“I will be going on a business trip to attend a seminar and an important meeting. I will be gone for 9 days tops” Atticus spoke from beside me without lifting his eyes from his phone while eating with the other unoccupied hand.
“When?” I asked him
“Now,” He replied.
I wanted to ask him why he was telling me if he was leaving in a few minutes. He should have just kept it to himself.
It was on the edge of my tongue yet I held it in the same way I had wanted to ask him if he was at Samantha’s place all the nights when he failed to come home.
Samantha had obliterated me with mockery two days ago. There was no hiding the first-hand embarrassment I felt throughout the lunch at Danielle’s place especially since I had to sit opposite her and see her smug face glow with victory at the fact that she had rendered me useless with just a sentence that had way more effect on me than it should.
I didn’t know if he waited for my reply which he wasn’t going to get or if he didn’t care about my reply at all but he pushed back his chair and left the dining hall without another word and it fucking hurt at the realization that I meant so little to the man I would be spending the rest of my life with.
Anyway, I didn’t care about him and his stupid mistresses or girlfriend. I bet Samantha was already aware that he was travelling. I wonder if she went with him. That would be so fucking irritating.
“Hazel, Mrs Hudson called. She said she was on her way and would be here in less than an hour” I looked up to see Lily standing beside me. I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t heard her walk in.
Danielle and I were going shopping to spend money and make me feel better according to her. She claimed there was nothing that calmed one’s nerves than a shopping spree and I found it ridiculous but I didn’t have a choice on whether I wanted to test that theory out or not.
The lunch made me realise I was way above the other women especially financially. I didn’t mean to brag or anything but it was so much fun to watch Samantha’s eyes widen when I transferred my share of the money needed for the project immediately and even added a little extra.
We needed about 65 million dollars and we were eight in number so one person had to donate a little over 8 million dollars which was not a small amount of money but it was understandable considering the whole school was going to be renovated and school materials would be bought in abundance such as computers, football gears, cheerleading gears, musical instruments and so much more.
I had never been part of something like this and unlike the others, I had my own money that I didn't need my husband’s permission to spend so I had wired Danielle 20 million dollars. The fury and Jealousy in Samantha and her minion’s eyes were more than enough to make my day feel a hundred times better and her words didn’t matter anymore at that moment.
Because I was the first one to pay and without any protest, I could see the silent respect that grew in the eyes of the other women especially since they saw me as young and inexperienced when it came to such matters.
I pushed my plates aside and used the napkin that had been placed beside my place to wipe the non-existent stains on my lips before standing up and heading to my room upstairs so I could change into something comfortable before Dani got here. Knowing her, if I wasn’t ready by the time she arrived, she would throw a tantrum and I was not willing to experience it.
Since I was very comfortable with Danielle, I didn’t feel the need to dress up so I threw on sweatpants, a crop top and a hoodie. For my shoes, I wore vans to make sure I was extremely comfortable.
I suspected we would be doing a whole lot of shopping so I wanted to not only be comfortable but wear something that would be easy to change out of when I needed to try on outfits.
The door to my bedroom opened and I turned towards it expecting to see Lily but was given a pleasant surprise to see Danielle standing by the door instead.
“Wow, you sure can pull off anything, can’t you? How do you manage to make sweats so sexy” She had a naughty smile on her face and I knew she was already expecting my reply.
“You are exaggerating,” we both said at the same time before bursting into fits of laughter.
“I knew that was going to be your reply, you are so fucking predictable’ Danielle looked so stunning in her jeans, chiffon top and high heels. She always looks effortlessly perfect but as much as I loved her look, I could not put in so much time getting ready every single time.
I remember asking her once if she dressed this way when she was home alone and she replied that she could never be caught having a bad hair or dress day. Her dedication to always looking good was cute, to say the least.
“I couldn’t be bothered with dressing up since I know I would be taking off my clothes to try different outfits so I am saving myself a lot of stress” She had made herself comfortable on my bed while I put my hair into a ponytail to make sure it doesn’t distract or disturb me.
