Chapter Thirteen.
The Observer
“How badly was Alicia injured?” I demanded.
“Mrs Kensington’s got around eight stitches. Sir, the scar will be visible but very fine. The plastic surgeon was the best,” my aide said.
I pursed my lips. Oliver Kensington had gone too far. Alicia had been hurt. Would this be the end of their marriage, or would Alicia continue sucking up the abuse? The urge to shake her was stronger than ever. Alicia could do so much better, but had been fooled into believing otherwise.
I recognised what Oliver had done. The conditioning was obvious; over time, Oliver had moulded her into a Stepford wife.
But now and then, I saw a flash of personality that showed Alicia’s potential.
A brief smile crossed my lips. Oliver might think he owned Alicia’s heart, body, and soul, but he didn’t.
A small part of Alicia existed, and one day she’d throw off the shackles Oliver had placed around her. In the meantime, I’d an asshole to fuck with.
Alicia
Oliver hadn’t called or come to see me. Tragically, that spoke volumes. I’d returned to work, thanking God that the mask covered my forehead, or my identity would be out. As I was driving in today, I was surprised when I received a phone call.
“Mrs Kensington, this is Heidi.”
“Oh, hello. Can I help you?” I inquired, wondering why Heidi was calling me. Despite my asking, I hadn’t got the footage. Guess she was loyal to Oliver.
“Mrs Kensington, I got what you requested. Can we meet at Mona’s Café, and I’ll give it to you?” Heidi asked. She sounded shaken and upset.
“Is everything okay?”
“Ma’am, I can’t talk right now. Please agree to the meeting,” she begged.
“When?”
“Twenty minutes?” Heidi said.
Angry voices bellowed in the background, and then the line died. Slightly anxious, I turned the car around and headed towards Mona’s Café. Heidi was waiting when I arrived, and her face was tear-stained. Beside her was a cardboard box, and I realised it contained her desk contents.
“Oliver fired you?” I gasped, shocked beyond belief.
“Eve,” Heidi stated, and that said everything.
“That woman is vile. A total bitch.”
“Mrs Kensington, I’m sorry, but everyone knows Oliver’s having an affair with her. Somebody needed to tell you, guess that’s me,” Heidi whispered, holding my gaze.
“Stay here, I need a coffee,” I replied and walked to the counter, taking a few minutes to compose myself.
Somehow, I wasn’t as shocked as I should have been.
Heidi had confirmed my suspicions. Her words hurt, but Heidi hadn’t blabbed out of spite.
The sympathy and fear in Heidi’s eyes spoke volumes.
How I’d missed it, I didn’t know, but Heidi was terrified of Oliver.
After composing myself, I returned to the table.
“Why did Oliver fire you, Heidi? You’ve been his secretary ever since he took over,” I asked.
“As I said, Eve. That whore told Oliver I was spying for you, and he dismissed me immediately,” Heidi explained.
“What?” I gasped. “Surely Oliver didn’t just take Eve’s word?”
“Mrs Kensington, he did. All the times I covered and did things for him, and Oliver took the word of that slut,” Heidi spat.
“You have good taste,” I murmured, thinking of all the presents she must have bought on Oliver’s behalf.
“Thanks. Mrs Kensington, I don’t wish to cause you pain, but you have to understand what’s happening.
This flash drive contains everything you need about Eve attacking you and other related topics.
There’s enough evidence on that to bury Oliver.
Ma’am,” Heidi reached out and took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, “I wouldn’t recommend watching it unless you’re a sadist. But it’s proof of Oliver being unfaithful, and not only with Eve.
A decade, ma’am, I worked as his secretary, and I was cast aside. ” Heidi looked devastated.
But that didn’t even come close to what I was feeling.
Oliver hadn’t just had one affair. There’d been multiple.
Eve was just another in a long line of them.
God, what a fool I’d been. The perfect, faithful background wife.
Why hadn’t my friends told me? That hurt just as much.
Had they known and said nothing? If so, why?
“Mrs Kensington?” Heidi pulled me out of my thoughts.
“I’m lost for words, Heidi. Oliver’s changed and not for the better,” I murmured. I squeezed her hand in return, and Heidi sniffed. “What will you do for work?”
“Don’t know. Well, I guess I’ll sign up with an agency and hope Oliver hasn’t blacklisted me,” Heidi replied.
For a decade, Heidi had been Oliver’s right hand until Eve. I captured Heidi’s eyes. “How many times did you cover Oliver’s affairs?”
Heidi held my gaze. “Oliver was my boss, I was obligated to keep secrets.”
“Confidentiality means a lot to you.”
