CHAPTER 10

WALTER TENNIS

Abigail stared at Walter Tennis, stunned.

She hadn't even said a full sentence to the man and he was already standing in front of her, looking at her like she mattered. Like she was worth something. What the hell did he want with her?

Her first instinct was to ask him what the hell this was about. But then, she remembered.

She wasn't just some lady anymore. She was Abigail Vandell. Luke Vandell's wife, even if the whole thing wasn't exactly real.

She lifted her chin and turned to him.

Behind her, Kate and Obetta were already murmuring, clearly uncomfortable with the fact that someone like that had chosen to talk to her, and not them. Abigail could practically smell the sour jealousy coming off them.

Kate spoke up.

"Walter dear, what could you possibly want with *

her?"

Abigail rolled her eyes. Here we go again.

Obetta let out a laugh and stepped forward, sounding so sugary, yet so venomous at the same time.

"She's obviously a poser. A good actress with a nice face, but come on, she's nobody. We don't even know where she came from."

“I don’t even know what she is.” Kate scoffed, turning to Obetta. “This is the only woman I accept.”

Abigail clenched her jaw. These women were so full of bitterness, they could poison an ocean.

Walter turned to both of them slowly, calmly, with the confidence only a man like him could possess. He looked at Kate, then Obetta, and shook his head.

"This is so interesting." He said.

Kate and Obetta smiled, nodding. They were pleased with themselves.

"I came here to speak to one woman, and yet, I've heard nothing but the screeching of two others." Walter slammed.

Kate closed her mouth and Obetta was stunned, her mouth opening but no words coming out of her lips.

Abigail smirked a little, folding her arms.

Walter turned back to her, gentler now.

"May I have a moment of your time? Somewhere a bit quieter?" He asked.

Abigail let out a sigh as she got up.

"Alright." She said quietly. "Let's go."

They walked side by side through the party. The press still swarmed the hall, but a lot of eyes were now on her. She felt a bit self-conscious but brushed it off as they went to a different area, ignoring everyone else.

She turned to him.

"So... what's this about? Am I in trouble?"

Walter placed his hands into his pockets and smiled at her.

"I'm curious about something, that's all." He said. "Who's your family?"

Abigail raised a brow.

"Excuse me?"

"Your family." He said again, softer this time. "Who do you come from?"

She crossed her arms and shook her head.

"It's no one you know, don't worry about it."

He raised a brow, amused.

"Mysterious. You don't strike me as the type who enjoys mystery."

She shrugged.

"Guess I'm full of surprises."

He chuckled.

"Fair enough. Though I have other questions to ask too."

Walter seemed to watch her, but Abigail knew better than to react in a manner that would make her seem off.

"And what other questions are there? You did drag me away, so they had better been important."

"How did you end up with Luke Vandell?"

She paused.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, a man like him doesn't just marry overnight, and it seems like that's what he did." Walter said plainly. "You two weren't exactly a public couple. And now, here you are, Mrs Vandell. Married, and all over the place. Are you both in love?"

Abigail felt the blood rush to her cheeks. Was he on to her?

She cleared her throat.

"How else do you think we got married?" She responded.

"That's your answer?"

"Isn't it?" She shrugged.

"It's not exactly a yes or a no, Mrs Vandell..." Walter stared at her for a bit, and then nodded slowly. "You're a clever woman."

Abigail narrowed her eyes.

"Is this going somewhere?"

He moved a little closer to her.

"I fancy you." He said simply.

Her heart skipped a beat and she wondered if she had heard correctly.

"What?"

Walter looked her right in the eye.

"You heard me. You're stunning, intelligent, bold... I like that. And if your marriage to Luke isn't exactly tangible, if it's not what it seems, that is... I'd like to be the one you're with instead."

Abigail felt the air leave her lungs.

What the hell? Who did he think he was?

She took a few steps back immediately, her eyes widening in annoyance.

"You're joking."

He didn't smile back at her.

"You're not joking." She muttered. "Oh my fucking life, no."

"Abigail—"

"No, don't say my name right now." She snapped, keeping her voice down to a whisper. "You came to me in front of everyone, made it seem like it was something serious, like business or a conversation worth having, maybe."

Walter opened his mouth but she wasn't done.

"And now you're standing here talking about how you fancy me?" She hissed. "What kind of man are you to tell a married woman all of that?"

He looked around and moved forward, looking calm still, but she could see the tension in his eyes now.

"I didn't mean to offend you."

"That's hard to imagine, considering what you just said to me."

Her chest heaved.

"I had heard about you, and I thought you were a decent man." She said. "Someone important, perhaps a man to be respected. But you're nothing but another bastard in a suit who thinks he can buy what he wants, isn't that it? Answer me."

"I never said anything about buying—"

"You didn't have to, Walters." She snapped. "And don't ever speak to me again if you even have an ounce of respect for me."

“I’m sorry, I just—”

“Save it!”

She turned on her heel and started to walk away. Nothing good could come out of a meeting with a man like that.