Chapter Twenty-Two.
Alicia
There was only one restaurant Cain would refer to as ours.
Samuel’s. I’d barely slept last night; my stomach had twisted itself constantly into knots.
Was Cain angry at my secret? There’s been pride in his eyes, so possibly not.
I took care dressing. A nice dress which was super modern and something the old me would never have worn.
I left my hair alone; I liked my bouncy curls, screw the sleek style Oliver had preferred.
The thought slipped into my head, and I smiled. Slowly, I was regaining myself. The long-term damage would take time, but little things like a new wardrobe and hairstyles were once again under my control.
The constant feeling of being in trouble was something I battled daily.
I guessed Devon was aware of it because he constantly praised me.
The Uber dropped me off at the corner of the block because traffic was murder.
As I walked towards the restaurant, I tilted my head back and enjoyed the sunshine.
“Alicia?” a startled voice said, and I inwardly winced. Standing at the entrance of a jeweller’s was Oliver and Eve. I dithered over whether to reply as Oliver raked me from head to toe.
“You look different, younger,” he stated. There was something in his eyes that made me uncomfortable.
“Good, that was my intention. I’m thirty-one, not sixty-five,” I replied. “Excuse me, I have an appointment.”
I quickly walked away as Eve hissed at Oliver. “What are you looking at?”
Swiftly, I headed into Samuel’s. To my relief, Cain was already there. “Am I late?” I asked as the waiter led me over.
“No. I was early. You look beautiful,” Cain said approvingly.
“Thank you,” I replied as I sat down. The waiter took our drink order and handed us the menus.
“So, that was a shock. I’ve been searching for months to discover the elusive Mystique, and imagine my surprise,” Cain began.
“Shhh, please, I don’t want my identity going public yet,” I whispered, and Cain nodded.
“I won’t mention names, but can I say I approve? Your friends must be aware?” Cain asked.
“Yes.”
“And they kept the secret. How strange. Their husbands also know?” Cain probed.
“Yes, I’d never ask them to keep something so serious from them. They are my friends too,” I replied.
Cain smiled in approval. There was a warmth in his eyes that surprised me.
“How did you guess it was me?”
“I know you, Alicia, your laugh, the way you tilt your head, your smile, your smell. The moment I saw you, I was confused because Mystique is your polar opposite. I knew it was you, but I couldn’t understand how. Mystique is an alter ego, the you who Oliver attempted to destroy,” Cain surmised.
“Honestly, I’m unsure myself. Eve, the affair, the divorce, leaving Eliganz, everything seems to be moving so fast. Six months ago, I was in love with Oliver and under his thumb.
I can see it now, but it’s taken me a while to recognise that.
Now it’s a question of how I undo what he did? ” I said thoughtfully.
“The good news is you recognised he was controlling,” Cain replied.
“I can intellectually acknowledge that, emotionally is a different story. But I’m rebelling in small steps.” I smiled.
Cain smiled too before his eyes narrowed and he began glowering. “What the fuck do you want?”
I turned and paled. Closing in on us was Oliver, dragging Eve behind him. Was he going to cause another scene? Here? What on earth was wrong with him? Oliver hated drama, and yet was causing it at every turn.
“I was talking to you,” Oliver snapped, and I reacted with surprise.
“What?”
“Outside. You walked away, and I hadn’t given you permission.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Cain demanded. “You’ve no control over Alicia.”
“Russell, this has nothing to do with you,” Oliver stated. He placed a hand on my shoulder and pulled me around. “What’s got into you? Dressing like that?”
“Like what? Her age?” Cain snapped. I shifted my chair closer to Cain as Oliver glared down at me. I dropped my gaze and curled into myself. “No! You don’t get to control or threaten Alicia anymore. She’s under my protection,” Cain stated boldly.
Eve gasped in response.
“What did you just say?” Oliver gritted out.
“You heard me. Now leave, you’re an annoyance I can’t be bothered to handle,” Cain said dismissively.
Oliver turned to me. “Is this what you’ve lowered yourself to?
