THREE- TROPHY WIFE

CHAPTER THREE

Ridley sat in my house a little too comfortable, as though he belonged which was crazy because for the period I had known him, he avoided his brother’s house like the plague but this was the second time her was here in only a week since the last time. I watched him silently as I stood by the archway that led to the kitchen. He was seated by the dining table with his leg crossed over the other and a glass of water in hand. It was terrible and mannerless of me to mention but he looked stunning, all those magazines and articles had failed to capture his true essence.

“I admire a good stare but you’ve been staring for far too long, should I be convinced that you want me and not my brother?” His cocky voice brought me back to reality and I was reminded of the stupid narcissist he was.

“And lead me towards more heartbreak? I’ll pass.” I answered before walking to the table and taking out a seat that was opposite him. “Why are you here?” I asked.

He smiled his usual playful smile and put the glass down. “I hate being here, don’t get it twisted. I was just worried about you.” He replied with a small shrug and I gave him the most ‘I’m not convinced’ look I could muster.

“You? Worried about me?” I asked with humour lacing my tone. “Please stop playing Ridley,”

He leaned back in his seat, “I saw you bawling, not once but twice. Of course, I’d be worried, I’m not a jerk Janelle.” He responded seeming more serious than a few seconds before.

I looked directly into his eyes to pick up on any playfulness and lies. For the first time since I had met him, Ridley looked genuine. The red flags were going up in my head. One brother was already the cause of all my trouble, the brother that had been an angel and now the one that had the reputation of a devil was pretending to worry for me. Every part of me told me that it was a stupid ploy and that I should kick him out of my house.

“Ridley, whatever you’re playing at, stop right now and leave my house.”

He straightened his body after my words and shook his head. “Jane, you’re trying to act tough right now but you and I know that your world is falling apart- heck the entire world knows that.” My hands clenched at my sides and I wanted nothing more than to punch him.

“Rid—”

“Relax sweet Jane. I am only stating facts and you know it. My brother isn’t coming back to you, and shit will only get worse the more time goes by. Soon, Dorothy will be the one calling this her house and you’ll have nowhere to go. You’re lucky I’m even willing to show you some form of sympathy.”

I chuckled bitterly, unable to believe he said all of that to my face. “Sympathy? I don’t need your sympathy, Ridley.”

Ridley laughed and stood up from his seat. “Let’s get it straight, I only need you as a stepping stone to get to my brother. I’m laying it down for you and I will let you think about my words as well as the downfall awaiting you.” He said and removed a card from his wallet. “I know that you do not have my number.” He added and left the card on the table before walking out of the house.

I sat in silence and heard the loud roar of his sportscar leave. I looked at the card across from me and stood up, I shook my head and ascended the stairs and went to my room. The last person I could involve myself with was Ridley, another Stetson. He obviously only wanted to get to his brother, steal his position and prove that he was better. Ridley had not even said what he needed of me, for all I knew he could require me to do something criminally incriminating. The public already favoured Ashton over him, including the board of directors because Ridley had an air of being carefree around him.

Despite everything that was happening in my life, I could not bring myself to sink to any of the Stetson brothers’ level or worse be in between whatever absurdity was going on between them. I fell back on the bed and the worst thoughts circled my mind.

I could not ignore Ridley’s words, if Ashton decided to fully get rid of me, I would have nothing. I would lose my job, love and home, the bit of it that was left. I had nowhere to go, no family and friends, I had always been alone and had accepted that it was my fate but then Ashton made me want more and he gave me more only to take it all away. I could end up on the streets if he had it his way, and sometimes the thought that I was only still hanging around the Stetsons was so that I would have some form of stability in my life.

Different scenarios of how sour my life could downplay from now on continued to formulate in my head and tears formed at the corners of my eyes. The future scared me, and only a few months before it had seemed as bright as ever, and now it was bleak and foggy. The silent sounds of my sobs lulled me to sleep, but even in my slumber, my nightmares found me.

…………………………

I looked up from my workload when my secretary, Lisa knocked and entered my office. “I have the reports for the past 3 weeks ma’am.” She said as she placed 3 huge files on my table and I nodded. “Will that be all ma’am?” She asked and I shook my head.

“That’s all. Thank you, Lisa.” I dismissed her and she walked out of the room. I sighed heavily when I looked at the files once more. I had missed a week of work and it was costly because the workload that accumulated came to bite me back.

