The Promise Pact (Promise to Love Book 1) (10 page)

***

Kaya was inconsolable. Fate had dealt her an unforgettable blow. She had lost Max again but this time she didn’t think her heart could be repaired. She sobbed for hours in Angela’s arms before finally packing all of her items. The small beach home felt so empty when she stepped into the main area. She knew Max wasn’t there. She had heard his car race off hours before. Her tear drenched eyes darted around the room drinking in all their favorite places, places that belonged to her and Max. She could still smell his rich masculine scent in the air.
What had she done?
She slowly walked into the kitchen and allowed her trembling fingers to brush over the marble countertop, the place where he had pleaded for her to let her guard down and fall deeply into his strong embrace. On the table, near the door, she spotted a letter. She quickly walked over, reached down and read.

Kaya,

You may not want me to be involved in your life but you will be protected! I’ve arranged everything.

Max

The note tore deeper into her sadness. She learned quickly that Max hadn’t spared a dime on protecting her. He had hired the best private security firm in the country to monitor her every move. She might not be interested in hearing from him but she was going to accept his protection, period. When a team of private officers surrounded the beach home a few hours later, she didn’t say a word, she was too upset to speak.

She was headed back to New York to deal with her demons; alone.

She had the security team take a detour to the community garden to bid each of the children goodbye. Her heart nearly ripped from her chest looking at the half finished garden and the tiny faces of disappointment. Kaya’s eyes feverishly searched for Max’s face around the garden and on the busy streets as they neared the airport. But he was nowhere to be found.

***

Max watched her board the airplane and then quickly drove off. He wanted to go after her but her words had cut deep into his core. He needed to give her the space she had requested, even if it wasn’t what he wanted.
Let her go Max. You survived losing her the first time. You can do this again. She’s stubborn and wants to handle this situation alone, give her the space.

He drove around the city and walked along the historic waterfront called
The Battery
staring out at the water. He wasn’t a small city guy but something about this charming city made him feel at home, at least it did when Kaya was there. When he couldn’t look out into the deep waters anymore he hopped into his car and headed to the community garden. He needed to feel the earth in hands, but more importantly he needed to be somewhere they had shared laughs and memories.

The garden seemed different when he arrived. It was still far from being completed but yesterday the project felt doable. Today he could only see dirt. His mood actually lifted when he saw the children. They leaped with joy the moment he stepped out of the car. His heart melted. They all had questions about Princess Kaya but Max politely ignored them, giving them new assignments. When his favorite, obsessive royal subject with red hair tugged on his leg and requested to be his special assistant, he willingly agreed.

For hours he dug and pulled at the earth. When the children had retired for the day Max continued to toil away at the ground. He was tired of letting down those he cared about so deeply, he needed to be someone different. Someone others could depend upon. It was well after 8 pm when he finally decided to call it a night. He reached in his pocket and saw he had several missed office calls. He didn’t care about work at the moment, he needed to be away from everything, especially his thoughts. Max packed up his tools and placed them in his car. Then, he headed to the last place he wanted to be. The beach house.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Kaya didn’t have any room to breathe. Each time she stepped out of her apartment someone was lurking close to her. Two massive military looking men stood outside of her door at all times monitoring every movement in the building.

Kaya wanted to get her life back to normal, or at least as normal as it could be. On the third day of her return she went back to work. She needed something to distract her, anything to take her mind off of the last couple of months. Work seemed different now. As much as she loved seeing her patients, the joy she once had for her career had slipped away. It wasn’t as if she didn’t love what she did anymore, she just yearned for something more. At night, each night, she cried in her lonely bed, missing the garden, missing Charleston, but most importantly missing Max.

***

The sudden knock on her apartment door aggravated her. She couldn’t imagine it being the security team, she already completed her mandatory four check-ins that night. So who could be possibly be at her door?

“He’s back!” Angela shouted pushing her way into her best friend’s apartment. She looked nervous and frazzled.

“Who’s back?” Kaya said trying to sound interested.

“Kyle Parker.”

“W-What?” Kaya giggled hysterically as she plopped down her on couch. The mere mention of the boy they obsessed over in college sent her mind to a quiet peaceful place, a place that didn’t remind of her Max.

“How do you know?” She asked, popping some chocolate covered raisins into her mouth.

“Today, my assignment editor at the station asked me if I attended Columbia University the same year as Kyle Parker.” She paused to gain her composure.

“I told him yes. He then assigned the story to me. Me!”

“What story?”

“The story about how a kid from Brooklyn turned his simple dream into a multi-million dollar empire.” She said with aggravation in her voice.

“ANGIE, this is great! I would love to see Kyle again.”

“Hell no, not me.”

Angela hated Kyle. She hated him so much that Kaya couldn’t remember the last time they had actually spoken his name. Kyle Parker was now a brilliant investment banker who made millions on real estate deals around the country. But Kaya and Angela knew him before all of that. While in college, the three had established an unbreakable friendship after Kyle had caught them stalking him during their first semester, freshman year. Kaya had gotten over the silly crush but for Angela, it was much more than infatuation. The signs had been there, even Kaya thought he desired her, but their whole relationship had turned awkward the night Angela confessed her heart, only to have the attractive upperclassman turn her down flatly. Kyle tried to make things right but Angela’s ego had been destroyed and she vowed never to speak to him again. After that, the friendship between the three became difficult, causing a rift in their pact. Kyle eventually graduated and the years passed. They rarely spoke of him, until now.

“Breathe Angie!” Kaya stated stroking her long blonde tresses.

“That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have to interview the man who broke your heart.” The moment the words exited her mouth she knew Kaya was thinking about Max.

“I’m sorry Kaya. I promise I didn’t mean any harm. ” Angela said pressing her hand to her friends shoulder.

