Kalia. "I have been looking everywhere for you." I heard Jake's voice from behind me, I slowly got my legs that were dipped in the swimming pool out, looking up at him. He didn't seem like someone who had, had a good night sleep. He seeemed troubled. He sat next to me, he only had his shorts on and nothing else. I studied him for a while, I had forgotten how handsome he looked. Since he woke up from the coma I had been so focused on making sure he was okay I never really concentrated on how good he looked how clear his skin was. "Well you found me." I said, faking a smile. "What's wrong, you look like you were crying." "Well, I just talked to my dad. He is not doing so well." I said, rubbing off a tear that was threatening to fall. "You know I can have him transferred to a different hospital, a more private and exclusive one where he can be treated quickly." Jake offered. "I don't want to talk about my father right now, please. Can we talk about something else, like why you were
Jake.I don't know how long I sat in that room, in total darkness. This wasn't happening to me, I could not believe it. I felt like I was dreaming, like all my worst nightmares were just happening. A part of me had wanted to follow her, apologize to her, tell her I couldn't be more happy that I was going to be a father. This was the only best news I had received since I woke up. I had a purpose in life. But another part of me hated the timing of everything. How could I even be so sure she hadn't done all this on purpose. Our whole relationship was based on lies, how could I know if the pregnancy was all part of the big elaborate scam she had to take me down. I got up, pissed as sweat tricked down my face. I had to have a real conversation with her. I picked up the now half bottle of whiskey and walked out, straight to our room first, she was not there. I rushed downstairs, bottle in hand, I was ready to get to the bottom of all this. Since I married Kalia, I had lost my touch to
Kalia.I looked at my reflection again in the mirror for the fourth time, my bed full of clothes I had tried on and none of them seemed to fit me. I needed to start shopping for maternity clothes and that required me to get out of my room, which I was not ready to do just yet. Maya had offered to take me shopping, but with the morning sickness, it was hard. All my time was spent on my knees by the toilet throwing up and the remaining time in bed, sleeping. It didn’t help that the one person I wanted to be with was also the one person I was avoiding. But I couldn't hide in my room forever, at some point I had to get out, and that day was today. It had been exactly two days since our confrontation, since Jake claimed he was not the one responsible for my mother's death. It had also been exactly two days since I had been in the same room as him, or even seen him. I couldn't deal with that news, not now, not when I was still trying to come to terms with being pregnant. I dressed up i
Kalia. This was the first time we were all having dinner together, we never had any meals together, someone was always missing or mad at someone else. But today after we had the doctor, We were all giddy and happy, which is why we were all sharing the table. "I wish we could do this more often" Maria said, we all just nodded, but I Wished we would do too, it felt nice. As soon as everyone was settled in, Maya looked at the both of us smiling and I knew she was going to stir up some trouble. “You know, you have never really told me the story of how you two met. I mean, I have heard bits and pieces, but not the whole thing. And more importantly,” she added, leaning forward with a glint in her eye, “how did you know Kalia was the one?” Jake and I exchanged a glance and he smiled softly, his fingers gently brushing mine under the table. Jake chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Ah, the famous ‘how we met’ story. Well, I guess it’s about time we told the whole thing.” Maria, his mo
Kalia. After dinner, I went out by the pool. It was a beautiful night, the full moon out along with a sky full of stars. It was so beautiful and calming out here tonight and generally in the country. I had always wanted to raise my family in the country, away from the buzz of the city.I dipped my bare feet into the cold water, getting a certain satisfaction. I was still reeling from dinner, from that made up story on how we met. I had watched Jake all night, he seemed happy, he was so committed to the fake story that I wondered if he really did remember how we met. He could be a good actor because even I bought it. Which is why it was going to be difficult to read him, to trust him. My phone buzzed, and I looked at the watch on my wrist, it was past eleven almost midnight. Who would be texting me at this hour? Maybe something was wrong with my dad, that was the only reason I could think of why someone would be texting me this late. I quickly got out of the water, rushing to t
JAKE.I watched as Kalia walked back to the house in tears, a part of me wanted to follow her, but I couldn't, she was right to want to leave and I was not going to stop her, but it was not because of what she thought, I was not going to choose Naima over her.My private investigator had just called a few minutes before I walked to join her by the pool. He had told me who was behind the accident, thats what I had come to tell her.But this was my fight with Naima and whoever else was coming after me, I could not drag her into it, especially not when she was carrying my child.Her leaving was for the best for both of us and I needed her to leave angry at me, it was harsh but it was going to work.If Naima found out we were no longer together, she would be off the hook. She would hate me, but she will be safe together with my son.I was not going to be here when she left, I couldn’t. I knew if I stayed there I would never let her leave me, not like that, and telling her my plan would rui
