55. Bird’s-Foot Trefoil – Meaning Retribution Revenge
55
BIRD’S-FOOT TREFOIL
(BUTTER AND EGGS, DEER VETCH, EGGS AND BACON)
MEANING: RETRIBUTION; REVENGE
OCEAN
________
T he little flower in front of me wouldn’t cooperate. In the long run it wouldn’t matter, as no one was going to look at this little nigella blossom and single it out. But I was a little nervous, and fixing this flower was helping.
Guests would be here soon, and unlike the Caldwell Gala, I was looking forward to this one. The first party in my new home, and the party where we would make things right.
I’d chosen a theme of fire for the flowers, and of course, they had a deeper meaning that made me smile. Deep crimson roses for our love and passion. Red Petunias for anger and disdain. Orange lilies for revenge. Yellow celandine for legal matters and protection. The pale blue nigella, for the hottest part of the flame, meant embarrassment. Those flowers also had a different name which made me laugh—Jack In Prison. Appropriate.
And finally, young and pale sesame flowers which meant to purge something, or to reveal it.
Combined together the flowers looked like they were burning, and it was lovely. Something deep was satisfied by the fact that they were shouting condemnation without us having to say it out loud.
But of course, we would say it.
Cameron appeared in his tuxedo, and every thought of fixing the little errant flower flew right out of my head. He smiled, feeling that thought and returning it right back to me.
I wore a dress I’d owned forever and never worn before because I thought I couldn’t pull it off. Floor length, off the shoulder, sparkling red fabric that skimmed down my body and hugged it in the right places. A light, gossamer train floated from the back of the shoulders. I was still fat, and this dress showed that, but the fear was no longer claws piercing my heart.
It was still there, but lessened. One day I hoped I wouldn’t care what anyone thought of me. But in the meantime, I had Alphas who loved me and found me beautiful. Nothing else mattered.
The way my husband looked at me made it worth every ounce of nerves I had while putting this dress on. And watching Frank and Laura see me wearing it without shame, and seeing my now-healed mark, would be equally cathartic.
“Now I know why you wouldn’t tell us what you were wearing,” Cam murmured as he approached.
“I needed you to not tear it off me before we even made it to the party.”
“You need to know that I’m taking that statement as full permission to tear it off you later.” He made a little motion with his finger for me to twirl.
I laughed. “I’ll happily let you remove it later. No destroying.”
“Seems like I need to invest in more clothes I can destroy when it comes to you.”
“Or,” I slid my hands up his lapels and straightened his tie, “you can think of it as me presenting you with a pretty package for you to unwrap. Slowly .”
I used the word presenting on purpose. My own double entendre.
“Careful, sweetheart, or I’ll have you presenting right in the middle of this ballroom.”
“I don’t think that’s the kind of show we’re trying to put on tonight.”
Cam sighed and kissed me lightly, so as not to mess up my lipstick. “You’re right. I’ll have to suffer.”
I was going to tell him he was looking forward to this gala as much as I was, but I was distracted by Micah and Everett coming in. Now I was surrounded by hotness, and I savored their attention on me.
“Your first guests are here,” Micah said, but neither of them could stop looking at me.
I smirked as I passed them, going to meet Trinity and Isolde. They watched me leave, and the fire burning in all three of our bonds nearly had me perfuming.
“Holy shit, Ocean.” Trinity gasped. “You look incredible.”
“Thank you.”
I twirled again just in time for Isolde to step inside and see me. Her pack followed her. “You’re finally wearing it. Fuck yes.”
Faking a curtsy, I pulled them both into a hug. “It honestly feels really good. And I can’t wait for the rest of it.”
“Oh, I am so ready for the show,” Trinity said with a grin. “I can’t wait.”
Back in the ballroom, my husbands and Isolde’s pack introduced themselves. I’d spoken about them on our honeymoon and over the last few days while we planned everything. It was good to see them mingling, because if I had my way, we would all be seeing a lot of each other.
Isolde nudged my shoulder with hers. “Happiness looks good on you, you know.”
“Right back at you.”
Even I could admit I looked different when I looked at myself in the mirror. Happiness and peace were the only things that had ever made me feel that way. And tonight, I hoped a taste of revenge would do the same.
