His Spoiled Reborn Bride

26 Jealousy

Isabel leaned back in the air-conditioned car, imagining the look on her aunt’s face. She was sure that her aunt was planning on canceling the card or changing the pin as soon as possible, but she’d been faster. She’d withdrawn the three million limit in cash and directly deposited it into her own account.

“You look happy,” Howard said.

“I am,” she answered.

“Good,” he said.

“I know I already thanked you for the investment, but thanks for coming home with me too,” she said. “I know you’re a busy man.”

“Don’t mention it,” he said. “Besides, I cleared my schedule for the day.”

“For the whole day?” she asked.

He smiled, “Yeah, is there anything else you want to do before we go home?”

“Not really,” she said.

“Why don’t we go into the city?” he suggested.

She shrugged, “Whatever you want.”

The car turned around, headed toward London center. She turned to look out the window, watching the landscape change as it rolled past.

“What happened with you and your family?” Howard asked.

She turned in surprise, “What do you mean?”

“I mean you clearly have a bad relationship with them,” he said.

“It’s complicated,” she lied.

“How?” he asked.

She wanted to tell him the truth. To explain that her aunt and uncle spoiled her and petted her and made her stupid and lazy and entitled all while they consolidated their hold on her father’s company and her wealth. She wanted to tell him that they’d tricked her into rejecting her loving stepmother and her brother. She wanted to mention the disgusting business deal her uncle had made.

Instead, she just shrugged, “All families are complicated.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything in response. She turned away and watched the London streets move past as the car inched through the city traffic.

“Stop the car,” Howard said.

“Sir, we’re in traffic,” Levi said.

“Get out of the car,” Howard said. “I want to drive.”

Without another word, Levi climbed out of the driver’s seat and Howard jogged around the back of the car to take his place. Horns blared behind them but Howard looked unbothered. He got in, shifted the car back into drive and pulled away.

“What about Levi?” she asked from the backseat.

“He can get home on his own,” Howard said, steering the car toward the high street shops.

Isabel’s head spun. Where was Howard taking her? And why had he sent Levi home like that?

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Shopping,” Howard said, steering the car toward a valet.

He opened the door and helped her out of the car, before leading her into a gleaming store. Glass walls and polished steel fixtures gleamed under the bright, modernist lighting. Perfume bottles, lipstick tubes and other cosmetics shone in their own spotlights.

“I don’t need anything,” she objected. The smell of various perfume samples made her dizzy. “I already have everything I could want.”

Howard looked disappointed.

“Why don’t we get something for you instead,” she suggested, surprising herself.

He nodded and took her hand in his, leading her away from the designer cosmetics toward another department. As they walked, she noticed the eyes—customers, tourists and even the shop assistants regarded them with curious stares. She blushed and tried to walk faster.

“What’s the hurry?” Howard asked.

“Let’s go to a different store,” she said pointing through the glass at a menswear shop across the street.

As soon as they entered the store a salesgirl in a sheer button up top rushed forward. The girl had heavy eye makeup and her blouse was unbuttoned down to the top of her lacy red bra. Her breasts jiggled as she trotted over and her eyes glowed as she looked Howard up and down. Isabel glared at the girl, feeling an irrational dislike and jealousy.

“Oh, it’s so good to see you again, Mr. Denmark,” the girl giggled.

“Actually, we’re just leaving,” Isabel said, tugging on Howard’s arm.

He allowed her to lead him out of the shop, but he looked amused. They entered a shoe store and a short girl wearing an even shorter skirt sidled up to them.

“Welcome back, Mr. Denmark,” she said with a wink. “Here for the usual?”

Isabel stared at the girl with hatred and pulled Howard from the store. Furious, she marched down the street to a larger department store. Its items were less exclusive, and it was a huge tourist destination for people who visited London. She was sure Howard had never shopped there before.

She pushed past the revolving doors into the cool, air-conditioned shop. A statuesque girl with short-cropped hair and huge breasts, sashayed over to them. She reached out and picked an imaginary piece of fluff of Howard’s shirt.

“Well hello, stranger,” she purred. “I was wondering when you’d pay us a visit again.”

Though she knew it was irrational, a fierce wave of jealousy crashed over her. Every shop girl in London had apparently slept with Howard, but he’d rejected her. She knew she didn’t have huge, surgically enhanced boobs or the world’s smallest waist, but she’d never thought of herself as unattractive. But apparently Howard saw her that way.

She pulled her hand free from his and ran out of the shop and down the street, pushing past tourists taking selfies and exhausted shoppers laden with bags.

“Isabel, wait,” Howard shouted, easily catching up with her.

He grabbed her wrist and she was forced to stop and turn to look at him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I don’t like the way those salesgirls look at you,” she said. “It’s like I’m not even there. It’s humiliating.”

He laughed and she felt herself blush. “It’s not funny,” she snapped. “They look at you as a prize cut of meat.”

“They’re just flirting with me because they work on commission,” he said.

She rolled her eyes and pulled her hand away.

“Don’t mind them,” he said. “You’re my wife.”

As if to prove his words, he pulled her body tight against his and tilted her head back. He covered her lips with his own and pressed his large hand into the small of her back. Surprised by his force, she gasped and his tongue invaded her mouth.

Around them people pushed and jostled and cleared their throats, but Howard ignored them, pulling her even closer. He kissed her until her lips felt bruised. Panting for breath, she finally pulled away. Her legs felt weak beneath her and she staggered slightly in front of a stroller. He caught her and pulled her back to him.

“You’re very determined when you’re angry,” he said with a smirk. “Were you jealous?”

“No,” she lied. “Of course not.”

His smirk got even bigger, “I think you’re a jealous woman.”

“No,” she said. “I’m not.”

But even out loud her voice sounded unconvincing. She knew she shouldn’t care if he’d slept with every shopgirl in England, but her stomach still churned. Had he kissed those girls the way he’d just kissed her? Had he made their knees go weak?

“I know you are, Lala,” he insisted.

“What did you just call me?” she asked.

He answered too quickly, “Nothing.”

She bit her lip. Had he called her by another woman’s name? She shook her head. It shouldn’t matter. The more interested he was in other women, the easier it would be to get away eventually. Still, she simmered with rage as they walked back to the car.

“Jealousy isn’t a bad thing,” Howard said.

He touched the top of her head and gently stroked his fingers across her scalp. She shrugged and got into the car, slamming the door as she sat down. Howard drove her in silence through the crowded London streets. As they passed out of the city, they stopped a red alight next to a seedy pawn shop with glowing neon signs in the window. A giant yellow and blue diamond ring flashed in the plateglass window.

She leaned forward over the barrier and looked at Howard’s hands and then down at her own. Neither of them was wearing wedding rings. She touched her bare finger and chewed her lip as an idea began to form.