The Secrets Underneath the Lies

Chapter 5. Discovery

Giselle had stayed at Clayton's for the next two days. They really wanted to spend this time with each other after going no contact for a few days after their therapy session. During this time, his father was out of town on an annual golf trip. In was a beautiful morning and it was a perfect day for a morning workout around the property. Giselle was dressed in a pink leopard printed sports bra with matching pink dolphin shorts. Clayton wore black joggers with a fitted Nike white long sleeve shirt. Giselle watched her man's back muscles flex in the shirt as she ran behind him causing her insides to heat up.

Clayton had many amazing qualities about him. He was very intelligent, active in the community, financially responsible, kind-hearted, family oriented, and most importantly fucking sexy. He has been active his entire life and enjoys working out in the early mornings. Clayton was more of a preppy hot dad, as he was not fond of tattoos or piercings on himself or his woman. When he wasn't in workout clothes, he donned expensive suits that hugged his body well. His hair was cut low into a slick back style, resembling Christian Bale in American Psycho.

Clayton had taken Giselle for a run on the property before, but he usually stuck to the same path which was about a 5-mile mark. The Roads live on two-hundred acres of land and so much of it was rarely visited. So, when Clayton veered off to a different path, Giselle was curious to where he was taking her.

"Where are we going?" She asks while panting through the run.

"A different route. Don't worry this one is just a little longer." Clayton responded.

They continued running and Giselle found herself swiping through hanging branches and tall grass. She could tell that this path was barely used and wondered how Clayton knew where they were going. They come across a small creek which is not unusual as she's seen plenty on this land but what was different was the small decrepit shed that had a bolted chain in front of it. She stopped running and once Clayton no longer heard her feet kicking behind him, he stopped too.

"Hey, what's wrong? Why'd you stop?" He asked in-between breaths.

She panted, pointing to the shed. "What's that?"

He looked in the direction she was pointing to. "Oh, that? That's just our shed." He explained, unbothered by her inquisitiveness.

"Shed? Why is there a shed all the way out here away from the house? We're about 10-miles out." She questioned while looking at her Apple Watch.

Clayton takes step forward. Finally, catching his breath, kicking the dirt from in front of him and focusing on Giselle. "It's because we use it as a shed but that was not what it was intentionally used for."

"What do you mean?" Giselle pondered.

"Giselle, this land is extremely old and when my ancestors built this home. They also built this," he points to the shed.

After realizing that Giselle is not catching what he's throwing, he continues to explain. "Giselle, this is where some slaves were kept."

"Y'all tortured slaves in there?!" She shouted as Clayton took offense.

"Giselle, I didn't do shit. I am not my ancestors; it was a different time, and you know that. If I had the same sentiments, you and I would not be together." He explained, motioning between the two of us.

"Baby, I didn't mean to say it so harshly, it's just...it's sad," he nods and pulls Giselle into a hug.

"I know baby but once we're married this house will be ours and we'll be able to demo anything that makes you unhappy or uncomfortable." Clayton smiles, bending down to kiss his fiancée on the lips.

"Race you back?" He says as he takes off running.

Giselle takes one last look at the shed and starts to run to catch up with him. They make it back to the house and find Hershel on the porch with bottles of cold water and a towel.

"Thank you so much, Hershel," they both said while making their way to the door.

"Oh, Mr. Roads," Hershel called out.

Clayton stopped to see what he needed. "I have message from Judge Baxter. He wants to see you immediately down at the courthouse."

"Thanks, Hersh!" Herschel nods and heads back inside the house.

"What does Brian Baxter need with you? He's not the presiding Judge over any of your cases right now." Giselle asks.

Clayton shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know babe, we're old friends. It's probably not even work related."

"Then, why would he ask you to the court-,"

Clayton interrupts her. "Giselle, it's nothing. Will you relax. Don't you have court today and 1pm?" He says, looking at his watch, seeing it's 11am. "You better go shower and get ready."

Clayton kisses her cheek and makes his way to his study. Giselle takes his advice and goes to shower off her morning run. It takes her about 45 minutes to shower and get dressed. She still had to get to her condo for some paperwork, so she decided to leave a little earlier than expected.

She walked to Clayton's study to say her goodbyes and overheard him on the phone.

"What the fuck did I tell you?" Clayton angrily yells on the phone.

"Don't ever call this house again. You know the meeting spot; I'll be there in an hour." Giselle hears the slamming of his phone on the desk and him rising to his feet.

She scatters and walks behind the corner. So, when he opens the door, it looks like she's just now coming down the steps.

"Hey, baby!" He kisses her on the lips.

"Are you heading out?" He asks.

"Yeah, I have to stop by my house to pick up some paperwork first. Then, I'll probably be in court for the rest of the day. I'll be pulling an all-nighter since my paralegal is out this week. So, I'll see you in the morning?" Giselle asks Clayton while leaning in to kiss him.

"Of course, baby," he responds, tonguing her down and grabbing a handful of her ass.

"I love you! Let me know when you get home tonight!" Clayton yells as she's walking out the door.

"Love you too," she replies, waving as he watches her from the porch get into her car and drive away.

Clayton goes back into his office unlocking one of his desk drawers. He pulls out opening laptop and types his password to login the system. On the desktop page, he selects the CCTV thumbnail and watches while all footage loads on screen. He rewinds the hallway footage, right outside his door. He sees Giselle standing outside his doorway at the timestamp when he is on the phone. With anger flooding through his body, he slams the laptop shut and pounds his fist onto the table.

"Fuck," he yells, realizing she heard his conversation.