Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed, unable to contain herself. “Six times in one night? Even a marathon runner would be wiped out!”
Alicia’s cheeks flared with heat. She hadn’t expected Caden to say something that suggestive.
“No, he’s not that impressive,” she replied, her voice faltering.
Monica glanced at Alicia’s flushed cheeks, remembering the time when Alicia and Caden were at their best, when every day together had been cherished.
With a playful grin, Monica leaned against Alicia and asked, “So, tell me, which position do you like best?”
Alicia initially wanted to tease Monica. Since Monica was single, Alicia expected her to shy away from such topics. To her surprise, Monica dove right in with a question that was far from suitable for polite company.
Alicia made a split-second decision to steer her friend back on track and quickly changed the subject. “Have you seen Corey trending online recently?” she asked.
Monica immediately perked up, and the two of them gossiped for a while.
They mostly condemned Corey for his crimes and agreed that he deserved everything coming to him.
Even his good looks couldn’t save him from the notoriety brought about by his crude and unethical behavior.
“I heard they’re looking for a chip repair engineer,” Monica suddenly said. “Didn’t you work on that chip project back then, Alicia? Do you think you’re up for it?”
Alicia cupped her chin and pondered the matter. “Corey’s assistant did email me about that, but I turned it down because of Caden.”
Monica nodded. “I thought as much. If you helped Corey, you’d be as good as betraying Caden. It’s not worth it.”
Alicia snorted.
Then again, Corey was a cunning and deceitful person. Now that he was cornered, there was no telling what he would do out of desperation.
Alicia told herself that she needed to be prepared for anything.
“Monica, why don’t we invite Mr. Hopkins when we go out later? I have something to discuss with him.”
Gerry was quite the expert when it came to dining, drinking, and enjoying high society. He immediately drove over after receiving their call.
Alicia had rented a small villa for their little outdoor barbecue. There was a pool beside the grill, and a band was hired to perform on a small platform at the other end of the backyard. The meal was taken care of by the staff employed at the villa.
To wrap up their private party, Alicia arranged for a bottle of the city’s finest wine to be delivered.
Gerry was scrutinizing it now, his eyes narrowed in thought. “Okay, now this wine doesn’t have a label, but it looks so familiar for some reason.”
Alicia tried not to laugh. “Don’t sweat it and just pour yourself a glass. It’s good stuff, anyway.”
Gerry didn’t need further encouragement. He drew the cork and held the bottle to his nose. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath of the wine’s aroma and sighed. “It smells amazing, Alicia. Where did you get it?”
“Some annoying guy gave it to me,” she replied lightly.
Gerry peered at her. “Why do I feel like you’re talking about Caden?”
Alicia ignored his question and thrust a grilled chicken wing toward his face.
Gerry blinked in surprise.
“Why are you being so nice to me today?”
Alicia shrugged and gave him a demure smile. “Aren’t we supposed to be nice to our friends?”
But the mischievous glint in her eyes did not escape Gerry’s notice. “Then why aren’t you this nice to Cliff?”
Cliff, who was about to eat a piece of vegetable, paused. He silently shuffled away from them, not wanting to get involved in any potential drama.
Gerry shifted awkwardly on his feet. “I know my looks are criminally good,” he quipped, “but you’re already with Caden. It would do us both some good if you refrained from making any drastic blunders.”
Alicia rolled her eyes. “Actually, I just needed your help with something.”
“I won’t betray Caden,” Gerry immediately declared.
Alicia sighed in exasperation. “I’m not asking you to do that. I need something from you.”
“What is it, then?”
Alicia glanced at Cliff before clearing her throat. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to say with your brother present…”
Gerry was mildly startled. He racked his brain, trying to recall if he had done anything foolish lately.
“What is it that you need?” he asked cautiously. “Give me a hint.”
Alicia leaned close and whispered in his ear, “You definitely don’t know about this.”
“Can you two keep it down?” Cliff called out unexpectedly. “I’m not deaf, you know.”
Gerry pressed his lips into a thin line and tapped his nose. Cliff noted the panicked expression on his brother’s face. “If you cause any trouble again, I’ll break your legs.”
Alicia slapped her palm against her forehead and laughed. Just then, a puppy trotted over to her and nuzzled her shin.
“Cade,” Alicia exclaimed, rubbing the dog’s head. She had uttered the name instinctively, causing three pairs of eyes to turn toward her in surprise.
Gerry almost choked on his own spit as he looked left and right. “Who are you talking to? It’s not Caden, is it? God, that would be fucking awkward.”
Alicia picked up the border collie and continued to pet it. “No, I was talking to my puppy,” she chuckled.
Gerry stared at the dog.
She had named it Cade? That was even more shocking than actually finding Caden there.
How did she even manage to convince him to agree on the dog’s name? As if on cue, Gerry soon saw Caden coming up the stairs.
“Cade!” he cried out in greeting.
Alicia’s head jerked up to see Caden’s tall figure approaching. She stifled a grin and quickly turned away from him.
Caden looked back and forth between Alicia and Gerry, a hint of challenge in his eyes. “Who were you calling just now?”
Gerry forced a small laugh, trying to defuse the situation. “Not you, of course. I was talking to the dog.” He reached for the pup in an attempt to support his excuse, but Caden shoved him away before he could touch its soft fur.
Caden took Gerry’s place and sat facing Alicia.
He was about to speak when Alicia stood up and led the dog over to the grill.
Caden could only watch her go, his mouth hanging open.
Could she really not afford him some grace, at least in front of other people?
Frustrated, Caden swallowed his irritation and followed her.
Alicia was searing a few slices of meat for Cade. When Caden sidled up next to her, the man in charge of the barbecue asked, “What would you like, sir?”
Caden glanced at the cooler. “Ten skewers of oysters, ten skewers of lamb kidneys, and a few sea cucumbers and abalone.”
The barbecue guy was visibly taken aback.
He wasn’t born yesterday. He knew that everything Caden ordered was meant to enhance a man’s sexual virility.
Alicia nearly rolled her eyes.
All this energy-boosting food – what was he planning? Trying to conquer her completely tonight?
Noticing her expression, Caden turned to the barbecue vendor. “How long will it take?”
The vendor, caught off guard, stammered, “Uh, sir, are you in a hurry?”
Caden replied smoothly, “Not me, but my girlfriend is.”
The vendor blinked in confusion.
Caden nodded toward Alicia. “That’s my girlfriend.” Alicia was left in a daze.
“Yes, that one – the pretty one holding the dog,” Caden added.
Alicia’s forced smile barely concealed her irritation. She’d thought he might apologize, yet here he was, stirring up trouble.
After settling Cade, she turned back to face them. The vendor, clearly rattled, focused intently on the grill while Caden met her gaze without a hint of fear.
Handing over a piece of meat for grilling, she looked at Caden with a smirk. “Judging by the amount you ordered, Mr. Ward, your deficiency is more serious than we thought. Need more than just food?”
Her eyes darted to his pants as she continued, “If it’s that bad, this won’t help. I suggest trying something drastic – a full reset.”
The vendor couldn’t help but snicker, though he quickly tried to cover it up, blaming the smoke.
Caden shot him a glare. “You find this funny?”
The vendor straightened, feigning seriousness. “No, sir. Just… some smoke.”
Caden raised an eyebrow, glancing pointedly at the completely smoke-free grill.
The vendor chuckled nervously. “It’s like invisible smoke. You can’t see it, but you feel it.”
Alicia murmured, “Seems the rumors are true – bad temper and impotence do go hand in hand.”
Caden was rendered speechless.
The vendor shot Alicia a quick, grateful glance.