Chapter 5

Charlotte

"We're here." Rhys informs me, stepping out of the vehicle.

Someone pulls my own side of the door open and I step out, sunglasses protecting me from the glare of the sun. Rhys' secretary Joan had arrived earlier, arms full of shopping bags. I chose a green cowl neck blouse, wide legged white pants, and five inch Louboutins for today.

I look nothing like the perfect wife Kevin used to know. I even washed off the dark hair dye, leaving my lush red locks to fall down to my back.

Together, Rhys and I march into the building, attracting attention and whispers.

"Isn't that Kevin Anders wife? What's she doing with him?"

"Who is that man?"

"Wait, is that Rhys Van Allen?"

"He's Kevin's bastard brother, isn't he?"

We ignore everything till we're in the elevator. I check my reflection in the mirrored walls of the elevator. I finally look and feel myself after over a year of pretending to fit in as Kevin's pitiful wife. My lipstick is a dark red, my lashes are dark with mascara and I look fearless.

"Mr. Van Allen, they're waiting for you in the conference room." Joan informs Rhys.

He leads me to a room at the end of the hall. I hear Kevin whining about being kept waiting and having important things to do with his day. I roll my eyes. Important things like attend to his pregnant side chick I guess.

"The CEO is here." One of the suited men says as we step in.

Kevin stands up from his chair. "Finally." He turns around and goes still, blood draining from his face. "Y-you! what are you doing here?"

"Two run ins in one day," Rhys says sardonically. "I'm beginning to think you're stalking me, Kevin."

"You can't possibly be the CEO!" my ex spits. "This must be some mistake. You're just a good for nothing son of my father's whore."

I can feel the man at my side go as stiff as a board at Kevin's careless words. One of the suits jumps up, looking outraged.

"How dare you speak to Mr. Van Allen in that manner! If I were him, I'd never offer you a partnership." The man snarls.

Kevin's eyes go wide and then a smile takes over. "It was merely a joke. As a matter of fact, Rhys is my step brother. We're family."

"Is that so?" I laugh.

His gaze swings to me, taking me in. I immediately spot the desire in his eyes as he looks me over. "Of course. After his mother took him and disappeared years ago, I felt shattered, like I'd lost more than a brother. I guess the business genes really run in us, hunh? "

Rhys throws his head back and lets out a sharp bark of laughter. "Business genes? Is that what you call the mess you've made of your company. You're not a good actor, Kevin. Your act isn't fooling anyone."

"Come on, bro_" the fool tries to charm his way out of this mess. "No matter what, we're still family, and family should always have each other's backs."

"Really?" Rhys grins. "Because what I remember is family tossing me and my mother out like diseased dogs and warning us to never come back, even though you knew she was sick and wouldn't survive on the streets."

Kevin's face crumples into a mask of fake sympathy. "I didn't know about all that, brother. I was told that it was your choice to leave. There's a family dinner on Sunday, why don't you come around and we can clear the air."

"Ugh, you're so pathetic." I snap. "You're not fooling anyone, Kevin. We all know that you'd do anything to make Rhys sign the partnership contract with your sinking company. Don't waste your breath. It won't work."

"Shut your mouth, Charlotte." My ex growls. "You know nothing. You think you've hit the jackpot because Rhys fucked you a few times? I always knew you were a loose street rat, but I never knew you'd stoop low enough to cheat on me with my brother."

If he thinks his words can hurt me, he really doesn't know me. What a goddamn hypocrite. "Congratulations by the way. I heard your mistress is finally going to give you an heir."

He sneers. "Something you couldn't achieve in over a year together."

I smirk. "I guess you were too stupid to even realize that I was on birth control this whole time."

Just then, my phone starts ringing. I excuse myself when I see it's from the hospital. I hurry down the hallway and pick the call.

"Hello, this is city base hospital. I'm speaking to Mrs. Anders, right?"

"Just call me Charlotte." I'm sick of hearing people refer to me by that name.

"Of course. I'm calling to inform you that your mother is finally awake. You can come and visit her." The man's voice says.

"Thank you very much, I'll be right there."

I hurry to the elevator, excited to finally see my mother. I can't wait for her to be fully recovered, so we can finally take the trip we've always wanted to take.

It's only when I run into Joan at the foyer downstairs that I remember that Rhys and I have a deal. "Please inform Rhys that I had to run to the hospital to see my mother. Give him my apologies."

"Of course, ma'am. I hope it's nothing bad."

I grin. "It calls for celebration as a matter of fact."

I rush out and jump into a cab waiting at the curb. "Take me to city base hospital please. No, in fact, stop at the bakery three blocks from here first." My mother has a sweet tooth and will be glad to finally eat something nice after so long.

The car pulls away from the Vertico office building. I hear the sound of loud horning. My head snaps up just as the approaching truck makes impact. The whole world turns upside down for a second. And then pain rocks through me before everything goes black.