Steven smiled down at his cell as he read the text from James.Hey Delicious-looking shoulders, how's life?James hadn't been in the meeting which could only mean one thing. Marie had told him.Argh. Did she need to text James everything? Smiling, he typed backIs this how it is now? You and my wife talk behind my back? About me?James replied immediately,Only when you're letting scantily clad women with talons, call your hair gorgeous and bat their eyelashes at you.Steven chuckled, rolling his eyes, and then typed backShe did NOT bat her eyelashes at me.JamesI see how you avoided the subject of her being scantily dressed.StevenIt's her body, man. What do you want me to do? Tell a grown woman not to dress the way she wants?James…StevenBut you know Clara. You dated the chic, too.JamesClara? It was Clara Marie spoke about?Steven laughed so hard that he caught Marie’s disapproving glare from her desk.StevenThe one and only.JamesWell, still… Go find your wife and make he
“Hey, hotstuff. Ready to go?” Marie asked as she strolled into Steven's office at 5:00 PM.“Oh shoot. I’ll have the driver drop you off, and I'll take some other car. I have this thing I have to attend.”“What thing? I didn't see anything on your calendar.” She quizzed, her brow shooting up.“Err, it's not official. I'm meeting with a friend.” He said“Were you planning on telling me at some point?” She asked, arms akimbo.“Sorry, Love. It kind of sprung up on me. In fact, I have to go now if I want to catch up.”“But? Who's this friend?”“You don't know her, Love. See ya at home.” He said, placing a kiss on her cheek and then dashing out the door.“But who's she?” Marie's voice trailed after him.Sandra had better have a good reason for all the calls and secrecy. A very good one. He arrived at the restaurant ten minutes early and had to wait for thirty whole minutes after their agreed time before she showed up. He stood up to give her a handshake but she pulled him into a tight hug
“Jeff? The same Jeff?” Steven whispered before he could stop himself.“She told you about him? Sandra asked, a shadow crossing her face briefly.“Well. Not exactly.” Steven responded.“After the breakup, she almost fell apart. She cried so hard I thought my heart would break. This went on for weeks. She was such a mess.”This explained a lot. It wasn't hard to picture why she cried so easily these days too.“Well, thank you for the information. I’ll sort out the car stuff, don't worry about it.”“Sure, thank you. I gotta run now. Zed is probably home by now.” She said, hugging him again before dashing out of the restaurant. Steven found it slightly rude that she hadn't thanked him for paying for her food. It was like she expected him to because he was a billionaire.Shaking his head ruefully, he headed out of the restaurant, deep in thoughts.It still stunned him that Marie didn't think she could share her problems with him. Even if they hadn't been dating then and she had brought it
Marie tossed and turned in her bed as her mind traveled in a thousand different directions. Why was it that she trusted Steven so much and yet her heart was still beating wildly about his cryptic dinner?Everytime she looked into Steven King’s eyes, she didn't think the man was capable of hurting her. But she had been wrong before, and she had almost fallen apart when her entire world crashed before her eyes.She had to be a stronger, wiser version of herself than the nineteen-year-old who let herself be deceived by a manipulative guy who had turned her into his bank and sex slave. The door opened and Rick stood in the doorway clutching a stuffed bear. Beckoning him to enter with her fingers, she scooted to make room for him since he favored the right side of her bed.Grabbing her phone from the bedside table, she opened the text thread between James and Ellen, and herEllenHey Peoplessss… Marie, great news. I was checking through records at the office and found that the Kingfisher
The next morning as they rode to work, Marie listened as Steven told her some elaborate story about how he had sold her car for 48,000 dollars to a billionaire friend of his who had been looking for a used car to buy for her 16-year-old son whom he wanted to teach financial responsibility. From where she sat, it sounded like a load of crap but she was waiting on him to finish.“So yeah, I sold the car for that amount. I did tell you I'd get a good deal.” He said, winking at her.“Steven, I bought that car for 6,000 dollars. How could anyone have wasted so much money on it?” Marie asked“Hey. She did it as a personal favor to me, okay. We’re friends after all? And I’m having some work done on it to make it good as new.”“Even so, Steven! 48,000 dollars is ridiculous. Did you say “she”. Was this the woman you had dinner with last night?”“What?” Steven sputtered, then averted his gaze at the look in her eyes.Who was this mystery woman and why was he hiding it for Pete's sake.“Fine. Do
MarieHey guys. After Steven's birthday, can anyone guess the next party we’ll be attending?JamesNone. No more parties this year.EllenOffice Christmas party….SandraMy godson’s baby shower from all the closed door meetings.MarieWrong! We’ll be attending Sandra's funeral because you are so dead for what you've just done to me!SandraHe did not! He DID NOT!MarieListen to you! How could you tell him about Jeff? How could you lie to him that I was in debt? Debt, Sandra!SandraYou're welcome!JamesLadies, do you want to do this privately?MarieNo!SandraNo!MarieI’ve said all I wanted to say. Thank you for ALWAYS looking out for me!SandraYeah, go on and cry me a river. In fact, if I'm no help, you plan the party yourself!Marie’s nostrils flared as she clutched her cell phone in her hands. It was exactly like Sandra to turn every offense to her fault. Maybe she had overreacted a bit, but wasn't she expected to do so after what Sandra had done? Was it normal behavior for y
“Uncle Steve?” Rick asked as he climbed into bed with him. He had forgotten that he had told Rick that he could sleep with him. He sure wasn't in the mood to answer a million questions tonight.“Yes?” He answered, hoping his tone deterred Rick from pursuing whatever line of interrogation he was about to begin.“Are you fighting with Mrs King?” He asked“Why?” Steven asked, even though it would have been obvious to anyone with how curt he had been all evening.“She looked like she was sick. Like someone had punched her in the stomach. And you’ve been making scary sounds too.” Rick plowed on.“Turn out the lights, buddy. I need to sleep.” Steven said.“Okay.” Rick conceded as he turned out the lights and brought the covers to his chin. He said nothing for so long, Steven sighed in relief. As he felt himself drifting to sleep, he heard Rick say,“Uncle Steve?”He ignored him, hoping Rick would take that as a sign to mean he was asleep and let him be.“Uncle Steve?”Arghh.“What do you wa
Marie struggled to maintain a neutral facial expression as Steven shot daggers at Rick.Uh oh. Somebody was in big trouble. She hadn't intended to trick Steven into eating any of her cookies. In fact, after he had rejected them, she had been content to package it and share with people in the office. She had even begun making donuts when Rick sauntered into the kitchen, asked for some cookies and asked her if he could give Steven some.“No. He said he didn't want any.” She had responded but Rick had said,“I bet he does. Granny says Alden is a stubborn old man. I think Uncle Steve is just like him. They have the same frown and everything.”Little Rick was right. Steven was just as grumpy as his grandfather.“I bet he wanted some cookies but was too stubborn to have some because he's fighting with you.”“Very astute of you to deduce, young detective.” She had said and then smiled as he took five cookies from the tray and asked her to follow him.“Where are we going?”“I want to show you