“The present is all that matters, Harriet.” Damien said, and kissed her, more passionately this time.
Harriet gave in to the kiss, letting his taste distract her from her pain. Damien lifted her in his arms and carried her, taking the stairs that led to his room. While they walked, their lips were still connected as all they wanted to do was savor each other’s bodies.
‘It is long overdue.’ Damien thought as he quickly opened the door and placed her softly on his bed. He pulled out of the kiss and stared at her, watching as she struggled to catch her breath.
“Let me make love to you.” He said and kissed her forehead tenderly. Words couldn’t describe how Harriet felt, hearing him say those words.
It was going to be their first time together. Well, second, but Harriet wasn’t going to count the first because he had no memory of it. Harriet wrapped her hands around his neck, placing a brief kiss on his lips before nodding her head in approval.
With a smile on his face, Damien began to undress her.
“I’ll take care of you, my love. Your pleasure is all that matters.” He said as he stared at her nakedness. “Beautiful.” He muttered, roaming his hands around her, feeling every curve of her perfect body.
She was as beautiful beyond words. He agreed that he was an idiot for not realizing that earlier.
It was going to be a long night for both of them, especially since they had both been celibate for over four years.
“I love you, Damien.” Harriet confessed before she felt him penetrate her tight walls.
*
*
“I swear to God, Tony. That lady I saw in the parking lot was Bethany,” Rachael said. It had been over a week since she saw Evelyn in the parking lot but, she couldn’t get over how familiar she looked.
She knew that the lady recognized her too, because the second their eyes met, the lady took off. That could only mean that the lady knew who she was and was probably guilty of some crime.
It was two days later she finally realized why she looked so familiar. The strange lady shared a striking resemblance with Bethany. The shape of her face and height were the same. There was also something about the way she stared at her that was similar to the psychotic look Bethany had.
She wasn’t a hundred percent sure, but she knew that there was a high chance that it was Bethany. This was New York, after all.
She was deeply disturbed by that and had been telling Tony about it but, the man didn’t believe her…he didn’t want to believe her.
“Bethany isn’t here, Rachael. Even if she was, there’s no way she’d be so close to us. This is a big city.” He groaned, going through the final documents for the new house he was purchasing.
“Is that what you want to believe, Tony? Are you still scared of that psychopath?” Rachael asked, worried about her brother. If she had seen her at a different location, she wouldn’t have been so worried. But, she saw her at their hotel crying out loud! Even if she ends up being wrong and that lady is nothing but a lookalike, she wanted to confirm her suspicions.
Tony shut his laptop and turned his attention to his sister who was standing directly in front of him with her hands on her waist. Ruffling his hair in frustration, he spoke up.
“Alright! Where did you say you saw her again?” He asked and Rachael huffed before taking a seat.
“You haven’t been listening to me.” She rolled her eyes at him, but Tony didn’t defend himself as he knew she was right.
Bethany was a sour topic for him. One topic he never wished to talk about but, here she was, shoving it down his throat.
Clearing her throat, Rachael continued.
“I saw her…or do I say someone who looked just like her but with a few differences? Anyway, I saw the lady in the parking lot one week ago.” She said, and Tony felt his heart ache.
“O-one week ago?” He stuttered. That was when Evelyn visited.
‘No! It can’t be.’ He thought. Maybe he was just overthinking things. He might be wrong.
“What did she have on?” He asked, deciding not to conclude without getting his facts straight.
“A blue skimpy gown and, I think she had silver shoes on. I can’t really remember the details but I know it was a blue gown…one that left very little to the imagination.” Disgust was evident on Rachael’s face as she remembered the lady’s classless dressing. When she turned her attention back to Tony, he looked as though he had just seen a ghost.
Blood had drained from his face and his eyes were wide as he stared at nothing in particular.
“Tony?” She called, but he was completely lost in thought.
“That was Evelyn.” He said robotically, and a sigh left his lips. Rachael stared at him with a confused look as she wondered who Evelyn was.
“Harriet’s ex-husband, Damien. Evelyn is…was Damien’s girlfriend. She can’t be Bethany,” he muttered and took out his phone, searching for ‘Evelyn James’ on the internet.
When the tab opened, it was filled with pictures of her and Damien at events, laughing and holding hands together. He continued to scroll until a particular picture caught his attention.
She was smiling sweetly at Damien, her full teeth out on display and her eyes glowing. His hand trembled as he zoomed in and saw the resemblance.
That was the same way she smiled at him ten years ago when she was confessing her love for him.
He finally understood why he didn’t realize it before, despite being face to face with her.
She looked different. Her eyes had a different color and her chin had gotten more defined. Ten years was a long time, she had gotten older and even though he hated her, he couldn’t deny that she was more beautiful.
She didn’t seem to be on drugs anymore, so that made her look healthier.
This meant that Bethany had been right beside him this entire time! Did she recognize him and keep quiet about it all this time?
“Fuck!” He yelled, his hands gripping his hands tightly. Rachael took his phone to see for herself and when she saw Evelyn’s face, a dry chuckle left her lips.
“It is her. That fucking bitch is here!” She laughed maniacally but, all that was going through Tony’s head was the fact that Adrian was also in New York.
Bethany and Adrian were dating, the last he could remember. If Evelyn is Bethany is Evelyn and Adrian is still in New York and even in the same house as Damien, doesn’t that mean that they are partners?
“Did Adrian and Evelyn plan everything together? From Evelyn meeting Damien, to her moving to New York and even kidnapping Harriet and the twins! Oh my God!” His hands went over his mouth in shock.
Harriett saw Adrian without knowing about any of this!
He had to warn Harriet. But first, he was going to meet with Evelyn.