Chapter 13 Betrayal and Death

Chapter 13 Betrayal and Death
At home Keith was alone and was feeling lonely without Elizabeth. Especially after the week they had just had. One of his friends called him to ask him to hang out with him. Initially Keith said no because he felt guilty going out at this time. When he talked to Elizabeth though she had urged him to go out and have a good time.

Keith reluctantly went with his friends who decided that they would be doing a pub crawl. Keith followed along with his friends; they all got really drunk except Keith who decided not to drink. However, was very amused by the stupidity of his drunken friends.

In the middle of the night a very attractive woman came up to Keith and asked him if he had a girlfriend, he told her that he had a fiancée. She did not seem to care and proceeded to hit on him anyway. He evaded her advances, but was getting irritated so he convinced his friends to leave to go to another pub.

At this pub Keith thought he was free of this woman, but she had found them there, and was very persistent with him. Keith told his friends that he wanted to go home, however they coerced him into staying by making him feel guilty for trying to abandon his friends. So Keith decided to drink his problem away.

After too many shots, and too many beers, Keith walking back from the bathroom saw the woman was in the hallway leading back into the pub waiting for him. As he was walking by her she pushed him against the wall then started kissing him. In his drunken state he kissed her back. They were making out hot and heavy for a while until he took her back to his place where they had meaningless sex.

The next morning Keith turned over and grabbed the woman next to him. Thinking that it was Elizabeth he went to kiss her cheek. When he saw the face of the woman beside him he was surprised, but the memories of the night before quickly seeped into his thoughts.

Keith jumped up, grabbed her clothes, threw them on her and said “Get up, get dressed and get out.”

The woman was roused by the clothes hitting her, she awoke. She looked at Keith then asked “What are you doing?”

“You have to get out now.” answered Keith.

“What is the rush?” asked the woman.

“My fiancée is coming home soon, so get out.” answered Keith.

The woman raised her eyebrow and said “Really? You didn’t seem to have a problem with me being here last night.”

“Last night was a huge mistake...”

“Then why did you do it.” Elizabeth’s voice from behind interrupted him.

Keith stopped shocked that Elizabeth was there. He was humiliated that he got caught with this woman that meant nothing to him.

The woman looked Elizabeth up and down and scoffed then said “You’d rather her than me?”

This sent Elizabeth over the edge; she walked over to the dresser where she knew Keith kept his gun. She took the gun out, cocked it, and then aimed it. She shot the woman straight through the heart. The woman died instantly.

Keith was stunned he lost his breath, as he stayed there staring at the woman’s dead body. After the initial shock wore off he looked at Elizabeth and thought he saw something that he did not, regret.

Keith went over to Elizabeth thinking he was soothing her saying “It’s OK we can fix this.”

He bent down to hug her, he wrapped his arms around her she did not wrap her around him as she whispered to him “You are my father.”

He responded “No, I made a mistake.” Keith broke down and cried.

Elizabeth brought the gun to his temple, using her left hand, and shot again, Keith fell down on Elizabeth she moved back so that he could hit the ground.

“Yea you did, but you are right we can fix this.” Elizabeth muttered to his dead body.

She then wiped her finger prints off the gun and placed it in Keith’s right hand. She then walked out of the room and called the police.

When the police arrived she told them that she found Keith and the woman that way, the police after an investigation ruled it a murder suicide.

After everything was done Elizabeth had another funeral to plan, except this time she found herself thoroughly enjoying it. She knew she should be sad, but there was something inside of her that just would not let her.

Elizabeth saw the funeral through and played grieving, almost, widow very well. She cried when she should have, and said the sentimental things that were expected of her. After the funeral she found there were many different people that felt sorry for her for losing her mother, and then finding out her fiancé had cheated on her in such a horrible manner.

Everybody from the office was there, some of them seemed sad, others seemed like they were there because they felt obligated to be. Elizabeth could relate to the latter. She knew she should be sad and maybe even feel guilty, but after everything that had happened to her she did not. It was like something snapped or rearranged itself inside her. She just did not care anymore about anything or anyone.

Although she took pride in the fact that despite this she still cared for her friend Davina, who was there to support her through her mother’s death and now her fiancé’s. She felt as though Davina was her only link to humanity. And she knew she could trust her and could always count on her.

Keith’s funeral was not over fast enough for Elizabeth. Davina stayed back to help her clean, after a couple of hours she let Davina leave to go back home to Darren. She finished up and then went back to hers and Keith’s place. She walked in and looked around it was all the same but it all looked so different.

Elizabeth went to the bedroom; she got into the doorway then stopped. She could not move her feet anymore, she stood there staring into the room where Keith had ruined everything. He did not just cheat on her he brought that strange woman back to her place to sleep in her place.

Elizabeth backed up out of the room, turned around and grabbed her purse then left. When she locked the door she knew that she would never set foot in that place again. Elizabeth started to drive; she did not know where to go. She drove past her old place stopped, and stared into the apartment she used to reside in. She saw a young couple in the window, as she wished she had never left that place; she wished that she had never given up so much for Keith.

