Designing Abigail Kilton's Dress - #1 The Wedding Dress

Chapter 32 - You Cannot Change What You Refuse to Confront

Marcus blanched as his eyes zeroed in on the photos in Kayleigh's hand as she stood shaking in front of him.

"What are these, Marcus?" Kayleigh repeated with tears in her eyes.

He stood up slowly and took a tentative step forward. His hand reached out and Kayleigh thought he was going for the photos, but he took her arm instead. Attempting to shake him off, the envelope fell from her hand and the photos spilt on the floor like blood.

The image of her kissing Marcus, or him kissing her, in his car, just in front of Kilton's House of Fashion, where Abi and Jack were standing across the road burned her eyes.

How was it possible?

She remembered the moment as a mere brush of their lips. It was almost accidental. And yet, the photo showed them locked in a passionate kiss that would have no end.

"Kay Kay, it's not what you think. Please, look at me," he said, his voice soft and steady.

Following his command, Kayleigh tore her eyes away and focused on the hazel of Marcus's irises until the fear and fire in them pierced through her. 

"Why do you have these photos, Marcus? Where did they come from?" she challenged.

The man stood frozen in front of her. His lips tightened and his jaw hardened, but he did not speak.

"Are you blackmailing me?" She wiped her angry tears before they could slip down her cheeks and prayed that her trembling legs wouldn't give way.

"What? Are you joking? Do you really think I'd blackmail you?"

"I don't know," Kayleigh answered weakly.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Marcus asked shaking her slightly. Then his hands cupped her face. "You know me. You've known me all your life!"

His tone was equal parts anger and hurt but his words only filled Kayleigh with more doubt.

"Do I?" she countered breaking free from his grasp. 

Marcus pressed the bridge of his nose, a disbelieving smile appearing on his lips. He ran his fingers through his hair and turned around as though looking for the answers to her question in the stars above them.

"Don't turn away from me," Kayleigh shouted in frustration. "Tell me why you have these photos!"

"I bought them," he growled through his clenched jaw before facing her again. 

She couldn't figure out his expression now. It was a mixture of fear and anger, frustration... and something she couldn't identify.

"What?"

"I knew that photo couldn't have been the only one. Don't tell me it didn't cross your mind, Kay. You and I both know there were more interesting moments to capture that day. So I made some calls and tracked down the photographer. I bought the master copies and the publishing rights. Abi and Monroe aren't the only ones who have friends."

Kayleigh stared back at him, wondering who the man in front of her was and whether she could trust him. The V between his brows, the sadness in his eyes and the depth of his frown told her he wasn't lying. But her brain was still spinning.

"How do you know there aren't any more copies of them? Maybe they'd already sold them to the magazine. For all we know, they might have sold them to other magazines..." Kay's voice drifted off as her fingers played with the hems of Abi's sleeves.

"Even if they did, they can't publish them," he shrugged. "Any existing copies are completely worthless."

"What if they use them to blackmail us?"