CHAPTER 4

Stella Romilly's pov

                I was with my parents at an event one evening. It was my tenth birthday and my father forgot to buy me a present. As usual. He promised to make up for it by sending me to an event. But I realized soon enough that I wasn't the purpose. He quickly rushed to his rich friends to boast about the money he wasted on cars and houses.

                 My mother and I sat in the corner as my father tried to fit in. When his friends brought their wives and children, I stood pulling my mom out to follow me. My mother was getting out when my father went to call a woman and her child to join them. 

                I was confused and my mother held a shocked expression. The woman had bright wavy hair and rich clothing and her child who looked younger than me ran to her supposed father to hug him. I stared at my dress which was torn at the side because my dad couldn't care to get me a new one. 

“Mommy, why is Daddy bringing in another woman? Aren't we his wife and child?” 

     My mother didn't reply. She just watched with wide eyes. Suddenly, I was angry. Didn't my father love me anymore? I strode to the place and called. 

“Daddy, why didn't you call us? Why is there another woman? Is she part of the family?” I questioned, almost crying as I tugged his suit for answers. 

My father was embarrassed as he looked at his friends snickering and whispering. He gave me the death glare.

“Daddy, who is this?” the little girl asked.

“I am his daughter. And this woman..”I pointed to the woman at the corner, “is my mother.” 

The woman holding the little girl glanced at him. 

“Are you serious? Is this true?” she asked angrily but when she received no response, she took her daughter and left and his friends dispersed.

                That day was the first time my father laid his hands on me. It was the most painful experience of my life and I woke up the next day in the hospital in a critical condition. My mother and father fought that evening. All I remember was my mother's bloodied face and injured walking. 

        I woke up. I felt for the bed but there was no one there. The harsh reality hit me again. Hard. I got up to freshen up and went downstairs. As I sat in the car, my phone buzzed. I picked it up and looked at the caller. 

Hannah.

I picked it up and put it close to my ear. 

“Stella! Are you okay?” her concerned voice screeched through the phone. 

I held the silence for a while.

I rubbed my temples as I looked outside. 

“No,” I muttered. 

“No, I'm not.”

She sighed sadly. 

“I just saw what happened on the news. How dare he?”

Tears pricked my eyes. I wasn't planning to cry! Why?

“I don't know Hannah, I don't know what to do. What did I do wrong?” I sobbed. 

“That's a bastard of a guy. Don't do anything stupid okay? Come visit me”

I nodded as if she was standing in front of me. I cut the call, wiping my tears. 

 I went to my office to go over my files an hour before the meeting. As I sat down, I took sight of a newspaper lying on my daily newspaper table. I walked over and took it out. 

ANTONIO DANTE BRINGS IN A NEW MISTRESS AND DIVORCES HIS WIFE, STELLA ROMILLY. 

I read. I looked down to read further. 

Antonio Dante, the richest billionaire in the world divorces Stella Romilly, CEO of Romilly's Enterprise, and brings in a new mistress. Her identity has not been confirmed yet and Antonio is being called to a press conference.

         I couldn't read further. My breath had ceased in her throat and my gaze was hazy. I felt sick. I threw the paper in the bin and sat down, breathing heavily. I hadn't realized one hour had passed till my assistant called to inform me. I rushed to the meeting to sit down before the board did. 

          As they sat, I saw how they looked at me sympathetically. They must have noticed the eye bags and red eyes. I should have covered them with makeup.

“Let's begin.”

A picture was displayed by the projector. 

“The hotel has to be upgraded according to the new trends of society.”

“It has to vary from the colors to the textures to the materials we will use.”

When the presentation of an idea was done, another followed. 

He presented using vintage items.

“What about an old-fashioned style? Most of the hotels are going with new trends. There will be nothing unique. Having something like vintage chairs and tables will be nice. Dark red carpets. Designed heavy mirrors..”

            I wasn't listening anymore. I tried to. But I couldn't. My mind drifted to Antonio. 

‘What were they doing right now?’ I wondered. I imagined Lisa in her skimpy red dress, holding Antonio as much as she could. 

        Lisa was probably preparing for her gigantic wedding. Antonio was probably happy answering questions at the press conference and introducing a new face. 

“Miss?”My eyes darted to the man standing in front of a green background. It hurt to be called Miss. They were calling me  ‘Mrs’ before. What changed?

Divorce.

 I looked at everyone who was now looking at me. They wanted an answer. 

“Umm.”I fumbled. 

“I will think about it and get back to you,” I said, ending the meeting. I marched out the door, my assistant following closely behind. 

“Madam, I don't think you are fit to be-”

“I'm okay.”I breathed deeply.

“I'm going to be fine”

“Send me the details of today's meeting”

“Yes ma'am”

“Did you get the model I asked you for?”

“Yes”

“Her pay?”

“Twenty thousand”

“Schedule her for a shoot next Friday”

“Yes ma'am”

“What about the meeting with the scientists?”

“Next week Tuesday”

“Good. Thank you”

“You are welcome ma'am”

“Bring in the papers”

By the time I finished work, I told Ken to drive me to Hannah's place. 

It was a long drive to Hannah's place and when I finally got there, she embraced me with a tight hug. 

“I knew you would come. “

“What did you expect?”I rolled my eyes as I entered the house.

I removed my shoes and settled comfortably on the couch of her little sitting room. 

“How do you feel?” She touched my face. I searched her face. The way her face twisted in concern made me break. Tears flowed down my face as I narrated what happened. 

There was a long time of sobbing,cursing and crying.

“The hell of a scumbag!” she exclaimed, punching the air. 

“ And he had the guts to bring her!”

“As if that would make signing the divorce papers easier,” I added. 

“She is not nearly as beautiful and competent as you. I can see it.”I heard her whisper.

There was silence as her words struck a chord. 

Lisa was not one inch near me. I was way better than her. 

I could get Antonio back!