CHAPTER TWENTY THREE: The Power Play

ADELE'S POV

The house was quiet. Nobody was home.

I woke up with a smile on my face, which was new considering the shitty week I'd had.

Memories from last night flashed through my mind as I danced around the house, ignoring my throbbing knee. I made myself fresh coffee, still in last night's clothes.

The smell of eggs and bacon filled the house as I fixed myself breakfast.

Julian must have left for work early, but that's okay. He certainly made up for it when he rented that mall for the day. The fact that he wanted to buy it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

I chowed down my food with renewed hunger. Tonight I'm going to do something nice for Julian. A homemade dinner was the only thing that came to mind.

I scrolled through my phone mindlessly, looking up different recipes, then I saw it.

My mouth went dry.

“CEO or HUSBAND OF THE YEAR? JULIAN HAWTHORNE RENTS OUT MALL FOR MOVIE DATE WITH WIFE”

Several other headlines carried the same news.

Then I saw the pictures. Me in Julian's arms smiling sheepishly at him. There I was again in the theatre, with his nose nuzzled in my hair. We looked happy.

Anger rose inside me. This was supposed to be a private moment. How were these pictures even taken?

The last photo on the slide had me and Julian's lips intertwined. But we didn't kiss!

I scrolled frantically, and there it was. The straw that broke me.

“JULIAN HAWTHORNE CLOSES SATOSHI DEAL, PROPELS HAWTHORNE GLOBAL HOLDINGS INTO GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT”

It hit me like a whiplash. Julian didn't do all that for me. He did it for himself. That rat bastard used me to clear his name.

I bolted up from my seat. I asked him for one thing and he couldn't even do that. Now he uses me and acts like nothing happened?

His voice filled my ear, haunting me. Taunting me.

“I just might be falling in love with you” was that all staged too?

I paced the room. The throbbing in my knee persisted.

“You can't just take everything Julian throws at you, Adele” Ronnie was right.

I jogged up the stairs. My knee screamed in pain. I swung open the bathroom cabinet and downed two aspirins with shaky hands.

I need to know. I need to confront him when he gets back.

But why protect his privacy, when he didn't do the same for me?

I crossed the room and stood in the closet. My fingers brushed my clothes lightly. I snatched up a dress.

If Julian thinks he's calling all the shots in this marriage, he has another think coming.

An evil grin spread across my face.

“It's time to switch up the vibe, Mr. Hawthorne. If you won’t come to me, I'll come to you”

******

JULIAN'S POV

Killing two birds with one stone is no small feat.

I smiled at the camera, my hand clutched in a firm handshake with Dr. Sanders–CEO of Satoshi Empire.

The deal finally went through. My blood and sweat is finally paying off. My position has been secured as CEO, and my reputation is no longer tainted.

I feel bad for using Adele as bait, but I made her happy in the end, didn't I?

Now I can calm down and focus on the things that really matter.

Like getting Adele a job, and filing for shared custody of Leo.

Celeste has had him for long enough. It's time I stepped up and became the man they want me to be.

The scuffling of feet and frantic voices caught my attention.

My secretary burst through the doors

“I'm sorry sir, I tried to stop her”

My face crumpled in a frown. Stop who? God no…I hope it's not Celeste.

The woman at the door looked nothing like Celeste. Her brown hair cascaded down her shoulders in a graceful yet captivating way.

Her makeup was fierce–cat eyes, red lips, piercingly dark eyeshadow.

A black sleeveless gown clung to her body, making her movements sensual. Her heels clicked against the floor as she took deliberate steps towards me.

My eyes widened in shock. Adele.

What was she doing here? Surely she wasn't here for peace.

The mischievous smile on her killer face and the look in her eyes didn't hold any white flags.

She must have put two and two together. My palm felt sweaty. Her fruity scent made me dizzy.

My mind raced. I had to get ahead of her. I couldn't risk causing a scene, not in front of my new business partners.

“Ladies and gentlemen, meet the woman of my dreams whom I was fortunate enough to marry… Mrs Adele Hawthorne” I extended my hand to her amidst the ovation.

She narrowed her eyes at me but took my hand. Her hands were icy cold.

Adele feigned a smile as I pulled her close to my side, hands wrapped right around her delicate waist. I felt her tension bristle through the fabric.

“What are you doing here, missy?” I seethed through my teeth.

“What you should have done weeks ago” she removed herself from my grip and circled the table, tracing her fingers along the mahogany table.

The room was in awe of her. Heads turned as she moved. Alexander shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“What's going on here, Julian?” He raised an eyebrow questioningly.

I wish I knew.

“My husband might have forgotten to make the announcement, but we were talking the other day, and given my qualifications and the new breakthrough of the company,” she paused, her eyes locked onto mine, a dare to say something.

To stop her.

The silence hung in the air. My body itched with anticipation. The room held its breath.

Satisfied by the rapt attention of the board members, she continued.

“We decided that it was best I step in to spearhead the new season as the Co-CEO of Hawthorne Global Holdings”

The room exhaled, but I didn't.