Page 113 of The Wife Situation

“I understand, but this is important. Remember how I told you I would review the contracts again?”

“Yes,” I say. “Did you find something useful?”

“No other loopholes.” He releases a breath.

“Okay. What’s the fucking point of this call?” I pull two mugs from the cabinet.

“I found another clause. In a roundabout way, without all the legal jargon, it states that if fraud has been committed to take control of the business, the party responsible will lose all stakes in the company and inheritances.”

“Of course,” I whisper. “Somehow, I knew it wouldn’t be this easy. I think it will be okay.”

“Oh, I’m not concerned. I’ve seen the two of you together, but I know Derrick is up to something. I’m watching him, so be prepared for anything. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Okay. Thanks for the warning,” I say, and he ends the call.

I shove my phone back into my pocket. After filling two mugs, I set one in front of Lexi and take the stool next to her.

“I need a shower.” She lifts her hair and smells it.

“Fuck, me too,” I say while my coffee cools down.

When I glance at her, she’s picture-perfect with her hand on the mug, blowing to cool off the steaming hot liquid. A small smile touches my lips as I pull the notebook and pen from my pocket and set it on the counter.

“Shall I pose?”

When I turn to the next blank page, she holds her fingers under her chin.

“I could draw you from memory, darling.” I smile, and she looks at me over the mug’s rim.

She reaches for her phone and turns it on as I start my sketch. Nonstop messages feed through, and I watch her expression change from happy to frustrated as I draw her.

“Everything okay?”

Her nostrils flare.

“Alexis,” I say, grabbing her attention.

“It’s begun.” She flips her phone around and shows me the headline of an article.

ALEXIS MATTHEWS AND EASTON CALLOWAY.

NEW HOT COUPLE OR FAKE RELATIONSHIP?

“Who sent you this?”

“Carlee,” she whispers. “She keeps up with it.”

“Let me guess. They wrote about your upbringing, where you went to college, and how we met?”

Her eyes scan over it. “And they interviewed my ex.”

“And what did he have to say?” My jaw clenches.

She already has trust issues because of him.Fuck him.

“He gave ashit sandwichcomment. He started by saying I was a loving and caring partner. And anyone would be lucky to have me.”

“That’s true.”

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