Four Shades of Recovery: Boxed Set (29 page)

"Abby, hi again. I'm just wondering if you know where Michael Kingsfield happens to be these days?"

"Yes Megan. I've heard that he left town for a while, why?"

"Because there's someone he might want to meet. She could help him get over Marissa in a hurry."

"Really? How do you know that?"

"She fits his profile in so many ways," I whisper in a convincing manner.

"Alright. I'll try to find out where Michael's been these days."

"Do you happen to have Michael's personal email account?"

"I know someone who can give it to me," she asserts. Abby likes the game I'm suggesting. "The poor man, he's absolutely at wit's end."

"What if I had someone here try to contact Michael about a hookup?"

"It's worth a try," she agrees. 

When Roseanne agrees to meet me for lunch, I give her a rough sketch of the situation. She's very interested when I mention his wealth and power.

"That's my specialty," she brags later via text.

I hope my ploy works. If Michael was involved in a new relationship, he'd be able to get over his obsession with me altogether. I'll have to urge caution on Roseanne's part when she approaches Michael. He may be unpredictable these days.

MEGAN’S POV

Roseanne’s email exchange with Michael took place soon after I passed on his contact information. She reported that Michael seemed interested in a face to face meeting. She gave him a little taste of what was to come with some sexy photos of herself.

His response was, “Grrr.” I interpreted it as a good sign. It turned out I was wrong; dead wrong.

On the day of their meeting, I expected at least a text and some sort of update from Roseanne within an hour or so after their face to face. I got nothing. After half a day passed without any further communication, I grew worried.

Matt noticed how distracted I was and immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion. “Megan, you seem disturbed and lost in thought. Is there anything wrong? Are you having second thoughts about getting married?” he pleads with that lost little boy look that I find so endearing.

“Absolutely not, Matt! This has nothing to do with our wedding…I was expecting to hear from someone and it’s been more than twelve hours since she was going to text me,” I assure him while giving him a long hug and kiss on the cheek.

He knows me too well and won’t give up on why I’m distracted. “Is she one of your authors? Someone you’re trying to woo into a job at the newspaper?”

“Yeah, something like that,” I lie and pretend to dismiss it. “I’m just being a bit too silly.”

“Let’s go to dinner and then have a relaxing evening out,” he suggests while looking deeply into my eyes and holding me close.

“Yeah, good idea, baby,” I agree. He takes me to an Italian restaurant for dinner. We listen to an indie group perform live on the deck of the restaurant.

By the time the next morning rolls around, I’m quite frantic about Roseanne. I’ve texted her at least half a dozen times and come up empty.

It’s Jared who supplies the answer that I’m looking for, however. While we’re eating at the kitchen island, he signals Matt.

“Sir, something’s come up and I think you ought to know about it,” he begins with a look of consternation on his face.

“You can tell us both about it, Jared, I’ve got nothing to hide from Megan,” Matt allows.

He hesitates. “Well, sir, it’s about one of your former associates,” Jared responds with tact. I’m sure Jared doesn’t want me to hear any further details about Matt’s BDSM paramours.

Matt puts down his fork and excuses himself. “Sorry, baby, you probably don’t need to know about these women.”

I’m immediately concerned, however, and decide to insert myself in the middle of their exchange, regardless. “I want to know everything about your past, Matt. Please.”

He looks a bit uncomfortable with it but then shrugs and allows me to join in their conversation.

“OK, let’s have it, Jared.”

Jared clears his throat before speaking and looks at Matt with concern. “A woman who’d once been under contract to you, Roseanne, was found down by the pier today. She’d been strangled and a note was found on her body, sir,” he whispers.

Matt’s face goes pale and he begins breathing quickly. “What did the note say, Jared?”

I swallow and pull myself into Matt’s arms. He probably thinks I’m trying to soothe him but I’m really trying to keep from fainting. I’m such a fool. What have I done? I’m trembling everywhere.

“It read ‘Keep out of my affairs, Frazier; Megan’s next’ and it’s signed with the capital letter M,” Jared adds and then shows him a picture of Roseanne’s very bruised and battered corpse as well as a photo of the note.

I scream as I look at the mess that I’ve created. Matt wraps me in his arms before speaking. “Megan, don’t worry, I had nothing to do with Roseanne over the past couple of years. Further,

Michael’s clearly behind this murder I’m assuming as well. We’ll let the police handle it.”

“Oh, Matt, if it were only that simple,” I burst out and run from the room crying. He leaves Jared and follows after me like a missile zoning in on its target.

“Megan, what the hell is going on with you? I know you’ve been acting strange lately. Have you been meddling in this situation with Michael?” he demands in a harsh voice.

I nod my head affirmatively and sit on the sectional couch in our living room. Matt’s standing across from where I sit with the look of a stern task master on his face. His arms are crossed and he looks as if he’s about to whip me himself.

“I’m so sorry, Matt. It’s my fault that Roseanne’s dead. The police will find her phone and see that I’m the one who gave her Michael’s contact number.”

“You did what, you little fool?” Matt lashes out with a face that looks more red than white. Angry doesn’t begin to describe my fiancé’s mood. I cringe as I admit my error. He’s more than furious with me.

