Secret Words (Secret Dreams Contemporary Romance 1) (13 page)

As for you, your reputation may be beyond repair. But I might still feel sorry for you one of these days if you show remorse for what you've done in the past.

Fresh tears escaped Jasmine as she re-read the email she had received earlier that day. It was unsigned and it was from an address she didn't recognise. She doubted it was from Hannah. She could only surmise it was from George.

Whatever hope she still harboured about being able to disclose to Kane the threat to his reputation disappeared with this latest message. The message was very clear. Kane must not know. It seemed George wanted her to suffer. For what? For ruining his love life? Whatever his reasons, he had found the most efficient way to hurt her.

She jumped at the sound of her phone ringing and took a deep breath before answering it.

"Hi," she said as casually as she could.

"Hi, honey. How are you?"

Jasmine almost sobbed out loud at Kane's endearing voice. It was a good thing they weren't on a video call. At least she wouldn't have to explain her red and puffy eyes.

"Not too bad," she said with a clogged up voice.

"Hey, did you catch a cold?" he asked with concern.

"Yeah, I did."

"Not good. How are you feeling?"

"Crap," she answered truthfully.

"Oh, baby. Are you taking something for your cold?"

"Just some Vitamin C."

"Is everything else okay? You sound a bit down."

Damn it. Why does he have to notice.
"I'm just not feeling very well," she responded, unable to keep the dejection from her voice.

"Have you seen a doctor yet? I think you should go see one."

"I'll see one tomorrow," she lied.

"I miss you," Kane said softly.

She clamped her mouth with her hand, forcing herself to remain silent even when her whole soul wanted to scream 'I miss you, too'.

"Jaz?"

"I'm really feeling a bit tired tonight, Kane. Do you mind if we talk some other time?" she said in as neutral a tone as she could manage. She didn't know yet how to tell him they were over.

"Okay," he said but continued his worried interrogation. "Does your mum know you're sick?"

"No."

"You don't sound too good, Jasmine. You should tell your mum so she can visit you and make sure you're okay."

Damn you. Why do you have to be so caring?

"I wish I was there to take care of you," Kane continued tenderly.

A tear escaped her. "I have to go, Kane. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

There was a short silence before he acquiesced. "All right. Have a good rest, baby. I love you."

"Bye." She hang up and buried her face in her pillow.

*******

"I'm so sorry I'm ruining your trip," Jasmine said guiltily to Ari.

"Don't be silly. I came here for the weekend so you could help me heal my broken heart. Now it just means I get to return the favour," Ari responded softly.

"Thank you," she said sincerely as her doorbell rang. "That'll be Sam and Kris."

She opened the door and watched her friends' smiles transform into shock.

"Jaz, what the hell?" Kris asked while Sam stared at her with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

She chuckled despite her grief. "Geez, I must really look a mess to have that kind of reaction."

Her friends gently pushed their way in, taking her with them.

"This is Ari, girls," she said, smiling at her new chum. "Be nice to her so she can enjoy her weekend. I'm not being much of a help."

Sam and Kris warmly introduced themselves to Ari before all three of them turned their attention back to her in dismay.

"Have you been crying all night?" Sam asked.

"All night and all of this morning, I'd say," Ari said. "When she picked me up from the airport, I almost didn't recognise her."

"This could only mean one thing," Sam said gravely.

"That Kane Summers hurt you, didn't he?" Kris asked in a demanding tone, hands on hips.

"No," she sniffed, her heart once again contracting at the thought of how much
she
would be hurting him.

"Then what is it?"

"I'm breaking up with him," she whispered.

"Why?"

"I have no choice. I have to."

"Okay, let me make some tea and coffee, then you'll start from the beginning," Sam said, already filling up the kettle with water.

She nodded, grateful that her friends were around her. She needed all the support she could get. She was already falling apart and she hadn't even done the deed yet. Somehow, she had to find the strength to do it for Kane.

