: - : Love Conquers All : - :
: : : Chapter 14: Framed : : :
As Kevin and Lucy had their backs turned, Jeremy had snuck into their hotel room unnoticed. Kevin and Lucy had no idea, and continued to 'The Coral Reef, completely unaware of the current situation. They walked over to sit at a small table by the door, facing the bar, to wait for their actual dinner table to be cleared and ready. Kevin slid the chair out for Lucy, and seated her comfortably, then sat down himself, like a complete gentleman. He smiled at her. He noticed however, that Lucy seemed a bit strange tonight, as if something were bothering her. She wasn't her usual perky, upbeat self. More strange, she was rather quiet as well. "Lucy, are you feeling all right?" he asked her, concern evident in his voice.
"Oh, yes, I'm fine. Really, I am," she said, nodding. He didn't buy it.
"Really Lucy, if something is bothering you, I wish you'd tell me. I love you and you know you can talk to me anything, especially if you're not feeling well," he said gently.
"I'm fine! Can't you let it be?" she snapped, then realizing she had been a little harsh, apologized. "I'm sorry Kevin. I…Can you excuse me for a moment while I use the ladies' room?" He nodded and said, "While you're gone I'll get us some drinks from the bar." She headed for the washroom. He nonchalantly walked up to the bar, sat down, and waited for the bartender. As he was sitting at the bar, a young woman came up to him and started flirting with him. Kevin ordered drinks for Lucy and himself, and as he waited for them to be made, the woman continued her flirting.
"My name's Liz. You're really strong and so handsome. Do you work out?" she said licking her lips. 'Oh brother,' he thought to himself. Liz constantly kept checking the hall leading to the women's restrooms, and Kevin was getting irritated by her insistent sweet talking. He was married, and she had the nerve to flirt with a married man. He stared at his wedding band, in an attempt to ignore this Liz woman. He loved Lucy and only Lucy. What was taking Lucy so to come back?
Liz had not let up with her flirting, and she was now touching his arm. "Can't you see I'm married? What is your problem?" Kevin said angrily. Finally, their drinks were ready, and he noticed Liz take one last hasty glance at the washrooms. Liz saw that Lucy was returning and was approaching Kevin at the bar. "Thanks but n-," was all he could finish before Liz jerked Kevin's face to her own and kissed him intensely. He immediately shoved her off, as Lucy cried, "Oh my God."
"Lucy, wait!" Kevin called after her as she ran out of the restaurant with tears streaming down her face.
"Get away from me! Leave me alone!" she screamed. He grabbed her arm and whirled her around to face him.
"Lucy, please, let me explain," he pleaded. She stared at him with an icy glare.
"I love you, Kevin, and you said you loved me too! Then you go and kiss some woman in a bar? How could you do this to me!" she cried angrily.
"Lucy, I-," he began. She swiftly cut him off.
"I trusted you. I married you, and we took a vow, Kevin. Doesn't that mean anything to you! Because it means the world to me," she cried, choking back another torrent of tears. She turned sharply and left him standing there, as she hurried into the elevator, pressing the button to the floor of which their room was on.
Kevin angrily stormed back into the restaurant and slumped onto a bar stool. 'How could she not believe me? What is wrong with her lately? She wouldn't even listen to me! If she wants to push me away, fine. I hope she doesn't expect me to come chasing after her when she's the one who stormed off on me,'he thought angered and upset that she had not trusted him or let him give his side of the situation. He sat at the bar with his hands over his face, replaying the whole last five minutes over and over again in his mind.
Liz had been watching the two the whole time as she grasped a crisp fifty dollar bill. Then she walked into the women's restroom, pulled out her cell phone, and dialed.
"Hey, how did it go, baby?" came the question from a despicable voice.
"Everything you asked for has happened, Jeremy, okay? Now where's my other fifty bucks you promised?"
"Who cares? Is Lucy coming up here?" he spat.
"You mean his wife? Yeah, she should be. Last time I saw her she was on her way up in the elevator to floor number thirteen."
"Excellent," he whispered callously, quickly hanging up his cell phone. His plan had worked. And he smiled nastily, knowing that she had absolutely no clue what she was in for.