I noticed the SUV didn’t pull away until after I made it inside the building. I felt myself finally start to calm down as I waited for the elevator. I checked my phone to see if I had any missed calls or texts from Avery, but there were no alerts. I figured she just hadn’t gotten around to checking her phone. She knew I was coming over, so I prayed she was still waiting up. She was also the one who suggested it would be smarter if I went to her apartment.
When I finally gained access, the ride on the elevator seemed to drag. I contemplated the entire night and realized I needed to figure out how I was going to clean up the situation. Apparently, Avery had fled the club because she didn’t want to be cornered by Alek.
It was a smart move on her part since I considered her my alibi. However, I never got the chance to ask her if he called looking for me. If so, he never tried to contact me directly. I assumed he would start his search for someone by trying to reach them directly.
I noticed a man walking out of Avery’s apartment as I stepped off the elevator. He was handsome and wearing a crisp tailored suit. I was pretty sure it was her on again/off again boyfriend. The one she claimed was overly possessive. In a way, I could relate to her situation. The only difference was that I was tied down to Alek. I couldn’t just walk away. There were certain steps I needed to take if I wanted to gain my freedom when dealing with a man with a reputation like my husband.
I ducked around the corner and watched him leave before walking to her door. It was unlocked. I would have been concerned if I didn’t know my friend. For some reason, she thought locking her door wasn’t important. I warned her many times before it was a bad habit she needed to break. I slowly walked through the door, hearing the faint sound of music. Relief flooded through me as she came into view, sitting on her couch drinking a glass of wine. I quietly shut the door and took a seat next to her. We sat in silence until I finally broke it. It was eating me alive.
“I see Mr. Overly Possessive is back in town. I happened to arrive just in time for his departure,” I remarked, trying to lighten the mood, but she wasn’t having it.
She took a sip of wine, turning to face me. Her expression was anything but friendly.
“Why did you do it, Mia?” Her question came out harsh.
I opened my mouth to respond, but quickly realized I didn’t have an immediate answer. I practiced a logical explanation in my head, but I knew it still wouldn’t be enough. She knew me too well. I decided honesty was the easiest way out.
“I don’t know, Avery.”
I leaned my head back in frustration. Maybe a partial lie would help lighten the mood, get her off my back. I already felt the pressure of my mistake catching up with me. It was punishment enough.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, A. We just—”
She laughed in disbelief. “No, that’s bullshit, Mia. There is no fucking way you spent hours with a man like Wesley Black and nothing happened. So don’t try and feed me that lie.”
She stood from the couch and walked into the kitchen. She held a fresh bottle of wine when she returned.
“I’m just trying to understand why, M. It just doesn’t make sense. You’ve always been so reserved and quiet all the years I’ve known you, practically worshipping your undeserving husband, then you go and pull a stunt like this,” she said as she placed her glass and the bottle on the table before adjusting her silk robe. “I guess I’m more in shock than anything because I never expected anything like this from you. I’m still trying to believe it.”
I gave her a troubled look. “Do you know what it’s like being neglected every single day, Avery? Everyone thinks I have this wonderful life, but it’s quite the opposite. My husband barely even looks at me half the time, let alone respects me.”
Her eyes softened. “I warned you, M. I told you Alek wasn’t a good person. You didn’t listen to me. I guess I was too late by the time I realized what was going on between you two. He’d already won you over.” She ran her hands through her short hair. “You know, he’s been manipulative and conniving his entire life.” She picked up her glass before finishing. “He only cares about himself. I highly doubt that’s ever going to change with him.”
She was right. There had been numerous signs, more than I could count. The main one being the day he proposed. We were at a romantic restaurant off Kirby when he popped the question in front of everyone. He got down on one knee and said, “I think it’s time you became my wife, Mia.”
The ring was stunning. The diamond far more then I would’ve asked for, but that was Alek. He wanted everyone to see how good a man he was. He wanted them to know his wealth. When I didn’t respond immediately, his facial expression had changed. He was still smiling, but the warning in his appearance was loud and clear.
When I said yes, he kissed me passionately, but the words he whispered into my ear made me tense. “Don’t you ever embarrass me, Mia. You’ll regret it.” I couldn’t help but wonder what he would have done had I said no.
I looked back over at Avery, noticing she was staring at me closely. Her expression was somewhere between torn and conflicted. I felt torn myself. I had put her in this situation, but I couldn’t help thinking about the what ifs. I had to protect myself. The night had to go away. It needed to be a distant memory when I woke up in the morning. My next words came out quicker then I intended.
“Are you going to tell him?”
At first, she seemed taken aback by the question, but quickly recovered. “You’re my best friend, Mia.”
She paused, trying to catch her next words. I helped her out. “And he’s your…”
She laughed.
I would have been concerned if I didn’t know some of the history of their distant relationship. It was a subject she avoided when possible. However, I knew there was a reason she hadn’t told me everything. I chose not to pry. If there was anything I could relate to, it was the frustration you felt when someone tried to gain more information then you were willing to give.
