21. Damien
Damien
H itting the button on the steering wheel, I listened to Ella’s text message.
“Following your orders, I’m texting my whereabouts. I’m with Deidra. On our way to Beta Kappa Phi. Oh, and after you left, I had a visitor. Your wife.”
My knuckles blanched as I tightened the grip of the steering wheel. “Call Ella,” I said aloud.
“Good morning,” Ella said as she answered.
“I wish we were back in bed saying the same thing.”
“Yes, Deidra is here. We’re almost to the fraternity.”
Hearing her voice made me smile. “Is that your way of telling me to watch what I say.”
“I mean, you’re not on speaker, but your voice carries.”
“What did Amber want?”
Ella hummed. “She wanted to talk about our similar taste in men. Fortunately, Deidra arrived and cut our conversation short.”
“Don’t fight the bodyguards. She’s already come in handy.”
“I’m not fighting. I’ll call after my meeting.”
“Ella.”
“Yes,” she replied.
“The campaign is important to me but not as important as you. I love you.”
“I love you too. Bye.” The line disconnected.
What a fucking mess.
“Call Julia Sherman,” I said to the car.
“Calling Julia Sherman.”
“Damien.”
The noise in the background made me smile. “Julia, sorry to bother you. It sounds like you’re busy.”
“This is just my every day. Do you want to speak to Van?”
“It’s you I’d like to speak with. Dwain…”
Our conversation didn’t last long. I knew I’d missed a call from Millie Barns, but I believed, given the recent circumstances, Julia would be a better spokesperson for the coalition than I would be.
After fighting stop-and-go traffic off the ramp, I made my way to the garage at Sinclair Corporate. Johnathon’s car was already in his space. Ella’s assigned parking spot was empty. If I had my way, it would remain that way. The idea of sharing a ride made me grin. Even if her news about a visitor didn’t.
“Good morning, Mr. Sinclair,” Edgar said at the security stand by the elevators.
“Good morning, Edgar.”
“Sure is nice seeing Ms. Crystal around here again.”
I wanted to correct him and say Mrs. Sinclair. However, there was a good chance we’d hear today that our marriage license didn’t pass muster. And until I got rid of the first Mrs. Sinclair, I couldn’t have another.
“I agree,” I replied before stepping into the elevator.
Despite the early hour, the top floor was bustling. The receptionists waved as they spoke into their headsets, directing calls. Once inside the maze of hallways, I took the most direct route to my office. As I entered the front office, Johnathon greeted me with a cup of coffee in his hand.
“Here you are, Mr. Sinclair.”
Tilting my head, I bid him to follow me to my office.
Setting my satchel on a chair, I turned and took the warm mug of coffee. “Thank you. Have you heard from Timothy from legal?”
“Yes, sir. He called about a quarter to eight. He said you can call him back, or he’d be happy to come to your office.”
“What’s my schedule?”
As Johnathon rattled off the day’s itinerary, it seemed I had an available slot for Timothy. “Have him come right up. This matter is urgent.”
“Sir, I was wondering about the new nameplate outside Mrs.… Ms. Crystal’s office.”
“Fuck,” I growled under my breath.
“If you’d rather—” Johnathon tried.
“No. Have the Crystal nameplate reinstalled.” I took the mug of coffee to my desk, and before I sat, I met Johnathon’s gaze. “Tell them to keep Sinclair. This is just a momentary setback.”
“Hey,” my sister called from the doorway. “Did I catch you with a minute?”
She looked rested, which was more than I could say for myself. Between a marathon sex session and worrying about…everything, I didn’t get a great night’s sleep. “Come in.” I turned to Johnathon. “Let me know as soon as Timothy arrives.”
“Yes, sir. Coffee, Dr. Sinclair?”
“I’m good. Thank you.”
After Johnathon left, Dani closed the door. “I spoke to Mom. They’re moving Dad to a less critical room.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard in a minute.”
She came closer, taking a seat opposite my desk. “Ella called me last night. I missed her call, and she didn’t leave a message. Is everything okay in paradise?”
“Fuck, it’s not.”
“What did you do?”
I scoffed. “I fucked up but not intentionally. Do you remember the night I broke things off with Amber?”
“Other than it ruining my sleep, it was a great night.”
Dani’s eyes widened as I told her the new information. The license I crumpled was filed. Legally, Amber and I are married.
