Page 129 of Falling for the Wife

I’m texting you drunk. Had I been sober, I wouldn’t have had the guts. All I’m saying is that I will be here when the time is up. Yeah, I know how he works and he never goes back to the same woman twice.

Take care, Stella. It’s really weird, but I think I really miss you.

It was so like Clive to say something like that. He missed me, but he was embarrassed to say it outright. I couldn’t hold back an amused snort as I reread his message again.

“Stella?”

Shit, wasn’t he sleeping? I shifted to my side to see if he was watching me, but he was still in the same position as I’d seen him earlier. “Yes?”

“I need you to come with me tomorrow night for a fundraiser I support for cancer.”

Oh. “Yeah, of course.” Cancer was a sensitive subject for me.

Callum stayed quiet for a minute before he spoke up again. “And Stella?”

I decided to reply to Clive’s message tomorrow morning as I placed it back on the table. “Yep?”

“You need to wear the engagement ring from now on.”

Drat. When he was around, I suppose I could. “Okay.”

“Good. Sleep well.”

Here we go again, I silently scolded myself as my tear ducts started to have their own mind. “You, too,” I calmly whispered back and then shut my eyes and let the tears flow.

? S

“What are you still doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be leaving now?” Luciana held my elbow and dragged me away into a secluded corner.

That was the plan… but I was getting antsy. Maybe more like I dreaded seeing him after last night because being around him from here on out was going to be extra difficult.I wanted too much… far more than what he could give me.

“I was really on my way out, but I noticed that we needed new champagne glasses filled and one of the old ladies said that one of the waiters tried to get with her, so what was I to do?” Valid excuses, they were, but it was far from the truth.

Luciana was about to go mini Nazi on everyone. This event started off wrong. First, the florist called in that the flowers they had shipped out from South America were going to arrive tomorrow. So I had to scramble and find another supplier that could come close to the type of orchids that the starlet wanted for the perfume launch. Second, my assistant had food poisoning, so Sienna had to take all of her responsibilities. Sienna’s quick and a fast learner, but how was she supposed to learn everything when Ally only left a post-it with all of the instructions? Third, one of the hired bartenders was caught taking pictures of the other celebrity guests in the party, so I had to get one of the large, beefy security men to escort him out, sans cellphone.

Lastly, the event I was to meet Callum at. We actually agreed that it would be best if we met there since I wasn’t sure if Luciana would let me get off that early, knowing that this event was going to be on the celebrity news the next morning. It was a great opportunity to get exposure and we were both hell-bent for it to go as smoothly as possible.

“Go. Mark actually texted me that he’s more than happy to come and help us out.” Luciana eyed me suspiciously.

Well, it wasn’t as if I had other ulterior motives... a bit. “I did call for back-up. Besides, he’s more than happy to help. Heisour best friend after all.”

She rolled her eyes at me, making me stare at her jeweled green eyes and thick ebony lashes. Sometimes, I just wanted to pluck one out just to see if they were fake. Seriously, hers were far too long!

“Gotta go now. Be nice to Mark, okay?” I kissed her cheek then the other before giving her a tight squeeze. “Thank you.”

“If you aren’t shagging Callum yet, tonight better be the night.”

That made me smirk. “I’ll keep you updated.”

With a little wave, I darted towards the exit and the flip-flop of my heart in my ribcage started its own jungle-themed rhythm. Luck was on my side when there was a cab waiting outside. A quick thanks automatically left my lips as the hotel staff opened the door for me.

“Claridge’s please,” I said to the driver.

Whilst in the cab, I pulled out my phone and texted him that I was on my way.

Callum:See you.

Great. Now all I had to do was get through the night. My thoughts took me back to last night again, rehashing it like a true lovesick person, and before I noticed, the cab was already parked right outside the hotel.

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