Chapter 1
“Mrs. Fletcher, your husband is here to see you!” my assistant, Elsie, said as she stuck her head through the open doorway to my office.
I looked over at her, noticing the tousled hair and deep blush and just sighed. “Elsie, nothing you just said in that sentence was right.” She looked confused for a moment, so I decided to help her out. “I know you’re new, but I have made it clear that you should call me Ms. Hayes as I never took his name. Second, I have also told you not to refer to him as my husband, but as Mr. Fletcher. And last, he’s not here to see me, he’s here to do something that will no doubt annoy me. But send him in anyway.” The last thing I wanted to deal with was my husband Blake, but I guess that was what was happening on a Friday that I’d hoped to leave early on.
She opened her mouth, but just settled on a nod instead of saying the wrong thing again. I had a feeling that Blake had somehow sweettalked her into saying all the wrong things. He had that effect on people, which was rather amazing for an average looking bald and pudgy man. Luckily, it didn’t work on me, and our marriage in name only was just torture.
“Kenley, how are you?” he asked as he sauntered into the room. He had his typical jeans and a button down shirt that he’d been wearing ever since I’d known him, and it fit his image as ‘Blake the Builder’ that he constantly mentioned.
“I was good,” I replied drily. “What do you want?”
He frowned minutely, but I knew it was an act. There was nothing good between us, and there never had been. Had I known what the CEO position entailed, I would have never accepted my father’s proposal ten years ago. But he sold me on it. He told me how enjoyable it was to run the business instead of toiling away with the other executives, and all I had to do was marry an asshole to get the golden ring by merging our companies. Now, instead of designing buildings, which I had loved to do, I was stuck shuffling paperwork, attending meetings, and dealing with the pompous ass that was standing in front of me.
“I just wanted to talk about the municipal project bids,” he said. “Maybe we could do that over dinner tonight?”
“No. The bids are already submitted, which you should have known if you read your email, and they’re announcing the finalists next week. There is no need for us to have any dinner, or contact, for that matter.”
“Come on Kenley, it’s been ten years. At some point shouldn’t we be together?” I knew that tone of voice. I’d heard him use it on plenty of women to make them giggle and blush, and no doubt he’d met them later, not that I had proof. If I had proof of his infidelity, the marriage would already be over, and his company would have been mine, but I’d yet to find a private investigator that could get anything beyond rumors.
When we signed the prenuptial agreement before the wedding, it was very clear. We each ran our side of the business, but if either of us cheated, we would forfeit our company, and the other would have it all. Now, I’d been faithful, probably because I wasn’t good with people and wouldn’t know how to pick up anyone, but I knew he wasn’t. I was also into women, which my parents knew very well before they insisted on this as a stipulation of getting the company, and I wasn’t in the mood for a scandal on top of losing the business. The worst thing was, I didn’t even want the business anymore. If I could, I’d just sell my half, and call it a day. But the agreement said I could only sell it to Blake, and his offers were a joke.
“Blake, you know we’ll never be together. Go find one of your little honeys and tell them whatever it is that gets them to spread their legs for you. Or is it money? Do you just pay them for that?”
He ran his fingers though the remains of his hair, and then just let out a deep breath. “Then what do we do?”
“Get a divorce,” I told him. “The same thing I’ve told you for years. We don’t have to remain married, it was a foolish gesture on the part of my father and it has been drawn out long enough. You won’t have to hide from my private investigators anymore, you can screw whoever you pay for the evening, and we each go our separate ways.”
“But what about the companies?”
“What about them? We each keep what we came into the marriage with. Unless you want to give me a fair price for mine of course, which I know you don’t,” I gave him a fake smile which he just rolled his eyes at.
“That’s it then? Just divorce and go?”
“Do you have a better idea? Why would we remain in a marriage of convenience that isn’t at all convenient?” This wasn’t the first time I’d suggested this, so I don’t know why suddenly he’d agree to it, but it was the best option for us both unless I caught him cheating. Even then I cared less about getting the companies. And more about finally being able to sell mine since I hated being the CEO so much.
He nodded slowly, rubbing his chin with his thumb. “You’re right. It was obvious from the first, so I guess that we should just end it. I’ll get my lawyer to start the ball rolling, or would you prefer to?”