She held on to hope that sometime in the very near future, George's conscience would kick in and he would stop all this craziness. Then after that, maybe she and Kane could be together again.

~~~~~~~

"There must be some other way," Sam said insistently. "How stupid is it that you guys are in love and you allow some thieving dickhead to tear you apart?"

"If you can tell me what I can do to be absolutely sure nothing sullies Kane's name, I'm all ears," Jasmine said.

"This is doing my head in," Kris muttered, pressing her hands to her forehead. "Tell me again why you can't tell Kane about this?"

"Because either he would insist on fixing this thing, or at the very least ignore George's threat. He can't do either of those. George's threat was clear. He will do something that would damage Kane's reputation if I don't stay away from him. News about Kane has already started appearing, not just in architectural publications, but in other places, too. I even found an article that said he should be nominated for Bachelor of the Year!"

"Really?"

"Yes. I think he'd pass up on that. But you see, if they see me with him, they'll be interested in who I am. Then George could just easily swoop in with his malicious untruths."

"Well, if lies do come out about the two of you, surely you could refute that?" Ari asked.

"But not after they have already done some damage. Kane has told me that some clients with international standing don't want negative publicity attached to them, so some may desert his firm if that happens. It's not just about his reputation; it's also about his business and all the people who work with him."

"So you'll really break up with him?"

"I have to," she replied resolutely. "But I won't stop looking for George so I can put a stop to this mess. I just hope I have enough self-restraint not to wring his neck when I do find him."

"Well, the sooner we find George Fucking Paulson, the better," Kris declared. "Then even if you have to stay away from Kane now, hopefully it won't have to be for too long."

"Yes, we'll help you sort this out anyway we can," Sam said.

Ari nodded her head enthusiastically.

Jasmine smiled gratefully at her friends but her heart was being ripped to shreds. It was really going to happen. The four of them couldn't see any other way.

She would have to say goodbye to the love of her life.

*******

"Hi, Kane," Jasmine said, her whole body breaking in sweat and her heart pounding painfully in her chest.

"Hi, baby!" Kane replied cheerfully. "I was just about to call you. How are you feeling?"

"A bit better, thanks," she responded flatly.

"Your voice sounds a bit better but you're still not well, are you?"

She could imagine him scowling hard and a bittersweet smile formed on her face. She inhaled deeply, willing herself to get on with it.

"Kane, I'm not moving to Sydney."

"What did you say?"

"I'm staying here in Melbourne. After coming back here, I realised this is where I want to be," she replied in a calm voice.

"Is it because you won't enjoy the role they have for you in Sydney? You prefer your job there?"

"Partly," she lied.

"Okay, I suppose that means I'll be flying a lot to Melbourne then," he said cautiously.

"Kane, I don't think you should come." She tried to ignore the lancing pain in her heart.
 

"What?" he asked in a low voice after a long, uncomfortable silence.

"I don't think we should see each other anymore." She bit her lower lip to keep from bursting into tears.

"Jasmine, what are you saying?" he asked in a panicky tone.

Be strong,
she urged herself
.

"I've thought about it and it's just too hard, Kane. You'll be away from home a lot and I have my work that would prevent me from going with you. Sooner or later, we'd hate the fact that we're not together often enough. I think it's better that we don't let our relationship develop any further and end things now, before we're in too deep."

"No, you don't mean that."

She heard his voice crack and a tear fell down her face. She picked up the printout of the malevolent email she had received and read it, gathering courage from the fact she was doing this because she loved him.

"I do mean it, Kane," she said quietly.

"But we can work it out, Jaz. You love writing, right? Why don't you quit your job and travel with me? You'll be able to write more books quicker. Please, think about this," he begged, his distress evident.

She shut her eyes tight. Oh, how she would love to do that! But unless the danger of George's ill will had gone, it would do Kane more harm than good if she went with him.

"I've already made up my mind, Kane."

