No Strings Attached

Part 27 : No Strings Attached

I turned away from her, and her touch, “Shouldn’t you be in school? A girl like you? Go and read your books."

“I’m a big girl now Riccardo, I can do as I please.”

“Tessa, I’d like to inform you that I’m married.” I responded, moving away from her, "And I'm not interested in you."

“I’ll try anything once,” she whispered, “And I don’t see your wife trailing behind you...”

“Because she’s in hospital.” I replied tersely

"In hospital..." She responded, "Well, out of sight, out of mind...tell me, does your wife mind you indulging in a little extra curricular in the office?"

I scoffed, disgusted, "My wife," I stressed, "Is the only woman in my life. And she is in the hospital after losing our baby."

“Oh...” she sighed, immediately looking contrite, “Riccardo, I’m sorry.”

She rubbed my shoulders and I put my head in my hands, despairing.

How the hell was I here? I mused aloud. How the hell could we be going through so much in such a short space of time? Kimberley, as perfect as she was, had totally shut down and shut me out. Life wasn't the same without her.

Tessa listened, her thumb rubbing over my hand as I spilled my spineless guts out to her, barely able to contain my tears.

"So that's why," I said, "That's why I feel so f*cking dreadful and out of sorts, okay? So please take your bouncy, flirty personality and get the hell out of my office."

“It’s okay,” she breathed, “It’s okay...”

Her lips brushed against mine, soft and plump. It almost felt comforting... but then Kimberley’s face popped up in my mind.

Kimberley Rae Scott, United States attorney for Whyte and Browns and it’s very nice to meet you all...

I pulled away.

“What the hell am I doing?”

“Riccardo?”

“Please just leave.”

“But Ric-“

“Just get out.”

“Riccardo, I told you that I’d be here, if you need to talk, if you need to....”

“Pack up your things. If you tell anyone that this happened, I’ll give you a reference so damning that you’ll never work anywhere ever again. Are we understood?”

She grabbed her bag and stormed out of my office.

I hit my head against the desk.

Kimberley.

*******************************************************************************

Kimberley's P.O.V.

“Mrs Alonso,” the nurse said, “Mr Alonso is outside waiting for you, whenever you’re ready.”

I looked at myself in the mirror.

I was looking seriously thin, gaunt even....

The black jeans were holding in my hips, a plain white t-shirt and sneakers were all I could manage.

My face was bare except for a streak of lip gloss.

I sighed grabbing my bag and walking out.

Riccardo sat on the waiting room chair in jeans and a fresh light blue polo shirt.

He looked up at me and smiled.

I couldn’t face this. My husband would probably hate me, act like I was used goods or something. I disgusted myself... I had been used... I was dirty... damaged....

We got in the car and sat in silence.

“Kim? Are you feeling any better?”

I couldn’t speak to him. I felt so used. I wanted to scrub my skin raw until there was no trace of any of this left. Until there was no trace of me. Wiped away like I'd never existed in the first place.

“Kim?”

No, Rick.

We pulled up outside the house and I got up out of the car and walked into the house.

“Kimberley!”

I shut out my thoughts to the whole world.

“Kimberley!”

I ran to the bathroom, locking the door and just managed to open the toilet seat before I violently threw up inside.

God, why me? Why now? I had nothing... nothing left to live for.

I reached into my pocket and grabbed my cell.

Beep. Beep.

“Hello September Wood speaking.”

“Sep... it’s me. Kimberley.”

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