Our Wicked Lies by Gledé Kabongo (story read aloud TXT) 📗

sky. Lush trees and shrubbery surrounded them, along with winding paths, trails, and clean air. A young mother pushed her baby in the stroller. A dad and his son kicked around a soccer ball. A family ran with their dog. But from the way Richard looked, it might have been deepest winter.

“Maxim and I are leaving. Tonight.” He still didn’t look up at her. “I put the house up for sale. Not sure it will sell quickly, given what happened, but we can’t stay.”

“I’m sure it will.”

He sighed, then looked across at her without lifting his head. “You’ve always been so upbeat, full of enthusiasm for life. I’ll miss that.”

“It didn’t do me any good,” she said, and they both smiled. “I’m afraid to start over,” she confessed.

“Don’t be. You’ll do fine.” He reached down and picked up a briefcase. He snapped it open and pulled out an envelope.

Handing it to her, he said, “Please don’t thank me. It’s the least I can do. I can’t erase the pain she caused you, but perhaps this small gesture can help you get a fresh start.”

She opened the envelope and read the contents. The small gesture in question was an official offer letter, working as executive assistant to Todd Hayes, the new Chief Compliance Officer of York Capital Investments. The salary? A whopping one hundred thousand dollars annually with the potential for bonuses.

“Richard, this is too generous.” She knew the starting salary for an executive assistant with little experience was substantially less. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll accept the offer. Officially, you have a week to think about it, sign, and return the letter to Human Resources.”

He had paid attention to that conversation, a year ago, that she had all but forgotten. She and Eliot had just returned from visiting colleges with Marston. The DeLucases had come over later that afternoon for a casual get-together. Alicia had confided in Richard that her dream was to finish the degree she’d abandoned, due to her mother’s illness, and even pursue graduate studies afterward. They’d briefly discussed her classes and major as an undergraduate student at Suffolk University

Richard had nodded throughout the conversation. She thought he was merely being polite with his encouragement and suggestions, but he’d obviously meant every word. Look at what he had done. He’d given her a shot at pursuing her dream. The offer letter also mentioned that she would be eligible to take part in the career development program at the firm, which meant she could continue to take classes without upfront costs, in some cases.

“I wish there was a way to return your generosity,” she said.

“There is. Be happy.”

“I’ll try. Thank you again, Richard.”

“It’s the least I can do.”

They sat in the quiet afternoon air for a moment.

“How does Maxim feel about the move?” Alicia asked, after a while.

“Neutral. But I think he recognizes that we need each other. Just me and my boy from here on out.”

His voice held such sorrow that Alicia almost hugged him. “You and your boy will be just fine. Cherish the time you have together. Soon, he’ll be leaving for college, too.”

“That’s right. Marston graduates soon.”

“In a couple of days.”

“That must be tough for her. One of the happiest days of her life turned into so much pain. Her parents splitting up. The scandal. Tell her that I’m sorry, and that I wish her the best at college next fall.”

“I will.”

They both stood at the same time and hugged each other tightly.

When they separated, he said, “Goodbye, Alicia. If you ever have any issues at work or you need help of any kind, please call me. Day or night. Okay?”

And with that, he left.

Alicia remained on the park bench and sent a text to an unknown number.

Richard just left.

Moments later, Dr. Jack Witherspoon joined her. It was strange seeing him without his white lab coat and stethoscope dangling from his neck. Instead, he sported jeans, a navy-blue polo shirt and sneakers.

“How did it go?” he asked.

“Better than expected. Richard gave me a most valuable parting gift.”

“What’s that?”

“Freedom. A way to make it on my own, through hard work and dedication.” She told him about the offer letter and the provision for career development.

“That’s wonderful news, Alicia. No one deserves a fresh start more than you do.”

“You deserve one too, Jack.”

“Thanks to you, I get a do-over. The practice will be out of debt and profitable again. I’m even thinking of expanding, taking on a couple of new doctors and appropriate support staff.”

She beamed at him. She couldn’t have pulled this off without Jack. Richard’s gift was an unexpected blessing. Maybe God doesn’t hate me after all, she thought. She had taken desperate measures to clean up the mess her life had become.

Alicia had concocted the scheme after Eliot had threatened to leave her destitute. Something primal had risen up in her after that. Call it pushback, vengeance, finally growing a backbone, whatever. She’d had enough. She’d refused to be pushed around anymore. Jack had been reluctant at first when she’d approached him with the idea.

“It’s the perfect plan,” she had told him. “You get the practice back on solid financial footing, and I get to start over on my own terms, free of Eliot’s manipulation and lies. It’s a win-win.”

She wouldn’t have gone to such lengths if Eliot hadn’t been a grade-A jerk to her. Kat’s diary had proven to be a powerful weapon. Alicia would never have noticed it if Kat hadn’t quickly moved it out of her line of vision the day Alicia had gone to Kat’s office after the crotch-grabbing incident. Alicia had thought it strange that Kat would hide a simple notebook, and then Alicia had forgotten all about it.

But after their blow-up fight, the one that ended their friendship, Alicia had been determined to find out what was in that notebook, why Kat was so protective of it. Later that same evening, she’d returned to the office and told the employee at the desk that she