Page 203 of Rhet

I drag another paper from my desk “This amount we will be charging for the cargo ships in the northern part of the Waterfront.”

She begins to read, and her eyebrow raises “This is a lot.”

She looks beautiful, her hair rests on her shoulder with soft waves, her lips are painted scarlet red. I want to kiss her and smudge that lipstick.

Zeeta sighs and places the page on the table “Rhet what’s all this.”

I gather everything back in a file “This is my business,”

I go to the file drawn and I take out a thick file and drop it on the table.

“You said that we can’t have a relationship without trust and love,” I stare into her eyes waiting for a glimmer of hope.

“I love you Zeeta, these files, this blueprint has the power to change my life.” She should understand that this is me trusting her. This should get us back together.

She taps the files and smiles “All the best on your future endeavors Rhet Banner. I have to go,” Zeeta turns and walks to the door.

As I watch her walk away I recognize that I’m about to lose my only chance of having a family.

I’m grappling with my thoughts and all I can come with was “I killed Carson.”

She stops mid step and looks back at me “No Carson died from a heart attack.”

My heart is beating because me giving this information is giving her the power to destroy my life. I swallow and breathe “I had a concoction made. It induced his heart attack.”

Zeeta’s face is expressionless “I’m sorry you had to do that.”

“I’m not,” I dig my hands in my pocket bracing for the scolding I was about to receive. Or maybe the threat of police.

She says nothing, rubs her hand together and turns. Zeeta is leaving, my insides tremble as she touches the doorknob.

“I love you Zee, with my everything. I trust you,” I say watching as she turns the knob “I trust you to love me, to have my back, to be my peace.”

As the doorknob turns and the door opens my body stiffens, because I love her, but I will not beg for her love.

I close my eyes and look away because I refuse to watch her leave.

“Bam” As the door bangs closes my knees buckle and I fall to the chair. Resting my head on the table I think of where I went wrong. Maybe I should have told her I assisted in killing my dad. My mind shouts no. Maybe I should grovel on my knees or kidnap her.

I should try again. How far is she? Did she reach the elevator yet? I get up in a rush and open the door.

Before I can step forward, Zeeta is standing there as if she is about to come in.

“Hey,” that’s all I could think of saying.

“What’s your middle name?” She questions me, her left arm is on her holding her right arm.

“What?” the question has me baffled. Finally, she smiles, and it reaches her eyes.

“Since you trust me, tell me your middle name,” Zeeta nibbles at her bottom lip.

I smile so wide that my cheeks hurt “Promise not to laugh.”

“I promise.”

I wrap my arms around her slowly so she wouldn’t get away “Its Ashely. My name is Rhet Ashely Banner.”

She burst out laughing “They didn’t name you Ashely”.

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