Leading Lady

Part 6: Suite Scrutiny

My mind was racing. I wanted the truth. How was I going to get that? I thought I had it, but now...

I brought her to the executive apartment I rented, sat her down. She was wringing her hands and her eyes stayed on them as she did. "I'm calmer now. Sorry if I-"

"No need." She looked up at me for a second and bowed her head again. "How did you—"

"You didn't know your way around your desk," I started counting for each fact as I paced. "You had no lunch or bag as most female workers do, but you had an empty drawer for it. You purposely knocked over the picture frame which is probably of the real secretary. You said things only you would say, and then your S's and Z's-"

"Good God, man—"

"Simple observations, Kitara."

She scoffed. "Elementary." She looked miserable, like someone caught red handed.

"Quite," I agreed, sitting in front of her. I took a breath, leaning forward. "You promised you would never lie to me," I told her. "Will you keep doing that?"

She was quiet for a moment, swallowing hard. "Yes."

"Are you hungry?" I asked her.

"Not now."

I realized she might be too nervous to be hungry and felt guilty. I was trying to stay calm here, but I hated deceit and I really hated it when it was by omission. I took a deep breath, one that she could see, one that told her I was trying not to be angry. "I need a drink." I got up and went to the minibar, pouring myself one. I offered her one, and she shook her head. I sat before her again. "You promised."

She nodded in reply.

"Please look at me," I whispered.

She raised her face to me and whispered, "Okay."

I took another deep breath, and I saw she was taking it with me. She looked so pitiful, I felt the anger melting away. Now I was upset. Here we go. "Your real name is Kitara Imani Kingston?"

Her head snapped up for a second, and she sighed, "Yes."

"Do you write under the name of Kendra Knight?"

"Yes."

I took a deep breath. "Do you also write under the name Kianna?"

It was her turn to take a deep breath. "Not anymore."

I needed a second. I had sort of figured it out, but now to have it confirmed by her? My mind rushed. She wrote stuff that got me hot and bothered. She wrote stuff that made me feel something. I thought she was brilliant and I loved talking to her. "Was it your idea to put me on your covers?"

"Yes."

"Was it your idea to send me the scripts?"

"Yes, you said that you wouldn't consider it because you--"

"Wanted to know the story I was taking a picture for," I finished. "I just want to say thanks for that."

"You're welcome," she nodded.

"But you sent me all your scripts?" I asked.

"Male perspective," she answered. "Thanks for that. I just sent you a new book idea, what did you--"

"Stop," I raised a hand. "I'm asking questions now." I thought for a second. "You've always been quick-witted, haven't you?" She had just tried to change the subject.

"I've been told." Her eyebrow raised in a rueful expression, and I couldn't help but smile a little. She'd been knocked off her square. Good.

"Why didn't you want to meet me?"

"When did you realize you weren't talking to Laura?"

"What?" That question took me aback. I frowned at her. "Answer my question, please."

She looked as if she was tearing up. "I thought you might be disappointed."

"Disappointed?"

"The first day we met, you looked right through me," she shrugged. "You noticed Laura."

I shook my head. "What does that have to do with--"

"I don't get attention like that," she shook her head too. "Not from men like you, anyway. I figured that if I just let your imagination do what it does-especially after some fans started trying to figure out what I looked like, and not tell you who I was...bet you even picked one of those pictures or sketches, right?"

I didn't answer. I had been fantasizing about how she'd looked. I knew it wasn't Laura some time ago, I didn't bother finding out what she looked like because I was busy, I was enjoying the connection for what it was, and I wasn't sure if I'd ever meet her. Now that all changed.

"I don't know, doesn't matter. Look, I still want you to do the AV-1 movies. I believe in you--"

"Should I believe in you?" I got up.

"You came here for one of two reasons or both," she said. "You came to meet the woman who you've been texting and reading. You came here to see about a career opportunity. You have. Mission accomplished, okay?" She rose from her seat. "I'm sorry." She swallowed hard, and I felt a pain in my own throat. I wanted to reach out to her, but she seemed to instinctively know and back a step. "This all sucks for me now, but I wouldn't trade our emails and texts for anything. Do the movies, okay? You owe it to yourself, and--"

I offered my hand. "Hi, I'm Shane."

She looked down at my hand, and back up at me. "Uh..." She took my hand. "Hello."

I allowed myself to smile. "Nice to finally meet you." I squeezed it gently.

Her darkened look lightened into a small smile, her face brightening in a way I'd never seen before, and I couldn't help but smile at it. Her eyes sparkled, and her dark eyes looked lighter. Her hands were smooth but not exactly soft. When I looked down, I saw that she had scars on them.

"What happened to your--"

"Bad accident," she shrugged, trying to step back. "It's okay--"

I caught her in my arms and she lightly gasped as I pushed her hair back. She looked like someone cut her face. I frowned at it, starting at her ear and then almost hit her jugular and curled by her cheekbone. My fingers followed it, and I felt the pain in her eyes.

"That--that wasn't," she shook her head to end my contact with her face. She stepped out of my arms. "How about we go to my house? I have really got to get to Zeus--"

"Zeus?" I remembered the name from somewhere. "Your dog?"

"Yep."

"Pomeranian, right?" When she nodded yes, I asked, "Is it a lap dog or an ankle biter?"

"What?!"

"I think Zeus, and I think--" I watched her start giggling. "I guess he's not, then."

"I really need to get home to him," she smiled. "Do you mind? I have a pretty decent sized home, nice guestroom."

I blinked. Did I think I was sleeping with her? Whatever I was feeling was a mixture of disappointment and indignance. I was so busy thinking my feelings caught me off guard. She didn't look quite the way I thought, but she was still this woman who had me downloading stories, and now her voice was nice too, when she spoke. My curiosity was still full steam ahead. "Alright."