Chapter Fourteen.
Alicia
“You’re seriously not trying to tell people that piece of shit is a Miss Mystique design. There’s no way she’d put crap like that out!” Rebel chortled loudly, about two hours later. Her voice carried, and conversations died as guests turned to check who was causing a scene.
What on earth was going on? Curiously, I craned my neck as Jude rose and moved across the room. I spotted Rebel a little distance away and winced, seeing her confront Eve.
“I beg your pardon?” Eve replied coldly.
Rebel laughed. “You fucking should be begging for forgiveness. What’s a cheap slut doing in a classy place like this? Does Tom know a venereal, street walking whore has crashed his retirement party?”
Beside me, Zinnia gasped and began laughing as I kept my face expressionless.
“Oh, I’m getting in on this.” Dax grinned and headed over.
I silently shook my head. This was about to become a shitshow.
“Shut your mouth, you damn cunt!” Oliver snapped, appearing.
“What did you fucking say to my wife?” Jude was at Rebel’s back in an instant.
Anger rolled off him, but Oliver was oblivious.
He was too puffed up with his own self-importance.
The fool smirked as he noticed guests watching, and I cringed.
A spiteful thought entered my head, shocking me.
How had I been proud to be on that preening peacock’s arm?
“Control Rebel, Knox. Bitch should know her place,” Oliver retorted. “Eve is here as my assistant and doesn’t deserve such disrespect.” “Is that so?” Dax appeared. “Yet this is a party to celebrate Tom’s retirement. Not a networking event. Why the fuck would anyone bring… Rebel, please repeat.”
“A venereal, street walking whore,” Rebel said cheerfully. Those surrounding them began whispering and laughing. “Even worse, she’s a lying bitch. The slut’s claiming that’s a Mystique original. Mystique would never create such garbage!”
“That’s nowhere near a Mystique design,” Zinnia called, and Oliver and Eve’s gaze turned to us.
Oliver’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, I might have guessed you’d be behind this! Is this what you’re reduced to? Recruiting your friends to bully Eve?”
“This has nothing to do with me,” I murmured as people stared. This scene was out of my worst nightmare. Oliver knew I hated being in the spotlight, and he was getting off on this. Triumph shone in his eyes as he attacked.
“Don’t lie, Alicia! I’m your husband. I know you inside out,” Oliver snapped. “Rein your friends in. This is a pathetic attempt to garner notice from those better than you.”
“Oh, Oliver, I don’t want attention, believe me,” I retorted. My alter ego was popping her head up. How dare Eve claim that terrible design was mine? The insult was unmitigated.
“How did you get in anyway? The invite was for me and a plus one. Eve is my guest, so the real gate crasher here is you!” he declared loudly. The murmurs grew louder. “Security should throw you out!”
“Can you believe Kensington’s throwing his wife out?” someone gasped.
“God, how embarrassing!” another replied
“Alicia is here as my guest,” a man stated emphatically as hands landed on my shoulders.
Fingers dug slightly in as I recognised the voice.
Dax and Jude showed surprise before they wiped their expressions.
“Thank you for keeping Alicia company while I ran late.” Cain Russell lifted his chin at Dax and Jude.
Both realised what was happening, which was quicker than Rebel and Zinnia. They gaped at Cain and me for a few moments, and then both grinned.
“Cain, it was our pleasure,” Rebel replied, and Cain nodded.
“You’re here with him?” Oliver demanded incredulously. He looked like he wanted to shout and rant, but Cain’s presence was keeping him in check.
“Yes, and you brought a cum guzzling skank. Nice to see you’re finally dipping into your own class. Alicia was always above you in every way that matters,” Cain said, and gasps came from the peanut gallery.
Oliver turned puce with anger, but those present knew he wouldn’t challenge Cain. Only a fool with career suicide would.
With bated breath, everyone, including myself, watched to see what Oliver would do.
Oliver froze, clearly trying to work out how to save his dignity.
“Are you going to let him insult me like that?” Eve demanded.
Oliver glanced over, and Eve saw his hesitation on his face. Amused despite myself, I kept quiet as Eve made a decision.
“This isn’t a Mystique. It’s from a new up-and-coming designer we’ve been courting. Mystique is growing stale in my opinion,” Eve said and changed the subject.
“Wow, talk about ignoring the cutting insult,” Rebel crowed, and people laughed.
“You had to cause a scene, didn’t you?” Oliver seethed, focusing on me.
“This has nothing to do with Alicia, but your lying piece of ass there. The skank was portraying some cheap knock-off as a unique Mystique. Even I can tell that what she’s wearing is of poor quality.
You both intended to insult and shame Alicia tonight, but that hasn’t played out as planned.
