“Who knows what the future will bring,” I murmured.
Devon sat up. “Have you heard a rumour?”
“Mystique hasn’t signed with Oliver. She’s cooling her heels.”
Devon looked intrigued. “That’s something I can chase up. But Alicia, I didn’t ask you here for that. I’m not going to use your contacts.”
That felt good; actually, it was amazing. Devon continued telling me about his family. I’d been worried I was having dinner with a married man, but Devon was still single.
“Never found the one,” he said, holding my eyes.
“She’s out there somewhere, Devon.”
“Hopefully. While I’m waiting, I can have fun.”
“I’m glad you’re happy, Devon. I often wondered what happened to you.”
“Oh, I bet Oliver hated that.”
“I never told him.”
“Alicia Rosewood and her secrets!” Devon teased.
“Devon, you have no idea!” I retorted, and he really didn’t.
Cain
Alicia had been on a date with another guy. I stared at the picture Stellan had sent me. Alicia was smiling with her hair styled to cover the bruises. I vaguely recognised the man sitting opposite her.
“His name?” I demanded.
“Devon Harrison,” Stellan replied.
“The man who just completed the hostile takeover of Zade? Interesting, I wonder how Alicia knows him. Stellan, I want a comprehensive background on Harrison,” I ordered. Well, Alicia was proving to be full of surprises.
I studied the pictures more closely. Alicia was comfortable with Harrison; she clearly was familiar with him. This was an unexpected twist; I’d no idea who he was to her. The one thing for certain was Harrison wasn’t a lover. Alicia has been faithful as hell to Kensington. And the mystery of Alicia Kensington deepened.
Alicia
“Oliver’s agreed to the divorce, but he wants a meeting first. He says he’s not seen you since that day in his office and feels he warrants at least one last chance to say goodbye.”
“Caitlin, Oliver deserves nothing. Despite the fact he’s fighting this, Oliver’s been spotted all around town with Eve on his arm, there’s no denying they’re lovers.”
“A refusal, Alicia, might cause Oliver to drag his feet,” Caitlin warned.
Exasperated, I sighed. This was the last thing I wanted. Oliver was either going to try to win me back or threaten me. “Caitlin, I’m not comfortable with this. Oliver was drugging me against my knowledge, and I fear what he’s capable of. Plus, there’s the hit and run.”
“How about I agree but insist that I be present and a security guard? That, because of Oliver’s alleged actions, he can’t be trusted?” Caitlin suggested.
“Fine, but if Oliver threatens me, I’m gone.”
“Not a problem. I’ll make the meeting just before we’re due in front of the judge. If Oliver’s using stalling tactics, we don’t lose our court slot,” Caitlin decided and hung up. Wearily, I rubbed the back of my neck, not believing Oliver had capitulated so easily. I was beginning to recognise the level of control over me that Oliver had wielded, but undoing that was a massive effort.
Even with my friends’ support, I found everything hard. The last few days, I’d been furniture shopping, and I kept having to check myself not to turn around and ask Oliver if he liked it. Every single action over the past thirteen years had been aimed at garnering his approval. Oliver had taken my twenties and made me into a shadow of my former self. Nothing I wanted or desired had mattered.
I thought I’d been easing Oliver’s burdens. Instead, I’d been caving to his twisted desires. Oliver had destroyed the girl I’d been and forced me into whatever I was now. But he’d notsucceeded completely. She’d still been there, hiding deep down, and Mystique had been born. I was trying to throw off Oliver’s shackles, and I wouldn’t go down without a fight. After the meeting, hewouldsign the divorce papers.
I was already seated when Oliver arrived at the small office we’d reserved. Caitlin sat calmly next to me with a hulking guy standing behind us. He glanced at the guard before taking his seat.
