Souls Remember What Matters — Corey Gibson 9
009 Dangerously Close To Jealousy
+25 Bonus
“Did I make mommy mad?” she whispered, curled up in my lap.
“No, sweetheart. She isn’t mad at you. She’s just… working.”
But inside, I was furious. How could Sera do this to Luna? Whatever game she was playing with me was one thing, but involving our daughter was crossing a line.
I called my secretary and had him start looking into Sera’s exact location in New York. If she wanted to play mysterious, fine. But I was going to find out what she was really up to.
A few days later, Vivienne called with perfect timing.
“There’s a charity dinner at the New York Museum tomorrow night,” she said, her voice excited. “The composer AJ is supposed to be there. I’ve been following their work for years. Would you come with me? Maybe we could get an introduction,” She pleaded with breathless excitement.
I’d heard of them–some reclusive musician who wrote beautiful pieces but never performed in public. Vivienne had played some of their songs for me before. They were good.
“You really want to meet this person?” I asked already calculating multiple things in my head.
“It’s been a dream of mine for years. AJ’s music is so emotional, so real. If I could get them to write something for me before…” She didn’t finish the sentence, but I knew what she meant. Before she died.
How could I say no to that?
“Of course. I’ll pick you up at seven.
Maybe if I could make this happen for Vivienne, she’d be happy enough to forgive Sera for the greenhouse incident. It would be one less thing to worry about.
And if I happened to be in New York anyway, maybe I could track down my runaway wife and drag her home where she belonged,
Three days later.
The ballroom was packed with rich people in expensive clothes, all trying to look like they cared about charity more than being seen. Vivienne looked beautiful in a silver dress that made her skin glow, her bandaged arm hidden by long sleeves.
“Look, there’s Johnson Smith!” she whispered, grabbing my arm. “He’s AJ’s agent. The woman next to him must be AJ.”
I looked across the room at a man in a well–fitted suit talking to someone I couldn’t see clearly yet.
“Come on, let’s go introduce ourselves,” Vivienne said, practically bouncing with excitement.
We made our way through the crowd, Vivienne chattering about AJ’s latest album and how much she admired their talent. I wasn’t really listening. I was too busy thinking about Luna at home with Lucy, probably asking when Mommy was coming back.
3/4
008 Dangerously Close To Jealousy
+25 Bonus
As we got closer, the woman talking to Johnson Smith turned toward us, and the world seemed to still.
It was Sera.
But not the Sera I knew. This woman wore a black evening gown that hugged her curves and made her look like she belonged in this world of wealth and sophistication. Her black hair was styled differently, swept up in an elegant twist that showed off her slender neck, her brown eyes brighter than I’d ever seen them, like entrancing pools that both called and surprised me.
She was holding a glass of champagne and laughing at something Johnson had said, looking more relaxed and happy than I’d seen her in years.
My feet moved faster, my heart pounding against my ribs.
She looked stunning. Absolutely stunning. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
The man, Johnson, stood so close to her, whispering God knows what into her ears and she smiled at every word. 1
In a way she’d never smiled for me.
Something strange burned in my chest, something dangerously close to jealousy.
No, it couldn’t be.
So this was it. This Johnson guy was the real reason she’d abandoned her family and run to New York.
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DARIUS
“Sera, what are you doing here?” I didn’t mean to sound so harsh, but the words came out sharp and angry.
My heart was hammering against my ribs as I stared at her. She looked so different–confident.
The black dress hugged her body in ways that made my mouth go dry, in ways that made me think of that night…
When had she ever looked like this? When had my quiet, nervous housewife transformed into this stunning woman who was making every man in the room turn his head?
Sera’s eyes went wide when she saw me, then immediately flicked to Vivienne beside me. I watched her gaze drop to where Vivienne’s hand rested on my arm–the polite, social touch that meant nothing but probably looked like everything to my wife.
My skin suddenly felt hot under her stare. I wanted to step away from Vivienne, but that would look weird. This was just how people acted at these events. Every couple here was linked arm in arm.
I expected Sera to explode. To demand answers, make a scene, embarrass us all with her jealousy like she always did. But instead, something cold and distant settled over her face. The warm smile she’d been sharing with Johnson vanished completely, replaced by a look I’d never seen before.
She didn’t look hurt. She looked… empty. Like she was looking at strangers instead of her husband and his friend.
