JENNIE
Seeing Kendal's car parked next to mine had my heart racing, my nerves acting wild, and my stomach turning in knots. "Drop me off over there," I pointed, pointing to the other side of the building. "I'm guessing she came back to question me on why your stuff was in my apartment," I sighed.
"Maybe I should park and walk in with you."
I shook my head. "That's okay. I can handle her."
"If she's here to question you about me. I think it would be best for me to be with you. It's time she knows."
I reached and cupped the side of her face and smiled. "I'll be fine. I'm sure Kendal's here about work, anyway.
Otherwise, your phone would have been blowing up with her phone calls and texts. If I need you, I'll call you."
"You can't do this alone. This is my fault. Not yours," Lisa said, removing my hand and kissing my fingers. "I'm the one who got us in this mess, and I should be the one to fix it."
I opened the door, stepped one foot out, then leaned to her and pressed my lips to her. "I'll call you if I need your help."
"Shut the door," she ordered.
"Why?"
"Just get in and close the door."
I did what she asked, then she drove off and parked in the next parking lot across the street. She turned off the car, then turned to me. "Kendal wasn't there to ask you to come back. She went there to snoop. Kendal was sniffing around, trying to find what she was looking for. She's a bloodhound. I'm telling you she saw our reactions that night at the event. After you quit, she gave me the insinuating stink eye look, as if I was the reason you quit. In which I was," she added. "But my phone and bag was out in the open, and I'm sure she saw it. She's putting two and two together. I can't let you face her alone. Not now. You're pregnant."
"Just bring me back to my place. Let me see what Kendal has to say. I'll call you if I need to. I promise," I demanded, crossing my arms. "This may be your mess that you got me in, but with the way, my hormones are acting right now. I'm positive I can handle her."
After her protesting me going to my apartment alone, she finally gave in and drove me back to my place. Before I exited her car, she pulled me to her. "Call if you need my help. I mean it."
I nodded, kissed her lips, then hurriedly exited her car, and took deep breaths, trying to calm myself while walking into my apartment building. First, I checked and grabbed my mail, then as I headed to my place, I kept my eyes and ears on alert, waiting for Kendal to come from behind and attack me.
As I walked down the hallway, I noticed Kendal sitting on the ground, with her back against my door and her head lowered in her hands.
Here we go...
"Kendal?" I quietly questioned as I neared her.
She lifted and turned her head my way, then pushed herself to stand, brushing debris off her clothes. "Hi, Jennie," she quietly said. But I noticed with the way she said my name; she sounded nervous.
"What are you doing here? And how long have you been here?" I asked, sticking my key in the lock and looking her way.
"I've been here for a little while. I really need to talk to you. Do you have a few minutes?"
"Yeah. Sure," I said, unlocking and opening the door. "Come in."
I had her follow me in, and knowing Lisa took all her belongings with her, I walked her over to my dining room table and pulled a chair out for her; then, wanting to be out of her reach, I sat across from her. The only thing blocking us was the table and the roses from Lisa.
My eyes widened after realizing the card was against the vase; I quickly reached for the vase and card, sliding the roses to the side, then quickly took the card before she noticed and placed it underneath my leg.
"So, Kendal," I said, trying not to act nervous. "What did you need to talk about?"
She looked around the room, then stopped when she got to me. "I've been doing a lot of thinking. And there has been something on my mind since the night of the event."
I looked down and squirmed. "Look. Kendal," I started saying until she cut me off, surprising me with her blunt question.
Well, I wasn't surprised, really. I knew this question would come up soon.
"Did you know my wife before the event?"
My heart picked up a little speed. Then, looked away from my hands and up to her, furrowing my brows, asking, "What do you mean?" I had an inkling where she was going with this, but to be sure, I needed to hear what she had to say first before I admitted to something completely different from what she wanted to know.
"I called my wife's work earlier and talked with her assistant. She mentioned she had called, saying she wouldn't be in for a few days since she had to go out of town."
