She was sure it was a woman’s voice she’d just heard with Kent and it seemed she had interrupted something between them.

She started feeling sick to her stomach.

She couldn’t believe she had just tried to contact him—what a stupid thing to do. What did she think, that he was there every day waiting on her call? Waiting for her to call him back to her?

Kimberly took a few deep breaths and tried to keep herself calm. She mustered up all the pleasant thoughts she could and continued to breathe deeply, closing her eyes. She rubbed her stomach thinking,
I’m sorry baby, I’m sorry I subjected you to that
, then she got up from the bed and turned on the same classical music Kent had played in the car when he took her to the hospital.

***

Kent pulled up to the Jordan home, thinking it certainly didn’t sound like a hospital she had called from and if she wasn’t at home, someone here would know where she was.

Her father answered the door.

“Well if it isn’t the son-of-a-bitch who left my daughter high and dry,” Carl said as he punched Kent in the face.

He heard a scream from the stairs.

As Kent recovered from the blow, he held his hand out and said:

“Wait—Mr. Jordan…!”

“Dad!” Kimberly said, coming down the stairs. “Dad stop it! Wait!”

Carl turned toward his daughter and said:

“Sweetheart, can you believe this fool had the nerve…”

“Daddy no, okay? He didn’t leave me! I know that’s how it seemed, but it was me who called it off all right?”

“Oh so he lets the woman pregnant with his child go just like that huh…”

“No! Daddy…”

Fearing she was about to tell them all the truth about Damien’s baby, Kent stepped in.

“Mr. Jordan. I’m sorry you saw it that way. The only reason I stayed away was because I thought coming around her would stress her out, that’s all. And I’m sure you know, she got medical advice to stay away from stress. I gave in to her wishes because I wanted to do what was best for the baby and if she wanted some space from me, I’d give it to her. But she knew, she
knows
…” he looked directly at Kimberly, “...she can call me
anytime
she needs me. Anytime. I’m always here for her Mr. Jordan, just waiting till she’s ready for me again.”

“It’s true,” Kimberly said reaching his side. “Father, I just…I don’t know, a pregnant thing I guess. I wanted him to give me more space. But we still saw each other every now and then.”

Kent appreciated the lie.

She led him into the house and indicated something to her aunt.

Carl shut the door and turned to Kent.

“Well, I’m sorry about that then Davenport. I just thought…”

“Hey, I don’t blame you Mr. Jordan. But honestly I don’t know if anyone in their right mind could ever leave Kimberly ‘high and dry.’”

He saw Kimberly smile.

Her dad’s sister came back with a cloth, some tissues, hydrogen peroxide, and first aid kit as far as he could make out.

Kimberly giggled at her selection.

“Thanks Aunt Pat.”

“No problem honey. Monique, darling, it’s okay, you can go back to bed,” she said to Monique who was at the top of the stairs looking down curiously.

“Hi Kent,” Monique said before turning to go back to her room.

“Good night Monique!” Kent replied with Kimberly tending to his face. Pat gave Carl a signal for them to leave the room. They headed up the stairs.

Kimberly sighed.

“I’m sorry about that Kent.” She paused. “They were some pretty convincing things you said there!”

Kent shrugged his shoulders.

“So what made you come over?” she asked.

“You called.”

“How did you know it was me?”

“I just knew it.”

She paused and took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry for interrupting your little rendezvous…”

“Kimberly…”

“No, you don’t have to explain anything to me or anything. It’s not like we’re together.”

She attempted to laugh and it broke his heart. Then she suddenly put her hand over her mouth.

“Excuse me,” she said, running to the bathroom.

When she returned Kent took a good look at her.

“You all right?” he asked.

She nodded.

“A smell...” she began but never finished.

Kent realized his previous female companion’s perfume was all over him and wondered if it was that she’d gotten a whiff of.

“You look different,” he continued, taking in her slightly more rounded face, her hair, even longer now, hanging at her waist, and her protruding belly. She definitely looked like a healthy pregnant woman. And she was so darn cute.

He began to feel his love for her start overwhelming him so he tried to think about something else before he grabbed her and held her like there was no tomorrow, telling her all the things he’d wanted to for the past few months.

“You look different too,” she said, “besides the obvious bruising!”

She laughed.

He smiled at her.

“How so?”

“Well...I guess it looks like you haven’t shaved in a while. Your eyes are the same though.”

Then she looked into his eyes. There were so many emotions swirling in hers he couldn’t catch what was what. Regardless, he wanted to kiss her.

“So,” he said, “you haven’t answered my question. Why did you call?”

She seemed to deliberate.

It took her more than a few seconds to finally give him an answer.

“Well…it’s stupid. I just…I kind of missed hearing your voice,” she said, looking at him briefly before turning her eyes away.

“Kimberly…”

He didn’t quite know where to go next. He wanted to tell her he hadn’t gotten as far as she thought with that Lacy girl, or whatever her name was, and that there had been no other women.

He suddenly realized they had fallen into one of their old positions—her, at one end of the couch, legs extended over his thighs as he rubbed her feet, her ankles, her calves every now and then.

“Hey,” he said, “aren’t you due any day now?”

“Pretty soon!” she said.

He thought about it.

“Have you told…”

She shook her head no.

“Hey, if it was me, even if I was your half-brother, I would want to know I’m about to be a father,” he said cautiously. “You should tell him. Hell, it might save me from other attempts on my life,” he joked.

She just looked at him, her face grave.

“I was just kidding about the last part, this has nothing to do with me. I just think…a father should know.”

“Kent,” she whispered, her voice forlorn.

“What is it Kimberly?”

He knew something was going on she wasn’t telling him but he couldn’t guess what.

She held out her arms and swung her legs to the ground.

“Hold me please,”

Kent slid over and hugged her.

At that moment, that they had spent
three
months apart didn’t matter.

“Hey, what is it, huh?” he asked gently. “You can tell me. What’s bothering you?”

Kimberly cried softly on his shoulder. Then she pulled back.

“I have something to tell you.”

“Kim, tell me. What’s on your mind?”