“I’m here to work,” she said, her voice flat and professional.
Work? What kind of work could she possibly be doing here?
The man beside her–Johnson–studied me with dark eyes that seemed to see right through my expensive suit to something he didn’t like. There was a protectiveness in his gaze, I noticed how he kept Sera close, almost as if he thought I would hurt her.
As though she was his woman.
Was this guy her boss? The way he stood close to her, protective and possessive, made my jaw clench. I didn’t like how comfortable they looked together, how easily she’d been laughing with him before we interrupted.
“Mr. Johnson, it’s an honor to meet you.” Vivienne stepped forward with that gracious smile that had charmed half of New York’s social scene. “I’m Vivienne, and this is my friend Darius.”
I forced my mouth to work. “Nice to meet you.”
Johnson barely nodded in response. “Likewise.”
That was it? No small talk, no polite questions about what we did or how we knew the hosts? Just a cold acknowledgment like we were interrupting something important.
My hands curled into fists. Who the hell did this arrogant bastard think he was? I was Darius Blackwood. My family owned half the commercial real estate in the country. People usually fell over themselves to impress me, not treat me like I was beneath their notice.
1/3
009 Al’s Assistant
+25 Bonus
Something told me Vivienne’s plan to meet AJ wasn’t going to go smoothly with this jerk as a gatekeeper.
But where was AJ anyway? Johnson was supposed to be the famous composer’s agent, but I only saw him here with Sera. Unless….
“I heard that AJ will be attending tonight’s event,” Vivienne continued, not letting Johnson’s cold attitude discourage her. “Would it be possible to arrange an introduction? I’m a great admirer of their work.”
Johnson’s expression shifted to something I couldn’t read. Almost like he was trying not to laugh, but not in a good way.
“I don’t think AJ wants to meet you,” Sera cut in before Johnson could answer.
My head snapped toward her. Since when did she speak for famous musicians?
“Sera, how would you know that?” Vivienne asked, confusion clear in her voice. “Do you know AJ personally?”
“I’m AJ’s personal assistant now,” Sera said without missing a beat. “They don’t like being bothered by random people at parties.”
Johnson made a choking sound and started coughing into his wine glass. I watched him try to cover what sounded suspiciously like laughter.
What the hell was going on here?
Vivienne’s face fell. “Sera, are you still angry with me about the greenhouse? I understand why you were upset, and I’m sorry if I did anything to make you feel threatened. But please don’t let your personal feelings stop AJ from meeting with me.” Her eyes began to water and I felt my heart ache.
I waited for Sera to soften, to show some sympathy for Vivienne’s situation. My wife had always been too tender -hearted for her own good. She cried at commercials with sad puppies and gave money to every homeless person we passed on the street.
But she just stood there, unmoved by Vivienne’s plea.
“Mr. Johnson,” I tried a different approach. “Vivienne really admires AJ’s work, and she’s… she’s going through a difficult time health–wise. Meeting AJ would mean the world to her. I can offer very generous compensation for a collaboration.”
Money usually solved these problems. Everyone had a price, especially artists who probably struggled to pay
rent.
But Johnson just looked at Sera with raised eyebrows, like he was asking her permission.
“Sera can make any decisions on behalf of AJ,” he said simply, eyes trained on me with a chill I didn’t understand.
I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. Sera? My housewife Sera, who hadn’t worked a day since we got married, who could barely handle ordering groceries without getting flustered?
She had enough authority to speak for one of the music industry’s most mysterious figures?
Vivienne looked as shocked as I felt. “Sera, that’s… that’s wonderful that you have such an important position.
2/3
009 As Assistant
+25 Bonus
But surely you can understand what this means to me? You know I don’t have much time left.” 1
I watched my wife’s face, waiting for the compassion to break through. Waiting for her to remember that she was supposed to be kind and giving and everything a good woman should be, everything she has been.
“Sera,” I said, putting all my authority as her husband into my voice. “Vivienne is sick. Her last wish is to work with AJ. Don’t you have any sympathy? Can’t you put aside whatever grudge you’re holding and help make this happen?” My brows pulled together with both confusion and annoyance. How could she be like this, after hurting Vivienne?
The look she gave me was like being dipped in ice water. Cold, distant, like she was seeing me for the first time and finding me lacking.
“No,” she shook her head, eyes holding mine in a gaze that had me going still. “I have no obligation to serve Vivienne.”
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