Chapter 9

~Thomas~

As I drove through the ornate gates of Andrew Stanford’s estate, I was struck by its grandeur. The manicured lawns, waterfall, and sleek cars were a testament to Andrew Stanford's taste – the fucker definitely had an eye for pretty things.

But the interior was where the estate truly shone. The foyer's soaring ceilings, intricate moldings, and stunning artwork created an atmosphere of refined elegance. Every detail seemed carefully curated, whispering tales of old-money sophistication.

“Beautiful day, isn't it? What smells so incredible" I said, inhaling the sweet aroma of roasted beef.

However, the sight that greeted me was almost comical. Everyone except Andrew stared at me with surprise etched on their faces. Didn't the fucker inform them that I was coming?

My gaze shifted from Andrew to his wife, Emily, who seemed mortified, as if wishing she could disappear and I couldn't help but wonder if my appearance was the cause of her distress.

My eyes strayed downward, and I was briefly captivated by the soft curves of her chest, delicately framed by her dress. Her understated elegance held a certain charm that was impossible to ignore.

Then my eyes landed on a woman standing near Tabitha Stanford, Andrew's secretary, if I recall correctly. She wore a see-through dress that seemed deliberately provocative, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of distaste. Her outfit reeked of desperation, and I had little patience for people who sought attention so shamelessly.

It was pathetic that Andrew would cheat on his wife, who embodied elegance and refinement, with someone so clearly lacking in both.

My presence here, however, was purely professional - his personal life was of no consequence to me.

Andrew had stormed into my office, spewing baseless accusations that I was planning to make a move on his wife. While that was indeed my intention, I had never made my interest obvious.

The desperation in his eyes was palpable as he begged to know what he could do to make amends with her. I coolly suggested he purchase one of the latest luxury cars from my dealership, knowing it would appeal to his ego.

We struck a deal that I would join his family for dinner, allowing his wife to choose her new vehicle.

What Andrew didn't realize was that I had done my homework on Emily and my associate had uncovered a fascinating detail about her past - she had attended culinary school.

This revelation had piqued my interest in having her showcase her culinary skills, and so I requested that Emily prepare a special dish for me, to which Andrew hesitated but ultimately succumbed to my demand.

"I didn't know we were expecting two guests," Tabitha, Andrew’s mother said, her gaze flicking to Andrew.

Andrew intervened smoothly. "Thomas is our guest, Mom. Kate is simply here to document the details of the vehicle I'm purchasing for Emily."

The room fell silent for a moment before the three women - Tabitha, Emily, and Kate - spoke in perfect unison, their voices tinged with surprise: "A vehicle?"

I smiled, relishing the moment. "Yes, ladies," I said, glancing over to the dining room.

"I'm strictly here for business and, of course, the exquisite cuisine. Whatever Mrs Stanford has prepared, it smells incredible. Shall we?” I said

The dining table was a vision of perfection, with each element arranged to create a feast for the eyes. Even if the food didn't live up to its visual promise, I would still award it a solid 10 for sheer aesthetics. This was a feast fit for the finest restaurants.

I set my leather briefcase on the edge of the table, unzipped it, and retrieved my tablet. "I have pictures and details of each of the latest vehicles on here," I said, handing it to Emily. "Why don't you take a look while we eat? See which one catches your eye.”

Emily's eyes sparkled as she took the tablet, scrolling through the images with interest.

“You can choose any car you like baby, no matter the price." Andrew smiled warmly, his fragile attempt to sound romantic making me sick in the stomach

“Shall we?" I asked, my stomach growling in anticipation, already ready to devour the food.

The first bite was sublime, a symphony of flavors and textures. I've had top chefs cook for me and I have eaten from top restaurants, but this was different.

Just as I was about to comment, Kate's voice cut through the moment, her tone dripping with condensation

"This is a bit bland. The Wellington lacks a certain... panache."

"Yes, I was thinking the same thing," Tabitha responded, nodding in agreement

I glanced at Andrew, expecting him to defend his wife's cooking. "This is the best beef Wellington I've ever eaten," I said. "What are you ladies talking about?"

