CHAPTER NINE : SOMETHING HE COULDNT CONTROL
1516 Words
The evening began with silence.
Not the uncomfortable kind.
The familiar kind.
The kind that settles into a marriage so slowly you almost mistake it for peace.
I stood in front of the floor to ceiling mirror in my dressing room, fastening a pair of diamond earrings. They caught the light every time I moved, scattering tiny reflections across the walls.
Behind me stretched a wardrobe large enough to rival a designer boutique.
Rows of gowns.
Every color.
Every label.
Every memory.
I barely looked at any of them.
Instead, I reached for an emerald silk dress that skimmed my body without clinging too tightly. It didn’t scream for attention.
It didn’t have to.
Neither did I.
I slipped on black stilettos with red soles, clasped a platinum bracelet around my wrist, and smoothed one hand over the silk.
Then I looked at myself.
Really looked.
For the first time in a long time, I liked the woman staring back.
Not because someone else might.
Because I did.
A soft knock broke the silence.
I glanced toward the doorway.
Tavish leaned against the frame in a charcoal tuxedo that looked like it had been tailored stitch by stitch for him.
His hair was perfectly styled.
His watch probably cost more than most people’s cars.
He looked exactly like the man magazines loved to call self made.
He watched me for several seconds before speaking.
“You look incredible.”
I met his eyes in the mirror.
“Thank you.”
That was all.
No blush.
No teasing smile.
No walking over to fix his tie.
No kiss on the cheek.
I picked up my clutch.
“Ready?”
He hesitated.
Just long enough for me to notice.
Then he smiled.
“Ready.”
The restaurant occupied the top floors of the city’s most prestigious hotel.
Guests arrived through private elevators attended by uniformed staff.
Crystal chandeliers floated above the dining room like suspended constellations.
A string quartet played beside an indoor waterfall.
Beyond the glass walls, the skyline glittered beneath the night sky.
Everything shimmered.
Everything whispered wealth.
The maître d’ welcomed us before we even reached the hostess stand.
“Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Knight. Your table is ready.”
Of course it was.
Tavish had planned every detail.
Our table overlooked the entire city.
Fresh orchids decorated the center.
The wine waiting beside our seats had been decanted long before we arrived.
I looked around quietly.
He really had gone all out.
Once…
This kind of night would’ve made me feel loved.
Tonight it felt like an apology he hadn’t found the courage to say.
He pulled out my chair.
“Thank you.”
Again.
Polite.
Measured.
He noticed.
I could tell.
Dinner arrived in flawless courses.
Beluga caviar.
White truffle risotto.
Japanese A5 wagyu.
A Bordeaux older than both of us.
Everything tasted perfect.
I barely remembered eating any of it.
We talked about work.
Investments.
Hotels.
Charity events.
Everything except us.
Everything except the truth sitting between our plates.
Halfway through dessert, someone stopped beside our table.
“…Xamira?”
I looked up.
The face felt familiar.
Then he smiled.
“Dray?”
He laughed.
“I was hoping you’d remember.”
“Oh my God.”
I stood before I even realized I was moving.
We hugged.
Warmly.
Naturally.
Like two old friends finding a forgotten piece of home.
“You disappeared after graduation,” he said.
“So did you..I moved overseas.”
“I heard.”
“You heard?”
He laughed.
“Nobody forgot Xamira Vale.”
Heat spread across my face.
Not embarrassment.
Recognition.
He remembered me.
Not Tavish’s wife.
Not the CEO.
Me.
He stepped back and smiled.
“You look good.”
“So do you.”
Success had treated him well.
Confidence rested easily on his shoulders.
Not loud.
Not forced.
Just earned.
His eyes drifted toward Tavish.
“You must be Tavish.”
He offered his hand.
“I’m Dray.”
“Tavish.”
Their handshake lasted only a moment.
Long enough for politeness.
Too short for warmth.
“We survived university together,” Dray said with a grin.
