Read Until the End of Time Online
Authors: Melanie Schuster
Until the End of Time (32 page)
By now the blood vessels in Renee’s temple were about to burst. Shock, rage and horror warred with each other for precedence and rage, for the moment, won.
“
No! No! I don’t care what you think of me or what happens, you can’t tell anyone about this! No one, do you understand? That’s why I didn’t say anything! I can’t go through this again, I
can’t
, I tell you! You don’t have to protect me, you don’t have to take care of me, you don’t have to love me, but you do have to respect my privacy,” she railed.
No! No! I don’t care what you think of me or what happens, you can’t tell anyone about this! No one, do you understand? That’s why I didn’t say anything! I can’t go through this again, I
can’t
, I tell you! You don’t have to protect me, you don’t have to take care of me, you don’t have to love me, but you do have to respect my privacy,” she railed.
Heedless of the hot tears that were coursing down her face, Renee crossed the room and grabbed a startled Andrew by his shirtfront. “I won’t go through that pain again, I won’t. This is my business, nobody else’s. It’s mine, do you hear me? I took care of it before and I’ll take care of it now. Just leave me alone, just go away and…and…”
Before she could finish her last sentence, Andrew’s arms were around her and he was holding her as close as he could while his own tears dampened her hair.
What kind of an asshole am I?
he thought savagely.
What kind of an asshole am I?
he thought savagely.
“
My God, Renee, I don’t deserve you, I swear to God I don’t. I’m sorry, baby, I’m so sorry, I was wrong, I’m sorry,” he murmured over and over as he led her over to the bed. He held her in his lap and continued to stroke her and murmur soft words of apology. “Renee, please forgive me, I was being stupid and arrogant and macho and every other stupid thing you want to call me. I know why you felt like you couldn’t say anything; I was just so damned mad at that son of a bitch that I wasn’t thinking. You didn’t do anything wrong, baby, it was me.”
My God, Renee, I don’t deserve you, I swear to God I don’t. I’m sorry, baby, I’m so sorry, I was wrong, I’m sorry,” he murmured over and over as he led her over to the bed. He held her in his lap and continued to stroke her and murmur soft words of apology. “Renee, please forgive me, I was being stupid and arrogant and macho and every other stupid thing you want to call me. I know why you felt like you couldn’t say anything; I was just so damned mad at that son of a bitch that I wasn’t thinking. You didn’t do anything wrong, baby, it was me.”
Renee didn’t say anything for a while; she was adrift in her turbulent emotions. Finally, she raised her head off Andrew’s shoulder and smiled sadly. “The irony is that I was going to tell you everything when you came back in the house. I finally realized that I couldn’t keep this to myself anymore,” she admitted. Andrew gave a heavy sigh and was about to start excoriating himself again when Renee put her hand over his mouth. “No more, Andy, not tonight. Please. We’ll figure everything out in the morning. Just keep holding me, okay?” Andrew was more than happy to oblige her in anything she wanted but he knew that things were far from settled.
He’s going to pay for this. That son of a bitch is going to pay.
He’s going to pay for this. That son of a bitch is going to pay.
***
The next morning, Renee felt somewhat better, although things were far from settled between her and Andrew. They had talked during the night, and some things had been laid to rest although the larger question of the business affair between Donovan Bailey and Cochran Communications was still up in the air. Renee could not rid herself of the horror of exposing her past to Andrew’s family.
“
I agree that no, they probably won’t want to do business with him,” she finally conceded, but can’t you just tell them that you know of someone that he abused in the past? I mean, how specific does it have to be?”
I agree that no, they probably won’t want to do business with him,” she finally conceded, but can’t you just tell them that you know of someone that he abused in the past? I mean, how specific does it have to be?”
They were having coffee in the kitchen, sitting close to each other on the tall stools at the work island. Andrew had made a huge breakfast of which Renee was barely able to partake. Her eyes could not meet his as she stared into her coffee mug as though it was an oracle with the hidden answers to her problems. Andrew longed to tell her that everything would be fine and that he would handle it all, but he knew that would prove impossible.
