Oops! My Ex Wife Is Now My Boss

Chapter Two: The Dinner Party

Clover's eyes slowly fluttered open; she found herself in an unfamiliar bed covered with white sheets. Her eyes darted around the room as she tried to make sense of her environment. She raised the sheets, and her eyes widened in shock when she realised that she was half naked. She sprang up from the bed immediately as the incident that took place some hours ago replayed in her head like a broken record.

She clamped a hand over her mouth; her heart pounding like a war drum. “Oh my goodness, what has happened to me? I was supposed to meet up with Louisa in this hotel room. How did I find myself half-naked on this bed?” I hope this is not a setup or something.” Her chest tightened, and a sharp pain spread through her like a knife was spreading through her ribs.

“I shouldn't have trusted her; I should have told Marcus about it before coming here. I need to get out of here fast before someone notices me.”

She slid out of the bed and quickly put on her clothes. She used her hand to smooth the loose strands of her hair before dashing out of the room. She got to the reception and saw the receptionist attending to someone; she was too ashamed to ask her anything, so she stepped out of the reception without being noticed. She got into her car and zoomed off.

She pulled up in front of her house and dashed into the living room. Her breath came out in short, uneven gasps as the weight of what had happened crushed her.

“Thankfully, Marcus is not yet back; I don't know how I would have faced him.” Her shoulders slumped in relief as she strolled into her room and slammed the door.

She threw herself on the bed with a heavy thud as a lot of wheels were turning in her head at the moment.

“What is Louisa planning? Should I tell Marcus about it?” She sighed, rubbing her hands down her face as she contemplated what to do.

“No, not today; I would not want to ruin this beautiful day with such an awful story. Besides, I want to reveal the news of our unborn baby to Marcus at the party; he will be so excited.” She rubbed her belly with her palms, a soft smile playing on her lips, breaking through her worries.

The sound of her ringtone reached her, dragging her mind back to reality. She jolted from the bed and was fidgeting like a chicken drenched in the rain as she reached for her phone inside her bag.

She thought it was Louisa calling, but her nervousness gradually faded when she saw Marcus' name appear on the screen. She breathed a sigh of relief, her heart relaxing to a regular pace again. She took in a deep breath before picking up the call.

“Hello, birthday girl,” Marcus’s voice echoed from the other end. “I’m so sorry that I have not called you all day. I have been so busy ensuring that your birthday party is a blast. I hope you saw the flowers and the birthday note I kept for you,” he said endearingly.

“Sure, I did. That’s so thoughtful of you. I love them so much,” she replied softly, her tone dripping with affection as she tried to hide her uneasiness.

Lucas slightly chuckled, “I’m glad you love it. I want you to get prepared for the dinner party. The driver will come to pick you up at 7 pm. Don't be late.”

“Alright, dear, I will get prepared right away.” She hung up the call and released a breath she didn't know she was holding. “Thank God Lucas did not notice my nervousness. I need to get prepared for the party.”

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The evening was buzzing with excitement and creativity at the ballroom of the Starlight Hotel, where Clover's birthday party was taking place. Cameras flashed as guests walked into the ballroom to grace the occasion. The DJ played the most upbeat tune as the guests settled into their seats.

The ambience was adorned with captivating decorations, mesmerising everyone with its beauty. A giant viola stood in the corner, and a glass cabinet showed off a beautiful giant cake and shiny wine glasses.

Marcus was wearing a grey, custom-made, one-piece tuxedo that he had bought specifically for the event. He was moving around the hall, greeting the guests as they arrived and making sure that everyone was comfortable while they awaited the arrival of the celebrant.

Clover soon arrived at the venue. She stepped into the ballroom, adorned in an emerald-colored dress embellished with diamonds, exuding elegance and sophistication. Her blonde hair was styled into deep curly waves, and her beautiful feet were adorned with gold open-strappy heels. Her dazzling entrance at the venue captivated the attention of everyone present, and they gave her a standing ovation as she strode towards the stage with poise and confidence.

Lucas's mouth went agape, completely mesmerised by Clover's astonishing beauty. His face curved into a grin as he stretched out his arms and hugged her affectionately. “You look so gorgeous, my love. Happy birthday once again,” he said, staring at her with a deep sense of admiration.

“Thanks, sweetheart,” Clover replied softly, a soft blush gracing her cheeks.

The party continued as more guests arrived at the venue, and they were being entertained by a variety of foods and drinks.

Louisa soon arrived at the party. She walked into the hall majestically, her sapphire blue dress hugging her body perfectly, making her look ten years younger than her age. She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder, her pointy red heels clicking against the tiles as she swayed with perfect rhythm towards Marcus and Clover, almost blinding everyone with their ridiculously gold accessories.

The air seemed to shift for Clover as she sighted Louisa, and the memories of what happened earlier in the day came flashing back like a moving train. She felt a lump in her throat. The atmosphere became thicker and more suffocating with each step Louisa took closer to them. Her heart hammered so loudly in her chest that she thought it might burst.

“I just hope Louisa will not ruin this party by telling Marcus about what had happened today,” she said inwardly. Her whole body trembled, but she struggled to keep a calm facade.

“Happy birthday, Clover. I wish you more happy and fruitful years ahead,“ Louisa said with a delightful smile, but all Clover could see was lies and deceit beneath her smile.

“Thanks, Louisa,” Clover replied, forcing a smile to mask her uneasiness.

“Have fun,” Louisa said to them. She walked past them and went about greeting other family members.

Marcus' eyes widened into saucers. “Wow, it's good to see that you and Mom are finally getting along. I have wished for this day for a long time,” he said in bewilderment.

“If only you knew what your mom had done to me earlier today, you would not be saying that,” Clover muttered inaudibly under her breath.

After Louisa had greeted the people she was familiar with, she walked up to the stage and took over the microphone. A hush of anticipation fell over the crowd as everyone's attention was shifted to her.

“Hello everyone, I thank you all for gracing the birthday party of my beautiful daughter-in-law, Clover Watson.” She gestured at Clover, her voice dripping with enthusiasm.

A loud applause erupted from the crowd as they cheered Clover; however, Clover did not find it funny. She knew that Louisa had something up her sleeve; she would not come out to appraise her publicly if she did not have an ulterior motive.

“I have a special gift for her, and I know she would love it.”

As soon as Louisa made that statement, Clover felt the lump in her throat grow bigger, and a cold chill ran down her spine. “A special gift? What is she up to this time?”

The light dimmed slightly, drawing everyone's attention to the stage. Louisa turned on the projector, and an image flashed on the screen. Everyone's mouth went agape as the images of Clover lying half-naked on the bed with a man came into view.

Clover felt like a bucket of water had been poured on her as the disturbing images flashed before her eyes. Her face went pale, as if drained of blood; she staggered back involuntarily as she could not believe her eyes.

Gasps, whispers, and murmurs erupted in the hall among the guests. The air felt thick with tension as everyone cast a condescending gaze at her.

Marcus's eyes widened with disbelief as he stared at the screen, his whole body shook with fury, his jaw tightened, and his hands balled into fists. “What is going on here?” he asked with a confused look on his face.

Instead of getting an answer, a dead silence fell upon everyone in the hall. His piercing gaze landed on Clover. “Clover, can you explain what this picture is all about?” He shrieked in her face, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Clover shuddered and collapsed on the floor; she opened her mouth to speak, but her lips were wobbling. “I…I…” she stuttered as words failed to come out meaningfully.