Chapter 3
1069 Words
Her Return
Her return back to the United States of America was a shocking one. No one expected Martha Winters to return as the head of one of the biggest wine companies across Europe.
Those who knew who she was were very surprised to see her in charge, and Martha drank it all in.
Frank came through when she called his number. He told her about Donald's schedules.
"You can send it to the email I'll text you. And also, is Melinda going to be with him?"
"She's always with him."
"Good. Then I'll be there."
"Were you not going to be there if she wasn't?"
"I would. But her presence there would only make the scene more dramatic."
Frank said nothing to that. It wasn't any of this business.
The house she has gotten for herself was a two-storey duplex, nothing fancy, but big enough. Martha Winters stayed there alone, letting Grace take care of Jerry back in Canada. He still had school, and she wasn't about to bring him into the limelight just yet.
After all, no one even knew she kept the pregnancy.
The first meeting that she attended was a wine tasting ceremony. It was the primary reason for the event but Martha Winters knew that the big shots loved attending wine tasting ceremonies just so they could meet with other prospective moguls and discuss business.
She saw them before they saw her. Donald and Melinda, standing hand in hand, and waiting for the show to properly start.
Martha stood beside a pillar, a cup of wine in one hand and watched them carefully. Her sister had changed and she was sure it was because of Donald's influence. She glowed, but it was almost artificial.
As for Donald, five years seemed to have added to his facial look and his physique. He appeared more muscular under the jacket, and he had grown a fitting beard.
Her mind involuntarily went back to the good times they shared together and she could not stop herself from thinking about the way he moved whenever he was in between her legs.
Martha turned abruptly and walked into someone. The lady didn't take it kindly with her.
"Watch where you're going!" she screamed, drawing everyone's eyes to that particular spot.
"I'm sorry," Martha mumbled. She kept her head low. She wanted to be the one surprising Donald and Melinda, not the other way round.
But Donald saw her anyway.
***
He left the woman he was holding and descended the stage.
Was that really her? Donald could only wonder.
"Honey?" Melinda called from behind, but Donald's mind was already preoccupied.
He followed the retreating figure until he caught up with her. Then he blocked her way.
"Martha?"
She looked up at him and Donald could not believe his eyes. He put one hand over his chest as if to protect his heart from bursting out.
Martha quickly collected herself and gave him a wan smile. "Hello, Donald."
"Martha? When did you get back?"
"Some days ago."
Donald scoffed. "What.. What are you doing here?"
"Same thing you came here for. To taste wine."
"How did you get an invite? Because this event is strictly by invitation."
"Oh, poor you. After five years, you think I'm still that poor, miserable girl you married and threw away?" He started to say something but she held up her hand. "I didn't come here to have a discussion with you, Donald. I have better important people to meet with and talk business."
Donald was shocked to hear that. "If you're looking for the most influential business person in this room, that would be me."
Martha gave him a sorry look and said, "Not anymore."
The rest of the ceremony was uneventful for Donald Blackwood. It felt as if he wanted to reach out and talk to Martha. He could not believe where the hell she had been for five years. He knew their marriage had ended on a very sorry note but she was the one responsible for his actions. So why the hell did it sound like she was spewing fire and brimstone?
"Is everything okay, honey?" Melinda asked him. "You seem disoriented."
"I'm fine. I just need to talk to someone."
A gathering had caught his eye and he walked over. Martha was having a discussion with Clay Coleman and Adam Drew. The very two people he had been hoping to have a business proposal with.
"You're the head of Maron in the States?" Clay asked.
"The first actually," she replied.
"I have been hoping to meet one of the heads for a long time now but I figured the English didn't want anything to do with us."
"Oh, they were only waiting for the right opportunity. We can have that meeting right now if you want."
Clay and Adam exchanged a glance. Donald joined them, and shook hands with both men.
"Gentlemen. What's the discussion?"
"The new head of Maron in the States was just giving me an opportunity to have that meeting I've always wanted to have with them," Clay said.
Donald looked at Martha. "Head of Maron?"
"I'll be heading the United States office, Donald Blackwood," Martha said, in a sultry manner. "If you didn't know that before."
"Surprise that they are your closest competitors, Donald," Clay pointed that out, as if Donald didn't already know.
"And you still want to have that meeting?"
Clay shrugged.
"Give us a minute," Donald said and ushered Martha to a private corner, one hand on her arm. "What was that about?"
"Don't you ever touch me that way, Donald," Martha warmed.
"Answer the damn question."
"What does it look like I'm doing? Getting prospective partners for my company."
"They are mine. Not yours."
"And who says they can't invest two ways?"
"I do. I came here to have a business proposal with them and you are trying to ruin it for me."
"Your schedule has nothing to do with me, Donald. And to be frank, I think they are already fed up of your company's features. Maron has a better offer for them. Now, if you don't mind, I need to leave."
Donald watched her go. If there was any thin he didn't want to believe, it was the probability that he might have pushed her into getting back at him for the divorce.
The question was, how far would she go?
- Writer
