On Opposite Ends Of Familiarity

Francesca

Silence blankets the entire room until the only thing I can hear is the tick-tock of the wall clock in Kyle’s study. I wring my hands in my lap, uncertain why I’m here.

Kyle’s unreadable face as he stares at me has sweat beading on my forehead.

There was a time I could read Kyle’s silences like a book—but now, even being in the same room with him feels dangerous.

I lick my lips, and his eyes track the movement with laser precision. His gaze darkens. That’s the only reaction I’ve seen from him in the last few minutes.

I tug on the curl that has slipped free from my bun—a nervous habit since I was five years old.

His jaw clenches, and my pulse spikes.

I inhale deeply, steel my spine and finally break the silence. “Why am I here, Kyle? Your assistant said it was urgent—important. I dropped my classes for the day because of that.”

Kyle’s gaze sharpens, if that’s even possible. “You really don’t know?” He snorts, not waiting for an answer. “I find that incredibly hard to believe.”

“What are you talking about?” Some of my frustration at his cryptic statement leaks through, and his nostrils flare.

I can’t believe this is the same man who I became friends with nearly four years back.

He pushes a printout towards me.

Breaking News: Kyle Ingram, recently ascended Chairman of Ingram Tech—serial cheater?

Kyle Ingram, Chairman of Ingram Tech is in the centre of a recent controversy. A video of Mr. Ingram—recorded on what seems to be a Mindhav3n device was seen doing the rounds on the internet. It was taken down almost immediately, but those who saw it claim he’s been secretly married. Just a week back, he was seen with model Angela Delacroix at Actor/Director Celeste Shaw’s success party.

Is Mr. Kyle Ingram a serial cheater? Does his wife know of his dalliances? Is this a new Harry Coleman in the making?

Is this how the Ingrams do business: unethically and immorally?

More about the Ingrams: Page 2 >

I place the page on the desk with trembling fingers.

“This article was released this morning—about two hours back.” His voice is calm, measured.

He taps a key on his laptop and turns it around. “Play the video.”

I don’t need to, I already know what it is—but I hit play regardless.

Granny’s voice fills the room.

Kyle is sitting next to her, and I’ve just entered to relieve him of his shift. Even now, I’m filled with gratitude for his help.

“Frany?” Gran’s voice is frail, and I rush to her, taking her hand in mine.

“I’m here, grandma.” She glances briefly at me before her vision registers Kyle’s presence and completely lights up.

“I know you! You’re wonderful. When did you get here?”

Kyle takes it in his stride and goes along with it. “Just a few minutes back.”

That’s what the doctor instructed us to do when she was admitted to the hospital after a stroke. Go along with what she says…try not to agitate her. Her dementia is progressing rapidly and now, with the stroke, we’re lucky she’s even alive.

Kyle has been helping me and mom take care of granny for the entire time she’s been in the hospital—three weeks.

With Keith and Ella busy with their newborn twins, Kyle was the only person I could turn to for help.

And he didn’t hesitate—despite how bad things had gotten between us.

The video continues.

Granny struggles to lift her hands and take his in them.

“You’ve been taking such good care of me. Is Frany taking good care of you?” His eyes slide briefly to me, but he smiles and answers her as genuinely as usual.

“She is. You know how headstrong she can be, though. It’s a challenge getting her to listen sometimes.”

Gran laughs. “I know, I know. She got that from me, so I can’t blame her. But then, you both have just married. You must learn how to bring her around.”

Kyle nods sagely. “That I have. I just have to sweep her off her feet.”

Granny breaks out into a laugh, completely delighted. Kyle smiles, though my face is red as a tomato.

I try to change the topic. “Come now, grandma. You must be tired. Get some rest.”

“Oh! Psh! I’ve been resting for days. I want to speak with your husband. I haven’t seen him in days!”

My color deepens. This is getting out of hand. “Gran, please just sleep.”

“Do you sleep with him often? A woman must learn to keep her man happy! Your grandpa and I…”

“Grandma!” My ears burn. Kyle is struggling not to laugh beside me.

“Come now, you can tell me. You’ve been in love with your husband for years. I know it. I know what a woman in love looks like. Do I need to tell you about the birds and the bees?”

I think I’m going to die of mortification. What is this confused lucidity!

Kyle finally takes pity on me and changes the subject. They talk some nonsense about visiting over Christmas and Kyle gets up to leave.

“Kyle.” My grandma calls. Her eyes are completely clear, and my breath catches. “Promise me you’ll take care of my granddaughter… Keep her happy.”

I swallow the tears that gather in my throat. She doesn’t understand what she’s asking of him…and how much she’s breaking my heart in the process.

He’s dating someone else. No woman would want her partner making such promises. Even to dementia-ridden patients who would forget them the next moment.

I glance at Kyle and shake my head slightly. But he ignores me completely.

He meets granny’s gaze and says the words that spell my doom.

“She’s my wife. Of course, I promise.”

He leaves without a single glance at me and the video ends.

I swallow thickly. This was the video granny’s Mindhav3n device recorded—built by Keith’s company Catharsis.

Granny is always recording. She loves the memory training exercises and context snippets it creates.

It makes her feel more in control of her life. Which is all well and good.

Except this particular video got leaked. My vision tilts as the weight of the moment settles over me completely. And now the world believes Kyle Ingram is married…to me.