The image of my mother’s dead body started to surface in my mind. It was something I struggled not to think about, something that still haunted me. I looked over at my best friend and realized that was one of the things that bound us together. The fact we both kept secrets. We both had a past we preferred not to discuss. I often wondered if that were the right thing to do—to keep secrets. Eventually, I knew someone was going to find out.
Avery walked back into the kitchen. When she returned, she had an extra wine glass. I assumed she felt sorry for me and the wine was her peace offering. She handed it to me before taking her seat on the couch.
“We need to strategize, Mia.”
I looked at her in confusion as she opened the bottle. She was focused, but I could tell something was bothering her. “What do you mean? Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
Instead of responding, she held out the bottle. I grabbed it and prepared myself for the worst.
When both of our glasses were filled to the rim, she continued. “I’m pretty sure Alek saw me in the club.”
I took a sip of wine and stared at her. She wasn’t finished. I felt my pulse quicken.
“The second I realized he was walking toward me, I walked in the opposite direction. It was crowded, so I knew it wouldn’t take long to lose him in the crowd.”
I took another sip of wine. I knew I had already drunk far more than I needed to, but I didn’t know what else to do. I looked at my nearly empty glass and considered if I needed more. The temptation was killing me. I realized I had put my friend in a dangerous situation. If there was anything we both knew about my husband, it was how he felt about betrayal. I didn’t want to ask because I was scared of the answer, but I needed to know what I was up against. If she wanted to strategize, something had to be wrong—far worse than her simply avoiding him.
“What happened after you lost him? Did he try and call you?”
She considered my question. “Not immediately. About thirty minutes later, I received a text ask
ing where you were, but I didn’t respond. It might sound strange, but I had a feeling he was there for a reason, not for fun. When he caught sight of me before I turned away, he was talking to a man. It looked like someone from his security team. They appeared to be having a pretty heated conversation.”
I didn’t bother telling her that he had been there for Wesley because I was too concerned about her ignoring the text. Why hadn’t he tried to contact me directly? It didn’t make sense, but I quickly remembered how my husband worked. Everything he did was for a specific reason. That was what it was like being married to a ruthless man. He left me hanging on by a thread in order to test me. Why was he testing me now? What did he know? There were a few things that could ruin me, but the one that concerned me the most was what he actually knew about tonight. How many lies would I have to tell to cover my tracks? I was a good girl in the eyes of many people, but even good girls had secrets. Nobody was truly perfect.
“He didn’t try to contact you again?”
She rolled her eyes. “I think it’s safe to say he knew I was ignoring him and had no intention of responding.” After taking a deep breath, she continued. “However, I happened to run into Spencer at the club, and we ended up leaving together. He was at the bar ordering drinks when I spotted Alek.”
I thought about what she was saying. It was genius, but Avery didn’t understand she could only push Alek so far. I topped off my wine.
“I think tonight might just be under control, A. You could’ve handled things a little better with the text, but I know you get a thrill from pissing off Alek.”
She shrugged. “He might have everyone else scared, but I refuse to cower to him.”
She looked at me with regret in her eyes. She thought she had hurt my feelings.
“Avery, I get it. I know how you feel about him. It’s nothing new. I knew how he was before we got married. I chose to accept it,” I explained.
There were so many things I wanted to tell her—things I had to keep to myself for particular reasons. If she knew the truth, she would understand. She wouldn’t be so quick to judge me.
I jumped when I heard the chime of my phone. It was a text from Alek I knew would come eventually. The words displayed on the screen confused me. It was the last thing I thought he would say.
“Mia, is everything okay?” Avery asked, pulling my attention from the screen.
I looked at my best friend and repeated part of the message on the screen. “It’s your brother. He says he’s downstairs.”
Chapter Nine
Mia
THERE WERE DIFFERENT REASONS people chose to keep secrets. Sometimes it was to cover up something they didn’t want others to know; other times it was to keep things on track, avoid unnecessary obstacles. There were a few things I learned in my almost three years of marriage. One, I did love my husband. Two, he lied to me nearly every single day.
I was aware when I married Alek things were going to be a particular type of way. My wants and dreams became irrelevant. This man would be the reason I lived and breathed. The day I agreed to become his wife, I agreed to give him all of me. I knew this the second I said the words “I do.”
Avery looked at me with concern when I explained her brother was downstairs, waiting for me. I realized she was scared for me.
“I don’t think you should go, Mia.” She fidgeted with the belt of her robe and began to pace. “I think you need to give him some time to calm down. The whole idea of you going out was enough to piss him off.”
I studied her. “He didn’t seem upset, Avery. I don’t think he suspects anything.” I took a deep breath. “It’s not like he saw me, and I purposely avoided him.”
“Did you listen to my message, Mia?” She sighed in frustration, continuing to fidget with her robe. “He might not have been there at the time, but his men were. You don’t think one of them saw you?”
I considered what she was saying, but I was never one to cower. I had to face my husband. If he knew anything, I would find out sooner or later. Giving him time to calm down would only make matters worse. It would make me seem guilty of something.
I gathered my things, making a quick trip to the bathroom. I cleaned myself up as much as possible, retouching my makeup and tending to my womanly parts. I didn’t want to share a space with him because the smell of sex would give everything away. I made sure to spritz myself with perfume before I walked back into the living room.
