Filed to story: The Hidden Queen: My Husband’s Mistress Ruined My Empire (Serena & Christian) Book PDF Free
I stared at her “that’s what this is about isn’t it? The company? Your grandfather has a stipulation on it doesn’t he?”
Lexi gave a smug grin “he does. In order to inherit the damn company, either I or Grayson have to be married first and provide an heir. But the heir has to be provided in wedlock. So the sooner we are married, the sooner we can get started on providing the heir” she blurted out “and then I get the company, not my bastard brother Grayson.”
She patted my knee condescendingly “and it’s not as though there aren’t perks for you” she said with a grin “not only will you own half the company with me, but I’ll be able to direct the clients to your law firm. You’ll get tons of business and so many clients you won’t be able to keep up. All of them wealthy. You’ll be a billionaire in your own right. It’s a win win and we’ll have children to pass on the business to.”
“You failed to mention all of this to me before Lexi” I said a little taken aback but also secretly thrilled.
A fifty percent share in the worlds largest company that had billions in profits year after year? What man was going to pass up such an opportunity? All I had to do was marry Lexi and have a baby with her? In retrospect it didn’t seem all that much and I could spend my life in luxury, while building a prestigious law firm that would rival anybody’s in the country. I could feel my heart racing at the thought, my hands turning clammy. Lexi gave me a knowing look.
“I couldn’t risk telling you before” she said nonchalantly “but I trust you now Christian. There’s no other man I would rather be married to than you” she added, flipping her hair over her shoulder, her eyes gleaming at me.
“But Lexi, I don’t exactly see you looking after a child” I said frowning.
She didn’t seem like the maternal type. Lexi laughed, throwing her head back. “Christian you’re hilarious” she said “naturally our child will be brought up by nannies. I don’t intend on being a hands on mother” she shuddered at the thought “the thought of changing diapers and late night feeds, urgh” she flinched “its so repulsive” she complained.
I felt a pang at that. I had always wanted children and had never thought of palming them off. I convinced myself that it was a small price to pay for what I would receive in return. Our child would still be loved, be well cared for. I ignored the small voice in my head that was protesting and smiled lovingly at Lexi. “Very well, I will take care of the divorce papers, now that I know there is a reason for the urgency my love” I told her loyally, making her face light up “and then we can announce our engagement to the media, which should make your family happy.”
Serena POV
I forced back my groan as the sunlight hit my eyes, my head throbbing with what felt like the world’s worst hangover, and stumbled to the bathroom, where I forced my body underneath the shower and out of hibernation. I blinked back the sleep from my eyes and carefully got ready for a new day, heading out of the room, fully dressed, only to come across Rachel looking a little worse for wear at the dining table, munching on a large piece of toast, with a woebegone expression on her face.
“I drank too much last night” she moaned, sipping coffee and making a face “now my head feels like it’s about to explode.
“Tell me about it” I muttered, grabbing some juice and aspirin “I feel like severing my head from my body” I complained, sitting down next to her.
Rachel smirked “Still, it was worth it, just to see that b***h Lexi Vance’s face when you gave her what for,” she said teasingly, wincing slightly.
I stared at her uncomprehendingly. “Sorry, what?” I asked.
Rachel snorted “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already,” she said with a shake of her head and then grabbed the newspaper, handing it to me as I gripped it with slightly shaking hands.
Spoilt Heiress Has Affair with Married Man. Given Slap by the Woman She Wronged!
I swallowed hard, grateful not to be eating anything for fear it would have come right back up. There, in black and white, as plain as the nose on my face, was a close-up picture of myself slapping Lexi Vance in the face. Oh boy. Suddenly I was grateful to be sitting down. I gripped the edges of the table. This had to be some sort of prank. I glanced at Rachel who was smirking at me. Slowly images from last night began to flash into my mind. “I slapped her,” I said incredulously “Oh my god, I actually slapped her.”
What was I thinking? I had never slapped anyone before in my life. Not only that but if I were honest with myself, it had felt good to slap that heiress b***h in the face. This was not like me. I wasn’t some vindictive hateful woman. But right now, part of me wanted to do that to her again. Rachel laughed “Trust me she deserved it. I’m actually surprised you didn’t slap Christian as well considering he had a few choice things to say. Shame really” she sighed “Maybe next time” she added hopefully.
“Rachel, how could you let me do this?” I demanded, turning to look at her “What if they find out my real identity?”
She waved her hand at me, dismissing my concerns “Honey I doubt they’ll care enough to look into it. It’s a juicy story, but only because they think you’re a nobody. Trust me their focus is on Lexi Vance and that bastard Christian. Knox was there last night and I promise you, he would never let them smear your real name. You’re safe” she said cheerfully, as I sipped at some juice “I’m going to cut this picture out and frame it” she breathed excitedly.
“Why didn’t the Vance’s have this story held?” I said frowning “The last thing they would have wanted was their precious heiress to have her name smeared in the paper again.”
“Oh, that’s the thing. According to Knox, her half-brother Grayson refuses to intervene with the papers and her grandfather has given them strict instructions that unless Grayson says to hold them, the stories should continue to run. So little Lexi has no sway with the papers at all, despite having the Vance name” Rachel said with satisfaction.
I raised a brow “You seem pretty chummy with my brother” I said as her cheeks turned pink “You must have had quite the chat last night after I went to bed.”
“No, just a little conversation. He was worried about you” she said hurriedly, avoiding my gaze “and he also said to expect a phone call.”
“A phone call?” my tone sharpened.
“Well, your face is in the paper and you know that your father reads them religiously,” Rachel said reluctantly “So it’s hardly surprising that Knox believes you should expect a call from him is it?”
I groaned and put my head on the table. “Don’t tell me you regret hitting her?” Rachel asked incredulously “After everything she’s put you through.”
I turned my head and looked at her “No” I said honestly “but what’s come over me? I want to make her pay Rachel, so bad it hurts. Doesn’t that make me a terrible person?”
She blinked. “Honey, it makes you human,” she said, staring me hard in the eyes “If you could see what goes on in my mind, you’d probably be scared shitless” she added with a glint in her eyes, “I think you’re going through a lot of pain right now and you are dealing the best way you know how. Speaking of which” she added mysteriously “what is your next move Serena Thorne, soon to be Serena Summers?”
“I haven’t even thought about it. There’s the yoga studio, which Christian doesn’t even know anything about, other than I work there. But outside of that, I want to focus on myself. I spent so much time doing everything for Christian, helping with his law firm, being his secretary and personal assistant so he wouldn’t have to hire one, cooking, cleaning, and working for myself, I haven’t had time to stop and think about what I want” I told her honestly “I stopped being Serena and became Mrs Thorne, the woman Christian wanted me to be. I need to be Serena again.”
Rachel’s expression turned thoughtful. “I understand that,” she said slowly “and I think you might be right. The first step, would be a whole new wardrobe,” she said meaningfully, glancing down at my clothes as I stiffened “I know for a fact that Christian picked out the clothes he wanted you to wear that would look suitable for his clients” she added knowingly “you look like an old maid instead of a young woman that’s desirable and hot.”
“I don’t want to look desirable and hot. I’m not about to go looking for another husband” I protested.
She had a devilish look on her face “Who said anything about a husband? A one-night stand here or there wouldn’t kill you Serena, might even make you loosen up a little” she teased “And what woman doesn’t like to feel like she’s desired?”
