Wanted: Wife for Hire (The Diamond Club Book 8)

by Elizabeth Lennox

  Deni felt as if he’d slapped her. Services? What the hell did he mean by that? She hadn’t offered him any “services” other than standing in front of a judge to give his adorable little girl a stable home life.

  “You…I’m sorry…” she blinked, fighting back the tears. “I don’t understand.”

  “You are no longer needed, Deni. Please leave my house immediately. I know that you kept your apartment. So, it isn’t as if you don’t have a place to live.” He paused for a moment, turning away from her. “Your bags are packed, but if there is anything that Martha missed, give her a call and let her know. She’ll deliver it to you. But I don’t want to see you in this house. Ever again!”

  Deni cringed, feeling like a leper. There were so many things that she wanted to say, too many questions crowding her throat. But the stabbing, piercing pain in her chest was too painful. So, she turned on her heel and walked out of the office.

  Out in the foyer, she looked around, still unsure of what she should do. Leave? Go back and try to talk to him?

  But the way he’d looked at her! Dear God, she’d never seen such contempt in a person’s eyes!

  So, Deni did the only thing she could think of. She grabbed her purse and her keys and hurried out of the horrible house. Away from Sebastian. Away from Chloe.

  She jumped in her car and drove. And drove! She wasn’t sure where she was going, so she just drove away, out of town. Away from Sebastian and the horrible things that he’d said to her. She couldn’t even process right now. It hurt too much.

  Thirty minutes later, she found herself in LowPoint, staring at the lake and the mountains and the setting sun, but feeling nothing. There was no warmth in the world now. No happiness. No color. Everything was just…blank.

  Deni parked her car near one of the parks in LowPoint and started walking. She should go to one of her friends’ houses, but at the moment, she couldn’t even think to figure out how to get there. They didn’t live far, because nothing was very far in LowPoint. The town was small but growing, quaint and beautiful while retaining a quirky quality that drew people here on the weekends like a Mecca for foodies and anything artsy.

  Deni saw none of it. For the first time since she’d discovered this wonderful town, she didn’t smell the delicious scents coming from “Desire”, Tony Itola’s flagship restaurant or Jane’s chocolate scones. Of course, Jane probably wasn’t baking right now. She’d be closing up and heading home to her handsome husband, a trauma surgeon who worked in the hospital located only five minutes from her office. From Sebastian’s headquarters.

  She didn’t notice Ms. Scarlett walking down the street with her adoring posse of men behind her. She didn’t see Sheriff Jansing across the street, his eyes narrowing as he watched her head towards the swing set on the playground. She didn’t see or feel anything, her whole body numb.

  For a long time, she just walked, her arms closing around herself.

  But finally, she looked up and realized that she’d walked over to Jessa’s house. It stood overlooking the water, a beautiful old, Victorian house with red siding and white trim. A massive house that her husband had refinished, piece by piece.

  Would Jessa be home tonight?

  She couldn’t do it. Didn’t want to see anyone right now. So instead of bothering her friends, she turned around and walked back to her car, which she’d parked behind the old church. Driving back out of town, she drove to her old apartment. For some reason, she was surprised that she still had the key on her keychain. But then, why wouldn’t it be there? Her marriage to Sebastian had been pre-determined to last only one year after he regained custody of Chloe. A little less than half that time had passed, so of course she’d retained the keys to her apartment.

  Unlocking the door, she stepped inside and looked around. Everything was covered in a fine coating of dust. It was dark too, the sun having set…well, a while ago, she supposed.

  Instead of turning on the lights, she walked into her bedroom and curled up on the bed fully clothed. Sleep, she thought. In the morning, she’d figure out what had happened. She’d go back to Sebastian and ask him to explain. She’d…

  Tears fell silently from her eyes, dampening the pillow. Deni didn’t even bother to wipe them away. He’d kicked her out of his house. Out of his life. Did she even have a job? Deni wasn’t sure, and didn’t even try to think about it just now. It hurt too much to think.

