THE GREAT BETRAYAL (4 page)

“Well, I’m really worried about her and the baby. I know the hospital told us to monitor her blood pressure and make sure that she eats, but…” She sighed. “Why won’t she talk, Mom? It’s been a week.”

Ingrid turned to her daughter, fresh tears in her eyes. “She’s in shock, dear. We’re all in shock.” The plate slipped from her grasp, shattering against the sink’s faucet.

“Oh, Mom!” Beth burst into tears and ran to her mother.

They clung to each other.

“I
cannot
believe this,” Ingrid sobbed. Her tears soaked Beth’s cotton blouse. “I just can’t believe it. How in the hell could this have happened out of left field like this? Twenty-six years old! How can my son be gone?” Pulling back, she locked eyes with her daughter. “Dear God, Beth. Is it punishment? Am I being punished after all these years? Is this my punishment for Humphrey?”

Unsure of what to say, Beth simply drew her mother into another embrace, reassuring her. They cried together until the kitchen grew dark as the sun made its crawl into the west.

Finally Beth rose and reached for napkins to dry their faces.

“
So…what are we going to do about Leslie?”

“Merciful heavens—I don’t know. Maybe she has a phone book or something. Let’s look around. There has to be some way to get in touch with her parents or some other relative.”

But in the end, even after checking with the neighbors, they were unable to locate any information about Leslie’s relatives. There wasn’t even the slightest indication that she had any close friends.

Exhausting all possible alternatives, Ingrid decided they would simply take Leslie home with them. Given her late stage of pregnancy, they would have to drive back to Tennessee.

Jeffrey’s child would be born in Memphis.

And they would name her Grace.

Just as he’d wanted.

Part II

Chapter 6

Palm Beach, Florida

Christmas 2004

Until tonight they had been only platonically acquainted. He had preferred it that way.

Until tonight he’d never dared to consider the open invitation he’d seen in her eyes from the very beginning.

And so, with a meeting of the eyes, it began.

Eye contact was such a powerful medium. A full-blown conversation could take place within the rock-solid confines of a stare. And on this night, their conversation began.

Her look had posed the question. His, though initially surprised, had fallen under its spell. His had responded.

In her pointed gaze he saw the offering—the offering of what he wanted more than anything else. In her eyes he believed he was seeing exactly what he needed, but had been deprived of.

In those eyes, he saw
her
.

He had to get out of there. He had to get away, or…

“Can we talk?” She had followed him out into the garage.

Oh, God. Please. No.

That was all she’d said, but he’d heard so much more being offered in those three harmless words. So much more.

Before he could stop himself from telling her where and when to meet him—

He already had.

The man poured himself a drink. She was leaning against the wall, just inside the foyer. Watching him.

They had not spoken since entering the house.

The woman wasn’t sure she should speak at all. He looked as if he would change his mind at any moment. And she didn’t want that.

No. She wanted him. She had to have him. Her body tingled with the excitement of being with him, the anticipation of having this—the oh-so-forbidden.

He had actually brought her here. He’d obviously wanted this all along, just as she had.

It was hard to think clearly as she stood gazing at him. He was tall and lean, quite muscular, but not bulky. Deliciously blond. Strong jawline. Nice, full lips.

He was standing there, just three feet away from her, looking incredibly sexy in a solid black sweater and a pair of dark blue Levis.

And best of all…they were alone. She grew moist at the thought.

Why did this happen whenever she was near him? Why did her pulse quicken, her thoughts scramble, and her vagina throb all at the same time?

Why was she plagued by the same forbidden fantasy whenever they were apart?

Well, it might still be forbidden, but his inviting her here tonight made it quite clear that it was no longer a fantasy.

On that note she made the first move. Walking over to him, she took the snifter from his hand. He let it go.

She then began kissing him with a hunger that excited him ferociously. They began peeling off each other’s clothes, shuffling their way into the bedroom.

He was anything but gentle with her. He mauled her breasts without apology, as if to punish her for being a temptation to him. He bent, biting her nipples as his hand found her sex. He jabbed his fingers into her wetness.

She moaned. She would not complain. She was getting what she wanted, and nothing could be better than what was happening right here. Right now.

His body was firm and solid as a rock. His skin felt so good against hers. Covering her. Rubbing against her. He wanted her—very badly. Hell, he seemed to
need
her.

When he finally slipped into her body, the hesitation was brief before he completely lost himself in the pleasure, pounding his need all the way home.

He cursed.

His thrusts became even more punishing than she could’ve anticipated.

She would be sore, possibly walking awkwardly, for a month.

When he finally caught his breath, he quickly withdrew from her. “I don’t
fucking
believe this,” he said in disbelief. He looked down into her eyes. He dared not look down toward the sheets beneath them. “Please tell me that you were
not
a virgin.”

Chapter 7

West Palm Beach, Florida

Early 1990

Twenty-five-year-old Dawn Chadwick rushed to grab the phone as she downed the last of her coffee.

“
Hello?” Her appointment was at nine thirty sharp, and she had traffic to factor into the commute.

“
Hi, sweetheart. I’m glad I caught you.” It was her soft-spoken mother. “Just wanted to wish you good luck with the interview today. I have a feeling this is gonna be the one.”

“
Thanks, Mom. I sure hope so, because you know Crystal Clear’s always been my first choice—getting in there would be perfect. Pray hard. I’m on my way out the door right now.”

