Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
“Wait, why are we suddenly talking about kids? What’s all this nonsense?” Alyssa thought her stepmoms were going off track.
“Lyla, I still believe that there’s more to consider when it comes to Lyse’s potential husband,” Mandy, always the voice of reason, furrowed her brow and analyzed the situation.
She continued, “From what I’ve gathered, Jameson recently returned from Kontina. He has only a small stake and limited support within the Schmidt Group.
“Victor sent Jameson’s mother abroad under the pretense of rehabilitation and rarely paid her attention.
Jameson might appear to be a good, match, but in reality, Lyse would be marrying down.
“I even worry that he might be setting his eyes on Lyse’s dowry. Or maybe he’ll leverage her influence to rise in the Schmidt Group.”
“Oh my, Mandy, you’re absolutely right. We need to be careful,” said Colene, who was immediately swayed.
“You’d compare prices when you shop, so why not marriage? It is a serious matter. It is better to remain single if you can’t find the right candidate. Would you reconsider David?”
Alyssa struggled to talk her way out. She covered her ears in frustration as she drowned in the nagging of
At dinner, the Taylor family and the guests enjoyed the feast in harmony and savored the Chateau Lafite
Rothschild that Winston had stored for years.
For Winston and Victor, the dinner was just another ordinary catch-up, like what they always did 20 years ago. The only difference was the presence of their children.
Furthermore, Victor had an ulterior motive this time-to assess his future daughter-in-law.
David sat across Alyssa at the long and wide table while Jameson was seated beside her. Jameson had gained the upper hand because he was closer to her.
David could only stare with envy as his brother attentively cared for Alyssa.
He almost crushed the utensils in frustration as he agonized at starting on the wrong foot. That little prick
Jameson had gained a head start!
Jameson discovered Alyssa’s penchant for seafood, particularly crabs and shrimps, through their previous dinner date. If there had been no time limit, she would have indulged in seafood all day long.
With that knowledge, Jameson patiently shelled the shrimps for her consumption, sacrificing the time to eat.
Everyone at the table was discreetly scrutinizing the two of them. Alyssa was wolfing down the dinner without a care in the presence of her family.
Jameson had a smile on his face as he expertly shelled the shrimp and placed the juicy meat on her plate. The task was not befitting of his status as Victor Schmidt’s son, but he took pleasure in it.
Alyssa ate the shrimp without feeling awkward. She accepted his act of service, something she might have declined if they were alone.
Since Victor was present at the dinner, she wouldn’t miss the opportunity to show off her “flaws”.
Jameson wiped his fingers every time he shelled the shrimp.
David smirked at his brother’s action, knowing that Jameson was a clean freak who wouldn’t re-wear a shirt. Jameson had given his all in the battle for Alyssa’s heart.
“My daughter is senseless! Sorry about that, Vic,” Winston apologized to Victor with a chuckle.
“No worries, Winston. We’re all family. I like how real Lyse is, just like when you were younger! Oh, how I hope I could call her my daughter-in-law and bring her home!”
Victor finally blurted out his agenda. Winston gave him an acknowledging smile without a word.
Alyssa let out a contented burp. Jameson turned to her with a loving gaze and discreetly handed her a napkin under the table. “Here, clean your hands.”
“Thanks.” She took it with a smile and gracefully dabbed her lips.
“Alyssa, you had quite the appetite tonight.” David beamed.
“Forgive me, I couldn’t resist. The homecooked meal was-“
“No, you mistook my meaning. I wasn’t making a dig at you. Somehow, you feel different from all the girls
I’ve met.” He leaned forward and admitted, “I admire your candid behavior. You’re cute and real.”
She scoffed at his remark about her behavior. Had the girls he met before never eaten in front of him at all? Still, she politely replied, “Thanks for the compliment.”
“You haven’t been drinking much. You must be thirsty now. Try some red wine.” David rose to pour her some wine, but Jameson smirked.
“Actually, seafood pairs better with white wine. Why would you suggest red wine? You must be living your life on the internet to be ignorant of the most basic knowledge.”
David’s face fell when Jameson made a jab at him. He curled his fists.
The Taylor family chose to ignore the siblings’ rivalry, except for Victor, who shot Jameson a furious glance.
“She still needs something to warm her up. Lyse, I’ll get you some white wine. It’s perfectly fine to enjoy a little drink.” Jameson smiled gently, ignoring the pale David. 1
She coughed and replied, “I’m fine with anything.”
Feeling uneasy about being caught in the middle of the two siblings, she declined their offers in an attempt to defuse the situation. “I’d actually prefer a beer-“
Surprisingly, they turned to her at the same time, warning, “No! You might get gout!”
When the dinner drew to a close, Jameson excused himself from the table and headed to the washroom.
There, he dispensed loads of handwash into his hands.
His pale hands looked like they were specimens in Formalin. He scrubbed his hands until they turned a shade of red.
After five times of handwashing, he brought his hands to his nose and detected a lingering fishy odor. So, he pumped some handwash solution onto his hands and carefully cleaned every finger.
At that moment, the washroom door swung open. In stormed David with a sullen look. He snickered at the sight of Jameson’s problematic handwashing behavior.
“Peeling shrimp at dinner must have been quite the challenge for a clean freak like you. You might even have nightmares tonight.”
Jameson ignored his brother’s taunt, and gracefully wiped his hands dry.
“It’s been a while. I was hoping you’d return from Kontina with some actual skills, but the only thing you’ve picked up was to suck up to people,” David further mocked him in disdain.
“Why? Are you envious of me?” Jameson grinned maliciously. “You must be. You didn’t even have the chance to curry favor with Lyse.”
“You¨C”
“I’d rather suck up to Lyse than panicking over not having a chance to do so, like you.”
David’s eyes reddened, and he laughed in anger. “No wonder Dad’s never taken you seriously. There’s something off in your thinking. You’re willing to go to great lengths to suck up to people!”
“That’s the rule of the game. What’s important is to achieve your ends by any means.”
Jameson casually discarded the napkin and chuckled. “Why the sudden interest in conversation when you were reluctant to talk to me since we were kids?
“Why? Are you feeling anxious over my relationship with Lyse? Does it feel like shit seeing your plans derailed?”
“Jameson, you’re getting ahead of yourself. Tell you what, Dad will never approve of you dating Alyssa. You aren’t at the same level to fight with me!” David was jumping in anger.
“That’s not for you to decide.” Jameson turned around and squinted at his raging sibling. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and declared, “I will put my claim on Lyse.”
As expected, the conversation fell apart, and David slammed the door as he left. Jameson wiped off the smile on his face and clenched his fists.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He answered with a curt, “What?”
“Mr. Schmidt, I have news, but please stay calm after you hear it.” After a pause, Carl whispered, “Jeremy
Walsh shows up from nowhere, and he’s right outside the gates of the Taylor family’s villa. And he’s here alone.”
Jameson’s expression darkened. “Understood.”
Jeremy stood beneath a streetlamp across from Heightsnew Villa, dressed in a thin suit.
Belbanks had a moderate coastal climate, but the night breezes were pretty chilly in late fall. The chill seeped through his clothes.
This was his third time waiting for Alyssa at the same spot. What had once been a mere yearning now transformed into an inexplicable passion, smoldering in the depths of his chest.
“I waited till the shadows grew