Chapter Eleven.
The Observer
Alicia Kensington was off. Something was wrong, and she wasn’t happy.
It was clear from the few images paparazzi had managed to grab.
Her face looked thin, and she appeared to have lost some weight.
It was worrying; Alicia hadn’t been overweight to start with.
Meanwhile, Kensington was gaining pounds hand over fist. For someone so vain, Kensington seemed oblivious to his growing paunch.
I wanted to reach out, but it was too premature.
Alicia needed to work through these issues alone.
It was pretty damn obvious Kensington had brainwashed her, and I didn’t trust she had the strength to break free yet.
But it was clear Alicia was suffering. She’d not been out with her friends as much either. I picked up my cell and dialled.
“This is a surprise,” Aaron Sinclair stated.
“Is it? Have Winona reach out to Alicia Kensington. Get a gauge of how she’s feeling. Something’s wrong.”
“Yes, her husband is having a blatant affair, and Alicia’s beginning to realise it. Alicia truly loves Kensington, and this will destroy her. She’s withdrawing from everyone so she can live in denial.”
“Guess that’s her choice, Sinclair, but have Winona contact her, anyway.”
“Winona speaks to Alicia every couple of days.”
“Do I have to repeat myself a third time? I would find that incredibly tedious.”
“Wouldn’t want that,” Sinclair quipped, and I frowned. “We’ll reach out. Would you like a report?”
“Don’t push your luck, please remember my previous warning.”
“I’m about one of the only fools who puts up with you; I’m not afraid,” Sinclair declared and cut the call. Damn asshole.
Winona
“Are you still coming? We haven’t seen you for a few weeks,” I asked as I spoke to Alicia. There was a big charity fundraiser, and they needed lots of people to attend.
“Sure, I bought the dress,” Alicia replied.
“Darling, is everything okay?”
“Other than my husband prefers spending time with his assistant? Hunky-dory.”
“Alicia, shall I come over?” I inquired, somewhat alarmed. Alicia didn’t sound like herself, and I was worried.
“No, I’m fine. I’ll see you there, Winona. Look for the woman with the fat ass; that’ll be me.” Alicia cut the line, and Aaron came over. What the hell had got into Alicia?
“Okay?” Aaron asked as he stroked a thumb over my lips.
“No, Alicia was off. Aaron, I think she’s realising what we have known for a long time,” I replied.
“Can I say Thank God? Because I really don’t like Kensington.”
Aaron’s relief was heartfelt. The men suffered Oliver because of the wives’ friendship with Alicia.
Aaron liked Alicia. She was a nice person, even if she was a doormat, but in his opinion, she wasn’t worth putting up with because of Oliver.
He’d become an overconfident, arrogant asshole, and Aaron had no time for him. Not anymore.
Alicia
Oliver had spent the last week bending over backwards to show me how much I was loved.
But whenever I brought up getting a job, he changed the subject.
Guess that was a no. Slowly, I was forgiving him, but I didn’t trust him.
My gut had twisted itself into knots. Undecided, I flipped between believing Oliver was cheating and then being certain he wasn’t.
I couldn’t make up my mind for love or money.
I’d scoured social media and discovered lots of photos of Oliver and Eve.
They certainly looked like a couple, and the smiles Oliver was gifting Eve had once been reserved for me.
Was Oliver having an affair? I didn’t want to believe it, not after giving him over a decade of my life.
Sadly, the evidence was there, despite Oliver’s claims. Devon flashed into my mind.
I’d not thought about him in a decade. “Once a cheater, always a cheater,” Devon had stated.
Maybe he’d been right. Had Oliver cheated through the years, and I’d not noticed.
“Ready, darling? You look gorgeous. Tonight, I’ll be the proudest man there,” Oliver said as he entered the lounge. Prepared for the critique, I waited for the next comment, the one that would put me down, and was shocked when it didn’t follow. Many things were starting to become clear.
“Yes.”
I began walking to the door when Oliver reached out and grabbed my wrist. He fastened a new diamond tennis bracelet around it. Uninterested, I glanced at it.
“Thank you, but that was unnecessary. You’ve given me at least ten of these.”
Oliver looked dumbfounded as I continued and headed outside.
“Darling, I’m sure it’s not that many,” Oliver said as he caught up and opened the car door.
“Actually, it’s fifteen. Would you like me to detail each time I received one?” I replied and climbed in. An insidious thought popped into my head. Had Oliver given me a new one whenever he’d had an affair?
Oliver smiled, but I swear he was grinding his teeth. “Then give it back,” Oliver demanded.
“No, it’s fine.”
