The One (116 page)

“
And that woman hasn
’
t been to the house? You never met her?
How can this be Consuela? You know everything that goes on
…”
Belinda insisted, now puzzled.

“
Well my schedule has changed. I
’
m not a live-in anymore but with the baby
on the way I
’
m sure I
’
ll meet her soon when Mister Julian
returns
…”

“
Returns? He
’
s not home?
”
Belinda asked controlling her voice so it
didn
’
t shriek.

“
No. He
’
s in Europe. I believe they
’
re together
”
said the maid, feeling uncomfortable
again.

“
And you don
’
t know who she is?
”
Belinda asked again, her curiosity
winning over.

“
No Miss Belinda. I do not and it isn
’
t my place to ask
…”
concluded the woman, now thinking she
would end this conversation immediately. Too much information had been given,
and none of this was hers or Belinda
’
s business.

“
Of course Consuela, of course.
”
Belinda pursued, contrite,
“
Forgive me for being so brash. It really
was not my intent. I simply called to find out how Julian was
…
You know, make sure he was happy after all
we
’
ve been through
…”
she added, her reflection showing
contempt in the mirror in front of her, while keeping her voice sweet,
“
And now I know, so I want to thank you.
So, so, much.
”
she ended, forcing herself to put some
cheer on her tone.

“
Shall I give a message to Mister Julian on
your part when he calls in?
”
Consuela asked, silently praying the answer would be
no.

“
No Consuela. Don
’
t worry about it! Julian is happy. He
doesn
’
t need to hear from his ex-wife.
”
was the response, as both women released
a breath.

“
All is well.
”
Belinda added, forcing a smile to
her voice as she felt her jaw tighten.

“
Well if this is all
…”

“
It is all Consuela. And again thank you.
You
’
ve always been very good to me
…
to us
…
and I never got a chance to tell you, so I
am saying it now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You were like a second
mother to Maddie. You have been an invaluable help. Then and now.
”
Belinda said in a warm voice actually
meaning her words.

“
I wish you well Miss Belinda.
”
The housekeeper replied.

“
I wish you well too, Consuela. Take good
care.
”
Belinda said before disconnecting the
call.

All is right in the world,
was the thought in both women
’
s mind.

Each had a smile gracing their face.

Consuela, because she was happy to have
learned her former boss had recovered from her accident and was well. Not to
mention her current boss would be home soon, with a new woman and baby no less
…

Belinda, because she had thought she
’
d had to hire a PI to know exactly what
had been happening in Julian life in order to track him down and put the final
touch to her revenge. Instead, a stroke of genius entered her mind and she took
a chance calling Consuela hopping the maid was still in Julian
’
s employ.

((~~!~~)

“
Perfect!
“
she said dreamily, closing the folder she
had been reading, with a satisfied smile on her lips.

It had taken much time, money, and above
all patience, but she was finally ready.

She looked at the small picture that had
been published in a French magazine, about Julian
’
s sudden and permanent move to France, de
facto ending his Hollywood career.

He looked happy, as his face was captured
as he exited a sports car. The article didn
’
t mention anything about a woman except he
was engaged to a French citizen, and much less about a baby, which could only mean,
he made sure the information was under wrap.

Julian still could be very private when he
wanted. She still remembers how he shielded Maddie from the prying eyes of his
profession
…

This was a good thing
…
for her. It would be his undoing.

For Belinda, all pieces were falling into
place with an easiness that could only mean one thing: not only her plan would
go ahead, but it also seemed the Fates were on her side!

Nothing could go wrong.

Julian would pay.

((~~!~~))

3 days later
.

Frances was in the middle of her daily hourly
pilates
’
session when the call came in.

“
Hello?
”
she said breathlessly, wondering who
dared calling her at 7:19 a.m.

“
Ms Palmers?
”
was asked politely by a female voice she
did not recognize.

“
Yes?
”
Frances replied irritated by the
questioning tone,
–
after all, the caller did know who they
were calling, didn
’
t they?-, she was Frances Palmers for
crying out loud! Her number wasn
’
t listed!

“
This is Belinda Carmichael
…”
was said somewhat hesitantly.

“
I do not know any Belinda Carmichael! How
did you
…”
Frances
started, now fuming that some unknown stalker managed to get her private cell
phone number.