“
Knock ‘em dead, honey. Good luck.”

She arrived at the Crystal Clear office park with fifteen minutes to spare.

Dawn parked her Grand Am and flipped down the visor, doing a final check of her hair and makeup. Everything was perfect. Her foundation was flawless, her full lips colorful and sheer, her eyebrows perfectly arched. Her smooth, deep-brown hair grazed her jawline in a symmetrical cut, which had proven to be extremely high maintenance.

Accenting the generous curves of her five-foot-six figure, she wore a shapely forest green suit with a multicolored scarf, and a custom-made silver broach formed the initials MC. Her appearance screamed
competent
.
Capable
.
Proficient
. She was the consummate professional.

Well, let’s hope that’s what C&C thinks when I’m through with them,
she thought, chuckling.

Dawn glanced at the photo of Michael that hung from her rearview mirror in a protective plastic sleeve. Leaning over, she dropped a kiss on it. “Wish me luck,” she told him.

Then, grabbing her purse and briefcase, she went to knock ‘em dead.

“
Good morning,” Dawn greeted the receptionist. “I have a nine-thirty interview with Cynthia McFarley.”

“Okay, could you sign in here, please?” the woman said pleasantly, indicating the clipboard. “Then take a visitor’s badge and have a seat right over there. I’ll call HR to let them know you’re here. Someone’ll be out to escort you up.”

“Thank you,” said Dawn, adding her name and arrival time to the sheet. There were three other people seated in the elegant lobby. Dawn grabbed a badge and joined them. She wondered if they were all applicants, here for the same accounting position.
Lord, I sure hope not,
she thought. From where she sat, they all looked rather impressive.

Silently, she struck a deal with God.
Dear Lord, if you bless me with this C&C position, I promise to get out more. I’ll even go to church with Mom and Brenda every Sunday…
She paused.
Okay, every other Sunday…

“Dawn? Dawn Chadwick, is that you? From Mr. Greer’s ecology class at PBCC?”

Startled, Dawn looked up, reaching for her briefcase. She immediately recognized that long mane of red hair. “Oh, my gosh—Leslie Phillips! I remember you—hello!” Smiling, they shook hands. “How’ve you been? You’re working for C&C now?”

“Yes, I’ve been here almost a year. Human Resources. It’s awesome to see you after all this time; you look great! Love the haircut. Come with me,” she said, turning back toward the desk. “I’ll be taking you up to meet with Cynthia.”

Dawn followed her to the bank of elevators, and they headed for the fifth floor.

“
So how’ve you been?” asked Leslie. “It’s been at least two or three years since I last saw you, hasn’t it?”

“
Wow. Has it really been that long? Time surely does fly. I’ve been well. Hanging in there. You?”

“
Oh, you know how it goes. Work, work, work.”

When they reached the fifth floor, Leslie led her down a long hallway and into an empty conference room. “Here we are. Just have a seat and she’ll be with you shortly. And just as a heads up—she may have the finance director, Victor Crowne, with her. He likes to sit in on these interviews.”

“
Oh, great—thanks for the warning,” Dawn replied with an appreciative wink. “It was great to see you again, Leslie.”

“
You too. Good luck.”

Once Leslie Phillips had gone, Dawn took a seat and waited. She hated interviews, but this one she had to ace. She needed this job.

Crystal Clear
was one of the largest pharmaceutical and retail health-product companies in the nation. They paid very competitive wages, had an excellent benefits package, and best of all, the corporate office park was only ten minutes from her apartment.

This job—if she landed it—would be her first foray into the workforce in nearly three years. It would also be her first attempt at starting over. Creating a new life with the New Year.

Life after Michael.

The news came five days later while she was working out at the gym. Thanks to her weekly dedication, everywhere she went most men did double takes.

Dawn was peddling uphill on the elliptical glider—sweating off the sweet-potato pie her mother had practically force-fed her the night before—when she heard the psychedelic chirping of her pager. She found a pay phone and called the number on the display.

It was Leslie Phillips at Crystal Clear. She’d gotten the job!

Chapter 8

It was two weeks before Dawn Chadwick ran into Leslie Phillips again.

She normally had a light breakfast at home before leaving for work, but that morning she’d overslept and had to rush to be on time. She saw the ever-stylishly dressed Leslie downstairs in C&C’s employee eatery, waiting in line at the breakfast grill.

“
Hey, we meet again! Good morning!”

“
Good morning, Dawn!” said Leslie, turning with a smile. “You know, I’ve been meaning to call you, see how things are going for you. Is everything coming along all right?”

“
Oh, everything’s great, thanks. It’s awesome. Cynthia’s the sweetest person.”

“
Oh, yeah?” Leslie laughed. “Well, let’s hope you still think so come month’s end. That’s when everybody in finance is pulling their hair out by the roots!”

“
Hey,” the cook cut in hastily, looking at Dawn. “What can I get you?”

“
Oh—fully loaded omelet, please,” she quickly replied. Glancing behind her, she saw that the line had lengthened considerably. Several people had come up on her heels.

Turning back to face Leslie, she resumed the conversation. “Well, now, month’s end…it can’t be all that bad, can it? Give me a call on the first and I’ll tell you how much of my hair is left.”

“
So, what have you been doing for lunch?” Leslie reached for her order.