“You look amazing and that’s all that matters. You look like a doll today so the media are going to have a field day” Danielle was suddenly excited.
“Why?’ I stepped back to inspect my handiwork before turning to her, waiting for her to answer my question.
“Do you not keep up or what? I know you have a very active social media but you haven’t posted there lately.”
“I’ve not felt like it but that didn’t answer my question”
“They haven’t seen you since the charity gala so seeing you outdoors today will send them into a frenzy especially with you looking like that. I wonder how Atticus has you for a wife and yet still fucks Samantha.”
I always knew that she would be on my side no matter what.
“Well, his loss isn’t it?” I grabbed my bag and her hand and pulled her off the bed so we could get going.
“A big one at that. Where is he, by the way, working?”
“Business trip, he told me a few seconds before he left”
“You’ve got to be shitting me, My Atticus has never been so rude, what is wrong with him?” Danielle gasped in annoyance.
If it was another person who referred to my husband as mine, I would have reacted in another way, probably violently but it was Dani so it was okay. I had an inkling that she and Atticus had been friends too and not just because she was married to his best friend.
“Welcome to my life. I am trying not to let it get to me but it hurts sometimes, you know. I want him to at least respect me as a wife but I think it’s asking for too much”
“It’s not asking for too much. It is what you are owed. He agreed to marry you, he wasn’t forced so he needs to get his act right. Do you want me to talk to him for you, I bet I can make him listen and behave”
When we got outside, the car was waiting so we got into it and began the ride to the boutique Danielle would not stop blabbing about. She claimed they had everything I could ever think of when it came to clothes of the best quality
“No, I want to do this myself. Don’t mind me and my complaints, I know this would not be easy but I am hoping consistency will win.”
As much as I did love to complain, I would never let someone else be the reason that my husband decided to become civil with me. Others may not see it as wrong but I would never truly be able to appreciate the relationship that would blossom as a result of an outsider.
“I had a feeling you would reject my offer but I want you to know that I am always here for you no matter what you need, you are my sister now and I would never want to see you hurt” She held my hands tight and I almost shed tears at the sincerity in her eyes. It felt amazing to have someone to talk to that wasn’t Duke or Dad.
“Thanks, Dani, you have come to mean a lot to me too.” I felt stupid not saying more but I hoped she understood that there were so many layers of emotions under that one statement and by the hug she pulled me into, she did understand.
“We are here” Justin called from the front seat and I pulled myself from the hug so I could take a look around. It was easy to see that it was indeed a high-class store that catered for a certain class.
“It looks expensive,” I told Danielle as I took in my fill of the place.
“Of course it is, I would never go anywhere less. Come on let's go and shop our problems away” She dragged my hand and we climbed down from the car.
I was about to tell her that she had been wrong about the media coming here to stalk me when a flash from the corner of my eyes caught my attention.
“Told you” Was all she said before she dragged me into the store with her.
As soon as we stepped foot into the store, a woman I could only assume was the manager came running towards us with a wide smile on her face and for once it looked genuine.
“Mrs Hudson, it’s so good to see you again and so soon” Danielle surprised me by letting go of my hand and hugging the woman.
“I can see you brought Mrs Hayland as well. It’s a pleasure and honour to have you shop at our boutique” She turned to me with a smile and I turned to Danielle with wide eyes wondering how the woman knew who I was.
“Oh, don’t be startled. It would be an insult if I didn’t recognize you” She beat Danielle to answer my question.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you and I must confess, you have a lovely store” I told her and she beamed at my comment.
“I hope you can find what you want. Please come with me while I show you our new arrivals that have not yet been seen by anyone else” She gestured and we followed behind her.
“I told you, you would be impressed” Danielle bragged and I was. The store was impeccable in both its arrangement and design and I could see myself coming back more.
“Time to shop and forget my worries for now” I muttered to myself.