Page 35 of My Husband's Wife
I head towards the kitchen-cum-family room and go to grab my keys off the island, then my blood feels as though it’s running cold. Someone was here. That toy raven is on the worktop and its beady eyes are staring at me.
I don’t care if someone is trying to scare or intimidate me. I’m going to the Clifton House Hotel to stop Madison making the biggest mistake of her life. Her husband-to-be is nothing like the person he’s pretending to be. If I’m right, she’s in danger and only I can help her.
Twenty-Eight
The Clifton House Hotel is at least twice as big as the Sea Horse. It’s easier to get lost in here with all the staff rushing back and forth. I check out the main ceremony room and duck behind a pillar as I see Theo speaking to the celebrant. He’s wearing a grey suit with a waistcoat and a single pink carnation in his buttonhole. We chose pink carnations on our big day. The celebrant leaves so it’s just Theo and me in this vacuous room full of decorated chairs and flower arrangements. Blood pounds through my head and my heart booms like there’s a jackhammer in my chest.
As I peer around the pillar, I’m glad his back is turned to me. He sits on a chair in the front row. He places his head in his hands for a few seconds, then inhales loudly before standing again. He walks up to the lectern and takes several huge breaths. His hand reaches his chest and he does a few breathing exercises. Hugo was a confident man, not like the man in front of me. I can see that he’s struggling. Madison told me he had agoraphobia, but I chose to believe that he was avoiding going out because of his deception. Then again, I’ve shown my hand by breaking into his office. Maybe that’s why he’s anxious.
He slowly lets out a breath in a vocal way. I step back behind the pillar and knock the leg of a trestle table.
‘Hello?’ he says.
The table is set up for later, when the room becomes the venue for the evening and the cake is placed there.
He clears his throat and I hold my breath, knowing that I’m about to be busted. His footsteps fall heavily on the wooden floor as he makes his way towards me.
‘I know you came to my house. I’m sick of the phone calls and the stalking.’
His footsteps get closer and closer until he’s almost upon me. I exhale and my shaking hands and the tears running down my face make me unsteady as I scramble for somewhere to hide but he’s fast.
‘You couldn’t just leave it alone and get out of my life. I gave you every chance but you asked for this. I will not let you ruin my life. I’m going to kill you.’
Twenty-Nine
I see his brown leather shoes from under the white cloth that covers the table, and my heart booms. Any second now, he’s going to lift it and do who knows what to me. He said he’s going to kill me. I hold my breath and to my relief, his phone rings.
‘I’m on my way,’ he says.
Spent, I lean back against the wall and gasp with relief, my face red from holding my breath for so long.
I have to warn Madison before it’s too late.
Hurrying out of the room, I take the first corridor, then another. This place is like a maze. I end up in a library that leads to a room full of people who are sipping a welcome glass of champagne while eating arancini balls. They frown at me as I stand there looking flustered. Madison is nowhere to be seen, but why would she be here? She’ll be getting ready for the biggest day of her life, the one I’m about to ruin. I step backwards into a videographer, sending his tripod crashing to the floor. ‘I’m so sorry,’ I mutter, before running off.
I follow the signs to the spa and hope that the layout is similar to the Sea Horse, and I carefully open one of the beauty room doors – it’s empty. After opening a row of doors, I burst into the final room, where someone is midway through having a body wrap. Again, I apologise and dash.
‘Can I help you, are you lost?’ A woman wearing a pale blue suit smiles.
‘Are you the wedding planner?’
She nods.
‘I’m looking for Madison. I have her “something blue”,’ I say with a beaming smile, hoping she can’t see my trembling legs or hear the quiver in my voice.
‘She’s in the bridal suite. Shall I take it to her?’
‘Can I give it to her myself? She’s expecting me. We’re sisters,’ I add.
The wedding planner’s brows furrow. Madison and I look nothing like each other, there’s not even a smidgen of a resemblance.
‘Half-sisters, I mean.’
‘I think I’ll get the groom.’
‘No, I don’t want to put him out. I’ll get the garter from my car and you can give it to her. I’ll come and find you here.’ Before she can answer me, I run and I can only hope she stays right there so I can reach Madison before she does.
I quickly search for the hotel website on my phone and click on the details for the bridal suite. It’s the penthouse. Getting into the lift, I select floor four and take several deep breaths as I press my back into the corner of the ascending lift. You can do this, Eva.
