Chapter Eighteen.
Alicia - Three weeks after the divorce.
“Mystique, Oliver Kensington is here, and he looks furious,” Heidi said, entering my office.
Surprised, I glanced up and stared through the glass wall.
Oliver was standing by the reception desk, wearing a frown.
He seemed always to be miserable lately.
Oliver and Eve had constantly been in gossip rags.
Paparazzi had chased me, but I kept quiet and smiled sweetly.
Some of their remarks were hurtful and cruel, phrased to get a reaction.
I just ignored them, though that took effort, and continued with what I was doing.
“What now?”
“Oliver’s got a file; it’s the contract he wants signing.” Heidi pursed her lips.
“Ah, yes, it’s getting close to crunch time. I don’t want Oliver Kensington in my private office.” I rose to my feet. “Plus, anything Oliver says, I want on camera and in front of witnesses.”
“You’re right not to trust him, Ali—Mystique.” Heidi quickly corrected, earning a sharp look.
“We’ll talk after this,” I said firmly. Heidi looked uncomfortable, but nodded. I’d not told Hedi my identity, so I needed to understand how she knew.
“How can I help?” I asked Oliver as I approached the reception area.
“Sign the contract, Mystique. I need to finalise the designs.” Oliver shoved a file at me rudely. Annoyed, I pushed my cheek out with my tongue before speaking.
“Oliver, last time you visited, I made it very clear that what you were doing to Alicia was repulsive and offensive. Since then, you have only compounded your error. I’m unsure if I’m signing with Eliganz again.”
“Are you fucking kidding? What the hell does Alicia have to do with anything? We’re divorced, and I’m with somebody else. That’s my private life and doesn’t affect my ability to do business. Sign, Mystique,” Oliver nearly shouted.
“No. And your actions are concerning. Because if you could treat Alicia so badly, how are associates, colleagues, and employees treated? You showed no respect to Alicia or her feelings, and that makes me wary.” “Mystique, my personal life bears no relevance to how I handle business. Now, I was the one who took a risk on you, where’s the loyalty? ” Oliver stated.
Amused, I began to laugh. “You gave me a chance? Oliver, please, I had customers coming out of my wazoo. Honestly, I had offers from Zade and Chic Dreams, when Eliganz ranked third behind them. Don’t forget, I chose Eliganz because of Alicia, not you.
Don’t attempt to gaslight me into believing that Eliganz bolstered my career.
“Rumours are also running riot that I apparently signed a five-year exclusive contract with Eliganz. Perhaps you ought to control that brainless mistress who’s spreading those lies before I take legal action. Like many, I dislike being linked to false news.”
Oliver ground his teeth loudly and slammed the file onto the reception desk. “Sign the damn papers, Mystique. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I’m exploring options because, frankly, signing with you makes me feel sick. In fact, Oliver, consider this a definitive refusal. I won’t work with Eliganz ever again. Now leave before I call security.”
“Don’t play games, Mystique. That will backfire. Everyone knows you’re tied to Eliganz. If you contract with a lesser chain, then you lose sales.”
“So be it. Oliver, I’ve got a fortune already, and Mystique can weather a downturn of profit should that happen. That’s preferable to working with someone as vile as you,” I stated, turning away.
Heidi gasped as Oliver reached out and grabbed my shoulder. Threat wafted off Oliver. Scared, I wrenched free and was shocked wordless at the venom on Oliver’s face. He quickly wiped it, but I’d seen the emotion.
“Let’s not be rash, Mystique. How about I return to Eliganz and see what I can do to sweeten the deal? Nobody wants to torpedo a bright career.” Oliver forced a smile, turned on his heel, and left.
“Tell the security guard to print Oliver’s picture. He’s banned from this studio. If he comes back, I want Oliver removed,” I said shakily.
Heidi nodded, pale herself.
“Did that asshole say anything before you fetched me?”
“Yes. Oliver was sneering at the low position I was now working in,” Heidi murmured. “I gave that bastard ten years of loyalty, and I’m treated like trash.”
“Come with me,” I ordered, heading into my office. “Sit down, Heidi, and explain your earlier slip.”
“Mystique, I knew your identity the moment you interviewed me. But as you clearly didn’t want anybody knowing, I stayed quiet,” Heidi said.
“Have you told anyone?”
“No, and I won’t either. I’m loyal, Ali—Mystique.”
“That’s why you were hired. Oliver did many distasteful things, and you kept his trust. You won’t be put into that position here, and I abhor his slimy actions,” I told Heidi honestly.
