Lie To Me Fan Fiction ❯ Josh and Reva--The Chase ❯ Hiding and Hurting ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

R&J 3

Reva was barricaded at Company, at least that is what Josh was able to get out of Buzz. Buzz was getting worried as well. She sent back all the food he sent up for the past day.

“Is she alright? Do you think we should call someone?” asked Buzz in his gruff voice.

“I'm not sure. I hope so” said Josh--no confidence could be detected in his speech. He started up the staircase but was interrupted by a phone call. He looked at his phone and say Olivia's name. `Damn it' he cursed internally. He couldn't miss her call but maybe he could put her off for a minute or two.

“Hello” he answered.

“Hello my wonderful husband” said a happy Olivia on the other end.

“You sound cheerful”

“I am! We just were granted a new lease by Edmond. He is going to let use expand the Harbor project! Isn't that terrific?!” Olivia was absolutely giddy of over the possibilities this opened for her--for them.

“Oh yes that is great development, Olivia. Would you like to discuss it in detail over dinner?” Josh asked trying to get her off the phone. He hated the damn project but if she was happy, so be it.

“No, silly” she giggled, “we have tons to discuss right now. I've scheduled a meeting with Alan Spaulding so that we can all look at the figures. Since he is a stakeholder we should talk about this together to ensure we are all on the same path, ok?”

Josh wiped his face with his hand. `Great,' he thought `the hits just keep on comin' “When would you like to meet?”

“Can you be here in twenty minutes?”

“Yes, of course, i can't wait.” he answered as he punched his thigh.

He ended the call and gazed up the stairway. Sadly, he turned and trudged back down the stairs to go to this awful meeting that will be hell on Earth to be sure.

Watching from a corner, Reva saw her ex-husband turn and leave. She knew it was time to go. She had business to attend to and a show to run.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

`Dr. Christopher Langham, PhD' read the name on the heavy oak door before her. Reva had been trying to get this guy on her show forever. Now that she was going through this obsession with Josh, she made it her mission in life--so she just showed up at his office.

The good doctor answered the rapid tap-tap-tapping on his door. He didn't remember having anything scheduled at this time. He was curious as to who would be bothering him at this time.

“Yes, yes, I hear you” said Dr. Langham as the person on the other side was still incessantly rapping at his chamber door.

Annoyed he flung open his door ready to read his rude visitor the riot act but was stymied. He was presented with the most beautiful vision he had beheld in a while. The stunning blond looked at him then pushed her way past.

“Dr. Langam, my name is Reva Shayne--as in the Reva Shayne show. We have been missing each other recently.” She smiled but he could tell that it was surface--it never reached her lovely blue eyes. His curiosity was heightened and he closed his door.

“Ms. Shayne, I beg your pardon. My schedule has been hectic since we were funded by the Spaulding Foundation to continue our research here in Springfiield.” He extended his hand and Reva took it and found security in the comforting handshake.

“So doctor--

“Christopher please, I insist”

“Only if you call me Reva”

“Fair enough” said Christopher and he smiled. It was warm and Reva relaxed.

“Let's talk about the show. We'd like to have you on to discuss the paranormal breakthroughs your research has encountered.”

“I'm flattered, Reva, of course I'm interested but how did you hear about my work?”

Reva hesitated a bit. “I came across your research on the Internet and then went to a couple of your talks on the university campus.” She hoped he didn't think she was stalking him. She chewed her lip some awaiting his reaction.

“Really? You must have been truly struck by the subject. Quite fascinating.”

Reva let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She was making so many mistakes lately, it felt good to get one right.

“Do you think we could set up a time to talk more in-depth, Christopher?”

Christopher couldn't believe his luck. He would be able to spend time with this woman and speak about his subject intelligently? He almost smacked himself. “I look forward to it, how about this Saturday--maybe over lunch?”

“Well my daughter is graduating that day. If you can stand sitting through the ceremony, we could talk after.”

“That would be great, it would give me a chance to know you better not as a host but as a person.”

`Well I can't let him know me too well. The whole `Slut of Springfield' thing might drive him away from the interview' she thought nervously.

