Page 26 of Nemesis
It’s been a few days since the last threat. Or should I say my last threat.
After reading the note, Theo had run to the driver’s seat and had driven off. As soon as we’d arrived at the house, he’d gone straight to Victor’s office, where he’d debriefed him about today’s event, Jaxon joining them shortly after since he’d already been debriefed while we were making our way to the house.
They’d spent the rest of the day and night, as well as the days following, running the paper for prints and analyses on the writing, comparing it to the other notes.
Unfortunately for them, there hadn’t been any fingerprints on either the envelope or the small note that was inside. They had, however, found similarities in the handwriting, but despite that small win in their eyes, I knew it was handwriting they’d never be able to compare to anything in any of the databases they’d run it through.
I was fucking good at what I did, so of course they wouldn’t find anything.
“I’m really looking forward to next month’s gala. I heard through the grapevine that you were doing an amazing job so far.”
I stopped twirling the champagne in my flute and glanced up.
I’d been chatting with one of my husband’s business associates for what felt like an eternity. He and his wife had invited a few of us over to celebrate the latest addition to their family and he’d been going on and on about his newborn daughter, showing me the countless pictures he’d taken on his phone.
Theo was off tonight since it was just a casual dinner and Jaxon was staked outside as a precaution. They didn’t deem it necessary to have both of them here tonight. Besides, it would only raise suspicions amongst everyone and Victor couldn’t have that.
He had an image to preserve. No one was to know about the special deliveries we’d been getting.
I was still stuck with whatever his name was, when Victor got interrupted by a call from one of his overseas contacts. He moved into a secluded corner of the room, away from curious ears, but close enough for me to hear whispers of his conversation.
I half paid attention to the man next to me as I watchedmy husbandfrom my periphery.
His shoulders instantly tensed, his face scrunching when he received the news. I then heard Victor mutter something about a missed shipment that was supposed to arrive at the port last week, which I may or may not have had a hand in.
“Olivia?” our host prompted.
“Yes, I’m looking forward to seeing it all come together,” I finally replied, a polite smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. He resumed talking about his daughter and I let the rest of his rambling drone out.
Then, I felt him before I heard him. I forced myself not to recoil at his approaching presence.
“Here you are,” Victor announced, cutting off the rest of the ensuing conversation as he wrapped his arm around my waist. “Thank you for having us tonight, Brian. But we unfortunately have to get going.”
“Really, already?” Brian’s bushy eyebrows snapped together.
“Yes, duty calls,” Victor pressured, his arm tightening around my waist.
Yeah, he really wasn’t happy about the unfortunate mishap with the shipments.
“Well, it was nice seeing you two tonight,” Brian finished.
He gave me a warm smile before moving his gaze to Victor. “You are a very lucky man,” he said, winking at him. Victor may appear relaxed to anyone looking, but I’d spent so many years studying him that I was attuned to the slight changes in demeanor.
Which was how I knew there was nothing relaxed about him right now. He was tense at my side, and the innocent praise sent my husband’s fingers digging into the side of my hip in response.
“I don’t know what I would do without her.” He chuckled, planting a kiss on the side of my head.
What probably looked like a display of affection was simply a reminder, a warning of what was to come. Despite his bruising grips that were born out of jealousy and possessiveness, Victor hadn’t laid a hand on me so far, a fate I knew his wife hadn’t been as privy to.
But my gut told me that tonight might not end well for me and I had to prepare myself to brace for impact.
After saying our goodbyes to the rest of the guests, we headed to the house, Victor’s tension-filled silence taunting me during the entirety of the car ride.
Omar dropped us off in the driveway, and we both climbed up the small steps, walking through the front door. Once the door shut behind me, I reached down, removing my heels one by one.
Heels would definitely be one of the many things I wouldn’t miss after this charade was over.
“Well, tonight was great. I’m going to head upstairs to shower,” I said as I started up the stairs, a hand on the banister.