“
Renee,” he began and then put his finger under her chin to force her to look into his eyes, “I know how much this means to you. I know that you have kept this secret for so long that to dredge it up again will be painful and extremely difficult. But sweetheart, it’s like Yolanda told you, if you don’t let go of it, then he still has power over you. Let’s take that power away from him.”
Renee,” he began and then put his finger under her chin to force her to look into his eyes, “I know how much this means to you. I know that you have kept this secret for so long that to dredge it up again will be painful and extremely difficult. But sweetheart, it’s like Yolanda told you, if you don’t let go of it, then he still has power over you. Let’s take that power away from him.”
Renee looked into Andrew’s eyes so full of love and concern for her and trembled slightly. Everything he was saying was true, but she didn’t know at that moment if she had the courage to deal with it. And as she pointed out to Andrew, she did not want Bennie to be upset by any hint of the news.
“
Andy, Bennie is pregnant and for her to hear this now would be just terrible. She’d blame herself for not being there for me. And for me to tell her that it happened while Gilbert was dying would just compound the misery. How can you tell Donnie and Clay without her finding out?”
Andy, Bennie is pregnant and for her to hear this now would be just terrible. She’d blame herself for not being there for me. And for me to tell her that it happened while Gilbert was dying would just compound the misery. How can you tell Donnie and Clay without her finding out?”
Andrew groaned. It was so like Renee to be concerned about his sister, a concern that he normally would have thought was loving. Right now though, it just seemed martyr-ish. “Renee, Bennie is a strong woman. Her only concern is going to be for you. And not telling her now, that’s just another secret that is going to end up causing you more pain.”
He could see from the glint in Renee’s eyes that she was about to start on another stubborn tack to prove her point, so he capitulated. “Okay, okay. We won’t say anything to Benita. Even though I think my sister can handle the news—she’s pregnant, not feeble. But if that’s the way you want it, fine. But,” he looked at her closely as he spoke, “we have got to get this out in the open as soon as possible,” he reminded her gently.
Renee took her half-full mug over to the sink and carefully rinsed it out. She couldn’t look at Andrew because she knew that he could talk her into anything. With her back to him, she began to speak slowly and softly. “All right, Andrew. I’ll think about discussing this with Donnie and Clay, okay? I guess they have a right to have all the information before signing anything. I’ll think about it. And when I’ve made up my mind, we’ll talk to them. But not today, okay? I have a killer headache and I want one peaceful Sunday before all hell breaks loose.”
She turned to face him then; unaware that her drawn face was etched full of pain. “Just one peaceful Sunday with you and my puppies is all I ask,” she said plaintively.
Seeing her so unhappy and withdrawn stoked the fires of the dormant rage that Andrew still felt towards Donovan Bailey. But he let none of that show as he went over to embrace her.
“
Anything you want, baby. Anything you want,” he vowed.
Anything you want, baby. Anything you want,” he vowed.
***
The last thing Adonis Cochran, AKA Donnie, was expecting on a Sunday morning was to find his oldest brother and two squirmy Yorkies at his front door.
“
Come on in, Bunchy. What brings you out so early?” he asked mildly. It was clear that his brother was upset about something and it didn’t take him long to find out what it was. Luckily, his two golden retrievers were in their dog run in the back so that there was no chance of a dog massacre in his living room.
Come on in, Bunchy. What brings you out so early?” he asked mildly. It was clear that his brother was upset about something and it didn’t take him long to find out what it was. Luckily, his two golden retrievers were in their dog run in the back so that there was no chance of a dog massacre in his living room.
“
Sit down, Adonis. We have a lot to discuss and it isn’t going to be pleasant.”
Sit down, Adonis. We have a lot to discuss and it isn’t going to be pleasant.”
Chapter Eighteen
“
You have to call off this deal you’re getting into with Donovan Bailey,” Andrew said without preamble. He waited for the shock to register on his younger brother’s face and then went on, “The man is bad news. He is the worst kind of trash there is and if you knew all the details there is no way in hell you would be involved with him. So please God tell me that you haven’t signed any contracts and you can get out of whatever it is you’re into with him,” he finished.
