Hayley
Nothing really special has happened after we took the kids to school for their settlement. They were starting school next week Monday and I was really anxious about how their first day was going to be like."So Mrs Banes, your husband isn't here with you?" Mrs Cooper asked curious."Umm, no. He's having a late night at work and he couldn't meet up." I smiled indulgently at the couple I was having dinner with.Thank God I was quick enough to come up with a suitable excuse. This dinner will be over if Mrs Cooper ever found out that me and my husband were on the path to divorce.I was super grateful that we kept our separation quiet."Uh I see, the same thing with my Patrick here. He is ever busy and I had to drag him off work for him to be present here." She smiled fondly patting her husband's hand sharing aI became uncomfortable and had to look away at that the moment that passed between them."Is that your husband?" Patrick Cooper spoke for the first time since we arrived here."What?" I asked confused. My back was away from the entrance."The man over there." He pointed out and I turned to the see the last person I expected to show up.Kyle? What was he doing here? He was already close."Sweetheart, sorry I'm late." Kyle apologized kissing my cheek. I was stiff as a board but had to keep the cutting smile on my face."It seems that he made it after all." Mrs Cooper announced obviously pleased that my 'husband' was present. They wanted an interior designer who understood the importance of family relationship."Good evening, I am Kyle Banes, Hayley's husband." Kyle greeted the older couple with a nod."I am Anna Cooper and this is my husband Patrick Cooper." Mrs Cooper smiled introducing herself."It's a pleasure meeting you Mr and Mrs Cooper." Mr Cooper shook hands with Kyle over the table.""Do you mind if I have a word with my husband?" My cheeks hurt from the fake smile I had on my face."Sure, take your time. We will be waiting for you."I didn't have to say a word as Kyle followed me silently. I knew Mrs Cooper and her husband were watching us.The moment we reached the bathroom, I confronted Kyle immediately."What are you doing here?""You asked me to be here." He responded closing the door behind us."Well I changed my mind. You didn't have to come." I continuously blamed myself for ever sending that text in the first place."I figured this must have meant so much to you since you asked me for help." His words almost melted my heart but I remembered our circumstance."So you suddenly care?" I threw out."Hayley, let's not do this here. Your potential clients are waiting for you out there. Let's not fight now." Kyle pleaded weary.I looked at him for a moment contemplating. I had to admit, him showing up here has topped my chances of The Cooper giving me this contract."Okay for now. What's the catch?" I asked suspicious."There's no catch." I narrowed my eyes. He couldn't possibly be doing this from the goodness of his heart? Or could he? It was difficult to tell with Kyle because he was so unpredictable."Okay you've got me." I knew it! Folding my arms, I arched my brow in response, urging him to continue."I also need a favor from you. I need you to accompany me to my"It's a no." I shook my head. There was no way I was pretending to be his wife at his company's event."What about me being here? I came when you needed me." He pointed out. Like that meant anything.I didn't see how any of that was my business."I didn't ask for you to be here remember? And besides you have a girlfriend. She can accompany you.""She can't. I haven't told anyone about our separation and it would look weird for another woman to show up. So what do you say Hayley?""Maybe Kyle, I don't really know if I can pretend but I will think about it." I shrugged not really promising him anything."Yes. If we can move on with designs?" I suggested trying to change the topic.Mr and Mrs Cooper were a middle-aged couple who were interested in selecting an interior designer who was going to help redecorate their son's home.According to Mrs Cooper, her son and his family were coming back to New York after years of living in Canada.They specifically wanted a interior designer with more than five years of experience and excellent skills."Yes please. I can't wait to be amazed." I smiled before passing her the MacBook where my portfolio was located."Wow. This is amazing. All these designs are so stunning!" Mrs Cooper exclaimed as she scrolled through the different designs that I have accumulated over the years."Thank you Mrs Cooper." I let out a genuine smile."Please call me Anna." As I prepare to decline, Mrs Cooper continued."Please it's no trouble. I insist." She argued back politely."Okay Anna.""Thank you. Your wife's