EX-HUSBAND'S BOSS FOR VALENTINE

A GAME

Melania

The next court hearing is smoother than I expect. There is no throwing of hands or long talks. Brady’s clone gives one sentence.

“I plead guilty.”

With this, the judge slams the gavel on the desk and the court is dismissed. Sylvie has the biggest grin on her face, and I am so happy that I overstep my boundaries, throwing my arms around her the moment we walk out of the courtroom.

When I realize what I’ve done, I attempt to pull away.

“So…” She hugs me back before I can finish speaking, then pats my back slowly. We pull away, and she looks me in the eye with tears shimmering in hers.

“I am not used to doing things like this, but I will do anything to help a woman in need. It was sad knowing what he did to you, and I was present at the gala with the dessert table accident. Back then, I thought you were a mistress or just some random person who messed up an important gala. I am really sorry you had to meet someone like him, and I hope you have a fun-filled life with Mr. Montclair.”

My eyes flutter as tears threaten to flood them, but I hold them back, grabbing her hand for a shake.

“But if he is an asshole, I will always be here to take him down, too.” I chuckle as she says this.

“Thank you, Sylvie.”

We exchange final pleasantries before going our separate ways.

**

Winning against Brady makes me so happy. I know he probably has another plot coming up, but I believe I can handle whatever he throws at me. For now, he will be quiet, knowing the kind of power and control I have over him. I spend my entire day outside with Callum at a bar, celebrating my victory. I do not even bother calling Royal because he never believed I could do it, and I do not understand where we stand.

It is just casual s*x, but sometimes I feel it means more. At the same time, I do not want to overstep my boundaries and watch him run away from me or something.

“It is getting a bit late, ma’am, and Mr. Montclair just called.” Hearing Callum’s voice breaks me out of my thoughts, and I down the last glass of wine, forcing the corners of my lips to curve into a smile.

“Let’s go,” I mutter, grabbing my purse. Then we make our way out of the bar and into the car.

The drive back home is silent, and I notice how Callum takes quick glances at me from the rearview mirror. I know he is bothered because I had a few too many glasses, but I am nowhere close to drunk. Over the past year, I got used to alcohol because it got me through a lot. That way, I did not have to be sober when Brady wanted to have his way with me, and I would not remember a lot after he was done. It was a coping mechanism for me.

My mind drifts again, but it snaps back when I realize Callum has taken a wrong turn. Alarmed, I sit up, tapping him slightly.

“Where the hell are we going?” I question, and he keeps his hands on the steering wheel.

“I have no clue. I am only following direct orders, ma’am.”

Direct orders? My heart flinches, and I reach for my purse to grab my phone, but when I open it, my phone is not there. Fear crosses my heart at once, and worse, he steps on the gas, speeding so fast that I am pressed backward into the seat. Is he working with Brady? No, he would be foolish to kidnap his boss’s wife at night.

Callum keeps speeding until he makes a right turn into a vast area of land that looks secluded. Then, he keeps driving until he reaches a gate, which opens up, allowing him to drive into a massive mansion. There, I see Royal waiting in front of the door. He is wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The moment the car comes to a halt, he walks toward me, opening the door.

“How are you, Mrs. Montclair?” he questions, and my brow crumples.

“Aside from the fact that you asked the man you hired to take care of me to give me a mini heart attack by acting like he was kidnapping me, I am fine.”

A slight chuckle escapes his lips as he takes my hand, pulling me out of the car.

“I am not joking, Royal!” I protest, but before I can say anything else, he sweeps me off my feet in a bridal style, carrying me into the house while Callum stands there watching.

The house is as large as the one we live in, and the designs are similar. But it is obvious this isn’t the main house because the other has a more homely design. He leads me toward an elevator.

“You know that I have legs, right?”

“Yes, but you deserve to be carried too,” he blurts out as the elevator makes its way up. He tries not to make eye contact with me, and it makes me wonder if he is shy or avoiding having an actual conversation with me.

Soon, the elevator stops with a ding, opening up to a terrace that gives a beautiful view of the night sky. The place is finely decorated, and there is a table for two set up in a corner. Soft music plays in the background, and the room smells like heaven.

“I wanted to congratulate you on the case,” he says as he puts me down.

I stand there, staring at the setup with my hands clasped to my face. It is all beautiful, but I feel a slight ache in my heart because I know that none of this is real. We are only playing a game, one that may eventually hurt me.