“Go right ahead, you know I’ll use Harper anyway. Just have your lawyer get in touch with her.” Harper had been my best friend for over 15 years, and I trusted her more than any lawyer off the street.
“I guess this is the end then. Hopefully we can wrap this up quickly,” Blake said with a nod of his head. “I’ll leave you to it.”
When he was gone, I let a broad smile spread across my face. I wasn’t free to do what I wanted yet, but I was close. As soon as the divorce was finalized, I planned to let it be known that my company was for sale, and then I could start over somewhere smaller. I didn’t need a whole company to design buildings, I could do that with a small office instead. I might get out of the city too, maybe travel a bit before I decide where to set up shop. New York had too many memories, and few of them were good. I could go somewhere nearby if I liked, but I didn’t need to be anywhere near Blake.
The afternoon seemed to fly by now that I was in a better mood, and I was able to wrap things up by 3pm, instead of staying late for a change. Once I’d packed up my laptop and the files for the projects I was working on, I locked up all my file cabinets and desk, and then took the doorstop off my door and headed out of the office. “Elsie, I’m leaving for the day. Feel free to take the rest of the afternoon off as well.”
“Okay!” she replied brightly, no doubt happy to be able to beat the evening rush hour. “Have a great weekend.”
“You too Elsie, I’ll see you Monday.” I strode briskly towards the elevator bank, using the long legs that were a part of my 5′11" frame, and pressed the down arrow, tapping the toe of my Louboutin heels impatiently until the little chime alerted me to the arrival of the elevator, and I stepped quickly into it, pressing the button for the garage.
As the doors began to close, a hand slipped between them, and they popped back open to reveal a striking young blonde woman in a business suit, who came in while wiping tears from her lovely green eyes. She pressed the button for the lobby, and then stood in the other corner, letting out a few sniffles.
I took a half step closer to her and handed her a tissue from my purse. “Are you alright?” I asked gently. The light smell of sandalwood drifted from her and made me smile. I’d always liked that in a perfume, and it wasn’t overpowering.
She nodded shakily while taking the tissue and dabbing at her eyes. “I think so. I just had a really humiliating job interview, but I’ll get over it.”
I snorted quietly. Since I wasn’t hiring anyone, I had to assume Blake was. I could imagine what he’d done to make her feel like this, and it made my blood boil. “Bald, chubby guy that no doubt asked you to call him Blake?”
She turned her head, giving me a look before letting her eyes scan me from head to toe. I’ll be honest, not many people look at me like that, since I don’t go out in public much, and anyone in the office would be too afraid to. I liked it. I looked her over too. She had a tailored suit on, and her hair in a low ponytail. She had an athletic build with wide shoulders, and it made me wonder how strong she was. No, too young. She looked like she was right out of college, and I had to be much too old for her. But it was a nice thought.
“Yeah, that was him. He’s a pig,” she replied. “I just wish I didn’t need the money.
“Don’t let him get you down. He’s an asshole, but if you stand up to him, he’s harmless. Just tell him you’re friends with his wife, and he’ll leave you alone,” I assured her.
Now it was her turn to snort. “I don’t know his wife though!”
I held my hand out to her. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Kenley Hayes, the asshole’s wife. Well, not for long, we’ll be divorced as soon as we get everything settled.”
She shook my hand gently, her soft fingers almost caressing mine as they slid into my grip. Her eyes widened, giving me an even better look at her gorgeous green eyes, and it made me realize just how long it had been since I’d been with anyone. I knew what I’d be doing tonight! No, I didn’t even know this girl, and I wasn’t going to screw up the agreement now that the divorce was in sight, but I had toys for just such an occasion.
“My name is Shiloh, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I kept a hold of her hand for a moment, not wanting to let go, and I guess she didn’t mind. “So, are you going to go back up there? Tell that fucker that you want the job? If I had any openings, I’d hire you myself, but I’m already overstaffed.”
“I think I will, yeah.” The smile on her face was as wide as the one I’d had when I heard him agree to the divorce. See, I guess Blake really can make people smile, just the thought of leaving him or telling him off would do that.