KaliaFinding husband with ExMaybe I had over reacted, I thought to myself, I could only blame the hormones. It was supposed to be a simple apology, I was going to tell him I was wrong. I never imagined it would lead me to the painful realization I was about to face. As I adjusted the rearview mirror of the car, my hands trembling slightly on the steering wheel, I tried to steady my thoughts. Tonight wasn’t supposed to end like this. But the circumstances had spiraled out of my control, and now, here I was staring at the neon lights of the club , Jake, frequented, a big part of me wanted to turn back the car and go back home, but I needed to make things right. Earlier, when Jake had left the house, his words had stung. "You always blow things out of proportion. I’m going out. Don't wait up." He didn’t look at me when he said it, and there was no warmth in his voice. I watched him pull out of our driveway, Maya had tried to talk to him but he had left so pissed off. I still didn't un
Kalia.I went straight to Eric's house, he was the only one I could talk to and also the only one that could answer me. As soon as I got out of the car, I saw Eric immediately by the curb, and our eyes locked as I ran towards him and straight into his arms. As soon as he held me, my whole body melted and I started sobbing uncontrollably, and he let me do it.I don't know how long we stayed that way before we finally left, his car was waiting fully loaded with all my suit cases."Let's go for a ride." I finally managed to say. " Where to pretty woman?" He said jokingly as soon as we got back into the car."Is that even a real question, the hospital ofcourse. I want to see dad." "Do you know what time it is Kalia?" he said shocked, looking at me like I had lost my mind or something."I know and I don't care, I will sit there until he wakes up." I said, meaning every word."The hospital it is." we drove in silence for a few minutes and I actually appreciated the silence, but he must h
Kalia.I had been working for him for a couple of months now as his pr, and still I was not used to it. The fact that the very first thing I felt when Jake’s deep, masculine voice pulled me out of the deep sleep I had been in was a shiver of excitement, and not a pang of annoyance, was disturbing on a lot of levels, all of which I was too tired to analyze in that particular moment.“It’s one in the morning, Jake .” I said, as I blinked against the blinding light radiating from the screen of my smartphone. After four months in working for him, I should know better than to be surprised by a midnight phone call, but somehow every time it happened it caught me unprepared. “It’s nine a.m. in England.” He said, “And we have a crisis on our hands?” I immediately rolled over and brushed myhair out of my face, the cool sheets from the side of the bed that had been unoccupied chilling me slightly.“The sky isn’t falling, if that’s what you mean, but we have protesters lining the streets at
Kalia.And I had vowed i wouldn’t become like that. I wasn’t letting anyone have control over my life again.Although, obviously Jake had some modicum of control over my life since he was my boss and my child's father, but that was different. “If you expect me to buy new clothes you have to give me time to shop.” I said facing him with a straight face, after all this was his event he was inviting me to, it only made sense. “You can have the afternoon off.” I shook my head, my tight bun staying firmly in place. “Morning and afternoon. I need some sleep too.”“Morning to lunch hour,” he countered.“Deal.”“No black. No beige.” He added“It’s an art gala, most of the women will be in black.” I said defensively “I know, and that’s exactly why I want you to wear something else.”I frowned. “I’m not in the habit of allowing men to dictate what I wear. I can choose for myself.”He stood from his desk, and I was distracted, as I always was when he surprised me like that, by the superb sha
Jake was from a fairly affluent family, that was general knowledge. It surprised me that he’d had to take out loans to start up his company.When we were married he never talked to me about this type of stuff, or anything business related at all. Which is why I loved our new arrangement, I felt needed and smart. I was not just a pretty girl. “But now you have to play the diplomacy game,” I said.“I would anyway. I develop resort and hotel properties, the public has to have a favorable view of me.”“That’s true.”For the most part, the public did have a favorable view of him. He was charismatic and charming and dated the most eligible women in Hollywood, which put him on the front cover of a lot of magazines andmade him very high profile for a businessman. He was also a slave driving taskmaster, but only his employees knew that. And in fairness, he never expected anything from her that he didn’t expect from himself. In fact, he seemed to expect more from himself.Which was why, even