But as the pronounced name hit a
particular section of her brain, she found herself cutting herself mid-sentence,
saying,
“
Excuse me. Did you say your name was
Belinda Carmichael as in Belinda Carmichael, ex- McCarty?
”

“
Yes,
”
the voice confirmed.

Frances
‘
s irritation was now disappearing at the
realization of who was on the other end of the disturbing phone call. She felt
fully alert; her brain on a rush at what this call could mean. After a few
seconds of silence, her signature Cheshire cat grin graced her face and she
said in a mellow voice,
“
Well Belinda, this is certainly a
surprise, but a very good one! Is there anything I can do for you?
”

“
As a matter of fact Frances, I think we
can do a lot for each other.
”
Julian
’
s ex-wife replied coolly.

“
Belinda, where are you? I think we should
meet to discuss what it is exactly we can do for one another
…”
said Frances, already ticking off
Spago
’
s as too public for such a meeting. She
could smell blood and needed an appropriate setting for this encounter.

“
I
’
m at the Correctional centre for women
Penitentiary in Phoenix Arizona.
”
Belinda said in a steady voice.

“
Excuse me?!
”
Frances looked at her phone in sheer
disbelief. She was receiving a phone call from an inmate? Impossible!

“
You heard me
…
I had a little change of fortune as of
late
…”
was
chuckled lightly.

“
Is this a joke? Look whoever you are I
suggest you forget this number
…”
Frances started, now furious with whoever was on the
other end of the call. Just as she was about to hang up, the voice said the
only thing that could stop her, the only thing that tapped in the negative
energy that fuelled her these days,
“
Ain
’
t you furious Julian has discarded you
like an old sock? For a nobody, no less? A nobody, now, carrying his child?
”

Frances was livid. Questions twirling in
her mind at the speed of light, incensing her anger as seconds went by.

That bitch was pregnant? THAT BITCH IS
PREGNANT?!!! With Julian
’
s baby? How the fuck was this even possible? And how
in the hell was his ex-wife currently in jail
,
with limited means
,
apprised of such
details and knows more than I do about this?

So, this is what Ari meant when he said
Julian was never coming back to LA?!!!!!!!

Frances shut her eyes and conjured up a
picture of herself smiling in order to regulate her breathing that had become
shallow as her anger brew, ready to explode. She needed to gear her
concentration back to the conversation at hand.

Lighting up a cigarette, she pressed
‘
record
’
on her
Iphone
and said,
”
Belinda where did you say you where
exactly? I think I
’
m due for a trip down there
…”

“
I thought so too,
”
replied Belinda, giving her
her
current address, the time and date she would be
expecting her and ended with,
“
Frances, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful
friendship. I
’
ll see you soon.
”
she hung up spotting a full fledge smile
on her determined face.

Everything was going according to plan.

((~~!~~))

The day before the call.

“
Step out of the vehicle!
”
said the patrol officer breathing heavily
and knocking against the black sedan with tainted windows.

He had been chasing the car for close to a
mile when the driver finally decided for a brutal halt in the middle of the
freeway. Luckily, it was 5 a.m. and the road was deserted. Himself was on his
way home when he noticed the erratic driving of the car in front of him!

Inside the car, Belinda adjusted the
bottle of vodka on the seat near her after splashing some on her dress and
taking a very large gulp.

Showtime
, she thought, as she existed the car, stumbling.

The officer was surprised. The driver was
a woman, a beautiful one at that! He wondered if he
’
d seen her in a commercial or a magazine.
Damn, she was beautiful.

“
M
’
am? Are you ok?
”
he asked, concerned wondering if maybe
she had suddenly been ill while driving, but as he came inches from her, the
smell of vodka hit his nostrils and he shook his head in disbelief. She was
drunk! At 5:03 a.m.!

She was smiling as she slurred,
“
Well officer
…
it seems I had a little bit
…”
but she didn
’
t finish and sat back down on her car
seat, prompting the officer to look inside the car and notice the near empty
bottle on the passenger seat.

“
M
’
am, please step out of the vehicle,
”
he said more affirmatively this time,
cursing in his head that he
’
d have to go back to the station instead of reaching
the awaiting arms and body of his mistress.

But the woman was playing with the key and
started the car. He had no choice but to place his hand on hers to remove the
key from the ignition. Once secured in his hand, he looked at the woman again,
aggravated by the smile she was displaying, as if this was normal business for
her.