Kept Secrets (Secret, Love & Betrayal Novel Book 2) Read online

  How crazy is Maci? He wondered to himself.

  Until now, he’d only asked himself all of the questions he should have asked her in the beginning. Ari parked his car in a forest preserve that was five minutes away from Maci’s home. He reached over into his passenger seat and ripped open the manila folder that contained his divorce papers.

  Taylor made sure when she kicked him out of the house that day, she sent him packing with another set of divorce papers. The first time he tore them up into tiny pieces, but now he decided to read them. Glancing over the small booklet, he saw that Taylor wasn’t asking for anything. The reason she gave was irreconcilable differences, even though she could have easily said committed adultery.

  Ari continued to examine the papers. He wanted his marriage to work, but he loved Taylor enough to want to see her happy. He tossed the papers back on the seat, and let out a long sigh. Did he even deserve to be with a woman like Taylor?

  He’d admit that he was probably the reason she started seeing another man, but, nonetheless, could he be selfish with her heart? Ari could see the way she looked at that Kalon character. Love shone in her eyes and he remembered when she used to look at him in that way.

  And now all he saw was darkness and longing in those big brown eyes. Ari recalled intently that the article said Kalon was a successful entrepreneur of a company called Angel Kids.

  If Ari was completely honest with himself, he knew the only reason he hated Kalon so much was because he wished he could be half the man he had been to his wife.

  ***

  Taylor had snuck into her office at 6:00 a.m. that morning before Mrs. Tabb, her secretary, and the rest of Dynasty magazine employee’s started to trickle inside. Her stomach was protruding daily and now she needed to tell her girls.

  She had called a 7:30 meeting with Toni, Pam, and Libby. Truthfully, she was tired of going through this pregnancy alone and she wasn’t sure how long her little bundle was going to let her keep it a secret. She sat behind her desk and started to work on her speech for this year’s Magazine Conference, which had been held in Chicago every year. She thoughtfully remembered this event and how it was the start of her relationship with Kalon.

  The gold embroidery letter had arrived in her office a month ago, asking her to give a speech on being the newest up and coming magazine company in Chicago. This was the moment that they had all worked for, to be noticed in the community for doing something great. She was a little nervous to attend this function, because everybody in the magazine business, reporters, and Kalon would be at the event.

  She tried to decline, but Mrs. Tabb said that the National Magazine Conference committee said that they saw it as an insult not to take the recognition. With that being said, Taylor knew what she had to do to keep her company thriving in the right direction. Kalon had given this same speech last year, and now he has the most sought after company in Illinois for reading materials and he received hefty donations from all over the Midwest.

  Taylor heard a soft tap on the door before Toni poked her head through the narrow opening of the doorway.

  “Are you ready to meet?” Toni asked.

  Taylor closed the Word document she was working on and waved Toni further into the room. Toni took a seat in one of the chairs sitting in front of Taylor desk.

  “How you being doing, stranger?” Toni asked with a smirk.

  “I’m good,” Taylor replied.

  “So, what’s up, Tay? What do you need to talk about?”

  Taylor was glad that Toni arrived first. There were some things she needed to talk to her about, and her parents were the main subject.

  “I need to ask you something,” Taylor said.

  Taylor had to be careful on the way she approached Toni; she was the opposite of Tyler. Toni always made it seem that she didn’t know anything and didn’t want to be involved in any situation.

  “Why did Mother ask you not to tell me Kalon came to the hospital?”

  Toni shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. She asked. And I agreed.”

  Taylor narrowed her eyes to a slit. To get something out of Toni was like slicing your own wrist. She made everything hard.

  “Forget I ever asked,” Taylor concluded.

  Toni reared back in her seat. “I will tell you what I do know.”

  Taylor perked up.

  “I’d walked in on mother talking to someone on the phone one day and she seemed upset. What made me eavesdrop was because I heard her ask the other person on the line, ‘How much money do you need now?’ When she heard my footsteps, she quickly hung up the phone and her facial expression turned from stressed to happy-go-lucky.”

