The Billionaire's Alternate Plan

Juliette gave up on her dream of ever gaining Michael's notice the day the senator's daughter, Aria, came into the picture. She'd do anything for the ruthless and sometimes cruel Michael. Even three years later, when he hires her to plan his wedding to Aria. Aria has always been jealous of and hated Juliette. When things start going wrong with the wedding plans, it's Juliette who gets blamed for Aria's tampering. Juliette foolishly allowed Michael to create the contract for the event. When Aria skips out on the wedding. Juliette is forced to be the bride because of a clause in the contract. A five-year contract marriage to the man of her dreams becomes a nightmare when he promises to make her pay for destroying his wedding and reputation. Never mind that Aria ran away on her own or canceled all of Juliette's arrangements. It's Juliette who loses her business and becomes trapped in a loveless marriage. On her third wedding anniversary, the only present Michael ever gave her was divorce papers. Now what will she do when she finds Aria has taken her place? Michael learned early in life, women want money and not the men behind the money. He’s always got an alternate plan, and a five year plan for his future. Blind by anger and the need to lash out, he uses Juliette as a backup bride to pin her down and unleash his revenge upon. It’s only for five years after all. It’s a trial run marriage. Who the bride is doesn’t matter. Will Michael finally learn from his mistakes? Is it too late? What about Leon, Michael's best friend, and who stole Aria from Michael? Can they sort this out before it's too late? Cover by Graziana (@gm_bookcover_design)

Chapter One—Not All That Glitters Is Gold

The lights twinkled throughout the lavish living space as men in evening wear, mingled with women in sparkling cocktail dresses. The drinks flowed in crystal glasses as the guests of this stately party chatted among themselves as they waited for the guest of honour to appear.

This was the third wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Barron. Mrs. Barron was the perfect host and flitted between the guests. Despite the passing time, Mr. Barron remained absent.

The party should have started almost an hour ago. All the guests were there; even the fashionably late guests had been waiting for a considerable time.

Juliette Monroe, or Mrs. Michael Barron, had put on the perfect mask to hide her panic. Several wives of her husband’s business associates had forced her to host this party. It was to celebrate their third wedding anniversary as a surprise gift.

She felt cornered. Juliette should have declined at once. Three years later, she wished to keep their private lives hidden from this crowd.

Juliette knew Michael hated anything to do with his marriage, and that included her. She thought he might go along with it because it would help with his networking and business deals.

Normally, Michael would be home by now. He’d at least have the decency to let her know he’d not be home.

He’d never pick up her calls or answer her texts. Juliette learned that within days of her wedding disaster. She was still kicking herself for letting him force her into taking the place of the bride.

Aria Cain is Juliette’s enemy, for lack of a better term.

It started during her last year of college. Call her weak if you wanted, but Juliette had crushed hard and fast for years on Michael Barron, to the point the man knew she’d help him with anything. In those days, she’d been naïve to the extreme.

Juliette knew she was a people-pleaser. A chronic people-pleaser. In college, she worked herself to the bone because, unlike these trust fund babies, Juliette didn’t come from a moneyed family. They funded her place in college through arduous work and grants.

Her nativity came from her believing that if she did everything Michael wanted, he’d be so happy that he’d notice her and fall in love with her.

Call her thirty different kinds of fools, because here she stood after the ultimate sacrifice for nothing. It’s okay; Juliette already beat everyone with the name-calling, having called herself everything already.

Michael would eventually call and tell her what was happening. She’s always the last to know. The one often overlooked. Juliette was the laughingstock of this social scene. She knew it, but for Michael, she tried her best not to allow it to affect his life or business.

Michael informed her that this was their first marriage. A trial run to see if he liked married life. If it fit his lifestyle in his future, to him, who his wife was didn’t matter. In fact, a nobody like her was perfect. She’d be gone in five years, anyway.

He threatened to destroy her business and life after Aria backed out of their wedding hours before it happened. Michael blamed her for Aria’s leaving, the unprofessional mishaps, the cancelled venue, and a host of other disasters that she dealt with. Sometimes, she took on the debt to fix them. That wasn’t enough. He wanted her to hurt, and he needed a wife to see if marriage suited him. She was there, and she’d do it. It also put her within easy reach of being punished for this entire debacle.

She suspected Michael knew of this party and avoided it to humiliate her yet again.