“Mrs Kensignton, it’s my job to protect my employer,” Heidi replied.
“Give me your number, Heidi. I know someone who might be able to use your skills,” I said. Despite the grief and betrayal I felt, admiration for Heidi’s loyalty rose. Eve must have done something worse than what Heidi was saying.
Heidi looked at me, startled. “Mrs Kensington…”
“Call me Alicia. I don’t think Mrs Kensington will be a moniker I’ll carry much longer,” I whispered. Pain slashed through me at those words. But they were the truth. Oliver had demanded I wait on his mistress hand and foot. No, something like that would never happen.
All those years together—gone. All because of one greedy, grasping woman. Eve wanted Oliver? She could have him. I wouldn’t fight for someone who didn’t want me. The realisation seeped into me. Oliver didn’t want me.
Then I gasped. Heidi grabbed my hand as something she’d said sank in.
“Heidi, you claimed this wasn’t Oliver’s first affair?
” I’d heard the words, but now they drilled relentlessly into my head.
Not his first time being unfaithful. Not the first time Oliver had lied and deceived me.
How many? Heartbroken and bleeding, I stared at the flash drive. The evidence was on there.
Heidi’s gaze shot to one side, and she didn’t answer. Those reactions were signs of guilt and of someone not wanting to cause further harm. I knew exactly what Heidi was hiding.
“Was there a bastard child?” I whispered.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Heidi replied quickly.
“I bet Oliver’s still giving money to some of those whores?”
Heidi held my gaze and nodded. Bingo! Either those ex-mistresses had blackmailed Oliver, or he remembered them fondly. It didn’t matter; there’d be a paper trail. There always was.
“Give me your number,” I said.
“You’re not angry?” Heidi asked. “Alicia, I’d be furious.”
“You were loyal to your employer. That, I can respect. Who’d want to tell the na?ve wife her husband is cheating? I know someone who needs a personal assistant more than a secretary, but it wouldn’t be much different from your current duties.”
Heidi shook her head. “Alicia, I feel like I’m taking advantage.”
“Why? Oliver’s treated us both like shit. You weren’t the unfaithful one. Oliver was, and repeatedly by the sound of it.”
I was surprised at how calm I was being.
Inwardly, I was screaming. I guess I had learned something living with Oliver.
Never show outward emotion. That mantra stood me in good stead now.
Despite my coolness, my mind raced with questions.
Had my husband ever loved me? How many mistresses had there been?
What was different about Eve that Oliver was risking everything?
“Alicia, I’m so sorry,” Heidi murmured.
“Not your fault. Write your number down,” I ordered. Heidi obeyed, and I took it. “I’ll call you soon.”
Heidi smiled sadly. Oliver was a fool because Heidi was worth her weight in gold.
I walked out of the café far more shocked than I’d entered.
But I was Alicia Kensington, and nobody would see me cry in public.
I had a collection to finish. It would give me the distraction I needed and stop a meltdown.
When I got home, that would be a different story.
It appeared today planned to be a day of shocks. When I arrived at the design studio. Eve was there, staring down her nose at my temporary receptionist.
The last thing I wanted was this bitch, especially with what I’d discovered this morning. Eve had no right being here.
“What’s going on?” I demanded.
“She refused to let me speak to you,” Eve snarled, jabbing a finger at Roxie.
“That would be hard, as I wasn’t present. Surely, even someone of your low intelligence understands that? Did you expect Roxie to magic me up out of nowhere?” I insulted Eve with glee.
Eve’s nostrils flared, and she glowered. Was that meant to be intimidating? For Alicia Kensignton, it would most certainly have made me uncomfortable. However, here? I was Mystique and reigned supreme.
“Clearly, you don’t know who I am,” Eve stated with a hand on her hip.
“Oh, we’ve met before, and I do remember you. You’re Oliver Kensington’s mistress,” I replied coldly. Would Eve deny it? It was impossible that she’d realise who she was talking to.
“I’m here for two things. Oliver has an event and needs me to be styled appropriately.” Eve ignored my accusation, although her eyes gleamed because I’d recognised her. What sick bitch enjoyed being known as a mistress? Was I honestly hearing this? Of course I was.
“Mystique doesn’t dress sluts,” I stated, and Roxie gasped before laughing.
Inwardly, I was reeling. Oliver was taking Eve to an event that required one of my dresses.
Eve had really got her feet under the table, because Mystique’s evening gowns weren’t cheap.
The urge to cry rose, and I swallowed hard as Eve expressed outrage.
I willingly hid behind my Mystique personality.
“How dare you!”
“Leave,” I ordered as Eve looked around for support and found none.