The constant feeling of being in trouble was something I battled daily. I guessed Devon was aware of it because he constantly praised me. The Uber dropped me off at the corner of the block because traffic was murder. As I walked towards the restaurant, I tilted my head back and enjoyed the sunshine.
“Alicia?” a startled voice said, and I inwardly winced. Standing at the entrance of a jeweller’s was Oliver and Eve. I dithered over whether to reply as Oliver raked me from head to toe.
“You look different, younger,” he stated. There was something in his eyes that made me uncomfortable.
“Good, that was my intention. I’m thirty-one, not sixty-five,” I replied. “Excuse me, I have an appointment.”
I quickly walked away as Eve hissed at Oliver. “What are you looking at?”
Swiftly, I headed into Samuel’s. To my relief, Cain was already there. “Am I late?” I asked as the waiter led me over.
“No. I was early. You look beautiful,” Cain said approvingly.
“Thank you,” I replied as I sat down. The waiter took our drink order and handed us the menus.
“So, that was a shock. I’ve been searching for months to discover the elusive Mystique, and imagine my surprise,” Cain began.
“Shhh, please, I don’t want my identity going public yet,” I whispered, and Cain nodded.
“I won’t mention names, but can I say I approve? Your friends must be aware?” Cain asked.
“Yes.”
“And they kept the secret. How strange. Their husbands also know?” Cain probed.
“Yes, I’d never ask them to keep something so serious from them. They are my friends too,” I replied.
Cain smiled in approval. There was a warmth in his eyes that surprised me.
“How did you guess it was me?”
“I know you, Alicia, your laugh, the way you tilt your head, your smile, your smell. The moment I saw you, I was confused because Mystique is your polar opposite. I knew it was you, but Icouldn’t understand how. Mystique is an alter ego, the you who Oliver attempted to destroy,” Cain surmised.
“Honestly, I’m unsure myself. Eve, the affair, the divorce, leaving Eliganz, everything seems to be moving so fast. Six months ago, I was in love with Oliver and under his thumb. I can see it now, but it’s taken me a while to recognise that. Now it’s a question of how I undo what he did?” I said thoughtfully.
“The good news is you recognised he was controlling,” Cain replied.
“I can intellectually acknowledge that, emotionally is a different story. But I’m rebelling in small steps.” I smiled.
Cain smiled too before his eyes narrowed and he began glowering. “What the fuck do you want?”
I turned and paled. Closing in on us was Oliver, dragging Eve behind him. Was he going to cause another scene? Here? What on earth was wrong with him? Oliver hated drama, and yet was causing it at every turn.
“I was talking to you,” Oliver snapped, and I reacted with surprise.
“What?”
“Outside. You walked away, and I hadn’t given you permission.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Cain demanded. “You’ve no control over Alicia.”
“Russell, this has nothing to do with you,” Oliver stated. He placed a hand on my shoulder and pulled me around. “What’s got into you? Dressing like that?”
“Like what? Her age?” Cain snapped. I shifted my chair closer to Cain as Oliver glared down at me. I dropped my gaze and curled into myself. “No! You don’t get to control or threaten Alicia anymore. She’s under my protection,” Cain stated boldly.
Eve gasped in response.
“What did you just say?” Oliver gritted out.