Her wedding planning business? It’s long gone. He lied to her, and she couldn’t save it after the wedding disaster.

Now, she kept her efforts quiet and mentioned nothing about them to these people or Michael. Just two more years until freedom, she planned to seek ultimate revenge and emerge victorious. It was her sole defence against these people. There was something empowering about hearing someone slam you to the ground in one breath. Then praise your efforts because they don’t know it was your blood, sweat, and tears that created it. That was her revenge—a dish served cold in a few years.

Juliette held her cellphone, moving around and checking up on everyone, being as nice as they allowed her to be.

Finally, her phone rang, and Michael’s number appeared on her phone.

She rushed into a quiet bedroom after apologizing to everyone as she disappeared. Michael’s best friend had shadowed her since he arrived. Juliette knew how loyal Leon Opus was to Michael.

Michael even forgave Leon for stealing Aria from him months after the wedding. Juliette assumed Leon stood in as a guest so he could tell Michael all about her utter humiliation in front of his friends.

“Hello?” Leon wouldn’t let her close the door because he leaned against the doorjamb. Juliette frowned at him and at how he listened to her conversation.

“I won’t be home tonight until late. Don’t hold dinner for me and don’t wait up for me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier? What’s keeping you?”

“I’m working, and I don’t need to explain myself to you.”

“Alright, don’t work too hard. Good night.” Arguing was pointless, and mentioning the party would only anger him. His anger toward her was preferable to the humiliation.

Michael disconnected the call with, “Goodbye, Juliette.” She didn’t respond to that. She tossed her phone onto the nightstand and stared at it as she tried to come up with a plan to deal with the mess outside.

Chapter Two—The Final Straw

“I’ll assume that was Michael.”

“Why don’t you record that, Leon? You and Michael will enjoy watching my social missteps repeatedly, I have no doubt. With the right camera angle, you could create an incredible meme.”

Juliette meant to say this, but she didn’t owe him loyalty or friendship. He dated a woman who wanted to destroy her simply for existing.

“I never took that video. All I did was bring it to Michael’s attention. After all, as his wife, he deserved to know it existed.” His jacket shifted as he straightened and shrugged his wide shoulders.

Michael and Leon were a pair of trust fund babies with looks, education, and wealth. People sought their company for the sake of appearances. They needed to scrape the women off, even as those women fought for their attention. Even now, women vied for Michael’s attention to take Juliette’s place. Michael never refused a fun time with them.

“Leon, I don’t care. I’m tired, and there’s a room full of people waiting for Michael. It's time to inform everyone the party’s over.

“I’ll do that for you.” Leon was offering what? Kick everyone out? What excuse would he use? “Look for what it is. I’m sorry. But I offered. Don’t blame me when you do it.”

“Nothing changes. I’ve done it all. I put in all the effort. For what? Never mind, I’ll suck it up.”

“So, you’re having a pity party?”

“No.”

“If you say so.” The doorbell rang, interrupting any more conversation between Leon and Juliette. Walking to the door, she half expected Aria to be there, looking for her boyfriend, Leon.

It wasn’t Aria. “Can I help you?”

“I have a delivery for Mrs. Juliette Barron or Mr. Michael Barron.” He read their names from an envelope in his hands.

“I’m Ms. Juliette Monroe Barron.” The man handed her the envelope as if it held something toxic.

“That’s for you. Enjoy your party and try to have a good evening.” The man quickly rushed off to summon an elevator.

Juliette could feel her guests’ curiosity, and with Leon’s gigantic frame looming behind her. She was extremely self-conscious of this odd delivery.

“What’s that?” Juliette wasn’t sure what she expected, but for Leon to pretend that he didn’t know floored her.

Juliette caught the return address logo on the envelope and knew it was from the firm Michael used for his private legal needs. All their contracts came from them.

She should have known Michael set this up to ensure it had the maximum impact on her. Juliette wouldn’t cry, she was determined not to.

“I’ll wait for you to get your phone out and start recording this. It’s probably best to go along with his preferred method.”

“Juliette, what is going on? Who was that at the door?”

“One moment, please Tiffanie. Leon should record this for the record.” Juliette couldn’t stop her voice from faltering as she spoke.

“Leon, she’s, our host. It’s the least you can do.” Juliette didn’t care who said what anymore. Assuming this was her belief, she would hardly, if ever, see them after tonight.

