Chapter 3

“WHAT?!”

I had to cover my ears from Victoria’s eruption after I delivered the unfortunate news.

The plan didn’t work, and here I am soaked in tears, drowning in embarrassment I’ll probably carry to my grave. I basically posed as a desperate wife to her cheating husband and his mistress witnessed it, as well as the rejection.

And the worst part? Jack didn’t even run after me when I walked out. He just stood there like a statue and watched me leave his office.

I received no text. No voicemail. Not even a missed call.

But Victoria wasn’t upset because Jack really was cheating on me. No, she was furious that her plan didn’t work.

“Are you sure you did it right?” she asked, clearly doubting me even after I swore I followed every step. “Men like him get tempted easily—unless he really hates you.”

I sniffled, literally stuffing the tissue through the holes of my nose. “I don’t see how that’s supposed to comfort me,” I muttered, sounding like a congested cavewoman.

“My point is, womanizers like him never refuse an open opportunity... open legs. Did you chicken out of our plan?”

“No, I already told you what happened.” I rubbed the bottom of my itching nose. “Do you even realize I kissed him after he kissed someone else? Would it have been my fault if he owned me when that woman in the cabinet was supposed to be the one he should’ve had?”

“Goodness gracious, Loraine. You’re the wife!” she exclaimed, gesturing wildly. “Didn’t we agree your marriage is the first priority here?”

I pouted, slouching in the middle of the bed and trying to muffle my sobs.

She leaned her back against the bookshelf, staring at me like some mad scientist analyzing a failed formula.

“Stop looking at me like that. You’re scaring me,” I said, wiping mascara streaks off my cheeks.

“I think I know what you need to do,” she muttered, squinting at me like she just solved a mystery. “You said he’s scared of his dad, right?”

“No, he’s not. He just respects his father. He looks up to him. Big difference,” I corrected, tossing another crumpled tissue on the floor, which I’ll have to clean up later.

“That’s the same thing, just less disgraceful to say,” she scoffed, then joined me on the bed that freaked from her weight. “He’s doing everything to please Mr. Winehouse Senior. So… if his dad finds out he’s cheating on you, everything he’s worked for? Poof! Gone. Like magic.”

She smirked like she’d cracked a five-decade cold case and now demanding that she deserved a reward.

I clutched the blanket closer, inching away from her.

“What are you saying?” I snuffled, terrified she might suggest something even crazier than what I’d already done earlier.

And of course, Victoria did.

Because who am I kidding wearing this ridiculous thing?

“This is crazy…” I muttered to myself, glancing at the clock. It was a few minutes before seven.

Jack’s coming home expecting me to be dressed for dinner outside—but no. I’m in a pale purple satin babydoll nightgown.

And what did Victoria tell me to wear underneath? A thong. Just a tiny white piece of fabric. Nothing else.

Five hours ago, she literally forced me to try on every slutty pajama she brought with her, and I ended up with the least suggestive one.

The second attempt.

Victoria said if seduction worked halfway, it just needed a little push. Blackmail him.

What a brilliant idea. As if I could ever do that.

“Lo?” I heard his voice from behind me.

When I turned I was immediately welcomed by his handsome face, beautiful physique and that guilt dancing before his eyes. Still wearing that same suit, same anxious face, same man fighting not to be seduced.

Following Victoria’s mentorship, I gave him a small smile and approached him with light, measured steps.

“Hi,” I greeted softly, pretending nothing happened earlier in his office.

His eyes followed me, and he almost stopped breathing when my hands rested on his chest. I took his tie and twirled it around my finger.

“You’re home early,” I said, stepping closer until I had to tiptoe to kiss him. He stiffened instantly. His hands found my hips, but his touch was hesitant.

“You’re not dressed,” he said, glancing down at me. That lump in his throat bobbed up and down. “I already reserved us a table at—”

“We’re not going anywhere,” I cut him off.

“Lo, we have to talk. I need to explain my side,” he uttered, almost tripping over his own words.

“We can talk here. In our home. I already made pasta and grilled chicken.” I jutted my lower lip slightly.

He looked at me like I was both amusing and confusing. “Lo, about earlier…”

“I was disappointed. I was… hurt knowing I wasn’t enough—no, that’s wrong. I’ve never given enough,” I corrected myself, standing roughly ten inches shorter than him.

“That’s not the reason,” he sighed, shaking his head.

“You refused me when I was already giving myself to you, Jack. What else could the reason be? Am I not pretty enough? Do I disgust you?”

He shook his head quickly.

“Maybe… maybe I should just file for divorce. I’ll tell Uncle Nolan that—”

“No!” he exclaimed, eyes wide, his hands gripping my shoulders. “Lo, please don’t tell Dad about this.”

Victoria was right… he is scared of his father.

“Look, I’m sorry I cheated on you. I—I won’t do it again,” he blurted out recklessly. “I already sent her away. She won’t come back. I… I’m sorry, Lo. I swear.” His voice shook with nerves.

His image meant everything to him, especially to his family. I knew how harsh his parents could be.

Jack might have enough money to be powerful, but Nolan Winehouse? He wasn’t just powerful. He was ruthless and merciless when disappointed.

If he found out his married son cheated, I couldn’t even imagine what would come next.

Uncle Nolan trusted me more than his own son. If I said Jack dis something naughty, he wouldn’t hesitate to teach him a “lesson.”

“They say if a man cheats, even if he promises to change, he won’t. He’ll do it again,” I murmured quietly.

“You can trust me,” he said.

Trust. The most dangerous word there is. Once given and broken, it’s almost impossible to rebuild.

“I’ll do whatever you want,” he added quickly, desperate to clear his name after committing an unholy crime. “Anything you want.”

My heart pounded. I could already see where this was going, and Victoria would probably dance in joy once she found it out.

Me? I didn’t even know what to feel anymore.

All I cared about was fixing what we were.

I wanted to be a wife to my husband. But first, I needed to claim him as mine. For real this time.

“Okay… nothing happened earlier.” I pushed his jacket off, and when it hit the floor with a soft thud, he blinked twice. “Uncle Nolan won’t know about this.”

He gulped.

“You said anything I want?” I confirmed.

“Y—yeah…” he stammered. “Just tell me. I can buy you clothes, jewelry. You want to go out of town? Spend the summer in Honolulu or Paris? Anything, anywhere you want.”

I chuckled softly, placing my hands on his tensed shoulders. “I don’t want your money, Jack. I don’t need to go anywhere. I just need... you.”

Then I pulled him down by his necktie until our faces were just a thread apart.

“Lo…” he breathed.

“Make love to me, Jack,” I whispered. “That’s all I ever want from you.”