Oliver grabbed my arm, tore the bracelet off, and threw it onto the drive. “If my generosity insults you, don’t wear it.”
Pain shot through my wrist; I gaped and rubbed where the bracelet had caught me. “I can’t believe you did that,” I whispered.
“Why not? Alicia, you’re being cruel, ungrateful, and spitting in my face. I went out of my way to buy something pretty, and you insult the gesture. That’s hurtful, Alicia.”
Instantly, I backed down. “Sorry, I never meant to.”
Oliver patted my hand. “Darling, I know you didn’t, you’ve been so stressed lately. Why don’t I pay for you to attend that spa you like?”
“That would be wonderful, thank you,” I murmured. I hated that place, full of snobs and self-important idiots.
“Alicia, the dress suits you. You look—”
“Perfect, I’m aware. Can we go, please? Honestly, I hate events like this,” I said, and Oliver forced another smile and shut the door. These types of functions were always about wealth and power, never about the real reason—charity. People attended to be seen as generous and kind.
“Are we okay?” Oliver asked as he climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Of course.” I shouldn’t have commented, but the words escaped. “How is Eve, by the way? She looked very nice today,” I murmured.
“Alicia, it was coffee. God. What is going on? Do you want a divorce? Are you cheating? All you do is pick fights lately. Do you hate me or something?” Oliver snapped.
“No. Is it a crime to wish to understand what’s happening? Why was Eve hanging on your arm and gazing adoringly at you? The tag accompanying the picture read, ‘Are we looking at the next Mrs Kensington?’ That hurt, Oliver,” I replied, almost in tears. “And you honestly don’t care.”
Oliver smashed a fist against the steering wheel, making me jump. “Are you insinuating something?”
Usually, I would have submitted and answered no. This me, who was at war with myself, shrugged. “Oliver, you tell me. Is there anything I should know? Because you just proved my point. You don’t care I was hurt.”
Oliver audibly ground his teeth. “You’re changing Alicia, and I don’t like it.
You’re becoming suspicious, mouthy, rude, and ungrateful.
Tonight started so well. And you’re ruining it.
I can’t help what those gossip sites say.
I don’t control them. But it’s clear you believe them over me.
Alicia, I can’t stand this!” Oliver sounded distraught, and I shut up.
Shame flooded me. Oliver was correct. I was being antagonistic and without reason.
What was it about Eve that set me off? She was younger, beautiful, and clearly intelligent.
There had not been one salacious picture of Oliver and Eve.
It was the leading headlines on which I was basing my angst. And they were merely clickbait. God, I was being a bitch.
“Sorry. I’ll do better,” I murmured, bowing my head meekly. Oliver’s hand landed on my leg, and he squeezed.
“There’s my girl,” he said with so much pride in his voice that I swallowed back tears. I nodded, and Oliver offered a smile as the atmosphere in the car lightened.
I accepted the glass of sparkling water Oliver passed me as we sat at the round dining table.
We were sharing with Aaron, Winona, and some others I was familiar with but didn’t know too well.
Oliver was at his best, schmoozing and laughing heartily.
The food was superb, and there was plenty of business talk amongst idle gossip.
Several times, Winona had brought me into the conversation, but I let it lapse.
Oliver’s approval lay heavy, as a few of the other men complimented me.
We’d just finished eating, and everyone was sipping drinks when Oliver’s phone rang. Only Winona, Aaron, and another couple remained at the table. Ryder and Oceane had joined us and were laughing about something that Jude had done.
“What?” Oliver said, his tone cutting into the conversation. Everybody fell silent and glanced across. “How bad is she?”
Who?
“Yes, I’m on my way.” Oliver cut the call, stood up and began walking away. Oceane and Winona let out horrified gasps after glancing at me.
“Kensington!” Ryder snapped, and Oliver paused and looked back.
“I have to leave.” As soon as Oliver spoke, I knew this concerned Eve. There was an expression on his face that I’d only ever seen aimed at me; now it appeared to belong to Eve.
“What’s happened?” Aaron demanded, alarmed.
“My assistant, Eve, has had a fall. I have to go.”
“Are you fucking kidding?” Ryder snarled.
Oliver appeared taken aback. “What? Eve needs me!”
“What about Alicia?” Ryder asked.
“Alicia’s fine,” Oliver stated, and I gasped.
“Fuck you, asshole. You’re walking out of here without a word of explanation to your wife?” Ryder retorted with anger. “But you claim Eve’s an assistant. A mere fucking employee. And you’re putting her before the woman you married. Open your lying mouth and explain that shit.”