AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Liesel was about to be deported, sent back to Germany because her father lost his job.”
Comprehension dawned on Dan’s face. “So you married her to keep her from being deported?”
Keith fidgeted. “Well, yes and no. She was about to be deported, but that isn’t the only reason I married her.”
“What are the other reasons?”
Keith lifted his shoulders up before letting them settle again. He could feel Liesel staring daggers into the side of his head, but he did his best to ignore that prickly feeling and stretched his legs casually as he stared ahead at nothing.
“ Look, Dan, I can’t change the past, but I can work with what we have, I can spin the story either way, work the whole puppy love angle, it would also be better if we leak it to the press, that way we make it seem like he wanted to keep it to himself, a good deed between him and I, not for the rest of the worlds’ eyes.”
“Yes, Yes!” Dan’s eyes began to flicker with excitement as he set a game plan for how the marriage would be leaked to the press, how Keith would pretend to be embarrassed then admit that he loved her and that he did it to keep her with him, but also how the split was amicable, and how they’re working together now.
“So you think we should let the press know it was you?”
“Of course, on the contrary, it makes him look more human. Being able to work side by side with his ex, letting her represent him, the press will eat it up.”
“You really are very good at your job, Liesel.”
“I try to be.”
Dan and Liesel continued to talk for a few more minutes. Keith did his best to make eye contact with Liesel to convey his gratitude and his sorrow, but she studiously avoided his gaze.
An hour later, they were finished up and heading out. Liesel got up to escort them to the door, and they briefly made eye contact. Liesel pretended not to notice as she made her way back to her desk.
“Dan, I need to stay behind for a bit to sort some things out with Liesel,”
Liesel’s eyes snapped up to meet his, and she regarded him coolly. “I don’t think there’s anything left to discuss Mr. Roger.”
“Yes, there is,” Keith insisted.
Dan gazed at Keith slowly then at Liesel. “alright, I’ll see you at dinner for the Pepsi ad meeting.”
“I’ll be there,” Keith said as Dan made his way out and shut the door behind him.
Liesel sat behind the desk, her cool blue eyes regarding him with as much indifference as she could muster, which wasn’t much. Keith could see that she was wound up by the erect way she sat, and by the way she crossed her arms over her chest.
“It’s good to see you, Lis, really.”
She stared at him as if unable to comprehend what he saying. Finally, she blinked. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“ What is that supposed to mean?”
Liesel sighed, the tension suddenly draining from her body. “Look, I’m not going to fight you, Keith, but let’s cut the crap, okay? You didn’t want the whole world knowing that Keith Roger-NBA star and womanizer- had a German wife. I get it.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, and anyway we’re not the same people anymore, so what does it matter?”
Liesel eyes flashed. “What does it matter? What does it matter?! Of course, Mr. Hotshot NBA doesn’t care anymore. Not now that you have the kind of lifestyle you always dreamed of, and you aren’t going to let anything get in the way of that.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Like hell it isn’t. ‘we were married once, and now we’re not,’” she quoted back at him, using air quotes to signify her rage and disgust.
“Look, Lis, calm down, there’s no need to be angry.”
“No? Maybe I should take a page out of your book and act like a douche bag.”
Keith strode to her desk and splayed his hands on her desk. “I messed up, okay? I know that, but don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