She turned to drive away when she saw a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. It was Paul standing on the sidewalk across the street from her old apartment, right next to her car. She rolled the passenger side window down and she called him over. He went and bent down to bring his head to the car level, Elizabeth called his name.

Paul had no idea who was calling him but curiosity made him go over, he saw Elizabeth in the driver’s seat. He was taken aback at first but then smiled at her “Hey” he said.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” Elizabeth responded.

Paul gave her a sympathetic smile then explained “I heard about everything that happened, and  ... I don’t know I just came here, I guess I wanted to make sure you were OK.”

“Oh, thanks.” Elizabeth responded then as if surprised asked “How did you hear about everything?”

“Davina told me.” Paul confessed.

“You talk to Davina?”

“No, don’t worry your friend did not betray you, I just ran into her.”

“Oh, OK.”

“Don’t be mad at her, especially on my account.”

“I’m not she is the only good person in my life. So what? You were just standing outside to do what?”

“Just look.”

“You don’t find that weird?”

“Every single time.” Elizabeth looked surprised “Oh shoot Keith obviously did not tell you.”

“You do this often.”

“No, right after we broke up I would sometimes come here, the last time was when I saw Keith half naked in your kitchen. Sorry I didn’t mean to bring him up.”

“Yea... No he didn’t tell me.”

“Probably thought it would freak you out.”

“Yea it probably would have. Hey do you want to go somewhere?”

“Yea.”

Paul opened the door and got in the car. Elizabeth drove she thought that she did not know where to take them but, she found herself at her favourite restaurant. She parked the car then smiled and Paul took notice

“What?” Paul asked.

“Just haven’t been here since I was here with you last and I just, I guess I drove here subconsciously.” Elizabeth said amused.

Paul smiled “So your place became our place.”

“Yea I guess so. Let’s go.” Elizabeth answered.

They got out of the car and went into the restaurant they ordered food, and talked like old friends. After dinner they went behind the restaurant to Elizabeth’s favourite spot in the city. The old car was still there, Paul sat down in the same spot he had the first time Elizabeth brought him there. Elizabeth sat down beside him.

“You know it’s funny I have been here a million times since we broke up.” Paul told her.

“Since you dumped me.” Elizabeth corrected him. “For one point five million dollars.”

“I regret that every day, I haven’t even touched the money it just sits in my bank still.” Paul said ruefully.

Elizabeth snorted “That is stupid, dude is dead he can’t take it back may as well spend it and enjoy it.”

“Are you OK?”

“Yea why?”

“It’s just that you do not seem to be too sad about Keith.”

“Oh yea, I don’t know I just feel completely devoid of emotion, I am completely detached from this world.”

“Really?” Paul asked gravely Paul grabbed her hand and held it, and then his eyes welled up. Elizabeth turned to smile at his kind gesture and saw his red eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked.

“Sorry holding your hand is making my heart hurt, and I am looking at you and all I want to do is kiss you.”

“So why don’t you?”

“Because you just lost your fiancé and if you kissed me back it wouldn’t be real.” Paul took a deep breath. Elizabeth squeezed his hand to signal to him that it everything was going to be OK.

“We’ll just sit here as friends then, maybe all night.” Paul laughed at her “No seriously I cannot go back to my place and I have nowhere else to sleep tonight.”

Paul looked like he wanted to say something but held back. Elizabeth urged him to say what he wanted to “No I thought of offering my couch but that might be a little weird right?”

“No that would be perfect thank you.” Elizabeth answered.

“You're welcome.” Paul paused then continued “Sorry, but can I ask you something?”

“You mean aside from asking me to ask me something, yea.” Elizabeth answered.

“Never mind.” Paul said not wanting to ask the question anymore.

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly which made Paul want to ask so he did “Why did you sleep with him so soon? It’s just with me you made me wait months and I still never got it.”

Elizabeth smiled nervously then told him “It felt right with him it didn’t with you. I don’t think that is going to help you with what you’re clearly trying to work out with yourself.”

“It doesn’t.” replied Paul.

“If it makes you feel any better I was wrong.” Elizabeth soothed him.

“It actually does a little, thanks.” Paul responded.

“Would it have made a difference?” Elizabeth asked.

“What?”

“Would it have made a difference if I had slept with you?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I hope not that would be horrible.”

“Yea, it would be.” Elizabeth agreed, and then she asked “Hey can we go now? I got to get up early to meet Keith’s lawyer.”

“Yea, sure let’s go.” Paul replied.

Paul got off the car then helped Elizabeth down, they then went back to Paul’s place. There they made snacks and watched a movie before they went to bed, like they used to do. Elizabeth fell asleep in the middle of the movie. When Paul saw that she was asleep he turned off the TV and put a blanket on her, then lifted her head to put a pillow beneath her. Then Paul went to his room and went to sleep himself.

