Page 25 of Wife Unwanted
Carey cocked his head to the side. "Dad…"
Nolan Sr flashed a conspiratory smile and tapped his son's shoulders. "Things are going to plan." Then, as though remembering I exist, he turned to me. "Seems like you've finally understand your place now. Keep it up. Please enjoy the party kids, just don't leave yet."
"What does he mean by that?" Carey asked after he left.
I blanched. "I don't know."
But Carey didn't look like he believed me. His eyes narrowed, and he assessed me like I am an alien specimen he can't quite figure out. It's not as if I understand his father. Last time I met Nolan Sr it was to ask for a divorce and leave his son, and he had kicked me out of his office. We hadn't spoken since. Maybe he meant I had decided to stay and not run away in the middle of the night? Not that he gave me a choice.
Nolan and Carey spent the next few minutes catching up while my gaze wandered to the party, cocktail glass in hand. Their conversation was mundane and, frankly, boring. Nolan Sr came back again, this time with an older woman. The conversation shifted to law and politics. Another boring subject, so I excused myself and ended up strolling around the garden. I was looking for somewhere to put down my empty glass when I bumped into a body. "Oops, sorry," I cried out. I had almost made some poor woman fall and had to hold her up by her arms. "I'm so sorry," I said again as she brushed her light blue floral frock as I let go of her.
"It's fine." She raised her raven-colored head, smiling only for the smile to falter when she, it seemed, recognized me and I recognized her. "Oh. You're here! Of course you're here, you're Carey's wife." And as though she felt embarrassed, her cheeks flashed. Why she would feel awkward, I had no idea. She was even more beautiful up close. Her eyes were a deep blue colorthat made her seem other worldly. Combined with her hair and beautiful curves, she looked like a young Elizabeth Taylor.
She extended her hand. "My name is Gemma."I shook it. Any other reaction would feel inadequate.
"I've seen you before. Yesterday. At the fundraiser." I said.
She flashed a bright white smile. "Of course. Thank you for that donation, by the way. The news it made will probably bring some awareness to the cause."
"N-news?" I don't know why, but I never thought I would end up making headlines for a stupid mistake I made.
"Yeah. Several newspapers wrote about it. A few were there, you see. We invite them to bring some publicity to our event."
"So, is that what you do? Run events I mean." I didn't know how else to probe further into more information about Carey's alleged former lover, but I wanted to learn more about her. My jealousy wouldn't subside until I glimpsed what she was like. She was definitely beautiful. I couldn't stop staring at her.
Gemma nodded. "I work as the events coordinator at the foundation, but I've also gone on the ground for some of our causes." She talked about the humanitarian work her foundation does. Not only did it raise money for cancer research, it also donated cancer medication and radiation equipment to impoverished countries. She was not just beautiful, she was a good person. That didn't help the jealousy pang. It only deepened it.
I would have felt even worse, I am sure if Carey hadn't come joined us. "What are you two talking about?" he asked.
"You. Duh." Gemma's response made Carey laugh. Another jealousy pang. "We were talking about the foundation," she added. "You know, if you are interested Thalia, you could do some part time work."
"Oh, I don't think saving people is her thing." Carey hooked his arm into mine. "Using them is more to her taste."
Gemma smiled as though she didn't understand if Carey was joking or telling the truth.
"Come," Carey said to me, "Dad's about to give a speech, and he wants us next to him."
"You and I?"
"Who else."
Jacqueline and Nolan Sr called the crowd to gather around the pavilion he was standing under. Carey and I went to stand next to him while I wondered what Nolan Sr was going to say. Satisfied that a large number of people had gathered, Nolan Sr began. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming here. You might wonder why I've brought you all today, but if you've had a chance to speak to my son," Nolan Sr slapped Carey's back, "you might have an idea why. If you care about our city, you know that it needs change. It needs someone who can come to City Hall and make things right. It needs him." The crowd went quiet. The only sound I could hear were the birds above and the waves crashing beyond. "I know, I know, I'm his dad. Of course, I think my son would make a great mayor. Great president even." Anemic laughter rippled through the crowd.
“But before I fill your head with grand ideas, I called you here today because I wanted you to see a possible future of the city, dare I say, of a country that could be forged if we all invested in the right person. Not just the right person, but the right couple.Some of you might be aware of the generous donation his wife, Thalia,” he gestured to me, "made to cancer research."
I felt Carey stiffen next to me. Nolan Sr continued. “She's not only dedicated to such important causes, but to ensuring Carey Hawthorne's political career takes off. As someone from a working class background, she brings in an insight that, let's face it, most of will never have. Together, they make the ultimate power couple. But I am getting ahead of myself again. Ladies and gentlemen, you're here to invest early in a political career thatwill pay major dividends for you into the future. Invest in Carey today and you'll not regret it. And we have to start from the ground up. Starting from the southern district, to city hall, to the white house!”
The crowd clapped. Some whistled. My pulse sped up as I stared into the gathering. This was no ordinary garden party. There were several billionaires I recognized. The governor and the campaign manager Carey spotted weren't the only political people present. There were also two women whose faces I was sure I once saw on a political yard sign. This was the Carey's coming out party.
Nolan Sr motioned to Carey to say something. Carey did not seem pleased. His face was blank. The only movement was his ticking jaw. I knew that face. He was angry, alright. Not just at his father, but at me as well. The cold glare he gave me when father mentioned me was all the confirmation I needed.
Carey stepped forward and gave a speech. He had not rehearsed it, but he was good at speaking off the cuff. He thanked everyone for coming, said some platitudes, and ended it by thanking the people for their support. I looked into the crowd once more. Nolan Jr and Jacqueline were standing next together. Nolan Jr. looked bemused, and Jacqueline looked like she’d rather be somewhere else. When her eyes locked with mine, a slight disapproving frown marred her ice princess features.
I felt a hand take mine. It was Carey pushing me forward. He had finished his speech and was walking into the crowd. People were clapping, some slapping his back and greeting us as we walked past. One man stopped us, one of the billionaires, and asked Carey about his first steps into his political career. Carey said he wants to become District Attorney. The man nodded approvingly and pledged to fund his campaign. Another man stopped us and asked Carey whether he would like to go throughcongress instead. We shook hands with a few more people, and all the while Carey had his hand in mine. Anyone would think he was being loving and protective of his wife. His hard grip would say otherwise.
After a while, we excused ourselves, as people were dispersing back into their small groups once more. The sun was sinking, and it was getting darker as Carey led me away from the party. "You and I need to talk," he said, and jerked me forward.
Chapter 15
