Kimberly looked at her wrist watch and sighed.
Okay, maybe deciding to finish work before going to her father's house was a bad idea. It was her father's birthday and he had invited a few friends to a party at his house.
The last thing she had wanted to do was miss her father's birthday. But it from the look of things, she was going to be late. But at least she had bought a gift.
She groaned as her phone rang. She checked the caller ID. It was her father. He was obviously calling to know where the hell she was. She pick the call and held the phone to her ear using her shoulder.
"Hi dad" she said, trying to sound cheerful as she tried to concentrate on the file in front of her and listen to her father at the same time.
"Where are you, pumpkin?" her father sounded unhappy and Kimberly groaned again. She hated when he sounded like that.
"You are not really going to miss my birthday, are you?" her father asked.
"I will be there soon, Dad. I promise" Kimberly said. "Has the party started?"
"Yes it has" her father replied. Sounding even more distressed —if that was possible. "And you should have been here before it did".
Kimberly nodded. She knew he was right. "I'm on my way, Dad. She said."Just give me some time"
When she hung up she sighed and looked at the papers scattered all over her desk. She couldn't even remember why she had made the decision to finish with work in the first place. She shouldn't place anything before family. And her dad was her only family. He should come first. Especially today.
She began to pack up. She arranged the files and stacked them on top of her table. Then she grabbed her jacket, which was draped on her chair head rest. She grabbed her bag and headed downstairs.
Most of the the staff had gone home so the premises was almost empty except for the security guards around. She waved goodbye to one of the guards, Philip as she got into her car.
She had to hurry home and get dressed. She didn't mind showing up at the party in her work clothes. She didn't care about such things, but her father did. And it was his birthday. It wouldn't cause any harm to do things his way tonight, especially now that she was late.
She got to her apartment and parked her car. Then she rushed upstairs. Searching her bag for her keys all the way to her door.
"Ha, found it" she said with relief as she withdrew it from her bag.
But as she reached forward to slid her key in the lock, she paused.
Something was wrong.
-----------------
She wanted to scream. But she didn't.
Her door was slightly open. The lock had been tampered with. It wasn't too noticeable and she only noticed because she had pushed the door when she tried to slid her key in. Kimberly lifted one hand to her mouth and bit her lower lip. Someone had gotten into her house.
She pushed the door open and looked inside. Everything looked fine... Just like she left it. Perhaps the thieves had taken what they wanted and left. What could they be after? She asked herself.
She walked inside and looked around. Everything was intact. She rushed to her room... Still intact. She went to the drawer beside her bed where she kept some cash. The money was still there.
She stood upright, clearly confused. Then she walked back into the living room. If the person or people who broke into her house didn't take anything. What could they have been after? She wondered.
Her mind drifted back to the weird feeling that she had been having. Maybe it was a stalker. She thought. Finally showing himself or herself.
She picked her phone from the table where she had dropped it, intending to call the police. A noise behind her made her start. She turned to see a man standing behind her. His hair was dyed green and he had narrow, wicked eyes.
Kimberly looked at him closely. She had never seen the guy in her entire life.
"Drop the phone, pretty" he said with a wicked smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Kimberly didn't move. Her phone was still in her hand and it was still locked. The man wasn't holding a gun, but that didn't mean he couldn't harm her. She looked to her right. Her door was still slightly open, so she made a run for it.
Only she hadn't taken more than two steps when wicked eyes grabbed her. He pulled her down on the couch and fell on top of her. Her phone fell from her hand and he shoved his knee between her legs.
"Where the hell is this mother fucker?" he said and Kimberly wondered what the hell he was talking about. The man was definitely crazy. She thought. Well she wasn't going to let him do whatever he planned to do without a fight.
With massive effort, she brought her knee up and jabbed him in the groin. He groaned in pain and let go of her. But apparently she didn't hit him hard enough because as she jumped up from the couch, he caught her and hit her across the face.
While she was still reeling, he slammed her back down, pinning her with his hand.
Barely conscious of her face anymore, she stared wordlessly. Blackness threatened, the room seemed to tilt.
"Bitch" wicked eyes said. He grabbed the front of her shirt. Buttons flew. Kimberly screamed. A loud, blood curdling sound that filled the space between them. Kept on screaming until he shoved a hand, the one he had been using to pin her down, across her mouth. She bit him, hard, and struggled into a sitting position.
"Listen to me, damn it" she said. He pushed her, but she shook herself free. "Just listen to me. Look, I have money, okay? My dad has money. And I can give you any amount you want. Just leave me alone and I won't even try to call the cops"
"Oh for God's sake." Wicked face swore. He hit her again. "Shut up, Bitch. I said shut up" He looked around. "Where the fuck is that bastard?"
