Chapter 7

The sound of the orchestra from the ballroom was a wave of noise that crashed against Kacie as she walked down the empty hallway. She felt a phantom pursuit, the weight of the last few years chasing her, and she quickened her pace.

Turning a corner, she collided with a heavyset man who reeked of whiskey.

"Watch where you're going!" he slurred, grabbing her arm.

"I'm sorry," Kacie said, trying to pull away. "I'll pay for your dry cleaning."

The man's eyes roamed over her simple dress, a sneer on his face. "Dry cleaning? You think that's enough? Get on your knees and wipe my shoes, and maybe I'll forgive you."

Kacie' s eyes narrowed. "No. Just tell me how much I owe you."

He laughed, a harsh, ugly sound. "You'll do as I say." He started to drag her toward the ballroom doors. "You think you're too good for me?"

"Let go of me," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "I'm with Cedric Moon."

The man laughed even harder. "Cedric Moon? His wife is in there right now, dancing with him. You must be one of his wannabes."

He pulled her to the entrance of the ballroom. Kacie looked inside. And there, in the center of the dance floor, was Cedric. He was dancing the opening waltz with Jayden.

Jayden was wearing a new dress, a brilliant scarlet one that shimmered under the lights. She was also wearing the ruby necklace. The one that was meant for Kacie. They were a stunning couple, a perfect match. They moved together gracefully, their eyes locked, smiles of pure happiness on their faces. They looked like they were the only two people in the world.

Any desire Kacie had to fight, to scream, to demand an explanation, died. What was the point? The truth was right there, dancing in front of her.

Slowly, deliberately, she knelt. She took the handkerchief from the man's breast pocket and carefully wiped the spot of dirt from his polished leather shoe.

The waltz ended. Cedric' s eyes scanned the crowd, and then he saw her. He saw her on her knees at the feet of another man.

His face contorted with rage. He pushed through the crowd and, without a word, punched the drunk man squarely in the jaw. The man crumpled to the floor.

"How dare you?" Cedric roared, standing over him. He then pulled Kacie to her feet and, ignoring the shocked stares of his guests, dragged her away.

In the elevator, his anger turned on her. "Why didn't you call for me?" he demanded, his voice low and furious.

Kacie looked at him, a bitter smile on her lips. "I didn't want to interrupt your dance with the new 'Mrs. Moon'."

"She was a last-minute replacement for the dance, Kacie. That's all."

"Stop," she said, holding up a hand. "Just... stop. I don't want to hear any more of your excuses." She looked him in the eye. "Why did you have my things cleared out of the house?"

He froze. An assistant had called him earlier, telling him Kacie had thrown away their wedding photo. He had assumed she was leaving him. In a fit of anger and hurt, he had ordered her things be put in storage.

"I'm leaving, Cedric," she said, her voice calm and final.

The elevator was silent.

He grabbed her wrist, his grip painfully tight. "Don't play these games with me, Kacie."

She had no words left.

The elevator doors were about to open on the ground floor when his phone rang again. It was his assistant, his voice frantic.

"Mr. Moon! It's Jayden! She's been kidnapped!"

Cedric's face went white. He grabbed Kacie and ran, not down, but up, toward the roof.

On the rooftop, a man held a knife to Jayden's throat. It was the drunk guest from the hallway.

"Moon!" the man yelled. "You humiliated me! Now you're going to pay!"

Cedric' s breath was ragged. "Let her go. She has nothing to do with this." He was trying to sound calm, but Kacie could feel the panic radiating from him.

"Nothing to do with this?" the man laughed. "Everyone knows she's the most important person in the world to you!"

"Cedric, help me!" Jayden screamed.

Cedric took an involuntary step forward. The man pressed the knife harder against Jayden's skin. Cedric froze.

"What do you want?" Cedric asked, his voice strained.

"I want you on your knees!" the man snarled. "And I want her," he said, pointing the knife at Kacie. "Send your real wife over here in exchange for your little pet."

Kacie felt Cedric' s hand loosen on hers. He looked at her, his eyes pleading. Then, he pushed her forward, toward the kidnapper.

"Please," Cedric begged, his voice breaking, directed not at the kidnapper, but at Kacie, or maybe the universe. "Jayden can't get hurt. She can't."

Then, for the second time that night, he got on his knees. Not for Kacie, but for Jayden.

The kidnapper laughed and released Jayden, who immediately ran into Cedric's waiting arms.

At the same time, the kidnapper lunged for Kacie. An arm wrapped around her neck, and a sharp blade pressed against her skin. She was dragged to the edge of the roof.

Suddenly, the rooftop door burst open, and police officers swarmed in.

The kidnapper holding Kacie panicked. She felt him raise the knife. Her last sight was of Cedric and Jayden, wrapped in a protective embrace.

Then she heard Cedric's voice, clear and decisive, ring out across the rooftop.

"Shoot!"