Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 137: Dinner Out

The last time I stood at Alec’s doorstep, unsure of whether to let myself in or ring the bell, it didn’t end the way I’d anticipated. I took a deep breath and blew it out. I keyed in the door code and waited for the click that let me know the lock had disengaged before letting myself in.

I didn’t have a helicopter at my disposal, so the trip took closer to six hours via SUV than two. I didn’t mind. It gave me time to acclimate. Every day at the cabin was like the next. I was able to control my environment and the stimuli that accosted me almost completely, barring what Mother Nature threw at me. The city would be totally different.

Unless I were willing to return to the status of slave in my own home, as I was with the Heavenlys, I would interact with people who would throw random thoughts and ideas at me without mercy. I would need to practice political savvy, remember when to smile, and protect my heart from possibly having it stomped into the ground. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The apartment was empty. Alec must still be at work. That’s the problem with surprise visits. You never know what you’ll find. To say I was disappointed was an understatement.

I went about unpacking the few things I brought with me. Most of it was electronics related since I didn’t take anything with me when I left, I knew I had everything I needed here already.

Everything was exactly as I left it, including the professionally designed office. I liked that I always felt the love Alec put into setting it up. It was like a comforting hug while I worked.

I texted Alec.

Teela: What are you doing?

Alec: Finishing up. Headed to a business dinner.

Teela: Oh? I won’t keep you. See you later.

Bummer.

Alec: Soon. Love you.

Or I could channel Bea and be proactive.

Teela: Where is the dinner?

Alec gave me the name of a restaurant downtown. I knew the place.

Teela: Have a good time.

Alec: I’ll call later.

Teela: I’ll be here.

I smiled. I would be here later.

I took a nice, long bubble bath in the spa bathtub while enjoying a face mask and a glass of wine. The biggest flaw with the cabin was the lack of a bathtub. Showers were fine, but nothing compared to a bubble bath in a jetted tub deep enough to practically drown.

When I was totally relaxed, I perfumed and powdered. I did my hair and makeup, finishing with a rich red lipstick guaranteed to attract attention, and then I visited the closet.

Once upon a time, Bea forced me to buy an off-the-shoulder eggplant-colored dress in a velvet fabric. At the time, I fought against the purchase. I was saving for a divorce attorney, and I could never see myself having an occasion to wear the dress. One of the benefits of working online was no one cared what I wore or whether I took a shower or whether I dressed at all. The dress fit like a glove. Black stiletto heels, a black sequined evening back, and the ruby ring finished the ensemble.

I checked the time. Alec had enough time for a nice dinner and plenty of shop talk, so it was time to make an appearance.

I called for a car and made my way to the restaurant. It was busy. The hostess stopped me at the door, but sometimes money can buy everything.

All eyes were on me as I stopped at the bar for a bottle of their most expensive champagne. A part of me wanted to hide, to return to the shadows where I belonged. It was where I felt safe, but the meek didn’t get what they wanted, and tonight, I wanted to seduce my man.

I grabbed the bottle by the neck and carried it through the restaurant. My gaze was laser-focused on the back of the head with longish black hair. I knew that head. I knew those broad shoulders.

Alec sat at the table of eight. Five men and two women accompanied him. The redhead to his left leaned in close to speak with him. Too close, in my opinion.

Her skin was porcelain. Her lips were full, and from the way she looked at Alec, the fact she had one button too many unbuttoned on her ruffled blouse was no accident.

Too bad. She would be sadly disappointed tonight, and I’d make it clear she would continue to be disappointed any time in the future that she hit on my man.

I walked up behind Alec as all conversation stopped. I swear, one old guy with a receding hairline and wire-rimmed glasses was drooling. No one had ever drooled because of me before. It was a heady experience.

I leaned down to kiss Alec on the cheek at the same time that Alec turned his head to see what had left his people speechless. My lips brushed his.

"Hi," I said.

A smile quickly replaced Alec’s stunned gaze. "Hi."

He kissed me more thoroughly. "Welcome home."

I looked from the redhead to Alec. "Am I interrupting anything here?"

Alec said, "Not one thing."

With an arched eyebrow, I asked, "Shall we go then?" I handed him the champagne.

Alec turned to his dinner companions. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Teela, my fiancée. I should go now. I’m sure you understand. We will continue this conversation in the office tomorrow."

He stood and turned to me, only now fully taking in my appearance. "Beautiful. Bombshell beautiful. Is this for me?"

"Who else?"

Alec looked around the restaurant at all the men staring at me. He frowned and leaned in closely. "I am a very lucky man. We should go before I have to punch someone for asking for your number right in front of me."

"Agreed. We should go."

Alec put a hand on the small of my back, and we made our way through the restaurant.

"You smell heavenly," Alec said quietly enough to be heard only by me.

I whispered back, "Imagine how I taste."

Alec groaned. "Teela, you’re killing me here."

"What a way to go."

As we exited the building, Alec pulled me into the shadows. I backed up until my back was against the building. He consumed me with his mouth as he pressed against me, his arousal evident through the fabric of my dress. And he wasn’t alone. Making out in public where anyone could see us if they tried hard enough only intensified the natural reaction I had to Alec any time he touched me.

Apparently, we weren’t deep enough in the shadows because the next thing I knew, King was calling my name. King wasn’t just anyone. He was a bucket of ice water that immediately doused the burning need Alec so adeptly elicited from me.

How he identified me when I was sandwiched between Alec and the building was beyond me. Perhaps he had seen us leaving the restaurant and spent some time watching us before approaching.

King stood a few feet away with Min at his back. While Min was his stoic self, King appeared confused and hurt.

"Go the fuck away, King," Alec said over his shoulder as he held me closer, pressing my heated face against his shoulder.

"Teela, you’re back. Listen, I never had the opportunity to apologize."

"Now isn’t the time," Alec growled.

"Dammit, Alec, you can give me five minutes with her. It’s not like she’ll leave you for me. Will you, Teela?" There was an edge of hope in his question.

I sighed in resignation and gently pushed against Alec’s chest as I came out of hiding to face my ex.

King’s jaw dropped when he took in my full appearance. I could tell my lips were kiss-swollen, and the dress was meant to impress. King had seldom seen me dressed in more than sweatshirts and jeans. I could understand why he would be surprised that his Cinderella wife had turned into a princess with him acting as her Prince Charming.

"King, contact me tomorrow. We will have lunch, but like Alec said, this isn’t the time."

"I only wanted to—"

I held up a hand. "King, you may be a god in your company, but for the rest of us mortals, we have no obligation to drop everything at your whim. Call me tomorrow or don’t, but tonight, I’m taking my fiancé home and to bed."

"Fiancé?"

I flashed the ruby ring at him.

King opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it. He turned and walked away.

Unfortunately, it was too late to recapture the moment, but that didn’t mean the night was lost.

As soon as we arrived home, Alec pressed me against the door and kissed me breathless.

"Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home?"

"I thought it would be a nice surprise."

"Alec’s gaze roamed over my body. "You can surprise me like this any day."

He turned me around, looking for the zipper on my dress. "I want to unwrap my gift now."

Slowly, he lowered the zipper, his fingertips skimming each newly uncovered inch of flesh until the dress fell to my feet. Alec helped me step out of the garment but stopped me when I started to take off the stilettos.

"No, leave them on."