"... unsuspecting fish get caught on the hook..."

Keira's POV

I haven't been out on my own for quite some time. Part of me feels scared to be out here. I have been sitting in my father's old truck wondering whether to enter the hotel or leave.

I am not shy. It's mostly thought so but I am not shy. Reserved, a little. Outgoing, not so much. Am I people person? Not really. But I also hate to be alone sometimes. But none if those things are the reason why I seem to be glued to my seat. It has a lot to do with Nick's wife telling the whole of New York that I am a homewrecker and the host if the show calling all wives to beware of me.

I'm not on a husband stealing spree.

The first time I met Nick, I did not think "Oh boy! How will I were k his marriage?" That thought did not cross my mind, not even remotely. He planted the idea in my heart. My stupid heart fell for him. I didn't think it through and even if I did, he demanded and I submitted. Then he has backed away and I'm the one carrying the reproach of our affair.

I decided to just do it. Unless I move to another state, I have to go into shops. I have to do it without wearing sunglasses and a hoodie. I had to do that to buy the tests because I was ashamed of being recognized.

"All you have to do is cross the street, ask for Theo at the reception and proceed up. Simple. No eye contact and don't talk to anyone. Simple."

Simple?

Hell no!

Still, I am the daughter of a naval officer and I have to be brave. I am allowed to be scared but not to be a coward. That is what daddy would say.

I got out of the old truck and banged the door shut. A few people looked my way but I put on my sunglasses, kept my head down and crossed the street quickly. I walked into the hotel and made my way straight to the lobby.

"Good afternoon." I greeted the man.

"Good afternoon. How can I assist you?"

"I'm here to see Theo Sinclair."

"Name?"

I want to lie. I badly want to lie but how will Theo know it's me?

"Let me call him and then he can call you. Excuse me." I stepped aside to make the phone call.

We spoke at length last night. He indulged me fully. He is a great listener. Unlike Nick, he doesn't dish out solutions. He just listens. I felt unburdened after we were done. I wished him a good night and he said he's looking forward to seeing me.

He is not answering his phone.

We agreed to 2pm in the afternoon. It's 1:55pm. I guess I'll have to tell the man my name.

"Are you ready to tell me your name?" He smiled at me.

Perhaps he can't recognize me. Maybe I'm being paranoid. Maybe no one recognizes me. I took off my sunglasses and smiled at him. He returned my anime warmly. "Keira Ballard."

"Keira Ballard." He repeated and picked up the phone.

There are two women on my left, staring at me. Their stares look hostile. "I'm calling for Monsieur Sinclair. He has a guest, a Miss Keira Ballard... I see. All right." He hanged up. "Penthouse suite. It's the top most floor."

He allowed me through to the elevators. I turned to see those two women still staring at me. I think they recognize me. I felt relieved to get into the elevator and to be free from them.

The floor has two doors. I walked towards the one with two men speaking French. They stopped talking when I stopped close by. ",I'm sorry to bother you but is Theo here?"

"Name?"

"Keira Ballard." I answered.

They opened the double doors to let me into the classy penthouse. My eyes looked around the beautiful hotel suite. There's a woman reading through some documents. "Uhm... excuse me?"

"You must be Keira!" She stood up at once. "My name is Taylor. Monsieur Sinclair is outside."

I looked through the open glass doors with white sheers floating in the cool afternoon breeze. I made my way outside. He is in the pool, swimming around. A roof top garden and a pool this high up! Some people really live it up.

He came up when he saw me. He took one more lap before getting out of the pool.

"I'm happy to see you ma chérie." He glanced at his wrist watch. "Right on time. I'm impressed."

A man waiting on him passed him a towel and he used another to pay Theo dry. A maid presented a robe and another a tray with drinks. This man is pampered.

He picked two glasses and offered me one. When I was about to drink it I caught a whiff of alcohol. Now that I'm pregnant,I shouldn't.

I chose to hold it instead as he gulped his down. He passed it to the maid and picked another glass. "Please,sit down. Sit down ma chérie."

