Chapter 5: Caught in the act

AIDEN'S POV

I woke up with a pounding hangover. I had fallen asleep right there in the home bar, and as the haze cleared, memories of last night came flooding back. *Avery...* I could still hear how heart-wrenching her sob had been. I hadn't been able to go after her or soothe her, because the brutal truth was that everything she had overheard was completely true. Forcing myself up with whatever strength I could muster, I headed straight to my room to freshen up.

"Good morning, Aiden."

It was Avery. She looked lovely, but she seemed entirely too cheerful to see me when she should have been furious. It felt completely off.

"Good morning," I responded, raising a brow. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes, actually. I'm meeting up with my friend Keisha, and I'd like to do a bit of shopping for some things I need. And—"

Before she could finish, I handed her a credit card I had already prepared for her. "Here. I forgot to give you this yesterday. There is twenty million on the card; let me know when it's exhausted. Steve will get a security team ready to accompany you."

"Thank you, I—"

"No need to thank me. You're an Armstrong now."

"Fine, then. But I can go out on my own."

"You don't go anywhere without proper security, understood?"

"Yes, sir." She turned to leave before I could say another word.

*Sir?* After what we had shared last night? It was only then that my eyes truly registered what she was wearing: a milky-white silk gown that clung perfectly to her curves.

"Avery!" I don't know why I called out her name, but I couldn't stop myself.

"Yes?"

"Ummm... nothing. I just... nothing." I mumbled like an idiot, my eyes glued to the exposed skin of her cleavage. What the hell was wrong with me?

"Okay. See you later."

There was nothing a cold bath and strong coffee couldn't fix to calm this hangover. I didn't feel like dealing with the corporate office today, so I stayed back, doing what little work I could inside my study.

"Hey, darling!"

I snapped my head up. "What are you doing here, Lana? Leave." I had told her repeatedly to stay away. Her dad was an old friend of my father, a business partner of sorts, and she and I used to have fun with each other every once in a while. She was dressed in a scandalously short red dress that exposed most of the package I had enjoyed countless times in the past.

"Aren't you happy to see me? What, has your new plaything got you completely hooked?"

"Get the hell out of here. I didn't invite you."

"Calm down, baby. I know you love me; you just don't know how to admit it. I saw your new plaything last night, by the way. She seems a bit nosey, trying to get into the dark room."

"What were you doing here last night? Who let you in? Let me get one thing straight: she is my wife. Stay the hell away from her."

"Fine. I'm just here to celebrate your marriage." She pulled a glass from my shelf, adding, "Unless marriage has ruined your taste for alcohol."

I took the drink she poured and downed it in one gulp. "Thanks. Now leave. I have work to do."

Suddenly, my head started spinning violently. I shouldn't have taken wine right after yesterday's heavy drinking. Lana clearly took my disorientation as an opportunity to try something funny. The more I ordered her out, the closer she crept toward me.

"You still refuse me? She may have your name, Aiden, but I have your heart." She stepped into my personal space and hitched her skirt even higher. Then, she sat right on my desk, trapping one of my legs between hers. She wasn't wearing anything underneath. "I am the only woman you've ever really wanted. You and I both know that. I wasn't a virgin, but you were still absolutely crazy about me."

"That's in the past. Now leave." I couldn't deny the physical attraction, but something was different. It felt like the heat of the fire had drastically died down. I tried to pull away despite my body's involuntary arousal, but she began to caress me through my pants with her bare foot. I fought to keep control. I needed a release, but suddenly, I realized I wanted it to be with Avery. "Not right now, Lana," I choked out when I finally regained a shred of control.

But my restraint faded just as quickly as it came, and I couldn't seem to keep my eyes open. The room tilted. She must have drugged my drink.

Through a heavy, dark haze, I watched her cast away the tiny bit of clothing she had left and proceed to undress me. Then, everything went entirely blank.

AVERY'S POV

Faking a smile and pretending like nothing happened wasn't easy, but it was the smartest move. I couldn't let Aiden see how deeply his words had cut me last night. I had plans now, and goals to achieve.

I stared at the black card he had handed me. Twenty million dollars? Yeah, I could definitely get used to this lifestyle. I arrived at Delicio's, where Kiki and I had agreed to meet, and called her the moment I stepped out of the vehicle.

"Hi, girl! I just arrived at Delicio's. Where exactly are you?"

"I headed up to the second floor, by the taco unit. I know how much you love tacos, so I figured we could grab some while we chat."

God, I loved this girl. I was already craving tacos anyway. I met her at the counter a minute later, and the second she caught sight of me, she rushed forward to throw her arms around me.

"Avery... I've missed you so much! I was so scared; I was terrified something awful had happened to you."

"Kiki, you saw me just yesterday. I'm fine, I promise."

"I know, but still... Considering how crazy things were yesterday, I have every right to miss you. But look at you! Girl, you smell and look like absolute money. What is going on?"

