Chapter 13 - JACQUELINE TOLD KAYLA SHE KNEW A SIDE OF GUNTHER KAYLA NEVER WOULD
Kayla did not show Gunther the email immediately.
Not because she wanted to trap him.
Because she wanted to think.
Victor had entered Gunther’s house that night.
That could mean anything.
Victor had been Gunther’s closest friend for almost two decades.
Jacqueline had a past with Gunther.
Gunther had refused to tell Kayla why she came.
Now someone wanted Kayla to connect them.
The question was why.
Two days later, Jacqueline solved part of it herself.
She appeared at the rehabilitation center at 4:45.
Elegant.
Blonde hair pinned low.
Camel coat.
No security.
Kayla saw her through the glass wall of the lobby.
For one second, neither woman moved.
Then Jacqueline approached.
“Can we talk?”
Kayla folded her arms.
“Did Gunther send you?”
Jacqueline smiled humorlessly.
“That sentence alone proves he hasn’t told you.”
“Told me what?”
“Coffee?”
“No.”
“Good. I hate hospital coffee.”
They sat in an empty conference room.
Jacqueline removed her gloves carefully.
Kayla waited.
“I was at Gunther’s house.”
“I know.”
“I did not sleep with him.”
“I know.”
Jacqueline blinked.
“You believe him.”
“Yes.”
That seemed to surprise her.
“Good.”
“Why were you there?”
Jacqueline looked toward the door.
“Because I needed help.”
“From Gunther?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I can’t tell you all of it.”
Kayla almost laughed.
“You two coordinated that answer?”
“No.”
Jacqueline’s expression softened slightly.
“He’s protecting me.”
“From what?”
“My own stupidity.”
That was unexpected.
Kayla waited.
Jacqueline continued.
“I know what people say about Gunther and me.”
“Were you together?”
“Depends on definition.”
“Sex?”
“Yes.”
Direct.
Kayla appreciated it despite the small sting.
“Exclusive?”
“No.”
“In love?”
Jacqueline looked down.
“I was closer than he was.”
There.
No theatrical rivalry.
No pretending.
“I wanted him to become someone he wasn’t prepared to be.”
“And he?”
“Made it very clear he wasn’t offering that.”
“Then why stay?”
“Because intelligent women can still make stupid decisions when hope is involved.”
Kayla understood that more than she wanted.
Jacqueline studied her.
“He was different with you before he even knew it.”
“How?”
“He apologized.”
Kayla smiled faintly.
“He told me.”
Jacqueline laughed.
“Of course he did.”
Then her face became more serious.
“Gunther told me things he never told other women.”
Kayla’s expression changed.
Jacqueline saw it.
“There. That bothered you.”
“I’m human.”
“I know.”
“What things?”
Jacqueline hesitated.
“His father.”
“His mother.”
“Anthony Vega.”
Kayla went still.
Anthony Vega had nearly destroyed her relationship with Gunther.
“You knew?”
“Not facts. Fragments.”
“Why?”
“Because Gunther used to talk after sex sometimes.”
Kayla looked away.
A petty part of her hated that sentence.
Jacqueline continued.
“He didn’t love me, Kayla.”
“But he trusted me with darkness because I didn’t ask him to change it.”
That was the real difference.
Kayla looked back.
“And I do.”
“Yes.”
“Does that make you think he trusted you more?”
“No.”
Jacqueline surprised her again.
“I think he trusted me less.”
Kayla frowned.
“Why?”
“Because telling someone your worst thing when you don’t care whether they leave is easy.”
That landed.
Jacqueline leaned back.
“Telling someone when losing them would destroy you is much harder.”
Silence.
Kayla’s anger shifted.
Not gone.
Changed.
“What happened at his house?”
Jacqueline looked at her hands.
“I’m seeing someone.”
Kayla blinked.
“All right.”
“Someone Gunther knows.”
There it was.
“Victor.”
Jacqueline looked up sharply.
Kayla almost laughed.
“That obvious?”
“Not until you said it.”
Jacqueline sighed.
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Four months.”
Now the photographs made sense.
Partly.
“Why hide it?”
“Victor thinks Gunther will see it as betrayal.”
“Gunther isn’t with you.”
“I know.”
“Does Victor?”
“He knows intellectually.”
“And emotionally?”
Jacqueline smiled sadly.
“Victor has spent twenty years treating Gunther’s life like sovereign territory.”
That was painfully accurate.
“So you went to Gunther’s house to tell him?”
“No.”
Jacqueline’s face changed.
“I went because someone is blackmailing Victor.”
Kayla became still.
“With what?”
“Me.”
Before Kayla could respond, someone knocked.
Elias opened the door.
“Sorry. Kayla, Marcus’s insurer is on line two.”
She stood.
Jacqueline stood too.
“Tell Gunther I came here?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Kayla paused.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because this isn’t about Gunther anymore.”
She put on her gloves.
“And that is exactly why Victor is terrified.”
That night, Kayla told Gunther everything.
Including the anonymous email.
Gunther read it twice.
His face became cold.
“You should have shown me immediately.”
Kayla’s expression changed.
He corrected himself.
“I wish you had.”
“Better.”
He exhaled.
“What did Jacqueline say?”
“Victor is being blackmailed.”
Gunther went still.
“She told you?”
“Yes.”
“She refused to tell me.”
Kayla stared.
Gunther looked offended.
That was almost funny.
“Maybe she trusted me.”
“That is deeply irritating.”
Kayla laughed.
Gunther did not.
Then Kayla said, “She also told me you used to talk about your life after sleeping with her.”
He froze.
“Ah.”
“Excellent response.”
“What would you prefer?”
“Nothing.”
Gunther studied her.
“You’re jealous.”
She stared.
“Yes.”
He looked almost pleased.
“Do not enjoy that.”
“I’m trying not to.”
“You’re failing.”
“Yes.”
Then Gunther’s phone rang.
Victor.
Gunther answered.
“You should come over.”
Victor sounded wrong.
“What happened?”
Silence.
Then:
“They have photographs of Jacqueline leaving my apartment.”
May you like
Gunther looked at Kayla.
“And they want five million dollars by Friday.”
Related Stories
