The Last Wife

six

• the new boss •

"God! I hate him!"

I hurl the pillow to the wall.

"Now you're punishing my pretty pillows for it?" Alex glares at me.

"Ugh! I can't stand him!"

I throw more pillows on the floor as my brother stares at me in total shock.

"I wish I could just kill him! I hate him! I hate him! I hate him! I hate him so much I could just sit there and watch him burn to death as I sip my wine! That's how much I f*****g hate him!"

"Okay... maybe you need to relax, Isa."

"Relax? That brat called me a cheap cheating slut!"

"Should I kill him?"

"Not before I chop his d**k off."

"No, I mean it. I could kill him..."

"No, don't even think of getting an inch close to him." I mutter.

"Because you're still inlove with him?"

"No, because I want to deal with him myself."

"By having some good s*x with him in the washrooms on your wedding day?"

"It was not good sex." I pause. "It was hot sex."

"Hot s*x that made you cheat on your husband on your wedding?"

"Hot s*x that made me want to leave my husband on our honeymoon and run away with my lover."

"What? You never told me that part."

Oops!

There's tense awkward silence for a moment before I break it.

"It was Erik's idea but... I'd never do something like that."

"Yes, you would. You have done it before."

I roll my eyes.

"That was back in highschool, Alex. I was just a stupid kid who fell for the wrong guy. We've all been there."

I quickly change the subject when I remember something I forgot to tell him.

"That honeymoon night, Harvey said something in his sleep..."

"What?"

I tell him about the incident where Harvey called my real name in his sleep and claimed he had nothing to do with mom's murder.

"That lying piece of s**t!" Alex snorts. "I hope he's burning in hell..."

"He's the devil, remember?"

He narrows his eyes at me, deep in thought.

"So that means he knew who you were this entire time?"

"Yeah." I nod. "But what's even more surprising is the fact that he still went ahead and married me."

"Yeah, that's surprising," he says absentmindedly. "I still can't believe Harvey knew who you were. How the f**k did he find out? Why didn't I notice?"

"I guess we'll never know..."

"That was dangerous! How could I not know? What if he did something to you? I should have known earlier! I should have sensed it!"

"Don't beat yourself up." I pat his shoulder. "He's gone."

"What if he told more people..."

"I had not thought about that..."

"And what if those people expose you?"

I hold his shaky hands and cast him a sharp gaze.

"Nothing like that will happen, chicken. And if it does, I have you. I'll get through it with you. Stop stressing."

I tell him some more about the funeral. The weird encounter with Harvey's first wife puzzles him. He also finds Peninah Ford suspicious. Why would she choose to come back now?

"I'll do some digging on that woman." Alex says. "I think she's back for the money."

"Explains why she's attending the meeting tomorrow."

"Meeting?"

"Yeah, we are meeting with the family attorney to discuss the will."

A little tint of fear surges through me at the thought of the will.

What if I was not included in the will?

"You look worried, Isabel." Alex says in concern.

"No, I'm just worried about the will. What if he didn't include me?"

"There's nothing to worry about."

****

The following morning, I find Harvey's two brothers gathered at Mr. Kennedy's office. It's no surprise to see Peninah Ford also present in the meeting.

The room is eerily quiet when I step in. I take the empty seat beside Peninah.

"Good morning, young lady." She greets.

"You can see me?" I'm a little shocked.

"I can smell you." She chuckles. "Same cologne at the funeral."

"Oh."

When I scan around the room, I get harsh stares from Harvey's brothers. They obviously don't like me. Not that I expect them to.

The attorney introduces himself and welcomes all of us warmly before he starts reading out the will.

My heart stops when he reads the last part out loud,

"Eighty percent of the company and properties goes to my third wife, Ruby Rey. Ten percent goes to my sons, Charles and Chase. The remaining ten percent goes to my brothers, David and Andrew."

Disturbing silence permeates the room for a long moment before Peninah breaks it.

"What about me?" She asks quietly. "Harvey's first wife?"

I stare at her in sympathy, feeling sad for her.

"I'm afraid you've not been included in the will, Mrs. Ford."

"Ouch." She chuckles as she rolls the wheelchair to the door. The tall man in a suit quickly comes to her rescue and helps her out.

She suddenly stops and says,

"Congratulations on the Eighty percent, young lady. Hope you enjoy every last cent."

Before I can respond, the tall man slams the door.

Harvey's brothers stand up from their seats. They look so much like Harvey, only difference is they are a bit younger and wear impeccable suits. We didn't exchange a word yesterday at the funeral. I don't think they are going to talk to me now.

"Let's see if you'll enjoy that eighty percent." One of the brothers says before they both walk out.

Still surprised, I bid the lawyer goodbye and storm to my car. I call Alex immediately before I start driving.

"Can you believe it! Harvey gave eighty percent to me!" I'm still shocked.

"I told you not to worry about it."

"I'm more than worried now, Alex! I just got some new enemies! Both Peninah and the brothers were not so pleased by the will."

"They can go to hell!"

"I'm afraid they'll send me there first."

"I'll send them first."

I sigh.

"I still don't understand why Harvey would leave eighty percent to me. Was he really that stupid?"

"You don't sound happy."

"Something just doesn't add up..."

"Okay. I admit." He huffs. "I had a little something to do with it."

"Alex, what did you do?"

"Just scared the attorney a little to change the will. Nothing serious."

"Nothing serious! You threatened him!"

"If you say it like that, I sound like a horrible person. I'm just a little brother who was helping her sister out."

"That's not help, Alex! That's horrible! Why would you do something like that! That might get us in more trouble!"

"Please stop screaming."

"YOU'RE SO f*****g STUPID, ALEX!"

I hang up on him.

I can't believe he would do something so stupid in the middle of a f*****g murder case! That might land us in a whole lot of trouble!

He calls me again and I quickly receive it but don't give him a chance to talk.

"Please don't contact me. I'm so angry at you I can't stand the sound of your breathe."

I hang up and focus on the road.

****

There's a time that this would've been a dream come true.

Living in a mansion and sleeping in a king-size bed and morning baths in the jacuzzi and running down the spiral stairs to find breakfast set on the table.

But when you have all those things and you still feel empty inside, it's the worst feeling...

Walking in red heels, I slide into the limousine and sink in the backseat.

My first day working as the CEO.

The CEO of The Ford Firm.

All these years, this is what I've been working for. This is what I sacrificed sleep for. Why I became a stripper. This is what I studied for. What I went to college for. To take back what belongs to us...

And it's finally happening!

Everything went to plan!

I walk past the glass revolving doors, my assistant a few steps behind me. I steal glances at the reception area as I make my way to the elevator. I need to stop by at my office to prepare for the meeting in half an hour.

The office is massive.

Harvey's office.

I'll change everything around here. From the colour on the walls to the wooden desk to the gray curtains to the beige couch at the corner. I need to make this wide space feel like home. My home.

I should get ready for the meeting first. Rearranging the office can come later.

My assistant, Chris, knocks on the door. He informs me that everything is set and the meeting is about to start in a few minutes.

I follow him to the conference room.

The smartly-dressed people sitting around the oval table immediately stand when I walk in.

"You can sit."

I also take a seat, feeling a little nervous about this meeting. I hope it really goes well, considering there are some potential clients and investors present.

The door swings open and my heart stops.

"You guys are starting the meeting without me?"

Erik walks in dressed in a perfectly-tailored grey suit.

"Mr. Hunt, to what do I owe this pleasant surprise?" I force a smile.

He grins broadly.

"Didn't you get the news?"

"What news?"

He falls on the swivel chair, his eyes fixed on me.

"I'm the new boss."

****