Chapter Sixteen. #2
The one thing I didn’t like was being brushed aside, and Kensington was doing exactly that.
That was his mistake. I was quite happy to watch his empire crumble piece by piece.
I just needed to reach Oliver’s cash cow.
The mysterious Miss Mystique. I couldn’t find anything about her.
If I could get Mystique, Eliganz would crash.
She was the top designer, and Kensington didn’t have any backup.
Only a damn idiot would throw all their eggs into one basket.
The only thing I knew about Mystique was she was local and friends with the Founding Fives wives and Alicia. Nobody was talking, not even with threats. Last time I tried, Winona openly laughed at me and patted my cheek.
My guards even attempted to trail Mystique, and putting a PI on her also failed. Mystique’s real identity was a closely guarded secret, and I had to wonder why. I wanted answers and was unused to not getting them.
“Boss,” Dillion caught my attention.
“Yeah?”
“The vehicle is registered to Eliganz as a pool car.”
Alert, I sat up straight. “Sure?”
“Yes, and it wasn’t signed out today. We’ve no idea who was driving,” Dillion replied.
“No cameras?”
“No. They were down for maintenance. How convenient,” Dillion quipped.
“Indeed.” I steepled my fingers and sat back in my chair. Only Kensington and Eve at Eliganz wanted Alicia gone, but did I act without proof? And Kensington had the authority to order the cameras turned off. Yeah. That fucker was mine.
“Make sure the police have the information and then drop rumours Oliver tried to take his wife out,” I ordered. That would cost Eliganz some investors. I wanted Kensington to suffer slowly, just as he’d made Alicia.
Oliver
That bitch.
And fucking Russell. Why was he always around?
He was a bad penny that kept turning up.
Alicia should have paid for her damn audacity yesterday and instead got off scot-free.
How dare she send a lawyer to threaten me with arrest?
And worse, Alicia had increased the price of her settlement?
Nobody had seen me drive the car, as I’d used my own personal exit to reach the garage.
I’d arranged for the cameras to be turned off, and everything had gone to plan, apart from facing Cain Russell.
If Alicia wanted a divorce, I’d give her one on my terms.
Screw Russell, the Founding Five, and Alicia.
That bitch would come crawling back, and I’d choke her with my cock before forgiving her.
Being delicate with her had been a mistake.
She’d gotten too confident and arrogant.
Alicia thought she was above me, and something she wasn’t.
No, Alicia needed some harsh lessons and even harsher punishments.
Alicia
I couldn’t believe how I reacted yesterday.
Cain must’ve thought I was beyond screwed up.
I would have called and cancelled, but I had no way of contacting him.
Even worse, a large bruise had formed on my right cheek, leg, and arm.
I had hit something after all, although I had no memory of it.
At the hospital, my leg had been bruised, but nothing else.
That had developed last night. No amount of makeup would cover the marks on my face, so I just used minimal coverage.
The way people gaped made me second-guess attending the restaurant as I walked into Samuels. A long-sleeved blouse covered my arms and trousers hid my legs, but there was no hiding my face. Mystique would be working from home until the bruising faded.
“What the fuck?” Cain’s loud exclamation startled me, and I began backing away before I realised people were staring.
“Hi,” I replied lamely as the hostess led me to the table. Cain rose, his eyes raking the bruise.
“Alicia, I thought you weren’t injured,” Cain spat as he walked around to me. He cupped my face and studied the bruising.
“Cain, I didn’t think I was. It came out last night,” I murmured. He tilted my head and very gently ran his thumb over my chin.
“They will pay,” he promised bizarrely.
“Who?” I whispered as he captured my eyes. Cain was seriously pissed, and that meant trouble for someone, but I had no idea who.
“Never mind. Come and sit down, honey,” Cain said and held out my chair. I sat down and winced, and Cain noticed.
“You’re hurt elsewhere.”
“There’s bruising on my arm and leg. I must have landed half on the pavement. But you protected me from serious injury. How is your collarbone?”
Cain shook his head. “You never fail to surprise me. You’re brushing off your injuries from that asshole nearly killing you, and you want to know about me?
Darling, most women would take a quarter of an hour whining about a facial bruise.
This would be followed by ten further minutes spent describing the pain they are suffering in detail. Not you.”
“Well, you got that saving me.”
We were interrupted by the waiter, who arrived to take our order. Once it was placed and the drinks arrived, I became aware of people staring.
“Do you often get stared at like this?” I murmured.
“They’re not looking at me, Alicia.”
“The bruising?” I ducked my face and let my hair cover the ugly mark.
“Look at me,” Cain ordered, and I snapped my head up. “Alicia…”
My phone rang, interrupting him. I glanced at the screen and stiffened. “Sorry, Cain, I need to take this. Caitlin’s my lawyer.”
Cain’s brows drew together, but I didn’t have time to explain.
“Hello, Caitlin.” I paused and listened, and a bitter laugh escaped.
“Okay,” I replied. “Tell Oliver’s lawyer it’s now an eight-million-dollar settlement.
And every refusal means I’ll keep doubling the amount until I reach half of Oliver’s worth.
“If Oliver forces me into court, we’ll release the information about the drugs, and I’ll be going for fifty.
A judge will award that considering what Eliganz’s value is.
Tell Oliver I’ll also want damages for the trauma I’ve suffered on learning about his constant lies and affairs.
That will cost another ten mill. The settlement is now eighteen million. ”
Cain stiffened. “What the fuck?” he murmured, reaching out and taking my hand. Several gasps rose throughout the restaurant, and Cain’s scowl made nosy parkers look away.
“Tell them to accept the offer. Or I also go after the house and half of everything else. Oliver very publicly displayed his mistress, and there’s plenty of evidence of that. And give Oliver a message from me: the Stepford Wife has broken free. Thank you, Caitlin.”
“Wait,” Cain snapped, and I paused. “Tell Caitlin to add attempted murder.”
My jaw dropped open in shock, and I swear my eyes bugged out. Cain wriggled his fingers for my phone, and silently I handed it over. Had he just said murder?
“Caitlyn, this is Cain Russell. What law firm are you from…? Indeed. Well, yesterday Mrs Kensington was in an accident, a hit and run. The car tracks to a carpool belonging to Eliganz, the company owned by Oliver Kensington…Yes, I will forward my details and the evidence. The police are also aware of the vehicle involved and are carrying out their own investigation. Thank you.”
Cain handed the phone back. “Hi Caitlin, okay, thanks. Speak soon. Give him a twenty-four-hour deadline, and then we file with the court,” I said weakly.
I cut the call and gazed at Cain. I was unsure whether to have a meltdown. Had Oliver tried to run me over?
“We need to talk,” Cain stated, face grim.
“Yes, we do,” I replied. What was next? An alien invasion? My husband of a decade had attempted to kill me. If there was ever a moment to cuss, this was it. Holy shit.