Avery walked toward the front door to block it, but I pushed past her.
“I think this is a bad idea, M. Cleaning yourself up in the bathroom is not going to wipe away the evidence of what you’ve done. You look flustered. Not to mention you’ve been drinking. What if you slip up and say something to contradict yourself?” She gently gripped my arm. “You don’t know my brother like I do. You think you have him all figured out, but you have no idea.”
I removed her hand from my arm. I was getting tired of all the secrets, of not knowing. I had enough of my own to deal with and seriously wondered if I could continue the charade.
“You stand here to warn me, but you won’t explain why.” I paused to take a calming breath. “Why does he scare you so much? Why do you avoid him? What did he do to you?”
Her face displayed discomfort and defeat. I knew whatever she said next wouldn’t be the truth. I wasn’t’ sure why I even bothered asking.
“I’m not scared. I’m just aware of what my brother is capable of. There’s a big difference,” she finally replied.
I paused and studied my friend. It was clear she meant well. She wanted to protect me. I just didn’t know from what. It was clearly something she wasn’t ready to share.
“Well, if you’re aware of Alek’s capabilities, you should know staying here isn’t an option. I have to go.”
I could tell Avery wanted to say something else, but she didn’t. She just stood in the doorway as I walked toward the elevator.
Before I made it too far, I heard her whisper, “Sometimes it’s better if you don’t know everything. The truth about him just might blow you away. I don’t think you could handle it.”
I turned around, curiously. Her comment made me question if I were doing the right thing. “Excuse me? What did you say?”
She stood in the doorway. Her short bob was salon perfect, but her gray eyes were filled with pain, a certain sadness.
“I didn’t say anything. Just remember to call me when you make it home so I know you’re okay.”
I knew she was lying, but I wasn’t in the mood to argue. I felt exhaustion taking over, and I still had a possible battle to fight.
“I will.”
I entered the vacant elevator, trying to think positive thoughts as it descended. However, I knew the chances of a good outcome were slim. My positivity wouldn’t mean anything if Alek knew an ounce of the truth.
***
I braced myself, walking out the double doors of the apartment building. My husband was nowhere in sight—only his guards, both posted beside the back door of his white Maserati Levante. I could sense a change in the atmosphere when I approached them. They were talking, but when I stood in front of them, antagonizing silence took over. Their dark shades were unnecessary for the night, but I could feel their stares behind them. I was about to open the door myself, but the larger guard stopped me. I was trying to recall his name when he spoke.
“Please excuse my rudeness, Mrs. Johnson. Let me.”
I eyed him suspiciously. “Thank you. I’m sorry, but I don’t recall your name.”
He gave me a soft smile—if that were even possible. This man towered over any man I’d ever met, and his slightly frightening appearance screamed he wasn’t one to fuck with. I was beginning to believe my husband was an even bigger target then I initially thought. His former case had him on edge, but was this man necessary?
“It’s Logan. I must say, your pictures don’t do you justice, Mrs. Johnson.”
I ignored the slightly inappropriate comment. “Have w
e met before?”
He removed his dark shades. His bright green eyes were unexpectedly paired with his tanned skin. “No, I don’t think we have, Mrs. Johnson, but let’s not keep your husband waiting,” he said as he pulled the handle on the door. “I’ve been warned he’s a very impatient man.”
The other guard didn’t interfere as we exchanged words. His eyes remained focused on our surroundings. However, the pedestrian traffic had slowed down since my earlier arrival, which left a chilling silence in the morning air. I clutched my designer bag, climbing into the back seat.
It felt like I might suffocate when he shut the door. The air seemed to grow thicker as I settled in my seat. Alek was on the far side turned toward the window, listening to someone on the phone, clearly unhappy with the conversation. He didn’t greet me as he turned in my direction and studied me. I diverted my eyes, careful not to stare. Your eyes could tell a person a lot. It was one of the main things that could get you caught. I often prided myself on my poker face, but I strongly felt my exhaustion might affect me.
I wondered what he was thinking, what he knew. Had I just offered myself on a silver platter to him? Was Avery right? Were there things I still failed to know about Alek?
He remained on the phone as the guards situated themselves in the front seats. I quickly turned away when my eyes met Logan’s in the rear-view mirror. He started the vehicle and slowly pulled away from the curb, joining the mild traffic.
I busied myself on my phone while Alek continued his conversation. His deep voice gave me chills each time he cursed. I felt bad for the person on the other end. There were only so many ways a person could be cursed out. However, my husband was able to continue the verbal assault effortlessly.
I was on the verge of falling asleep when I felt his arm snake around my waist, pulling me next to him. His skilled fingers traveled underneath my dress, then quickly paused. The sudden realization that I no longer had panties on worried me. Maybe Avery had been right. The alcohol was affecting me. I had completely overlooked the fact that Wesley had kept them while I was in her bathroom. I thought about how I could play it off. It was possible for their absence to work in my favor. I waited for him to question me, but it never came. Instead, his eyes became dark as he pulled me onto his lap.
The Illicit Affairs Page 7