Andrew hesitated before speaking up, "Mom, you don't always have to be a critic. This tastes better than I expected."

Tabitha scowled, her expression disapproving. "Cooking well doesn't mean she'll keep the husband. I mean her cooking is good but not exceptional. She needs to dress well too. Emily, you always dress so simple and boring. Look at Kate, she knows how to make an entrance.” She stated

I raised an eyebrow, "You can't be serious. Emily's style is elegant and understated." I said in an attempt to soften the situation that was beginning to brew

"Elegant? Understated? Kate knows how to make an entrance. Emily could learn a thing or two from her." Tabitha said, her eyes flashing with malice

I raised an eyebrow, taken aback by what I'd just heard. "So you'd prefer that your daughter-in-law dresses revealingly, like Kate?"

Tabitha's face reddened, her voice rising. "At least Kate knows how to keep a man's attention!”

Kate smiled, clearly enjoying every bit of this, "Yes, Emily could take some fashion tips from me. I mean, who wears a plain black dress to entertain a guest?"

Tabitha nodded in agreement. "And those shoes, dear, they're so... pedestrian. You need to learn how to dress like a Stanford."

Emily's face began to flush, her eyes narrowing in annoyance

Kate leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone, "Between you and me, Mother, I think Emily's problem is that she's just not trying hard enough. I mean, if I were married to boss, I'd make sure to keep him happy... in every way possible."

Tabitha's eyes sparkled with interest, and she leaned in, eager to hear more. Emily's face, on the other hand, was rapidly approaching boiling point

"How dare you, Kate! You think you can just come into my home and speak about me like that and to my face?" Emily said, with an anger that seemed to tremble at the edge of tears

Kate smiled, her expression innocent. "Oh, Emily, I'm just trying to help. You know, give you some advice on how to keep your husband…I mean, my boss happy."

"Yes, dear, you should listen to Kate. She's obviously an expert on how to keep a man satisfied." Tabitha chimed in, her voice dripping with malice.

Emily's face contorted in rage, her voice rising to a shout. "All you do is criticize me, Mother! I try my best to be the best daughter-in-law, but what do I get in return? Comparison with Kate, of all people. The only thing she's good at is sleeping with my husband just to get on my last nerve! And quite frankly, I don't care anymore. She can fuck him for all I care. This marriage is one of convenience anyway. I never asked for it, I never asked for any of this”

Emily's voice escalated into a furious shout, her words spilling out in a torrential outburst, "Kate, I never wanted to be a Stanford! I know you think you must fight to take my place, but I'm done competing. You're welcome to him - have him, sleep with him, move in, and have his children! And Andrew, do you really think a new car will fix the emotional damage you've caused me? I don't even know how to drive! Is this another one of your pathetic attempts to look good in the media?" She said, slamming her fork onto the table, the loud clang reverberating through the room. She stood up, her eyes blazing with anger, and stormed out.

Taking this as my cue, I pushed my chair back, my voice calm. "Excuse me, I think I need to... ah... ease myself,” I said but my voice sounded distant compared to the oppressive silence that was heavy with unspoken words

Tabitha's face was red with anger, while Andrew looked like he'd been punched in the gut. Kate, on the other hand, seemed to be savoring the moment, her smirk growing wider.

At that moment, my presence was an afterthought, a mere spectator to the unfolding drama.

As left the dining room, the tension erupted into a full-blown argument, with raised voices and heated accusations filling the air.

I swiftly followed Emily, catching up to her just as she slammed a door shut behind her. The sounds of heated arguments and raised voices from the dining room grew fainter as I trailed behind her, the distraction of the ongoing dispute working in my favor.

With the others too engrossed in their own drama to notice, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Emily spun around, her lips parted in protest, but I gently placed a finger on her lips, silencing her. With another finger, I softly wiped away the tears that had begun to fall, my touch sending a spark of electricity through both of us.

Then, driven by instinct, I pressed my lips to hers, anticipating resistance. Instead, Emily's hands found their way to my face, her fingers wrapping around my jaw as she drew me closer, her lips parting to deepen the kiss.