  She tried to sleep, but her eyes wouldn’t close. Instead, she stared at the wall, trying not to think. Because thinking only made her more confused. Numbness descended over her and she curled her arms around her stomach. Staring.

  Chapter 27

  Four days later, Deni stepped out of the shower. Her suitcases had been delivered the day after she’d been kicked out of Sebastian’s house, but not by anyone she recognized. The man carried her suitcases up to her apartment, and nodded politely before leaving. Deni had called in sick to work that day, making sure that she called in early enough that she wouldn’t have to speak with her supervisor. Her voice cracked as she left a voice mail for her boss, ensuring that her boss would believe her lie of being sick. Although, it wasn’t really a lie. She was sick, with heartache, pain, confusion, and a slew of other emotions.

  Today was the big day though. For four days, she’d hidden away in her apartment, not speaking to anyone, barely eating, just…thinking. She hadn’t even unpacked her suitcases.

  By Sunday night, she’d finally been able to think. And Sebastian’s words came back to her. He’d said that Meredith was suing him for permanent custody? Of Chloe? No, that couldn’t happen! No way would he allow her to get her clutches into that sweet child! Chloe had only recently recovered from her last confinement in Meredith’s grip!

  Deni had no idea how to find out when the hearing would be, but that was an issue for another day. Today, she was going into her office and hope that she still had a job.

  Her grey slacks and plain, white shirt were boring, but they matched her mood perfectly. Deni didn’t bother to do anything with her hair, just pulled it back with a tie and grabbed her purse. As her hand rested on the doorknob of her apartment door, she contemplated grabbing something for breakfast, but since she hadn’t been to the grocery store yet, there wasn’t much in the apartment. She’d subsisted on frozen meals over the weekend when the ache in her stomach became too much to ignore, but even then, she’d only been able to eat about half, tossing the rest away in revulsion.

  But the thought of trying to figure out what to eat this morning was just too much for her, so instead, she left her apartment, driving to the office. She parked her old car in her usual place, getting to work earlier than normal. She suspected that there would be a great deal of work to accomplish, since she’d missed Thursday and Friday of the previous week.

  Well, there would be a lot to get done IF she still had a job. Until her boss told her that she was fired, she was going to get her work done. Sitting down behind her desk, she sorted through the stacks of files that had accumulated in her absence, organized everything by priority and then…got to work.

  Deni was oblivious to the rest of the department staff coming in and getting to work, grabbing a cup of coffee, and talking about their weekend. Nothing mattered but focusing so she didn’t think about Sebastian, worry about Chloe or wonder what might happen to that poor child. Every time Chloe’s smile popped into her head, or Sebastian’s annoyance, she pushed herself harder. She didn’t take time to eat lunch that day, but her boss came in around midday, bringing a sandwich with her. “Here,” she said, putting the sandwich and diet soda down on Deni’s desk. “You look horrible, Deni. Are you sure that you’re okay to work? You can take more time off. You haven’t used a sick day in the past few years, so you’re definitely due some time off if you need it.”

  Deni tried for a smile and hoped it looked better than it felt. “I’m fine,” she lied, then pulled the next file forward.

  She ate about half the sandwich, but couldn’t stomach any mor
e of it. The thought of eating made her feel nauseous and she pushed the sandwich aside and focused on working.

  Hours later, she realized that her back hurt and she looked up, stretching sore muscles. She realized that everyone had gone home. Looking at the clock on her computer, she noticed that it was almost ten o’clock at night. Good grief, had she really worked for sixteen hours?

  Packing up, she went back to her apartment. But still, nothing in her freezer appealed to her. That night, as she tried to sleep, she wondered what Sebastian was doing. Was he okay? Was Chloe? Had Meredith won custody back? Deni hoped not. Meredith didn’t want Chloe at all. She only wanted the child support payments from Sebastian. Not once in all the time she’d lived with the two of them, had Meredith even asked to see her daughter. There’d been no frantic calls, no desperate pleas for just a few hours with Chloe. And Chloe, bless her heart, hadn’t asked about her mother either. Not once! That spoke volumes for how much that child missed her mother.