"And what does this have to do with me?"
She scratched her head with a confused look on her face, then folded her hands together. "I asked her right out if she thought she was cheating on me. Her answer was not that she knew of. And then I asked if she had any women coming there to see her. Again, her answer was she has many women who come and see her, but she then went on to say there was one in particular that had recently been coming in. A beautiful woman with long orange haired with chinita hazelnut eyes."
Shit.
I slowly and very discreetly gulped. "And?"
"The description reminded me of you. And then it came to me. When I introduced you to my wife the night of the event, you both looked surprised to see each other. So my question is. Do you know my wife? And if you do, how long have you known her?.
So this is why Lisa said she had to talk with Sorn. Kendal is the reason she wants to fire her. Damn it!
"I had no clue she was your wife until you introduced us that night, as for the description of me seeing her at the office. I was there. Twice."
She cleared her throat, sat straight, then shook her head, trying to get her hair behind her. "Excuse me? You went to see my wife?"
"I didn't go there knowing she was your wife. I went to the realty office looking for a realtor. I want out of this tiny apartment and into something much bigger, so she took me to a couple of showings," I said, knowing I had to admit something. Without knowing everything Sorn said to Kendal, and since I hate lies, I had to spill something close to the truth. And that was admitting I was there to see Lisa.
She looked hurt and shook her head. "I don't know what to think or do anymore. She refuses to talk to me, she's never around, and when she does come home, it's late and after I'm in bed. I know she's out there sleeping around. With who? That I don't know," she sighed, resting her chin on her fist as her elbow rested on the table.
She looked at me and raised a brow. "Can I ask why you looked surprised to see Lisa that night?"
"I just wasn't expecting to see my realtor," I somewhat lied.
"She followed you to the restroom that night, didn't she?"
I shook my head. Crap, now my heart is really pumping.
And now I feel as if I'm about to be sick. Maybe Lisa should have come up with me. "Not that I know of. Why?"
She frowned, spaced off, then quietly said, "I just remember her rushing away from the table not long after you excused yourself, informing Katie you were going to be sick."
"I'm sorry, Kendal. The person you need to talk to isn't here. And the answers you would like to know you need to get from her. Not me."
I was starting to feel a little relieved since Kendal never brought up seeing Lisa's bag by my couch or brought up seeing her phone. But with Lisa, not here, I didn't want to say anything more. I also didn't want to throw her under the bus and reminded Kendal once again that she needed to talk to Lisa.
Lisa is the one who got herself where she is, and I'm not going to be the one to get her out. Although, I will say, if it weren't for my pregnancy, I'd sit here and admit to Kendal everything she wanted to know.
I saw the expression on her face. She didn't believe everything I said, but she stood, anyway, and left her fingertips resting on the table. "I guess I better get going. I just had to come to see what you had to say about my wife," she said, emphasizing wife and looking upset she didn't get the answers she was looking for.
I followed her to the door, opened the door, and as she was stepping out, she stopped and turned around. "Monday? I'll see you Monday?"
I nodded, "Yes. I'll see you, Monday..." maybe.
My heart was still pounding, with a little anger roaming within me. I know Kendal knows and was waiting for me to admit it; And now I wonder if that's why she has been confiding in me all this time?
LISA
Sorn had me so annoyed that she wasn't at her desk when I walked into the office and yelled, "Sorn!"
She never did respond or come to me, so I reached across her desk, grabbed her post-it notes, and wrote a message, sticking it on the computer screen for her to see, then I headed to my office, slamming the door behind me..
I noticed a stack of folders sitting on the top of my desk, walked over to my desk, sat in my chair, and picked up a folder. Just as I opened the file and started looking through the photographs, there was a knock at the door. Assuming it was Sorn, I answered loudly, "Come in!"
"You wanted to see me?" Sorn asked as she stood in the doorway.
