Part 83 (2/2)

Cain's head lifted. He directed his eyes to the door she'd left through, then back to the photos left on display. Andrew noticed.

”I didn't want to show her those pictures, son. She's a stubborn one. Wouldn't even listen to me until I did. She's upstairs, right?”

Silence.

”Serves you right. I told you not to f.u.c.k with me. She's a Hollingsworth. f.u.c.k, for that matter you are too. There are ways we handle things. No one commits my Maryanne to no f.u.c.king looney bin. Now get dressed. We have a flight to catch.” Andrew smirked at the puzzled glare Cain fixed on him.

”You think I was going to let you and Keith Livingston call all the shots? The board is convening today. My call. Get dressed. We got a roasting to go to. Private jet is waiting.”

”My request?” Cain croaked. He had just drove in from New York. He sure as h.e.l.l wasn't up to flying back.

Andrew paused. He cast a questioning look over his shoulder.

”My mother?” Cain asked. ”I told you I'd help you bring down Keith Livingston if you agreed to help her.”

”Move her? It's the best I can do. She'll have a hearing. We'll have her moved to an inst.i.tution here in Castle Rock. It will be as it should. You'll have both girls to look after. Your mother, and my daughter.” Andrew smiled, then headed for the door.

”And what of your legacy, Andrew? The grandson you won't ever have. Considering your track record, things are as they should be, no future grandsons to carry on your legacy.”

Andrew hesitated a moment, and then walked out. Cain dropped back in his chair. He put a hand to his brow and closed his eyes. He was ready for it all to come to an end.

She looked through him. That was the worst part. She was his wife! She sat there as if they were complete strangers. He felt humiliated having others discuss the terms of their marriage. Plus, he hated her haircut, and her clothes. She wore a green and white summer dress that showcased her bosom and bare arms. She was barely recognizable to him. Those almond shaped eyes that used to look at him with such adoration were vacant of anything he once found endearing in them. Surprisingly, that hurt more than he was willing to admit.

”You put a protection order out on me?” he said through clenched teeth.

Simone blinked, but gave him nothing.

James patted his shoulder to remain quiet. Well, that wouldn't be easy. His eyes went to the Asian woman at her left, and the guy that looked like a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys standing behind her. He looked to Simone again, but instead of anger, he gave her a wink.

She rolled her eyes and looked away. Finally, he got something from her, even if it was close to hate.

”Thank you, gentlemen, for coming on such short notice,” Sue Bailey said as she sauntered through the gla.s.s office doors. A Hilary Clinton cut-out, Keith sized her up. He knew her type, the kind of b.i.t.c.h that wanted a man's b.a.l.l.s because she wasn't born with a pair. He loathed mouthy, know-it-all, feminist b.i.t.c.hes like her. It explained a lot about his wife's boldness in challenging him the past few weeks if this b.i.t.c.h was whispering in her ear. First order of business would be to separate Simone from this one. James should have seen to that sooner.

Keith s.h.i.+fted in his seat as Sue took hers. When he looked over at his wife, he saw her reading papers before her. Keith realized he was to do the same. Just as his eyes lowered to the stapled sheets of a contract, James Madison finally spoke.

”What is the meaning of this, Sue?” James asked, as he finger flipped through the thin pages.

”Truth or dare,” Sue answered coolly.

Keith noticed the second sheet immediately. It was his vasectomy confirmation. The doc.u.ments he'd taken from Stacy personally. ”Where did you get these?” Keith asked.

”Stacy,” Simone finally spoke.

Keith's eyes cut upward to his wife. ”That's a lie.”

”You still think what you do in the dark won't come to light? Stacy told me everything. EVERYTHING.” Simone smirked. ”Turns out she and I have more in common than either of us thought.”

”You f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h!” Keith snapped.

”Another outburst like that and this meeting is over. A copy of this doc.u.ment will go to the judge to reveal your deception of the courts and another copy will be sent to the New York Times. The Livingstons will be on the front page before your father can say the word, Mayor.”

”It's a bluff! Bulls.h.i.+t!” Keith shouted.

”Keith!” James silenced him. Keith looked to his wife. Six long f.u.c.king years and he had everything he wanted in Simone. But now, he didn't know her at all. She stared back never blinking. His woman was never one to fight back. Never.

”What do you want, Sue? The annulment?” James pressed.

Sue smirked. ”Page four explains my client's pet.i.tion in detail.”

Keith quickly flipped to the page. He scanned the agreement. Simone wanted out, but she wanted everything she had when she walked into their marriage. Plus she requested the return of her sister's deed. She had the nerve to think this would erase them and cast him aside as if they never meant a d.a.m.n thing to each other. She wanted to ruin him.

”Not going to happen, sweetheart,” Keith said. ”You hear me? Not going to happen. Till death do us part, babe. YOU GOT THAT? You won't get a f.u.c.king dime. Oh, I know about your affair. Tell them, James. State of New York won't take kindly to you whoring around, then playing victim. Tell them, James! You want to sit there as if you been robbed when you've been f.u.c.king that cop!”

”Keith, let me handle this.” James gave a weary sigh.

”Handle it then!” Keith leaned forward on the conference table. The man behind Simone stepped forward as well. ”You think I didn't know that you were nothing but some tramp, playing the 'desperate housewife' routine? You think you can play me?”

Simone looked over to Sue. ”Are we done?”

”Don't you dare look away from me! You hear me talking to you?” Keith yelled.

”Mr. Livingston, sit down sir,” The bodyguard ordered.

Sue rose. ”Gentlemen this meeting is over. Heath.” She nodded to the bodyguard. The giant pulled back Simone's chair. Keith slammed his fist on the conference table. Sue smirked. ”Mr. Livingston, you have an hour to sign the deal before you. After that we will see you in court. Madison, we're done.”

”The h.e.l.l we are!” Keith reached for Simone but his swipe couldn't cross the distance between them.

Security walked in. Men twice his size approached him from both sides. James rose to keep the peace, but Keith didn't care. He'd go through them all to reach his wife. He would not be cheated, dismissed. Their marriage would not be cast aside. Despite all the craziness, Simone kept him sane. He understood that now. Whether that understanding had come too late, was debatable. Right now, right then, she was still his wife. He wouldn't let her forget it.

”I want to talk to you,” he panted desperately as Simone was escorted to the door. ”I want to talk without them. Listen to me. Wait, listen! Wait, d.a.m.n it! Just you and me. You owe me that much!” he shouted after her. Simone continued on, ignoring his pleas. ”Simone! You owe me! You owe me that much! I'm your f.u.c.king husband! Your husband!”

Keith struggled to get free, but one guard took the liberty to slam him face first on the table. The hard smack knocked his gla.s.ses from his face.

”Unhand him. Let him up! Now!” James Madison demanded.

Keith's chest burned with rage after his release. He wanted to turn and swing on everyone, but even in his anger he was blinded by something stronger. Humiliation. He rose, with James trying to a.s.sist. ”Get your f.u.c.king hands off me! What are you going to do? Do something, d.a.m.n it! Now! Get her back here. We aren't done!”

”Be reasonable!” James shouted him down. ”Listen to me. It's over, Keith. Sign the papers or we go to war and it'll be worse. Much worse. You get the press involved and they will tear you apart.” James sighed. He looked to the security men.

”Can you leave us please?”

The guards walked out. James went over to make sure the door was closed. Keith paced with both hands to his head. He kicked out the chair in front of him. ”Stacy, the crazy b.i.t.c.h. She turned on me.”

”Enough of that,” James said. ”Do you know who Sue Bailey is?”

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