“I don’t like people threatening my wife. It was a reminder you have lots of dirt too. I just scratched the surface.”
“No. You used up everything.”
“Oh, I doubt that. A woman like you always has more dirt. I just have to keep digging.”
The server brings my order, and looks at Annabelle questioningly. She shakes her head, the gesture jerky. I hand the waiter a fifty to leave us alone, and sip my drink. It’s actually not too bad. “Are you upset because Stanton finally decided to divorce you?”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? But no, he hasn’t. And he won’t. That disgusting old man thinks he’s in love with me.”
“Pity. I’d love to see him throw you away like yesterday’s garbage. My wife and I could read about it together in bed and laugh.”
Her face is so red, she looks like a boiled lobster. “When I get rid of him, it will be on my terms, not his. And your stupid cunt of a wife will be gone by then.”
There is such viciousness in her tone that my hand almost jerks as I reach for the scone. “And how will that happen?” I ask casually. “I’m not divorcing her. Unlike you, my wife is quite happy as a married woman.”
“Divorce isn’t the only way to get rid of unwanted spouses. People sometimes have accidents, especially when they’re clumsy.”
Annabelle’s eyes are entirely too gleeful. My gut goes cold.
“So it was you who pushed my wife down those stairs,” I say, hoping to draw her into confirming it.
“And what if I did? Who you gonna tell?” She sneers. “I’ll just deny everything, and it’ll be he said, she said. Too bad your little mouse didn’t break her neck. That would’ve been so satisfying.”
Fucking psycho. Anger twists my lips, and it’s all I can do not to crush the scone. I’d much prefer to close my hand around her throat, but I can’t. I’m playing for something bigger and more important.
She thinks she’s so clever. It’d be funny if she weren’t morally bankrupt. It won’t be my word against hers. There are only four people who know about my wife’s accident: me and Belle, Elizabeth and the staff member who found my wife at the bottom of the stairs. I don’t consider the hospital staff, since Belle was admitted under an assumed name, thanks to Elizabeth’s quick thinking. She didn’t want me and Belle to be gossip fodder.
“People call me a genius, but clearly they’re mistaken. It’s amazing that I ever thought you were worthy of my affection,” I say. “Don’t bother scheming. If you were the only woman left in the world, I’d become a monk.”
“You say that now, but you’ll change your tune by the time I’m through.”
“No, Annabelle. It’s you who’ll be ruined by the time I’m done.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Consider it a prom
ise.” I slip a few bills under the coffee cup, enough to cover my food plus a tip. “Don’t ever come near me or mine again.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Annabelle
Most people hate Mondays, but not me. I can’t believe how exciting it is to have a job I actually look forward to. I hope I never lose this feeling.
Since I’m having lunch with Jana, I pick out a conservative ruched knee-length dress in the shade of green that brings out my eyes. If I remember correctly, green is also a good color to convey confidence, trustworthiness and all sorts of great qualities that I want Jana to associate me with.
I bump into Traci in the elevator. She’s again in a not-quite-appropriate-for-work outfit. Guess she hasn’t gotten over her crush on Gavin yet. I feel bad for her; it’s got to be twice as tough when they’re working so closely together.
Traci moves closer until we’re standing only inches apart. “Hey, how you feeling?” She peers at me.
“I’m fine.”
Her shoulders sag with relief. “Oh, good. I was so worried when you passed out. I swear I thought Elliot was going to bite my head off when he saw you like that.”
I cringe. “Sorry. He’s very protective. I’m sure he was upset with me, not you.”
She nudges me with an elbow. “Don’t ever pass out after a glass of iced tea again.”