"Yes. Please come in, shut the door, and sit," I ordered, sounding upset while extending my hand towards the empty chair in front of my desk.
She looked nervous.
And I was pissed.
I rested my forearms on the top of the desk, then folded my hands, showing her I wasn't happy, as I looked at her.
"Sorn... I don't know what you were thinking when you spoke with Kendal, telling her private things you had no authority to do, and if you weren't such a good employee, I'd fire you."
"Let me explain," she quietly stuttered.
"I don't know what you were thinking of telling Kendal about Jennie. What Jennie was doing here is confidential and nothing you needed to involve yourself in. Jennie and Kendal are my business. Not yours."
"But..."
"Lastly. Clients are not to be discussed with Kendal, or anyone else for that matter. We deal with wealthy clients daily, and I don't need their information getting out to anybody. You know better than that," I groaned, shaking my head in disappointment.
"Can I speak now?"
"Yes. You can explain yourself."
"Thank you for not firing me. But Kendal repeatedly called here and was freaking out on me. Then, she showed up here and refused to leave until I talked," she admitted, then I noticed her eyes getting glossy and looked down at the folders in front of me.
"She threatened me, Lisa... She fucking scared the crap out of me. That woman is the devil. I could have sworn when she was looking at me, waiting for me to respond, I saw horns poking out the top of her head."
I shook my head and sighed. I know what she's talking about. I could have sworn I've seen those at one time too. "I apologize to you for that. But you still mentioned Jennie to Kendal, That's a big no-no."
"When she got in my face and refused to back away, that's when I described her. I didn't say her name, only mentioned she was pretty. Then she asked what I knew about her, and all I told her I knew was that she was a client.
"Well, for one, you shouldn't have explained anything to her about Jennie. Two, I understand how scary Kendal can be. And three, Jennie's pregnant and doesn't need to be harassed by Kendal."
"Yours?" She hissed.
My brows arched high.
"I was only asking."
I leaned back in my chair, folded my hands against my chest, and sighed, "Yes. It's mine."
"I knew it," she muttered, then disappointingly pointed her finger at me. "I told you Kendal would kill you if you were sleeping around on her."
"I'm going to ask that you respect Jennie. She's innocent in all of this," I said, then explained the situation to her, with Sorn getting on my case for what I've done, then added, "Jennie doesn't need any stress from Kendal. So please, don't say anything more to Kendal. Let me handle her. Okay?"
"That's fine with me. Just try to keep Kendal away from here."
"Hopefully soon, you won't have to deal with her anymore, and if she calls or comes here again, immediately direct her to me."
"Okay."
"You can go now," I instructed while standing from my chair. I watched Sorn leave, then sat down when I heard my phone alerting me. I received a text message and picked up my phone.
Fr[Babe]
Kendal just left, finally. She questioned me about knowing you before the event, amongst some other things.
To[Babe]
What did she say?
Fr[Babe]
That she knows I went to your work. So, I explained I went there looking to buy a home, and you took me to a couple of showings. I also mentioned I didn't know you were her wife. (Which was true) She said again; she knows you're cheating... Lisa, I don't need this shit. I never asked for this, and I told her that she needed to talk to you if she had any questions. So please, talk to her. I don't need Kendal coming to my place anymore, questioning me about you.
Fr[Babe]
I'm sorry. I talked with Sorn. Kendal called and came here threatening her too. I'll speak with Kendal tonight. And I can promise you; this will all end soon. I love you.
KENDAL
After pulling into the driveway, I sat in my car, thinking for the longest time. Somehow, I need to get Lisa to admit to her infidelities.
I'm not stupid, and if she thinks I'm going down without a fight? She's wrong. Dead fucking wrong...
I finally went into the house, then headed to her den and began searching through her desk, filing cabinet, mail, and all her paperwork sitting on the desk, looking for clues to bust her in all hee lies. Finding nothing, I went to our bedroom, then dug through the closet and her dresser drawers.
