Chapter 5

KIMBERLY'S POV The shrill ringing of my phone woke me the next morning. Blinking against the sun streaming in between the curtains, I looked squinting at the screen, it was Dad. My stomach somersaulted. I should have just ignored the call, but Dad will really just continue to keep calling. With a soft resigned sigh, I reached for and answered it, ready to take on any tongue-lashing. "Kimberly!" my father's voice exploded from the speaker. No hello. No preamble. Just anger. "What have you done? Do you realize the mess you have created? Xavier Ravenwood no longer wants Madison!" I sat up in bed frowning. "I don't know what you're talking about," I returned coldly though my heart was racing. “Don't play dumb with me,” he snarled, “Xavier was to marry Madison. It was arranged. But now, through you, he has rid himself of her once and for all. I'm not sure you understand exactly what this will do to us, the Harringtons.” I rolled my eyes, very much aware he couldn't see me. "You mean where your business is concerned, of course. Since that is the only thing that's ever mattered to you." “Enough of your attitude!" my father yelled, "If not Xavier, then you shall marry Daniel. We have spoken to him, and he agreed to overlook this little tantrum of yours. Now, this will save the reputation and economy of our family, too. You do what you're told!” Couldn't help it, that wasn't funny at all, at all. "You don't get it, do you? I'm not part of your family anymore. I have cut ties with all of you. I am not going to marry Daniel just because you feel that will help your business." My father's voice was cold, menacing suddenly. "If you keep up this attitude, Kimberly, we pull the plug on that credit card of yours. You will have nothing.” "Fine," I said shortly, even toned. "I don't need anything from you." I didn't give him any more chances but to hang up. I heaved a deep breath, which, I, till then hadn't realised I had been holding inside. Not that the weight upon my chest loosened any, knowing full well that this was not going to be the last time they dialed me. Much later that morning, it was one of my professors this time who called me down, Mrs. Tatum. “Kimberly," she said, warm and friendly as always, "I wanted to let you know about the upcoming costume design contest. I think you should enter." "Me?" I questioned, not really believing that I had any chance of success whatsoever. "Don't doubt yourself," she said convincingly. "You have this gift, this differentness. This is just that chance which will help you show it to everybody. The theme happens to be Reimagining Elegance, and I know you have this.” I did, but a flicker deep inside lit. "Thank you, Mrs. Tatom. I'll think about it." It wasn't until afterwards when it was all over that I was able to say my lines in my head, pacing up and down. Was this reality, a reality that I actually could handle? I tried to bring it up as casually as possible when Xavier came back from the meeting, because right up to this day, my head reeled at the argument that had just taken place between Dad and me just then. Xavier sat in the living room, loosening his tie as he sank into the couch opposite me. "So," I began, "there's this costume design contest.” He did raise an eyebrow-interest piqued. "A design contest? Are you entering?" "I'm thinking about it," I said. "But…" "But?" Xavier pressed, leaning a little forward. I took a deep breath. "The thing is, I have been designing for years, but no one ever knows. My parents didn't even recognize my work. Actually… " I trailed off, unsure if I should say this. But something in the way Xavier was looking at me, looking and listening, not just hearing, made me go on. "Some of their best-selling designs? They were mine. I had to send them in anonymously.” His eyes darkened, his jaw flexed. "They stole your credit?" I nodded. "It was the only way they'd use my designs. Irrelevant to today, how it came to be. I am done living in a hole; I want a name and I want people to know me, but on my own terms." The lines softened, his lips tugging into a faint smile. "Good you should. You seem to be a pretty talented artist, and it's time that the world sees that themselves." But the one good thing to come out of it, which was, warming I'm still not sure, from the encouragement "Thanks," I said, my voice soft. "You should enter that contest. Let me know if you need any help, I'm willing to sponsor you." And I smiled, and this little determination lit in my chest. ************* Later that afternoon, he took me to the courthouse to register our marriage and sign the contract. Of course, it was surreal just standing there next to him while some clerk processed our papers. It was a mild contract,more or less, just for a year, until we could be free to divorce if it didn't go as we wanted. Of course, it didn't; but knowing that end existed was sort of a twisted comfort. After the last paper had been signed, Xavier turned to me, his face unreadable. "Ready to become Mrs. Ravenwood?” I rolled my eyes, and tugged the corners of my mouth up a little. "Ready as I'll ever be.” When we finally did make our way back home, it seemed that Xavier was hell-bent on cooking supper. I sat at the kitchen table and bit the inside of my cheek as he lurched about uncomfortably, his fingers astonishingly deft as he used his knife and cutting board. "I wouldn't have pegged you for a chef," I joked, leaning against the counter. "There's lots you don't know about me," he replied snickering. We chatted amicably while we ate, and for what seemed like the first time in forever, I felt… relaxed. Safe. But that wasn't to last. Much later, I showered in my room alone, the hot water massaging tense muscles, the stresses of the day washing off me. I had wrapped a towel around myself as I emerged from the bathroom, steam swirling all over my body. I went rigid, frozen in the middle of an action. He was in my room, Xavier, his back to me, laying a neat, folded set of jammies on the bed. "Xavier!" I yelped, my arms clamping the towel tightly to my body. He turned slowly, his eyes locking onto mine. For a moment he looked startled. Then his gaze traveled down my damp hair, bare shoulders to the towel wrapped barely covering me. His eyes darkened and the playful smirk suddenly twisted into an intense one. "Kimberly…," he said low, almost growly. I was stuck to the spot, unable to move an inch, as he continued staring at me, his tongue darting out to run across his lips, a cold shiver running down my spine. What was happening?