Chapter 22
ALICIA
Hours had passed, and I was growing weary.
I’d sent my family home after I received my accolades and desperately wanted to join them, but I was technically still on the clock—expected to network and schmooze clients who only came for the free food and booze despite most being millionaires themselves.
The celebration was primarily for Stella Johnson, Felix’s wife and General Counsel of the company. She had been on maternity leave with their second child over the past two years and was making a comeback. I was happy to see her return.
Stella was the one who advocated for my position and brought me into the fold. She was the original girl boss I aspired to be. She had my utmost respect and loyalty.
However, even with the ongoing celebration and promotion, all I could think about was Ethan. Despite the successful outcome of his trial, I knew he must be hurting.
I didn’t know why I held some sick sense of responsibility or concern, but against my better judgement, I couldn’t help but care.
That’s when my gaze caught on an eager smirk from across the room. Jake leant against the wall, beady eyes dancing over my frame as if imagining me naked. Nope. No, thank you.
I had cut ties with him, palming his contract off to a subordinate over his insistence to push against boundaries that I had set and reminded him of on multiple occasions.
Jake thought he was cute; I thought he was disrespectful. And that’s the exact word I used when debriefing with Felix.
On that note, I was ready to leave.
I sidelined the main conference, then swept into the elevator, ascending to the top floor.
The place was empty. As I grabbed my belongings from my office, a crash rang out from the photocopy room down the hall, shortly followed by a pained grunt.
I hope no one’s hurt.
Of course, I went to investigate, but as I approached closer, an internal alarm blared through my senses.
Turn around. Leave. Save yourself.
That’s when I heard their voices. Both recognisable and coated in lust, their words echoing down the corridor in shallow pants.
“This is the last. Fucking. Time. You hear me? So make it count.”
“Please, Bossman. You know how much I need you. You know I can’t live without it.”
By then, my feet were moving of their own volition. My heart wanted to shut out everything and remove myself from the soul-destroying situation. However, my nature wouldn’t let me leave without witnessing the irrefutable truth.
So when I silently pushed the door open, I shouldn’t have been railroaded from the most disturbing sight—yet I was totalled all the same.
There was my boss, Felix, fumbling with his clothes as Heather— his fucking secretary —lifted herself on top of the photocopier machine, pulling up her skirt to show her bare beneath—the display wanton and downright disgusting .
They were so caught up in each other they didn’t even notice I was there. And from the look on their faces and the confidence of their actions, it wasn’t the first time.
Utter revulsion swirled in my gut as bile rose to the back of my throat. Only a few seconds had passed, however, I knew the imagery would scar me for life.
Then, Felix unzipped his trousers, which had me jolting out of my inanimate state to yell the first thing that came to mind.
“I quit!”
All I processed was their shocked features before I bolted straight out of there.
Crashing into the elevator, I slammed my finger against the button, exhaling a grateful breath when the doors closed before either of the cheating scumbags could catch up.
I didn’t want to give them any opportunity to talk me down and lie straight to my face. I know what I saw.
As soon as I reached the ground floor, I ran for the foyer doors. My escape was in reach, so close I could feel the outside air drifting through the shifting glass.
But destiny had other plans.
“Alicia! Alicia! Are you okay?”
Arms caught me in a tight squeeze as soft hands ran over my shoulders in comfort—from the very woman I wanted to save.
Stella regarded me with genuine concern, her gaze cataloguing my anxious state.
When I didn’t reply, her expression filled with worry. “Let me find Felix. He’s upstairs in his office.”
I vigorously shook my head. No. No. No. I don’t want to hurt you.
“I’ll only be a minute,” she said, tone reassuring. “I’m going to find him.”
As she went to pull away, I latched onto her forearm, unrelenting and firm.
“Don’t go up there, Stella,” I managed to choke. Oh, god.
“Why?” She tilted her head, waiting for further explanation as tears gathered in my eyes. I closed them, not wanting to observe her devastation firsthand.
“ Please, ” I begged. “I don’t want you to see that. To see them together… ”
One debilitating heartbeat later, I was pulled into a crushing hug—one full of warmth and understanding.
“It’s too late for that, Alicia,” she whispered against my cheek, her tone brittle but firm.
That’s when I raised my arms to return her embrace.
Am I in some alternate universe? Why am I the one crying, mourning the loss of a marriage in the arms of the wife it belongs to?
Stella slowly withdrew as I sniffled, failing to regain control.
“I told them I quit on the spot,” I said. “I know firsthand what that type of destruction can do to someone, including their family and loved ones. These terrible deeds have a cascade effect, and I can’t knowingly respect and work under someone who chooses to live their life like that. I refuse. ”
It was a bold statement, but I meant every word. Living alongside my sister for four years and having a front row seat to her ongoing turmoil ingrained something deep inside me. And seeing Felix blatantly cheating in 4D—while celebrating his wife in the same building—solidified my resolve further.
Stella gave me a sad but knowing smile. “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. Will you stick around to see what happens? I promise your new boss would love to have a loyal employee like yourself.”
I shifted over her words, receiving the underlying message. I refused to remain for him, but maybe I could stay for her …
“If you do decide to stay here, Alicia, I only have one request. Please keep this discovery to yourself… for now.”
Discovery— meaning the inappropriate love affair between her husband and his secretary.
I cringed. “How long do you want me to wait? I’m not a good actress.”
“You will know when,” she said with full authority and power.
That’s when I took her in, really perusing the superwoman before me.
Sure, I could see the hurt swimming in the depth of her eyes, but that was overshadowed by her poised persona. She was all class and grace, a savage undertow lurking beneath.
That’s when it all clicked. Stella garnered respect. Not Felix or the business. Her.
Pitching forward, I tackled her in another hug and whispered. “Welcome back, boss.”
She chuckled, which was interrupted by my name being frantically called from behind.
Felix.
I didn’t spare him a thought, my eyes refilling with tears as I stared at the indestructible woman before me.
Stella gave my hand a light squeeze. “Go home, Alicia. Spend time with your family.”
“I don’t want to leave you here with him.”
“I have plans… Plans that have not come to fruition yet. I need you to leave,” she said, all cryptic.
In other words— don’t fuck this up, Alicia.
Whatever strategy she had devised, I knew Felix deserved everything that was coming his way. And it was not my right to take away from Stella’s experience and hijack her hurt.
So, taking her request seriously, I swept a light peck to her cheek then raced out the door before Felix could reach me… Sending all my strength to the woman with a spine of steel and the assassin’s smile.