Chapter Eighteen
B efore I knew it, I’d been in Paris for a month and I felt like everything was going well both at work and in my personal life. I talked to Chris practically every day even if it was only a few texts or an email. Then other times were two-hour long phone calls that oftentimes led to phone sex or FaceTime sex. Yes, I’m right back in it but I couldn’t stop and it seems like he couldn’t either. I haven’t told him I love him yet but I feel it and I’m sure he can too.
I’m one of the last people to leave work one day and I’m rushing home to change before I meet everyone for dinner. It’s still light out but I have my face buried in my phone which is how I manage to miss the woman standing in front of the door to my building.I look up just before I collide with her and my heart almost flies out of my chest when she lowers her sunglasses and looks at me with a smug grin.
“Miss Collins, correct?” She’s wearing white satin gloves that she slides off slowly before tucking her clutch under her arm. She looked like old money, chic and sophisticated, and I hate how gorgeous she is up close and in person. “I believe we have some things to talk about.”
I blink several times in shock because of all the people, I certainly was not expecting Chris’ wife to show up at my apartment…in Paris. “I…I don’t think so.” I try to take a step around her but she blocks me from entering and gives me a look that lets me know that she is definitely going to get her way on this.
She cocks her head to the side and gives me a look. “Oh, honey, I’ve seen your nudes. We are far past coy, wouldn’t you say?”
WHAT? My mouth drops in shock. “If you think you can do something with those, I can assure you that’s illegal, but I’ll be sure to ask my father who’s a retired judge or my sister who’s one of the best litigators in the state.” I raise an eyebrow at her because I refuse to let her blackmail or intimidate me over that.
Her eyes widen and she looks almost impressed by my words. “You have some bite to you. Good for you. But relax, I won’t leak your nudes. Between the two of us, only you’ve proven to not be a girl’s girl.” She points to the door. “Now, I have an appointment to get a massage in an hour. So, are you going to let me in or what?”
She can’t be serious. “Or what.”
“Fine.” She shrugs. “We can have this conversation out here if you want. Might be kind of weird to be seen talking to the CFO’s wife outside your building though. Can’t think of anyone who would believe we are friends.” She looks me up and down before pointing to where I believe the cameras are and I wonder how soon until Chris starts blowing up my phone. Or hers.
I don’t think she’ll do anything to harm me, but I’m still not in love with the idea of having her in my apartment. I turn my head and point at the coffee shop across the street. “I’m not letting you in my apartment. I don’t know you and I can’t imagine you’re my biggest fan. We can go there.”
She huffs indignantly and begins walking towards the café. She’s far shorter than I am and practically glides across the cobblestone despite her heels. She’s carrying two shopping bags, one from Chanel and one from Hermés, and I wonder if Chris has already put it together that she’s here.
Maybe he’s on his way here himself.
We sit at one of the outside tables and she removes her sunglasses again before running a hand through her shiny chestnut hair and tucking it behind her ear. “I don’t know what he’s told you but we are not divorced.” I don’t respond to that. “So, you knew that? My, aren’t we classy?” she digs and I resist the urge to respond. “We are trying to work on things,” she continues, and I grit my teeth so I don’t say anything that maybe Chris wouldn’t want repeated.
“I’ve been here in Paris. We haven’t seen each other. We broke it off.”
She laughs in a way that I think she actually finds my comment amusing. “Hardly. You’re talking. Constantly.”
I’ve been under the impression that he was at his apartment that she supposedly had never been to when we were talking. How does she know?
I don’t want to say too much or confirm or deny anything. “We are talking because he’s my boss.”
“Do you think I was born yesterday? I know you practically were, but I don’t know why either of you are underestimating me. Do you not care about your career?” I bite my bottom lip. “You’re just a baby and you’re letting a man—or I suppose just his dick—control your decisions? I know you probably think I’m just the worst human in the world, but I’m still his wife . No matter what either of you seem to think, you’re the other woman. Not me.”
Shame washes over me and I hate the feeling. “Why do you want to be…his wife?” I ask. I hope this to be the only interaction I have with this woman, so I figure I might as well see if there is more to the story. “You say I’m letting him control my decisions but you stay with him? I know I wasn’t the first and I know you know that. Kind of seems like you’re letting something control you also.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “You think you know everything.”
“I actually don’t. I feel like I’ve been kept in the dark about a lot of things.”