Prostituting yourself to the richest man.
Of course, you’re not capable of earning money yourself, but really?
Sleeping with whoever feels sorry for you?
I hope your sexual skills have progressed because darling, vanilla and missionary won’t keep someone like Cain interested. ”
I began reddening as people snickered.
Oliver gazed at Cain with pity. “Good luck with her. Doesn’t matter what I tried with her; Alicia was always squeamish.”
Cain flicked his cuffs and appeared bored.
“Just how petty an asshole are you? No class whatsoever. Crude, rude, ignorant, uneducated, and needing investors. I told you once, you’ve no idea what you threw away.
Shocking, it really is. Your lack of awareness and ability to read a situation is, quite blatantly, unparalleled.
For your information, Alicia needs no educating in matters of the bedroom.
In fact, I have a hard time keeping up with her.
And unlike you, I don’t need to force her to suck my cock.
And I do recognise quality when I see it. ”
Cain sneered at Eve, and it was obvious what he meant. Oliver began to flush, a sure sign of his temper rising. Cain wriggled his fingers, and two men stepped forward. I recognised them as his bodyguards. “Throw the trash out,” Cain ordered.
They moved immediately.
“Touch me, and I’ll sue,” Oliver hissed.
“Will you walk away of your own accord?” Cain asked.
“No!” Oliver yelled.
“Refusing to leave on an owner’s request gives them reason to remove you, by force if necessary. Have a good day, but you won’t be eating here again. Idiotic, sex-crazed fools aren’t welcome in classy establishments,” Cain stated.
Cain turned to me. “My apologies, Alicia. Sometimes we can’t help the trash sneaking in.”
“It’s okay,” I murmured.
Oliver slammed his hands down on the table, and I jumped and squeaked. Cain rose to his feet and stared down at Oliver.
“How dare you act like a common thug? Mind you, I guess that’s exactly what you are.
I know your background, Kensington. Make no mistake, everyone knew Alicia was the one who brought class to your marriage.
And you were the fool who believed she was worth nothing.
Alicia continues to be welcome at events and venues throughout this town. You, however, are a laughingstock.
“You had the perfect relationship, a business at the top of your sector, and there was no stopping you. And you threw that away for that cheap creature next to you. I’m sure she’s a great fuck, but that’s all she is.
No class, no dignity, no self-respect. Look at her.
She’s pathetic. Then check the treasure you tossed out.
What a total buffoon you are. You saunter around like your shit doesn’t stink.
“But behind your back, everyone’s laughing.
You’ve already had two contracts cancelled on you.
You fucked with Ryder Jasper, a corporate raider who’s known for getting what he wants.
Now Ryder wants Eliganz, and he’ll get it.
What idiot fucks with someone like Jasper?
And Jude Knox? The king of the media? You messed with him and his woman?
They’re already destroying you in the press and making you the joke of the century.
I don’t have to lift a finger because you’re on borrowed time.
Now take that cheap piece of meat and get the fuck out of my restaurant,” Cain stated calmly.
His words were even more frightening and nerve-wracking because he was so calm. There was no visible anger in Cain. He sat back down, picked up his glass of water and sipped from it. Oliver leaned forward and was grabbed. Before he could speak, he was frog-marched out of the restaurant.
“I wouldn’t have said anything, Eve, but it appears you’re forcing me to.
Do you really want to be with a man who drugged his former wife and admitted it in public?
And also, that engagement ring? It’s an old one of mine.
It was a limited design, released in twenty-twenty-two and near the right knuckle, you’ll find a little chip.
I caught it on a wall. Oliver’s not even bought you your own,” I said.
Cain chuckled. “Second-hand cast-offs, it’s all she’s worth, anyway. Remove her from my sight,” he ordered.
Eve scurried away, but not before I saw the expression on her face. Guilt swamped me because Eve had been shamed and hurt. Then I remembered what she’d done to me. A bigger person might rise above it, but I wasn’t her. Eve deserved everything she got.
Devon
Christ, Oliver couldn’t keep a low profile.
