Page 11 of Nemesis
Suspicious of everyone and slowly losing his control and sanity.
Over the last week, he’d fired almost the entirety of his security team, hiring a completely new one, except for Jax, his most trusted advisor. He’d briefly mentioned wanting to hire someone specifically for my own safety, and we’d argued on the subject more than once, but he hadn’t brought it up again.
He must have simply let the idea go, which wouldn’t be surprising. He usually gave me everything I wanted, so this shouldn’t be any different. Besides, I definitely didn’t need another person to worry about.
I was finishing up a call with one of the caterers for the company’s annual charity event that was four weeks from now when I heard someone knocking on my office’s door.
“Come in,” I called out.
Jaxon stepped inside, placing his hands behind his back before nodding in greeting. Jaxon wasn’t a man of many words. He tended to only speak when he deemed it necessary. Apparently, verbal greetings weren't part of that category.
“Yes, Mr. Valdez?” I prompted him.
He slightly pursed his lips at my use of the formality, especially after he’d been constantly asking me to simply call him Jax ever since we met. But formalities guaranteed that no connection or attachment would be created. I did like Jaxon, but if I ever found him to be a threat to my revenge, I’d have no other choice but to take him out.
“Por favor, señora, just Jax is fine,” he pleaded before adding, “SeñorVictor would like to see you in his office.”
“About?” I asked, my brows pulling together in question.
Discomfort flickered in his eyes before he sealed his reaction and continued in his usual composed tone. “I believe it’s better if he explains it himself.”
Explain? What would my husband have to explain?
With a groan, I clicked out of the spreadsheet that contained the list of confirmed vendors for the gala and rose from my seat before following closely behind Jaxon.
My heels clicked against the hardwood floor as we made our way to Victor’s office. Jaxon’s knuckles softly rasped against the door, announcing our presence. He waited for the faint sound of a confirmation before opening the door and gesturing me inside.
Victor finished typing on his computer, then closed it and rose from his chair. Rounding his desk, he sat against the corner and reached for my hand, pulling me between the V of his thighs.
He glanced over my shoulder toward Jaxon, who’d stayed near the door, and gave him a dismissive “thank you.” The door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving me alone withmy beloved.
“You wanted to see me,mi amor?” I asked, swallowing the rising bile from the term of endearment.
God, I fucking hated calling him that, but I was supposed to play his loving wife after all.
He hummed. “Yes,cariño. We’re about to meet your new bodyguard.”
“My what?” I blinked up at him, my brows drawn together. My insides coiled at his announcement and my fingers twitched in his hands. The urge to ball them into fists boiled to the surface, but I regained composure, swallowing down my frustration.
I sifted through my repertoire that I’d spent years mastering and transformed my expression into a disappointed one instead.
“Victor, I thought we’d already talked about this? I don’t need a personal bodyguard. We already have a team and I told you I was fine. I just got a little scared when we got the letter. I’m sure this was just an untasteful prank from one of your competitors to unsettle you, especially since you announced wanting to expand the company.” I gave him a small smile in an attempt to ease his worries about last week’s situation.
Victor’s hands roamed over my sides and I had to wrestle my disgust under my carefully curated mask. My stomach clenched as he trailed them down to my hips, where he tightened his grip.
Here we go.
“This isn’t your decision to make, Olivia,” he said coldly. “Never—”
The soft click of the doorknob twisting interrupted his next words.
“Sorry for the interruption, Mr. Morales,” said a deep, velvety voice from behind me, divertingmy husband’swrath from me.
A familiar shiver ran down my spine, recognition flooding my body before my mind could register it. Because somehow Iknew, I justknew, even though the probability of him being here was nearly impossible. Because there was no way it was him.
My mind was obviously playing tricks on me. It was the only plausible explanation.
I turned to discredit my hypothesis, when my gaze finally focused on the man who walked in.