“Fine, I will.”

Under pressure from the crowd, Leon quickly recorded the room on his phone before turning it on Juliette.

“I suspect what is in here and it’s fine.” Juliette said, but it wasn’t fine. After this, she had to push up the date of everything and she worried she wasn’t ready.

“Is it a deed for a house? A yacht? Or a new car?” A guest asked as everyone watched her open the envelope. Juliette knew it wouldn’t be a gift. He didn’t give her gifts or things of value. He’d toss a little money her way in hopes she’d go away.

The thick stack of documents slipped smoothly from the envelope. They didn’t clear the envelope fully before Juliette saw the words, Separation and Divorce Agreement.

“Oh, come on! Let everyone see what he got you?!”

“What no key?!”

Some people genuinely believed Michael would get her something like that, and they voiced their thoughts. The women here expected the designer bags and fashion trips to Paris. Juliette expected what she got. Michael had finally found her replacement.

“I guess he’s really not coming home tonight. I’m sorry, there’s nothing to celebrate with everyone. You witnessed both the beginning and now the end.” She stepped over to the secretary desk and took a pen from it.

Everyone witnessed her sign in several places before she turned to show the documents with her signature in place. Juliette made sure that Leon’s video caught everything.

“I’m sorry, but I’d like everyone to leave now. I must pack my things. Leon, were you wondering if you could do something? Please make sure everyone picks up their gifts as they leave. Thank you. Have a good evening, everyone, and again, I’m sorry.” She said in a firm voice that sounded brittle.

Juliette returned the pen to the desk and grabbed a business card from her purse. Her expression was blank, and she moved mechanically, as if on autopilot.

The party goers were stunned in silence as they moved out of her way. Juliette left the door to Michael’s home office open as she entered.

Juliette put the signed documents on the desktop of Michael’s antique mahogany desk with the business card.

With that done, she left the office. Sabrina Jenkins, wife of one of Michael’s country club friends, stopped her as she walked past. “What are you going to do, Julie?”

‘Julie’ that was a name Michael wouldn’t let anyone call her. He wouldn’t let them call her anything but Juliette Monroe.

“I’ll be fine. You won’t see me at the spa weekend this month. Have a nice life.”

“Will you visit the club this weekend?”

“No. It’s Michael’s membership. I was only ever his plus one. Just go home Sabrina and enjoy your life.” Juliette’s smile wasn’t one of happiness and it fell short of her eyes.

Leon was still recording the reactions of everyone as they left, but he recorded Juliette’s words. When she took two full bottles of wine from the kitchen and disappeared into the master bedroom, Leon figured she’d gone to unwind with a bath and drink like every woman he knew.

Leon stood amidst the remnants of the party after seeing the last guests out.

When he turned off the music, the condo fell into silence he’d expect to hear in a tomb.

Leon punched in Michael’s phone number. Michael didn’t answer, so he left a message.

“You’re really a piece of work, friend. You give your wife divorce papers for your third wedding anniversary. Cold dude, real cold. She had a room full of guests waiting to help you celebrate your anniversary when she received the papers. Everyone saw them. I think you better get home before she’s gone. Dude, you fucked up badly this time.” Before he disconnected the call, he added. “It’s too late anyway if you don’t try. She signed the papers in front of witnesses and made me record a video.”

Before Juliette left the living room with her laptop bag, purse, and overnight bag, Leon didn’t have a chance to put away his phone. She had little with her when she stopped in front of him.

“Please send that video to me first. Here’s a phone number you can text it to.”

She handed him a slip of paper with a phone number he didn’t recognize written on it. “Whose phone number is this?”

“Not important. I just want the video saved.” She stood there, staring at his hands. He didn’t have a choice. Sure, this would screw with Michael’s plans, whatever they were. But Juliette wasn’t like Aria portrayed her, and Leon felt guilty for his part of being a jerk to her. Leon thought Juliette was good for Michael, despite his crap. If Michael wanted it to end, it would be done.

“Fine. If you want it, I see no reason not to give it to you. Which hotel are you staying at tonight?” He wanted to know what he could. Anything to have one over on Michael. If he asked, Leon would say something, but if he didn’t ask, Leon would give him nothing.

“I’m not. I’m leaving. That’s all you must know. Michael can now communicate with my lawyer if he needs anything from me.”