Kalia. In theory, I liked sexy men, at least from a distance. When said sexy man was both my baby daddy and boss, it made life a bit more complicated. It didn’t really matter, though. Business was business and I had no intention of crossing any lines with him. I wasn’t his type anyway. He liked party girls. The shallower, and the shorter the skirt, the better. Of course, I wasn’t entirely certain what my type was as far as practical application went. Judging by my recent string of failed dates I didn’t really have a type.“How many shots?” he asked, lowering the cup.“four,” I answered, trying to bring my mind back into the present and away, far, far away, from his lips.“Good. It’s going to be a long day.” i sat down in the chair by his desk, pulled my notebook out of my briefcase and sat poised with a pen in my hand.“Why do you do that?” he asked.“Do what?”“Take physical notes on paper. You have a million little gadgets for that kind of thing. I know because most of them were pu
Kalia. In theory, I liked sexy men, at least from a distance. When said sexy man was both my baby daddy and boss, it made life a bit more complicated. It didn’t really matter, though. Business was business and I had no intention of crossing any lines with him. I wasn’t his type anyway. He liked party girls. The shallower, and the shorter the skirt, the better. Of course, I wasn’t entirely certain what my type was as far as practical application went. Judging by my recent string of failed dates I didn’t really have a type.“How many shots?” he asked, lowering the cup.“four,” I answered, trying to bring my mind back into the present and away, far, far away, from his lips.“Good. It’s going to be a long day.” i sat down in the chair by his desk, pulled my notebook out of my briefcase and sat poised with a pen in my hand.“Why do you do that?” he asked.“Do what?”“Take physical notes on paper. You have a million little gadgets for that kind of thing. I know because most of them were pu
Jake was from a fairly affluent family, that was general knowledge. It surprised me that he’d had to take out loans to start up his company.When we were married he never talked to me about this type of stuff, or anything business related at all. Which is why I loved our new arrangement, I felt needed and smart. I was not just a pretty girl. “But now you have to play the diplomacy game,” I said.“I would anyway. I develop resort and hotel properties, the public has to have a favorable view of me.”“That’s true.”For the most part, the public did have a favorable view of him. He was charismatic and charming and dated the most eligible women in Hollywood, which put him on the front cover of a lot of magazines andmade him very high profile for a businessman. He was also a slave driving taskmaster, but only his employees knew that. And in fairness, he never expected anything from her that he didn’t expect from himself. In fact, he seemed to expect more from himself.Which was why, even
Jake.I had never seen Kalia look less than perfect. She always looked beautiful, even when she rushed into the office at two in the morning to handle some sort of media crisis. But in a dark navy blue gown with ruffled sleeves, a demure neckline and a back that dipped so low it ought to be illegal, she was stunning.Her hair was pinned to the side so that her curls cascaded over one shoulder, and didn’t cover any of the skin that was on display in the back of the gown. Her makeup was more dramatic than she usually wore to the office and her legs were bare, and on glorious show, the dress barely skimming her knees. And they were amazing legs.My libido kicked into gear, a reminder that I hadn’t had sex in a very long time. But business had been intense and when I hadn’t been focused on my various building projects I had been handling Maya’s big move into her new, off campus apartment. An apartment she hadn’t wanted, because she couldn’t afford it herself. But there was no way I was let
JakeI put my hand on the small of her back, on her bare skin, and I felt a small shiver go through her whole body. She was feeling every bit of the attraction I was. Strange, because I had only ever seen her in herbuttoned up professional mode for a while now, now suddenly she was unbuttoned and very, very hot. Although, she had always been hot. I had thought more thanonce about uncoiling her tightly wound hair and watching the dark curls tumble down.She shifted against me, her hip brushing my body intimately. My muscles tensed and desire roared through me, my body hardening at the accidental contact.I drew her closer, letting her feel. Letting her know exactly what she was doing to me. I didn’t hit on employees as a rule, ever. But she tempted me. And that was a new experience. Women appealed to me, and I desired them. But I had never considered them a serious temptation. If itwasn’t the right time, it was easy for me to leave my date standing on the doorstep and go home withou
KaliaI bit my lip. This side of Jake always confused me . In some ways he seemed more uncomfortable having people know anything good about him.He didn’t seem to mind the negative press that came when he dated one supermodel, then switched to an actress the next night. But he didn’t seem to want to let anyone know about his good behavior. And there was something about that that made me almost like him sometimes, and that made all the other physical things he made me feel intensify.“It’s … okay, events like this are definitely a little bit fake. It’s see and be seen. Most people are flashing their bids all over the place.” I jerked my head toward the glittering celebrities and debutantes gathered around different pieces of art, waving their bids around while they talked.“I don’t play the game,” he said. “It doesn’t appeal to me.”“You have to play the game a little bit, Jake It’s good for business.”“What’s it like for you, doing a job that’s so at odds with who you are?”The questi