I shrugged and teased playfully, “He’s still that same eccentric man. I suppose I just couldn’t help myself from falling for my ex-husband’s charm again and again.”
Emery shook her head in exasperation to show her disdain at my very public declaration.
Her disapproval didn’t concern me since I was no longer having depression. I now had a newfound understanding of exerting my sovereignty over things. And in this case, a person who belonged to me.
Marshall was obviously vexed at Anthony’s sudden exit. His face grew stern as he hurled a cup to the floor and sneered, “It’s great for youngsters to have dignity these days, but he’s going to be taught a lesson sooner or later for being this disrespectful.”
My lips curled into a thin smile as I glanced in his direction. “Well, that will have to depend on the man’s capability if he wants to teach Anthony a lesson.”
At least for now, you don’t look like you are the man.
Of course, I kept the last remark to myself. However, my downcast gaze was enough to express my derision.
Marshall snickered and said nothing further. A shrewd businessman like him would not risk offending his two benefactors on the same day.
Thora took the liberty to speak on behalf of Anthony. “Mr. Tiedemann, Anthony is not in the best mood today, but he means well. You’re the senior, please forgive him for his manners.”
“Hah…” I snorted and got up after taking my bag. “It seems that Ms. Ziegler still does not know Anthony well enough to make this statement. With his domineering demeanor, he would never bow down to others. You’re too naive to think that he would apologize.”
Emery took her coat to leave with me. She paused for a moment when she reached the door and headed back to the table with a wide grin. “Ms. Ziegler, don’t forget to foot the bill before you leave. Even though I’m quite close to Mr. Featherstone, I still think it’s better for us to draw the line, no?”
Thora came from a noble family, and she had always enjoyed privileges in all of K City, except in the Ziegler family. Even though Emery was from the Moores, she was superseding Thora by using her identity as The Jade’s owner. Fuming with the obvious attempt to embarrass her, Thora and said through gritted teeth, “Don’t worry, Ms. Moore. I will ask the manager to put it all on my tab.”
“Thank you so much.” Satisfied with the response, Emery beamed with delight as we headed out of the room together.
I nudged at her and muttered, “Thanks for that.”
“For what?” She feigned ignorance.
“Drop the act. There are so many people in the room, yet you called Thora out to foot the bill. I know you’re retaliating against her for mocking me just now.” Emery was one who would always stand up for her friends.
Without batting an eyelid, she added, “I’ll ask the manager to put the bottle of DRC on her tab too.”
I paused in my tracks and eyeballed my friend. “You really are something else. How did you manage to learn all the trickery of those evil businessmen in such a short time?”
“Well, I’ve never been a conscientious businesswoman anyway,” she smirked. Her lips formed a devilish grin as she led me to the elevator.
I had almost forgotten that Emery had concealed her true nature and transformed into the perfect trophy wife after marrying Hunter. However, the woman before me was indubitably the proud daughter of the Moore family, a conglomerate and one of the richest merchants in Chanaea.
We exited the elevator and reached the basement car park.
She noticed Anthony’s car before I did and nudged me toward his car as she stood ground.
I staggered for a few steps before I steadied myself. How did she know that I’m not out here to chase after Anthony?
“Go on, I can only cover you till here.” Emery went straight to the point, waving her hands as she immediately turned on her heels to head to her car.
Her silhouette suddenly reminded me of Macy. Since she knew me better than I knew myself, she could read my thought with one glance.
Beep! A honking sound rang in my ears, yanking me back to reality.
I turned around. Anthony was watching me with a cold, hard stare. I snapped out of my thoughts and got in the passenger seat hastily.
I thought he had something to say to me, but he simply cocked his head aside, saying nothing.
I inched myself closer to him and asked, “Are you jealous?”
“No.” He sprung upright and set his gaze out front with the curt reply.
Not buying his indifference act. I explained further, “I’m actually here to celebrate with Emery. However, we bumped into Elliot and decided to celebrate together since it’s his first day being a boss.”
The explanation was redundant, given Anthony’s intelligence.
Marshall was a troublemaker. When matchmaking Katharina and Elliot, he started getting ideas about me. Fortunately, Anthony made it in time and nipped his idea in its bud.
His face remained impassive even after listening to me. “Alright, you may get off the car now. I should be leaving.”
Just when he reached for the gear, I stopped him.
“Anthony, you are jealous.”
“I am. That’s why we cannot stay in the same space any longer.” He tried to suppress the anger in voice as he retracted his hand.
The best thing about being with Anthony was I never felt apprehensive or insecure after we survived the minor squabbles when we first got together.
A naturally aloof man, he had hated the world with his ever fiber before he met and fell in love with me. I knew he didn’t have it in him to accommodate another human being in his heart
He knew I valued fidelity above everything. It was impossible for me to fall for another once I set my heart on my chosen one.
I guessed his sudden tantrum was because I had contacted Elliot on my own, and he was also mad at me for sneaking out and disregarding my health.
Dealing with his enemies, looking for my cure, and dealing with the company’s losses was exhausting him. Should anything happen to me, he would break down without a doubt.
My heart ached for him at the thought of it, and I leaned in closer, cupping his face in my hands. As I forced him to make eye contact with me, I planted a kiss on his lips before he could react.
It became my second nature.
He relished in the soft sensation and edged himself closer for more. Before things got out of hand, I dodged his touch, got back to my own seat, and left him hanging.
His hands paused momentarily in mid-air for two seconds before he retracted them with a bitter smile as he leaned back in his seat, disheartened by my withdrawal. “You’re the only woman who could take advantage of me repeatedly like that.”
Wow. The way he’s putting it sounds as though every woman in the world is dying to have him. Are we competing to see who’s more charismatic right now?
It did not matter who would win the race. The most important thing was Anthony was smiling.
As long as he was not mad at me, he was quite an easy man to talk to.
Unwilling to concede defeat, he narrowed his eyes as if he was contemplating for a way to give himself the upper hand. “It looks like I have not invested enough in Emery’s company. I should buy some of The Jade’s shares to keep you guys in line.”
“Is it really necessary?” When did Anthony become so controlling?
“Definitely.” He nodded solemnly. “I’m exercising my husbandry obligations to ensure my wife’s safety by knowing her whereabouts at all times. It is a very heavy responsibility. Do you have any problem with that, Ms. Stanhope?”
Feeling a chill down my spine at his smug look, I retracted myself slightly.
With his eloquence, I was starting to think that he had studied alongside me when I was preparing for my bar exam.
“No problem.” I shook my head innocently. Do I really dare to object?
Anthony’s expression darkened afterward as though he was mad at someone. I wondered who he was directing his anger at.
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.
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