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His arms dropped from my sides. I looked down at Keith as he slinked toward the pavement and curled into a fetus-like ball. His knees were pulled tightly toward his chest as his body rocked.
“Let that be a lesson to you,” I yelled over his sore body. I doubted he listened or could even hear. “Stay away from my place and stay away from Karly.” Keith gurgled as if he were about to puke. It was kind of sad, but it had to happen.
I walked across the street and headed to the penthouse. I resisted the urge to turn back and look at Keith or the crowd that had formed. I stepped inside and rested my back against the door. Karly poked her head out from the kitchen doorway. She walked toward me and spotted the bruises appearing on my jaw.
“He hit you?” she asked, shocked.
“Just once. It’ll be all over social media in a little while.”
“Where is he now?”
I chuckled as I kicked off my shoes. “I left him on the ground clutching his scrotum.”
“You mean his balls?”
I started laughing. “No. I mean his scrotum. His balls vanished when they felt my knee against his groin.”
Karly walked to the table. “You know I don’t condone violence, but he’s pushed me too far. I hope he knows to leave me alone now,” she said. “Thank you.”
I walked into the kitchen and said he shouldn’t be any trouble now. Once the video was posted, Keith would appear as the real jerk in the whole situation.
“The only thing is”—I heard Alexis at the top of the stairs—“it’s going to add fuel to the fire for the press.” I headed to the stairs and kissed Alexis. She ran to Karly, and I showered and dressed, getting ready for work.
Karly was talking to Alexis when I walked down the stairs. I gave her a peck on her forehead, and Alexis looked at me. “Don’t forget to kiss Karly as well,” she said with a giggle.
“I don’t know what you mean, young lady.”
I stood and headed for the front door. Karly walked with me. I kissed her, and she embraced the softness of my tender kiss without Alexis noticing.
“I think that’s the ice broken,” I said. Karly giggled. We both turned toward the kitchen archway, where Alexis stood with her hands covering her eyes. Her fingers were parted so she could peek. She’d seen us.
“I’ll see you both later,” I said with a smile.
“Bye, Dada.”
I arrived at the office, and a few of the staff lifted their gazes from their screens.
Yup, now I was famous.
Eric passed by my receptionist’s desk. “Go champ!” he said with a raised fist.
“It’s your damn fault.”
He bowed his head and scuttled off down the hallway. We’d talk later when I’d had the chance to cool down. For now, he could keep feeling guilty.
Carol the new receptionist, gave me the morning updates and then returned to her desk. I rested my head back and spun in my sizeable black leather chair. Raising my hand, I rubbed my jaw right as my cell rang.
It was Karly. “Hey. What’s up?” I asked. The noise of an outdoor area bled over the line. “Where are you?”
“I’m in the park,” Karly replied. “The house is like a scene from Notting Hill. There are about five TV vehicles, and God only knows how many photographers there are.”
“Ignore them.”
“I’ll go to my apartment with Alexis until it blows over.”
“Good idea,” I replied. It made sense, and the press might get fed up waiting for someone to appear.
“I’ll take her out for the afternoon. We can reach home the same time as you,” she said.
“I’ll be home at six. Get there around that time, and I’ll see if I can do anything to get rid of the TV crews.”
Karly cut the call, and I made a few calls myself. One or two reporters—due to favors needing to be repaid—said they’d pull out their vans. I wasn’t sure who the others were, so I kept my fingers crossed.
Time sped by, and it was almost time to head home. I asked Carol to get me a cab. I didn’t want cameras thrust against the windshield of my car. The cab was waiting when I exited the office. I was surprised no media team was waiting outside.
It didn’t make sense. It must have been the nanny with benefits they wanted to see.
I stopped the cab at a cross street and rounded the corner. One or two of the vehicles had left the scene of the crime so to speak. Three remained, and from the vehicles’ logos, they were independent reporters. There was no chance of them leaving without a scoop.
I called Karly’s cell phone. She answered, and she was walking again. I heard Alexis in the background. I lowered my head when one of the reporters noticed me walking down the sidewalk.
