Chapter 4
STELLA
My fingers shook as I reapplied my red lipstick in the bathroom mirror.
Since that life-changing event two weeks earlier, I had let myself wallow in despair for one night only. Then, I set my sights on what needed to be done. It had taken a lot of juggling and shifty moves, but Mama was back in action, baby.
I’d told the board I wanted my return to be a surprise for my dear husband, and oh, what a surprise it was.
His drained pallor and panicked expression gave me a small spark of satisfaction that had me thirsting for more.
As I graced the podium, I was aware of what everyone saw—independence, ambition, success—and all three were true. But I was also a thirty-eight-year-old mother of two, and soon-to-be divorcee.
Which was solidified when Felix scurried away into the dark hole that was his office. And, of course, his homewrecking rat predictably followed suit.
I should have been impressed that they played right into my hand. Instead, I felt sick… and disappointed. It was too easy, entirely amateur, further proving how far Felix had fallen.
It was over. Truly over.
Fluffing up my hair and smacking my lips, I watched my blue eyes turn to steel in the reflection.
Mrs Johnson was dead. And she was ready to drag everyone down to the grave with her.
Exiting the bathroom with solid steps, I went to re-enter the conference room when a low, familiar voice called from behind. “Smelly Stella!”
There was only one person in the world who used that term, and it was none other than Curtis Wright. Ex-pro league baseball player and my childhood best friend.
I spun towards him and was immediately enveloped in his embrace.
A certain affection swept through me unawares that had me pressing closer, searching for a particular warmth that only came from somewhere safe.
He read my need and freely gave that extra reassurance by squeezing tighter. After a delayed second, we withdrew from one another.
His smile was genuine, but his smooth brown eyes skirted over my features in question. “You okay, Stella?”
I solidified my mask. “Yes. Just miss the boys. Congrats, C. You’ve nearly hit billionaire status with this latest campaign.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, Alicia did a great job brokering this deal for me. Whoever thought we’d find ourselves here. Right, Stells?”
“I did,” I said with confidence. “I always knew you were going to be great, Curtie-pie.” His cheeks flushed from the endearment—one my late mother had invented when we were young.
“She’d be proud of you, too, you know.”
I shrugged, contemplating all that I had planned. “I’m not so sure.”
His hand began rising, then fell back to his side again, as if catching himself. Strange.
Then Howard sidelined our interaction, not so subtly trying to bulldoze his way in.
Taking the out, I pitched forward and pressed a goodbye kiss to Curtis’ cheek. “I’ll see you this weekend. Let me know if you want me to bring anything.”
Before I could retreat, he latched onto my arm, his breath skating down the side of my face as he whispered, “You are not leaving me here with Howard. I’ll never escape.”
“Take one for the team, C. You still know how to do that, don’t you?” I giggled before retreating.
It wasn’t until later that I processed the light tingling his touch had left behind.
Tears. Hurt. Urgency.
That was what I saw when Alicia raced across the foyer, searching for escape.
“Alicia! Alicia! Are you okay?” I rushed, catching her from the side.
She was downright frazzled as I ran my palms over her shoulders, attempting to soothe.
Alicia was one of our top-performing employees and was just promoted to executive financial advisor. She came from the elevator, so I didn’t have to guess what had her so out of sorts.
“Let me find Felix,” I said. “He’s upstairs in his office.” Like fuck was I going to subject myself to that sight again, but I had to gain confirmation from Alicia. “I’ll only be a minute. I’m going to find him.”
She was trembling at that point, shaking her head like a damn bobblehead. But she found the resolve to pull on my arm and whisper the damning statement.
“Don’t go up there, Stella.”
“Why?”
“Please. I don’t want you to see that. To see them together…”
Oh, that idiot! Felix had become so brazen and bold that he hadn’t just been caught by me. He was putting on a whole show and dance for the entire workforce.
Brilliant. My cheating husband and his errant, disease-ridden dick were going to ruin everything. The reveal was too early. All my plans were askew and on the precipice of falling apart.
Frustration rapidly took over, and I pulled her into a crushing hug. “It’s too late for that, Alicia.”
Then, she surprised me. Alicia resigned on the spot as she found Felix’s actions abhorrent, refusing to work for a boss with values such as his.
She was a girl’s girl, her authenticity shining through.
I smiled—well, as much as the situation allowed. “Thank you for being sincere in a world that tramples the weak, Alicia. But I want you to stay in the company.”
“I can’t work for him.”
“He won’t be your boss for much longer,” I said, the statement a threat and a promise. “Will you stick around to see what happens? I promise your new boss would love to have a loyal employee such as yourself.”
I was genuine. Most people would turn a blind eye to the events she had just witnessed. But she held integrity, which I respected and acknowledged.
I desperately appealed to the woman before me, literally placing my future in her hands. “If you do decide to stay here, Alicia, I only have one request. Please keep this discovery to yourself…for now.”
“How long do you want me to wait? I’m not a good actress.”
“You will know when.”
She looked at me—really took me in—blatant respect slowly coating her features.
Then she caught me off guard by tackling me in another hug. “Welcome back, Boss.”
I let her weight settle, happy to take on the newfound support and glad I could rely on someone with fortitude and backbone.
“Alicia!”
Ah, there it is.
Now it was my fortitude that was going to be tried and tested. In the face of my betrayer, I wondered if I would be able to staunch my hurt and give him my blank face in return.
Bury it, Stella. The lost love. The broken marriage. The disloyal husband.
I wasn’t going to give him my pain. I refused to let him win.
Squeezing Alicia’s hand, I implored her to go home. Taking my word seriously, she pressed a kiss on my cheek, leaving me to face my opponent front-on and alone—how it always should’ve been.
You will not crumble. You will rebuild and find purpose again… without him.
Felix hesitantly approached.
“Husband.”