Chapter 2 - Hate you

Chapter 2 – Hate you.

Allister Cross

POV

I can recount every second of the worst day of my life. The day my father sold my soul to the devil. To the Ricci family.

Antonella Ricci or Antonella Cross now.

Seven years ago, her father struck a deal with my father and that’s how our marriage came about. I was dating my then girlfriend Scarlett Harper. Though I refuse to call the witch my wife. I remember the day my life was taken from me like it was yesterday.

Of course, I would never disrespect Scarlett like that and have her as a mistress, so we broke up a year before the wedding. I had any public appearances with the witch. She has everybody charmed; I was not so easily charmed.

Starting a charity, noble now all of the world loves her. The woman could do no damn wrong in their eyes.

She wore a simple dress out in the streets, the next day it’s sold out an hour after the store is opened.

I couldn’t understand their love for her. Why would they love the devil herself?

"Those for the vote..." Lecia Arnolds assistant asks.

I look up at the people around the room and sigh. I had to stop thinking about the witch. I had a business to run while she spent all my money.

More than half the room raises their hands.

“Those against…” she says again.

I don’t vote. I cross my arms and lean back watching them. I wasn’t listening so I have no idea what project they’re talking about.

Rayna hands me a folder.

I take it and skim through it.

Ah, the development project for the south side. I would have to be there personally and it’s in Miami. I know Antonella is going to fight this. She always uses our daughter as an excuse, but I know better. I know she wants to use our daughter to get closer to me. Not that her charm would ever work on me.

After the meeting I walked into my office everyone in the office feared me. I know they do. It’s the way I want it. I didn’t want friendship with the people who worked for me. I didn’t want anything other than them doing their jobs.

I take a seat at my desk. I start my day out like every other day. My assistant Rayna Gibson gave me a list of appointments for the day.

“You have a dinner with Mrs. Cross and Miss Cross at six.” She reports.

I pause my typing. I continue. I forgot today is Wednesday. The day I have dinner at the house with my daughter and Antonella.

“Thank you, Miss Gibson that will be, all.” I dismiss her.

She looks at me startled before walking out.

Aaliyah Cross is four years old; our parents wanted an Heir and that’s exactly what Aaliyah is. We decided surrogacy would be the best course of action for us. I couldn’t stand the thought of being with Antonella in an intimate manner. We’re obviously good at acting in front of our daughter. I never want my daughter to know what type of my monster her mother is. Or her grandfather.

The rest of my morning went on without a hitch.

A knock on my office door around noon startles me. I look up to see Miss Gibson back.

“I just received a phone call from Mrs. Cross. She’s informed me she’s out of the country and will not be able to attend the dinner tonight but asked that you pick up Miss. Cross from school and to have dinner with her.” Miss Gibson informs me.

I stare at her for a long time.

Antonella was out of the country?

“What time does Leah school end?” Antonella handled everything. I wasn’t even sure where her school was.

I spent time with my daughter on Wednesdays and the weekend when we were alone. Antonella spent the weekend with her friends. My daughter hardly speaks about her school.

“Should I have Renolds bring her here?” she asks.

I nod… “Have him bring her here…”

I dismiss her and get back to work.

I pause. Why did she leave the country? She hardly had to leave the country this much over the last seven years. But over the last year she’s been leaving more and more.

It’s suspicious.

She’s never missed a Wednesday before.

I shake her out of my thoughts and get back to work.

Two hours later, my daughter was in my office, and I was getting no work done. She wanted to know where her mother was. She wanted to speak to her mother.

That’s when I realized I didn’t have Antonella’s phone number on my phone. I had to ask Miss Gibson for her phone number.

“Hello?” I grit my teeth.

Why the fuck was he with her?

“Where’s Antonella?” I ask Dean Saunders. He was always with my wife. The man was married yet spent more time with my wife than he did his own. Before he was married, I assumed he and Antonella were sleeping together.

I still do sometimes.

“She’s sleeping…” he says.

I frown. Why does he have her phone and why the fuck is he with her if she’s sleeping?

“Wake her, Aaliyah wants to speak to her mother…”

I could hear Antonella speaking in the background.

“He says Leah wants to speak to you. Do you want to speak to the bastard?” I heard him ask her.

I roll my eyes; he was cheating on his wife not me.

“Hi…” I don’t miss how hoarse her voice sounds.

He did mention she was sleeping…

“Here’s Leah…” I tell her before handing the phone to my impatient daughter.

“Hello mommy…” she pouts.

She rolls her eyes. “I know. I know…”

I smile at her expression. I don’t get to see my daughter enough. I know I can’t blame anyone but myself. I’ve been trying to stay away from her mother and for so long I’ve been running from her mother and she’s always with Antonella, she’s so much like her mother it scares me. Leah might look like me in everyway possible way. but when she’s thinking or when she’s pouting or smiling, she reminds me of her mother.

“Yes mommy. Okay, I’ll tell daddy.” I look back up to see her frowning.

“When will you be back mommy?” she asks.

“That long?” she says.

“Okay, I’ll wait for uncle Dean…”

My daughter looks at me. “Mommy wants to speak to you…” she hands me the phone.

“What?” I ask.

“Dean will pick Leah up tomorrow morning, I’ll be gone the rest of the week and half of next week, I asked Dean to handle school and taking her to school. Leah knows to give you any forms or notices. She put them on the refrigerator for you to sign…” she explains.

She sounds so tired. I’m taken aback by it for a second.

I clear my throat. “I can take my daughter to school and fetch her. I don’t need you to arrange…” I pause when I see Leah watching me. I swallow down my frustration and anger. “Do whatever… I have to get back to work…” I say before hanging up.

I smile at Leah. “Do you want to get some ice-cream?” I ask her.

She smiles and nods.

I pick her up and we walk out of the office.

I ignore my assistants calls after us.

When we’re in the elevator Leah looks at me curiously.

I kiss her on her cheeks. “What’s up pumpkin?” I ask her.

“Is Miss Rayna your girlfriend?” she asks me.

I nearly choke on my own spit. I shake my head, not knowing how to respond.

“Oh… I thought she was. Reece’s daddy got a girlfriend, and she looks like Miss Rayna…” she explains. How her friend got gifts like she does from Miss Gibson, and assumed Miss Gibson was my girlfriend.

“Mommy said if daddy has a girlfriend. She’ll be like a second mommy to me…” she says.

My head snaps to her. What the fuck was that woman teaching my daughter.

“Daddy has mommy, I don’t need a girlfriend. Plus, I have such a beautiful daughter who was my whole heart…” I tickle her so she’ll drop the conversation.

As we exit the elevator, the screen shows Antonella’s office building. What surprises me is the absolute chaos in front of it.

I walk up to the reception desk. “What’s going on?” I ask pointing at the screen.

She looks up at me then the screen. “We’re not entirely sure. There was an ambulance spotted entering the underground parking, soon Mr. Sanders left with his wife. The media has been waiting for a statement but there hasn’t been anything from Mrs. Cross or Mr. Sanders…” she shrugs her shoulders.

That is strange. But then again, they’re not in the country.

I shrug it off as well, I spend the rest of the day with my daughter, and I haven’t been happier in years.