You have to call off this deal you’re getting into with Donovan Bailey,” Andrew said without preamble. He waited for the shock to register on his younger brother’s face and then went on, “The man is bad news. He is the worst kind of trash there is and if you knew all the details there is no way in hell you would be involved with him. So please God tell me that you haven’t signed any contracts and you can get out of whatever it is you’re into with him,” he finished.
“
What just a minute, Andrew. This ‘whatever it is’ is a
very
big deal for Cochran Communications and The Deveraux Group. You expect me to just walk away from the biggest thing I have done in my working life just on your say-so? Let me explain just what it is that we’re doing here.” Donnie said calmly.
What just a minute, Andrew. This ‘whatever it is’ is a
very
big deal for Cochran Communications and The Deveraux Group. You expect me to just walk away from the biggest thing I have done in my working life just on your say-so? Let me explain just what it is that we’re doing here.” Donnie said calmly.
He went on to explain that Clay’s company, The Deveraux Group was about to launch an all news cable channel much like CNN with Donovan Bailey at the helm. Plus, Cochran Communications was about to turn several of its AM stations into a talk/news format that would be in partnership with the television news. This was a groundbreaking move on the parts of Donnie and Clay, one that would prove lucrative in the extreme as well as set an industry precedent for years to come.
“
This is an idea whose time has more than come, Andrew. This can pave the way for so many more things—I don’t have to give you a grocery list, you can just imagine what this is going to mean to African-American broadcasting and how many jobs it is going to create. All the groundwork has been done and it’s all been done with the idea that Donovan Bailey is going to be our executive in charge as well as being the main anchor. That man has credentials coming out of his ears! All that work that he did in Europe over the years is just the experience we need and you’re asking me to tell Clay that we just walk away from it? On a whim? What the hell have you been smoking?”
This is an idea whose time has more than come, Andrew. This can pave the way for so many more things—I don’t have to give you a grocery list, you can just imagine what this is going to mean to African-American broadcasting and how many jobs it is going to create. All the groundwork has been done and it’s all been done with the idea that Donovan Bailey is going to be our executive in charge as well as being the main anchor. That man has credentials coming out of his ears! All that work that he did in Europe over the years is just the experience we need and you’re asking me to tell Clay that we just walk away from it? On a whim? What the hell have you been smoking?”
Donnie had worked himself up from his normal laid back persona to what for him was molten rage and even then he hadn’t raised his voice. As the youngest of six he had learned other ways to get his point across. He waited expectantly for Andrew to explain himself.
Andrew, in the meantime, was sprawled on the sofa with his head back and his eyes closed, almost as though he weren’t listening. Finally he opened his eyes and looked his brother full in the face.
“
Donovan Bailey” he spat the name, “is a rapist. Some years ago when he was still working in the States, he took a colleague home from work and molested her in her apartment. No charges were brought, even though the woman filed a report. There was considered to be insufficient evidence to pursue the matter and he got off scot-free,” Andrew said in a quiet, deadly voice.
Donovan Bailey” he spat the name, “is a rapist. Some years ago when he was still working in the States, he took a colleague home from work and molested her in her apartment. No charges were brought, even though the woman filed a report. There was considered to be insufficient evidence to pursue the matter and he got off scot-free,” Andrew said in a quiet, deadly voice.
Donnie looked shocked at both the words he was hearing and the look on Andrew’s face. Then he shook his head as if to rid himself of the effects of those words. “Look, Andrew, that’s a pretty nasty story. But if it happened all those years ago and there were no charges brought how do you know the woman was even telling the truth? You know as well as I do that there are a lot of women out there that cry ‘rape’ when they take a notion for a whole lot of reasons. How do you know this isn’t some kind of urban legend brought to life?” he asked reasonably.
Andrew sat up and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He looked at the floor for a long moment before answering his brother.
“
Because the woman told me herself. The woman was Renee,” he said softly.
Because the woman told me herself. The woman was Renee,” he said softly.
