Chapter 3

~Nivea

"Nivea! Hurry the fuck up already," Thomas shouted at me from downstairs, while I tried to fix the flimsy excuse for a gown I was wearing, trying to make it more presentable. 

Concluding it was a lost case, as no matter how much I pulled it down, the length of the hot pink gown kept clinging dangerously close to my butt curve. I left it and walked tentatively downstairs in my six-inch high pink heels. 

If I bent the wrong way, I was sure I would flash someone, but this was the gown Thomas insisted I wear to his friend's party. 

"Sorry. I'm here," I apologized, as I stopped next to him, my gaze down, as I waited for the tongue lashing I knew would come next. 

"There there. Now you look like the attention-seeking slut you truly are. If anyone saw you in this dress, they wouldn't be deceived by your beauty and innocent-looking eyes, instead, every man at the party will be fantasizing on how you will look bent over a hard surface while they fucked you," Thomas said, as he gripped my right arm and pulled me close till we stood eye to eye, his dark gray eyes glinting with maniac desire. 

The desire in his eyes sent a chill through me like someone had doused me with freezing water. 

God please, not now. I pleaded internally, praying Thomas wouldn't decide to have sex with me here and now, in the living room where anyone could walk in, which was something he had done once before.

"We are late because you spent so much time getting ready, so let's leave. When we get back, you will show me exactly how slutty you are," He finished. 

It was an order and I knew it. 

I had gotten married to Thomas Westington a month ago, after considering his proposal. 

Things were falling apart, my parents could lose their house, my sister could die, and I had the power to prevent all that by selling myself to Thomas. So, I did. 

I was trying not to regret the decision as my sister was undergoing chemotherapy now, and would soon get better, also I would be resuming my second year in college, at California University next week. 

But, this marriage was hell. 

Thomas made sure to talk down on me, treating me like trash both in and out of the bedroom. 

I was basically his pretty arm candy in public to make all his friends jealous and salivate over me, and in the bedroom, I was his slut, his sex toy. 

One month in and this life was killing me slowly. There was no way to get out, except Thomas let me go. 

Which I wasn't sure would happen any time soon. 

Thomas said he was attracted by my innocence and married me because he wanted to sully it till I became dark and dirty and hated myself, which I was already starting to do. 

As we got into the Lamborghini, my mind flashed to three nights ago at the club, and all my hidden body parts heated up. 

I had not been able to forget my gold-eyed fantasy man, no matter how much I tried. 

I even pictured him the last time Thomas and I had sex, which made me climax, shocking the both of us. 

I had never climaxed with him before.

But that night at the club was a night that must never repeat itself. I had lost my head for a moment, overwhelmed by all I was feeling, so I made a mistake. Yes. That was what that night was. A mistake that mustn't happen again. 

Thankfully, Thomas hadn't noticed I was gone that night, so I was able to crawl my way back into bed. 

While the car drove, Thomas lectured me. 

I was not to be seen talking to any man, I mustn't leave his side, I must be cordial to the people we would meet, as most of them were his friends and business partners. 

The very rich and famous would be present at the party, so I mustn't act like the uncultured bitch I was. I was married to wealth now, so I had to act like it. 

This lecture wasn't new to me as I had listened to it a few times before, but I pretended to pay attention to what he was saying, my head still lost in the clouds of that beautiful night. 

We got to the venue of the party, which was hosted in a huge Victorian-style house. 

Putting my right hand on Thomas's left arm, we walked into the house like the perfect couple, which was laughable to me. 

We were far from perfect, me with my almost butt-revealing hot pink gown, and Thomas dressed to perfection in his expensive dark blue suit, no tie, well-ironed slacks, and fashionable walking stick. 

He was dressed like a gentleman, which hid the monster he really was inside. 

"You are here, Thomas," An older man greeted, his dark brown hair spiced with gray here and there. 

"It's your party, of course I will be here Ezekiel," Thomas replied, answering the other man's smile, with one of his own. 

"And you brought you pretty wife too," Ezekiel stated, his smile turning lewd to fit the look in his eyes, as his eyes ran over the lacy bust of my gown which exposed a lot of cleavage, and down to where my gown hit my upper thigh, then over my exposed legs. 

The tip of his tongue came out to wet his bottom lip. "Sexy as ever, isn't she Thomas? I might just steal her from you," Ezekiel added, adjusting himself in his dark gray slacks. 

Ugh! I cringed inwardly as they both shared a laugh. 

Disgusting men! 

"I saw your son in there, he's looking good. I think Switzerland was good for him. It's been how many months, again?" Ezekiel asked, quirking a brow. 

"Six months. The internship has ended, so he's back to finish up with college since it's his last year," Thomas stated. 

I knew Thomas had a son. Cane or Zafe or something.

He was close to my age, twenty-four or five, and was in his last year at California University too, studying software engineering. 

A son who was walking his father's path. 

Like father like son, which was just my horrible luck. 

I didn't want to ever meet him, but I knew that wasn't possible. 

"Will you hand over West Software to him once he's done with his studies? You know that's what he has always wanted; to head your company one day, which was why he chose that field of study," Ezekiel stated. 

"Not yet, but I have a plan in the works. He will work with me directly till I'm sure he's ready for that huge responsibility," Changing the subject, Thomas asked. 

"What of Finny? I hope Zane spoke to her today? I instructed him to be here since this party is thrown in honor of her emerging as the best student in her class, and her first step as an executive in your company. They are engaged to be married soon, so Zane needs to treat her right," 

"I think they've seen each other or something. Let's not concern ourselves with those youngsters, they will work things out. Let me lead you to your seats," Ezekiel gestured, as he led the way to a section of the house where other elegantly dressed guests were talking and mingling, a glass of wine or champagne in their hands. 

Suddenly, I saw the back of a familiar figure talking to a blonde man. 

I would know those shoulders and black-as-sin hair anywhere. 

What was he doing here? I stared in horror, hoping and praying I was mistaken. 

What was my golden-eye fantasy man doing here of all places? 

"Zane!" I suddenly heard someone next to me call out. It was Thomas. 

With horrified eyes, I looked at the direction he was gesturing at, and the dark-haired figure turned around. 

It was him! In the flesh, in broad daylight, looking devilishly handsome, his lilac long-sleeved shirt rolled up to his arms, showcasing his toned slightly hairy arms. 

Arms that had held me as I found pleasure I had never experienced before. 

I could see the confusion on his face transform into shock as we got closer to him, till we stood directly in front of him. 

"Nivea, meet my son, Zane Westington," Thomas introduced, everything occurring in slow-mo. 

"Zane, this is your new stepmother, Nivea," Thomas added, as we stood staring at each other, while I watched varied emotions play around golden eyes' face, till it settled on disgust. 

Shit! I cheated on my husband with my stepson. 

If this didn't get me killed by Thomas, I didn't know what would.