  For the next three weeks, Deni followed the same pattern. Waking up early, showering, dressing, skipping breakfast and heading into the office as soon as possible. Working until she couldn’t sit at her desk any longer, then going home to her tiny apartment and staring at the wall as she desperately tried to sleep.

  She knew that she was losing weight, but couldn’t stomach anything. She was getting more work done than three other employees, and her boss came in and asked what was wrong. “Nothing,” Deni had replied, unable to explain that she’d fallen in love with the wrong man. A man who was unwilling to explain what she’d done wrong, accusing her of breaking promises and shattering trust. Saying something to Meredith? A woman Deni hadn’t seen or heard from since the day they’d “met” in his office? What would she have said? And what about the “secrets” she’d told to his competition? What secrets did she know? Deni worked in the mortgage department. There weren’t any secrets here! At least, nothing all that important to his competition!

  Over those weeks, there were spurts of anger. But mostly, she simply existed. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t eat. And she didn’t feel a whole lot. Because every time she started to feel, it was anger, hurt, and that horrible, stabbing pain. It was better to feel numb. Better to just…exist.

  Chapter 28

  Sebastian watched Deni from his office window. He could barely see her from this height, but he knew it was her. He recognized the way she walked, the way she carried herself. She drove to work these days and he hated…everything! Why had she done it? Why had she spied for Meredith?

  He’d called her supervisor to find out if she’d actually shown up for work and was told that she’d missed only two days. He’d expected her to be living large, going on shopping sprees with all of her newfound wealth.

  Something occurred to him and he whipped around, walking over to his computer. Pressing several buttons, he remembered that he’d set up a monthly transfer of forty thousand dollars. He’d have to stop those payments. No way would Deni live off his money as well as her ill-gotten gains from spying on him and Chloe!

  But as soon as he pulled up the account, he noticed the amount balance: one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. No, not quite. There was actually more in the account. Interest! Damn her! She hadn’t spent any of it? She’d take money from Meredith and his competitors, but she wouldn’t spend his money?

  And then he stopped. Why wouldn’t she spend his money? She’d never driven that damn SUV he’d bought her, preferring the ridiculously old, weather beaten and barely useable car that she owned. Then another thought occurred to him. Where the hell had she stored the money from Meredith?

  He’d dismissed the possibility that she’d given corporate secrets to his competitors. He had absolutely no evidence to support his belief, but he was certain that she hadn’t done so. Which was why he hadn’t fired her the same day he’d kicked her out.

  Still, he stared at the amount in the bank account. What game was she playing? Why hadn’t she spent his money? Why was she working? There was more money in that account than she earned in a year! She should be living it up!

  Instead, she was walking around like a zombie!

  Damn her! What game was she playing? And he damn well knew that she was playing at something. He’d been around manipulative women for too long and knew their tricks. He hadn’t figured out exactly what game Deni was playing, but he would eventually. They always showed their hands eventually!

  “I don’t have time for this!” he snapped and walked away from his computer. Checking the time, he noted that he had a meeting in fifteen minutes.

  He shouldn’t go, he thought. His entire staff was terrified of him lately. He snapped at anyone who made even the slightest mistake, his fury over Deni’s betrayal too deep and raw to keep completely in check.

  And he hated that she’d gotten past his defenses. He’d known for too long what women would do to gain his money!

  But Deni didn’t want his money, he reminded himself, thinking of that damn bank account.

  Okay, so if she didn’t want his money, what did she want? She was already married to him. And no, he hadn’t started divorce proceedings. Although, why he hadn’t informed his lawyers to start that process was still a mystery to him.