“If you’re not staying in a hotel, where are you going to stay?”

“Leon, you’re as bad as Michael. You made sure everyone knew who your friends were, and I wasn’t one. Why would I tell you where I’m going? Why would you care? So, you can tell Michael? So, this can continue? Sorry, but it’s not your business to know. You didn’t earn it.” Leon wasn’t expecting this reaction from Juliette.

Juliette was sunshine and rainbows. She always spoke kindly to everyone. He’d never in all the years he’d known her, heard she’d never refrained from answering a question.

Leon was uncertain how to handle this. He knew she’d been drinking, and he could see she’d been crying as well. Leon also knew that she didn’t drive and used Michael’s driver’s service.

“Do you want me to call for a driver? Or can I take you somewhere?”

“Leon, no, you won’t do that.” She looked at her phone when it pinged and nodded. “Thank you. Have a good life, Leon.”

Juliette took a jacket he’d never seen from the hall closet. She set her bags down to don a simple, old black coat over a sweater and jeans. She’d changed out of her emerald cocktail dress and wore no jewellery, but she still wore her makeup.

“Aren’t you going to speak to Michael? Maybe there was a mistake made?” Leon knew he needed to stall her as long as possible until Michael arrived. However, Leon sensed the diminishing likelihood of rectifying the situation, uncertain if Michael had received his message or his current activities.

Juliette’s laugh sent goosebumps slithering over his skin. “Michael always knows what he’s doing. I received my walking papers. Let’s go. It’s time to leave.” She walked to the door and held it open for him to leave first. Leon surveyed the messy condo.

“What about the cleanup?” His well-manicured hand directed their attention to the mess in the large living room.

“That mess is no longer my problem once I signed the separation and divorce papers.” He followed her out. But he couldn’t escape the feeling Juliette wasn’t in a good mental state. He questioned himself if he should insist, he stay with her.

“I really believe you should stay and speak with Michael, Juliette. This is wrong on too many levels.”

“Not my problem anymore, Leon. Go home and forget about tonight. Oh, and don’t forget to show Michael the video. I’m sure he’ll find satisfaction from what you recorded and how easily he got what he wanted.”

By now, the elevator stopped at the main lobby. Juliette stopped at the concierge’s desk and left her key card there with instructions to return the card to Mr. Barron when he returned home.

She next poked and fussed with her phone. After finishing, she glanced up to find Leon still there, silently observing her with a peculiar expression. If Juliette didn’t know any better. Leon was worried about something. It wasn’t her problem anymore.

“Goodbye Leon. Go home. I don’t want or need your kind of help.”

“Fine.” That’s when he left without saying goodbye. Juliette figured that was typical of his personality to people he believed were inferior to him. What Leon didn’t tell her was he decided he’d follow her. He rushed to recover his Benz from the parking garage and brought it around to the front of the condo building in time to see Juliette climb into a cab.

Chapter Three - Where Will She Go

Leon followed the yellow cab through the crowded streets because he knew this was a shit-show of Michael’s making and Juliette always ended up knee deep in its consequences. He kept wondering why she allowed herself to be injured by Michael’s actions. Leon worried Juliette would injure herself one day when Michael went too far, and she wouldn’t be able to get past her humiliation.

Juliette knew two things on her wedding day about the prenup agreement they had forced her to sign. Michael kept everything from before and during the marriage, and she would receive nothing. Michael ignored a minor detail saying that anything she created during the marriage belonged to her. Since he’d destroyed anything, she’d brought into the marriage and believed he’d kept a tight rein on the money he gave her to use. Michael also believed he’d made it impossible for Juliette to work so that he could keep her where he wanted her. Despite Michael’s efforts, Juliette found a way to work and hid that work from him.

Juliette sat in the taxi watching the city slip past the car window beside her. Humbling wasn’t a harsh enough word to describe her feelings. She hoped that she had enough set up to survive with. She’d authored a novel and sold it. With its success, her agent pushed her for another. Now she was writing a third novel and her agent wanted to send her off on a tour to promote her books. Until now, she’d said no.

Juliette didn’t want to reveal her efforts or success to Michael.

Right now, she had no interest in her writing career. Tonight, she would indulge in self-pity and mourn the loss of her marriage or the farce it had become.

