Page 56 of Kayla's List
Bethany seemed so career driven and ambitious. But this story of hers has more holes in it than a basketball net. She didn’t think this through at all, and it shows. I would pity her if I weren’t a bastard. But I am.
“Ms. Lester, your story isn’t adding up. Would you like to tell us about the conversations you had with Mr. McNair?”
“Anderson… I mean Mr. McNair, wanted to get over his girlfriend, so he asked me back to his home. I turned him down.”
“When did this conversation take place?”
“At the McNair Ball,” Bethany responds confidently, and I smirk. She walked right into the trap. It’s sad really.
“It’s funny that you mention the ball because we have a recording of a conversation of you and Mr. McNair. Would you like to hear the recording?” our lawyer asks calmly, and I take back every bad word I said about him.
“I need to talk to my lawyer privately,” Bethany says, and I smile. Her little charade is over, and we all know it.
“I don’t think that will be necessary. You can drop the complaint, or we can see you in court for defamation of character, slander, as well as character assassination damaging to Mr. McNair’s business.”
“This isn’t even public knowledge! How can you sue me?” Bethany says incredulously.
“Things have a way of leaking, Ms. Lester. You of all people know that.”
* * *
“Maddox Reid,I take back everything I said about you.” I shake our lawyer’s hand.
“Don’t apologize. You haven’t gotten my bill yet.” Maddox’s gray eyes twinkle, and he gives me a wide grin. I can tell this was a walk in the park for him. “Ya’ll have my number if you need anything else,” he says in a thick country accent before smirking and exiting the lobby of the mediation building.
“I know you’re glad that’s over with,” Brady says as he follows me out of the lobby.
“Yeah, I still can’t believe Bethany did this. Like why?” I frown as we make our way to the parking garage of the building.
“Anderson, dude, you can’t be this naïve. Bethany was obsessed with you. She has been after you for years, and you ignored her.” Brady shakes his head, and my frown deepens.
“Bethany wasn’t obsessed with me.” I think back on her odd behavior at the ball. Then my thoughts go a little further, and I begin to remember all of the things she did and said, and it all makes perfect sense.
“Damn! I didn’t even notice,” I say, running a hand through my hair. I was always so busy with work, and then my attention turned from building my company to building a relationship with Kayla. I hardly ever paid much attention to Bethany or any other woman, for that matter.
“Yeah. We all know you only have eyes for Kay. Speaking of which. Did you get her to talk to you yet?” Brady questions, and I nod.
After a week of sending flowers to her home and office, and calling and leaving a good morning, I hope your day is going well, and good night messages, Kayla finally broke down and agreed to meet me for dinner.
I know she knows that Bethany kissed me, and I didn’t callously move onto another woman in front of her. Shelby has been my ally. She told me Warren crashed Kay’s solo date after he’d followed her. It made me feel even worse. But I’m glad Shelby took pity on me and has been keeping me in the loop about everything that’s going on with Kay.
And although the claims that Bethany made didn’t hit the public, I made sure Kayla knew about them. I also made sure she knew about every secret I held when it came to us. I write her letters that are delivered with her morning flowers.
Kayla sends me thank you texts every day, but we haven’t spoken. I know she needs her space, but this time I refuse to let her think that I don’t love or want her. I make sure she knows even if I look like a total fool. I don’t care. If I have to be a fool, then I will be Kayla’s.
“We have a date on Friday.” I try but fail to keep the wide grin from covering my face.
“Thank goodness! I was going to beg her myself if she didn’t give you another chance. Your sulking and overall assholelyness was really getting on my damned nerves,” Brady chuckles, and I throw a scowl in his direction.
“Assholelyness isn’t a word. Dickhead,” I respond with narrowed eyes. “Anyway, why are you worried about me. I saw that preteen you brought to the party.”
“Dude, go to hell. Ally is twenty-three.” Brady waves his hand, and I scoff.
“Like I said, preteen. You’re ten years older than her, what the hell, man? What happened with you and…”
“Anderson, just drop it, man. I’m with Ally now. I’m just having a bit of fun. Relationships aren’t for guys like me.” There’s something in Brady’s tone that makes me drop the subject. Whatever is going on with him, I’m sure he’ll get over it soon.
Once Brady and I get back to the office, I call Kay and leave her an “I can’t wait to see you” voicemail. Now that all the foolishness is behind me, I can really focus on giving her the apology she deserves.