I’d barely slept a wink, though, even though Charlotte had been waiting for me in bed after Mom bailed me out. My mind was filled with thoughts of Jessica and that guy, the one I had learned was the person who had threatened my mother outside Jessica’s home the night she left me.
Even now, with my worry about what was going on with Charlotte, my mind couldn’t seem to let go of the fact that Jessica was already dating someone else. Did she let him touch her? My fists clenched tight as I stared at the wall.
My mind was in turmoil these days and had been since I realized she knew about the affair. No one can ever know about that, or I’d be in a world of hurt- not that I expected her to say anything, but still. I’d gone to great lengths to keep it a secret and had been very careful not to blur the lines.
Her own indifference had made it easy to do. Since we weren’t intimate with each other and I had convinced her that I was fine with it, there had been no reason over these past few years for her not to trust me. Of course, I wasn’t fine with it, but Ihad high hopes of us getting married back then and didn’t think too much about it.
But what red-blooded man could go that long without sex? She couldn’t be that green. And besides, I was sure I could talk her into my bed sooner or later, which I knew was a pipe dream after our first year together.
I came to believe that she was genuinely waiting for marriage since she was normal in every other way, except for that aloofness when we were alone together. I’d seen her with her family and friends enough to know that she was a warm, loving person, someone I had truly come to admire, even though I was using my association with her for my own selfish reasons.
I had no reason to believe or suspect that there was anything else going on until last night. Where had that guy come from, and why were they so close? I’d seen more warmth in her eyes when she looked at him than in all the years we’d been together.
How could she? I slammed my hand down on my desk before calming myself down again. Was she just doing this to piss me off because she found out about Charlotte and me? And how long had she known anyway? I never did get a straight answer on that.
She hadn’t shown any signs that she knew anything had changed in the last few months since the affair started. In fact, she seemed friendlier, come to think of it, as if she’d warmed up to me more. I’d even toyed with the idea of proposing again, even though she’d blown me off the few times I’d asked in the past.
Now she was already flirting with other men and looking all cozy with him in front of my friends, who didn’t even know that we had already broken up. My mind wanted to linger on that affront, but it couldn’t help straying to this new development.
What the hell had just happened with Charlotte? Why was she rushed out of the office and her computer confiscated without warning? She hadn’t even been allowed to take anythingfrom her desk, and I was almost certain her supervisor wanted to check her bag.
I wanted to get up and ask, but was afraid of bringing attention to myself. Then I glanced out my window from the sixth floor, and my blood ran cold.
JESSICA
Istood out on the sidewalk long enough to see the figure appear behind the glass wall in the building across the street. I was sure he couldn’t make out my face, but it was enough for him to guess at my identity from this distance. Then again, this sackcloth dress I wore wasn’t the norm, so he might not be too sure, which kind of adds a whole new element of mystery, come to think of it.
I wanted him to wonder if it was me and what I was doing here. I wanted fear to eat away at his tiny little brain until I dropped the hammer. Once he realizes what kind of trouble his little lover was in, I want him to wonder if it was my doing and just how much I knew. I was only just getting started.
That caused my brain to switch gears from scorched earth revenge to the petty. Though my family doesn’t usually shop the conventional way, I’ve been in a store or two back in my teens when I had time for such things.
The S.A.s my family usually hired for each of us kids by the age of twelve were the ones who did the heavy lifting, bringing a selection of clothing to the house at the beginning of each season for us to choose from.
I think that all started because Dad didn’t let Mom go anywhere on her own when they first got married, and it became a habit after that. Plus, he hates shopping like poison, though he still sits on the chaise lounge in their sitting room when she’s making her choices.
It helps a ton for someone like me who hates shopping, but then again… I turned and headed back to the car with a wicked grin on my face. Who said I had to buy clothes? Since someone wanted to play sugar daddy, I’ll show him. My account is well padded since I barely spend what I have each month, with Dad adding to my trust each month, not to mention the money the great-uncles and grandpa sneaks to each of us at the end of each month as well.
I’m not sure what the purpose of setting up trusts that start paying out at eighteen for each of us kids was, because Dad still treats us like little kids who need his financial support. My sister still grumbles that they treat her like a kid because she’s one of those independent types who likes to stand on their own two feet.
I think Mom must’ve dropped her on her head once too many times as a baby because who in their right mind would complain about that? Then again, my hobbies cost way more than hers, so for me, every little bit helps.
For that reason, I headed to the electronics store, then sat in the parking lot before going in, pulling up the well-hidden website that even scions of the dark web would give their left nut to enter. I placed an order with my new card and grinned. I dropped a cool two million in less than five minutes because that stuff had been in my shopping cart for weeks just waiting for me to make up my mind.
My kid brother has been begging for a humanoid gaming robot for ages, but my last project took a year longer than expected, and there was no time until now. Not to mention, theparts change at least every three months, with better, more up-to-date components each time, so now was a good time to get started.
By the time I left the electronics store, I’d spent close to three million dollars of his hard-earned cash. If he said one word about it, I’d pack my shit and head back to my father’s house. Not that I’m with him for his money, of course, but if you can’t keep me in the style my father can, why would I leave his house for yours? Do I look stupid?
If he even squints at the amount, I’ll just come over to play with him when I need that itch scratched, then go home to my comfortable bed. I can’t play the lovesick fool with him again just to get my feelings hurt and my heart broken- no way. So for now, I’m going to push every button he has until I truly give in to him.
A little voice in my head said it was too late for that, but I shut that down real quick. It would be a cold day in Valhalla before I let that happen. I went back to my house out of habit and gave serious thought to heading back his way, but since I was there, there was no reason not to go in and say hi.
Since when was I so comfortable with the thought of going back to his place? Now that I think about it, his family has been a little strange. You’d think with a stranger in the house, they’d be a bit reserved; even though the two families know each other and have been close for years, this felt different.
I didn’t get the feeling from any of them that they saw me as just the daughter of a close friend, but rather as a member of their family; they seemed to act like I was one of their own. How had I missed that, and what the hell was that about anyway?
His Mom and dad give me this knowing smile; his sister-in-law gives me half-amused, half-pitying looks; and his brother acts like I’ve lived in their house for years. “Hey, look who’s here.” Mom called out as soon as she saw me.
“What the heck are you wearing? Oh wait, don’t tell me that was Julius’s doing, wasn’t it? My sister snorted. I’m not sure why she was so amused; her husband is worse. She can’t leave the house wearing anything above the knee, which must be hell for the former fashionista known for pushing the envelope when it came to scandal.