“Study sessions. Dance competitions. Terrible karaoke.”
He looked back at me.
“You still dance?”
I smiled before I could stop myself.
“Sometimes.”
“You used to light up every room.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tavish shift in his chair.
A waiter appeared to refill our glasses.
“We’re organizing a reunion next month,” Dray continued.
“You should come.”
“I’d like that.”
“You still have my number?”
I laughed.
“I honestly don’t know.”
“Then let’s fix that.”
He reached into his jacket.
“I think that’s enough.”
Tavish’s voice sliced through the conversation.
The smile faded from Dray’s face.
“I’m sorry?”
“My wife and I are having dinner.”
Understanding crossed Dray’s expression.
“My mistake.”
He nodded politely.
“I was just happy to see an old friend.”
“So was I,” I said.
I meant it.
Tavish heard it.
He stood abruptly.
The chair scraped loudly across the marble floor.
Conversations nearby faded.
“I don’t appreciate you flirting with my wife.”
Dray frowned.
“I wasn’t flirting.”
“You were staring at her.”
“I was talking to her.”
“Tavish, Enough” I said quietly.
He didn’t even look at me.
Dray lifted both hands.
“I don’t want any trouble.”
Then, more softly he said..
“I don’t think this is really about me.”
Without warning, Tavish shoved him.
Dray stumbled backward into another table.
Crystal glasses rattled.
Several diners gasped.
“Tavish!”
Before anyone could intervene
The punch landed.
A sharp crack echoed through the room.
Dray turned with the impact.
Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The restaurant held its breath.
He could have hit back.
Anyone could see that.
Instead, he straightened his jacket.
Looked at Tavish.
Then looked at me.
There was no anger in his eyes.
Only concern.
I felt something tighten inside my chest.
“I don’t know what’s happening here.”
“And I don’t need to.”
“But I hope you’re okay, Xamira.”
And he walked away.
He never looked back.
Neither of us spoke on the drive home.
Rain tapped softly against the windshield.
The city blurred into ribbons of gold.
The silence felt heavier than the storm.
The moment the penthouse door closed, I turned toward him.
“What was that?”
He threw his keys onto the console.
“You tell me.”
“He was my friend.”
“He wants you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know the way he looked at you.”
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
“You’re jealous?”
“I’m your husband.”
“You remembered that tonight.”
His jaw tightened.
“You embarrassed me.”
I stared at him.
Slowly.
“Embarrassed you?”
“You hugged another man.”
“You assaulted another man.”
“He deserved it.”
“No.”
My voice echoed through the apartment.
“He deserved respect.”
“He was flirting.”
“He remembered me.”
Silence.
I stepped closer.
“He remembered who I was before I became your wife.”
His eyes dropped.
“You smiled at him.”
“I smiled because someone remembered the version of me I’ve been trying to find again.”
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
“You spent months making me feel invisible.”
My throat tightened.
“And the moment someone else actually saw me…”
I shook my head.
“…you couldn’t stand it.”
“I love you.”
The words sounded desperate.
Late.
“If you loved me…”
I swallowed hard.
“…you would’ve noticed I disappeared long before tonight.”
I walked past him.
He reached for my wrist.
I gently pulled away.
“Don’t.”
I carried a pillow and a blanket into the guest room.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m sleeping here.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
I looked at him one last time.
“I’m choosing to.”
I closed the door.
The room was quiet.
I removed my earrings.
Then my bracelet.
My dress slipped to the floor.
I washed away my makeup.
Brushed my teeth.
Pulled on a soft cotton sleep shirt.
When I finally climbed beneath the duvet, exhaustion settled over me.
I closed my eyes.
But instead of actually sleeping…
I heard Dray’s words.
“I hope you’re okay, Xamira.”
Upstairs, Tavish sat alone on the edge of their bed.
The room had never felt so large.
Her side remained untouched.
For the first time in six years…
He realized losing her was no longer impossible.
And for the first time in months
He was afraid.
- Writer
