Billionairess's Dilemma: Reclaiming His Heart

Chapter 7: Unanswered Demands

Polly

For the next hour, I sit playing back all the things Archer has said about Kevin to me. How he kept trying to bring up my frustrations with him after I told him it was just me venting once or twice. That summer Kevin left, Archer kept reminding me of how I felt trapped by Kevin's protectiveness. I ignored it at first until finally telling him to knock it off. We even broke up once because of him saying something about how needy Kevin was. After that, he stopped mentioning him as much. "I am a selfish, blind brat." I mutter to myself.

Mom's voice filters through the door as I hear her asking Archer to leave. My mother isn't a fool, she just happened to raise one. I let her in and she embraces me immediately. “What happened, Polly?”

I pour out everything that happened. At the end, she eyes me sadly. “Did you not see he was trying to separate you two? It’s hard to be young and forget how powerful a few words can be. You've now experienced it from both sides. You’ll always think twice before you speak.”

I stare at my hands knowing she’s more than right. “What did you tell Archer? He’s beside himself.”

“I gave him back his ring and said he couldn’t have me either.” I peek up at her worriedly.

“Is that what you want, Polly? To end this engagement?” She sits beside me. Her face gives nothing away.

“He manipulated Kevin. Told him I didn't want to talk to him. How could I ever trust him again after that? I stupidly vented my frustrations with Kevin to Archer and he used that. He lied to and manipulated me against my best friend. Worse the bastard comforted me saying he couldn't believe Kevin would hurt me that way all while driving a wedge farther between us purposefully.”

Mom stares at me for a while before her lips curve up in a small smile. “I’m proud of you, Polly.”

“Why? For winning the award for most gullible, selfish, trash friend, mega whiny b***h of the year?” I think back to that summer and the things I thought and worse, allowed to leave my mouth to Archer and my parents.

“No. For seeing things clearly. You are going to wonder if you’re doing the right thing, question if you can forgive him. This was a big decision and you made it fast. Be prepared for those doubts and for him to play on them. I'll go downstairs and make sure he leaves." She pats my arm and walks out.

My phone won't stop blowing up with texts and calls from Archer. Then his mother starts in and I decide to turn it off. I'm not in the mood to talk to him or her. I go run a hot bath and climb in with my mind wandering all over again. I can't get the look in Kevin's eyes out of my head. Like I could have been a faceless stranger on the street. I resolve to go find him tomorrow and talk to him. Tell him what I learned about Archer and more importantly apologize.

After a fitful night's sleep, I got up and went to the Harris household but no one was home. I call Aunt Coline who says they are out having a family day. She mentions me coming by the next day but that Kyle and Kevin will both be at the office. I thank her and hang up. I'll go to the law office tomorrow.

I step up to the front desk the minute the lights are on in the A.Langston building. Papa T named it for his wife, Abbie Langston Beaumont. "Yes I'm looking for Kevin Harris." I tell her anxiously hoping he hasn't already banned me from the building.

"Yes Miss. Go on up to the tenth floor. His office is there, first door on the right." She says with a smile.

I ride up the elevator, my stomach in knots. After I called Aunt Coline, I turned my phone off again. Archer calls or texts every 5 minutes and after reading a few of them, I have no desire to continue giving them any of my attention. His last few have been angry with him even saying that I shouldn't be throwing him over for a prick like Kevin.

I step out of the elevator and knock on the door. I clasp my hands together to stop them from shaking. "Come in."

I open the door to find him sitting at his desk. He stares at me briefly through his lashes but he doesn't stop typing nor move in any way.

"Hi Kevin." I say softly moving to stand in front of his desk.

"Miss Barnes...is there something I can do for you? Do you need a prenuptial agreement drawn up? I can set you up with one of the lawyers here who specializes in that. Or perhaps you need someone who can draft a non-disclosure agreement. I imagine there are things you actually care about not being said." He sounds as detached and cold as yesterday.