The next day Elizabeth went to see Keith’s lawyer; he had called her and asked her to come in to listen to the reading of Keith’s will. She went into his office, and told his receptionist that she was there for her appointment. The receptionist took note of her arrival and asked her to sit down.

Elizabeth sat down in the waiting room, she saw an older couple across from her. They overheard her telling the receptionist who she was, so they introduced themselves. They were Keith’s parents; Elizabeth was surprised she did not know that Keith’s parents were alive. He had never talked about them with her so she just assumed that they were not around to talk about.

They explained that they became estranged when Keith became more successful, he had just left them behind. Elizabeth was a little weary of this explanation but she did not care. Although she was no longer curious as to why they were not at his funeral.

Keith’s parents were so excited to meet Elizabeth, and grilled with many questions about Keith. They felt they had missed so much, she answered them as best as she could. Elizabeth was relieved when the lawyer came out and interrupted them to call them into his office.

In the office the lawyer introduced himself to everyone, and then he started to read Keith’s last will and testament. Keith had left his money to his parents, and to Elizabeth he left all his businesses, his place, as well as a life insurance policy he had taken out before he died that was in her name. The policy was for one million dollars.

Elizabeth was shocked and protested; she informed the lawyer that she did not want any of Keith’s businesses or the life insurance money. The lawyer then informed her that; that was precisely why Keith left it all to her, because he knew she was not materialistic. The lawyer then informed her that she could sell the businesses or contest the Will.

Elizabeth unresolved then said good bye to Keith’s parents and his lawyer. She drove back to Paul’s place. On her drive over she was distracted with everything Keith had left to her, and how she did not want any of it.

She arrived at Paul’s place and went inside; Paul was just getting out of the shower. He had on only a towel wrapped around his waist.

“Hey.” Elizabeth said surprised, enjoying the view of his chest.

“Hey how did it go?” asked Paul.

“Good, I guess. He left me all his businesses and a million dollars, I’m just annoyed because I don’t want it.” answered Elizabeth.

“’Dude’s dead keep it.” Paul mimicked Elizabeth.

Elizabeth smiled apprehensively, and then she went to the living room. Paul went to get dressed; Elizabeth sat down on the couch. Right then Davina called her Elizabeth answered “Hey!”

“Hey where are you? I went to your place but you were not there.” Davina said.

“Oh yea sorry I just could not stay there after everything.” Elizabeth responded.

Davina sighed “Oh yea, I didn’t even think about how it might for you to go back there.”

“Yea neither did I until I was there, by the way thanks for letting me stay at your place last week. Apparently I needed to be anywhere but home.” replied Elizabeth.

“Anytime, you could have come over last night too.” Davina assured her.

“Thank you, but I did not want to put you and Darren out again.”

“You would not have, so where are you?”

“At Paul’s”

“Oh!”

“Relax just as friends I saw him last night he offered me his couch.”

“I really thought you would be at a hotel.”

“Yea, that probably would have been a good idea. Hey can you do me a huge favour?”

“Depends on what it is.”

“Can you pack up my stuff; I just want everything that is mine out of there. I’ll hire someone else to get rid of everything else.”

“Yea, I’ll get Darren to help me. Do I bring it to Paul’s?”

“Uh, yea I guess thanks, it’s not a lot. All I have there is clothes, jewellery, some pictures, and toiletries. I got rid of all my other stuff when I moved in.”

“OK. Does Paul live in the same place?”

“Yea.”

“Alright, I’ll bring it by tonight... Oh wait can I get the key from you?”

“You have a key I gave you a spare one.”

“Oh yea. OK see you later.”

“OK. Thank you again, bye.”

Elizabeth hung up the phone, and Paul walked out of his room he had put his jeans on, but he was putting his shirt on as he walked out of the room. Elizabeth stared at his shirtless body, and could not help but to be turned on by it. He had pulled his shirt on covering his body pulling Elizabeth out of her trance.

He sat beside her on the couch and she commented “If you paraded yourself around this much when we were dating I would of had no choice but to sleep with you.”

Paul laughed “Hindsight.”

Elizabeth smirked “Yea, hindsight.”

“Too late now?” Paul fished around.

Elizabeth responded “Too early, sorry.”

Paul tapped her leg, and mouthed ‘too bad’.

“Thank you for letting me stay here though, I asked Davina to bring my stuff here is that alright?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yea, that’s fine.” Paul answered.

“It won’t be for long just until I figure out what I am going to do next.” Elizabeth responded.

Davina had brought Elizabeth’s things to her that night, she and Darren stayed for a while and they all had dinner together. It made Paul sad to glimpse into this life that he could have had if only he had not been so quick to break up with Elizabeth. He was looking at her longingly throughout dinner and that did not go unnoticed.

When Davina was leaving she told Elizabeth what she saw in Paul’s eyes. Elizabeth reassured her that nothing was going to happen between them while she stayed with him. Davina was sceptical but left anyway.