Kimberly felt something warm trickle from her mouth. Her lip was starting to swell. She saw his distraction as an opportunity. She jabbed him in the groin again, using all the strength she could muster this time. He let her go as he groaned in pain. Then she got up and ran to the door.
She yanked it open, but she ran straight into another strange man. She was about to scream again when the second man put something over her nose and mouth.
The last thing she thought before she inhaled the sweet, sticky smell and everything went blank was that her Dad was going to be so, so worried.
He took her hand in his and squeezed her fingers. "Kimberly, are you telling the truth? Do you really love me? Because if you don't, I can't make it. You are my world. This is killing me"She leaned forward and pulled him close. Then he was on the bed and they were kissing as if they had a lifetime to make up for."Of course I love you" she wispererd as she pressed her mouth against his lips, his cheeks, his chin. "I have been calling every week, trying to tell you""I know. James recorded the calls and forwarded them to me. I couldn't stand listening to them and I couldn't stop playing them over and over. I needed it all to me true, even as I told myself it couldn't be""Stubborn man" she said contentedly. "Do you believe me now?""I have to. I need to be with you" he touched her face. "I believe you. I love, Kimberly. I don't deserve you and you can do a hell of a lot bette
It was nearly nine when she picked up her phone to make her weekly call to James. She had gotten in the habit of calling him at night, so that when they finished she could curl up in bed and pretend that Asher had heard every word. That he cared about her and that it was killing him to be so far away from her.At what point did she let go? She wondered. Asher had been concerned that her feelings weren't real, that they were only circumstances. How could she prove otherwise to a man who refused to speak with her or see her? Was he really trying to give her space he thought she needed or did he not care about her? Was her love one sided?Six months, she told herself. She would give him the six months he had offered her. On that date, she would call for the last time. She would also tell James about the baby. She had hoped to tell Asher herself, but if he refused to talk to her, there was little she could do."But that is n
He stepped back and studied her, then rubbed his thumb against her cheek. "My beautiful baby girl. What did he do to you?" he asked.She covered her hand with his. "Not so much as you would think" she replied."But what he did to you. I can't believe that he kidnapped you. Yet it's all true. He is in jail, you know. As are the people who worked for him."Kimberly led the way to the sofa and set next to her father. "It's a lot to take in" she said."Too much. He fooled us all" His mouth twisted. "I'm so sorry you tried to explain to me on the phone and I wasn't listening." He pulled her close. "I will never forgive myself for that""You can't blame yourself, dad" Kimberly said. "He was your close friend, for God knows how long. I understand if you couldn't believe it at first"Her father grimaced. "That's still not enough reason. I just hope you know just how sorry I am a
"Asher, I...." she began.He pressed his fingers to her mouth. "Don't say anything, Kimberly. You don't have to""Yes, I do" Kimberly said. "You saved me... Again. Not just from Christopher. But you showed me that I was tough and capable""You always knew that. You always have been" Asher replied."Maybe, but I never had to prove it before" She shrugged. "I shot you""Good for you. You did what you had to in order to survive.. To save your father""Oh right. I ran straight to the enemy""You didn't know that. The point is you needed to escape from me and you did" he said.His casual acceptance of her actions made her heart sick. "I should have trusted you""We have been over that" he leaned close and kissed her forehead. "The reality of all this is you haven't even known me for long. In a dangerous situation, everything is heightene
"I will get you, you bitch!" Christopher screamed at Kimberly. His face turned red and his eyes seemed to bug out. "This is all your fault. I will get you, and when I do, I will make you wish you were dead. You hear me?"The last of her reserves faded. At that moment, Kimberly couldn't take one more thing. She felt weak. She handed the phone to Asher."Talk to my dad. Maybe you can make him understand. He's not listening to me" she said.Then she grabbed for a chair as her legs gave out and she fainted.------------------------Kimberly finished packing her clothes. She had already put her laptop in it's case and cleared out the bathroom. There wasn't all that much left to do, which meant she had no excuse to linger. But she desperately wanted to see Asher before she left.James had said something about him dropping by, but he hadn't been specific. Kimberly had a feeling that if she
She was living on borrowed time, as well but somehow that mattered less. If he killed her this second, she would have only two regrets. First, that she wouldn't be around to help those adorable kids anymore, and second, that Asher would always believe that she hadn't trusted him or cared for him at all.----------------------------Kimberly rode the elevator in silence, then stepped out in the elegant foyer and asked for Damon Forbes."I'm sorry" the lady they spoke to told her. "Mr Forbes is on vacation. Did you have an appointment?"Kimberly turned to Christopher. "Did you make an appointment?" she asked him.He nodded. "Paul Nelson is handling the transaction""Then Mr Nelson" Kimberly said."Of course. I will tell him you are here" she waited politely for their names.Christopher put his arm around Kimbe