Belong (Seven Year Itch #3)
Jennifer Foor
Chapter 1
Nine p.m.
I’d checked my watch twice to make sure it was the correct time. I’d been sitting in a conference room since ten this morning going over paperwork I’d received from my private investigator. I never wanted to contact someone to look into a person I was so close to, but now I knew I had reason to worry.
I’d been deliberating with what to do with my newly found information for the entire day; hoping and praying it was somehow untrue. Everything I’d given to my family, to my marriage, and this was how I was being repaid.
I wanted out of this mockery of a commitment, but knew doing so would damage the close relationship I had with my precious daughter, and that would never be an option for me.
While I’d been depending on some miracle to make this mess go away, my mind went back to a time when life seemed perfect. I had little to my name in theory, but more than any man could ask for.
It seemed like forever ago. Now, after ten years I’d made bad choices, which led me into the arms of weakness and the hope for stability.
My cell phone began vibrating again, this time traveling across the table in wild circular motions. My bloodshot eyes focused on it, staring without any intention of picking it up. I already knew who it was, and there was no way in hell any words from me were going to make sense. I was livid. My inability to rationalize with certain reasoning was preventing me from leaving the room. I knew if I got up, if I made an attempt to restore things to the way they were before, I’d be unable to forget this type of betrayal.
I never assumed treachery to this extent would happen in my life. I’d prided myself in being the man they needed, the husband any woman could be proud of. I’d worked my ass off, providing her with everything she could ever wish for.
No one would ever suspect her of being promiscuous. She’d always seemed too prudish to commit adultery. When I married Veronica I thought we’d be together forever. I assumed she’d finally fill an empty void that had been left when I walked away from a complicated relationship years before. I’d let go of something I knew could be good, so the other person didn’t have to make a gut-wrenching decision she might grow to regret. She’d been married, and discovered her husband to be having an affair. Like any shocked spouse, she was devastated. I quickly became the rock she needed. One thing led to another and the relationship became intense. I could have been selfish, but I chose to help her heal. I gave her half of my company and severed ties with her, hoping she’d appreciate me for it.
For a while I thought I’d made the right choice. I got settled in California and threw all I had into making my company succeed. I’d met Veronica when everything was going great in my life. I’d just signed a deal with a popular recording artist to produce three music videos. The astronomical amount I quoted them must have been chump change, because the check was written before they left the office during that first meeting. To celebrate, I was taken out with the artist and his crew to a fancy release party a few months later.
From across the room I knew she was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever laid eyes on. Her long black hair was pulled in a straight ponytail. At the time, I thought she’d grown it that long, but later discovered they were extensions.
Veronica was well known in the industry, having been a makeup artist to many popular artists and stars. She’d lived in California for most of her life, and making connections since she first got out of cosmetology school. Her celebrity list was ample, with names I’d still be honored to work with. Not knowing her status, I approached her that very night, introducing myself and making a mockery out of what I did for a living. She pretty much put me in my place, stating my business was small according to Hollywood standards.
With my ego taking a hit, I settled on walking away and making the best of the celebration regardless of having gotten the cold shoulder from such a beautiful woman. Let’s face it; I was in Hollywood where every other female who walks by is stunning. I wasn’t worried it would keep me from dating someone else. In my opinion, it was her loss.
For the next few months, work became crazy. Word of mouth is an amazing thing in my business. Once someone likes your style, they’re telling their friends to use your company. Before I knew it, I had to pick up more equipment and several new employees. We bought a larger facility and finally were in need of our own hair and makeup people.
Fast forward a few more months, having gone through seven, yes you read it right, seven different individuals who couldn’t make the cut. The hours were strenuous and people didn’t want to give up social time to deal with cranky celebrities.
My backup plan was for my clients to bring their own hair and makeup people; or people they preferred to work with.
In steps Veronica, the illustrious woman who’d turned me down with attitude months prior. At first she was standoffish. She did her job and ignored me like I carried a life threatening airborne illness. When I walked onto the set she was running off in opposite directions, having her assistant deal with me in person.
I found her annoying, and pretty much the biggest bitch I’d yet to meet in the industry. Sure, her work was impeccable, but it didn’t give her the right to shit on me. I’d worked my way up with my clientele and deserved the same respect she got.
A few days after we’d started shooting a new music video, one of her assistants fell ill. She didn’t want to delay the production; she asked if she could come in earlier to get the work done herself. In order for it to happen, I made myself available to be there. I could tell from the way she glanced in my direction, that she wasn’t amused by my efforts. She would roll her eyes and pretend I was in her way.