Instead, you’ve become a laughingstock and lost respect.
Not that the creature had any, anyway. Good lord, Kensington, what happened to you?
You were on target to be important, and you threw it away for loose pussy?
You’re a joke! Remove yourself from my sight and this party,” Cain stated. “Or do you need another lesson?”
I glanced up as Oliver paled and wondered what that was about. Cain’s threat clearly meant something to Oliver as he swallowed hard.
“I’m asking for respect for my employee, that’s all, Russell. Alicia instigated this scene to cause drama. Christ, I don’t know what’s got into her lately,” Oliver said.
“Lies. You can’t gaslight anyone into believing differently. Everyone saw me call that skank out, not Alicia. Alicia wasn’t even with me. How and why could Alicia have caused this?” Rebel snapped.
“Because she’s petty, insecure, and a drama queen. Alicia has deliberately gone out of her way to upset Eve,” Oliver replied.
“Funny. That sounds more like your slut’s actions than your wife’s? Are you comfortable with Alicia on another man’s arm? Don’t like it, Kensington? You’ve been flaunting your whore for months, and don’t deny you’re not fucking her, it’s common knowledge!” Cain retorted.
Somehow, I stood strong. This entire scene was humiliating.
Cain didn’t mean to shame me, but he’d stated what everyone else was thinking.
What type of asshole brings his mistress to a private event and flaunts her?
Stay silent, rise above it. Oliver’s mantra ran through my head.
It seemed he had a lot of them. The truth choked me.
I was the stupid wife, and everybody was witness to his unfaithfulness.
“Don’t fall for Alicia’s ploys. Russell, I’m warning you, she’s a master manipulator. Alicia’s throwing temper tantrums because she can’t get her own way. Christ, the bitch even attacked Eve in my office,” Oliver said. Further gasps rose, and shocked looks were directed at me.
I refused to comment and merely stared at Oliver, who seemed confused by my reaction.
“That appears out of character for Alicia. Yet, how could I possibly know her better than her own husband? Who is the cuckold here? Doesn’t feel like you even understand your wife’s personality.
What a poor excuse of a husband you are.
” Cain turned to Eve and smiled coldly. “I’d be careful.
If he treats Alicia so shabbily, someone of class and breeding, how do you think he’ll treat somebody of your pitiful background? ”
Eve flinched as people began muttering. Cain Russell had just made a stand.
“Excuse me, I promised Alicia a dance, and frankly, you’re not worth the energy. Neither of you. My time is valuable.” Cain said. With that, he offered a hand, and I took it.
Shoulders back and head held high, I allowed Cain to lead me to the dance floor.
“Are you always going to be my hero?” I murmured as Cain pulled me close.
“Who knows?” Cain said. “Smile, Alicia. Let those watching see you confident and shining. They’ll begin questioning Oliver’s words and those of that bitch.” “Cum guzzling skank? That was rather inventive, Cain,” I mused, smiling as I remembered the looks on Oliver’s and Eve’s faces.
“Alicia, I never claimed to be a nice person,” Cain replied.
“Yet, you always are to me,” I challenged.
Cain smiled, and I bit my lip. A genuine smile that lit his face and made Cain even more handsome. “Maybe.”
“That’s your answer?” I asked, and Cain swung me out in a twirl, and I gasped before laughing as he pulled me back in.
“Alicia, I can be far more creative than you could ever imagine,” Cain said.
“Somehow I don’t doubt it.”
Cain’s presence at the table deterred the gossips; nobody wanted to upset him.
He also kept Oliver at a distance, as Oliver scowled from across the room.
He and Eve had slunk into a corner as people pointed and gossiped.
It clearly galled Oliver that we were enjoying the evening, and he couldn’t ruin things for me.
I’d never seen hatred in his eyes until now.
As much as it gutted me, I knew the route I had to take.
As the clock approached one a.m. I grew tired.
Zinnia was the same, and Dax rose to his feet. “Let’s get you two home,” he said.
Cain immediately stood and offered me a hand. I rose smoothly and smiled awkwardly.
“I’ll walk you to the car,” Cain declared.
Dax glanced across, and I nodded. Dax was clearly uncomfortable with Cain doing so, but wouldn’t challenge him. I don’t think anyone ever did. Dax was super rich, but Cain was in a league of his own.
“Alicia, I’ll fetch your shawl, finish your wine.”
“Thank you, Cain,” I replied as he walked away with Dax.
“Cain Russell? Alicia, what the hell? That man makes Dax look like a pauper,” Zinnia murmured as she held onto my arm.
“Cain keeps popping up. I’m unsure why,” I whispered in return.
“Maybe he likes you?” Zinnia suggested.