“For how long? And she never said a word?”
“Timothy went on a search for the license. I have no idea when she filed. As for telling me, not until yesterday when she informed me that her marriage to Darius is void because she’s already married.”
Dani shook her head. “That bitch is fucked up. Wait, what do you think this will mean for next week’s board meeting?”
“For one thing, I’ve been married for over a year.”
“The addendum.”
I nodded. “Darius showed up at Ella’s place last night. He’s pissed about not being married to Amber. He probably realizes she never intended to marry him in the first place. She said she did it to make me jealous.”
My sister laughed. “Oh, I can tell you’re green with envy.”
“I’m green, but it’s not with envy for anything in Darius’s life.”
“Gabriella is your someone else. I see the way you change when you’re with her. I don’t mean change. I mean…mellow. She evens you.”
“I think I’ve known ever since she got away that she was my someone. I’m sure as hell not letting this mess with Amber fuck it up.”
“Is Ella here?”
I shook my head. “She’s at Beta Kappa Phi. The executive director is concerned about the new campaign. It seems that Dwain contacted her.” I leaned back against my chair. “Do you ever wish life was simple?”
“You mean like not having a bodyguard drive me to work?”
“How did that go?”
“Well, I’m here.” She lifted her eyebrows. “Silas isn’t much in the conversation department, but damn, the way his muscles bulge under his shirt was entertaining.”
“If I said something to you about the way a woman looked, you’d tell me it was inappropriate.”
“It would be. Men are sexist.”
I rolled my eyes. “Women aren’t?”
She shook her head. “Nope. That’s just the way it works.”
“Mr. Sinclair,” Johnathon said as he opened the door. “Mr. Evans is here.”
“Good luck,” Dani said, standing.
I stood too. “Thanks, sis. I know Ella believes me. I hate putting her through this. If you get the chance to give her your memories of that night, I’d appreciate it.”
“Amber may have helped you.”
Pressing my lips together, I tilted my head.
“You’ve been married for over a year. The addendum states marriage. It doesn’t say a word about divorced.”
“Annulled,” Timothy said as he entered. “You have grounds.”
Dani lifted her hands. “I’ll leave this to you two.”
Dani closed the door as she left, leaving Timothy and I alone. Taking my mug of coffee, I led us to the conference table. “Am I really married?”
“Congratulations are overdue.” A fit tall man with graying hair, Timothy was the epitome of an attorney. His words were measured and weighed.
“Shit,” I mumbled as we both took our seats. “When?”
“The license was issued in April of last year.”
I nodded. “That would be about right.”
“The marriage was officiated June third of last year.”
“Fuck, it’s about our anniversary.” I had a thought. “Is there a time constraint on annulments? Do we have to work fast?”
“Marriages of any length can be annulled if they meet the criteria.”
“How about I didn’t fucking know about it?”
Timothy smiled. “Marriage by fraud and marriage by coercion are both plausible grounds. We can go ahead and file for the annulment, or you can take this further.”
“What do you mean?”
He pointed to a signature on the license. “I checked out this officiant.”
I leaned forward, reading the name. “Donald Vallencia. Should I know that name?”
“Mr. Vallencia obtained an online certificate of clergy. That is public record. It took a little longer to learn that Mr. Vallencia is Gloria Wilmott’s gardener who happens to be in the United States on an O-1 visa. That visa was set to expire last July.”
“O-1, what is that?”
“It’s a visa for individuals who possess extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics.”
“Gloria’s gardener? Am I missing something?”
“As an employee of Mrs. Wilmott, she was able to file his application for extension. Mr. Vallencia is also a doctoral student for music at Indiana University. He’s said to have a tremendous gift, playing multiple instruments. The member of the citizenship and immigration services who ultimately approved the extension clerked for Jordon Wilmott years ago.
“After your marriage license was filed, Mr. Vallencia received a one-time bonus of $100,000 from Gloria Wilmott.”
“Fuck,” I said, leaning back in the chair. “Don’t tell me—Gloria was one of the witnesses?”
Timothy shook his head. “Witnesses aren’t required in Indiana.”
“I’ve been married for almost a year. Gloria knew it and Amber knew it, and they sat on it. I could be out of my probationary period. Dad could have avoided the stress with me and the board.”
Timothy tapped the papers. “You’ve got a lawsuit here. Fraud and coercion.”