Filed to story: The Hidden Queen: My Husband’s Mistress Ruined My Empire (Serena & Christian) Book PDF Free
Lexi let go of the knob, glaring at the hostess, put her nose in the air, and followed her to the room next door. The hostess ushered us in. The room was tiny, with a table and chairs. The hostess had made an effort to set the table nicely and there were candles flickering in the room. There was a nice bottle of wine sitting next to a pretty centerpiece and menus on the table. It was very intimate but Lexi looked oblivious, sitting down in her chair with a scowl on her face. I swear I saw the hostess roll her eyes.
“I will send a waiter up to take your orders,” the hostess said serenely, quickly turning on her heel and leaving.
“Well this is nice and cozy isn’t it?” I said to Lexi, shrugging out of my jacket and sitting down, trying to cheer her up.
She glared at me “I’ve never been so humiliated in my life, being denied the VIP room. We should go and see who is in there” she hissed “and make them leave.”
“Lexi you heard the hostess,” I said patiently “and besides who cares? We’re here, we can have a nice dinner together, as a couple, without having to hide. With luck, I can persuade Serena to sign those papers and maybe even file them before the engagement party. Can’t you just relax a little bit and try to have a good time?”
She sniffed and picked up the menu, eyeing it with disdain. “This is supposed to be a five-star restaurant and it’s only just opened,” she said with a scowl “I don’t understand how the VIP room was already taken.”
I felt myself becoming slightly frustrated with her. “Forget about the VIP room,” I said impatiently “how about we order and maybe some food will put you in a better mood?”
She glowered at me. “Urgh” she complained, looking at the back and creasing a brow “they have vegetarian and vegan dishes. Why?”
My lip twitched. Something Serena would have appreciated. The thought came to me quickly and I dismissed it. I wasn’t with Serena anymore, but sometimes the most random thoughts would come to me without even trying. Lexi looked disgusted and then turned the menu back around, just as a waiter came walking up, a wide smile on his face.
“Hello beautiful lady” he greeted Lexi, whose lips thankfully curled into a smile at the compliment “I am here to take your order. What would you like to eat, you ravishing creature?” he teased, making her giggle and flip her hair in a flirty manner.
“I’ll have the chicken Caesar salad minus the croutons and dressing,” she said demurely as the waiter scribbled it down.
The waiter turned to me expectantly “I’ll have the chicken parmigiana and Thai salad” I said eagerly.
I was starving. The waiter scribbled it down. “Anything particular to drink?” he asked, peering at Lexi like a starving man while I glared at him.
Lexi smirked at me. “I’ll have a diet soda. I need to watch my weight” she said as the waiter shook his head at her.
“A bourbon,” I said grumpily.
I might as well have a few drinks. The waiter was flirting with Lexi and she was letting him. It was an insult. Then Lexi winked at me and leaned forward, exposing her cleavage as the waiter practically drooled.
“So Franco,” she said, looking at his name tag and running a finger down the side of her breasts “you wouldn’t happen to know who is in the next room would you? I mean, is it some kind of celebrity or…” she trailed off, the waiter’s eyes widening.
“Oh, I’m not sure Miss,” he said regretfully “All I know is that it’s an important billionaire and his date. A very pretty woman” which made Lexi look disgruntled.
“Thanks,” she said tightly.
He nodded and took his clipboard, heading downstairs to put our orders in.
“Let’s just have a good time Lexi” I coaxed as she slumped in her chair, her arms folded across her chest “Don’t you enjoy spending time together?”
She sighed. “I guess” she mumbled “at least the engagement party can’t be ruined” she added with some satisfaction, sitting back up, her face beginning to glow, “providing you’re actually divorced by then.”
“Trust me, everything is going to be fine,” I said with more confidence than I actually felt.
She eyed me moodily. I poured her some wine and she sipped. “What about the ring Christian?” she said glancing at me “You haven’t bought that yet, have you?”
I coughed “I’m getting there. I have plans.”
Yes, plans. Karen had mentioned that Lexi had been eyeing a ring that belonged to her grandfather’s wife. I had hoped to persuade him to part with it for Lexi’s engagement ring. Apparently, it was a valuable black diamond and had been designed by her great-grandfather himself or was even older having been in the family for generations. According to Karen, nothing else would do for Lexi.
Grayson POV
She was even more beautiful than I remembered. Elegant, classy, down to earth, and fantastic company. It was refreshing. I hadn’t laughed so much in such a long time. Serena was a breath of fresh air. I was enjoying the date immensely, even as I knew that I would have to put forward my proposal, the time drawing near, and I sensed the mood changing, Serena’s eyes shining bright as she looked at me. Out of instinct, I grabbed her hand, surprising her, although her gaze was warm and there was a wide smile on her face.
“I must admit that I had an ulterior motive for asking you out on a date tonight Miss Serena” I drawled, causing her to look at me uncertainly “and although it may come as a shock to you, I’m hoping that you might give it some serious consideration.”
She looked confused. “I’m sorry, maybe you could be more specific Mr Grayson?” she asked.
“Please, just Grayson, and allow me to explain. I’m well aware of your upcoming divorce to Christian Thorne” I explained as she nodded tightly, her finger circling her goblet nervously “and I’m also aware of his affair with Lexi Vance.”
“It’s no secret thanks to the gossip magazines,” she said bitterly.
I inclined my head “That is correct” I said wryly, “but have you ever considered the possibility of marriage again Miss Serena?” I asked her as she turned pale, her body going stiff as she looked at me in shock.
“After being cheated on?” she said incredulously and I held a hand up, my eyes narrowing.
