Page 90 of Falling for the Wife

Biting her lip, she hesitated before she shrugged and mumbled something about forgetting about a call. It was six-fifteen in the morning. Who the bloody hell was calling her at this time? Irked at her sudden abruptness, the moment I saw her grasp the phone, I instantaneously snatched it from her. Dexter Berg, it said.

Gisele’s eyes bugged out before yanking it out of my hold. She then grabbed her robe and pressed the accept button as she hastily slid into the damning robe before stepping out on the balcony.

I might be the only man she had promised to have sex with, but it was rather obvious she was entertaining more than one. It was too much of a coincidence that she had persisted in not signing the contract in regard to her votes. Again, I had succumbed to my urges before thinking it through. Now I was paying for it.

Boiling with unbridled rage, I swiftly gathered my clothes that lay abandoned on the floor before carelessly changing into them. Grasping my keys in hand, I then sprinted out of her bedroom, down the stairs, and then out of the front door. Just before I closed it, I could faintly hear Gisele coming after me, yelling my name.

The car was where I left it in the driveway. Hastily pressing the unlock button, I instantly yanked the car door open before sliding inside. It was right before I was about to step on the gas pedal when Gisele emerged and stood a couple of feet away from the car, earnestly trying to stop me from leaving.

“Don’t go,” she yelped, begging as her lips wobbled, imploring.

I locked my jaw, quite determined not to be swayed with her wiles. This wheel of madness wouldn’t stop until I put a halt to it. After all, given the opportunity, Gisele would take advantage of the situation. And since I was quite emotionally unstable where she was concerned, staying away would be the best course to take.

Throwing her one last death stare, I shifted gears and reversed the Aston on the circular driveway before maneuvering it towards the winding driveway and out of the gates. I felt nothing. She had stolen whatever warmth was left the moment she had abandoned me for the likes of Dexter Burg.

With profound resolve, I called my assistant, Audrey, informing her I wouldn’t be coming in today but would be working from the hotel. She repeatedly reminded me I had a five-thirty fundraising black-tie event, and since my formal clothes were back at the compound, I was required to have a new tailored set sent to me by four. Audrey was efficient and worked seamlessly without needing to bother asking for little details.

In no time, I arrived back at the hotel. I let out a long, drawn-out sigh the second the door was secured behind me. My heart thudded loudly against my ribcage. It ached; it burned; it stifled me like never before.

“I’m done.” Shaking my head, I shut my eyes as I willed myself to squash the debilitating emotions trying to overwhelm me. “Get to work. Don’t think. Just work.” Running a hand through my hair, I strode towards the bar and gulped down a chilled bottle of water. The cold liquid eased some of the tension off me, and in no time, I resumed to where I left off, back to where I was in my element.

Work consumed me, and apart from taking a quick break when room service delivered lunch, I didn’t let off until my suit was promptly delivered at four.

Shutting the computer systems off, I strode to the bathroom to shower. It was thirty to five when I emerged out of the hot spray. In my rotten state, the last thing I ought to be doing was attending parties and socializing. But at the same time, I was pressed to resume my old life and carry on as though Gisele’s rejection hadn’t nearly demoralized me.

Taking my time to shave, I was quite preoccupied until a sudden rap at the door halted me from continuing.

If this is Audrey ready to inform me the suit wasn’t the correct size,I’ll go truly ballistic.Not due to her mistake but simply because nothing was going right in my life whatsoever.

“One moment!” I hollered as I speedily tugged a towel before cautiously securing it around my hips. Striding out of the bedroom and out towards the living room, my eyes quickly glanced towards the time before wrenching the door open.

“Hi, do you have a moment?” Gisele timidly stood outside my door, seeming unsure as she warily eyed me. Gone was the woman who manically taunted me yesterday at the lawyer’s office. Dressed in jean shorts, a loose white shirt, and flats, she looked every bit of a college student and not the bitchy heiress from yesterday.

Shocked at the sight of her, it took me a full minute to finally find my voice. “I have to be somewhere soon.”

She shifted her feet, seemingly shy all of a sudden. “I won’t take long…I promise.”

Damn. What did she want? The question daunted me, but at the same time, I had an obligation to her. If this was an emergency, it was my job to ensure everything was going to be handled without delay.

“All right, come on in.” Stepping aside, I widened the door to let her pass.

She slowly halted her steps just before the sofas. She then spun to face where I cautiously stood a good ten feet away from her with my lips pressed together and hands planted on my hips. I wasn’t necessarily aiming for hostility, but somehow, my attitude came off this way. After this morning, maybe her visit was just too premature.

“I’m waiting, Gisele.”

She slid her purse off her shoulder before pulling out a folder and carefully placing it on the coffee table. “I came to apologize, but it seems I caught you at the wrong time.”

My eyes bore into the folder before scowling at the woman. “What the bloody hell’s in it? Are you personally handing me my resignation paperwork?”

She threw me a wounded look, as if she couldn’t believe what had just come out of my mouth. But given how erratic she had been, one couldn’t be too sure where Gisele was concerned.

“Don’t be too harsh. I know I’ve been acting crazy lately, but I wouldn’t go that far to hurt you.” Her voice trembled as she threw me a pleading look.

“Then what the bloody hell is it?”

Her fingers linked, her thumb dug into her forefinger, flinching apprehensively. “It’s our divorce,” she chokingly stated. “I’m handing it to you. Whether you want to file it or not, it’s solely up to you.”

My body stilled. My world stopped. The functionality of my brain froze as my scowl deepened to a full-scale horrified expression.“What are you playing at here, Gisele?”I was beyond livid. “Do you think you can toy with people like some bloody yo-yo while you get to control and dictate my life! Do I look like a fucking puppet to you! You are a vile, vindictive, soulless person, and I’m quite ashamed I fell for your tricks!”