I massaged the sides of my tempos and grabbed the files. Even the stability of the work I had gotten through serious and visible favouritism from Ashton was at risk. He appointed me as a revenue manager for one of the Stetson hotel branches in the city a few months after our engagement and back then only a few people had batted an eyelash because according to public opinion, “he was being sweet”. As I thought of it in the present, I should not have been so reluctant to let him turn my world around and solely depend on him.

Now every part of my life revolved around him and I could not bring myself to pull away from him without suffering from the hardest blow I will ever have to experience. My mind kept on going back to Ridley and what he had said, he had only said the truth but to accept whatever he wanted to offer would probably cause my downfall too if he ended up unsuccessful with his plans. I wish I had a second opinion on this.

I opened one of the files Lisa brought and was about to try and forget my worries by drowning in my workload when I got a call from my secretary. “Mrs Stetson wishes to see you,” She said immediately after I put the company phone to my ear.

“Okay,” I responded even though every part of me was dreading an interaction with another member of Ashton’s family.

Maria Stetson waltzed into my office only a minute later with the same air of arrogance she carried around with her nose up in the air. She was the typical horrible mother-in-law and every time she spoke, I wondered how a living human being with a brain could think in her lines. Her black bob fell to her shoulders in perfect harmony, well straightened and shiny and the designer clothes she adorned from head to toe made her look every bit of the trophy wife she was.

“How many times have I told you to get rid of the insolent girl in front of your office?” She did not even bother with a greeting and took a seat. “Why would she disrespect me, this is my family’s establishment?”

I had to repress the urge to roll my eyes. Even after Ashton had told his mother about our relationship it had taken a while for her to stop looking at me condescendingly, not that she stopped, it was only less. To her, I did not deserve her precious son, the only one who could inherit the Stetson business.

“Will you not offer me a beverage, Jane?”

I smiled at her. “My secretary is already on that,” I responded and on cue, Lisa walked in with water, coffee and juice on a tray and placed it in front of Maria and swiftly left. “May I know why you are here?” I asked. The mere presence of her and the smell of her expensive perfume was suffocating.

She took a sip from the cup of coffee and made a displeased look. “I’ve seen that Ashton has moved on to the next toy, a better one at that.” I poked the inside of my cheek with my tongue in irritation. “But no worries, I know that you are scared about how that affects you. I’m sure you can leave with a few scraps if my son decides to fully desert you.”

She took another sip, and then another of the coffee which completely cancelled out the face of displeasure she had made in the beginning. “After all my son did not want to sign a prenup. I’ll let you walk away with something since you’re a struggling woman. You can’t even keep your husband.” She shook her head.

I could not believe she was the one telling me this when her husband had cheated on her numerous times, I mean even when she was pregnant, he had cheated with another woman and ended up with a bastard son. She was only a trophy wife, the woman that Emmett Stetson kept by his side only for public appearances and to keep face.

“I will have a word with Ashton, maybe I’ll let him let you take a car if I’m generous.” She continued. “This marriage was doomed from the get-go and I had told you but you claimed your love was strong. Tsk. I know my son better than anyone and a lowly girl like you could never keep him in place.”

“Mrs Stetson.” I cut her off before she could say more. “You have to keep in mind that this is still my office and you can’t say as you please especially throwing insults at me and my subordinates.”

She stared at me with disbelief, the same face she always gave when I called her out on her behaviour. The last time she had given me that look was last Christmas at the Stetson mansion over dinner when I told her that she could not treat the house helps like slaves.

“You’re still insolent even when you are at your lowest,”

“Correction Maria, I am not at my lowest and if you think whatever Ashton is doing has me fazed then you’re wrong. Ashton was a liar and a cheat before me and he won’t stop being that for Dorothy as well.” I looked straight into her brown eyes. “Even if our marriage has been short-lived it has been happier than yours has been in the last 20 years, you have no reason to call me a terrible wife.”

“Now, if you will so kindly as to do me the favour of leaving my office. You can make yourself comfortable anywhere else since it’s your “family’s business”. Thank you”

If she could spit venom, she probably would have spat on my face. She stood and huffed. “You’ll regret this, you ungrateful bastard.” She said before walking out.

I stared at the closed door after she left in disbelief. She had to either be very bored or too spiteful because why would she come from her home just to tell me what I already knew and throw insults to my face? My eyes went to my jacket on the coat hanger and I stood up from my seat. The last thing I wanted was to end up like Maria or even on the streets.