Liar, Liar (10 page)

“I like friends.”

“Ms. Banks,” Josephine calls, knocking twice on the door lightly before pushing it open.

“Oh, sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she says before she catches sight of Juliette and her mouth falls open in shock.  I give her a look.  A look that says
Get out!  Call the police.
  “Sorry for the intrusion,” she rushes out before stepping out of the room and closing the door quickly.  I hear her heels clicking down the hall fast as she makes her way back to the front desk.

“Would you like to sit down and talk some more?” I ask Juliette.

“Talk?”  She appears stunned by my suggestion. 

“If we’re going to be friends, we have to get to know each other,” I murmur.

“Yes. Talk.”  She pulls a chair out and sits down on one side of the desk, while I do the same on the other side.

“How was your day?” I ask woodenly.  I have no idea what to say, how to act, or even what to talk about.  I don’t know this woman.  I don’t know her hobbies, her likes, her dislikes, if she works.  I have no idea.

“I was sad.  I don’t like being alone.  But now I am happy.  I found you, and you’re my friend.”

“Did you go to work?”

She shakes her head.  “They don’t like me.”  She frowns.

“Oh, why?”  I don’t know if I am doing the right thing, but she appears relaxed, and she isn’t becoming agitated with my questions so I decide to continue.

“No one would be my friend.  My boss wouldn’t kiss me,” she states sadly.

Wow, this woman is even more nuts than I first thought.
  Even so, my heart still breaks for her.  She just wants to be accepted, to have friendships.  Sure, she goes the wrong way about making friends, but she clearly has some mental issues that are hindering her.

“Well, uh, that’s not good,” I stammer.

“It doesn’t matter.  You’re my friend now.  You can talk with me and have lunch.  I don’t like eating lunch by myself.  You can give me a job here.”

A few minutes later there is a subtle knock on the door and it opens slowly to reveal three police officers.

Thank god.

Juliette’s eyes find mine and she looks betrayed.  Utterly broken.

“It’s okay,” I find myself saying.  “We’re still friends.  These guys are just here to help you.  But we’ll still be friends,” I reassure her.

“Come with us, ma’am,” one of the officers says, gripping her arm so she can’t attempt to run out.

“We’re still friends?” she whispers to me.

“Yes,” I answer with a nod.  “You go along now with the police officers and they’ll look after you.”

The officer guides her to the door and I exhale.  But then she tears from the hold of the officer and charges toward me with her knife out.  The blade glints as it approaches me and I scream and trip backward, falling into the wall behind me.

“Just a taste!”  Juliette shrieks.  “I want to taste her blood!”  The police officer tackles her to the ground and the knife goes skittering across the floor.

“Let me up! You don’t know me.  You can’t touch me.  GET OFF ME!”  She screams so loudly my eardrums hurt as she thrashes about beneath the uniformed officer.  He manages to contain her, and then he escorts a kicking and screaming Juliette from the room.

I collapse back in the chair and tip my head to the ceiling.  My breath comes out in a relived rush, and tears prick my closed eyelids.   My heart is racing and I feel emotionally exhausted.  I was so scared, but the exertion of trying to tap that down and hide it from a clearly mentally unstable woman, has me feeling like I have endured the worst kind of emotional trauma. 

“Ms. Banks?”

“Officer Whitlock,” I say with a weak smile.

“Mind if I sit?”

I shake my head and he takes a seat across from me.

“We’ve admitted Ms. Maas to a mental health facility where she can get the help she needs.  After speaking with her at length, it is my opinion she isn’t a danger to you.  By her own admission, you remind her of her only childhood friend, who took her own life when they were teenagers.  After seeing your resemblance to that friend, she latched onto you and decided to make you her friend.  Today’s episode was the result of her discontinuing her medication,” he explains. 

“I feel so sad for her,” I say softly.

“If you need anything else don’t hesitate to give me a call.”

“Thank you, Officer.”

After he leaves, I push the chairs in around the table and make sure everything is in order for tomorrow’s meetings.

“Are you okay to get home?” I ask Josephine as I pass the reception desk.

“Yes, I’ll be fine, thank you,” she replies.  She grabs her handbag and we walk out together, locking the door behind us.

When Josephine heads off to the right, I find myself turning left and walking toward the gym.  The last thing I want to do is work out, but I need Benny.  I need his arms around me, and I need him to take my mind of what just happened.

“I need you.”

Her whispered words ring through my ears like she spoke them through a megaphone.

She needs me.

I hit the stop button on the treadmill and before the belt has even stopped turning, I’m stepping off and taking her hand.  I lead her through the gym, past the cycles and the elliptical machines toward the change rooms.

“Out,” I say to the teenager, who is popping a zit in the mirror.

He scurries out and I lock the door behind him.

“Strip,” I order her.  Her knees tremble and her nipples poke through her shirt.  She kicks off her high-heels first and then reaches behind her to release the zipper of her skirt.  It pools around her ankles and she steps out of it, kicking it to the side.  I watch with baited breath as she deftly pops the buttons of her blouse before pushing it off her shoulders and tossing it toward her skirt.

Her lingerie is black with white lace trim, and it looks fucking edible.

