Christian’s brows furrowed, as he tilted his head to the side slightly. “And I don’t recall my woman being a five-year-old that needs your approval on how to live her life.” His gaze dropped to me, his eyes meeting mine, as another smile made its way on his face before he nodded slowly and met her gaze again. “Yup, I see a woman alright-my woman.” If possible, his smile widened into that of a sickly sweet one, and if I did not know his smiles by seeing quite a lot of them, I too would have been fooled into believing the one he sports is a real one. It is not. His next words pretty much proved that. “Also, I did not realize I signed up for a marriage-by-committee. Last I checked, Isabella is the only one that matters to me, no one else.”
Sebastian’s light snicker came, which he hid under the guise of a slight so as not to be caught laughing at his mother’s expenditure. From the corner of my eyes, I could see the stock holders staring at us in surprise, no doubt sensing the laced sassiness in Christian’s tone towards her-a veiled ‘you better mind your business’ which knowing Christian, will not be so veiled if she keeps pushing his buttons.
Alexander and his wife, Victoria stared at the three of us, their gazes shifting from one person to the other, as if to see who will win this round because it is obvious, things are becoming tense and no one is willing to back down.
A vein on Josephine’s forehead popped, and something kicked in her expression, akin to annoyance-her narrowed eyes on Christian who did not back down from her gaze. From the years I have known her, I understood her look well enough. It is her ‘I do not like you’ look, it is clear she has taken an instant dislike towards him, no doubt there.
I will not lie, I loved it. If we were not in a serious situation I would give him a pat on the shoulder to thank him for doing a good job. It seems I have picked the right man for the job after all.
But then again, we have something else to focus on which does not involve strangling each other, so, I decided to cut in before any more words could be exchanged between the two. “With all due respect,” Not that I have any left for her. But, my words had her slanting her gaze in my direction, I offered her a feigned smile. “I appreciate the concern, but I’ve got this marriage thing under concern.”
Josephine pressed her lips together, “Do you though?” Despite her tone being soft, this woman never fails to get under one’s skin under the pretense of being nice and kind-which is exactly what she is doing in this very moment. Intertwining her fingers in front of her, she added, “Because it is no secret to anyone here just how much of a disaster your last, failed marriage is.”
This time around, it was my turn to nod, my eyes dilated in feigned surprise. “Ah, the failed marriage saga-a blockbuster hit you are all familiar with,” I grinned, “But, you see, I am more into creating sequels with better storylines and characters. Care to join me for a happy ending?” I arched a brow. When she did not respond, I added. “Also, yes, I had a failed marriage.” I did not deny that.
Because their judging eyes, all of them it has been following me around for years, even those that had no idea what I had to go through stared at me with that taint of a failed marriage and even blame me for it. That is exactly what is happening in that very moment and though I usually ignore it, I am sick and tired of doing so. I no longer want to do that.
So, I finally spoke up on it. “-but unlike some, I learn from my history instead of wallowing in it.” I flicked my hair over my shoulder, my smile widening as I held her gaze. “Growth look good on me, don’t you think?” Yet again, she did not reply, only continued to glare at me, so I turned around to face the others, specifically, Jacob. He had a look similar to that of Josephine, his brows knit and his lips tugged into a deep frown as he stared at me with a look of distaste. I grinned. “Mr. Jacob, you seem to be quite interested in my personal life. So, while I like to congratulate you on your extensive research unto my past, let us see if you can predict my future and that of the company’s. Spoiler alert, you won’t.”
While I held his gaze and he stared at me seemingly seconds away from blowing up, it was announced in the speaker for all to take our seats as the meeting was about to begin. Even those in our group seemed to be seconds away from dissipating.
Throwing a look at every single one of them, I offered them a grin. “Now, if you will excuse us.” I wrapped my arm around Christian, “My man and I, have a meeting to attend. Have a good day if you deserve it.”
Christian released a small chuckle, which he did not bother to hide. Wordlessly, he steered me away from the group as we made our way to the seats up front designated for us-the ones with the most shares. As he pulled a chair for me, he leaned down, his lips brushing my ears as he whispered. “That was so badass of you.”
I shrugged. “It is about damn time anyway.”
He nodded in agreement, pressing a kiss on my forehead as he whispered. “That’s my girl.” With that, he rounded the chair and settled down on the one beside me as everyone else in the background settled down as well. Christian’s hand went to rest on my thigh, in a possessive way but he did not make any further move apart from offering me a smile.
Butterflies filled my damn stomach as I held his gaze. The actual fuck? Why don’t I hate this as much as I am supposed to.
***
Isabella Montague.
Stock holders troop out of the meeting room exchanging conversations between themselves-their expressions ranging from being indifferent to those being slightly disappointed by the turn of events, their plans of long no doubt crumbling to ashes for it is no longer of any importance.
Christian and I stepped out as well, our expressions bare of any emotions as we maneuvered our way out. However, as soon as we stepped out of the meeting room, we were welcomed by faces holding similar expression as ours-only in a certain pair of orbs, I could see the anger blazing in it.
Our steps came to a halt in front of the trio that seemed as though they were waiting for us, and I know they were. My lips slowly slanted upwards into a smile that earned me a glare, my eyes leveled with theirs. “You seem a bit disappointed there,” I stated the obvious, though it is an understatement really. They are not just disappointed; they are irked as well. This is not what they wanted. “careful to mask your expression, people might translate it the wrong way if you keep this up.” I added in a low voice, as if so they passersby would not hear and judge them.
In actuality, I could not give two flying shits. If anything, I would willingly give people reasons to doubt them, and they know it. So the whispers and all was simply to get under their skin.
“You do not seem surprised by this,” Sebastian stated, from where he stood to Josephine’s left, his brows knit together. It is times like this that makes me wonder why he was ever considered the golden retriever brother, because he tends to act as though he is missing a few brain cells-always lagging behind on important things he is supposed to pick up. “almost like you knew it would happen.”
I pressed my lips together, then shrugged innocently. “Did I?” I shifted my attention to the man on Josephine’s left. “He does not seem that surprised either, why don’t you suspect him?” I asked, referring to Alexander who held up his usual blank expression, though his slightly narrowed eyes were on me.
A small, huff-like chuckle came from the woman standing across me. “Do not think for one second that you have won, Vivien.” Josephine warned, her voice low and laced with threat. “Even trash should know where it belongs.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.