“After Jillian was murdered, I became convinced that Michael was the perpetrator. It seemed that he needed a diversion. I contacted Roseanne about hooking up with Michael and gave her his information. She thought he sounded interested in meeting her,” I blurt out in between sobs and tears.

“How did you find Roseanne’s contact information?” Matt asks with deep suspicion.

“I found a folder in your room. It was old and yellowed and I called,” I freely confess. “She seemed keen on working for Michael and said wealthy men were her specialty.”

“The poor thing. No doubt, Michael wanted to meet her. He probably thought I was behind the arrangement and wanted to send a clear message my way,” Matt nearly hisses with emotion. “You just gave him more ammunition, Megan.”

“I’m so sorry, Matt. I’ve actually caused her death. It’s all because I was terrified that Michael was going to come after me again. He’s had a lot of rejection these past couple of years. I guess the situation with Marissa really pushed him over the edge.”

“Megan, I’ve told you that I wanted nothing more to do with matchmaking after Jillian was killed. That act alone convinced me that we were dealing with a madman. Why did you insist on pursuing this plan to get Michael a new hookup?”

“I guess the long and short of my moves boil down to fear, Matt. You got Michael off of my case for months with Marissa. I thought I might try doing the same thing again with Roseanne. After what he did to my mother and now, Jillian, I was absolutely terrified.”

“Michael’s probably wary of any new hookups at this point. He may have tortured Jillian before killing her and extracted information about the fact that I was behind his encounter with Marissa. Jillian figured out my ruse by the end and was steaming about it herself. It wouldn’t have taken much on Michael’s part to get the information about my role in this whole mess out of Jillian.”

“I’m such an idiot, Matt. Now we’ve got Michael after both of us,” I sob and wipe my eyes with one of his handkerchiefs.

“You didn’t think this one through Megan. It’s more than a shame that Roseanne had to get caught in Michael’s crosshairs. If it makes you feel any better, though, Michael was probably coming after both of us anyway.”

“What can we do to help catch him, Matt?”

“For one, we’re going to keep you under lock and key. You’re not to leave home or work for any reason until Michael’s caught. Do you agree, Megan?”

“Yes, Matt, absolutely. I’ll do anything to make this up to you. You must really think I’m devious, now,” I cry and fall back against the cushions of the sectional.

“I think you’re naïve and I’m disappointed that you kept something this important from me. But, I…I understand why you wanted to play my game with Michael,” Matt admits. “You’re learning from the master.”

“I guess I failed this lesson,” I utter in abject misery. “I hope you’ll be able to forgive me, one day.”

Matt looks down at me with pity. I’m surprised to see that he’s making his way toward me regardless of what I’ve just done.

“Oh Megan, what am I going to do with you?” he asks with utter frustration in his voice. In the next instant, he pulls me to my feet and into his grasp.

“You can spank me in the Sex Room again,” I offer with a carnal tone in mine. I’m hoping he’ll lead me by the hand to our special place.

“What you’ve done requires more than a spanking, Megan.”

“Do you want to break off our engagement?” I suggest instead and cry in real agony. Matt looks at me crying and smiles with delight.

“Absolutely not. I couldn’t live without you, Megan. You know that by now, right?”

“How can I make it up to you then?”

“By promising me, on your engagement ring, that you will never keep anything from me again. Then we’ll do a confession scene in the Spanking Room.”

“Oh Matt, of course I’ll promise you that I’ll never keep a secret from you again,” I utter while holding up my ring and crossing my heart.”

“That’s better. Now, let’s go to the Spanking Room and do our role play. I’ve got outfits for this one,” Matt chuckles.

“Yes, sir,” I agree readily. “I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been.”

“You’ll have the chance to repent, Megan,” he assures me as we enter the room and he locks the door behind us.

That’s when his demeanor changes. “I’m going to be the father confessor. You’ll play the role of supplicant. Is that understood?” he asks in a harsh tone. His face looks more than serious as he begins the role play.

“Yes…yes, father,” I mumble in a whisper. I’m only too happy to repent. I’ve got to make this up to him and to myself.

“Good. Go to the corner ensuite and put these clothes on now,” he commands as he takes a package from one of the drawers near the wall.

I take the brown paper bag with me to the small bathroom. Inside the bag is a burlap shift that could fit almost any woman. There’s a small leather belt around the waist. I slip off my everyday clothes and put on the simple smock. It itches and feels uncomfortable on my skin. I assume it’s part of the punishment.

When I rejoin Matt inside the Spanking Room, he’s dressed like a priest in simple black slacks and a black cotton shirt. A minister’s white collar is around his throat. He looks incredible in the costume. He’s gorgeous and the collar only emphasizes his sculpted beauty. He’s seated on one side of the leather Chesterfield bench and motions that I’m to sit next to him on the opposite end. I sit where he indicates and hang my head in shame.

“I assume you’ve come to give me your confession, miss?” he asks in a hushed tone.

“Yes, father, I have sinned grievously and wish to repent,” I manage to say before getting down on my knees in front of him.

“That’s better,” he adds and smirks a bit when he notes my position. Perhaps Matt is pleased that I’ve come up with the kneeling scenario on my own. I hope so. “Proceed.”

“I deceived my fiancé about my manipulative role in another person’s relationship and I lied about my concerns. As a result, I inadvertently caused someone’s death,” I add and sniffle with real grief.