work is very astounding"Yes she never ceases to amaze me. How she juggles her work life and also try to keep our family together. You know it's really a mystery since we have two kids." Kyle spoke. I almost had to stop myself from pinching him on his thighs under the table."Really? How old are they? I apologize if I am being too intrusive but I love children a lot. I can't seem to resist their cuteness.""They are just two turning three soon.""Two?""Yes they are twins. A boy and a girl." I smiled fondly."That's nice. I can't wait to see my grand kids again after all this time." Mrs Cooper smiled too.After we talked some more, Mrs Cooper finally agreed to give me the job. I was really happy and relieved that all my efforts weren't in vain."Thank you once again, Mr and Mrs Cooper for this wonderful dinner." I thanked them as we all stood up ready to leave."You are welcome. I do expect a wonderful result." She held out her hand for a handshake.After The Coopers left, Kyle walked me to the parking lot where my car was parked. Though he offered to give me a ride home but I declined because I drove here myself.Kyle watched me as I unlocked my car. Feeling his eyes on me, I turned to face him."Thanks for tonight. I .. I really appreciate it.""No problem. It's my duty to make you life easier." He nodded making me gulp nervously.I entered my car dropping my handbag in the console.Kyle was still waiting for me."You can send Mary the date for your event so that I can clear my schedule." I told him before driving off.I hope I wasn't making a mistake.HayleyI was in my office currently working on a project when I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to step out and get some books for the kids. Looking at my wrist-watch, I saw that it was almost time for lunch."Mary, can you please cut off all appointments later for this afternoon? I will be stepping out this afternoon to get some things from the bookstore." I told her through the intercom."Sure ma'am but you are supposed to have a meeting with Mr Sterling at two O'clock. Should I reschedule it?" Damn I totally forgot that I had a meeting with him. Mr Sterling was one of my top clients and had been with me for seven years. I possibly couldn't reschedule our meeting."Yes, do that please. And move any other appointments to tomorrow." I was sure that I wasn't going to be coming back on time."Okay ma'am, is that all? Would you like to add anything else?""No, that would be all Mary. Thank you." After I clicked off the intercom, I closed all applications on my PC and set it to sl
Hayley"Hmmn." I stretched my arms feeling lazy and sore, a good kind of sore."Morning beautiful." A strong arm was my banded round my waist. Wait a minute. I knew that voice, a little too well. Kyle! It was Kyle! What was Kyle doing in my room?"Kyle!" I stood up from the bed like my house was on fire. I was fully awake now."Hayley, calm down." Kyle sat up with the duvet sliding down his chest barely covering his privates."What are you doing here?" I averted my eyes panicked and then screamed when I saw I was standing naked."Give me that." I dragged the duvet from him not caring if it exposed his privates. I'd rather it be him than me."Hayley.. you don't remember?" He didn't seem one inch intimidated by the fact that he was naked. Instead he lounged comfortable with his hands behind his head and a lazy smile in his face.I wasn't having any of that smugness so I scrambled and picked his shirt from the floor throwing it over his pelvic region."Remember what? I don't care just
Hayley"I can't believe you did the unthinkable! Sleeping with your soon to be ex husband?" Amber screeched through the phone.When she says it like that, it was really bad."I know I messed up big time. But you don't have to shout that loud, I'm at work." "Sorry Hayley but you should have known better." She chastised me. Amber was Anti Kyle now. She hardly even said his name."Yeah I should have. I don't know what got into me." I whined dropping my head on my desk."You know what got into you. Too much alcohol." I knew she wasn't still happy with me.That was true, I could hardly hold my alcohol. Got drunk easily so that why I always drink with friends."Yeah I should have called you to come get me." I apologized."You really need to be careful. What if a stranger had taken advantage of you? Like a creepy old nasty man or a serial killer? And then I will get to hear from the news that my best friend was murdered." Okay, Amber had a very over active imagination and I was already regr