“Bra,” I state, my voice rough.

She pops the clasp and the fabric slides down her arms, revealing her pert, fucking gorgeous tits.

“Panties,” I growl.  My cock is throbbing, itching to get inside of her, and I can’t wait any longer.  I step forward and she gasps as I finger the fabric, tracing around the lace to her backside.  That’s when I release it’s a thong. 

“Turn around,” I order gruffly.  She does as she is told and I catch a glimpse of her glorious ass.  I go down on my knees and kiss each of the soft globes before I peel her undies down.  I tuck them in my pocket and then stand.

“Are you wet, Makenna?” I ask, already knowing the answer.  Her panties were soaked, and I can smell her arousal.

“Yes,” she whispers hoarsely.

I run my finger down her crack and under until I reach the slick wet of her pussy.  I finger fuck her until she is moaning, arching against me, and begging for my cock.

“Fuck me, please, Benny.  Fuck me,” she whimpers.

I spin her around and lift her up, pushing her against the wall to secure her there while I free my cock.  I find her entrance and push in slightly before capturing her nipple in my mouth and thrusting in the rest of the way.

“God,
yes!
”

“Fuck, yeah,” I rasp.  Her pussy clutches my dick as I thrust in and out.  My thumb finds her clit and I rub in small circles until she’s whimpering and panting.  Her nails dig into my shoulders and I know she’s close.  The first flutter around my cock has my breath stalling in my throat.

“Come, baby,” I whisper into her ear before nipping her lobe.

“Benny,” she pants.  “Benny.”  Her voice is urgent.  “Don’t stop.  Don’t stop.  Oh, god.”

I don’t stop.  I keep sliding into her, slow and deep, grinding my pelvis against her clit with every inward thrust until she’s coming around me, clenching hard and sucking my cock deeper and deeper.

When her pussy stops fluttering, I can’t hold off any longer. 

“
Christ
, Makenna,” I groan as I come hard, burying my face in her neck.

When we both regain our breath, I reach down and grab her clothes before handing them to her.

“I take it you had a rough day?” I say, splashing some cool water on my face.

“Yeah, you could say that.” She grimaces as she pulls her top over her head.

“Anything you want to talk about?”

She shakes her head no, and even though I want to press and have her confide in me, trust me, I let it go.

“Have you got time for some dinner?”

“Uh, sure.  I’m not really dressed for anything special, though,” she says.

“You look beautiful,” I tell her honestly.  Her hair is loose and messy from our fucking, her cheeks rosy pink from her orgasm, her eyes sated and relaxed.  I feel fucking good knowing
I
made her look that way. 
Me.
 

Taking her hand, I lead her out of the change rooms and through the gym to my waiting car.

With her hand held firmly in mine, the driver takes us downtown to In-N-Out Burger.  We drive-thru and then sit in the car in the parking lot while we eat.

“Sorry I interrupted your workout,” she murmurs as she scrunches her burger wrapper into a ball.

I shrug.  “The workout I ended up having was entirely more enjoyable,” I tell her with a grin.  She smiles back and my chest goes warm.  It’s the first she has given me all evening.  I know something is weighing on her mind, but I can’t force her to confide in me. 

“How was your day?” she asks.  My eyes go to her lips as they wrap around the straw and she sucks her drink into her mouth.

“Same as usual,” I murmur as I try to ignore the way my cock is swelling in my pants.  I want her again.  Right here in the parking lot, with my driver in the front seat, I want to take her.  My lust for her is insatiable.  She looks over at me, her eyes hooded, and she licks her lips.  She wants me again, too.

“Do you have any plans for the rest of the evening?” she asks, her voice husky.

I should tell her I do have plans.  I should tell her I have to go home and talk to my wife about the divorce papers she is going to be issued.  But I don’t do either of those things.

“I’m all yours.”

***

“I love spending time with you, Benny Duncan,” Makenna whispers as she lies snuggled close to my chest.

“I love spending time with you, too,” I tell her.

We are in Makenna’s bed.  The room is dark, save for the dull moonlight shining through the window.  She is in my arms, her head on my chest, my arm stroking her naked back.  Both of us breathing a little heavier from the love we not long ago finished making. 

Here, in the quiet, alone with her, I am itching to tell her about my marriage, about my divorce, about the hell I have been living for the past decade.  I bite my tongue, though, because I am scared.  I worry she will toss me out and never speak to me again, that she will be wounded from my betrayal, that she will never trust me again.  Even worse, I worry that she won’t believe me.  What if I tell her and she accuses me of being a player?  As much as I want to confide in her, I can’t be sure she won’t run from me.  I need to wait until the right time comes.  I just hope it’s soon.

“Can you stay the night?” she asks softly.

Fuck, I really want to. 

“Sorry, babe, I can’t tonight.”

I feel her body slump slightly.  As much as it sucks that she’s disappointed, part of me wants to fist pump the air because
she’s disappointed.
  She wants to be with me as much as I want to be with her, and fuck, it feels good.

“That’s okay.  Maybe some other time?”  I detect hope in her tone.