Kyle

It takes everything in me to hold myself back from grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. She looks so bereft I’m not sure if I want to shake her or hug her.

But then my gaze slides to the video that just finished playing and fury curdles in my gut.

She’s determined to pretend that she doesn’t know what I’m talking about, but I can see her lies now.

Natalie warned me, and I dismissed her concerns. She insisted that Frany liked me and I laughed it off.

I glance at Frany, who’s staring at the computer screen like she’s waiting for it to execute her.

This video was leaked about thirty-six hours ago. We took it down almost immediately, but the damage was done.

I’ve scrubbed the Catharsis servers myself. This particular video was downloaded to only one of the three registered devices. Marcus and Keith have both ensured me that nothing or no one could have managed to break into their facility to steal this particular video.

Which leaves just one source.

“Did you tell Esme we were married?” My voice is icy, even to my own ears.

“Of course not! How could you even think that?” Frany’s voice shakes.

I snort in response. It’s always the people closest to you who stab you in the back. My grandfather killed my father. My mother damn near destroyed my brothers and me.

It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that Frany would get such ideas. Especially since I took over as Chairman and CEO of Ingram Tech and my brothers insisted on making me the second largest shareholder in the company.

“Then why did Esme think we’re together? I’ve been wondering about it for weeks. The only reason I let it go was because it didn’t seem like it would matter.

“I can see I was wrong, though.”

My tone betrays none of my emotions.

“I can’t fathom what goes on in her mind, Kyle. She’s ill.”

“Exactly. She’s clearly unwell—easy to manipulate. Did you think you could trap me, Frany? Is that why you spread such lies?”

She flinches like I’ve struck her. “Trap you? What the hell do you mean?”

“I’m surprised you have to ask. I thought the implications were clear.”

Color deepens in her cheeks even as her eyes spark with outrage.

“How dare you! You’ve known me for years, Kyle! We were friends!”

“Yes. That was my first mistake, wasn’t it? Well, there’s one way to clear all this up. Quick and easy.”

“Wh-What?” Frany stares at me, clearly uncertain.

“Which of your devices are connected to the mindhav3n app?” My face is impassive when I ask her.

She frowns. “Um, the app is connected to my phone, mom’s and gran’s tablet. The videos are stored in the Catharsis server and are available to stream—which is how all of us access them.”

“Hand me your phone.” I extend my hand.

“What! No! I’ve done nothing wrong.”

I stare at her in silence until she relents and hands it over.

I connect it to my laptop and start hunting. If the video’s metadata matches her phone…

Francesca

My hand twitches over my phone. I don’t know what he’s looking for—but I’m afraid of what he’ll find. I don’t have that video on my phone. At least, not any more. Not for a long time.

I did download it, though. I didn’t want Keith’s company to log how many times I watched that video.

I wish I had water to ease the dryness in my mouth.

Just for a day, I wanted to imagine what it would be like…being married to the man I love.

I deleted it right after.

And my phone was never unattended. How would anyone even know something like this could have happened.

It’s beyond possibility.

A few minutes in, Kyle’s eyes flash with bitter triumph, and he turns his stony, silver gaze on me.

“You downloaded the video, didn’t you?”

I blink, mouth hanging open.

“I—” My throat closes. How did he know?

I even cleared the trash folder.

“The download trail leads to your phone.” Kyle’s voice is low.

I suck in a breath. Color drains from my face.

Is this situation genuinely my fault?

Kyle

“I just don’t get it…why would you do something like that? Did you leak the video for revenge? For money?” I can’t hold back my frustration anymore and slam my hand on the desk, shouting, “Why?!”

Frany flinches again, face pale and eyes shining brighter. She shakes her head.

My fingers curl into fists.

This whole situation is untenable.

My phone rings. It’s Keith—my oldest brother.

I answer the call, still unable to stop glowering at Frany.

“What, Keith?”

“Check your bloody messages! Your assistant finally called me when he couldn’t get a hold of you! Someone claims they’ve been your affair partner. They shared images, Kyle. You, with multiple women.

“I know there’s no truth to it—but the board and public don’t. I’m already getting calls from partner companies and other stock holders. They’re digging up Haley and Richard’s trial.

“Kyle, by the time we prove the images are doctored, it’ll be too late.”

“I’ll just announce that I’m not married. There’s no record of it.” I’m already drafting the press release in my head.

“If you do that, you’ll sink not just yourself, but all of us as well. They’ll think the Ingrams are trying to bury the truth—again.

“Nobody is willing to hear your side of the story, Kyle. No one is interested. The scandal is juicier. That all Ingrams are like Haley and Richard—that’s the story that’ll sell.

“There’s only one way out of this. And you know it. The longer you wait, the worse it will get. You need to get a handle on this. A.S.A.P.”

Keith hangs up, furious and desperate.

My entire body becomes ice before burning hotter than a furnace.

I stare at the wide-eyed woman in front of me.

There’s only one way out.

My mind refuses to accept it. My body locks in place.

There’s no other choice.

I straighten my back.

“You got me into this mess, Francesca, and you’re the one who’ll get me out.”

Francesca

Kyle’s words reverberate through my skull, and for the life of me I cannot understand what he’s saying.

Silence descends. Minutes pass.