“Oliver’s a cruel and petty person. You love—”
“The operative word is loved, not love, Heidi. Oliver destroyed every ounce of that emotion. I plan to reveal who I am eventually, but I’m currently looking for other retail options. Oliver thinks he owns Mystique; he’s wrong. If I walk, Oliver loses a big chunk of his customer base.”
Heidi smiled. “Couldn’t happen to a more deserving asshole.”
“No,” I agreed. “Oliver is about to learn what he threw away.”
“Well, lady, you seem happy,” Devon said as I left my apartment. He leaned back against his car and whistled.
“Yes, I made a few decisions.”
“Anything you want to tell me?” Devon inquired, helping me into the car. He jogged round to the driver’s side and slid in.
I sent Devon a teasing look. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Hopefully, Heidi had booked the appointment I’d asked for earlier. Devon was in for a huge shock. I liked that Devon didn’t push for a reason but accepted my reply.
“I booked Silken Masion and then thought we could take in that new film,” Devon said.
“Which one?” I couldn’t recall the last time I took in a movie for fun. I would have been a teenager. Oliver believed that those of status didn’t attend regular movies unless at red-carpet events. Sheesh.
“The thriller—I remember how you enjoyed them,” Devon teased. My heart clenched a little. That meant a lot. I’d not seen Devon for over a decade, but he remembered the things I’d liked. Oliver couldn’t, and we’d been married for years. That showed who really cared.
“That sounds great.” I smiled as Devon winked. As a teenager, Devon had been a handsome kid; as a man, he was a woman’s wet dream, but somehow had remained single. Whoever Devon chose was a lucky woman.
It was time to shed Alicia Kensington. It was Saturday, and I’d ensured I’d kept today free.
Three, nearly four weeks had passed since the divorce was finalised, and I still wore that persona’s clothes.
The obedient society wife was getting a makeover.
Oliver wouldn’t be allowed to have control over my life anymore.
Determined, I drove to the mall with money to burn and an alter ego to destroy. Alicia Kensington would no longer exist; Alicia Rosewood was back! A paparazzo was trailing me, one of the diehards who believed I was going to have a public meltdown, and I ignored him studiously. Odious little man.
After an hour in the first shop, I emerged wearing fashionable jeans and a cute, sparkly top. I carried several bags of clothes as I headed into the next one. By twelve o’clock, I was tired and had spent a small fortune.
Devon laughed as he approached. Holy hell, the man looked fantastic in jeans and a vintage tee.
“Now this is the Alicia I remember!” he teased, taking some of the bags.
“I feel more like myself,” I replied as I leaned in and grinned.
Devon stared into my eyes and smiled slowly. “Good, because that Alicia was amazing.”
Nerves clenched my stomach as self-doubt assaulted me. Had I been that great a person? If I had been, why had Oliver moulded me so carefully? Devon placed a finger under my chin.
“Babe, Oliver was the problem, not you. Never you,” he murmured. I saw a flash and stepped back quickly, but the paparazzo was grinning.
“Thanks, Alicia!” he offered a thumbs-up and swiftly moved away.
Resigned, I sighed. “Sorry, Devon, you’re going to be front-page news.”
“Makes a change from Oliver,” he quipped, and I laughed. Devon took the rest of the bags. “Let’s get lunch.” Devon escorted me through the mall to a small restaurant, and we grabbed a table. It was a place Oliver wouldn’t have dreamed of dining at, clearly a place below him.
I tutted as my phone pinged just as we were sitting down. What now? Couldn’t I even eat without something happening?
“Oh!” I gasped as I checked it. I quickly opened the headline and turned the screen to Devon.
“Damn, that asshole works fast,” Devon said. “That’s a pretty decent picture.”
“We look intimate,” I muttered, wondering if Devon would lose his temper. Oliver would have.
“Let people gossip,” Devon replied and motioned for the waitress. “Actually, I wonder if the reporter can forward me that. I wouldn’t mind a copy.”
My head shot up. Devon smiled confidently.
“Devon… I…”
“It’s too soon, Alicia, I know. Don’t worry, babe. You set the pace,” Devon said.
I held Devon’s gaze with difficulty. “What if I’m never ready for another relationship? Or I don’t find you attractive?”
“Babe, please, you checked my ass out. But if you’re not, then I’m lucky to have you as a friend. Don’t pressure yourself, Alicia. Let’s concentrate on you first. That’s the important thing. Oliver tried to destroy you and failed.”
I looked down. “Why would he do that, Devon?”
“Because other men recognised your worth and desired you. Oliver needed you, but not you him. He was insignificant and nothing. He wanted your love and to own you. Oliver desperately needed someone to validate him. You did that.”
“I’m not sure which one of us that makes tragic.”