Eternally Yours - Brenda Jackson [82]
Why on earth were they still hanging around? Did they think he was going to hang himself or something? He took a quick glance at the box that sat on his dresser. The package had been sent from Syneda and had arrived a couple of days ago. In it were items he’d made a habit of leaving at her place. She had returned all of his things along with the spare key he had given to her with a note that simply said, “It’s better this way.” The thought of it increased his anger. It might be better for her but it certainly wasn’t better for him.
Clayton got out of bed and went into the bathroom to take a shower. Since it appeared Justin and Dex weren’t going anyplace, he might as well watch the game with them.
Syneda looked out the window as the cab drove through Houston on its way to the airport. She had flown in that morning and, a little over seven hours later, she was flying back to New York. With her day in court for the appeal on Wednesday, she needed to be fully prepared.
Caitlin’s baby shower had really been pleasant and she had received many nice things. Syneda smiled at the games they had played at the shower. She had really enjoyed herself, as she always did with the Madaris family.
She was glad that Clayton had not stopped by. She didn’t think she could handle seeing him just yet. She knew that Justin and Dex had gone over to his place. Neither had returned before she’d left for the airport.
A part of her couldn’t help wondering how Clayton was doing. Had he dismissed her from his mind already? Was he back to dating other women again?
She took a deep breath, irritated with herself for even caring. But she did care. She loved him and the thought of him with someone else…
But, she reminded herself, she had been the one to end things between them. She had sent him away. She’d had no choice. She could not start depending on anyone for her happiness. The only person she could always count on was herself.
As the cab continued to make its way through the city, Syneda couldn’t help but think of Houston. This was Clayton’s territory, his city. The city of his birth. In Houston, Clayton Madaris was a very well-known and successful attorney. But when he had come to her in New York, he had been her friend, her mentor and her lover. And deep down she knew she had lost all three. No matter what she wanted to think, there was no way they could ever go back and reclaim that special friendship they once shared. She was only fooling herself if she thought they could.
Later that night Clayton received a call from Alexander Maxwell.
“You don’t believe in giving me easy jobs do you?” his friend said, chuckling.
Clayton smiled. “What can I say, you’re the best. Do you have any information for me yet?”
“No, not yet, but I’ve stumbled onto something pretty interesting. I thought I’d better bring it to your attention.”
“What?”
“There are two other investigators checking out Syneda’s past. Seems like you’re not the only one interested.”
Clayton sat up straight, frowning. “Who are they?”
“Don’t know yet. I picked up on them in my database. I know about them but they don’t know about me. We have an advantage.”
“Let’s keep it that way, Alex. I want to know who they are and what their interest is.”
When he hung up the phone a few minutes later, Clayton couldn’t help wondering who else besides him would be interested in Syneda’s past.
Chapter 20
Syneda won the appeal and Kasey Jamison would be returned to her adoptive parents by the end of the week.
She knew she should celebrate, but her win had also been the result of someone else losing. Kasey’s biological mother.
Syneda left the courtroom after getting the ruling when it was released. She had spoken immediately with the Jamisons and shared their happiness.
Entering her apartment, the first thought