  “Hell!” He had a meeting with his lawyers this afternoon to discuss strategy for overcoming Meredith. Oz had already put a watch on the judge for the case to ensure that Meredith didn’t try to use her numerous wiles on him, which is how she’d gained initial custody. So far, Oz’s guards hadn’t spotted Meredith anywhere near the judge or the judge’s family, another one of her tricks – get to the family in order to manipulate the judge.

  The woman had no morals, he thought with increasing frustration.

  “Sir?” his assistant asked, holding the reports for his first meeting.

  Sebastian sighed. “Send my apologies,” he told her with resignation. “Tell Desmund to take over for me,” he told her, referring to his executive vice president.

  The woman left. Sebastian caught the relieved expression as she pulled the door closed behind her, leaving him alone.

  Alone. Damn Deni for doing this to him! He hated this cold sensation that enveloped him. It never seemed to dim. Dinners with Chloe lately were the only times that he seemed to come out of his anger and fog. And even then, Chloe kept asking if Deni would ever come back, or if she could visit “Gramps”. What the hell was he supposed to tell her?

  So far, he’d only told her that Deni had gone on a business trip. Since he’d done the same many times over the years, she didn’t question it. But lately, she’d been asking when Deni would be coming back.

  Sebastian didn’t have an answer for that one. Soon, he was going to have to tell his little girl the truth.

  But what was that truth? Fifteen minutes ago, he would have said that the truth was that Deni, like Meredith, was a money grubbing liar who had snuck into his life and torn it apart.

  But the untouched bank account. The strong work ethic. The Land Rover still sitting at his house.

  So if she wasn’t after the money, what was she after?

  Oz had confirmed that a brunette woman had met with Meredith in a dress store several weeks ago. He didn’t have pictures and the store didn’t have security cameras, but who else would it be? According to the store manager, who had looked up the sales for that day, there had been a large sale. Eight dresses costing over four thousand dollars.

  Oz’s man had reported that the brunette had muttered something about “not sleeping in the same bed” and “they had the same mission”. The store manager hadn’t understood at the time.

  Sebastian had understood. And the words confirmed his suspicions. Although, that bank account balance brought those suspicions back into question.

  Rubbing his forehead, he tried to focus on work. But thoughts of Deni kept intruding. At night, he’d walk around his house, looking at the various things that had changed since Deni’s arrival. There were soft throw blankets on the couche
s in the small living room. The space looked much more inviting that way. He and Chloe preferred eating in the kitchen now, listening to Martha bustle around as they chatted about their days.

  There were other things too. Like when he wandered about after kissing Chloe goodnight. Too often, he found himself in that room on the opposite end of the house from his own. Deni’s room. It still smelled like Deni, her soft perfume floating in the air. When he’d walked through the room one night, he’d discovered that it wasn’t her perfume, but actually her shampoo.

  That’s when he’d discovered the silk negligees he’d chosen for her. Sebastian had handpicked all of those gowns, picturing her in them. Picturing him ripping them off of her.

  She’d left them behind.

  Damn her! What did it all mean?!

  Chapter 29

  The date of the custody hearing approached and Sebastian still didn’t have any answers about Deni or how to keep Meredith away from Chloe. For a man who prided himself on controlling the details, this situation was getting to him. He hated not being in control. He hated being vulnerable.

  And he hated that he was still thinking about Deni, wishing she were by his side for this damn hearing! It was all her fault that they were here, and yet, he still craved the sight of her. He wanted a smile from her. A smile of reassurance. Something that told him that everything would be okay and Chloe would stay with him forever!

  Instead, he walked into the courtroom next to his lawyer, furious with the circumstances that had brought him here. And he had no one to blame but himself!

  Meredith swished into the courtroom, beaming, even signing autographs for a few people who dared to approach her. Then she moved over to the defendant’s table, taking the seat next to her lawyer and perching on the edge, looking regal and exotic. Sebastian watched as she looked at him, his skin crawling as her smug smile curled those perfectly made up lips. She’d had surgery, he realized, her lips looking fuller somehow.