I heard the front door open once more outside of the ballroom and smiled. “Here goes nothing.”
The party was a complete success. Raina and her pack were here, along with other friends of my husbands. More people than I knew, but many of them I recognized from our wedding. It didn’t matter because I was walking on clouds.
Until I saw Jason. The man who I’d danced with at the first gala. I would thank him for providing my husbands an easy entrance, but I now knew they were always going to come for me.
I approached him at the drinks table. “You’re Jason, right?”
He grinned, full of arrogance. “I am. Nice to see you again, Ocean. You look fantastic. Change your mind about letting me take you home?”
The urge to roll my eyes was so strong it was painful. “I’m married now. And bonded. Surely you knew that if you came here?”
“Yeah, but…” he shrugged. “It’s all for show, right?”
“It is very much not for show.”
That only made him smile deeper. “I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“That you were a freak. You must have had something to trap them into this. Or they’re the freaks, just like me. Or,” he leaned closer. “You’re lying, it is all for show, and your husbands are cheating on you with women they actually find attractive, in which case, I’m still very willing to take you home.”
Rage filled me, both at the implication that I wasn’t good enough, but also at the idea that they would do something like that.
My Alphas.
I needed to protect them at all costs. My instincts rose, and I was fully about to slap this man in the face—damn the consequences—when a voice spoke from next to me.
“My wife is too kind to put you in your place,” Everett said. “But I will.”
The man opened his mouth and closed it, looking like a fish. Everett closed the distance between us and placed a hand on my lower back before leaning in and kissing my temple. “You all right, little nymph?”
“I am now,” I murmured.
“Good,” he breathed. “That’s good.”
He turned back to the man, whose gaze was fastened on us like we were some sort of weird science experiment that had just blown his mind.
“It’s Jason, right? Jason Marsh?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm.” Everett’s hand curled around my hip. “Well, Jason. While the rest of the world finds it entertaining to speculate about why my pack and I married Ocean, we decidedly do not. So the next time I hear you suggest that my wife had to do something to trap us, that she’s feeding a fetish, we’re all cheating on her, or any of the bullshit I know you have already said tonight, let alone what you just said to her face, I will take everything you love and shred it into pieces so small you’ll never find them before setting them on fire.”
Jason swallowed while Everett took a smooth sip of his drink. Then he leaned in. “And once I’m finished with your business and all of your possessions, I’ll come for you. Got it?”
“Got it.” Jason’s voice was dangerously close to a squeak.
“Now get the fuck out of our house.”
The man didn’t hesitate. From the look on his face, he was about to piss himself with fear. He might have if Everett had said anything else. I leaned into his arm. “You didn’t have to completely terrify him.”
“Oh, yes I did. Even if he weren’t in our home talking shit about us, which is completely disrespectful, no one gets to talk about you that way without consequences.”
I shivered, enjoying the possessiveness he showed. “But didn’t you invite him?”
“We did,” Everett confirmed. “So we could do exactly what I just did.”
“Really?”
“Don’t you remember?” He whispered. “I protect what’s mine.”
He was about to kiss me as I spotted my aunt and uncle entering the ballroom. Late. Really late. Not that it was a surprise. They hadn’t even wanted to come after the threats Everett had leveled at them, but my pack insisted, leaning on the fact that they were business partners, and Frank, at the very least, was expected to be there.
My aunt would never leave my uncle to do an event alone. It wouldn’t look right, and looks, as we knew, were everything to her.
I saw them as soon as they walked in, and they saw me. Everett stood nearby, and I felt his attention turn toward me. “Need help, little nymph?”
“I’ve got this part.”
“Call us if you do. Ten minutes, all right?”
Right. Ten minutes. I could do that. I handed him what remained of my drink and headed over to them.
“Frank, Laura. Thank you for coming.”
Laura’s gaze fell on my neck, and her eyes went wide. Her mouth dropped open before she could check her reaction. I touched it. “Oh, right. Sorry I didn’t tell you. It turns out the DuPont pack are my scent matches. I went into heat after my husbands rescued me.” I looked my uncle in the eye. “From you.”
