Marriage of Convenience Read online

  Caroline had risen when he’d stood. She sank back into her seat.

  “Please, don’t sit on my account. Have a peaceful evening, Ms. Mathers. I’m sure your husband is anxious to hear your happy news.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  “Caroline?” Malcolm slammed through the front door, calling her name as he entered.

  Silence greeted him.

  He walked straight through the living room and out onto the patio. Following the patio walkway to the left, he entered the house through the bedroom. “Caroline?” More silence. He stuck his head into the bathroom and then back through the living to the kitchen. Not a sign that she’d been home since she left this morning.

  That was not what he expected. He could count on one hand the number of time he’d beaten her home. He checked his phone. No messages. He clicked through the screens and dialed her number. He heard the ringtone blast from the kitchen. Puzzled, he circled through the living room and back into the kitchen. Her phone lay vibrating on the counter next to the bananas she’d raided on her way out the door. She must have forgotten her phone in her rush to get out of the door. A long shower had had them both running late.

  After some thought, he was more displeased. She shouldn’t be out late without her cell phone.

  He dialed the shop. No answer.

  Circling the island he pulled the landline hand-held off the wall. The small screen indicated a missed call, but the caller hadn’t left a message. If it had been Caroline, he’d be surprised. She knew he had his cell nearby day and night in case he got a call from the hospital.

  Taking a few deep breaths, he paced the kitchen a few times and then returned to the living room, sinking heavily onto the couch telling himself she was a grown woman in a City she’d grown up in. She had friends and family and acquaintances all over the City. She was fine. And perhaps she was. But he definitely was not.

  He’d wait ten minutes and then call Sarah. If Sarah hadn’t seen or heard from her, then he’d panic.

  Five minutes in, he couldn’t stand it any longer. Picking up his cell, he was clicking through the screens to get to his contacts when the doorbell rang.

  Finally! He threw down the phone and raced to the door.

  “Caroline, why are you ringing the doorbell? Did you forget your keys, too?”

  Flinging open the door, emotions crowded his head. He was still seething over her deception, but he was deliriously happy that she was at the door after his brain had concocted any number of gruesome scenarios to explain why she wasn’t home.

  Malcolm stared. Elsy. Fuck. What the hell was she doing here? He didn’t want to deal with this now. And he sure as hell didn’t want Caroline to see her when she got home.

  “Elsy. Why are you—” His voice trailed off as Elsy slipped by him and into the house.

  “Oh, Malcolm, thank you for seeing me. You were always such a great friend.” She scanned the room. She turned back to him and pulled him in after her. The door shut firmly behind him.

  “We have got to talk. I just can’t stand it any longer.” She held his hands in hers and pulled him into her personal space. She peered up at him with tears pooled in big round eyes.

  Despite his better judgment, Malcolm felt his shoulders slump. If he just listened, perhaps he could help her solve her problem and get her out before Caroline got home. He’d still have to figure out how to get rid of her long term, but one problem at a time.

  “You’re not supposed to be here. Tell me how I can help, quickly, so that you can leave. And dare I say never come back?”

  Elsy pouted. “Oh, dear, you can’t help me. It’s how I can help you.” She raised his hand to her face and pressed her check into his palm. “I just feel so badly that she was able to sucker you in so deeply that you married her. God, how you must be suffering. You deserve better, darling. Let me help you.”

  Malcolm’s brow furrowed. “Elsy, what are you talking about? I’ve never been happier.” He checked himself. “Well, until today.”

  “You see? It’s starting to unravel, isn’t it? The lies, the deceit, the secrets. Girls like her are so arrogant to think they can keep it all together forever.” She made a cooing sound and pressed a kiss into his palm. “But you don’t need to worry. I have all the details, and together we can get through this. You’ll see.”

  She dropped his hands and looked around the room. “How about a drink?” She spotted the wet bar and headed toward it. Malcolm caught hold of her arm and stopped her.