I sat her down and filled her in on everything that had happened.

"Let me get this straight," Keisha said, her jaw dropping. "He's a pervert who is completely obsessed with petite, blonde virgins?"

"I guess so. Every single page in his journal featured a girl who was blonde, blue-eyed, petite, and marked as a virgin. So yeah, he has a massive fetish."

"I'm so sorry I couldn't do anything to help you. I can only imagine how horrible you felt. He's such a jerk for making you feel safe just to hurt you like that."

Speaking about it out loud brought the raw pain back to the surface, so I immediately changed the subject. "It doesn't matter anymore. On the bright side, I have a massive bank account." I flashed the card, making her gasp. "I have a level of freedom, a comfortable bedroom, and I know for a fact no one is going to lock me out of the house here."

"You're right. I guess it's a hundred times better than living with your stepmother. But girl... that card! Tell me everything!"

I smiled at her excitement. "It has twenty million dollars on it. And he told me he'd add more the second it runs out—his words, not mine. Keisha..." I signaled for her to lean closer, scanning the restaurant to ensure none of my heavy security detail was within earshot. "I have a plan. For revenge, actually."

"Tell me."

I leaned in and whispered the details of my plan to her.

"Girl, I absolutely love this new version of you," Keisha laughed, taking a sip of her drink. "They won't even know what hit them."

We talked for a while longer, stuffed ourselves with tacos, did a little shopping, and finally called it a day.

"Take care of yourself, Avery. Call me the second you get home."

I watched her get into her car and drive off. I turned to head toward my own vehicle when someone suddenly slammed into my shoulder. It was Serena, the resident brat of the Kingston family.

"Well, hello there, swine! You look good, I must confess. I hope your new husband isn't treating you too badly?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. It was glaringly obvious she had hoped to find me looking like a battered mess.

I ignored her completely and kept walking toward the car, but the brat couldn't handle being dismissed. She lunged forward and pulled me back forcefully by my arm.

"Witch, I'm talking to you! How dare you walk out on me?"

"I think you're forgetting exactly who you're speaking to." I didn't even flinch. I simply raised a hand and signaled my security team to take control of the situation. I had zero intentions of ruining my outfit over her.

"Oh, so now you think you can do whatever you please just because you're married to the richest man in the city? You're nothing but a temporary toy to him, Avery!"

That barb stung, but Serena didn't get to say another word. Two of my guards promptly dragged her into a nearby mobile construction toilet and locked the door from the outside. I had to admit, my security team was incredibly creative; I wouldn't have thought of a better punishment myself.

"Thank you. Let's go."

I couldn't wait to get back to the mansion and talk to Aiden about my plans to employ Mr. Brutus. He deserved better pay and a much safer environment. When we arrived, the guards helped me with my shopping bags while I casually asked Steve if Aiden was still home.

"Yes, ma'am. He wasn't feeling too well today, so he decided to work from his study. He's currently in there right now."

I nodded, trying to play it cool so it wouldn't look like I was desperately running to him. I walked away slowly, but the moment I cleared the hallway and was certain no one was watching, I quickened my pace.

I reached the study door and, in my excitement to talk to him, completely forgot to knock. I pushed the door open. "Aiden, I—"

The words died in my throat. My stomach bottomed out. My husband was currently wrapped up with another woman right on his desk, and he hadn't even had the decency to lock the damn door.

"Oops. Sorry, I didn't think you'd be back so early."

It was the dark-haired, green-eyed girl from yesterday. Lana.

"How...? Why...? But..." I couldn't force a coherent sentence out of my mouth.

Lana stepped away from the desk and leaned close to me, whispering right into my ear, "You're shocked that I'm not a petite blonde, right? I'm also not a virgin. He wasn't my first, but I am his only true love." She flashed a malicious, triumphant smile. "Soon enough, you'll find out the real reason why he keeps chasing after girls like you for fun. When you discover his truth—who and what he really is—you'll pack your bags and run."

With that, she strolled right past me, barely even bothering to pull her clothes back on.

I turned my eyes to the man who was supposed to be my husband, waiting for an explanation, an apology—anything. But I got dead silence. He just lay back against the desk, his eyes closed, looking as if he couldn't care less that he had just been caught. A sharp, agonizing pain flared in my chest, even though I knew a monster like him shouldn't have the power to hurt me.

I couldn't stand the sight of him for another second.

"Avery...?"

His voice sounded incredibly weak, almost breathless. Great. He had exhausted all his energy cheating on me, and now he had the audacity to groan my name.

Turning on my heel, I stormed straight back to my room. Pacing back and forth across the floor, Lana's parting words echoed over and over in my mind. What could possibly be the real reason behind his twisted obsession with virgins? Was he actually in love with her? What other dark secrets was this man hiding from me?