Chapter 3 - Happier than ever

Chapter 3 – happier than ever

Two weeks later.

Antonella Cross

POV

“How is your little charity doing?” Eleanor Winsor an elderly woman sitting across from me asks. Both arms strapped in the most expensive jewelry diamonds, gold, and a large diamond on her ring finger.

She’s got a way with words that is not only cutting but leaves scars on one’s soul.

She’s been talking down to me for years, the fact that I don’t have a real job as she puts it. she’s on the board of some Realtors association and her husband Senator Jason Winsor.

Her husband currently speaking to my dear husband who has graced me with his presence.

“We’re doing well. We’ve recently partnered with an employment agency and its helped train and create jobs for many under privilege communities…” I answer naturally, I take a small sip of my red wine. I ignore the burn down my throat and down my stomach. I’m going to pay for this drink all week.

“And what exactly do you think these under privileged people will do once they part of the working force? Stop taking taxpayers money every month?” She laughs in the condescending way, a way that if it was a few years ago would have cut me deeply.

She and many people believe all people born under privileged shouldn’t be taking money from the government they should find their own way, yet these very people clean their homes, drive their cars and serve them food. In my opinion those people should be treated with the most respect.

Those people clean your house, they cook your food, and they drive you around. One wrong move and your life is in their hands. Just a thought that is.

I sit up straighter, setting my glass down. “That’s an interesting way of looking at things…” I comment.

Allister pauses and looks over at me. “Antonella and her team works really hard to provide a new way of life for many people who are struggling. I believe they’re doing great work. Helping create new jobs, helping employ thousands a year.” He says smiling at me, kissing the top of my head.

I try my best not to stiffen. I’ve been in love with this man for many years and he only ever saw me as a thorn in his side. This sweet talk and affection are all for show. He doesn’t love me. He doesn’t even care for my foundation.

I watch as Eleanor pinches her brows together as watches us. I’ve noticed the couple hasn’t so much as looked at each other since we’ve been seated at the table with them.

“Well, I guess that’s nice if you think that way. Back in my day, a woman shouldn’t be anywhere but, in the kitchen, we’ve fought for women’s rights so we could be treated equally in the workplace. And yet there are still women who would rather play around instead of getting a real job.” She jabs at me again.

I watch the reactions of everyone at the table. It’s funny how even though they don’t agree with her, they’re too scared to speak up.

“You may have fought for women’s rights, but you can’t force someone to work, if someone would rather stay home and look after their child, or if someone finds fulfilment helping others, that’s their lives and how they feel, you can’t force your believes on someone else.” I couldn’t take it anymore. I tried to stay quiet. I tried to let it go. But she kept jabbing and coming at me.

Her mouth forms the shape of an ‘O.’ She didn’t expect me to speak back or to even have an opinion.

“Well Miss Ricci a pleasure…” relief washes over me when I hear a familiar voice.

I turn with a smile.

Dean and his wife Lucinda take their seats beside me.

Giving Dean a side hug and taking Lucinda’s hand.

“I’m so glad the two of you could make it…” I smile.

I hear Allister mumble beside me. I couldn’t make out what he was saying.

Though when he and Dean exchange greetings they’re both icy and it’s apparent to everyone at the table.

“So, what is it you do Saunders?” Senator Winsor asks.

Dean smiles. “I work as the managing director to Miss Ricci’s Foundation…” he says smoothly.

The Senator frowns.

“You call her miss Ricci and not Mrs. Cross is there a reason for that?” Elleanor asks.

Dean looks at Allister before looking at Elleanor. “You’ve known Nelly since we were in the same class during our university days, I’ve known her long before she was married.” He says.

That’s not entirely wrong and not entirely true either.

“Antonella and Allister the two have you have been married for seven years, right?” Elleanor asks.

I nod.

“And you only have one child? I believe you didn’t conceive the first, right? Are you unable to have children or choose not to?” Elleanor asks.

The table goes silent. I just look at the woman without a word. with all the treatments and medication, I’ve been on other the years I honestly don’t think I could.

“We have Aaliyah and both Antonella and I agreed one is more than enough for us. We both lead busy lives, and we don’t want to have more children when we barely have time for our daughter.” Allister says.

“I was having health issues at the time and the doctors advised me it would be best not to try and conceive…” I wasn’t wrong. Not that I’ve been sexually active with my husband or any man for that matter. But being married for seven years and not having sex once is suspicious, I wasn’t lying though with the amount of medication ingest I would be poisoning my child if I tried to have a baby.

The table goes into normal conversations, and I converse with my only friend.

“How are you feeling?” Dean asks, eyeing the wine.

I smile slightly. “I’m fine don’t worry about me. I’ve been taking my medication.” I tell him.

He looks at me doubtfully, but nods anyway.

I could hear Allister mumbling beside me again.

I did my best to ignore him, but with Allister it was always hard. Being this close to him in a setting where I show my true feelings and him responding positively to it, it hurts knowing it’s all an act to Allister, he would never hold any feelings for me other than hatred.

