Strange Number

"I'm not going to lie," Thomas said, with Rita laying on his chest, "I'm a little surprised she's even hosting the party."

Rita smiled. It was unsettling although, because she just couldn't wait to get that Laura woman out of his life. "Well she must be scared she'll be losing millions. You are after all, a billionaire."

Thomas face hardened a bit, but he shrugged it off. Nobody knew that Laura was the richest of them. It was because of this that he became certain he needed a lady way under his league, and just right then did Rita crawled her way into his life. She was pretty and gave him constant sex.

He picked up his phone and frowned. "What's this? Another message from Laura." A smile formed on his face.

Rita shifted uncomfortably. "Babe, you're with me now. Why are you still blushing at chats from her?"  She said, pouting. Her blonde hair was in an all back sleek pony tail, causing her delicate round face to appear youthful.

"Sorry love. But you know, she's still my wife." Thomas got up. He'd began sliding into his pants and throwing a shirt over his shoulder when Rita realized he was leaving again.

"Already?"

"You'll come join me, remember? We'll find somewhere quiet when she must have fallen asleep, then it's going to be just you and I." He bribed her with a wide grin.

"It's just getting too old, don't you think?" She reached for the jug on the table and poured herself a glass of water.

"Not this talk again. Look, I will divorce her as soon as I can. But right now, let's keep things as secretive as we can. I wouldn't want everyone to see me as a bad man divorcing my wife at our engagement party!" Thomas tried to be careful with his words. Rita cried like an annoying baby.

"So you don't have plans of divorcing her?"

"No, not yet. Give it another one month. She's still pregnant, I haven't been able to convince her to get rid of it. I only fell out of love with her, I'm not a monster, Rita."

Thomas knew if he divorced her now, most of her asset would still remain his, and the last of her penny that would make him three times richer, was still hanging in thin air. The greenhouse estate. Once he's able to successful move all assets, and under GreenCore Automobile, he would gladly get rid of her.

Even if she eventually file for divorce, by then she won't have access to the company when it's registered under Rita's name.

Truth was, he didn't think he could even divorce her. Something still drew him closer to Laura. Why couldn't he just enjoy something fun with Rita while still being married? He would have to find a way to resolve this.

"It's a small party, just my family, yours, some colleagues at work and that's it."

"No one from her side?"

"She's an orphan. She's got no one besides me." He leaned in to kiss her. "Please, don't be late. I need you there with me."

After he left, Rita decided to return her step sisters number. "Oh hi Ashley, is Kim there too? I'm sorry I missed your calls. I was--"

"--does it matter? What's important is that you called anyway. So tell us, are you really dating this CEO guy Thomas Grayson, or you're just pulling our legs?"

"Am I on speaker?" Rita frowned. She knew her step mother must be there as well. "You know what, it doesn't matter. Thomas and I are getting engaged next month."

"Ha! Keep lying to yourself till you believe it."

"Then why do I have this engagement ring Thomas used to propose to me?" She took a picture of a ring and snapped it. That ring had costed her a lot, and she secretly bought two so she would propose to Thomas, just in case.

"Wow. It's diamond! So lovely!" Kim and Ashley commented.

"Oh please. We will only believe when they actually get married." Brandy, her step mother chirped in.

"Believe whatever you want." Rita scoffed. "I'll be sure to invite you then to our wedding. If that's all you have to say then..." She hung up and threw the phone on the bed. When will she ever get her happy ending!

Laura had been more than busy, from running to the bank to secure her asset, to hiring a last minute party planner for their anniversary party.

"Your phone is ringing again. It's a strange number." Jonathan said to her as they waltzed the venue. Everything was almost done for the party that night.

"I don't care who it is. Maybe it's that Rita bitch who's found my trails on her ass."

"Laura, I understand you're angry. I mean, those pictures we saw, not cool. Thomas has been cheating on you with this woman almost a year ago."

"And he's with her as we speak! He's made it clear. I'm going to divorce him, Jonathan."

"Then do it. But selling those luxurious items to gain funds just to throw this ceremony? He'll find out soon and it can land you in serious mess against the law."

Laura rolled her eyed. "Aren't you just tired of repeating the same thing the past 6 hours now? Those items are antique, and I bought them. Thomas is a freak for expensive gifts and I'm going to take them all from him. The receipts are in my name."

"I am only looking out for you--" the phone in his hand rang again. "--you have to pick up. It's the same number again."

He sighed, Laura wasn't even paying him any attention. "You're slightly losing it. This can backfire, why won't you just sue him?"

Laura ignored him. "Tonight has to be perfect. Two can play this game too. Okay, I need to go change. Our guests are arriving soon." She smiles and said outloud in a cheer, "Let's celebrate."

She'd transfored into her dinner dress, something silver and long with the side slit up to her thighs. Laura was curvy so almost any dinner dress seemed to show cleavage. But she was rocking it tonight. She knew Thomas family would talk and annoy her but she was prepared and couldn't even care less.

Her phone rang again and out of frustrated, she was forced to pick up. "Okay who the hell is this?" She stared at the phone for a while before sliding to answer.

A soft voice answered. "Hello dear? It's mommy. How have you been?"

Laura almost wanted to smash the phone in her hand. "Jonathan," she muttered, "it's my mother."