  “Elsy, I don’t think this is a good idea. Caroline and I need to talk, as all couples do, but that doesn’t concern you. And if I need comfort, I’ll seek it from my wife.”

  She turned on him. “Will you? And are you so certain it’s you she wants? And not your money? Or what you can give her?” She placed her hands on her hips and dared him to doubt her.

  “This is old news, Elsy. Caroline has as much money as I do. There is nothing she can’t get for herself. And really, after our relationship, I’m not sure you’re one to talk about other people’s motives.” He folded his arms over his chest and returned her hard look.

  “She doesn’t have access to that money though, does she? So if she got into a little financial bind, where would she go? Ever talk to her about her business?” Elsy asked the questions with a sneer on her face. She was baiting him, but he didn’t know where she was headed.

  “I don’t need to, Elsy. I trust her.”

  “Do you? But you learned today that no news isn’t necessarily good news, didn’t you?” The smug look on her face told him she’d hoped to shock him. “You don’t know your wife as well as you think you do.”

  “What are you talking about, Elsy?”

  “You know, I’d like to think there’s a certain bond between women, but your wife really makes that tough.”

  “That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think?”

  “No, I don’t.” Elsy stepped to him, pressing her chest against his. She tugged at his tie, pouting her lips, and clucking softly. “You know how I feel about you.” She batted her eyelashes, and Malcolm felt sick. She peered up at him coyly. “You can only imagine what else she’s hiding. Want to know what I saw?” She sang the words, obviously trying to goad him.

  “Why are you doing this, Elsy?”

  Elsy huffed and rolled her eyes as though she was tired of explaining the obvious. “To protect you, silly. You know I would never let anyone hurt you.” She appeared hurt by his thoughtlessness. “Once I knew she had been deceitful about her money, I knew she was capable of anything. I was thinking of you, darling.” She purred the last sentence, pressing closer and laying her head on his shoulder.

  “I doubt that very much. Say what you need to say and then go, Elsy. I have things I need to do.”

  Elsy planted both palms against his chest and pushed off, stepping back and crossing her arms under her breasts. He supposed she intended him to be distracted by the increased cleavage. He felt nothing.

  “You were never ungrateful before.” She shrugged and turned away, looking back over her shoulder slyly. “Maybe I’ll just keep it to myself. You can find out later or perhaps never.”

  “Am I supposed to beg here?” Malcolm glanced at his watch again. He didn’t know what “it” was, but he was tired of playing along. Caroline should have been home a long time ago. Where was she? Why wasn’t she calling? As if on cue, Malcolm heard a faint ring and scanned the living room. Shit, where had he thrown the phone?

  From across the room Elsy asked “Is that her? Ask her if she’s feeling all right.” Malcolm stopped lifting pillows off the couch and turned to stare at her.

  “Why would I need to do that? What did you do?”

  “Me?” Elsy’s tone was indignant. “Sweetie, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I don’t have to do anything. She’s a mess all of her own making.” She winked at him. “Ask her.”

  But the phone had stopped ringing.

  “Elsy, if you’ve done anything—”
>
  “What?” She spun on her heel to face him, her face suddenly flushed. “Why are you so attached to her?”

  “She’s my wife, Elsy.”

  “She’s a liar. A sneak. She doesn’t deserve your devotion, your loyalty. My friend? The one I told you about meeting the night you left me on the street?” Her voice rose in question, as though they had many conversations about this friend and he should recall them and take her words to heart. “He says she owes the company he works for a lot of money. He said he needs to get in touch with Caroline, but she’s been avoiding him.”

  “I doubt that.” Caroline was a respected businesswoman. She wouldn’t have difficulty getting a legitimate loan. And if she did, she had him to fall back on. “She knows she can tell me anything.”

  “Does she?” One of Elsy’s eyebrows rose to her hairline. “In a very short period of time she’s already started a pretty impressive pattern of lies—even if only by omission. And that does not bode well for a happy marriage, dear. You’re better off cutting your losses now.”

