Till Daddy do us part

Dahlia's POV

I should have been listening.

Someone was talking about projections, something about overseas collaborations but the words sounded gibberish in my ears.

Instead, I was trying to hide how wet I was under the boardroom table.

Matthew sat beside me at the edge of the table, his shoulder barely inches away from mine. Close enough to remind me of the parts of me he didn't touch last night.

I stared at the polished surface of the table and I kept wondering how this morning might have played out if he'd actually wanted me. I thought about how it might feel to stop aching for him and just sink into my own needs. I used to be good at that, taking care of myself, not begging for attention.

What if he'd just reached for me when I rolled towards him in bed, instead of mumbling about some call? "I have an important call. We'll talk later." He always said that. But 'later' was a lie, and it never showed up.

I wanted something more real. I wanted to feel him make me matter. To press into me like I existed for something bigger than his endless parade of meetings. Instead, his phone was glued to his ear, words for someone else tumbling out while I waited. I tried not to care, biting back longing, swallowing every sting of being ignored.

But the hunger didn't die, it just twisted. I pictured his hands all over me, rough, claiming me right there in the office. That fantasy was shameless: him pushing me harder and harder until I couldn't take anymore, until I came. I wanted him to be desperate to show anyone within earshot that I was his. Or maybe just desperate to feel him, anyway I could.

That kind of ache unsatisfied, broke me over time. My thighs pressed together under the table. I shifted in my seat, crossing my legs more tightly. The day was just beginning and already my body was craving what I shouldn't have to beg for.

“Dahlia.”

Matthew's voice snapped me back.

I flinched. My head lifted too quickly. My heart raced as reality snapped into place.

“They're asking for your opinion,” he said quietly, already looking down.

I swallowed, forcing a smile. “I don't have anything to add.”

Those were probably the only words I would say for the rest of the meeting. That was the only way they saw me. As a subordinate. As his wife.

The first half of the meeting wrapped up neatly. Figures were drawn and budgets were approved. I relaxed back into my chair just slightly. Then one of the board members cleared his throat.

“Matthew,” he said, leaning slightly forward. “During the last meeting, you mentioned the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer.”

Everyone's attention was drawn to this announcement.

“We'd like to know who it will be,” another added. “So we can prepare accordingly. This role affects us all.”

My pulse quickened.

COO.

The words echoed in my mind.

I had been Chief Strategy Officer for years, delivering growth and closing deals no one else could close. Becoming COO wasn't an ambition. I earned it by merit.

I had bled through four years of late nights and constant underestimation from men, until I outperformed them.

That position was mine.

Matthew knew that.

My fingers curled under the table, anticipation increasing with every second.

I opened my mouth.

“Chairman,” Matthew said smoothly, cutting in before I could speak. He rose slightly from his chair. “We're still reviewing our options,” he continued in a calm tone. “We want to be absolutely certain before making a decision.”

The words landed like a slap.

Still reviewing, he said.

My gaze flicked to him, searching his face for some sign, a silent reassurance meant only for me.

He didn't look at me.

Confusion rushed in first before denial rose to meet it. I created an idea in my head that he probably wanted a clean announcement the next day. He wanted to announce that I was taking over without rumours rising.

I clung to that explanation. Because the alternative, the idea that he didn't acknowledge me in front of them, that he dismissed my years of hard work was something I couldn't accept.

The meeting adjourned a few minutes later.

I didn't want to let the tension of tomorrow's announcement get to me. I walked into my office and locked the door to do what I've always done when my heart was racing.

I reached for my phone. Aliyah picked up on the second ring.

“Girl,” I said immediately. “Do you know what your favourite emotionally unavailable billionaire just did?”

She sighed. “I knew this call was coming.”

I sank into my chair staring at the glass walls of my office. “He did it again Aliyah. They asked about the new COO,” I started. “They asked. In front of everyone. And you know I've earned that role.”

“I know,” she said gently.

“I was about to announce it when Matthew cut me off. He said they were still reviewing options. Like I haven't been right there the whole damn time.”

“You're paranoid,” she said softly, the same way she always did. “And I mean that with love. You're reading too much meaning into it.”

Maybe I was. I let out a long sigh.

“No wonder I had this feeling to call you,” I murmured. “You always calm me down.”

She chuckled. “That's literally been my job since sophomore year.”

I smiled faintly.

“Everything's going to be fine,” she added. “You'll see. Sometimes men like to be dramatic.”

“If you say so. Let me leave you to focus on work,” I said with a smile. “Later.”

With that, the call ended and I threw myself back into work immediately. I signed off on emails and made final revisions for several projects. I had to finish everything so I could focus on tomorrow.

As the evening crept in, with the dimming of light one office after another, the executive floor cleared out. I packed up quickly, my brain already rehearsing my speech. I told myself I'd reread it at home.

I was halfway to the house when my phone vibrated. A notification flashed across my screen.

Executive access used—Matthews floor.

User- Dahlia Dalmante.

“Shit!” I whispered, digging my hands into my bag. I glanced at the passenger's seat. I checked my pockets, my coat.

My card wasn't with me. Another notification popped up.

Shared executive drive accessed using your credentials.

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel. I figured it was Matthew who slipped it. I must have left it in his office when I went to deliver some files earlier. But I needed that card for the next day. I couldn't walk into the most important day of my career locked out of my own access.

I made a U-turn.

My heels echoed as I stepped out of the elevator. Before I reached his office, I could see his lights were still on. He worked so hard. He was probably making sure everything was ready for the announcement the next day.

I pushed his office door open.

The sight before me stopped me cold where I stood.

Matthew's hands were on her waist.

Aliyah was pressed against him, her fingers curled into his shirt, her mouth on his like kissing him was something she'd done several times. They were utterly engrossed in one another.

The moment they noticed me standing at the door, they broke apart.

Matthew turned first, irritation flashing across his face, like I'd interrupted something important.

Aliyah's eyes widened but she didn't step away. She didn't cover herself. She just stared at me.

My voice came out broken. “How could you?”

The silence that came after hurt more than the sight itself.

Aliyah exhaled softly and said, “You weren't supposed to find out like this.”