  Taylor flipped her curls behind her ear. “Hmmm … interesting. So what do you think that’s all about?” Taylor asked.

  Toni shrugged her shoulders again. “I don’t know. You know how Mother acts sometimes.”

  Taylor left the conversation alone. She was sure it was something her mother was hiding, but what? She didn’t know.

  “Dang, Tay, you’ve gotten big,” Toni announced.

  Taylor hadn’t noticed that she had rolled her chair back from under her desk while she was deep in thought.

  Shoot!

  Toni sat staring with her mouth hanging open.

  “I umm … I,” Taylor stuttered.

  The door opened, and Libby and Pam filed into the room; Libby stood by the door, and Pam sat in the chair next to Toni. Taylor had rolled her swivel chair back up to the desk. The mood in the room was tense.

  Taylor glanced at all three women and smiled.

  “Tay, what’s going on with you?” Toni asked with concern etched on her face.

  “Toni, give me a chance to explain, please?” Taylor replied.

  Taylor decided once again to put on her big girl panties and have no shame. “Let me start off by saying I love each and every one of you ladies.”

  Taylor looked right into Libby eyes when she spoke those words. “You three have been with me from the start. I know we argue and disagree at times, but I would never trade my sister,” she placed her hand on top of Toni’s, “or my two best friends for the world.”

  Pam smiled, showing her pearly whites. Libby sat in silence with no expression on her face.

  Taylor continued, “What I’m about to tell you will change my life forever. I’ve been keeping a secret, and it’s killing me.”

  “Oh my gosh, Tay, what’s wrong?” Pam asked.

  Taylor’s gaze flitted back forth from the three women again.

  “I’m pregnant,” she blurted.

  She stood from her chair and showed her oversized stomach. All three women gasped in surprise. Libby’s hands flew to her mouth at the same time Toni asked, “Who’s the father?”

  Taylor gave Toni a ‘who do you think’ stare. Pam walked around the oak desk and embraced Taylor in a tight hug.

  “I’m here for you,” Pam exclaimed.

  Libby still hadn’t moved from her position on the couch. Taylor could see the look of confusion imprinted on her face, so she decided to clear some things up.

  “Yes, Kalon is the father. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen, and neither did he. I didn’t find out I was pregnant until the car accident. I was confused, and it took me time to come to terms with the fact that I was about to be a mother.”

  For the first time since she entered the room, Libby spoke. “How far along are you?”

  Taylor glanced down at her stomach and gave it a gentle rub down. “I’m twenty-four weeks.”

  “Wow,” Toni shouted. “You held on to this secret this entire time?”

  Taylor nodded.

  “Dang, I was slipping in the sister department. To not know you were going through this was a selfish thing on my part.”

  Taylor hated that Toni was beating herself up over this, but it was the first time she’d ever heard Toni admit her selfish ways.

  “Don’t get down on yourself, Toni,” Taylor stated. “Y’all didn’t know because I didn’
t want you to know. I kept my distance over the past few months and stayed MIA.”

  Pam blurted out, “But we’re your family, Tay, we should have known something wasn’t right. Once again, we were too preoccupied with our own affairs to be there for you.”

  Taylor gazed in Libby’s direction and she gave her an ‘I’ll talk to you later’ glance. Taylor eased the subject into a different direction. She picked up the Magazine Conference letter and waved it in the air.

  “I was invited again to the conference here in Chicago, and guess what?” she asked the three women. All eyes looked on her in amazement.

  “What?” Toni asked.

  Taylor continued, “They asked me to be their key speaker this year. Dynasty magazine is the newest up and coming magazine in the Midwest.”

  Toni clapped her hands together. “Yes,” she shouted.

  Pam waved her hand in the air to get everyone’s attention. “Wait … wait … wait.”