“Ma’am, I’d like to confirm the address I’m taking you to?” The taxi was already moving and yet the driver was asking her this.

Juliette sighed from this minor annoyance. “223 Hearth St.” Juliette kept a small apartment where she kept her writing space. Her pen name had its own identity, and she kept it inside that apartment.

Juliette was ready to abandon her current life and become A.K. Crusader, fantasy romance author.

About a year ago, things got so hectic for Ms. Crusader and Juliette had to stop going to her monthly spa weekend in favour of spending her entire weekend writing. When Michael went on business trips or golfing tours, she’d come here to write.

“How are you going to pay, Ma’am?”

“Take the payment from the app, please. I’ll wait to make sure you receive payment.” Juliette sat in the taxi for a moment while the driver finished the transaction. When the driver popped the trunk of the taxi, Juliette stepped out of the taxi and retrieved her bags. When she straightened, a Mercedes Benz glided to a stop a few lampposts away. This wasn’t the type of vehicle that stopped in this neighbourhood. Leon, the ass, owned several. Annoyed, she decided she wouldn’t confront him. Instead, she headed into the building where she now lived as A.K. Crusader. The main entrance door closed behind after she saw Leon striding toward the building. But it locked behind her. He didn’t get in and all he saw was her entering the elevator.

Leon watched the floor number above the elevator door as it rose. Its elevator stopped at the fourth floor.

Leon took a photo of the names on the small apartment building’s communication system. He had a feeling he or Michael would need this, eventually.

Leon saved the phone number she’d given him under her name and started a photo album for the video, and now this photo. He added notes with the address and floor.

Who did Juliette know here? Eventually, Michael would want to know.

At least Juliette isn’t alone. He’d already confirmed her name didn’t appear on the list of residents.

Once he was back in his car and driving, he tried calling Michael again. “I’m working what?”

“Well, I would normally congratulate you on your third-year anniversary. But you are eighty percent of the way to being divorced. So, I won’t.” Leon felt disgusted at Michael right now. The man didn’t learn from his mistakes. Leon only dated Aria after she left Michael. The friends knew she’d run when Michael pressed her to sign the prenup agreement.

Leon was unaware of the prenup and trusted Aria’s claim that Michael had cheated on her, leading to the disrupted wedding plans. He’d taken pity on her and helped her leave.

Michael was silent for several seconds before he responded. “What are you talking about?”

“Let me send you a video. I suggest you watch it at once. Seriously, watch the video ASAP.” When he stopped at a red light, Leon sent Michael the video he recorded for Juliette. “She made me record that for you. What the fuck, Michael? This is a new low for you.” Aria may have suckered Leon into taking her away and pampering her for a time. But she wouldn’t screw up Leon that badly. Michael had treated Aria like a queen who could do no wrong.

Leon could hear the video playing and then Michael cursing. “Why didn’t you call me before she signed? Those documents weren’t supposed to be delivered until tomorrow and handed to me.” Michael watched as Juliette went numb and shut down. She wasn’t supposed to shut down. She was supposed to fight and give him hell. Juliette was supposed to show her true colours and demand her due. She shut everything down.

“So, you planned to divorce her, just not at your wedding anniversary party?”

“What party?”

“The party your now ex-wife threw for you because Judith Bloom and her country club posse pressured her to throw it.”

“It’s not locked in stone. My signature isn’t on it. So, she can’t file it. I’ll go home and rip it up in front of her face. Or lock it up in my office safe.”

“Good luck with that. She left when I did.”

Leon found he wasn’t willing to offer the information on Juliette’s whereabouts.

“She’ll be back when her money runs out. I give her a day or two. A week tops.” Michael was sure Juliette wouldn’t be able to live the life she’d become accustomed to after marrying him. Sure, he kept a tight rein on the money. But he didn’t neglect her.

“Oh, stop by the security desk. She left her key card there for you, and you have quite the clean up waiting for you, as well.” Leon could hear Michael’s teeth grind in annoyance. The man despised an unkept house. He’d been lucky because Juliette prided herself on her household skills.

Michael watched the video again. This put a wrench in his plans. Their marriage should have lasted two more years before he made any decisions on divorce.

Those papers weren’t supposed to be signed. He’d planned to use them to force her to end the affair she was having.