I watched Frank’s face go pale. “Congratulations?”
“Thank you. We’re very happy.”
He floundered, and I didn’t waver. Part of me felt uncomfortable with his discomfort, and another part of me was relieved. I finally had some power. How many times had they both made me feel exactly like this? Tongue-tied, speechless, and with no way out.
“I suppose I should congratulate your… pack as well. Excuse me.” He left so quickly, Laura was left gaping after him.
I looked at her. “If you have something to say about my appearance, now would be the time.”
“Really? That’s what you’re going to do? You invited us, Ocean. We didn’t come here to be attacked, and I won’t stand by while you do it.”
“Fine.” I didn’t need to stand there with her trading insults. What I really needed was to get her into the smaller salon off the ballroom. “While you’re here, I found something you should see of my mother’s.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I discovered it not long after the rest of my things were delivered. She would want you to see it.” I gestured toward the salon, and after an unsure look at me, she went. I met Micah’s gaze across the room, and he nodded once. It was time.
We were the first ones in the room. Laura looked around in distaste. She’d always liked gaudier and more traditional design. Our home was far too light and sleek for her taste.
I thought it was perfect.
“Where is it?”
All the papers were spread on the coffee table. “There.”
“Ah, there you are,” Cameron said. My husbands entered the room with Frank in tow. Raina had been instructed to bring Joseph in later. One thing at a time.
Laura crossed her arms. “What is this, Ocean?”
“I didn’t lie. Take a look.” I glanced at my uncle. “Something of my mother’s.”
Huffing out a breath, she strode to the coffee table and started to look. Then, like Frank had earlier, she went pale. “Frank?”
He was at her side in a moment.
It was a strange sensation, watching someone’s world fall apart. But I couldn’t feel a shred of sympathy for them.
Aiden, the hacker, and my husbands’— my —lawyers figured out the entire paper trail. It was exactly like they’d suspected. After the trust had been passed over to Frank’s lawyer, he’d been paid off to help them change it. The Caldwell family lawyer still had copies, dated well before my mother’s death.
Hard to prove, since the originals had likely been destroyed.
Until my husbands threatened the lawyer with everything they had. Thanks to Aiden, it wasn’t hard. Where one crime was, more usually followed, and the man had a laundry list of crimes to his name. Exposing any one of them would end his career, the firm he was a partner of, and his life’s work.
We settled for his career and a signed confession.
My mother’s lawyer signed a statement too. It said that he’d been present for this version of the trust and when it happened. There wasn’t much more we needed.
“Where did you get this?” Frank asked. “This is absurd.”
“No,” I snapped. “What’s absurd is the two of you using this as a way to control and abuse me. Not that it should have ever happened, but for nine years past when it should have fucking ended.”
“ Abuse you ?” Laura looked like I’d struck her. “We only ever tried to do the best for you, Ocean. It’s not our fault you refused the help. That you’re lazy and entitled and unwilling to compromise.”
“Compromise.” I laughed. “That’s funny.”
Frank tossed the papers back on the table and shrugged. “You can’t prove any of this. No ink tests or anything.” His smile sickened me. “The real documents are long gone.”
The doors to the salon opened, and Raina practically dragged a man through the door. “What the hell are you dragging me in here for?” He snarled.
“Ah, our final guest,” Everett said. He was the first one of my husbands to speak.
“Wait,” I said in sudden recognition. “ That’s Joseph?”
Everett looked at me. “You’ve met?”
“The day we left for the honeymoon. When I was at the Caldwell Estate. He came in right as I was leaving.”
Joseph glared at me, silently. He didn’t seem to know why he was here, but he wasn’t happy about it. Everett pulled me against him and kissed my temple. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Now there’s a witness to their collusion.”
“He looks like a weasel,” I whispered back.
My husband suddenly had a coughing fit, and in my chest I felt how hard he was laughing. But he got it under control and stood taller, ready to finish this off. They’d agreed to let me handle the first bit, and I felt their pride. Now, I was happy to let them take the reins.
With a wave of a hand, our security closed the salon doors.
“What’s going on, Everett?” Joseph asked.
