Forbidden Disclosure(40)

“Take this file I’m preparing. The fax is just coming in, so hold on for a second.” Francesco picked up the sheet with a photograph. “Is this your Katherine?”



Daniel studied the pictures. The strawberry blonde curls, the green eyes…



“Daniel, is it Katherine?”



“Yes, it is.”



“She’s a beautiful woman. Go talk to her, Daniel. When she meets the man standing before me, not the man that you were, she’ll fall in love with you.”



Daniel nodded and left the study. He packed a bag and included some suits, just in case he got to take Katherine to an expensive restaurant. He didn’t have much else to wear. His order would take a week or so to arrive, so in the meantime, he could pick up a few things when he reached Michigan. Hopefully she wouldn’t slap his face for lying about who he was. Hopefully she wouldn’t one-round him for his behavior with Emily and all of his cruel accusations. Hopefully she’d see a changed man.





Chapter 11





Katherine looked at Marty with a worried face.



“No takers yet?”



“Marty, this is so horrible! What am I going to do?”



“Just have faith, Katherine. Something good will come through.”



“How about you keep up the faith for both of us, because I certainly can’t. After the trip to Tennessee, I have sixty-five dollars left. I can’t afford to pay anyone, and if my landlord doesn’t give me a little bit of extra time to fork over rent, I’m screwed.”



“I’d give you money, Katherine, but I spent all my extra cash on material for my sister’s dress.”



“Marty, you’re such a sweetheart. But I wouldn’t take your money.”





It was nine at night after Daniel found a motel room in Ann Arbor. It looked like a typical college town, but he was hungry for more. He rented a Jeep at the airport because the weather was calling for snow. He drove around for a while looking at the city, looking for Katherine. He was desperate. He found a little coffee shop and picked a table that had a newspaper on it.



I wonder if she’s still doing karaoke out here. The thought of her having to feign off drunk men in a bar setting was making him angry. She’s living in a dangerous neighborhood. He knew that, as beautiful as Katherine is, she could easily attract men. God, what if she has a boyfriend?



Daniel began thumbing through the local paper. Every time the bell chimed on the door signaling that someone had walked into the coffee shop, he immediately looked. Just when he was about to put the paper down after reaching the classified section, he saw it. A male model was needed and the applicant had to contact Katherine O’Brian. His hands began to shake. With his phone, he answered the ad via email and used his real name. She wouldn’t know who he was. Daniel went back to his motel room and waited.



At ten-thirty that evening he received a response. They agreed to meet in the little coffee shop he was just in. She must live close to here! He said he could meet with her this evening and that it wasn’t too late.



Daniel was a nervous wreck. He made sure he was dressed to the nines. If she’s looking for a model, then I better play the part. Feeling satisfied with the way he looked, he headed to the Jeep.





Katherine was exhausted. She had no choice but to meet this guy. He said he didn’t have any photos of himself and the camera on his phone was broken. But he’d agreed to model for free. Please, please, please be the one! She slipped on a pair of clean black slacks, a blue sweater, and her faux leather jacket that she found at the resale shop. It wasn’t even warm but it was the best she had. In the strong, cold wind, she walked to the coffee house. She went as fast as she could, even running part of the way. The neighborhood was not the safest, but that’s why the rent was cheaper.



Daniel saw her go in the coffee shop and look around. She picked a little table in the middle, for safety. Good girl, Katherine.



Climbing out of the Jeep, Daniel pulled the collar up on his wool coat, kept his face down, and walked in.



“Hi, Katherine, it’s really good to see you again. May I sit down?”



“You moved to Ann Arbor?!”



“No, not quite. It’s a long story and I’d like the chance to explain everything to you.”



“I don’t have time for this, John, I’m waiting for someone.”



“You’re waiting for Daniel Giordano.”



“Wait, how do you know that?” Katherine was getting ready to dart.



“I’m Daniel Giordano.”



“That’s your real name?”