Chapter 13 0013
CAITLYN'S POV
The Hayes estate had been transformed into something that looked like it belonged in a magazine. There were white flowers everywhere and strings of lights hanging from the trees and people rushing around setting up tables and chairs. It was too much and too fancy and I hated all of it.
I stood in the doorway watching workers carry in more decorations and felt sick to my stomach. This party was supposed to be a celebration but it felt more like a performance. Everything about it was for show and I was just another prop in Collin's carefully planned display.
Mrs Chen walked past carrying a clipboard and barking orders at the catering staff. She looked even more stressed than usual and I did not blame her. Collin had given her less than a week to pull together what he called an intimate gathering but what was actually turning into a huge event with over a hundred guests.
"Mrs Hayes," a young woman approached me holding fabric swatches. "Mr Hayes wanted you to approve the table linens. Which color do you prefer?"
I looked at the swatches and they all looked the same to me. "The cream one I guess," I said.
She nodded and hurried away. I had been asked to approve about a million tiny details over the past few days and I did not care about any of them. Table linens and flower arrangements and menu selections. None of it mattered to me because this whole party felt like a lie.
I was announcing a pregnancy that I had lied about. Standing next to a husband I did not love, pretending to be happy when I felt miserable and over a hundred people were going to watch me do it.
My phone buzzed and I looked at it. It was a text from my mother asking what she should wear to the party. I texted back that anything nice would be fine and then put my phone away. My parents were so excited about becoming grandparents and I felt guilty every time I talked to them.
"Caitlyn," Collin's voice made me jump. I turned around and found him standing behind me holding his phone. "Come to my study, we need to go over the guest list."
I followed him through the house to his study. He unlocked the door and we went inside, i had never been in here before because he always kept it locked. It was smaller than I expected with dark wood furniture and shelves full of law books. There was a large desk covered in papers and a computer with multiple screens.
Collin sat down at his desk and pulled up something on his computer. "I want you to look at this list and tell me if anyone is missing."
I leaned over his shoulder and looked at the screen. There were so many names and I did not recognize most of them, politicians and judges and lawyers from his firm. Business associates and clients. It looked more like a networking event than a party to announce a baby.
"I do not really know any of these people," I said.
"That is fine," Collin said. "I just need you to make sure your family and friends are included."
I scanned the list and saw my parents names and a few of my friends. "Everyone I know is on here."
"Good," he said and closed the screen. "I need you to understand something Caitlyn. This party is important for my business, a lot of very influential people will be there and I need you to make a good impression."
"What kind of impression?" I asked.
"The loving wife and excited mother to be," he said like it was obvious. "Smile and be charming and do not say anything that might embarrass me."
I felt my face get hot with anger. "I know how to act at a party Collin."
"I am sure you do," he said but his tone suggested he was not sure at all. "Just remember that people are watching us. Everything we do reflects on my reputation."
I wanted to tell him that I did not care about his reputation but I kept my mouth shut. There was no point in starting a fight right before this stupid party.
"Is there anything else?" I asked.
"Yes actually," he said and pulled up another screen. "There is someone I need you to meet at the party. His name is Dimitri Volkov and he is a very important business associate of mine."
The way he said the name made my skin crawl. There was something about how careful he was being that told me this Dimitri person was not just a regular business associate.
"What kind of business?" I asked.
"Import export," Collin said quickly. "He is from Russia and he does not speak English very well so just smile and be polite."
That sounded like a lie but I did not push it. "Okay."
"One more thing," Collin said and stood up. "Stay away from my study during the party, some of my associates will be using it for private meetings and I do not want you wandering in accidentally."
"What kind of meetings?" I asked.
His eyes got cold. "The kind that are none of your business. Just stay out of this room during the party, do you understand?"
I nodded even though I did not understand at all. What kind of meetings did he need to have at a party that was supposed to be about celebrating our baby?
I left the study and Collin locked the door behind me. I walked back outside where the preparations were still happening. Workers were now hanging a banner that said Congratulations in gold letters and it made me feel sick.
I heard voices coming from the side of the house and walked over to see what was going on. Two men in expensive suits were standing by the pool talking in low voices. I did not recognize them but something about the way they were standing made me nervous.
"The shipment needs to arrive before next Tuesday," one of them said. "Dimitri is getting impatient."
There was that name again, The man Collin wanted me to meet. The important business associate who supposedly did import export work.
"Tell Dimitri that everything is on schedule," the other man said. "Hayes has it under control."
I backed away before they could see me. My heart was racing and I felt confused. What shipment were they talking about? And why did they sound so secretive about it?
I went back inside and found Mrs Chen directing people where to put tables. She looked exhausted and I almost felt bad for her.
"Mrs Chen," I said. "Do you know who Dimitri Volkov is?"
Her face went pale and she looked around like she was afraid someone might hear us. "I do not know anything about Mr Hayes's business associates," she said quietly. "And neither should you Mrs Hayes."
She walked away quickly before I could ask anything else. That reaction told me everything I n
eeded to know. Whoever this Dimitri person was he was someone people were afraid of.