As I stared in the mirror, I smoothed a finger over my brow and wondered if it was time for more Botox. Maybe I might schedule a little plastic surgery to tighten up my jawline. In the background, my husband and his personal assistant, Carl, were discussing his schedule for the week. For the most part, I tuned them out.
Until I heard something that made my lip curl.
“Your daughter is so beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so stunning, and goodness, she looks just like you. It’s so fortunate that she found you,” Carl said. Little kiss-ass.
“I just wish I’d known about her sooner. I feel like I missed so much. After being unable to have children all these years, I had no idea I could’ve fathered a child. But I have her now, and I don’t plan to waste a day. You have my luncheon with her scheduled in, correct? I’m not missing that,” Justin insisted.
I rolled my eyes. Little did he know, I made sure I couldn’t have children. Who the hell wanted stretch marks and a torn vagina? Then, screaming children to deal with all the time? Ugh, no, thank you. Little soul-suckers, if you asked me. Besides, why would I want to share my husband’s money with some spoiled little brat? I hadn’t been with him for five years for nothing.
“Of course not. I have the time blocked off,” Carl oozed.
“Excellent. I’m heading out for my meeting with the people from Denizen to discuss the merger. Hold my calls. Knowing them, it’s going to be a late night,” Justin announced before I heard his approach.
“Jade, I’m leaving. Are you sure you don’t want to come with?” Justin asked me before he leaned over and brushed his lips on my forehead.
“No, darling, I’d be bored to tears, but thank you,” I cooed. “Be careful. I don’t like that news you got.”
Justin gave me that soft smile that he reserved for me. He slipped a hand into the deep neckline of my silk robe and cupped one of my tits he’d paid for. “I’ll be fine. She assured me that not all premonitions are set in stone. Wait up for me?” he murmured as his dark hair fell over his forehead.
“Of course,” I told him with a sultry curve of my red lips. At least Justin had stayed in shape, and the sex was amazing.
“Damn, I wish I hadn’t agreed to meet them for drinks tonight.”
“This deal is important to you. You know they like to discuss business over dinner and drinks when they’re here. Things are looking good with them, right?”
“It is. Hopefully, we’ll come to a mutually satisfying agreement soon. Then we’ll hand it over to the attorneys to finish up. I’ll be home as soon as I can, baby,” he promised, then gave me a kiss and a playful wink.
He left, and I resumed my study in the mirror.
“Jade, I got those emails sent that you asked me to take care of,” Carl simpered behind me.
Taking a deep breath, I pasted a smile on my face and slowly spun on my stool to face him. “Excellent. And is everything else in place?”
“Yes, Jade.”
I stood up and ran my fingers along the edge of the robe.
Carl’s eyes zeroed in on the movement. He stepped closer. “Are you sure we’re doing the right—”
“Carl, it’s the only way. We’ve discussed this. You don’t know the things he has forced me to endure. He’s not the same person everyone else sees, not when we’re alone. I can’t live like this anymore. With his money and the prenuptial agreement, he would leave me destitute and paint me out to be a terrible person.” I gave him my most pitiful stare. The tear and the quivering bottom lip should’ve gotten me an Oscar.
If I’d had a better agent, I could’ve had parts that made me famous. Instead, I had small parts in a few big movies and starred in several low-budget films. When I’d met Justin at an after party, I’d seen my golden ticket and walked away from Hollywood.
Carl quickly closed the distance and took my hands in his. “I’ll never hurt you. You know that, right? I love you with every fiber of my being.”
I ran my hand over his balding head and leaned down slightly to feather my lips over his cheek. “I know. I love you too, and I’m so very grateful for you. This is the perfect time. He believes everything that stupid psychic says, and she told him he was going to die. Everything is playing out in our favor. When it’s done, we will have the financial security to start over somewhere new. Don’t you want to be with me forever?”
“Oh, Jade, you know I do,” he assured me with a lovesick stare.
My lips lifted in a relieved smile as I gazed at him like he was my hero. Then I cradled his sagging jowls and kissed him with a passion I sure as shit didn’t feel.
He began to grope me over the deep green silk before his fumbling hands unfastened the tie on my robe and he pushed it over my shoulders. I made the appropriate moans and groans before we moved to the bed. His slobbering attempts at foreplay had me cringing inside.
As I faked the best orgasm of my life, I dug my nails convincingly into Carl’s thin back.
“I love you, I love you, I love you,” he chanted as he finished.
I’m counting on that. Then I only have two more steps and I’ll be living in the lap of luxury for the rest of my life.