The scene at the restaurant was horrific, and Alicia was in the middle of it.
I was somewhat surprised to see her with Cain Russell.
Was he a challenger for Alicia’s affections?
I wanted my shot with her. Through the years, whenever I’d seen her in a gossip rag, I wondered what had changed her.
The strong girl I’d known was gone. Admittedly, Alicia hadn’t been a party queen or one of the popular girls, but she was nice, funny, and damn cute.
There’d been a lot of guys who’d desired a chance with Alicia.
My biggest regret was not going off to college with her.
I’d attended the one my parents had chosen.
If I’d followed Alicia, we might have made something happen.
Alicia had been the one who got away. There was no denying that I stalked her on the gossip sites.
Oliver’s reputation spread far and wide.
The asshole believed he was being discreet; his affairs reached my ears.
He was a pig and totally undeserving of Alicia.
She’d always been kind and gentle, but that had been buried under her polished exterior.
Alicia was regaining herself and shedding that robotic personality.
Her hair was untamed and wild, and it suited her.
Her fashion sense was more in line with our age group, thank God, but she remained reserved and uncertain.
Oliver’s influence remained very much present.
Alicia was rarely spontaneous except when Mystique.
She would give way to others during conversations and constantly defer to a man.
She was full of self-doubt and checked for approval before making a decision.
She wasn’t the girl I’d known and loved.
But flashes of her were surfacing. With time and encouragement, Alicia might regain what she lost.
I watched the footage that someone had shot again.
Alicia leaned towards Russell, where most would shy away.
There was an ease between them that spoke of deeper feelings.
Russell could have any woman he wished, just not Alicia.
I had a weapon, he didn’t—Alicia’s and mine shared past. In matters of love, I wasn’t above using anything I could to win.
Eve
Oliver paced back and forth. His temper was up, and he was looking for a target.
That wouldn’t be me. My mind flashed to Alicia when she’d spoken up.
She’d shocked the hell out of me; I didn’t think she had it in her.
The sympathy in her eyes bit deep, and I’d wanted to lash out.
Nobody pitied me. I’d fought for everything in my life, and that doormat had no right to pity me.
I stared at the ring on my finger. Alicia hadn’t lied; there’d been a nick I’d missed.
Oliver, the cheap bastard, had given me one of her cast-offs.
The engagement was a joke. Not that it mattered.
I needed a wedding band next to it for my plan to work.
Too much hinged on my landing Oliver and his millions.
I’d been close that day he got divorced.
He’d been emotional and easy to manipulate.
If seeing Alicia so joyful outside hadn’t enraged him further, I might’ve convinced him to go back into the court and sign the marriage license.
Still, if I had to suck his cock for now, then I would, regardless of how much I hated it. The risk of failure carried too high a penalty. I’d not fail, even if I had to pay the devil.
Alicia
I tapped the pencil against the drawing pad.
I was making some changes to some old designs of mine, which would be at the front of my next show.
Designers usually worked four to six seasons ahead.
Oliver had my next five collections, and they’d been signed off and approved.
He couldn’t change anything, and now I was working on creating something special for Devon.
I wanted my debut with Zade to go off with a massive bang.
I’d picked twenty designs so far, which I liked, but I needed the showstopper. This design could be it, but it was missing the spark. I couldn’t put my finger on it.
I put the pencil down and rubbed my eyebrows. It was time for a break.
I left my home studio, dialled in a takeaway, and then phoned the doorman to let him know to accept the delivery.
One of the two guards on duty would run it up to me when it arrived.
I wandered over to my balcony with a glass of wine, sat down, and gazed out over the city.
The vibrancy of daily life couldn’t be denied.
Streetlights shone, and shops were brightly lit.
Somewhere down there, sirens wailed, and car engines roared. Below me, people went about their lives, unaware and uncaring that I was watching. It was a humbling experience.
My doorbell pinged, and I got up. Dinner was served. As I headed for the door, the spark of inspiration I was missing finally hit me. I’d damn well make sure my debut made headlines and not for personal reasons for once!