“We know.”
“Know what ?”
Cameron chuckled. “Everything. You know you actually wove your own downfall by pushing us to marry? If you hadn’t, you might have gotten further. But it was that decision that unraveled everything for you.”
We didn’t have the same scent canceller in here, and several scents were turning distinctly sour. Joseph still held on to his relaxed demeanor. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Winking at me, Cameron slid his hands into his pockets and stepped forward. He’d asked permission for this, so I knew it was coming. “What I’m talking about is us finding our scent matched Omega. One of the many reasons we married so quickly. And then we went on our honeymoon, and in the course of usual honeymoon activities, one of our lovely Extasis toys broke.
“Now, we design products that are only the best, so that was unusual. Would you like me to continue?”
Frank sneered. “What the fuck does your sex life have to do with any of us?”
“We never said it had anything to do with you.” Everett tilted his head. “But now that you’ve spoken up, we know your role in this as well if you’d like to get the confession over with.”
“I’m leaving,” Joseph said.
Micah sighed. “No, you’re not.”
The security guards at the door blocked Joseph’s path. He growled, but they didn’t move. I thought he might try to hit them. Given the demonstration I’d been given after they were hired, I kind of wanted to see him try.
“Let’s get this over with,” Everett said. “We know that you’ve been deliberately sabotaging Zenith Incorporated’s products, and those of its subsidiaries, in order to make higher profits and get shareholders off your back. We know you went to Frank to continue this plan and use our marriage to Ocean to further weaken our position when your distraction plan didn’t work. We know you wanted to take over Zenith and take it in an entirely different direction with a new set of investors. Along with one hell of a salary bump.”
“You covered your tracks well,” Cameron said. “I’ll give you that. But not well enough.”
“What are you going to do to me?” Joseph scoffed. “Nothing I did was illegal. Changing the materials of products isn’t a crime. Nor are conversations about potential business maneuvers.”
Micah came over to stand with me, slinging a casual arm around my shoulders. He seemed at ease, but inside I felt he was anything but. They were all taut as bowstrings, ready to snap if these men broke the wrong way. “You’re right. Those things aren’t crimes. But corporate espionage? That is a crime.”
“She never gave us shit. Talking about something isn’t a crime .” Sweat shone on Joseph’s forehead. Did he realize he’d just admitted it?
“Of course. But did you ever provide our internal numbers to people outside of Zenith in an attempt to sway them to your plan?” Everett asked. But he wasn’t really asking. We already knew the answer.
Micah stepped away from me to join Cam and Rett, the three of them staring down Joseph with a wall of raw Alpha power.
It was fucking hot.
“Here’s what’s about to happen. The Board of Directors is being informed of your crimes, with ample proof, as we speak. We are formally pressing charges against you for corporate espionage, among several other things. Your lawyers will tell you soon, I’m sure.” Cameron smiled. All of them were enjoying this.
Hell, I was enjoying it too.
Joseph blinked. And again. He sputtered. “You can’t just do this.”
Everett cleared his throat. “According to the Zenith bylaws, if a member of the board is engaged in any criminal activity, they can be removed without a vote of the board, and the majority shareholders can appoint a replacement, effective immediately. This is the official notice of your removal.”
One of our guards peeked out the door and nodded. Two uniformed police officers entered and approached Joseph. He lunged for the door, but they were faster. The whole party watched as he was walked out in cuffs, and behind us, Frank and Laura were edging toward the other doors.
Micah spun. “As for you. Your lawyer folded. Confidentiality doesn’t cover these crimes. On top of the espionage, you’re being charged with forgery, fraud, and assault. I’m sure there’s a few other things in there too.”
“Oh, for sure,” Cam said with a laugh. “Too many to memorize. You know how it is.”
Two more police officers came for my uncle, and he was too stunned to fight them or resist. On his face, there was utter defeat. It loosened something deep in my chest. Healed it. He made this bed, now he had to lie in it. It was possible he’d be buried in it.
They were halfway to the door with my uncle when Cameron called after them. “Oh, and there are people taking possession of the Caldwell Estate as we speak. It doesn’t belong to you.” Turning back to my aunt. “Any possessions will be delivered to you, Laura, as soon as you notify us of your new address.”