HayleyAnd now I was on my way to my monthly lunch with Kyle's mom. I call her Mrs Banes, though she insists I call her mother or by her first name Kate.Strolling inside the restaurant that we always used for our meeting.Kate stood up when she saw me, I smiled genuinely. I loved spending time with Kate, she was just so bubbly compared to her husband. Henry was cool, but he was a grump, barely tolerated people but he genuinely loves his wife."How are you Hayley?" She asked leaning in to air kiss my cheeks."I am good.How are you doing?" I replied dropping my bag on the table before taking a seat."I've never been better. I recently gained a membership at a new gym." She said excited. "What? What happened to your membership at your previous gym?" I saw the profile of the waitress already bringing up our orders."My membership expired and I think one of the gym instructors has a crush on me." Her nose wrinkled "Well good call." I laughed at that. Kate was in her sixties but she look
HayleyAnd I couldn't be more grateful that today was Friday, #TGIF. Like for real, this week has been pretty crazy for me. Sleeping with Kyle, confronted by Simone and dinner with his mom? Super crazy.And now I was here chilling at a bar but not without Amber. And I had someone watching the kids. Tammy was a sweet teenage girl who lived not too far from out house."Why can't men just take a hint?" She moaned for the nth time downing a third margarita.The male bartender chuckled pouring us new sets of drinks."I would slow down on those drinks if I were you." I advised Amber who was pouting terribly."You would say that because you weren't the one left standing at her porch like a fool. Waiting for a man to kiss her."I couldn't help myself, I burst into laughter until I was silenced by a pointed glare from Amber."I am sorry I can't help it. It's just so funny." I apologized taking a sip from my glass."And what's so funny?" She questioned unsmiling. And I had to comport myself ag
HayleyThe sound of a car passing broke up the trance.I looked down putting an end to the serious eye contact going between us."Where you going to go home with him?" Kyle asked quietly."What?" I reared back in shock. The audacity for him to ask me such a question!"You heard me Hayley." His body was tense and his jaw clenched tight."I don't see how that is any of your business. You lost the right to ask me any question of that magnitude." I tapped my fingers against his hard chest angrily."In case you forgot, you are still my wife and mother of my children." He gritted out.I gasped in disbelief. His wife? This man was delusional."I can't do this now." I turned away from him."Get in the car, I'm taking you home. And this time don't test my patience or else you will regret it." He swore after me as I stomped to his stupid vehicle.This was going to be a long drive. The air in the car was too stifling and the awkward silence was getting to me. I pressed myself far against my sea
Hayley "No way." I breathed out, shocked at the bomb that Amber had just dropped on me. "Yes way. This was the reaction I was dreading when I thought of telling you." She winced at the still befuddled expression on my face."Like seriously Amber. Dating the ex husband of your client?" I questioned in disbelief.Amber was a divorce attorney and apparently she just told me that her mysterious British man was one of her client's ex husband."I know. At least, they are divorced." She shrugged suggestively."Yeah it could be worse. I probably need something stronger after hearing all this." But sadly we were at a coffee house and on my lunch break."And we haven't gotten really intimate." She looked guilty. Of course, she knew that I was angry with her for keeping such a from me."Just save it Amber. I am your friend, your best friend at that and I will not sugarcoat anything for you." I paused to take a deep breath before going into details."I know." "This is a very terrible idea." I
HayleyI paused working on my new design. This was terrible. How could I handle this situation? The potential clients had requested a meeting at L'Baroque but with my husband in attendance.Should I be truthful and cancel the meeting or should I... No I can't think of doing that.I can't ask Kyle to come with me. I can't do that it rather my pride won't let me do it. Neither will Amber or my brother Joe, they both will roast me alive.Feeling that there was nothing I could do about it, I continued working on my design but with a fully worried heart.The door opened again. Mary must be back, I had told her to come back in twenty minutes. My twenty minutes must be up.But I was met with silence."Mary?" I called out, not looking up."Ma'am it's not Mary." I looked up to see Veronica. She was one of the junior interior designers with a really great portfolio. What was she doing here?"Hello Veronica." I leaned back against my chair. "I hope I am not intruding on your time. I wanted to d