"No, you couldn't have. Just last week you were telling me how much you were going to miss me, how you couldn't wait for the two weeks before we see each other again, how much you loved me!"

"I'm fickle, Kane. That's one thing you didn't know about me."

"Jasmine, I don't believe you."

"You have to!" she said with force.

"But why? Did I do something wrong? If I did, I'm sorry. Whatever it is, I'll make it up to you. I promise. I love you," he said brokenly.

"Kane, please. It's over," she whispered, tears running down her face unchecked.

"Why?"

"It just is."

Her heart shattered at the soft sobbing on the other end of the line.

"I'm sorry," she choked and ended their call.

*******

Jasmine re-arranged the contents of her mother's very full pantry, urging her mind to concentrate on the task she had volunteered to do. She had to keep herself busy while they waited for Jessa and Rob to arrive for their first visit to their parents after their honeymoon. Either that or cry quietly in a corner.

A Google Alert had notified her earlier that day of a news snippet on Kane. It was a picture of him in a magazine taken from a black tie event he attended three nights ago—with a very pretty brunette as his date. She had her hand on his arm as he escorted her through the entrance of the gallery. They were smiling at each other. Sweetly.

You should be happy, Jasmine. Kane should now be safe from George's spiteful intentions.

Mindlessly, she moved cans and jars around as her mind played back the pleading messages Kane had left on her phone when she didn't pick up his calls. He had begged her to reconsider, saying multiple times he loved her. It killed her that she had hurt him badly but she still couldn't see any resolution to the problem he didn't even know existed.

Fearing she would eventually cave in if he kept on sending those kinds of messages, she texted him:

*Please stop. Please stay away.*

It worked because she hadn't heard anything from him in the last two weeks.

She knew she was in for some dark and gloomy moments, but she never expected the intensity of the physical pain that clutched her heart and spread throughout her body at the thought that Kane might have moved on. Who was the woman in the picture? If, through some miracle, George turned up today and said he had decided to leave them alone, would Kane be prepared to take her back if she explained everything to him? Or had he reached a point of no return concerning her?

"Jazzie!"

She turned around and smiled at her sister who seemed to look more radiant than she did on her wedding day.

At least someone's happy,
she thought with a tinge of envy. She hugged Jessa and appreciated the tight squeeze her sister gave her.

"How are you?" Jessa asked, holding her at arms' length to check her out.

"I'm fine," she said with a fake, bright smile. "I'm just helping Mum organise her pantry. You know how it gets when she goes on a shopping binge for groceries. How are you? Where's Rob?"

"I'm here, Jaz," Rob called out as he stepped into the kitchen. His hello hug was as equally tight as Jessa's was. "How've you been, sis?"

"Good, thanks. I think Mum's roast still has another half an hour to go. I'll join you guys in the living room as soon as I'm finished here. Mum wants to finish the movie she's watching before we eat."

"I'll help you," Jessa offered. "I like going through Mum's pantry too."

Jasmine hid her sigh. She wanted to be alone, but there would be no chance of that.

Rob gave Jessa a swift peck on the lips. Jasmine had to look away from the tenderness in their gazes as some unspoken communication passed between husband and wife. She hurt too much to watch other people be so in love.

"You didn't tell me about you and Kane," Jessa said without accusation as she started checking out the contents of the cupboard when Rob left the kitchen.

Her head swivelled to Jessa, eyes wide and heart palpitating.

"Faye mentioned it to me."

"Are you mad at me?"

Jessa looked at her in disbelief. "Mad? Why on earth would I be mad at you?"

"Because we stayed in your house?"

Jessa snickered. "No, Jaz. Rob and I are not mad. We just want to make sure everything's okay with you. We heard it's over."

"Yes. You know me. I don't stay in relationships for longer than three months," she said jokingly but not quite able to stop the involuntary gulp at the end of her statement.

"Apparently, Kane took it hard," Jessa said softly, looking intently at her.

Tears formed in her eyes.
Damn it! Control yourself!

"I didn't mean to hurt him," she said, avoiding Jessa's gaze and trying not to blink to prevent the tears from falling.