Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
I woke at around seven in the morning and the first thing I did was check my cell.
There, as I expected, was one of Kate’s nightly texts with a pic of her in her nightgown, delicious lips spread, eyes half lidded, the top of her breasts peeking out under the lacy fabric.
The look on her face sent a jolt of lust right to my cock.
I smiled and took in a deep breath.
DRAKE: How do you expect me to concentrate on getting ready for a busy day at the hospital when you send me such delicious and erotic images each night???
On my part, I went directly to the shower and got lathered up, relieving myself of a morning erection with the image of Kate in my mind’s eye. Once I was done, I grabbed my cell and took a photo of myself, including my face, chest and groin area, with my hips covered by a towel, of course…
Discretion being the better part of valor, or so the saying went.
The last thing I wanted was someone finding my phone and checking through my photos for something incriminating. I’d had enough controversy and scandal in my life for more than a lifetime.
I dressed and grabbed my briefcase, then went down to the breakfast room for a quick cup of coffee and bagel while I read the news headlines on my cell. I had a busy day of surgery and consultation, and had to be in top form, so I made sure I had enough caffeine but not too much, then took the limo service to the hospital.
After checking in with the OR nurse to see if things were still on schedule, I went to the change room and changed into my scrubs. I looked over my patient’s chart and reviewed the CT scans and MRI. Then, I went into the OR theatre and scrubbed in.
The surgery was exceptionally delicate, and so I was glad to see my favorite resident had arrived and was preparing to scrub in with me. It would be a good day.
Hours later, when I was finished and was sitting in the break room for a much-needed rest before I checked in on patients, I got a text from a number I didn’t recognize. The message was simple:
Check out Page One. Quite the wife you got there…
I frowned and googled Page One. I never paid any attention to it, although I knew it was owned by one of the country’s biggest media moguls. Robert Page, a billionaire from England who emigrated to America and made his fortune in the news business. Who also was Kate’s employer.
Page One was the gossip part of the paper.
I went to the website for Page One, and there at the bottom of the screen was a photo of Kate sitting very close with a young man. A young man who was holding her hand. He had his arm around her and was leaning in close, her hand clearly in his.
I felt a jolt of jealousy fill me at the sight of her sitting with a young handsome man at what looked like a party. And he was handsome. Even I could recognize it.
I read the caption below the photo:
Billionaire Robert Page’s heir Carlton and escort at the annual summer staff party.
Carlton Page? They were claiming that Kate was his escort?
It had to be a mistake.
He had tousled hair and a strong jaw, an expensive suit and looked every inch the billionaire’s heir.
Was it the student party on Friday that Kate mentioned in passing? She never said anything about some fellow student holding her hand…
I tried to tamp down my jealousy and worries about her fidelity.
She wouldn’t cheat on me.
Kate hadn’t said much about the event, except she went home early when everyone else was heading to a rave.
I checked the number on my cell and ran a quick search, but it didn’t come back to anyone in my contact list or anyone I knew. I sighed and rubbed my eyes.
Someone was trying to make me nervous about Kate. Make me doubt her commitment and faithfulness.
Someone in Manhattan? Who?
I didn’t want to ask Kate outright. I didn’t want her to think I doubted her for a moment, because I didn’t. Although seeing her sitting so close to a young man who was holding her hand did make me jealous…
I couldn’t help but feel incredibly possessive about her.
She was the love of my life. The mother of my daughter. My soulmate.
But it was clear that someone wanted me to second guess her fidelity. Someone wanted to plan a seed of doubt in me about Kate.
Who?
I took in a deep breath and went back to my office. After I closed the door and sat behind my desk, I checked my contacts for the number of Kyle Burke, CEO of Brimstone Security, the security company I used back in Brooklyn.
I checked my watch. It was one o’clock in Nairobi, but it was eight o’clock back in New York. I called anyway, because I had Kyle’s personal number. I trusted him and his staff with my life.
“Kyle,” I said and took in a deep breath. “Sorry to bother you so late and at home, but I need your help.”
I explained what happened and he assured me that he understood.
“I don’t believe she’s cheating on me, but I do think someone is maybe stalking her, watching her. They’re trying to make me think she’s unfaithful. I’m worried about her safety. She’s staying at her father’s beach house until Tuesday when she takes a flight to Nairobi. I’d like someone to watch over her until she leaves. But I don’t want her to know.”
“Totally understand. I have a PI I use now and then I can call in to check things out. Plus, I can put 24/7 coverage on her starting tomorrow morning. How does that sound?”
“You don’t have someone who can start tonight?”
He hesitated for a moment. “Everyone’s either on duty or on required rest. I’ll check and let you know if I can find someone, but it may not be until eight tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. Understood. Don’t use the red cup or red flower thing. Kate knows that signal. I don’t want her to think I don’t trust her. I do, but I don’t trust that someone’s not out to hurt me or her.”
“I completely understand,” Kyle said, his voice firm. “Don’t worry. This will be totally invisible coverage. I’ll put my best men on it. Count on it.”
I exhaled heavily. “Thanks, Kyle. I’ll tell her eventually, but I don’t want her to be too alarmed unless it’s necessary.”
“Got it. I’ll send you the info in a text. Name of my guy and a contact number for you. And I’ll text you if I can find someone for immediate coverage until we get someone for tomorrow.”
