009 Dangerously Close To Jealousy\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid I make mommy mad?\u201d she whispered, curled up in my lap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, sweetheart. She isn\u2019t mad at you. She\u2019s just\u2026 working.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I called my secretary and had him start looking into Sera\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A few days later, Vivienne called with perfect timing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a charity dinner at the New York Museum tomorrow night,\u201d she said, her voice excited. \u201cThe composer AJ is supposed to be there. I\u2019ve been following their work for years. Would you come with me? Maybe we could get an introduction,\u201d She pleaded with breathless excitement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d heard of them\u2013some reclusive musician who wrote beautiful pieces but never performed in public. Vivienne had played some of their songs for me before. They were good.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really want to meet this person?\u201d I asked already calculating multiple things in my head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a dream of mine for years. AJ\u2019s music is so emotional, so real. If I could get them to write something for me before\u2026\u201d She didn\u2019t finish the sentence, but I knew what she meant. Before she died.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How could I say no to that?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. I\u2019ll pick you up at seven.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe if I could make this happen for Vivienne, she\u2019d be happy enough to forgive Sera for the greenhouse incident. It would be one less thing to worry about.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Three days later.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, there\u2019s Johnson Smith!\u201d she whispered, grabbing my arm. \u201cHe\u2019s AJ\u2019s agent. The woman next to him must be AJ.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked across the room at a man in a well\u2013fitted suit talking to someone I couldn\u2019t see clearly yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, let\u2019s go introduce ourselves,\u201d Vivienne said, practically bouncing with excitement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We made our way through the crowd, Vivienne chattering about AJ\u2019s latest album and how much she admired their talent. I wasn\u2019t really listening. I was too busy thinking about Luna at home with Lucy, probably asking when Mommy was coming back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
008 Dangerously Close To Jealousy\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
As we got closer, the woman talking to Johnson Smith turned toward us, and the world seemed to still.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was Sera.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u2019d ever seen them, like entrancing pools that both called and surprised me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was holding a glass of champagne and laughing at something Johnson had said, looking more relaxed and happy than I\u2019d seen her in years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My feet moved faster, my heart pounding against my ribs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked stunning. Absolutely stunning. I couldn\u2019t take my eyes off her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man, Johnson, stood so close to her, whispering God knows what into her ears and she smiled at every word. 1\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a way she\u2019d never smiled for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something strange burned in my chest, something dangerously close to jealousy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No, it couldn\u2019t be.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So this was it. This Johnson guy was the real reason she\u2019d abandoned her family and run to New York.\u00a0<\/p>\n
COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
DARIUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSera, what are you doing here?\u201d I didn\u2019t mean to sound so harsh, but the words came out sharp and angry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart was hammering against my ribs as I stared at her. She looked so different\u2013confident.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The black dress hugged her body in ways that made my mouth go dry, in ways that made me think of that night\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
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?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sera\u2019s eyes went wide when she saw me, then immediately flicked to Vivienne beside me. I watched her gaze drop to where Vivienne\u2019s hand rested on my arm\u2013the polite, social touch that meant nothing but probably looked like everything to my wife.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u2019d been sharing with Johnson vanished completely, replaced by a look I\u2019d never seen before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t look hurt. She looked\u2026 empty. Like she was looking at strangers instead of her husband and his friend.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here to work,\u201d she said, her voice flat and professional.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Work? What kind of work could she possibly be doing here?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man beside her\u2013Johnson\u2013studied me with dark eyes that seemed to see right through my expensive suit to something he didn\u2019t like. There was a protectiveness in his gaze, I noticed how he kept Sera close, almost as if he thought I would hurt her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As though she was his woman.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Was this guy her boss? The way he stood close to her, protective and possessive, made my jaw clench. I didn\u2019t like how comfortable they looked together, how easily she\u2019d been laughing with him before we interrupted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Johnson, it\u2019s an honor to meet you.\u201d Vivienne stepped forward with that gracious smile that had charmed half of New York\u2019s social scene. \u201cI\u2019m Vivienne, and this is my friend Darius.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced my mouth to work. \u201cNice to meet you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Johnson barely nodded in response. \u201cLikewise.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
009 Al\u2019s Assistant\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something told me Vivienne\u2019s plan to meet AJ wasn\u2019t going to go smoothly with this jerk as a gatekeeper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But where was AJ anyway? Johnson was supposed to be the famous composer\u2019s agent, but I only saw him here with Sera. Unless\u2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard that AJ will be attending tonight\u2019s event,\u201d Vivienne continued, not letting Johnson\u2019s cold attitude discourage her. \u201cWould it be possible to arrange an introduction? I\u2019m a great admirer of their work.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Johnson\u2019s expression shifted to something I couldn\u2019t read. Almost like he was trying not to laugh, but not in a good way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think AJ wants to meet you,\u201d Sera cut in before Johnson could answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My head snapped toward her. Since when did she speak for famous musicians?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSera, how would you know that?\u201d Vivienne asked, confusion clear in her voice. \u201cDo you know AJ personally?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m AJ\u2019s personal assistant now,\u201d Sera said without missing a beat. \u201cThey don\u2019t like being bothered by random people at parties.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Johnson made a choking sound and started coughing into his wine glass. I watched him try to cover what sounded suspiciously like laughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What the hell was going on here?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivienne\u2019s face fell. \u201cSera, are you still angry with me about the greenhouse? I understand why you were upset, and I\u2019m sorry if I did anything to make you feel threatened. But please don\u2019t let your personal feelings stop AJ from meeting with me.\u201d Her eyes began to water and I felt my heart ache.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I waited for Sera to soften, to show some sympathy for Vivienne\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But she just stood there, unmoved by Vivienne\u2019s plea.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Johnson,\u201d I tried a different approach. \u201cVivienne really admires AJ\u2019s work, and she\u2019s\u2026 she\u2019s going through a difficult time health\u2013wise. Meeting AJ would mean the world to her. I can offer very generous compensation for a collaboration.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Money usually solved these problems. Everyone had a price, especially artists who probably struggled to pay\u00a0<\/p>\n
rent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Johnson just looked at Sera with raised eyebrows, like he was asking her permission.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSera can make any decisions on behalf of AJ,\u201d he said simply, eyes trained on me with a chill I didn\u2019t understand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. Sera? My housewife Sera, who hadn\u2019t worked a day since we got married, who could barely handle ordering groceries without getting flustered?\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had enough authority to speak for one of the music industry\u2019s most mysterious figures?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivienne looked as shocked as I felt. \u201cSera, that\u2019s\u2026 that\u2019s wonderful that you have such an important position.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
009 As Assistant\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
But surely you can understand what this means to me? You know I don\u2019t have much time left.\u201d 1\u00a0<\/p>\n
I watched my wife\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSera,\u201d I said, putting all my authority as her husband into my voice. \u201cVivienne is sick. Her last wish is to work with AJ. Don\u2019t you have any sympathy? Can\u2019t you put aside whatever grudge you\u2019re holding and help make this happen?\u201d My brows pulled together with both confusion and annoyance. How could she be like this, after hurting Vivienne?\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she shook her head, eyes holding mine in a gaze that had me going still. \u201cI have no obligation to serve Vivienne.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Souls Remember What Matters \u2014 Corey Gibson 9 009 Dangerously Close To Jealousy\u00a0 +25 Bonus\u00a0 \u201cDid I make mommy mad?\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-day-i-signed-the-papers-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23455"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23455\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}