Chapter three

"You have a daughter?”, "Why was that not mentioned?" I shouted out the question, when I saw the little girl looking at me, I tried to remain calm.

How many more people are going to betray me, just in a day. I thought.

"It was not a secret, my daughter is not going to be a problem, I'll do everything I promised to do, you just have to be a wife, I don't need a mother for my daughter.”

I realized how my questions made me sound like I hated the idea of him having a child, but that was far from it, it's the keeping of secrets I hated and loathed.

"I'm sorry, that's not what I'm trying to say. I don't like you keeping secrets from me, and you having a daughter is a big deal.” I said calmly this time.

Max took a calming breath. “I understand."

I knew then, he was not going to say more than that, I had come to realize that Max Stone is a man of few words and a man that carries power. 

“Take her things inside, show her to her room, and help her with anything she wants." He continued, speaking to a man, which I just realized entered into the sitting room. He must be the butler, I thought.

“Hello, I'm Selena, what's your name and I love your hair." I turned my eyes to the pretty little girl. She was pretty, her father was handsome, so it was expected.

The little girl looked at me, now smiling. “My name is Trina, you look like a princess."

I chuckled, “You look like a princess too." I said to Trina, flicking her nose. "It's nice to meet you.”

"It's nice to meet you too.” Trina replied giggling.

As I was leaving, a thought entered my mind. “What do you do?" I realize how stupid that question was, I was married to a man I did not know what he does for a living. 

Max stood, towering over me, Trina no longer hooked on his waist. He was tall, very tall, and domineering. “I own so many businesses." He answered me.

Well that's all I was getting and right now, I was tired, I needed to sleep and to eat.

“Okay then, goodnight and we will talk more tomorrow. Goodnight Trina."

“Goodnight Selena." The little girl replied.

As I turned again, heading for stairs, the butler leading the way, I heard Trina asked. “Daddy, is Selena my new mommy."

I was too far off to hear Max reply. 

I tossed and turn throughout the night, thinking about everything that has happened.

The next morning I woke up with a migraine, this was expected. Anytime I had a bad day, the migraines comes next.

I stood up, from the bed, tossing the duvet away and strolled into the bathroom, to wash my face. When I came out, I met a woman arranging my room.

“Good morning Mrs Stone. Breakfast is ready at the dinning table, I was told to tell you. You can tell me what you want for breakfast and it will be done.” The woman spoke to me, looking at me with a smile on her face. 

I could not, for the life of me figure out why this woman was smiling at me, like she knew me before.

"Thank you very much, I'll eat whatever is on the table, I don't know if you can help me with ibuprofen, my head is really killing me.” I replied.

“Yes ma'am, we do have ibuprofen, I think there's a medicine cabinet in your bathroom, I'll go get it… this is it ma'am.”

"Oh my God, thank you again, I did not know that, and please just call me Selena.”

"Oh ma'am, I can not, you are Mr Stone's wife, everyone is going to address you with respect. Mr Stone is not going to like it, if you are disrespected.”

Well that seals it then, Mrs Stone it is. It still felt surreal, maybe after a week, I will be able to get use to the feeling.

"Okay, whatever works best for you, I'll freshen up now, is Max at the dinning table?” I asked.

“Yes ma'am."

After taking a shower, I felt more in control, at least a little bit. Dressed in a jean and a shirt, my hair wrapped in a bun, I stepped out.

I saw the butler waiting for me at the door of the dinning room. “This way ma'am." He said, his hand pointing to the door.

I was so very hungry. My appetite had returned and the migraine had reduced.

I stepped in and saw Max, and his little daughter Trina, already sitting, I took a sit and turned to them.

“Good morning, how was your night, Trina?. Did you sleep well?.”

"Good morning, Selena, I slept well, I had nightmares but Daddy helped me, so it was great.” Trina replied, bouncing with joy and happiness on her sit.

It was a great sight to see, it reminded me that happiness was not lost. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.

“Good morning, Selena." Max said looking at me, he was staring into my eyes like he could see what I was thinking about, my sadness and my fears. He was an imposing man.

“I was told, you are not feeling well, do you want to go to the hospital?” He continued.

"No, I'm good now, I took something for it. The woman upstairs was nice to help me."

I had forgotten to ask for her name. 

"Okay that's good, after breakfast we can talk in my office.” Said Max.

The food was so good, I was able to finish everything, I could stay here and ask for more and try to delay the talk with Max. But I knew I was just delaying the inevitable, I needed to talk to Max…but being in the same room with him, sent some shivers down my skin.

“Are you done, let's go. Trina stay with James, we will be back very soon."

“Okay, Daddy. Bye Selena."

We stood and left to his home office, I was so nervous, fidgeting with my fingers. But I was not this terrified yesterday, what had changed now. 

Maybe I wasms thinking straight now, I had searched about him, on the Internet, last night before falling asleep. My finds where not surprising because I knew a man like this has immense power, but it made my insecurities come out.

He was wealthy, he owned so many businesses, she could hardly count them, it was written in one article that, there were some businesses he owned but it was not known to people that he owned them. 

I saw the women he went out with, they were beautiful, beautiful like Jane was. The thought of my best friend brought a sharp pain to my heart. I was not beautiful, and that I knew. 

I could not find anything on Trina’s mother, that left me wondering how beautiful the woman was. 

“Okay, let's get started. We will attend dinner parties together, we will be seen on dates. We are going to be seen as an happy family, that's is all I want from you.”

Max started.

He stopped, eyebrows raised and said. "So tell me Selena, what are the plans for your stupid ex-fiance and your backstabbing best friend.”

I opened and closed my mouth, trying to find my words, then I said. "I want them to suffer, I think…I think, I know the reason Daniel left me, Jane comes from a rich family, not as rich as you but she is better than me.”

“She is not." Max growled at me. 

I flinched, and shrugged my shoulders. “Anyway, Daniel is jobless, I was the one paying for everything, I work in the marketing department of Queens plc, so the salary was enough to take care of us, and I loved him.” I finished quietly, shame burning through me. 

"We can start there, I will make sure he does not get a job, even if he is helped by Jane, and then bring down Jane's family business." Max said.

My heart was beating so far, did I want that, was I too far gone with pain and hate. They betrayed me, treated me like a fool, they deserve it. I thought bitterly.

"Let's go with that.” I said at last

"Since that is out the way, leave everything to me. Do you want to go for shopping or should I bring the shopping to you?. You will need clothes for the dinner parties we will be attending.” Max said to me. 

I was disoriented by the change of conversation, I took some time to answer and Max did not push me for an answer.

"I'll go for shopping, I need to go outside.”

"Okay then, let's go, our first outing together. Be warn the paparazzi will follow us.”

We all left the house, or more like a mansion, Trina included. The child made me smile with her questions and all.

As we came down from the car, I saw it then, or rather them. They were smiling and laughing, holding hands, he was kissing her. I was going to vomit.

Max was by my side immediately. “Selena what is it?, you look pale.”

"It's them." I said pointing in their direction.

“Who?" Max asked following my hand.

“Daniel and Jane."