  She pointed at Taylor’s stomach. “How the heck are you going to speak in front of millions of people with your stomach like that? And to top it off, everyone in the Chicagoland area knows that you and Ari are going through some martial problems. Also, rumors are still circulating that you and Kalon are a couple.”

  Taylor sat back down in her swivel chair and braced her elbows on the table. “I have to tell you guys something else.”

  Pam stood from her chair and said, “Oh, shit! What, Tay?’

  “Sit down, Pam,” Taylor pleaded.

  “Naw, I’d rather take this blow standing up.”

  Taylor waved Pam off. “Kalon doesn’t know about the baby.”

  Toni jumped from her chair as well, and paced the carpeted floor. “Oh hell, Tay, we’re ruined. Not only are you going to take your big belly bouncing in there, but the father of your child doesn’t even see it coming.”

  She placed her hand up to her head, as if she felt a migraine approaching.

  “Those reporters are going to tear us apart.” Toni said.

  Libby chimed in, “Toni, get a grip, we can handle it. You’re editor-in-chief, right?”

  Toni glanced up from her pacing. “Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?”

  Libby approached Taylor’s desk. “Listen up. Toni, you prepare Tay’s speech, and in some kind of way mention the tabloid reports about Tay and her issues. Don’t divulge anything about Kalon or Ari, just smooth it over, and make the situation seem small. Now that’s not going to stop the reporters from asking questions, but it can lessen the blow.” Toni stared at Libby with a dumbfounded look.

  Taylor added, “This year, since I’m the guest speaker, the invitation is plus one.”

  “That’s even better,” Libby said.

  “Toni, you can go with her and act as Tay’s spokesman. When the reporters approach with their questions, you know exactly how to answer them.”

  Toni flopped down on the couch, still holding her forehead. “This is so much pressure! Dynasty might be ruined.”

  Taylor shook her head at Toni’s theatrics. She was so dramatic at times, and at the first sign of trouble she was ready to bail. Taylor smacked her lips.

  “We need to hold a conference meeting with all of the managers in the company. They don’t need to be blindsided about what’s going on with the CEO. I don’t want any of them to feel as if they’re not aware of the direction Dynasty magazine is taking,” Taylor said.

  “Pam! Since you are director of advertising, I want you to send out the emails to all of our supervisors and managers. Also, put together an agenda.”

  “Cool,” Pam replied, taking notes on her notepad.

  Taylor patted the desk with both of her hands. “Aigh’t, that’s it, meeting adjourned. Everyone clear on what we are doing?”

  Toni stood with her legal pad under her arm. “Yeah, I guess”

  Taylor gave her a sideways glance.

  “Crystal,” Pam replied, strutting out the office behind Toni. Libby waited around for Pam and Toni to clear the room.

  Taylor assessed her closely as she walked over to the floor to ceiling windows overlooking Lake Michigan. Libby and Taylor’s relationship had been strained at best over the years. Although they loved each other deeply, there was always a faint glimmer of something not being said on both of their parts.

  Libby was more of a realist, and she always said Taylor was a ‘live on the edge’ type of person. Taylor and Libby had been friends for fifteen years, and this was the friendship she fought the hardest for. Taylor recognized long ago that both of their lives were heading in different directions. It was known to happen to the best of friends, and she assumed it had happened to her and Libby.

  Taylor spoke first. “I know you’re dating Tyler, he confided in me the other day.” Taylor narrowed her eyes. “I just have one question. Why you didn’t tell me?”

  Libby blew out a long breath and walked around to the front of Taylor’s desk. “I don’t know why I didn’t tell you. I preached to you about your wrong doings and I was doing something even worse. I love Ty, I won’t stand here and lie to you about that. I know how you feel about your friends dating your brother, but this is one subject I’m willing to disagree with you on. I think we could be great together.”

  Libby took two steps back and folded her arms across her chest. “I’m asking you for your blessings, Tay.”

  Taylor stood and walked over to where Libby was standing, placing her hand on Libby’s shoulder.

  “I give you my blessings. I’ve already told Ty to be happy, and I’m telling you the same. Life is too short to not be with the person you love.”