“You can count on it.”  I lower my lips to hers and kiss her, softly at first.  Then I maneuver us so I’m on top of her and I can deepen the kiss to the point we are both panting and my cock is straining to be inside of her once again.

Down, boy.

“I better go,” I say regretfully.

“Okay,” she whispers, her lips moving against mine.

I groan and push my hips into hers, causing her to whimper.

“Wish I could stay,” I tell her.

“Me too,” she replies, titling her hips up and moaning.

“Soon, baby.  Soon,” I promise.

Before I leave, I make sure to do something I should have done a long time ago.  I give Makenna my cell number.  She gives me hers and I love the fact I’ll be able to contact her when I want now.  I won’t have to silently hope she’ll be at the gym the same time I am.

“Home, sir?” my driver asks as I slide into the backseat.

“Yes, thank you.”

A few minutes later, the car comes to a stop and I grab my gym bag and briefcase before climbing out.

“Have a good night,” I tell Frederick as I close the door.

“You as well, sir.”

He drives off and I make my way up the stairs that lead to the front of my house.  A house Regina designed, decorated, and adores.  A house I despise because it’s ostentatious, gaudy, and downright pretentious.  A house I reside in, despite of that because it’s one less thing for my wife to complain about. 

“Where have you been, Benjamin?  It’s after midnight.”

I look to the ceiling and sigh.

She sounds exactly like my mother.

“Been at the gym, Regina.”

I bypass her in the front room where she is sitting in her favorite chair, sipping a crystal tumbler filled with a brown liquid.  Even though I’m hungry, I don’t feel like a full meal, so I take a tub of yogurt from the fridge and a banana from the fruit bowl before making my way into my office to eat in peace.

“Have you given any thought to my suggestion?  We really should get started sooner rather than later, Benny.”

So much for peace and quiet.

“Not happening, Regina.”

The woman is more deranged than I thought if she thinks I will be procreating with her.

“You’re being childish,” she snaps.

“And you’re drunk,” I bite back.

She scoffs like it’s the most ridiculous suggestion ever. 
A lady would never be drunk
.  Yeah right.

“I didn’t want things to go this way, Benjamin, but I’m afraid you’re leaving me little choice.  Either you give me what I want or I guarantee you won’t like the consequences,” she threatens. 

My control snaps and I stand, placing my palms flat on my desk as I bare my teeth at her.

“What the fuck do you think you’re going to do?”

“I’ve already got both our parents on board, Benjamin.  You can’t take all of us on.”

“You think?” I sneer.

“If you don’t agree to start a family with me,
tonight,
I’ll be forced to contact my lawyer.  I’ll have a judge agree to award me
everything
, Benjamin.  I do mean everything.  Including your
sperm.
”

The bark of laughter that escapes my mouth is loud and full of meaning.  I would think she was joking, except the look on her face is beyond serious.

“You think I’m joking,” she states sinisterly.

“What judge would
ever
award you my sperm, Regina?”  I shake my head.  She is fucking crazy.

“A lot of judges play golf with my father, Benjamin.”

“Okay, Regina.  You do what you have to do,” I say.  “But, I’m not giving you a child.”

I know now, without a shadow of a doubt, the only reason she wants my child growing inside of her is so it has my blood running through its veins.  So
she
is entitled to even more from me.  Well, it isn’t happening.

She leaves the room, slamming my door with a loud bang.  The instant she is gone, I pull out my cell and ring Barney.

“Hello, Barney speaking.” His voice sounds a little rough, like he is tired, but I don’t believe I’ve woken him. 

“Barney, Benny Duncan here, sorry for calling so late.  Apologies if I woke you.”

“Benny, no trouble. I wasn’t asleep,” he assures me.

“Good.  I wanted to forewarn you of something.”

“Go ahead.”

“Regina threatened to take me to court and have a judge award her my sperm if I continued to refuse to impregnate her,” I explain.

“Jesus, fuck.  That woman is crazy, Benny,” he says, bewildered.

“Apparently because her father plays golf with some judges, she’s more than confident things will go in her favor.”

“Is she home this minute?”

“She is,” I confirm.

“Are you happy for the papers to be served within the next thirty minutes?”

“Absolutely.”

Rather than feel trepidation at what is to come, I actually feel relieved.  This will all soon be over.  Regina will be nothing more than a buried mistake of my past.

When the doorbell chimes thirty minutes later, I exit my office just as Regina is opening the front door slowly.

“Regina Duncan?” I hear the man ask.

“Yes, I’m Mrs. Duncan,” she answers stiffly.

“These are for you.”  She takes the envelope of papers and closes the door in his face.  No “thank you”, no “goodnight”, no questions as to why she is being handed an envelope by a stranger at one in the morning.

I watch as she opens the envelope and scans the document.  I swear to god, I see steam pouring from her ears as her face turns deep red and her teeth grind against each other.

“Benny!” she shrieks, loud enough to wake the dead.

I round the corner to face her.

“What in heaven’s name is this?” she snarls, thrusting the papers at me.

“That’s me saying
fuck you
, Regina,” I answer calmly before walking around her for the front door.

“You think you can just divorce me?   Do you even know who I am, Benny?  Do you know who my family is, and what they are capable of?”