Time to Play(21)
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“You’re not a very trusting person.”
“I’ve grown up knowing the only person I can trust is myself. My mother also makes the grade. Everyone else wants a little piece of you.”
She turned away to look outside the car window.
“Your father didn’t play a big role in your life,” he said, making it more a statement rather than a question.
Simone didn’t comment.
“I take it he’s not a good subject to talk about around you.”
“Leave comments and statements about my father out of this.”
He pulled up outside her apartment. There was a rush of press who surrounded the car. Cole watched her bury herself into the seat.
“Why won’t they leave me alone?”
“You’re big news. Do you want me to escort you to your room?” he asked.
“Please, I’d really like that.” He placed the handbrake on then got out of his side of the car. Pushing the press out of the way, he helped Simone out of her side and kept her close by his side.
He felt her shaking, and a surge of protectiveness consumed him.
“Can you tell us about your relationship with Mr. Gallagher?”
“Does your father know about your current relationship?”
“Are your mother and father getting back together?”
Her hands covered her ears. The guard at the door helped them through then warded off all the other reporters.
“I can’t believe they’re doing this, Miss Allusifa. We’ve alerted security, but they’re not going anywhere,” the woman on the desk said.
“That’s okay, Mary. I’m sorry for all the fuss.”
Mary passed her hand through the air. “No fuss.”
Cole helped her over to the elevator. When the doors closed, she sagged against the wall. “They’ve brought my mother into this. That is not fair.”
“Why does your mother concern you?” he asked.
She shook her head. The doors opened, and he followed her to her apartment. Her door remained open once she walked inside. He closed the door behind him. She went for the fridge grabbing a beer. “Do you want one?”
“No, I need to drive back.”
“Of course you do.”
Chapter Seven
Simone took several gulps of beer to try to calm her ragging nerves. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Cole sat next to her. His presence helped her to feel safe. “What can’t you believe?”
“I remember when things went pear-shaped for my parents. Because of who my dad is, the whole divorce was like a circus freak act. Everything came out into the open.” She licked her lips to try to wet her suddenly dry mouth. Taking another gulp of beer, she still felt incredibly dry. “I was six at the time. If you go back nineteen years then you’d find all the information. For six years after I was born he did nothing but make my mother’s life a misery. The press and Malcolm’s friends ridiculed her because of her being a cleaner. My father seduced her while she was working on one of his floors. He saw her, wanted her, and took her. At least that is the stuff that is written in the papers.”
“You shouldn’t believe everything you read.”
She smiled. “I don’t want to talk about it. I know my mother is going to be hurt.”
“What’s your mother’s name?” he asked.
“Helen. Helen Allusifa. She kept my father’s name. I think she still loves him even to this day.” She shook her head hating the memories of each new article her father had been with the latest model.
“You don’t agree with her feelings?”
“Who could love someone who spent most of their marriage cheating on them?” she asked.
“You couldn’t forgive cheating?”
Simone shook her head. “Not cheating. It is the worst thing to do to another person.” A tear fell from her eyes. Cole wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She went to him without refusing his comfort. Simone knew she needed the comfort. Her mother wouldn’t be giving it to her as she wouldn’t send the wolves to her mother’s door.
“I remember every time she read the newspaper or saw him on the news. She’d spend the whole night crying. No matter what we did, she’d start crying all over again. I remember that I’d never allow it. She forgave him all the time. I hated her for short periods of time. Who could forgive a cheating daddy?” She wiped the tears from her eyes feeling weak. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be crying.”
She wiped her nose then pulled away. Cole let her go without expecting anything in return. She stared at him for several moments.