6 - Strategizing and Deepening Alliances

Emily’s POV

I stood in front of the mirror, taking in the new version of myself. The sleek, tailored black dress hugged my curves, emphasizing the confidence I had worked so hard to reclaim. It was amazing how a simple shopping trip could transform me. I smiled faintly, the thrill of the new wardrobe coursing through me. But that joy was fleeting.

As I stepped out of my bedroom, my heart raced with both excitement and trepidation. I could hear Nathan in the living room, and despite my resolve, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach.

“Emily!” he called out, his tone dripping with condescension. “We need to talk.”

I forced myself to walk into the living room, where Nathan sat on the couch, looking more smug than ever. His eyes narrowed as he took in my appearance, and I could see the jealousy bubbling beneath his surface.

“Nice dress,” he sneered, his voice oozing with sarcasm. “Where did you get the money for that?”

“None of your business,” I replied, crossing my arms defiantly.

“I saw you getting in a black car yesterday. You may be trying to get me jealous by ordering a uber and pretending you have someone else, but we oth know the truth.

“What truth?” I quizzed, genuinely curious, seeing how we weren’t on the same page.

“The most you can get is a boy toy, no man will want you.” He leaned forward, his expression darkening. “Let me tell you something, no matter how many men you try to find to fill the void, none of them will ever be there for you like I was, so stop being a bitch and stay with me. By my side we can live a beautiful life with my child and Camille. Do you know how many religions happily allow this? You wanting a divorce because I have a child outside is you disrespecting them, don’t you think?”

I gaped at him, and felt my blood boil at his words. How did I not know that the man I had been married to for five years was every rotting personality molded in human form, but I maintained my composure. “I’m not your property, Nathan. You lost that right the moment you decided to betray me.”

He stood up, pacing like a caged animal, the anger radiating off him. “You think this is funny? You think I’m going to let you run off with him?”

I stepped closer, matching his intensity. “You don’t get to dictate my life anymore. You made your choice. You don’t deserve to know if we’re finalizing the divorce until the month is up.”

His jaw clenched, frustration etched across his features. “I’m still your husband, Emily. You can’t just throw that away.”

“Not for much longer,” I shot back, my resolve hardening.

As I turned to leave, he grabbed my arm, yanking me back. “Where do you think you’re going? You don’t just walk away from me.”

I met his gaze, unwavering. “I’m done being afraid of you, Nathan.”

With that, I stormed out of the house, the door slamming shut behind me. Outside, I saw the sleek black car waiting by the curb—Adrian's car. A mix of anger and disbelief surged through me. How dare he pick me up right in front of my house? It felt bold, and I couldn’t help but scoff at his arrogance.

As I approached the car, I hesitated, my heart racing with mixed emotions. I glanced back at my house, knowing Nathan was watching from the window, his expression dark and furious.

Adrian stepped out, his tall figure imposing as always. “Emily,” he greeted, a knowing smirk on his lips.

“Why are you here?” I snapped, crossing my arms. “Did you come to gloat about your victory over Nathan?”

He chuckled, unfazed by my hostility. “No, I came to pick you up. We need to strategize, and you can’t afford to be distracted by your—ex-husband.”

I huffed, feeling a flicker of anger. “I can take care of myself, Adrian.”

Adrian never hesitated to rub salt on my wound and it stung. 

“Of course, you can,” he replied, his tone almost patronizing. “But you’ll need more than just that dress to take down Nathan. Let’s get to work.”

The drive to Adrian’s penthouse was filled with an electric tension. I could feel his eyes on me, assessing, judging. 

Was he wondering if he could trust someone who was easily betrayed for years yet remained in the dark?

Was he thinking of terminating the contract?

I refused to let him see how much his presence affected me. As we arrived, the opulence of the penthouse struck me anew, a stark contrast to the chaos I had just left behind.

The penthouse was nothing short of spectacular, a hidden gem that felt worlds away from the chaos of my life. As I stepped inside, the sheer luxury of it took my breath away. Dark wood floors contrasted with white marble, and the skyline stretched before me, sparkling under the afternoon sun. I couldn’t help but marvel at the grandeur, but I quickly reminded myself that this was no fairy tale; it was a battlefield.

Adrian had insisted on meeting here to discuss our plans away from prying eyes. “Too many ears out there, Emily,” he had said with that infuriating smirk. “You never know who’s listening.”

I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. The thought of being here, in Adrian’s domain, set my heart racing—not just from the opulence but from the man himself.

The moment Adrian entered the main living room with me tailing behind him, the atmosphere shifted. He looked every bit the powerful billionaire, and my pulse quickened against my better judgment.

“Nice place, right?” he said, was he trying to brag?

“It’s... extravagant,” I replied, crossing my arms defensively. “You could house an army in here.”

He chuckled, a low, smooth sound that made me want to roll my eyes. “Only the best for my allies. Speaking of which, we need to talk strategy.”

“Strategy, of course, isn’t that why we are in this penthouse that no one else knows about? You could easily do anything to me and I would never be found,” I said and our eyes locked at that moment, his looking slightly distracted like he was considering it.

My heart raced but I was frozen in place as well, at least until he broke the silence.

Clearing his throat, he started “Nathan’s planning to pin the financial issues at the company on you,”his expression back to being serious. “He’s desperate after losing his investment in some crypto coins and plans to take out a bank loan in your name.”