5: Where to Mrs. Sterling?

I slipped my pearl earring into place and tucked my ivory blouse into my high-waist burgundy skirt, ensuring the collar was enough to cover the bruise on my neck.

I was beautiful, elegant, and polished like a Sterling wife should look.

There was never a time in my life that I didn’t have notable men asking to date me, some would go through my father or mother, some even as far as my distant cousins just to score points over my hand.

Regardless of their efforts, none of them made me feel the way Alex’s mysterious demeanor magnetized me. He was handsome, particular about detail, and devoted to his family.

Alexander was every woman’s first choice and I knew most of them carried envy in their hearts, even his mother acted like I was unworthy of her son but I had to keep him as mine.

As I applied a rose-colored lipstick, I prayed it was enough to remind Alexander that I was still trying, still waiting for him to notice me and finally seal our marriage with a passionate night.

Drawing in a breath, I smoothed down my skirt one last time, refusing to let the nerves in my stomach win. I had spent twenty-three years keeping my virginity for the right man, Alex.

Today, I would remind him I was his wife and tonight, he would get me pregnant.

I stepped out of our room and saw Clara, appearing from the hall with a respectful bow. “Ma’am, do you need anything else before you leave?”

“Yes,” I answered softly, gathering my clutch purse into my hands. “Make sure the lilies are changed in the vase by the window, and tell the chef I want a light meal prepared for dinner. Alex doesn’t like heavy meals when he’s been working all day.”

Clara nodded and scurried down the hall to get her chores done while I carefully descended the staircase, the click of my heels echoing in the mansion’s stillness.

Outside the mansion, sunlight poured across the long driveway, where Alexander’s fleet of cars parked like sentries. At the front, a familiar white Bentley waited.

Mr. Richards stood near the passenger door, quiet and composed in his uniform, his weathered face softening as he caught sight of me. “Mrs. Sterling,” he greeted with a bow. “How do you feel today?”

I knew he was referring to yesterday, about how I nearly died in the hands of my husband.

“I’m doing. . .really fine.” My voice cracked slightly.

He hesitated, as though he wanted to say more, but instead he simply nodded and opened the door of the backseat for me.

I slid into the leather seat, and said a little prayer as the car pulled out of the mansion gates, my heart beating faster with every mile that brought me closer to Sterling Biotech Headquarters.

Calm down, Amara. He's definitely forgiven you for yesterday's accident.

Within an hour, Mr. Richards parked the white Bentley in front of a glass building, which towered high into the clouds—an untouchable empire in the center of the city.

I checked my reflection in the window one last time, making sure my hair was still pinned in soft waves, my lips still glossed with the perfect shade of rose.

“Ready, ma’am?” Richards asked quietly.

I forced my best smile. “Yes.”

The moment my heels stepped onto the lobby, everyone’s head turned and the employees greeted me, their voices warm, eyes sparkling with admiration.

“Good morning, Mrs. Sterling.”

“Ma’am, you look stunning.”

“Mr. Sterling's wife is such a queen.”

Each compliment stung and soothed all at once because they all saw me as beautiful when I really hoped Alex would too.

I walked with my head high and took the elevator to the executive floor, clutching my purse until I reached the double doors of his office.

Alex sat behind his massive desk, his grey eyes buried in documents. His face looked calm and endearing but when he looked up at me, a deep scowl stiffened his features.

“What are you doing here?” He sounded unnerved and unwelcoming.

I swallowed, stepping closer. “I came to see you.” My hands dared to reach for his chair and turned it toward me, keeping his gaze on me. “I miss you, Alex,” I said like my words would hypnotize him.

“Amara—” He tried to speak and I tried seizing the opportunity to kiss his lips but he turned his face away. “I’m working, Amara.” His tone cut sharper than any slap.

My chest clenched, pounding within my eardrum. “I just want a moment with you,” I begged my husband for a kiss, the desperation evident in my eyes as I held my glance at his lips.

Before he could answer, a loud knock pulled us apart and his office doors opened as people spilling into the space, laughter and footsteps filling the silence between us.

Jameson Sterling, dignified in a dark suit, smiled warmly when his eyes landed on me. “Amara. It’s always a pleasure to see you, my dear.”

He pulled me into a fatherly hug and I held onto his embrace for a second longer until Eleanor swept past us, her intoxicating perfume invading my nose, not sparing me a single word.

“Mother,” Alex said stiffly, standing to greet her and she kissed his cheek with practiced grace.

The doors opened again and Julien Raines entered without hesitation, his presence filling the room in a way that always unsettled me.

He was calm and steady, but the way his eyes brushed over every inch of me made my skin prickle.

Was I going to have to tell Alexander about his half-brother's lack of decorum?

Without a word of greeting to anyone, Julien slid into a chair at the meeting table in the office, as though he had every right to be here.

“Mrs. Sterling, the meeting will begin shortly and only members of the group are allowed.” Alex’s secretary, Isabel Vega, barely looked at me as she set files on the desk.

Her tone wasn’t informative. It was outright dismissive.

“Some members less than others,” Eleanor added her poisonous words with distaste dripping from every syllable, her gaze flickering to Julien.

“I want to be part of it,” I said quietly at first, then the courage hit me stronger. “I should be a part of the Sterling Group.”

The room went silent for half a second before the loud laughter burst across the room, Alex’s lips twitching in a smile at my expense.

Julien leaned back in his chair, amusement flashing in his eyes as if I had just said the funniest thing in the world.

“You’re wasting our time, Amara,” Eleanor said while examining her manicured nails, her taunted tone clearly warning to leave before her eyes meet mine.

My throat tightened and my vision began to blur but I quickly turned around before they could see me cry, the glass doors reflecting my figure as I pushed them open and stepped into the hallway.

Where else will I belong. . .if not with my husband’s family?

I kept walking, my heels echoing against the polished floor, each step heavier than the last as the sound of their laughter still rang in my ears.

My phone vibrated in my clutch purse and I took it out to see an incoming call from my mother.

I cleared my throat. “Hello, Mama?”

I waited for her reply and heard nothing on the other end.

“Mama, what’s wrong?” I asked again but still no response. Fear gripped me as I imagined the worst happening to my mother.

God, please protect my mother.

I'm not ready to become an orphan.

I quickened my steps outside the building and headed toward the underground parking lot in search of Mr. Richards where I found him waiting at a corner.

He bowed as he saw me approaching. “Where to Mrs. Sterling?”.

“To the Hale Residence.” I opened the door to the backseat myself and slipped in with haste.