Chapter Thirteen. #2
“Fine, I’ll get a dress elsewhere. But you should want me to wear one of your designs; it would advertise your little studio,” Eve said with such smarm I wanted to smack her face.
“This little studio brings in millions of dollars in revenue. However, I’d rather have my gowns linked to class, not cheap whores. The door’s there, go through it,” I ordered.
“Oliver says you haven’t signed the new season’s contract,” Eve blurted. She waved a folder in front of me. My eyes narrowed on it.
“And? Why is he so worried about my little studio?” Eve realised her mistake at my words, and she tried to backtrack, but I continued. “If my designs are unimportant, there’s no rush to sign.”
“Oliver needs this signed,” Eve pushed. There was panic in her eyes. In her attempt to throw shade and belittle me, she’d overestimated her power. Now Eve understood she held none at all where I was concerned.
An evil smile crossed my lips. “As I told Oliver once before, I have other options than him. I’m considering them all as I don’t like Oliver’s morals.”
Eve frowned. “So much for loyalty!” she spat.
“Tell Alicia Kensington that. I count her a friend,” I hissed.
Eve blanched and then recoiled. Anger rose. This woman was trying to steal my life from me. Actually, no, Eve had stolen everything. There was no way I’d let Eve and Oliver bully Mystique.
“Don’t ever talk about loyalty and respect when you’re shamelessly breaking up a marriage,” I snarled. Deep inside, a voice begged Eve to deny the accusation. Instead, Eve’s shoulders straightened, and she held my gaze.
“If Oliver were happy, I wouldn’t be a threat. Sign the contract, Mystique, or Oliver will ruin you,” Eve threatened.
“Oliver was number two until I came along and brought my customers. Don’t ever threaten me again, you cheap slut,” I replied.
In a deliberate insult, I turned my back, dismissing Eve as unimportant. If Eve realised how much this had affected me, the bitch would be celebrating.
“Are you certain about Heidi?” Zinnia asked as Dax escorted us to the car. She was questioning my hiring Heidi after Oliver sacked her.
“Yes. Heidi kept Oliver’s secrets despite how she felt about them. She’ll keep mine.”
Dax helped Zinnia and me into the back. We were heading to a retirement party for a friend of Dax’s. It was a black-tie event, so Zinnia and I were dressed up. Both of us were wearing Mystique dresses—naturally. Of course, I would advertise my own line.
“Alicia, I don’t know. I don’t trust anyone around you right now. People aren’t what they seem,” Zinnia said.
There was no question she meant Eve and Oliver. I wondered how many of Oliver’s friends knew about the affairs and laughed about them. Gave him an ‘attaboy’ before being nice to my face. Quite a few, I reckoned.
“No,” I replied and gazed out of the window.
“Will you be okay?” Dax asked, concerned.
“Oliver might be there.” It had been a fortnight since we last spoke.
Until Eve had come along, Oliver had contacted me at least three or four times a day.
And now: radio silence. Zinnia had urged me to get a lawyer, but I was unsure.
It was so hard to comprehend that Oliver hadn’t reached out to me.
Was he really that angry? How did someone as intelligent as Oliver fall for Eve’s scams?
Sure, Eve was pretty, but even so, was Eve worth throwing our relationship away?
Much to my friends’ dismay, I wavered between wanting a divorce and saving my marriage.
At times, I believed Oliver and I could fix things, but then, like yesterday, I’d been so angry at him.
Having STI tests to ensure Oliver hadn’t given me anything had been humiliating.
Especially when asked for my sexual history.
Admitting there’d only been Oliver had been distressing.
The knowing look in the nurse’s eyes had almost broken me. Yeah, I’d been the foolish wife.
Zinnia reached over and grabbed my knee.
I smiled. My negative thoughts didn’t belong tonight—I was determined to have a good time. We arrived at the country club where the party was being held, and Dax escorted us in. I’d been unsure of attending, but I had been invited, and Dax had also spoken to his friend, Tom Xavier.
Tom had assured Dax I was welcome, but probably more because Oliver and I were filling the gossip magazines. He was constantly pictured with Eve. Oliver flaunted the affair, provoking questions about my whereabouts. The paparazzi rags were rife with rumours and lies.
My attendance tonight would ensure Tom got his money’s worth. People would be talking about this party for weeks. Zinnia and I searched for a table while Dax disappeared to get drinks. Rebel waved, and we headed over.
“Jude is getting drinks, so I saved us a table,” Rebel looked at me and frowned. “Honey, I’m so sorry, Oliver is here with that slut.”
“I’m not surprised. Guess I knew Oliver would bring Eve,” I replied, and strangely, I didn’t feel hurt.
Instead, a numbness seemed to be sweeping over me.
A woman who was my complete antithesis had supplanted my role.
Oliver had moulded me into his perfect wife, and clearly that wasn’t enough. Fine.
“Alicia, I can ask Jude to get Tom to make Oliver leave,” Dax muttered as he took a seat next to me.
Determined to avoid a scene, I shook my head. “No. Leave them alone, but please have my back if needed,” I murmured, reaching out and grabbing Dax’s hand.
He squeezed back. “Always, Alicia.”
“Thanks,” I muttered as I reached for my glass of wine.
“What will you do?” Zinnia inquired worried.
“Enjoy the night and stay with my friends,” I replied.
Zinnia smiled sadly while Rebel offered a thumbs-up and a look of approval.
“Not every day a guy gets to escort two beautiful women.” Dax smiled, and I leaned over and kissed his cheek. Dax was trying to ease the tension, and I loved him for it.