Chapter Eighteen. #2
“Oliver. Always going to be Oliver. He struck when you were vulnerable and used your parents’ death to work his way in. Alicia, you did nothing wrong. You have to keep telling yourself that until you believe it.”
“One day,” I said, reaching out for Devon’s hand. He took it and squeezed. I glanced down at the phone and the screaming headline. ‘New Lover for Alicia Kensington?’ The image below was of Devon and me standing close together. From the angle, it appeared more intimate than it had been.
“Alicia, there’s an event in three weeks. Come with me?” Devon asked.
“Yeah, I’d enjoy that.” Mystique had already planned to attend. I pursed my lips. I had an appointment with Devon on Monday. The event might be the ideal time to make an announcement if everything went well on Monday.
“Are you ready to order?” the waiter inquired.
I looked up and smiled. “Yes.”
Nervous as a cat on hot tiles, I sucked in a deep breath and gazed at Zade’s headquarters.
The meeting was scheduled for the next ten minutes, and I was an emotional mess.
What if Devon hated my designs? What if he felt betrayed when I revealed my identity?
I was being battered by self-doubts, which was highly unusual when I wore the mask.
Agitated, I checked it was secure and then, gathering my tattered courage, entered Zade. Within minutes, I was being escorted into Devon’s office, who turned and smiled.
Confusion crossed his face as Devon stared intently, but he held out a hand. “A pleasure, Mystique.”
“Thanks for agreeing to meet, Devon,” I said, sitting.
Devon froze as a frown descended. “When you came in, I thought I recognised you. And those lips, I dreamed of kissing them a million times. Alicia, what the fuck is going on?”
“Shush. Hardly anyone knows, Devon,” I shushed as my stomach knotted. “Oh, God. Where’s the bathroom?”
Devon pointed to a door, and I leapt to my feet and rushed through it.
I heaved up my breakfast as tears ran down my face.
This was a massive mistake. A hand rubbed my shoulders and held my hair clear as I threw up again.
Finally, I sat back and accepted the glass of water Devon offered.
I took a mouthful, rinsed, then spat it out.
“This is so embarrassing,” I said, crying.
Devon didn’t answer as someone knocked. He opened the door, spoke to someone, and took something from them.
“Here, take these. I had my secretary fetch this,” he said and handed me a bag. Inside was a toothbrush and toothpaste.
“Thanks,” I muttered as embarrassment swamped me.
I vigorously brushed my teeth, aware that Devon remained present. His confusion and concern were predominant.
Finally, I rinsed and sat on the toilet. “Guess you want an explanation?”
“Please, but probably not in here,” Devon replied, and I shrugged. My cheeks were bright red. I couldn’t embarrass myself any worse than I already had.
I followed Devon into the office, and the secretary brought in a tray of tea. “Peppermint to settle you down a little,” she said kindly and patted my shoulder. I offered a weak smile as she left.
“Well, here we are.”
“Alicia, where exactly are we?”
“I’m Mystique, Devon. It’s a tight-knit secret. Only eleven people know. My friends and their husbands and my secretary.”
“How did this come about? You studied fashion at college, but the last I knew, you quit to support Oliver,” Devon asked.
“It happened a few years ago when Oliver secured funding to grow Eliganz. I wore my own design to a dinner, and the women loved it. They guessed it was mine and demanded to see my portfolio. Everything snowballed from there.”
“And Oliver had no idea?” Devon was incredulous.
“None. And he met Mystique several times. Oliver never once realised Mystique was me.”
Devon leaned back in the chair, stunned astonishment on his face. “Not once?”
“No. Which says a hell of a lot, because Oliver’s former secretary recognised me as Mystique during our interview, and now you. Apparently, Oliver paid the little Stepford Wife no attention whatsoever,” I said, bitterness leeching into my voice. The truth always hurt.
“Alicia, are you spying for Oliver?” Devon asked.
“No! I want to sign with Zade. Oliver forgets that Mystique got Eliganz the top spot. My designs catapulted the company into the spotlight. Devon, I can’t work with him anymore.
Oliver isn’t the man I thought he was. And deep down I realised that because I never considered disclosing I was Mystique. ”
“What do you want, Alicia?”
“A contract with Zade. My new season designs are damn good. The best I’ve done. They’ll put Zade back in the top spot.”
“And destroy Oliver at the same time. No wonder you were confident Eve wasn’t Mystique.”
“That bitch stole my marriage, even though it was a farce. Eve accused me of things I’d not done.
She’s lied, cheated, and portrayed herself as the victim.
Oliver has no idea or doesn’t care. He was getting his dick sucked, and that’s all that mattered.
I’m beginning to realise just how much he controlled my life and changed me.
Mystique is who Oliver tried to smother.
” “I understand, Alicia. Do you intend to come out?”
“Not yet. The plan is to announce I’ve signed with Zade exclusively at that event you mentioned. Then, when I’m ready, I’ll drop the mask. Devon, I want to witness Oliver’s reaction when he learns the reason he lost Eliganz was because of his ex-wife. The woman he treated like trash.”
“A woman scorned…” Devon muttered.
“Hell hath no fury.”
“Let’s talk business.”