“I know you didn’t. Look, I’m fine. Max is no longer in my life. I’m good with that.”
She lied.
She needed to change the subject, she needed to focus on something different.

“So when is the big interview? I know you want me there for moral support.” Angela jumped into her friends arms. Kaya needed the embrace.

“In a few days Kaya. They are still working out the details but I already started doing all my homework.” Angela jumped to her feet and ripped open a dozen shopping bags. Yeah, she had done her shopping wardrobe homework, she was going to make him damn the minute and curse the hour he told her no.

“Kyle Parker will pay, of that I am sure.” They both laughed, but deep down Angela was afraid as hell.

***

It was an unusually warm day at the garden. Max was in a bad mood and his patience was running thin. He had arrived at the garden earlier than he normally did to keep his mind occupied on other things. It wasn’t working. The disturbing call, the night before from Eric, the head of the security firm, had him on pins and needles.

The unwelcomed news that Kaya’s stalker had been spotted two blocks from her apartment wasn’t the type of information he was paying for. He was tired of listening to the experts. Obviously, neither his expensive team nor law enforcement had a clue how to handle this situation. So far, Max hadn’t called in any legal favors to get the jerk locked up but he was going to push that button if things didn’t go his way soon.
What was the point of being an expert attorney and a millionaire if you couldn’t use your power once in a while?

The phone rang.

“Mr. King please don’t panic but we haven’t been able to spot Donald Stevens since yesterday.”

Max didn’t respond at first. He tossed the shovel on the ground then spoke.

“I’m coming home!”

Fear and anger swept through him like a tornado making landfall. He needed to get back to NY quickly but wouldn’t leave the garden without letting the children know he would return. He hugged them all and then provided the director with some much needed funds for the recreational center. His job in Charleston was done for the moment, but a promise was a promise and he would return.

Next stop, home!

***

Kaya checked her clock. It was just after 7pm and she was exhausted and hungry. She had been unable to grab a bite to eat all day because the line for care had been wrapped around the corner from the moment she arrived. She had so many new patients that she could hardly remember all of their names. Thank goodness the center now had a roster of qualified medical staff, which meant better care for those less fortunate.

Max’s anonymous support had transformed the once mediocre facility into a highly functioning center, one that she was proud to be associated with. His generous support had continued even after the first donation and it didn’t stop even after she returned to New York. Kaya felt horrible, she had failed to keep up with her end of their arrangement but he hadn’t faltered on his promise. A part of her wished that he had. She was desperately looking for reasons to hate him, but she had none.

From the corner of her eye she spotted two new members of the security detail. They eyed her closely. The moment her attacker had been spotted three blocks from her apartment, Kaya wasn’t even allowed to go to the bathroom without an officer outside of the door. She should have been petrified, scared out of her mind, but oddly enough she wasn’t, her mind was far away in a city by the sea.

She scrubbed her hands, clocked out, tossed on a sweater and grabbed her purse. As soon as she stepped outside, the security officers were hot on her heels, but it didn’t bother her. She was glad to be heading home.

When she finally arrived in front of her building, her eyes narrowed in on a familiar face. Her heart dropped the moment he turned to look at her.

It was Max and he looked angry.
What the hell was he doing here? When did he get back?

She approached him cautiously but every part of her body wanted to be in his protective arms.

She took a deep breath then spoke. “Hi Max, what are you doing here?”

“Kaya, I’ve tried to give you the space you requested but your apartment isn’t safe. At this point, I’m not asking I’m telling you to pack a bag and come stay with me at my condo.” He took a deep breath trying to control his temper then spoke again. “I’m sorry, let me try this differently. Please Kaya, I would sleep a lot better knowing you are there with me so I can keep an eye on this situation,” he huffed and then exhaled.

Max had expected for her to kick, scream, yell and fight all the way to Midtown Manhattan but instead she just nodded in approval.

“Thank you! I will make sure you have all the privacy and space you need.” The large puffy circles underneath his eyes clearly told her that he hadn’t slept in days. She could see the look of hurt and anger on his face and he wasn’t trying to hide one emotion.

“Eric will help you pack your items then he has explicit directions to escort you to my condo. If you need anything else let me know and I will have those items delivered to you. As for work, I was informed you had returned two days ago. I’ve asked the security team to add additional agents at Brooklyn Cares. I promise Kaya this isn’t a prison sentence, this situation will be resolved soon and then I will leave you alone as you requested.” Max didn’t say another word. He walked to his car, James closed the door behind him, and he was gone.

As soon as he left, Kaya bolted into her building, ran up the stairs, around the officers then slammed her apartment door. She was thankful not a soul was inside because the moment the door closed she collapsed on the floor and cried.

CHAPTER NINE

Oh my God!

His condo wasn’t a condo it was a house sitting on top of one of the tallest buildings in Midtown Manhattan. The private elevator to his penthouse suite was equipped with high definition security touch screens. Eric quickly registered Kaya’s hand into the system then they rode to his home. It was enormous.

Kaya knew he was wealthy but never had any idea just how wealthy he was. Max’s penthouse was a sprawling 6 bedroom layout that had a colossal outdoor deck with a pool, a private fifteen person theater, fully equipped weight room and high tech kitchen with a Subzero refrigerator. It was beautiful. Kaya’s eyes tried to drink in the entire mansion in the sky, but were interrupted by Max’s presence.

“Thank you Eric. I got it from here.” Eric placed her bags in the center of the room and then exited on the elevator.

Max was dressed in casual clothes. He wore a simple, dusty red fitted sweater and dark denim jeans. But her mind kept racing to the last time she saw him, in just a tousled sheet. His sweet, masculine scent was drawing her in like a moth to a flame but she had to keep her distance and composure.

Looking into his restless eyes, Kaya asked, “Where should I take my things?” Max looked away.