Chapter 5 Fault Lines

(Calder)

Flashbulbs flare. The red carpet awaits.

I step out of the limousine and go around to open the other door.

The media pause and wait. They want to see who I’m with tonight. They are hoping it’s someone other than my wife.

That finally I am ending speculation on my private life by bringing someone else to a public event.

I open the door and hold out my hand.

Her hand takes mine and I stand steady while she comes out of the car. She smiles at me and her eyes sparkle behind her glasses.

Normally, we’d just walk in and go our separate ways until the eating dinner part. But tonight, she won’t leave my side for very long.

The questions fire and I choose to ignore them all. I do take the opportunity to stop along the way for some shots.

Mia looks a little camera-shy, but she takes her place beside me perfectly.

The sky-blue gown molds to her figure like it was made for her.

The diamonds at her throat catch the light every time she moves.

Her hair is pinned up tonight, exposing the elegant line of her neck.

“You look stunning, Mia.” I tell her.

Her smile lights up. “Thank you, Cal.”

I’m CEO of my family property development company. I know how to keep my cool under pressure. These events are to be endured, not enjoyed.

It’s a requirement of the board that I’m the face for the charities we support.

We step into the main hall.

Almost immediately, Adrian calls my name.

Adrian Cole has been my friend since university. Architect turned luxury developer. Sharp. Observant. Annoyingly perceptive.

He approaches with a grin.

He hugs Mia. “You look amazing tonight.”

“Thank you.”

“Well,” he says, “You’ve been hiding this from us?”

“I haven’t,” I reply evenly. “Mia is at all the events with me.”

“Okay, yes. Let me say that you’ve been hiding the smoke-show your wife is from us,” Adrian says.

Mia smiles.

“And I mean that objectively,” Adrian continues. “Not as your husband’s best friend.”

I don’t know why but I’m suddenly annoyed.

Mia laughs softly. “Is there a subjective version?”

“Oh, definitely. But that would be inappropriate.”

She holds his gaze, amused. “Then we’ll stick with objective.”

She handles him easily.

I step forward.

“Mia, let’s grab a drink.” I say as I glare at Adrian.

I know he’s just yanking my chain. And I shouldn’t let him get to me.

I’ll never live it down if he thinks he’s found a weak spot to exploit.

Best friends can be brutal.

Adrian’s grin widens.

“No need to be jealous,” he says. “I’m complimenting your wife.”

I meet his eyes. “Why don’t you go compliment your wife instead.”

Mia touches my arm lightly. “It’s fine, Calder.”

I give a smile. “Yes, it is fine. Now let’s get a drink and mingle a little.”

The conversation shifts to projects, investment portfolios, redevelopment contracts as we work the room.

Mia joins in effortlessly. She discusses structural integration in mixed-use spaces, sustainability metrics, urban flow.

Her expertise is apparent. I’ve kept her from this for three years.

A CEO of a rival company looks impressed.

“You’re keeping her under wraps, Calder,” he says. “Mia should be leading half the architect firms in this room.”

“I’d love some of her private expertise.” He winks at me.

I feel it then.

Not irritation.

Not even annoyance.

Jealousy.

It hits clean and unexpected.

I don’t like the way he looks at her when she speaks. I don’t like him looking at her like that.

I don’t like that he’s seeing what I’ve deliberately ignored.

“I’m well aware of my wife’s expertize,” I say coolly. “It’s her choice to take her career in whatever path she chooses.”

“I’m going to the bathroom,” she says quietly to me. “Are you okay? I can go talk to someone else if being with you is a problem?”

“No. It’s not a problem at all. We’ll meet at the dinner table. They are about to ring the bell soon, it’s almost eight.”

I lean in and kiss her cheek.

She colors up just slightly and I watch her walk across the ballroom.

I remember the first time I met her.

She was nineteen. Glasses sliding down her nose. Arguing passionately about design philosophy at Yara’s birthday dinner.

She and Yara like chalk and cheese in every way except the blonde hair and the blue eyes.

Yara loves Mia so much.

When Yara disappeared and everything collapsed, Mia stepped forward without hesitation. 

Even though Yara broke her heart too. Her loyalty to her sister and her family never wavered.

I was surprised and hesitant. 

But the marriage was the thing that would stabilize and empower both family legacies. That was the foundation of the merger.

I married her to stabilize our company to expand. With the VIP contacts her political family have, it’s made us a multi-billion dollar company.

I swore to protect her. Not to take advantage of her. Of course I knew she was attracted to me. 

There was no way I was ever going to act on that.

She is Yara’s baby sister. She was going to be my sister-in-law.

But she is not a girl anymore. She is most definitely a young woman. 

Adrian’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

“You know,” he says casually, “I know you married her for business reasons.”

I turn to him. “But…?”

 “But… maybe she is a keeper?”

“No. Mia has a life to live.”

“Pretty sure married couples survive just fine even while living their own lives…”

“I know that. But I’m seeing Emma Pearce, and I think it’s getting serious,” I add.

Mia has been pulled into another conversation across the room.

“Emma… okay. She’s an incredible woman. But… she’s such a Yara try-hard,” Adrian says.

“What are you talking about?” I ask.

“Come on, Cal. You can’t be serious? Surely you notice.”

“Okay, I have a type, what’s wrong with that?” I protest.

“Choosing someone because they are your type is one thing. Them deliberately imitating another person is another…” Adrian shakes his head.

“Why does everything have to be a conspiracy with you?”

“Emma is a stage five clinger underneath her business acumen and sharp intelligence. Definitely obsessive,” he says.

“Stop talking about her like that. It’s none of your business anyway.”

“Oh, really? I’m the one who will have to listen to you crying in your cornflakes when you’re trapped.” Adrian gives his chuckle.

“I’m not getting trapped, Adrian.”

I watch Mia working her way back to me as people stop her to talk.

She looks at me and gives me a smile. I smile back.

“Look at you,” Adrian says. “Look like you finally noticed.”

“Noticed what?”

“That your wife is your type.”

The bell rings indicating that appetizers will be served in fifteen minutes. Adrian and I move towards the grand dining room.

“Doesn’t matter. Mia is living her own life in a month, and we’ll be getting a divorce. You’ve been watching too many romance movies.”

“But something has changed. You two are very different tonight.”

“Mia wanted this before she goes. Something more normal. I agreed to one month,” I say.

His brow lifts. “One month of what?”

“Of being a real married couple She’s sacrificed her life for me. I can give her a month.”

Adrian’s grin returns. “Ah. I see.”

We enter the dining room and I find our seats. Adrian is not seated next to me.

“You think you can manage it,” he asks.

“I can. I will.”

“Sure,” he says lightly. “That’s why you almost snapped my head off for complimenting her.”

I don’t respond.

Because he isn’t entirely wrong.

Adrian spots his placecard a few seats up. “I’ll go sit down and wait for Mary. But I need to say this…”

“Ah, more unsolicited advice, knock yourself out…”

“Yara isn’t coming back and I think it’s time you stopped blowing up your life waiting for her.”

Then he’s gone.

And Mia there. “Is everything okay?” She asks.

“Yes. Everything is just fine.” I pull out her seat for her.

Adrian’s words burn in my mind.

This has nothing to do with Yara.