'I Do' For Revenge-Chapter 99: Help Him Relax

~AXEL~

"I’m sorry, Mr O’Brien, but the meeting has been postponed," the assistant said with an apologetic smile that did nothing to ease my frustration. "Miss Sparkles had to reschedule at the last minute. She had an unavoidable family commitment she couldn’t escape."

I stood in the lobby of the London office building, jet-lagged and irritated. "Does she know I flew all the way from the States for this?"

"Yes, sir, and she sends her sincerest apologies. She’s promised to come to you herself when she’s fixed a new date. We’ll be in touch about a more convenient time." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Fine." I turned on my heel, already pulling out my phone to call my assistant. "Reschedule everything, we are flying back today."

With a sigh, I left the building and headed straight for the hotel. By the time I reached my room, I was already packing. If only they’d postponed this earlier, I would have gone with Layla to Chicago instead of wasting time on this transatlantic flight.

I called Layla as soon as I had everything together.

"Hey," she answered, but her voice sounded strained.

"The meeting got postponed. Last-minute family emergency on their end."

"Oh no. I’m sorry, Axel."

"It’s fine. More importantly, how are you? I saw the video Cassandra leaked. That fabricated nonsense about you bribing police."

"It’s been rough. But we’re handling it. Our lawyers are already drafting a statement."

"Do you want me to come to Chicago? I can be on a flight within the hour."

"No, don’t bother. You should go home and handle the media circus from there. We’ve got the distributor meeting in the morning, and then we’ll be flying back anyway."

"Are you sure?"

"I’m sure. Just... keep me updated on what’s happening with the press."

"I will. Be safe, Layla."

"Always."

—

The flight back felt endless. By the time the helicopter touched down at our private airstrip, exhaustion had settled deep in my bones. I just wanted to go home, shower, and figure out how to counter Cassandra’s latest attack.

"Mr. O’Brien, welcome back," my security chief said as I stepped off the helicopter, ducking under the still-rotating blades.

"Thanks, Marcus. Everything quiet here?"

"Yes, sir. No incidents to report."

I nodded, climbing into the waiting car. The drive home took fifteen minutes, and I spent most of it on the phone with our PR team, strategising our response to the fake video.

Unlocking the front door, I stepped into the foyer and froze.

Erica was standing there, clutching a scarf, looking startled to see me.

"And what the hell are you doing here?" I demanded.

"Oh! Axel! I didn’t expect you back so soon." She held up the scarf. "I forgot this last time I visited; I just came to pick it up."

"You don’t just walk into my house, Erica. How’d you even get in? And didn’t you know Layla was out of town?"

"The guards let me in," she said in a casual, sweet tone. "I told them I needed to grab something I’d left behind. And yes, I knew Layla was in Chicago. I actually wanted to check on the house for her, make sure everything was okay."

Something about her explanation didn’t sit right, but I was too tired to interrogate her further.

I gestured toward the door. "Well, you got your scarf. Out. Now."

"I’ll leave soon, I promise." She hesitated, her eyes calculating. "Just need a minute to use the bathroom. Long drive, you know?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Fine. But make it quick."

I headed to my study, shaking my head at the absurdity of the situation. Between Cassandra’s attacks and now Erica showing up unannounced, this day couldn’t get any worse.

I spent the next hour on calls with our legal team, going over options to add defamation to the list of crimes for which we were charging Cassandra in court.

The fabricated video was so obviously doctored that any forensic analysis would prove it fake, but the damage to Layla’s reputation was already done.

Later that evening, I went to the kitchen to grab something to eat. I stopped dead in the doorway as my eyes landed on Erica.

She was at the stove, and honestly, that wasn’t even the most surprising part. What really caught my eye was her flimsy nightgown, which barely covered anything as she stirred something in a pot.

"What the fuck are you still doing here?" I demanded.

She turned, a sultry smile on her face, and leaned forward deliberately. The neckline of her nightgown slipped dangerously low.

"Cooking for you, Axel. Layla’s gone, and I thought you might be hungry. Thought you’d like some company."

"I don’t need company. I need you to leave."

She moved closer, her hand reaching out to graze my arm. "Don’t be like that. We’re both adults here. We could have some fun while she’s away."

Disgust rose in my throat. I stepped back sharply. "Get out."

She pouted, closing the gap between us again. "Come on, Axel. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed me. I’ve seen how you look at me sometimes."

"I look at you the same way I’d look at a snake in my house which is with suspicion and disgust."

Her face darkened, but she tried again, her fingers trailing up my chest. "You’re so tense. Let me help you relax."

My patience snapped. I grabbed her wrist, not hard enough to hurt but firm enough to stop her. Morals be damned, I’d have hit her if she weren’t a woman.

"Are you insane?" I growled, shoving her hand away. "You claim to be Layla’s best friend, and here you are, trying to seduce her husband? Get out before I call the police for trespassing."

She laughed. "Oh, Axel. So loyal. But everyone has their breaking point."

She moved closer again, her hand brushing my arm. "We could have fun. She’d never have to know."

I grabbed her wrist again, this time harder. "Touch me again, and you’ll regret it."

I shoved her away, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Leave. Now. Or I’ll drag you out myself."

Her face paled slightly, but that calculating smile returned. "Fine. I’ll go get my things."

She sauntered toward the guest room where she’d apparently left her belongings. As soon as she was out of sight, I pulled out my phone and called the head of security.

"Get in here now with some of the boys. Sweep the entire house for listening devices."

"Sir?"

"Just do it. Bring four guards with you."

Within a minute, Marcus and his team arrived. They moved through the house systematically, checking every room with detection equipment.

Erica emerged from the guest room about ten minutes later, fully dressed, carrying a small overnight bag I hadn’t realised she’d brought.

"I’m sorry, Axel," she said in a saccharine sweet voice. "I got carried away. Please don’t tell Layla about this. It would devastate her."

"So you know you were doing the wrong thing?" I asked coldly.

"I just... I got confused. You’re both so perfect together, and I guess I was jealous. But it was wrong. Please, Axel."

"Get the hell out."

She nodded, moving toward the door. Just as she reached it, Marcus appeared from the living room, holding something small in his gloved hand.

"Mr. O’Brien, we found several listening devices. Five in total, one in your study, two in the living room, one in the kitchen, and one in your bedroom."

My blood ran cold. I turned to Erica, who had frozen in the doorway. "Erica?" I said, my voice deadly calm. "I think you’re forgetting these."