  Malcolm didn’t trust this woman as far as he could throw her. He certainly was pissed about having to hear about their pregnancy from acquaintances, but if what Elsy was saying was true, he’d have to admit that his wife had really pulled the wool over his eyes. Still, until today, he’d never had a reason to doubt Caroline’s dedication to their marriage. If he took his vows seriously, he’d have to give her the benefit of the doubt before passing judgment on her actions. He stood with his hands on his hips, eyes squinted at the ceiling trying to understand what Elsy thought she could really get from him. He must have looked upset.

  “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t want our reunion to go this way. But you have got to see what she’s doing to you before it’s too late.” Elsy closed the distance between them quickly and pushed herself into his chest, wrapping his arms around her back. She snuggled into him, pulling him closer. She tapped her finger over his heart. “I knew that once you realize the depth of her betrayal, she would disappear as quickly as she appeared, and we could try us again.” She rubbed her cheek against his chest and squeezed his waist. “It will be better this time. I promise.”

  Malcolm did not hear the key turn in the door.

  A sniffle from the door surprised them, and they sprang apart.

  They both turned toward the open door.

  “I guess this would explain why you haven’t answered my calls.” Caroline stood in the doorway, looking thoroughly beat. Malcolm gaped at her. Her hair was matted, and her face was streaked with dirt and dried tears. Her clothes were stained, and a shoulder seam was torn open. Her legs were crusted with dried blood. The way she leaned against the doorjamb led him to believe something was wrong with the heel on one of her shoes.

  ****

  “I should have known after the way you behaved the first time that you wouldn’t be able to let go of her.” Caroline shook her head. The day weighed heavily on her shoulders, and the scene in front of her simply capped it all off. “You promised.” She shook her head, her shoulders slack and her eyes wide with sadness and disappointment. “Of all the things to have taken on a leap of faith.” With agony and indecision etched across her face, her voice was low and forced. Backing out of the door, she let it close softly behind her. Would he come after her? She wasn’t sure if she wanted him to or not. She didn’t know what else to say. Could she walk away from him? Did she have a choice? She had a terrible feeling she would yearn for him for the rest of her life. Every man she met would be compared to Malcolm and be found wanting.

  Their penthouse apartment opened up into a small landing. Directly across from their door was the penthouse with the eastern views. In between on the right was the elevator, and opposite it were the fire stairs. The last thing she needed was to be cooped up inside a box. She pushed the doors open to the stairs and stepped inside. Walking stiffly to avoid reopening the gashes on her knees, it seemed to take forever to descend the twenty-three flights. Breathing only a little heavily as she exited the stairwell, she pushed through and into the lobby. It was deserted. It was just as well—she couldn’t think of anyone she’d like to see at the moment.

  Pushing through the lobby doors, she thought about hailing a cab but turned away instead, and headed south, walking to nowhere in particular.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  “Fuck!” Malcolm stalked to the couch to get his phone. After some searching, he found it under the chair that sat across from the couch. In his hurry to get to the door, he’d tossed the phone. It must have bounced off the leather topped coffee table and onto the floor. Under the chair, and distracted by Elsy, he hadn’t heard it. Tapping the screen, the message center showed two missed calls. Each one was a different local number. Caroline had stopped twice on the way home and used payphones to call him. Turning back toward the entrance way, he stopped suddenly and stared at Elsy.

  “Ask her how she feels, huh? Did you have anything to do with this?”

  Elsy merely returned his stare. “So help me, Elsy, if I find out—”

  “Don’t you dare threaten me!” Esley spat the words, her face red and twisted around the mouth.

  “Elsy, get out.” Passing by her, Malcolm pulled her by the arm toward the door. She dug her heels in.

  “No way! You owe me this. I’m not leaving until you choose me.”