“I love your dress Nella, is it one of CR’s newest collections?” Lucinda asks.

I give her my practiced smile and nod. “Yes, a gift from Allister…” I tell her.

“I’ve noticed everyone close to the two of you calls the two of you by your nicknames but the two of you never use them…” Carmen Silva comments.

I freeze and look over at her.

Everyone around the table nods as well.

That’s because Allister and I aren’t close.

“Antonella and I don’t call each other pet names because we don’t feel it’s necessary, everyone else calls us by our shorted names, we hold something special and we respect one another, there’s no need to shorten Antonella’s name when it’s such a lovely name.” he says wrapping his arm around my shoulders and kissing the top of my head.

I smile.

“With the up coming election, do you know who your father is supporting?” The Senator asks Allister.

The reason Allister and I are invited to these dinners is because the Senators want his father’s donation or endorsement.

The waiter comes over to refill everyone’s glasses and take our plates. The next course is dessert. God I can’t wait for this dinner to be over.

I was in a deep conversation with Dean when someone shrieked. I look over at Carmen.

My eyes go to the screen behind me where her eyes are.

The news alert. Wendy Daily died in a car accident.

My eyes widen and my hand goes to my chest. I just spoke to her. my hand goes to my chest, I try to stop the tears. My heart aches.

My heart feels like it’s going to stop due heart break.

“Oh Antonella, did you know her?” Eleanor asks.

I straighten up and face her, shaking my head. “No, it’s just so sad…” I lie.

I wasn’t supposed to help her.

Guilt rips away at me. I was supposed to her. She wouldn’t be dead right now if I had helped her.

I could feel Allister’s eyes on me. His phone rings, he clears his throat and takes his phone out of his trouser pocket.

I clench my fists. Not daring to say a word.

I knew what she was going through. I proposed her I would save her. I promised her I would be there to help her.

“Such a shame,” someone across from me says. I don’t bother looking up, I couldn’t bear to.

“Shit, it’s getting late Leah’s babysitter needs to leave.” Allister mutters, getting up from the table. I follow him clumsily, nearly falling over. Dean stops me.

He gives me a once over.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

I nod.

He pulls me into a hug. “Did you know her?” he whispers in my ear.

I nod numbly.

“Antonella, we need to leave…” Allister says.

I pull away from Dean. “We’ll see each other tomorrow…” I tell him.

He holds my arms. “Eat something when you get home. You barely touched your food, and you had wine…” he nods to the table.

I nod, knowing Fulwell I wasn’t going to eat when I got home. I was going to obsess over all the ways I could’ve saved Wendy.

Allister takes my arm leading me away from Dean, he grabs my arms so tightly as we walk, I fear there’s going to be a bruise when I wake up tomorrow morning…

“What the hell was that?” he hisses in my ear.

I shake my head smiling as guests pass us.

“Why is he so worried about you? Are the two of you sleeping together?” he asks.

He has had this notion since Dean, and I have been friends. I don’t have time for a lover, and I already have I man I love, plus why add a lover to the mix when I’m already knocking on death’s doorstep.

I just shake my head. He wouldn’t believe no matter how many times I’ve told him nothing is going on between Dean and I, he doesn’t believe me.

Dean’s father is a director at the IRS and the reason he gets invited to these events. Though his father doesn’t care for politics they don’t stop trying to sway him.

We waited for our car. Reece has already retired for the evening, it didn’t make sense for me to ask him to drive out to get me, and it wouldn’t make sense for guests to see us leaving separately when we’re headed the same way.

“Allister it was lovely to see this evening. I do hope to see the both of you at the Hartfield charity ball next week...” Miss Larce Bowen smiles brightly.

I look up at her. She’s beautiful. Of course she is. Allister and Larce dated before we got married. Her blonde hair flows down to her waist. Her bright blue eyes shine like two blue pools. Gorgeous. Something I pretend to be.

I clear my throat. “Allister will be, but I’ll be out of the country next week…”

While Allister didn’t look pleased by me speaking up, Larce looked excited.

I’ve heard that Allister broke up with her a month or two before we got married, she wasn’t happy, and she’s resented me ever since. She only ever shows me how much she hates me when Allister’s not present.

In front of Allister, she’s the perfect kindhearted ex-girlfriend who wants nothing but the best for him. Dean and Lucinda walks out.

“I’ll see you at the office tomorrow…” Lucinda smiles kindly.

She’s helped me so much over the years and I’m happy to leave the Foundation in their hands when I’m no longer around.

I give her a hug before our car arrives and Allister and I leave.

When we get in the car Allister is ready for me. “Where are you going?” he asks me.

I look over at him. “What?”

“This trip out of the country is Saunders going with you?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No, it’s something personal…” I tell him.

“Personal…” he scoffs.

“My grandmother passed, and I have to be there for her funeral…” I inform in.

My mother and her family aren’t close, not since she married my father. I only stayed in contact with them because they helped raise me. I’m going back to Italy for her funeral…

Allister clears his throat. But doesn’t say anything. I didn’t expect him to. I know much he hates my family.