Chapter 11
I let out a short, cold laugh. “Mr. and Mrs. Langley, business doesn’t run on sentiment.”
“When I married into your family, didn’t you hand me that prenup and tell me the same thing?”
“You’re businessman. And now… so am I.”
“I’m sure you, of all people, can understand that.”
The two of them left with their tails between their legs.
But I didn’t stop. As Langley Corp. stock nosedived, I kept buying.
And when Travis called an emergency shareholder meeting, the person sitting directly across from him… was me.
He stared at me like he’d forgotten how to speak.
On either side of him sat the Hawthorne twins, their gazes dripping with poison.
I glanced over at Lila’s slightly rounded belly and scoffed.
Travis still hadn’t said a word, staring at me.
I folded my arms and said coolly, “Mr. Langley, aren’t you going to present this quarter’s cash flow report?”
He pressed his lips together, and under the sharp eyes of the other shareholders, finally looked away.
After the meeting, Travis grabbed my arm. “Elise, would you let me take you to dinner?”
He quickly added, “Your favorite place just launched a new seasonal menu.”
From behind him came Lila’s shrill voice, “Ow! Travis, I think I’m in labor!”
He turned around with a scowl and slapped her across the face. “Then go to a doctor! What the hell do you want me for?”
“I’m scared,” she whimpered. “Will you take me to the hospital?”
Blair, standing nearby, was still glaring daggers at me. “Well well, look who ended up landing on top. You divorce Travis and land the richest man in Westbay?”
“Guess us little playthings weren’t weren’t half as skilled as the oh-so-pure Mrs. Hart.”
I turned to Travis. “Sure, I’ll have dinner with you.”
“But on one condition.”
His eyes lit up. “Anything you want, Elise. Name it.”
I pointed at Blair. “I want her waiting on us. Serving tea. Clearing plates.”
Blair shrieked. “No way! Who the hell do you think you are? You don’t get to order me around!”
Chapter 11
19.61%
Travis slapped her, too. “And who the hell do you think you are, talking to Elise like that?”
“You two were just playthings I used to kill time.”
“You think now that she’s gone, you get to replace her? I only recognize one wife in this lifetime-and that’s Elise.”
When we arrived at the restaurant, Julian was already waiting.
He stood up with a smile and held out his hand. “Rough day?”
I shook my head and hugged him. “Not really.”
He pulled out my chair with easy familiarity.
Travis followed behind, stiff and bitter. He forced a smile. “I thought… it would just be us.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I’m a married woman, Travis. What kind of woman do you take me for-having dinner alone with
another man?”
He choked on his breath. He knew exactly what I meant. It was a slap across the face..
Just as we started to eat, Lila clutched her belly. “Travis! The baby’s coming!”
Travis’s face twisted. He hurled the plate at her, food splattering across her. “You’re ten months pregnant! Why the hell are
you even here instead of on bed rest?”
Blair’s eyes turned red. “She’s carrying your child! How can you be so heartless?”
Travis shoved her aside. “Get lost!”
Then he turned to me. “Don’t mind them. Let’s just eat.”
I raised my hand and called the waiter. “Can someone call an ambulance for the pregnant woman over there?”
Just then, Travis’s phone rang. He answered-and his father’s furious voice exploded through the receiver.
“Travis! Have you completely lost your damn mind? That child is the future of Langley Corp! If anything happens to it- don’t even think about staying CEO!”
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.