“By the was is there a Mr. Shayne? I wouldn't want to upset your husband” he asked smoothly.

“No,” she said and lowered her eyes, “I'm divorced and my ex has remarried.”

Christopher sensed her pain and anxiety on the subject and decided not to push it.

“Very well then.” The doctor glided Reva towards the door. She handed over her card and he did the same. “I'll call you about Saturday” Once again the couple shook hands and then Reva walked away. She felt good about that interaction and she wanted to hold on to that feeling. Maybe this doctor could help her work through this obsession.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“...last night was marvelous, Olivia. A true stroke of genius” crooned Alan Spaulding to the new apple of is eye.

Josh was just about to walk in but stopped when he heard the tenor of Alan's voice. It sounded quite seductive. He knew his wife and Alan had been working hard together--late nights, morning meetings, etc.--but they were both work-aholics. Nothing could be happening, he was sure he would here Olivia return the conversation to a more appropriate tone.

“Oh Alan,” she purred “you ain't seen nothing yet. My abilities extend far beyond those of last evening and I can't wait to share them with you.”

Josh stood stock still. He thought he was going to be sick. It sounded like his wife had been sleeping with his enemy--or at the very least doing something that was not ethical and getting off on it.

It's not like Josh could sit here and judge her. He did sleep with his ex-wife recently. Guilt washed over him dousing any blame he could lay at his wife's feet. `But that was different, wasn't it?' he tried to rationalize. He didn't let his mind wonder over to that bliss filled night. It would distract him. Josh took a breath and with all the sanity he could muster, knocked then came through the door.

What he saw gave him pause. His wife was sitting at her hand carved desk, giggling while Alan was leaning over her whispering in her ear. If that wasn't enough, her pinky was stroking his thumb.

Josh cleared his throat and the couple disengaged quickly--Alan confident and Olivia guilty.

“I hope I'm not interrupting” said Josh holding back the anger boiling in his blood.

Olivia rose and ran into Josh's arms and hugged him tightly. “Of course not. Alan and I were just going over the new deal we reached with Edmond.”

Josh looked into her face trying to read her. For the first time he saw a flicker of fear. She needed him to believe her. Something was wrong here but he'd play along until he could do something about it.

“Great. So let's get on with this meeting, shall we? Oh you know one sec I promised one of our vendors a call back. It will take me two seconds, ok?” he pleaded with Olivia. She nodded and received a loving embrace for her compliance.

He walked down the hall toward his office but instead he stopped in on Billy.

Josh rushed into his office and closed the door hurriedly.

“What's up little brother?” asked a concerned Billy. He strode over to Josh and placed a steadying hand on his shoulder.

Josh looked up and the look on his face was like he had been kicked in the stomach. “Josh what happened? Something wrong with the company?”

Josh chuckled. “Billy i wish it was that easy.”

“Then wha-”

“Olivia.” he said in a near whisper. “I think there is more to her than what we see, than what i see, something is wrong.”

Josh repeated what he saw and the feeling in his gut.

Billy is so very good at analysis and wanted to assured his brother. This was not the time to say `I told you not to marry her' statements. Instead, Billy formed concentrated on the current crisis.

“Josh, Daddy always told us to trust our gut--you remember that?”

“Yeah, he said it all the time”

“What do you think he would do?” Billy nudged. He wanted Josh to say it--to realize that the trust he had placed in his wife had evaporated--that marrying her was a mistake.

“Daddy would want to get to the bottom of it” Josh said sadly

“No matter what” Billy affirmed

“No matter what” Josh answered. Tears were welling up in his eyes. He knew he had to have proof but was afraid of what he might find.

Billy hugged his brother and slapped his back. “Chin up, little brother. I will get the ball rolling. You keep the little woman happy for now. I'll feed you intel as soon as i have it, k?”

Josh dried his eyes. He had to draw on Billy's strength because he was exhausted. He straightened up and nodded. “Thank you, big brother.”

“Hey don't thank me. We Lewis' stick together” Billy chuckled. Josh gave a weak smile and left for his meeting,