“Thanks. Tell whoever you can find that I’ll pay triple the usual night rate.”
“That will certainly sweeten the pot.”
We finished the details of the agreement and then said goodbye.
I tried hard to get my mind back into my work, but it wasn’t easy. I searched for Page One on my laptop and read over the latest edition. There it was — the image of Kate sitting with Carlton Page. He had her hand in his and was leaning close to her, his arm around her on the back of the sofa.
It looked so intimate…
I tried to see Kate’s face, but it was turned away from the camera, so it was impossible to know if she was happy or uncomfortable. Whoever took the photo did a great job focusing on Page, but not his ‘escort’ as Kate was called. It didn’t name her in the story that was attached to the article, which was a good thing at least.
How did someone know it was her?
Was someone at the venue and knew she was there? Was someone following her?
I was glad that there would be 24/7 security coverage on her starting in the morning until she left. I wished it could start that night, but I knew that Kyle was doing his best to provide protection. Hopefully, someone would bite at the chance to get a triple hourly pay rate and soon, there would be someone watching over Kate and Sophie for me.
I hated that I had to do it, but I was getting more worried by the moment that someone had it in for me and was sending me a message to that effect.
Was it someone from Lisa Monroe’s family? Were they still on the warpath and out to get me in revenge? I thought we’d seen and heard the last of the Monroe family when we moved back, but I had to keep every possibility on the table for when I spoke with the PI Kyle knew who could do some sleuthing for me.
I checked my texts and saw the one from Kate that I had found so desirable that morning.
Katherine…
The love of my life. My soulmate.
Someone was trying to make me doubt her, but I didn’t.
I was just worried for her safety. Sadly, I’d made a few enemies in my life and that was now coming home to haunt me.
I put my cell away and tried to get some work done, but it was hard to focus. My mind kept coming back to the image of Kate with Carlton Page. I went on rounds with my resident and checked out new patients, and that distracted me for a while, but once I was back in my office and alone, my mind was busy worrying again about Kate.
It was now nearly four in the afternoon. I checked my cell and there was a text from Kyle, that I’d missed while I was on rounds.
KYLE BURKE: Just to let you know I found someone happy to take up your offer of triple hourly pay. His name is Erik Reed and he’s a former Army Ranger. First rate man. He’s on his way to sit somewhere with a view of the beach house until I have a regular team activated. Cheers.
I exhaled in relief and sent him back a text in reply.
DRAKE MORGAN: Thanks a million, Kyle. This will help me sleep tonight. You’re the best.
Then, I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, letting the stress of the issue drain out of me just a bit.
Kate would be all right.
I didn’t get back to the hotel until nearly eight, exhausted after spending another couple of hours in the OR dealing with a trauma patient who needed specialized neurological surgery and I was there and the best person for the job. I got into the room, had a quick shower, and then dressed in my hotel-issued robe and sat on the bed with my laptop, reading for my goodnight Skype with my girls.
Sure enough, at around nine o’clock my time, I heard the jangle of the incoming Skype session and opened the window.
“Hey, there,” I said, smiling at the face of Sophie, who was leaning into the screen. “How’s my girl?”
“Good,” she said, matter of fact. “We had spaghetti and meatballs. Grandma made them specially for me.”
“And her wonderful garlic buns?”
She smiled at that. “Yes. Garlic buns. Plus, we had some ice cream.”
“Sounds delicious. I had a bowl of minestrone soup and a ham sandwich at the hospital cafeteria, so your food sounds like heaven.”
Kate leaned in and smiled. “Good old hospital cafeteria food. What would you do without it? We’re lucky we have Elaine’s wonderful cooking.”
We spoke for a few moments about their day, and then Sophie went to the kitchen table to do play with some new plasticine Kate bought for her.
It meant we had some time to ourselves. I wondered if Kate would say anything about Friday night.
“I got your text,” I said with a grin. “I had to spend a little longer in the shower, if you understand my meaning.”
“I got yours and haven’t had time yet to find any relief. But I will.”
“Send me a pic. I need the distraction. So, you’re catching a flight on Tuesday?”
Kate nodded. “I wanted to come Monday, but we didn’t get a good departure time, so I decided to check Tuesday.”
“Good.”
We spoke for a while about the beach house and how Ethan was doing, and how he wanted to come to Ethiopia to visit Liam’s grave.
She still hadn’t said anything about the photo, so I didn’t as well. I didn’t want her to think I was suspicious. I also didn’t like keeping anything from her.
Torn, I pressed on, speaking about plans for moving into a bigger hotel suite when she and Sophie arrived.
Then, Sophie came back over to show me what she’d made with the plasticine.
A unicorn.
“It’s great,” I said, although it looked more like a unicorn pig than horse. Still, it was a good attempt.
Kate took her laptop over, and I said hello to Ethan and Elaine, who were in the living room watching some game on television.
Then, Kate, Sophie and I said our goodnights and blew our kisses, and then I ended the call.
When the call disconnected, my smile fell, and I felt a sense of gloom.
Why hadn’t Kate mentioned anything about the party and how Carlton was holding her hand?
I didn’t believe she was unfaithful, but something happened and maybe she didn’t want me to worry unnecessarily by mentioning it.
I sighed and put away my laptop, turning on the news to get some distraction.
Sleep was a long time in coming…