Donnie’s face went pale and his eyes seemed unnaturally dark in contrast. He swallowed several times before he could speak. “That son of a bitch. That sick, low-down son of a bitch. He stood in her face last night grinning like a Cheshire cat, talking about how they used to work together in Pittsburgh. That sleazy mutha…oh damn, Bunchy, how is Renee? How did she take seeing him?” At once, all of his concern was for Renee.
Andrew explained the whole situation to Donnie, and was surprised and touched to see tears come to his eyes. Donnie and Renee had always enjoyed a very special relationship. It was Donnie’s turn to explain as he poured them both a Scotch.
“
See, Renee was like a big sister, but she was better than a sister because we weren’t related, you know? She always treated me like an adult, something that a gawky teenager does not get from his family,” he said fondly.
See, Renee was like a big sister, but she was better than a sister because we weren’t related, you know? She always treated me like an adult, something that a gawky teenager does not get from his family,” he said fondly.
He went on to tell Andrew how he and Renee often had long talks about things that were bothering him, usually about girls. “She would take me out to lunch or to dinner, just like we were the same age or something, and let me just piss and moan about Sheila or Tonya or whomever. And then she would give me great advice,” he said with a laugh. “You might not know this, but Renee went to the prom with me,” he added.
This was news to Andrew. At his dumbfounded expression, Donnie nodded his head. “Yep. You were in med school and I, as you recall, had not reached the full pinnacle of my masculine beauty,” he said with a wink. “But I worked up my nerve and asked the prettiest girl in my class to the prom. Everything was all set, we were going to double date with Briscoe and his girlfriend and we had gone into hock to rent a limo and go out to dinner, the whole shot. And at the last minute, Charisse, that was her name, Charisse, backed out. It seems that she got a better offer from the captain of the basketball team.
“
Man, I was
crushed
. The embarrassment and the heartbreak—you are talking about some serious teen angst, here. And Renee was in town that weekend and tells me not to worry, she’ll be happy to go to the prom with me. And she did. It was the best night of my entire life, bar none. She had on some foxy designer dress and she danced every single dance with me and made me feel like I was like 12 feet tall instead of an overgrown, gangly kid. That’s the kind of person she is,” he said reflectively. “And that bastard put his hands on her. Son of a bitch,” Donnie swore and continued to swear for a few minutes. By now he had reached the point where he wanted to get his hands around Bailey’s throat, something that Andrew had to talk him out of.
Man, I was
crushed
. The embarrassment and the heartbreak—you are talking about some serious teen angst, here. And Renee was in town that weekend and tells me not to worry, she’ll be happy to go to the prom with me. And she did. It was the best night of my entire life, bar none. She had on some foxy designer dress and she danced every single dance with me and made me feel like I was like 12 feet tall instead of an overgrown, gangly kid. That’s the kind of person she is,” he said reflectively. “And that bastard put his hands on her. Son of a bitch,” Donnie swore and continued to swear for a few minutes. By now he had reached the point where he wanted to get his hands around Bailey’s throat, something that Andrew had to talk him out of.
“
Believe me, I know where you’re coming from. But the problem right now is how to get out of this deal without letting Bennie know about Renee’s past. Remember, Renee doesn’t want anyone knowing, especially Bennie and the family. That’s why she went through all this all by herself for so long. She’s going to kill me if she finds out I told you, but I didn’t know what else to do. I knew you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with the slimy rat bastard and I didn’t want to wait until you had put something in writing.”
Believe me, I know where you’re coming from. But the problem right now is how to get out of this deal without letting Bennie know about Renee’s past. Remember, Renee doesn’t want anyone knowing, especially Bennie and the family. That’s why she went through all this all by herself for so long. She’s going to kill me if she finds out I told you, but I didn’t know what else to do. I knew you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with the slimy rat bastard and I didn’t want to wait until you had put something in writing.”
By now Donnie was on the phone to his brother-in-law, Clay Deveraux in Atlanta. After stressing the need for utter security on the matter, he told Clay the deal had to be nullified and told him exactly why. With no hesitation, Clay agreed.
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