Secret Obsession by Kimberla Lawson Roby

those other women. I love Andrea. Plus, you know what they say.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Married men who mess around rarely leave their wives.”
    Paige knew it wasn’t worth responding to such nonsense, because even if that were true, she knew Pierce would be different.
    Just then, she heard a knock on her door and wondered why Camille was back home.
    “Hey, I’m going to have to go now, but call me later in the week.”
    “Will do. And you take care of yourself.”
    “I will.”
    Paige hung up and hoped Camille hadn’t heard her conversation. “Come in.”
    “Hey, I’m sorry to interrupt.”
    “No problem.”
    “I just needed to talk to someone.”
    “Of course.”
    Camille sat down in the chair adjacent Paige. “I see you’re wearing one of your sweaters.”
    Paige glanced down at herself. “Yeah, it’s finally cold enough, and you know I love hot pink. It really was kind of you to order those gifts for me.”
    “It was nothing.”
    “So, what did you wanna talk about?”
    “Well, right after I dropped the kids off at school, I drove by Pierce’s bank and decided to call him. But his executive assistant told me he wasn’t available. Then I tried his cell, but, of course, it went to voicemail. I waited an hour and tried again, but he still wouldn’t answer. So, can you call him for me?”
    Paige wasn’t sure what to say, but then she said, “I guess I could. But if he’s not answering your call, he probably won’t answer mine either.”
    “Maybe not. But can you at least try?”
    She sounded desperate and pathetic, so Paige picked up her phone and searched through her contact list, acting as though she didn’t know Pierce’s number by heart. When she scrolled down to it, however, she pressed send. Paige hoped he wouldn’t answer, but after the third ring, he did.
    “Pierce Montgomery.”
    “Hey Pierce, this is Paige.”
    “I know who it is.”
    His tone was curt, and Paige hated this. “The reason I’m calling is because Camille really needs to talk to you.”
    “Well, I don’t wanna talk to her.”
    Paige looked at Camille, not knowing what to tell her, but to Paige’s surprise, Camille took the phone and said, “Baby, please just listen to me. This is all a huge…Hello? Hello? Pierce? Hello?”
    Tears fell down Camille’s face, and Paige knew Pierce had hung up.
    “Sis, I’m so sorry he won’t talk to you.”
    “This is insane!” she said, standing up.
    “Honey, I know, but why don’t you give him some time? Let him have a day or two to calm down.”
    “No, we need to talk now before this gets too far out of hand. I need Pierce to know that I’ve never, ever been unfaithful to him.”
    Paige sat quietly, listening to Camille ranting and raving, and finally Camille left the room.
    Paige couldn’t stop smiling. Her mission was being accomplished, and all she had to do now was bide her time. When she heard a door slam, though, she got up and looked out of the window. Camille backed out of the driveway and sped off. Chances were, she was headed to the bank so she could try to force Pierce to see her.
    But not before Paige spoke to him first, so she pressed redial and waited.
    “Look, Paige,” he said as soon as he answered. “I already told you, I don’t want to talk to your sister.”
    “I know. And I’m not calling you for that. Camille isn’t even here. She just left.”
    “Then what do you want?”
    “Well, first of all, I just want to say how sorry I am that Camille has done this to you. I’m sorry for everything.”
    “Not sorrier than I am.”
    “You know I love my sister, but I could never support any woman who sleeps around on her husband. You’re one of the best men I know, Pierce, and you don’t deserve this.”
    “Tell me about it. But evidently I just wasn’t good enough for Camille anymore.”
    “That’s not true. If anything, you’re too good for her.”
    Pierce didn’t say anything.
    Paige hoped she hadn’t gone too far. “Why are you