I took a seat and he followed after.

"You must love to swim."

"It hasn't always been like that. Do you know how my father taught me to swim? He threw me into the pool. I developed a strong phobia for water after that but later on, I learned and I loved it. What about you? Do you swim?"

"My father served the navy. The pool was as necessary as breathing." I laughed.

"You have a beautiful smile and an infectious laughter." He frowned a little. "How do you do it ma chérie? How do you keep your joy even when your life is falling apart?"

"What do you mean?"

"Margaux Deveraux spewed a lot of tainted truths on television. It must have been embarrassing."

"You saw that?"

"I'm sorry to say but bad news spreads like wild fire."

The whole world saw that. I covered my face. "I am very embarrassed."

"That is a good thing. It shows you gave a conscience. You were seated in your car for quite some time." I looked at him. "Blue truck with mismatched rims?"

"How did you...?"

"I have a great view." He smiled. "I'm happy you decided to come up."

"I struggled for a moment." I admitted. "I have t been out on my own in a long time."

"Well, I was in town for business when I saw Margaux ranting on the talkshow. I though of you and felt concern for you. I don't know what it is about you but I am drawn to protect you."

"From what?"

"From everything and everyone who seeks to harm you. Even from yourself ma chérie. How is life, really?"

When we spoke on the phone, we kept our conversation casual. I did not open up about anything. But like he's drawn to protect me, I feel I can tell him anything.

"Hard."

"Care to share ma chérie?" I stared into the drink. "Is something wrong with it?"

"I can't... uh... alcohol. I dint take alcohol."

"It's very little, not much. Drink."

"I'm pregnant Theo." I told him. "I can't believe I just said that out loud. I'm sorry."

He is frowning. It's not a bad grown, more like he is trying to figure something out.

"Congratulations." He offered me a small smile.

"After I came back from Greece, I asked my husband for a divorce. He tried to kill me. After that life has been... hard. I don't want to ruin your day with sadness. Tell me, what exactly are you doing in Manhattan? What do you do?"

"Pardon moi." He called a man over. "Serve her tea... mild. Being some fresh dessert as well. I'll have espresso."

"Oui monsieur." He left immediately.

"I recently retired from the navy. I am now managing the family business."

"And what is the family business if you don't mind me asking?" He smiled at me.

"Freight." He answered. "Mostly through shipping."

"That's interesting."

"What about you? What do you do?" I find his accent sexy. His smile. He's attractive.

"Before we continue, there was a woman in there. Who is she?"

"Taylor. My personal assistant."

"Okay. Any wife or girlfriend I should know about?"

"I'm single."

The man he sent presented us with what he had asked for. I thanked him before he excused himself.

"I studied culinary arts. I haven't really done anything with it."

"Now that is interesting. I don't know my way around the kitchen and I cannot cook to save my life." I can tell he's spoilt and knows nothing but servants at his beck and call. "You should cook for me sometime."

"Challenge accepted."

"Where is your husband ma chérie? You mentioned he almost killed you. Was he arrested?"

"No." I stirred the milk tea. It looks delicious. "If anything, the officer told me I provoked it. So..."

"You provoked a near death experience?" He frowned. "I'm sorry. I suppose you don't know where he is?"

"No and that terrifies me."

"Get a bodyguard." He suggested.

"I will consider that."

"Things are not going so well for Nick either, are they? I hard he was fired from Bale Industries."

"He was. Can I tell you something?"

"By now you should tell me anything. I'm all ears."

"He said I was an impulsive mistake and he broke it off... i think he did." I sipped the delicious tea. "This is very good."

"I'll be sure to commend the chef." He sipped from his own cup. "

"Forgive me for meddling but is the baby his?"

"Yes."

"You are in a terrible situation ma chérie."

"I am. He doesn't know so please don't mention it."