"I wanted to talk to you. Ask you what happened all these years. You left and never looked back. Disappeared from my life completely." I say quietly. He finally leans back in his chair and faces me at that.

"Not sure why you care, Miss Barnes." His dismissive tone frustrates me. Where is the boy who chased me in the park endlessly? The Kevin who'd text me every night.....

“Archer admitted some things to me. He manipulated you and I. Kevin, we were best friends." I plead, hoping to see something in his eyes or face. Anything....a flicker of emotion, even anger would be welcome. Instead, he looks as if he's made of stone.

"Really, Miss Barnes? I wasn't aware that friends made others miserable, especially if they feel tied to them and really don't want that. Perhaps just family friends are different. They are nothing more than a hardship." I don't miss the emphasis he places on certain words. My eyes widen as I realize they are the same words I said about him to my parents. That whole awful conversation comes back to the forefront of my mind. He heard me....my heart sinks further and I can only imagine the pain I caused him.

My voice is shaking with my fury at myself. "Kevin....I was sixteen and upset. I was being a selfish brat and venting irrationally about losing out on a f*****g vacation. It was never more important than you. And if you'd heard the ending, I regretted it all. I even hoped maybe you could still come with us. I'm sorry you heard that and even sorrier I said it. I was frustrated and acting like the little b***h I was at that point. Dad called me on it and I realized how absolutely awful my words were." He doesn't bat an eyelid as he stands up.

"If you'll excuse me, Miss Barnes, my father is coming with a client to meet here. I don't have any more time to speak with you. Wouldn’t dream of tying up your life." He moves toward the door, holding it open for me. Effectively dismissing me with no room for argument.

Kevin

I watch from the window as she makes her way across the street to the parking garage. I could tell the minute she recalled her own words. It was petty and cold of me to lob them right back at her, but they've played on an endless loop in my head since that day I stopped by her house. It still hurt to do that to her. Even after all these years of her blowing me off.

They say listeners never hear good of themselves but in my case there was nothing good that I missed in focusing on her criticisms. Her resentment at having to put up with me. It had hurt like hell. I won't forget spinning around and leaving as my heart broke. I drove home wondering if it was better to know the truth or to live in blissful ignorance. Dad of course had picked up on my sour mood the minute I hit the door. I told him everything and he wisely said nothing at the time. Just told me to either hit the gym and work out my anger or go hit the rink. I skipped the first family dinner in years that night. Of course, Aunt Relly was waiting for me the next morning leaning against my Jeep. I won't forget her words either.

"Kevin, take a breather and give her a minute. No one is very smart at sixteen. Or at eighteen, just ask me and your father that. Sometimes, we need to grow up. And we need to make mistakes, spread our wings and discover that what we think we're missing isn't so great. Learn that not everything is as it seems also. You should be upset with her, but you also left early. She may have said better things afterwards."

Until I heard her talking in the cafeteria to him. And it didn't help better things. I backed away, changed my summer plans to give her all the space and breathing room she could ever ask for. When I came back, it seemed to have helped. She was eager to talk to me and catch up. Only to find out she was dating that asshole. He'd been whispering in her ear and I knew it. But I also knew there would be no winning against him. She resented me and the precautions I take as a transplant patient; was tired of the big brother routine. If only she knew how naive she was and that I had real reasons to hover like I did.

Sighing, I turn away since she's out of sight. My dad insisted I come home this summer. The last two I spent going to summer school so I could get into law school early. Which I did and the accelerated one too. I'll be done in two years with it. I wonder what his motives were though my mind suspects it had to do with Polly's sudden engagement. I can't imagine the shark squad is ok with that entire situation. Then again her mother threw them a huge engagement party and none of them have said a word since I got home.

Unwelcome regret tries to claw at me but I shove it aside. She made her choice loud and clear. And I made mine....

I open the top locked drawer in my desk to remind myself why her words mean nothing. Nothing but sadness and pain for me.