My aunt, stricken though she was, melted in relief. “You’re not charging me?”
“No,” I said.
Straightening, she nodded once. “At least you’ve done one good thing. Thank you for recognizing that I was trying to help you.”
The laugh came out of me so quickly I had to cover my mouth. She stared at me, and I kept laughing. It was so forceful tears came to my eyes. My voice was still shaking with it when I started to speak. “I’m not recognizing anything, Laura. The reason I’m choosing not to send you to prison for the rest of your life is that this is far, far worse.”
She frowned. “What?”
“Did you hear them?” I asked. “You can’t go back to the Caldwell Estate. And they might have skipped over this bit, but all the Caldwell accounts have been frozen until they can be transferred to my name. You have no home, and no money. But I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
“I—”
“The real trust my mother made for me. Your sister . Has a little gift of money for you, as a thank you for taking care of me. Because I’m not like you, I’ll make sure you get that. But nothing more.”
I walked toward her, and I’d never felt more powerful. She was small in comparison. Relief shook along my limbs. My voice was low and even. “But the real reason I’m not sending you to prison isn’t because I want to see you poor and homeless, Laura. It’s because I know that me sending you to prison would be the last nail in the coffin of your bitterness. You’d use it to convince yourself that you were right. I’m just your fat, lazy, piece of shit niece who never appreciated anything and never did anything right. So I’m not sending you there. I’m letting you go free.
“You’ll be living your life, whatever life you have left, without Frank. You’ll have to scrape for what you have and go without, exactly like I had to while I was living under your care. And the humiliation of having to do something as menial as work for a living, knowing that you have to be grateful to me not being in prison, is ten times worse than locking you up where you can rot with your own thoughts and hate me.”
For the first time, she truly looked afraid. Her eyes flicked past me to Frank. His head was bowed, and there was something like shame on his face, though I had no way of knowing whether it was real.
“Frank?” Her voice wavered. “What do I do?”
The officers began to read him his rights, walking him out through the ballroom.
“Frank, what do I do ?” Her shriek echoed loudly.
“Whatever you do,” Everett said, “do it somewhere else. You’re not welcome in our home. Get out, don’t come back, and pray you find somewhere to stay that doesn’t put locks between you and your food.”
She looked at me, eyes watery. Her hands wrung in front of her. “Ocean, please.”
“Hold on to this feeling for later,” I said. “So you know how helpless and furious I’ve felt since you took over my life. And understand, finally, that this is what it’s like to be truly disposable.”
Laura jerked back like I’d struck her. For one solitary moment, I saw desolation in her gaze. Then she stood perfectly straight and schooled her face before she strode out through the ballroom and didn’t look back.
Cameron waved to the guests. “We’ll be right out. Sorry for the interruption.” He looked at the security. “Find Marcella and tell her to make sure the catering staff are circulating with food.”
“Yes, sir.”
The doors closed behind him, and we all blew out a collective breath.
“Fucking hell, princess,” Micah said, breaking into a smile. “You were fucking incredible.”
Power lined my body. I felt like I could jump over the ocean all the way back to Grecia on my own. And still, there was a tinge of pain. “I feel incredible. But is it normal to be a little sad too?”
Raina cleared her throat. I’d nearly forgotten she was there. “I think it’s normal to grieve when these things happen. Even if the relationship was utter shit, it’s still a break that needs to heal.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Raina,” Everett said. “We’ve talked about it, and if you accept, we are appointing you as Chairman of the Board of Zenith Incorporated, effective immediately.”
She froze for a moment, shocked, then she smiled. It was the kind that Cameron had. Charming and cheeky. “Well, it’s about time you noticed my worth.”
All of us laughed, breaking the tension.
She shook their hands, and we all drifted back to the party. Everyone had questions, and the gossip was already circling. Isolde and Trinity were nearly feral, but I needed a moment.
“Are you all right, little nymph?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I really am.”
Our connections all rang with the relief and pride in each other and what we’d done.
“Then let’s party,” Cam said. “So I can rip this dress off you later.”
We laughed and did exactly that.