Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 91: Party Ready

The dress was black and sleeveless with rhinestones across the velvet bodice. The empire waist opened to a flow of gold underskirt with a black lace top skirt. The shoes were open-toed heels with rhinestones across the toe.

For the occasion, Bea pulled my hair up but left wispy ringlets down that teased my neck and forehead. I wore her mother’s antique earrings and carried a simple envelope clutch bag.

Bea sprayed me with an exotic perfume and deemed me ready for public consumption. Between Bea’s skills with makeup and hairspray and the natural gifts my mother gave me, I sometimes surprised myself. Even to my eyes, I was a fairy princess.

My phone buzzed to let me know Alec had arrived to pick me up. I grabbed my wrap and headed to the front door. It was time to leave.

As I passed through the common living area, the sound of gameplay ground to a halt as all eyes turned to me.

"Teela, you’re beautiful," Davon said.

"Thank you, sweetie. I’m glad you like it."

"Me too," Drake said.

"Will you marry me?" CK said.

Bea, who was following me, gave him the stink eye and promised to make him pay later.

Stiff pretended not to see. That was okay. At least he wasn’t saying anything controversial.

I met Alec at the front door.

"Teela, you’re lovely." Alec kissed my cheek.

"Thank you. Would you like to come in?"

Alec checked his watch. "We’re running a little late. Can I have a rain check?"

"Of course."

He led me to a black car with a driver. I noticed my men were in the SUV and ready to follow after us, but there appeared to be a second SUV of people waiting as well.

"Are those your people?" I asked Alec with a nod of my head.

"Yes. My father insisted."

"What kind of event is this that we need so much security?"

"It is a business award ceremony. Sometimes a security detail is about more than protection. Sometimes, it is a show of power. "

I nodded.

I’d done my research on Alec this week. I knew a lot more than I did before. Some of it was good. Some of it was not so good. Most of the not-so-good had to do with his father.

Eugene was a second-generation mobster. He controlled a lot of underground activities that would make Lettie look like, well, if not a saint at least forgivable. Drugs, extortion, arms-trafficking, corruption, hijacking, illegal gaming dens, sex crimes, the list went on.

The cops knew about it. The cops were bought and paid for. Anyone who went up against Eugene Crest would be doing it without legal backup.

Alec had managed to disassociate his name from his dad’s. As best as I could determine, Alec kept his nose clean. He ran a mental health hospital called Crest Cares that specialized in addiction recovery and long-term patient hospitalization. The facility was held in high esteem by many in the industry, and the financials for the last six years revealed the operation was quite lucrative.

He had a degree in psychology, and while he did limited clinical work, Alec worked predominantly in an administrative capacity. He filled the hospital with highly trained medical professionals, many of whom were internationally renowned for their abilities. The event tonight was to honor him, not that Alec had told me. I’d found it out on my own.

When we stopped at the banquet hall’s entrance, I was surprised at the number of reporters standing outside, but even more surprising was the cordoned-off group of picketers across the street from the facility.

"Down with Crest."

"Crest drug dealers."

"Corruption kills."

"Don’t reward criminals."

Alec saw what had my attention. "Ignore them. They don’t know what they are talking about."

"Are they the reason you brought security?"

"Dad said there might be protesters here."

"Are they protesting against him or you?"

"Both, I guess. I am my father’s son after all."

"Are you going to tell me what’s going on, or do I have to find out for myself?" I asked, already knowing the answer, at least in broad strokes.

Alec turned to look me in the eye, "I can. Do you want to do this now, or can it wait until after the event is over? I’ve got a speech to deliver and should be focused on it, but if you want me to explain now, I will."

"It can wait. Sorry. I didn’t realize you were giving a speech. You never told me."

"Yes, and I’m a little nervous. Forgive me if I get short with you."

I nodded.

I didn’t like this. I felt like I’d stepped out of one family drama directly into another one. Not only that, this family, if my research was correct, was even more corrupt than the last one.

And I knew me. If people were being hurt, I’d want to step in and make it right, even if Alec got hurt in the process. At least with King, I had three years of history with him, which gave me a chance to salvage my relationship with him. With Alec, I didn’t have a solid three weeks yet. What were the odds he’d support me if I decided to take down his father?

And what about my friends? They went through so much with taking down the Heavenlys. Would they be up to another major battle so soon, and one that might get them killed at that?

A few days ago, I was ready to give my heart to Alec. Now, I was afraid to get involved with him. I know knowledge is power. I know arming myself with the truth was the only way to have a real relationship with Alec, but a part of me wished I’d waited just a little bit longer and allowed myself the luxury of living in ignorant bliss long enough to fully envelop myself in an adult relationship complete with mind-blowing sex and full immersion into the couple’s mentality.

Now, I was on edge. Now I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and Alec to desert me for his family just like King. It made me wonder if I’d ever fully trust a man in a romantic situation again.

The security details worked in tandem to hold back the reporters as Alec helped me out of the car. The reporters shot questions at Alec in rapid-fire as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and herded me into the building as quickly as possible.

It wasn’t until we were inside that I realized I was holding my breath.

Inside was a different world. The music was soothing. The atmosphere was enchanting. A server approached us with champagne and led us deeper into the room to our table. I was just sitting down when I saw King enter with Nan on his arm. I froze.

Alec said, "Are you alright?"

"Yes. I saw a nobody who shouldn’t be here."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing important. I’ll deal with it later."

Only I didn’t get a chance to deal with it later because King led Nan right to me.

Nan said, "Teela, how are you? So much has happened since the last time we met."

"Who is speaking to me? I only see a person without a name."

"Oh, don’t be that way. You and King have divorced. You can’t possibly have a problem with me seeing him now, especially since you are here with someone else as well."

Nan snuggled in closer to King as if claiming him. He didn’t stop her.

"The deal was you disappear for thirty days. You didn’t do it."

King said, "I’ll help her rebuild her identity."

"And I’ll destroy it again and again. I’ll set up an algorithm to automatically do it for me. I won’t even have to think about her, or you."

"Why? She’s no threat to you now."

"She was never a threat to me. She disrespected me and now she’s broken our deal. I can’t let her go or others will think they can go against me too."

Nan stomped her foot. "Stop it. You’re trying to scare me. It’s not my fault King threw you away. Don’t take your anger out on me."

I stepped away from Alec and into Nan’s personal space. "Oh, I’m not angry, Nan. You’ve never seen me angry. If I get angry your entire family will feel my wrath."

Nan stepped back. "King, do something."

King said, "What do you want, Teela?"

"Put this nobody back on ice for a new thirty days. If I so much as hear a whisper about her, I go back to the original terms."

"That’s not fair," Nan whined. "I was almost through with my time for our original agreement."

"And yet you didn’t keep your promise. You should have kept your promise, Nan. I know I do."

King said, "Is that all you want? Nan to disappear for thirty days, and then this will be done? You’ll reinstate all of her accounts and leave her alone?"

I nodded once. "You have one minute to make her disappear. Alec, please watch the time for me."

King said, "Nan, take the car and go home."

"King, no! She can’t tell me what to do," Nan said.

"No, but I can. Go home, now," King demanded.

When Nan stormed off, King turned to me. "Satisfied?"

"For now."