I still wasn't finding anything, so I sat on the bed, logged into my laptop, and logged into all of our credit card and bank accounts, figuring that was the best way to prove she's lying.
Only, I found nothing again.
What the fuck?
I opened the drawer next to my side of the bed, pulled out my notebook, looked at the dates and times when Lisa didn't come home, or she had come home in the middle of the night, then looked at the records again.
I still found nothing.
That just means one thing.
You fucking asshole. You're paying cash for everything...
I heard the front door open and close and knew Lisa was home. I shut the laptop, shoved the notebook back into my drawer, then cleaned up my mess before Lisa came in and saw I had been digging through her things.
Too late.
I turned around, and she was standing in the doorway, glaring at me with her hands resting on her hips. "Looking for something specific?"
"No," I nonchalantly lied.
"Liar. You're not going to find anything."
"You're a fucking asshole!" I yelled, lunging at her, then shoving her up against the bedroom door.
Lisa laughed and leaned forward, with her face only inches away from mine. Then she smiled and proudly said, "I know. You keep telling me I'm a fucking asshole. But the one who should be considered anything but their birth-given name is you. You're one heartless bitch. A title you have owned since we fucking married," she said, grabbing hold of my hands and shoving me away from her.
"But I'm a fucking asshole. That's a laugh," she mocked, walking away from me.
"I'm only a heartless bitch because of you! You made me this way!" I screamed.
Lisa stormed back into the room, pointing her finger at me.
"No, Kendal. You were like this before we married. I still don't know why we married!" She yelled. "And what the fuck did you think you would accomplish calling and going to my work to harass Sorn? You scared the poor girl! Just like you scare everyone else who has to deal with you!"
"Fuck you!"
"No, thanks."
"You're fucking her, aren't you?" I snapped.
"Who? Sorn?"
I rushed to Lisa and shoved her, groaning, "You know who."
"I'm sorry, I don't know who you're referring to."
"Asshole. You know damn well who."
"Say. Her. Name!" She yelled loudly.
"Jennie! You're fucking Jennie!"
LISA
On my way home, I called my attorney to see if he had finished with the divorce papers and if they would be served to Kendal tomorrow as he promised earlier in the week. Apparently, there was an issue and got held up with them now not serving Kendal until sometime on Monday. The day Jennie is supposed to go back and work for her.
I'm now hoping Jennie thinks long and hard about what she's doing and will change her mind about going back and working for Kendal.
Come Monday evening: I'll either be a happy woman or a dead woman.
As I walked into the house, an instant feeling came over me that something wasn't right. Kendal was way too quiet. Usually, when she's upset or angry about something with me, it's always the moment I walk in the door, she'll greet me with a fist, or her mouth is yelling.
I slowly and quietly walked towards the bedroom, and just as I suspected, she was in there, digging in my things, trying to find something she'll never see, and stood in the doorway with my hands on my hips, watching her pick up papers scattered all over the bed.
"Looking for something specific?"
"No," she said with a scowled look on her face, also acting like it was no big deal with what she was doing.
Arguing with Kendal is like talking to a brick wall. She never listens, and it's always about her. For years I've tried talking to her and have tried telling her that she and I aren't meant to be and how it was a mistake for us to marry. This marriage was something she wanted; for reasons, I still have not figured out. And each time I broke it off with her, she came crying back to me, giving me the I'm sorry, I'll change talk. With my brother also butting in our lives, insisting I give Kendal a chance to show and prove to everyone we were meant to be.
I should never have listened to my brother. And I never should have taken him on with that bet. That bet. That fucking bet. He's the entire reason I'm in this mess, and that bet has proved nothing. All it's proven was that she's still the same evil woman who shows her two-faced ways. Just to get what she wants.
I couldn't fight with this woman any longer, and when she asked if I was fucking Jennie, my answer was a big fat no. The reason? Because that's not entirely what I am doing with Jennie. And she will soon find out why my answer was no, right after she's served papers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
