“Are we okay?” Oliver asked as he climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Of course.” I shouldn’t have commented, but the words escaped. “How is Eve, by the way? She looked very nice today,” I murmured.
“Alicia, it was coffee. God. What is going on? Do you want a divorce? Are you cheating? All you do is pick fights lately. Do you hate me or something?” Oliver snapped.
“No. Is it a crime to wish to understand what’s happening? Why was Eve hanging on your arm and gazing adoringly at you? The tag accompanying the picture read, ‘Are we looking at the next Mrs Kensington?’ That hurt, Oliver,” I replied, almost in tears. “And you honestly don’t care.”
Oliver smashed a fist against the steering wheel, making me jump. “Are you insinuating something?”
Usually, I would have submitted and answered no. This me, who was at war with myself, shrugged. “Oliver, you tell me. Is there anything I should know? Because you just proved my point. You don’t care I was hurt.”
Oliver audibly ground his teeth. “You’re changing Alicia, and I don’t like it. You’re becoming suspicious, mouthy, rude, and ungrateful. Tonight started so well. And you’re ruining it. I can’t help what those gossip sites say. I don’t control them. But it’s clear you believe them over me. Alicia, I can’t stand this!” Oliver sounded distraught, and I shut up.
Shame flooded me. Oliver was correct. I was being antagonistic and without reason. What was it about Eve that set me off? She was younger, beautiful, and clearly intelligent. There had not been one salacious picture of Oliver and Eve. It wasthe leading headlines on which I was basing my angst. And they were merely clickbait. God, I was being a bitch.
“Sorry. I’ll do better,” I murmured, bowing my head meekly. Oliver’s hand landed on my leg, and he squeezed.
“There’s my girl,” he said with so much pride in his voice that I swallowed back tears. I nodded, and Oliver offered a smile as the atmosphere in the car lightened.
I accepted the glass of sparkling water Oliver passed me as we sat at the round dining table. We were sharing with Aaron, Winona, and some others I was familiar with but didn’t know too well. Oliver was at his best, schmoozing and laughing heartily. The food was superb, and there was plenty of business talk amongst idle gossip. Several times, Winona had brought me into the conversation, but I let it lapse. Oliver’s approval lay heavy, as a few of the other men complimented me.
We’d just finished eating, and everyone was sipping drinks when Oliver’s phone rang. Only Winona, Aaron, and another couple remained at the table. Ryder and Oceane had joined us and were laughing about something that Jude had done.
“What?” Oliver said, his tone cutting into the conversation. Everybody fell silent and glanced across. “How bad is she?”
Who?
“Yes, I’m on my way.” Oliver cut the call, stood up and began walking away. Oceane and Winona let out horrified gasps after glancing at me.
“Kensington!” Ryder snapped, and Oliver paused and looked back.
“I have to leave.” As soon as Oliver spoke, I knew this concerned Eve. There was an expression on his face that I’d only ever seen aimed at me; now it appeared to belong to Eve.
“What’s happened?” Aaron demanded, alarmed.
“My assistant, Eve, has had a fall. I have to go.”
“Are you fucking kidding?” Ryder snarled.
Oliver appeared taken aback. “What? Eve needs me!”
“What about Alicia?” Ryder asked.
“Alicia’s fine,” Oliver stated, and I gasped.
“Fuck you, asshole. You’re walking out of here without a word of explanation toyour wife?” Ryder retorted with anger. “But you claim Eve’s an assistant. A mere fucking employee. And you’re putting her before the woman you married. Open your lying mouth and explain that shit.”
I paled as Oceane rose and stood behind me, and I wobbled, feeling dizzy. This entire scene was being played out in public, and people were paying avid attention.
“Unlike you, I value my employees,” Oliver ground out.
“Yeah, clearly if you wanted to give that bitch a fifty-thousand-dollar dress,” Oceane snapped.
“What? Why don’t you all just butt the fuck out of my marriage?” Oliver snarled as I dropped my head. Humiliation flooded me.
“You’re disgusting!” Winona hissed.
Without another word, Oliver spun on his heel and stalked away.
