Chapter 8

KIMBERLY'S POV "Kimberly, wait!" Daniel called after me, his voice echoing down the hall as I tried to walk away. My step froze in mid-movement with his words, the muscles of my hands instinctively flexing into clenched fists at my sides. "What do you want now, Daniel?" I asked, turning back toward him. He strode closer; in the casual length of his stride, he raised his hands as if to illustrate that he was not a threat. His face went gentle, and for that quick flying second, I almost felt convinced by the sincerity shining forth in his gaze. Almost. "I'm sorry," he said in that low, quiet tone. "I know I've been. too much in the past. But I've been thinking about everything, and I realize I made mistakes. I just want to talk-really talk.” I crossed my arms over my chest, leveling him with a glare. "You're sorry?" I said skeptically. "You mean you're sorry because I won't come running back to you?” He shook his head, his forehead furrowing as if the words had caused an ache. "No, Kimberly, I mean it; I want to make it right between us. I miss you.” Anger, shock, and even a thread of resentment seemed to well deep within my chest as I stepped backward, a cool evening breeze between us allowing space. "You truly believe an apology will make things as they were, Daniel? It doesn't just work that way.” “Kimberly, I'm serious," he repeated, a shade of desperation creeping into his voice. "I've changed. I've been patient with you-more patient than I have ever been with anyone. Doesn't that mean anything?" I laughed coldly, mirthless, the sound slicing through the tension. "Patience? You call stalking and harassing me patience?” His jaw flexed, and in that one passing second, the mask slipped, the arrogance oozed out. "I've given you more chances than I'd give any other woman, Kimberly. Do you think I'd be after wasting me time on a chase with some inconsequential woman? "Wow," I said, heavy sarcasm dripping off my voice, "I am honored to be that girl that you picked to patronize and possess. Can you hear yourself, Daniel?" His face hardened; the sincerity of his expression folded into frustration. "I'm only trying to say I care about you. Why can't you see that?” “Because you care toxically,” I blew up. “If you actually cared about me, you'd have respected my boundaries instead of trying to tell me what I should and shouldn't do.” He hemmed me in, and the timbre of his voice fell to a low threat. "You really think you are better than me, huh? And where did you get that stupid ring you are wearing?” I smiled, and my hand rose to flash the gold band on my finger out proudly. "This stupid ring means I have moved on, Daniel. I'm married. Why don't you go play with your prostitutes and leave me well enough alone?" His eyes flashed to the ring and then his gaze narrowed, stabbed into me with a sneer curled in the bend of his lips. "Married?" he scorned. "Oh, that's rich. You really expect me to believe that?" I rolled my eyes and shoved past him. "Believe whatever you want. Just stay out of my life." ****************** I was a nervous wreck by the time I got home. I flung my bag onto the couch and dropped down beside it, letting out a long frustrated sigh. The last thing I needed now was Daniel showing up and stirring some memories that were better left forgotten. A hum on the coffee table proved to be only my phone, which I leapt for as a kind of salvation. It showed a backlit Jane in bright letters and I couldn't but burst out smiling as I pressed the green button. "Jane," he said, melting further back into the cushion. "Long time no talk." "Too long," she replied, her voice instant, warm water. "I am just back from that on-site inspection on new construction site. I have missed you!” "Missed you too," I replied, very much truthfully. "How was it?” "Tiring," she admitted. "But enough about me-what about you? I'm beginning to get left behind." I was stuck, but the first word came out to be, "It's complex." There was an edge in Jane's voice now. "Complicated how? Spill it, Kim. You know I don't do vague things." “A lot has happened. I don't even know where to start from.” “Okay, we need to talk-like, face-to-face," Jane said. "Meet me at the bar tonight. I need to hear this whole story, start to finish." "Jane-" "No excuses," she cut in. "You owe me this. I've been stuck in a construction site hell for weeks. Let me live vicariously through your drama." I knew I wasn't going to win this argument."Okay. Fine. I'll meet you at the bar." Sitting opposite Jane, in a nook of the corner booth at our favorite bar later that night as I related all events, my scheming family, my breakup with Daniel and getting kicked out of the house.” When I was done, she leaned back in her chair, wide-eyed. "Kim, that's insane; I just can't believe your family would do that to you." I shrugged and took another sip from my drink. "That's just them. Long ago, I stopped expecting more from them than what I receive." Jane's face darkened. "And Daniel, ugh, don't even get me started on that creep. If I ever see him, I swear I'll rip his dick off." I spat out half my drink, choked halfway through swallowing, couldn't help it, burst into a fit of laughter. "Thanks for the image, Jane.” “Of course,” she suddenly said, tone flat, “You are worth so much more than what those losers have been using you for, you mean a lot more than the whole of what they would amount to. Her words felt very assuring, and I quickly stretched over the table and pulled on her hand. "Thanks, Jane, really that means a lot". “So do you have a place to stay? Or you want to crash at my place till you get yourself settled?” I laughed and shook my head. "Okay. You remember how I said something about an agreement concerning marriage between my family and the Ravenwoods?" "Yeah, the arranged marriage thing," she returned. "What about it?" "Well," I dragged the word out. "I married Xavier." Jane spit out her drink and stared at me with wide eyes, then an incredulous voice came across the line from Jane. "Wait, what? You are married?" "Surprise," I said dryly. "What the hell, Kimberly? When were you planning on telling me this?" "It just happened recently," I explained. "I'm still adjusting." Jane whistled low. "Adjusting? Girl, you have some explaining to do. You're married to Xavier Ravenwood. That's a big deal.” "Trust me, I know," I said, rubbing my temples. "It's not exactly a fairy tale, though. There's a lot going on. I just have to endure whatever comes out of it.”