  Stopped in his tracks, Malcolm rounded on her and stared in disbelief. “Choose you? Elsy, I’ve already chosen. And I need to follow through with this. I want to follow through with this. You and I are over. We have been over for months. Why are you doing this?”

  Tears sprang to Elsy’s eyes, and Malcolm cursed again. “It isn’t fair!” She screamed. Her face was red, and her hands were clenched into fists at her side. She raged on. “I found you. I trained you. You owe me. You have to divorce her and marry me! I should get the reward, not her. Not anybody. Me!”

  Malcolm was stunned. “Elsy, listen to yourself. You don’t want to marry me. You can’t stand me. You said so yourself. I spend too much time at the office and not enough with you. I spend too much money on charities and not enough on you. You tried to convince me to see your way of living, but nothing has changed. I’m not the man you want me to be. I never will be.” Malcolm found himself pleading with her. As he tried to reason with her, his love was hobbling around in the dark again. What the hell had happened to her? Where was she going? What would she do?

  “No, no, you need to give us another chance. We’ll create a budget, so you can do whatever you want with your part and I can do whatever I want with mine. We’ll schedule date nights. I won’t accept no for an answer. I’m not leaving.” Elsy placed her fists on her hips and widened her stance as though preparing to take a stand against an attack.

  Malcolm shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I don’t have time for this right now. I’m going to leave, and I will have someone come up and help you get home.” Without another word, Malcolm pulled open the door and slammed through the fire door. He could smell Caroline’s perfume. It spurred him to move faster.

  He stopped at the security desk on his way out the door.

  Pushing through the lobby doors, he turned left as Caroline had. Running down the street, he tried to think of where she could have been going. He pulled out his cell and clicked through the screens to the texting tool. To Denzel he typed: Are you guys in the City tonight? Almost immediately there was a response: On our way. Ballet at 8pm. Speed demon is driving. Be there in no time. What’s up?

  Malcolm shoved the phone back into his pocket. If Gloria wasn’t in town, there was only one other place Caroline would go looking as she did. He ran off the curb and into the street, hailing a cab. Shouting the address as the adrenaline pumped through his veins, he slumped heavily into the seat, willing the traffic to part.

  Scrolling through his contacts he found Sarah’s number. He pressed “send” with unnecessary vigor, cursing when the phone did nothing. Holding the phone to his forehead,
he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, praying for calm and tried again.

  “Hello?”

  “Sarah. It’s Malcolm. Have you spoken with Caroline? Is she with you?” He tried to keep his tone even, but the nature of the questions attested to the urgency he was feeling.

  “No. Why? What’s happened?”

  Fuck. If she wasn’t at the shop or with Gloria, and she hadn’t contacted Sarah, Malcolm was hard pressed to say where he should search next.

  “Malcolm? You there? What’s going on?”

  “Nothing. Everything. Look, she’s—” A vibration interrupted his train of thought. Malcolm pulled the phone away from his face to see the call screen. It showed a City prefix, but he didn’t recognize the number.

  “Sarah? Let me call you back.”

  “What? No! Wait—”

  Malcolm clicked over, ignoring her protest. If Caroline was calling, especially from another payphone, he didn’t want to miss it.

  “Hello?” He hadn’t intended to bark, but he was losing what little patience and cool he had left.

  “Dr. Fowlkes?”

  Oh, God. She’s hurt. Someone’s found her. Malcolm couldn’t find words. He swallowed and tried again, but his mouth merely opened and closed like that of a gasping fish.

  “You there? This is Clive Hawthorne. I’m the attorney—”

  “I know who you are. Have you spoken with Caroline?” Knowing it wasn’t the police or paramedics eased the pressure on his chest, but raised an entirely different set of questions. How did her father’s attorney fit into this?

  And he knew the answer before he finished the thought.

  “I won’t agree to a divorce. Not now, not ever.” Damn her! Did she really have so little faith in him, in them, that she couldn’t even bother to talk with him first?