CHAPTER THREE - SHE'S BACK AND SHE WANTS ME

I looked at my phone in a daze.

Somehow, Caleb’s mom’s tirade did not surprise me. Caleb’s mom did not like me, but she could not do anything three years ago to stop Caleb from marrying me. 

But even so, she would let her disgust of me froth her mouth every time Caleb brings me to her home.

She did not want a lowly secretary for his son’s wife.  

Shaking my head from my trance, I went to the bathroom to do my morning rituals and then got down. 

 “You look like h*ll." Mrs. West looked worried as she ran her eyes over my face. 

Feeling self-conscious, I tried to evade her scrutiny and  asked what was on my mind.   

“Have you seen Caleb?” 

“He left very early this morning.” She replied. 

Then,  in a kinder tone, she added,  “Did something happen, Cassy?” 

I shook my head.  Until now, I still could not wrap my head around the idea that Caleb is divorcing me. 

Turning around, I went back in the direction of the staircase.  “What about breakfast, Cassy?” Mrs. West’s voice held me up. 

“I have a breakfast appointment, Mrs. West.” I said.  

“Be sure to eat, Cassy. Remember that you are eating for two now.” She reminded me.

I nodded, feeling stifled because of the lie I concocted.  If Mrs. West knew what I was thinking, I am sure she would try to stop me.  But I can’t be stopped. 

I needed to confront my husband.  I am not letting go without putting up a fight. 

Thirty minutes later, I found myself in front of Kingston Enterprises,  the building houses one of the largest businesses in Glendale - the Kingston Conglomerate, where Caleb sits at the helm. 

It was nearing lunchtime.

I hunched my back, trying to be unobtrusive as I entered the building but two security guards blocked my path and almost immediately stopped me for inspection.   “Where to Miss?” 

I groaned in my head when I had almost forgotten about the strict security protocol implemented at Kingston Enterprises.  

Since we secretly got married, I stopped working for Caleb and concentrated on working on my reproductive health.  My doctor, Tony Richardson advised me to lay it low for a while to focus on preparing my body for pregnancy.  

No one knew I existed outside of our home.

“I need to see, Mr. Kingston,” I said in my most glacial tone, trying to appear confident despite how my knees quake in fear. 

The guard looked me up and down. 

“And may I ask about your purpose for meeting with our boss?”  He asked, not the least bit intimidated by my show of confident aura. 

“I am his wife.” 

An unusual silence greeted my pronouncement while the guard looked at me in disbelief.  I even heard a snort of disgust from somewhere. 

“Our boss is the most elusive bachelor in Glendale.  You must have mistaken him for the other Kingston.” He told me and asked to leave the entrance passable for others. 

“You have to believe me.  I really am Caleb Kingston’s wife.” A surge of urgency filled my voice as I tried to convince them. 

There were exclamations of surprise around me, but the two guards remained unperturbed. 

“Miss, do you know how many women come here every day to claim that they are our boss’s wife or girlfriend? Some even claimed that our boss knocked them up.”  He asked, none too gently.  

At a loss, I could only reach for my bag for our marriage certificate, but before I could pull it out, I heard a melodious voice behind me, followed by awestruck gasps. 

“Hello boys,  I have an appointment with Mr. Kingston.” She said that made the guards pull their attention away from me and into her. 

My body stiffened when the guards’ stance changed almost immediately, almost bowing down to the newcomer. 

“Ms. Hayes, welcome to Kingston Enterprises.  Mr. Kingston has been expecting you.” The two guards said fawningly, to my chagrin. 

Then, they turned to me with an impatient look, making me feel like a vermin nobody wanted.

“Miss,  can you please step aside and allow Ms. Hayes to pass?”  One of them ordered. 

Grudgingly, I turned around, and retreated to the side of the building near the bushes. It was not far but not far enough to hear some employees interacting with each other after Amanda Hayes left. 

“That’s the kind of girl that matches our boss -graceful, beautiful and classy.” 

“I heard she was his last girlfriend. They broke up when Ms. Hayes left for Paris to pursue her international modeling  career.” 

“Maybe they patched things up. I am sure she was not here for business.” 

Then, they giggled like they knew something others didn't. 

Everything they said seemed to plunge a knife deep into my heart as I pulled at my jacket to keep me warm. 

Even if it was summer, the air was still cold. 

I don’t know how long I remained haunched on that wall until I saw Caleb emerge from the building.  He had a more relaxed air about him, a contrast from his countenance last night. 

Coming up from the shadows, my steps faltered when I saw him turning around to wait for Amanda Hayes.  I saw Caleb’s surprised expression when Amanda Hayes wrapped her arm around his, but he did not pull his hand away.

“Caleb,” I called out. 

His eyes turned glacial when he saw me. 

“What are you doing here?” 

“You know her Caleb?” Amanda Haye’s eyes were fixed on me, trying to gauge my relationship with the man she was with. 

Caleb turned to her and patted her hand.  “She was my former secretary. Can you give me a minute or two? I just need to talk to her.” 

Amanda nodded.  

“I’ll wait for you in the car.” 

I saw her hand squeeze his arm before she sashayed out of our sight and into the direction of the parking lot. 

When she left, Caleb turned to me and said frostily.  “Have you signed it?” 

For a moment, I was confused, but later it dawned on me that he was referring to our divorce agreement. 

I shook my head no.  

Caleb’s eyes narrowed.  “Then, we have nothing to talk about.” He said in a clipped tone and moved toward the direction Amanda Hayes had taken. 

Alarmed, I moved swiftly, spreading my arms wide to block his path. 

“Cassy, do not make a fool of yourself here.” His voice had become strained, and I knew how hard he was trying to hold himself back. Caleb hates public scandals. 

From out of the corner of my eyes, I saw people looking at us and whispering among themselves. 

“Is there any way I could change your mind?” I asked.

Caleb shook his head to affirm what he said last night.  “No.” 

“Is it because of her?” I asked.  

I did not say her name out loud, but we both knew what I was talking about. We were talking about his first love, Amanda Hayes, the woman he was with. 

“She’s back, and she wants me.  I do not want to ruin this chance for anything.”

That hurts.  

Absent-mindedly, I nodded.  “I understand.  Tomorrow, let’s meet at the Civil Affairs Bureau at nine o’clock.” I said before turning away from him.