“Well, feel free to ask me whatever you want to know.” She raises her hand toward the waiter. “Two waters please and a cappuccino.” She points at me. “Would you like anything?”
I shake my head before he walks away.
“Do you even love him?” I blurt out.
“In my own way, yes.” Not sure what that means. “Do you really want to be a woman responsible for breaking up a marriage?”
“I didn’t break up your marriage.”
“Funny, he was never serious about divorce before.” I don’t say anything and she continues. “I’ve warned Chris what I would do if he continued his affair with you but seeing as how he didn’t listen, I wanted to come and talk to you in person.” Our waiter brings over our waters and her coffee. “Thank you, dear,” she says handing him her credit card. She turns her eyes back to me. “Stay away from my husband. Stop communicating with him.”
“Can I ask what your bottom line is? Do you want to be with him?”
“For now,” she says before she takes a sip of her drink. “We are in counseling for a reason, but if it doesn’t work, I’ll give him a divorce. But he needs to give it an actual effort. I don’t know what Chris has told you but I’m not unreasonable. He’s been cheating on me for god knows how long and now he wants a divorce and expects me to roll over and take it? No. He’s been a terrible husband, and now I’m making him pay for it. So sure,” she shrugs, “I’ll give him a divorce eventually, but I’m going to make it hurt first.”
She takes an envelope out of her purse and slides it across the table with a smile. “What is this?” I reluctantly open the envelope and my mouth falls open when I see that it’s a check for… FIVE MILLION DOLLARS?!
I slide the envelope back across the table. “You think…? I don’t want…I can’t be…” I sputter, unsure of what to say. “I do not want this.”
“Fine, name your price.” She shrugs.
“It’s not even your money!”
She snorts. “Clearly you don’t know how marriage works.”
“Fine. Legally, sure, but I would never do that. Do you know how…how bad this looks that you are offering this to me?”
“Ten million.” She counters and I feel like I’m going to be sick. She can’t actually think she can pay me off? No. Fuck no.
“Mrs. Holt, I’m sorry for my part in hurting you, and more importantly, I’m sorry I got myself caught up in your very dysfunctional relationship. Neither of you are happy and you’re not about to use me to try and even the score with him.” I grab my purse. “Please just leave me be.”
“Trust me, I would love to. We never have to speak again so long as you stay away from Chris.”
“I’ll be here at least five more months and I’m contemplating staying the year.”
“Cease all communication with him.”
I frown. “He’s my boss, you can’t expect us not to talk.”
“I’ll know when it’s anything but business.”
“What did you plant a listening device at the penthouse?” This woman may be more calculated than Chris thought.
“Not your business.”
I shake my head. “How did you even find out about me?”
“I have my ways.”
I sigh as I stand up, accepting the fact that she’s not going to give me any more information. “Fine, but for what it’s worth, I hope you find happiness at some point, because if and when all of this is over with Chris, will you be happy? Rich, sure, but will you be able to look at yourself in the mirror for trying to destroy another person? I’m not saying he’s absolved from guilt, but do you think you’ll feel better in the end?”
She yawns and looks up at me as she slides her sunglasses back on. “Are you done? I’m really not in the mood to be lectured by my husband’s whore. Like your moral compass is so perfect.”
“I love him,” I tell her and I hate that she’s the first person to hear that but I want her to know that this isn’t a game to me. The person that stands to get hurt the most is me because at this point, I am convinced she doesn’t even love him and that this is more about her ego and getting revenge than her protecting her heart.
“Oh, please spare me.” She chuckles as she stands up. “You think he loves you?”
“I don’t know.” I lie, because I’m pretty sure Chris didn’t lie to me about that.
“I can assure you he doesn’t. He likes young pussy. I’ll admit he’s more enthralled with you than he’s been with the others but you’re all the same.” The thought of him with other women makes me irate but I do my best to quell the anger raging inside. “You think he’s been sitting at home pining for you while you’ve been here? Please. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was balls deep inside some other girl before you were even fully across the Atlantic Ocean.” My heart sinks at her words even though I don’t believe it. There isn’t anyone else. Just you. I can practically hear his voice in my head but her words still sting. She stands up and stares into my eyes. “He’s not a good person, Marissa. Get out before you get hurt.” She picks up the envelope and slides it into my hand again. Then she’s moving across the street towards a town car that has suddenly appeared outside of my building.