Chapter 64

Shirley

Keith is kissing me back. He wasted no time before he pressed me closer with one hand around my waist and the other against my mid back. My own hands are in his hair, running through tightening the strands within my fingers as our tongues chase one another. I’m completely lost in Keith, fully surrendered as our mouths keep meeting, unable to get enough of each other.

The kisses are hot, needing as I offer small whimpers and moans to Keith’s gentle groans. I never want it to end. I want to make up for every time I thought about kissing him, or even press him down on the sofa so I can kiss against every inch of skin I can find.

I can feel Cicy running in circles inside of me, overjoyed as Keith keeps his lips to mine. She nearly passes out when he pulls me flush against him, not getting enough of me.

However, with each passing second, I become warmer, hotter. I’m practically burning as my mind swirls. What brought me here? How did this happen?

The conversation we’d just shared finally catches up to me, and I acknowledge everything we still haven’t said. How I'd taken advantage of a vulnerable moment. And even if Keith had decided to play along, I knew this wasn’t fair.

The last thought causes me to abruptly pull my lips from his, taking a large gasp of air as I press my hands to Keith’s chest, keeping us apart. Still in his arms, we’re both panting, our chests heaving as the cooler air meets our skin.

It takes a moment, but I force my gaze up to his, finding that he’s already staring at me.

“I’m sorry,” the words fall from my lips. But I’m suddenly aware that I don’t know what I’m apologizing for. Between the kiss and my deceit - it could be anything. Or maybe I’d meant it in regards to everything.

Because I am sorry. I’m sorry for lying to him…but I’m not sorry for why I did it.

As I stare at Keith, I can see him beginning to regain his wits as he’s starting to address the situation again. It causes him to finally catch his breath, his features turning serious once more.

“Why?” he asks then. “Why did you lie?”

I pause for a moment, trying to settle my heart as I prepare for what awaits. It’s time to hand over every detail to Keith - every last one.

“It started a few months ago,” I tell him, feeling his fingers fidget as they're still against my waist. It’s enough to make me remove my own touch from his chest, taking a step away from him and his hands fall away.

“My best friend…is Jean,” I admit and watch a flash of shock come over his eyes. “She called me and asked for help.”

“What kind of help?” he asks.

“Ralph was abusing her,” I deliver the blow directly, seeing Keith’s eyes widen. “She showed me the bruises, admitted that he’d been hurting her for a while but she was too scared to tell anyone. She feared his rank, his power. And she didn’t want to lose everything for Eliot if she decided to leave Ralph. There were financial issues, and after her recent miscarriage - she couldn’t bear the physical drain if she rejected him.”

Keith doesn’t say anything. He practically remains frozen as I continue.

“So I came to help her,” I state. “I disguised myself as Anya and purposely seduced Ralph so he would leave Jean. And when he did…when he finally rejected her…I left.”

Keith shakes his head, taking a step away until he can move to a chair and take a seat. I can see the disbelief over his features, which he tries to wipe away as he runs a hand over his face.

“And then?” he eventually asks, prompting me to continue.

“I took Jean and Eliot back to the west, made room for them in my home,” I explain. “But after a few days of being back…my boss called me and told me about a new job - a company needed an auditor and it was an amazing opportunity.”

Keith breathes out a sigh, looking at me in understanding.

“And you’re right…it was a strange coincidence that the company happened to be yours,” I tell him. “And I told myself I shouldn’t do it. That it was dangerous, but it was too good not to take.”

I grab my glass then, dipping my thumb into the liquid before I bring it to my face. “So I changed my appearance, drew on the mole,” I say as I wipe away the spot and show it isn’t real. “And I claimed to be Anya’s sister so I could make it work.”

Keith takes me in, eyeing the spot on my skin that I just cleaned. However, his stare meets mine again. But then he tears it away, realizing I’m finished as he begins to shake his head.

“I can’t believe this,” he states. “It can’t be true. I’ve known Ralph for years and he would never abuse Jean.”

“But he would,” I counter, annoyance meeting my voice. “And he did. He’s an awful person, Keith. He hurt Jean again and again, and he threatened to hurt Anya if he found her. He even threatened to hurt me.”

Keith’s eyes snap back to mine at the last part.

“What?” he bites out.

“He’s been cornering me for weeks, saying I better find Anya for ‘my sake,’” I tell him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Keith demands.

“Because - like you said - you’ve known Ralph for years. He’s your best friend,” I say to him. “I didn’t think you’d believe me, that you’d care.”

Keith’s lips press together as I finish, his gaze piercing as he soaks in my claims.

“You even just admitted that you can’t believe everything I told you,” I bring to his attention.

“I just need proof,” Keith says. “After everything that has happened, all your lies - you can’t blame me if my trust is shaken.”

Yeah, I really can’t. I know he has a point. However, I know this time that I’m not lying, and if he wants proof then I’ll give it to him.

“Fine,” I say, pulling out my phone as I instantly go to Jean’s messages. I type out a swift text.

Shirley: Keith knows. He knows everything, but he’s having a hard time believing me. I need your help.

I send it, feeling Keith’s gaze still on me as I wait. And thankfully, I see the three dots immediately, indicating that Jean is already replying.

Jean: I don’t know if I can do that, Shir. Tell Keith I’m sorry, and get out of there. But I don’t want anything to do with Lock Heart anymore. I want to stay out of it.

“Shit,” I breathe, deflated by her response. Jean is the one with the true proof and can vouch for me. I understand her hesitancy, but it still puts me in a rough spot.

I need something else…someone else to back me up. And then I realize that there is someone. It causes me to turn toward Keith, expressionless as I clip out swift words.

“Call their old nanny,” I state. “She’ll tell you everything.”

~

An hour later, we’re sitting in Keith’s office with the nanny, watching as tears run down her face.

“Shirley’s telling the truth,” the woman admits. “Ralph was abusive…I saw Jean’s bruises.”

I see Keith tighten as he stands on the opposite side of the desk, his eyes not leaving the woman.

“And he’s unfaithful,” she says with a sniff. “I hate myself for it, but he tricked me into sleeping with him. He deceived Jean and charmed me…even making me do his dirty work by slipping Eliot sleeping pills.”

“What!?” Keith blurts, the vein on the side of his neck bulging from anger.

“He said they were prescribed,” she says with a sob. “But when Jean caught me…I realized it was all a lie. He just didn’t want Eliot bothering him.”

She sniffs again, looking up at both with pleading eyes.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she says with more tears, but I meet her with a sympathetic gaze, knowing she was just a pawn in this whole thing.

Meanwhile, Keith is once again reduced to disbelief as he shakes his head, his body shaking as he stomachs the truth.

“I can’t believe Ralph would do this,” he states, his tone low and deadly. “And I can’t believe I didn’t realize it sooner.”

“He’s your best friend,” I tell him, suddenly feeling sorry for Keith. His whole world has been flipped upside down - just like mine had when Jean told me about the abuse. “Sometimes it’s hard to accept the truth when it comes to the ones you love.”

Keith stares at me, his eyes burning into mine. We stay like that for seconds, but eventually he nods.

“But the important thing now is…” I start again. “What do we do about it?”