  Libby held Taylor close and they hugged. A tear slipped from Libby’s eye, but she quickly wiped it away, and pulled back from the embrace.

  “What you waiting on, girl?” she asked through small sniffles.

  Taylor looked on with confusion.

  “You said it yourself; life is too short not to be with the person you love. Go get your man!” Libby stated.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Kalon shuffled through the downtown goers. He was meeting with Renee today for lunch. She worked for a marketing company as an administrative assistant. After the night he took her out to the Bulls game they, began to see each other. He wouldn’t say they were dating, he just enjoyed her company.

  He hopped back from the curb he was standing on when a cab made a sharp turn. Chicago taxi cab drivers were from another planet. The cab driver yelled, “Watch it, buddy.”

  Kalon pumped his balled up fist at the driver and replied, “You maniac.”

  Swinging open the door to the Hard Rock Café, he scanned the scenery in search of Renee. The host asked, “Are you dining alone, sir?”

  Renee stood from her small, intimate booth in the corner and signaled Kalon over.

  “No, I see my party.”

  Kalon strode his muscular build through the narrow path, and gave Renee a hug and a peck on the cheek. Taking his seat, he loosened his neck tie. He felt stuffy in the black suit he was wearing today. He had met with so many magazine companies, he just wanted to relax and have a few drinks.

  Picking up his glass of water, he peered over the rim at Renee’s outfit. She wore a knee-high black dress with a V-neck line. The dress brought emphasis to her small breasts and petite body frame. She looked nice with her black heels. Renee stood 5’3”, but the heels gave her another four inches. Kalon really didn’t date the slim type; he was more attracted to the women with a plump asses, full breasts, sexy long legs, and reddish hair.

  Damn.

  He just realized he had described Taylor. He ran his hand down the side of his goatee. Get a grip on your thoughts, player, he chastised himself.

  “Kalon!” He heard Renee say his name.

  He focused his attention in her direction. “Did you say something?”

  She cocked her head to the side. “Yes, I asked how you are doing.”

  “Oh!” Kalon picked up his menu. “I’m good, just tired. This has
been a long week. The Chicago Magazine Conference is coming up in a few months and I need a date.”

  Renee smiled. “Is that an invitation?”

  Kalon hadn’t meant to ask her, but it slipped out. He went solo last year, but since he didn’t have to speak, he might as well bring a date.

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “I accept.” She smiled brightly.

  The waiter appeared to take their drink and food orders. After he took their menus and walked off, Kalon asked, “How are you?”

  Renee started to ramble off about her boss and how she hated working for him, and then she went on to talk about her co-workers. Kalon always tuned Renee out. She loved to talk, and that was fine with him … she was just a distraction for him until he could get his heart intact. He loved spending time with Renee; she was fun, energetic, and attentive.

  He watched her mouth open and close as she continued to babble on.

  “So what would you do, if you were in my situation?” Renee asked.

  Kalon didn’t have a clue to what she was talking about or asking. He assumed it had something to do with her job, because that’s all she seemed to talk about for a month now.

  “I don’t know,” he replied. That answer usually answers everything.

  Renee tilted her head forward and leaned her elbows on the table. “You didn’t hear anything I said? Did you?”

  Kalon took another sip of his water. Renee had caught him red-handed. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening. I spaced out.”

  The waiter approached their table, set the folding table in front of them, and handed them both their entrees. “Please be careful, the plates are hot,” he cautioned. “Can I get you two anything else?”

  They both answered no in unison.

  Kalon cut into his medium-well steak and savored the taste. “Hmmm,” he moaned.

  “Why are you here with me?” Renee asked.

  That question caught Kalon off guard. He peered up from his plate into a pair of focused brown eyes, which were staring at him. He retrieved his napkin from his lap and wiped the remnants of steak sauce from his mouth.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “When I talk, Kalon, you don’t listen. It’s like you’re here with me physically, but your mind is miles away.”