"My lips are sealed. Keira, allow me to say something. You two went about it all wrong. I'm not questioning your feelings about each other but I'm reminding you that we often reap what we sow ma chérie. Consequences are bitter but if you learn from them, you grow."

"Thank you." I fought an urge to cry.

I felt his hand settled on top of mine. "Tell me, what is good about Manhattan?"

*

Theo is walking me out. I told him m it's not necessary but he insists.

"I don't know many women who drive a manual car, especially one that old."

"My father taught us how to drive old cars. He said we can drive new ones with our eyes closed." I chuckled. "I bet you two would have a lot of stories to exchange about the navy."

"One second, I'm sorry." He moved aside to answer a phone call just as we entered the lobby from the elevator. A group of women are in the lobby. I recognize those two women from before. Theo is still on call. They are walking towards me.

"Hey! You're that woman on Mistresses Exposed!" One of them accused me.

Theo has moved further away and is facing away from me.

Before I could move one if them grabbed my hair and pulled as the others started tagging at my dress and slapping me. They surrounded me and pushed me down to the floor. My struggles proved futile until the suddenly scattered. It felt like a bad dream, for them to suddenly scatter as fast as they attacked me.

"Are you all right?" Theo pulled me up to my feet. The e sleeve of my dress is hanging. My hair is a mess. My arms are full of scratches. I'm shaking. "Keira?"

"I uh... I am... I am fine." I nodded.

"Let's go back up-"

"No. I have to go home." I pulled away. "Thank you for the cup of the tea and your company."

I ran out in a hurry all the way to my car. I stopped when I saw the word "whore" painted in red on the side. My windscreen has been egged with tissue all over it.

I looked around at the busy street going on as usual.

"Keira." Theo has followed me. He paused to look at the truck. "Do t bother. I'll have it cleaned up. My chauffeur will take you home."

"I can't-"

"I insist." He took my hand and kissed the back of it. A slick black Rolls Royce pulled up in front of us. We sat in the back and I watched one of his bodyguards getting into my father's old truck and driving away in the opposite direction.

I remained sik not without looking at him as much as he's holding my hand. This is why I didn't want to leave the house today. I should have asked him to come over instead.

Is this how my life will be?

I'm pregnant. What if they beat me up next time?

"Who is that?" Theo addressed me as we pulled up behind a black car. A man i sitting on my porch. I recognize him.

"Detective Tim Rowland." I answered. "Thank you for today. It was fun."

He stepped out and got the door for me.

"Mrs Burke." The detective got on his feet. "I was almost about to leave."

"Don't let me stop you." I told him.

"Who is your new friend?" He pointed at Theo.

"None of your business." Theo answered.

"It's nice to meet you Mr none of your business. Mrs Burke-"

"I prefer Keira."

"Keira. When was the last time you saw Jason Burke? Your husband." He emphasized the word as he stared at Theo.

"When he used my face as a punching bag. Remember that? Do you remember me telling you how he wrapped me in a carpet and was going to dispose of my body? Remember that detective?" I frowned at the audacity he suffers from. When I was the victim he wasn't serious at all. Now the abuser is a victim and he's camping outside my house!

"You had no evidence. I believe in evidence."

"You are on a fishing expedition detective. It's becoming obvious to me that you're too invested in this."

"Mrs Burke has filed a missing person's report. Jason Burke is officially missing and for your sake I hope you have nothing to do with it. One last thing. Do you own a weapon? Guns?"

"Don't answer that question." Theo told me firmly.

"Excuse me Mr none of your business, but who are you in this picture?"

"None of your business." Theo answered.

"I see." He paid attention to me. "Reports of gunshots were called in by your neighbors. Do you own a firearm?"

"I have a feeling you're trying to trap me. Please leave."

He nodded. "I sense that soon, you,Nick and I will have a reunion."

He got into his car and drove away.

Theo and I watched until he was gone. "I was going to leave tomorrow but I think I'll stick around for you." He draped his arm over my shoulder and I leaned against his warmth. "That detective is fishing ma chérie. Be careful not to be caught in his trap."