Chapter 20

            The next morning . . .

            Regina and Mika were having breakfast in a small café in downtown Orlando. The cappuccino was to die for, and the breakfast bagel really hit the spot.

            “Thanks for bringing me here,” Regina said.

            “No problem. I figured I owed you a treat since I got you mixed up with Scott,” Mika said. “If it’s any consolation, I feel like a fool, too. I can’t believe that . . . wow.”

            “It’s not your fault. Scott did a good job being someone he wasn’t.”

            “For what it’s worth, I think he really liked you . . . well, more than that. He acted like he was completely taken with you.”

            “Yeah, that’s what I was starting to think too, but it was a lie. Rich man needed time away from his busy yet luxurious lifestyle. He blends in with the common folk and leads women on so he could get them into bed,” she said with deep disappointment.

            “I don’t know, Regina. The Scott I’ve known for the past few years wasn’t that type of guy. Granted, I just dealt with him here and there, but he never came off as the player type.”

            Regina’s phone vibrated in her purse. She didn’t have to look at it to know who it was. She exhaled with exasperation.

            “Maybe you should call him back. Let him explain.”

            “No, what is there to say? He lied and tricked me into believing that he was someone that he’s not. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t want to see or talk to him again.”

            “Excuse me,” and elderly white woman interjected as she approached them. She had been sitting with three other elderly women a few tables away from them. She was holding a big magazine-style newspaper.

            “Yes?” Regina said.

            “Is this you?” the old woman asked and showed Regina the front of the paper.

            Regina’s eyes bugged out at the photo of her on the front page of the gossip rag with the headline “Scottie’s Squeeze.” The picture was the same photo that hung in her salons. “Oh my god,” she said with horror.

            “What?” Mika asked with concern.

            Regina took the paper from the old woman and showed it to Mika.

            “Oh boy,” Mika groaned. “Looks like you’re going to be popular around here for a while.”

            The old woman turned around to her table of friends. “Hey, girls. It is her.”

****

            Scott was sitting in his office at the mansion. He was doing work from home today. At least a half dozen reporters had called Kelscot to get an interview with him. He had declined all of them. He didn’t want to be interviewed – he just wanted to live his life in peace.

            Clay came running into the study barefoot. His dark hair was damp, and his swim trunks were wet. “Dad, this place is cool!” he said with excitement. “There’s a pool here that’s bigger than our house! And the waterfall is great!”

            Scott gave him a weak smile. “Well, this is our house too.”

            “Yeah, I’m still getting used to that. I mean, I knew you had a big house out here, but knowing it and seeing it are two different things. This place is great. We should live here all the time. When can we move our stuff from the old house to this one?”

            “I’m glad you are excited about the place because it looks like we’ll have to live here for a while.” Scott had spoken to his father yesterday evening to see if he could get in the house in the city to get some of Clay’s clothes and toys. His father could barely get on the street because of reporters, curious neighbors, and admirers. Scott had to send the maid to the mall to get Clay some clothes. “I’m not sure when we can get our things out of the house, Clay. Things are pretty hectic over there.”

            “I hope it’s soon so I can hook up my PlayStation to that big screen in the den.”

            “The TV in the gaming room is just as big.”

            “There’s a gaming room?”

            Scott smiled. Clay hadn’t gotten to explore most of the house yet. “Yes, it’s down in the basement along with an arcade game and a pool table.”

            “Wow,” Clay said in awe. “You know, maybe you can call Mrs. Evans. She can probably get our stuff without any problem. It will give me a chance to see Hank, too. He’ll love this place.”

            Scott leaned back in his leather chair. “No can do, buddy. Mrs. Evans is still mad, I believe.”

            “Oh,” Clay said with disappointment.

            Scott didn’t tell Clay any details about what had happened between him, Kat, and Regina. All he had said was that Mrs. Evans was really mad – so much so she wouldn’t let Hank come over to play with Clay anymore. “You can invite your friends from school over in a week or two.”

            Clay gave his father a small smile. “Yeah, and I’m sure they’ll like it here too, but Hank . . . Hank is my best friend.”

            “I know, buddy, but it’s out of my hands right now. Maybe after some time goes by, we’ll give Hank and his mom a call.”

            “Okay.”

            William walked into the study. “Sir, you better turn on the afternoon news.”

            Dread washed over Scott. He had no doubt that it was an update on his status. He grabbed the remote off the desk and turned on the flat screen that was mounted on the wall.

            “Channel six, sir,” William said.

            Scott turned the channel. “Now, we’re going to switch over to Barbara with ‘Who’s Who and Who’s New’ segment. Take it away, Barb,” the male anchor said.

            “Thanks, Frank. Billionaire Construction Magnet, Scott Kelly, has resurfaced in the Orlando area. However, we have not been able to reach him for comment or an interview. But, don’t fear, we have been able to find out what our long-lost billionaire has been up to despite his father’s efforts to dissuade us,” the woman said with a smirk.

            “His father?” the male anchor inquired.

            “Yes, we sent a reporter and crew over to his father’s house. Other members of the press were there too, but the patriarch of the Kelly family wasn’t in the mood to speak to us,” Barbara said. “Check out this clip.”

            A video played across the screen of Scott’s father without a shirt on and wearing a pair of old blue jeans. He pointed his rifle in the air as he yelled, “Get the – off my lawn!” He fired off two shots.

            “Ugh, god,” Scott moaned loudly.

            “Ooooo, Grandpa cussed on TV,” Clay said in a high-pitched voice.

            “Wow,” the male anchor said with wide eyes.

            “Yes. Since Florida is a ‘stand your ground’ state, our crew didn’t take any chances and left the property. Yet, that’s not all. Our sources tell us Scott Kelly has a girlfriend,” Barbara said.

            Scott stopped breathing as footage of Regina played over the TV. She was trying to pull into her driveway as photographers and reporters surrounded her BMW.

            “This is Regina Jackson. She’s a successful entrepreneur who owns seventeen salons along the East Coast. She’s currently in the middle of a divorce, but that hasn’t stopped Scott from pursuing the short-haired Orlando native,” Barbara said.

            “Uh oh,” Clay said as they watched Regina having to fight to get to her front door.

            Scott groaned. He had been trying to reach Regina all morning. He knew she was furious with him, and now that she was being bombarded with reporters because of him, it wouldn’t help to ease her anger. He rolled his eyes at the predicament.

            “That’s all on Scott Kelly. Another rich and famous Orlando original, Victor Samuels, has announced his engagement—” Scott cut the TV off. He wanted to scream. This was why he had gone quiet. Seven years ago, it had gotten to the point where the people he was close to were inconvenienced and harassed by photographers, reporters, and gold-diggers. These were the times he hated being wealthy.

            “Dad, are you going to rescue Granddad and Regina? They need help,” Clay said innocently.

            “I’ll do what I can, buddy,” Scott replied.