never liked that bastard, Malcolm Allusifa . From what he’d learned of her past, neither did
she.
“I’ll take care of you.” He meant every word.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“You’re not a very trusting person.”
“I’ve grown up knowing the only person I can trust is myself .
My mother also makes the grade. Everyone else wants a little piece of you.”
She turned away to look outside the car window.
“Your father didn’t play a big role in your life,” he said, making it
more a statement rather than a question.
Simone didn’t comment.
“I take it he’s not a good subject to talk about around you.”
“Leave comments and statements about my father out of this.”
He pulled up outside her apartment. There was a rush of press who
surrounded the car. Cole watched her bury herself into the seat.
“Why won’t they leave me alone?”
“You’re big news. Do you want me to escort you to your room?” he asked.
“Please, I’d really like that.” He placed the handbrake on then got out
of his side of the car. Pushing the press out of the way, he helped Simone out
of her side and kept her close by his side.
He felt her shaking, and a surge of protectiveness consumed him.
“Can you tell us about your relationship with Mr. Gallagher?”
“Does your father know about your current relationship?”
“Are your mother and father getting back together?”
Her hands covered her ears. The guard at the door helped them through
then warded off all the other reporters.
“I can’t believe they’re doing this, Miss Allusifa .
We’ve alerted security, but they’re not going anywhere,” the woman on the desk
said.
“That’s okay, Mary. I’m sorry for all the fuss.”
Mary passed her hand through the air. “No fuss.”
Cole helped her over to the elevator. When the doors closed, she sagged
against the wall. “They’ve brought my mother into this. That is not fair.”
“Why does your mother concern you?” he asked.
She shook her head. The doors opened,
and he followed her to her apartment. Her door remained open once she walked
inside. He closed the door behind him. She went for the fridge grabbing a beer.
“Do you want one?”
“No, I need to drive back.”
“Of course you do.”
Chapter Seven
Simone took several gulps of beer to
try to calm her ragging nerves. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Cole sat next to her. His presence
helped her to feel safe. “What can’t you believe?”
“I remember when things went pear-shaped
for my parents. Because of who my dad is, the whole divorce was like a circus
freak act. Everything came out into the open.” She licked her lips to try to
wet her suddenly dry mouth. Taking another gulp of beer, she still felt
incredibly dry. “I was six at the time. If you go back nineteen years then
you’d find all the information. For six years after I was born he did nothing
but make my mother’s life a misery. The press and Malcolm’s friends ridiculed
her because of her being a cleaner. My father seduced her while she was working
on one of his floors. He saw her, wanted her, and took her. At least that is
the stuff that is written in the papers.”
“You shouldn’t believe everything
you read.”
She smiled. “I don’t want to talk
about it. I know my mother is going to be hurt.”
“What’s your mother’s name?” he
asked.
“Helen. Helen Allusifa .
She kept my father’s name. I think she still loves him even to this day.” She
shook her head hating the memories of each new article her father had been with
the latest model.
“You don’t agree with her feelings?”
“Who could love someone who spent
most of their marriage cheating on them?” she asked.
“You couldn’t forgive cheating?”
Simone shook her head. “Not cheating. It is the worst thing to do to
another person.” A tear fell from her eyes. Cole wrapped his arms around her
and pulled her close. She went to him without refusing
she.
“I’ll take care of you.” He meant every word.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“You’re not a very trusting person.”
“I’ve grown up knowing the only person I can trust is myself .
My mother also makes the grade. Everyone else wants a little piece of you.”
She turned away to look outside the car window.
“Your father didn’t play a big role in your life,” he said, making it
more a statement rather than a question.
Simone didn’t comment.
“I take it he’s not a good subject to talk about around you.”
“Leave comments and statements about my father out of this.”
He pulled up outside her apartment. There was a rush of press who
surrounded the car. Cole watched her bury herself into the seat.
“Why won’t they leave me alone?”
“You’re big news. Do you want me to escort you to your room?” he asked.
“Please, I’d really like that.” He placed the handbrake on then got out
of his side of the car. Pushing the press out of the way, he helped Simone out
of her side and kept her close by his side.
He felt her shaking, and a surge of protectiveness consumed him.
“Can you tell us about your relationship with Mr. Gallagher?”
“Does your father know about your current relationship?”
“Are your mother and father getting back together?”
Her hands covered her ears. The guard at the door helped them through
then warded off all the other reporters.
“I can’t believe they’re doing this, Miss Allusifa .
We’ve alerted security, but they’re not going anywhere,” the woman on the desk
said.
“That’s okay, Mary. I’m sorry for all the fuss.”
Mary passed her hand through the air. “No fuss.”
Cole helped her over to the elevator. When the doors closed, she sagged
against the wall. “They’ve brought my mother into this. That is not fair.”
“Why does your mother concern you?” he asked.
She shook her head. The doors opened,
and he followed her to her apartment. Her door remained open once she walked
inside. He closed the door behind him. She went for the fridge grabbing a beer.
“Do you want one?”
“No, I need to drive back.”
“Of course you do.”
Chapter Seven
Simone took several gulps of beer to
try to calm her ragging nerves. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Cole sat next to her. His presence
helped her to feel safe. “What can’t you believe?”
“I remember when things went pear-shaped
for my parents. Because of who my dad is, the whole divorce was like a circus
freak act. Everything came out into the open.” She licked her lips to try to
wet her suddenly dry mouth. Taking another gulp of beer, she still felt
incredibly dry. “I was six at the time. If you go back nineteen years then
you’d find all the information. For six years after I was born he did nothing
but make my mother’s life a misery. The press and Malcolm’s friends ridiculed
her because of her being a cleaner. My father seduced her while she was working
on one of his floors. He saw her, wanted her, and took her. At least that is
the stuff that is written in the papers.”
“You shouldn’t believe everything
you read.”
She smiled. “I don’t want to talk
about it. I know my mother is going to be hurt.”
“What’s your mother’s name?” he
asked.
“Helen. Helen Allusifa .
She kept my father’s name. I think she still loves him even to this day.” She
shook her head hating the memories of each new article her father had been with
the latest model.
“You don’t agree with her feelings?”
“Who could love someone who spent
most of their marriage cheating on them?” she asked.
“You couldn’t forgive cheating?”
Simone shook her head. “Not cheating. It is the worst thing to do to
another person.” A tear fell from her eyes. Cole wrapped his arms around her
and pulled her close. She went to him without refusing
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