Chapter Four A—So Much For Working Late

-Three Hours Earlier-

Michael Barron sat in his office overwhelmed by many unfinished projects. There were several prospective acquisition propositions to be assessed and approved. Another long evening awaited him at work. He refrained from complaining as he battled the urge to read the private investigator’s report on his wife. Michael couldn’t understand his fixation on something irrelevant. He battled several emotions after the investigator informed him, she either was having an affair with some foolish author or she planned to leave him. Regardless, she no longer visited the spa and was now renting an apartment. She had him paying for her love nest. That irked him to no end.

Michael knew he needed to call her and ensure she avoided him. He couldn’t face her right now. Michael felt he would harm her or do something completely in appropriate. He knew it was too late about the latter problem.

He’d called his personal lawyer and ordered him to deliver a set of separation and divorce papers to him in the morning. By then, he knew his temper would have gone from fiery hot to ice cold. He’d use the threat of a divorce to force his wife to end whatever this torrid affair was. She couldn’t afford to divorce him because she’d have nothing. He owned it all, and she now depended on him completely for her survival.

This was all a culmination of several plans and an error in allowing his anger to outweigh his logic. He’d planned his life years in advance so that everything he did now worked toward a future goal.

Michael decided he’d marry his longtime lover and sometime girlfriend. After all, she was lucrative, and her family connections would benefit him in the future. That fit his goal to be in his first marriage before he was thirty. The first marriage was a trial run to determine if married life suited him and his desired lifestyle. Michael didn’t plan to stay with whoever he married for longer than five years.

He’d set up a series of tests for Aria to encounter. From working with the woman, she hated in college to signing a prenup. Aria showed her true colours quickly and headed for the hills, just like Leon said she would. She bulked at signing the prenup, so Leon offered to sweep her off her feet and take her away. Aria took him up on that offer. The worst ten thousand he’d lost in recent years.

Michael knew Aria would come to her senses and come crawling back, eventually. But he made sure that the ship sailed by adding several unenforceable clauses into the event planning contract. Juliette was so easy to push to sign the document. He barely felt a pang as she signed her life away to him for five years.

He’d written into the contract it was her responsibility to get the bride to the wedding. Failing that, she would have to replace the bride with a suitable replacement of his choice before the ceremony began.

Moments before walking down the aisle, he had her sign the prenup. He knew it was all a selfish dick move, but he’d done it.

The true dick move was blaming her for Aria leaving. Though he’d not had a single problem with Aria until he’d introduced Juliette as the wedding planner. Many problems followed, and Michael didn’t care, really. A wedding and five years of marriage ensued. But Aria did everything possible to make Michael believe Juliette was unprofessional and didn’t know her business.

Aria and Leon had a relationship that was filled with ups and downs. That relationship spanned three years now. Michael married Juliette and his life quickly lost the high drama aspect with Aria out of it. He could forget about Juliette and know when he got home, she’d be fine.

Having a wife didn’t stop him from having fun with anyone. She was often absent or out of her comfort zone. So, he left her at home.

When he didn’t want to attend a function, he would send her alone to handle it. She handled it like a pro once he taught her a few simple rules.

Besides his affair, his life ran smoothly, and he saw no reason to make any changes. He desired things to remain unchanged.

After placing a call to Juliette and having a rather odd but brief conversation with her. Michael contemplated whether he should go for dinner first or continue working.

With files and reports spread out over the glass top of his desk, he was deep in thought. He toyed with the tie he’d just removed when his heavy office door opened. Someone invaded his private space. Invaded by a bleach blonde with too much floral perfume and enough hair spray to hold a flag in place during a category five hurricane.

Aria Caine entered his office with a large takeout bag from a restaurant she knew he liked. Clad in a broad smile and a skirt that would give a wide belt a challenge over which one covered more flesh. Between the sky-high heels in bubble gum pink, and a matching purse, she’d found jewellery to match it. Lately, the woman resembled a lifelike cartoon character. She’d once been a classic beauty until she stopped using a stylist and made her own style decisions, believing she was a style influencer of some sort.

Currently, she and Leon were on the outs again and Michael knew this because Leon called him to warn him.

Every time she broke up with Leon, she came crawling back to Michael. Despite her cartoonish appearance, she still possessed beauty and a nice physique. Her daddy paid enough for it. Michael had no intentions of a long-term commitment with Aria, yet she seemed oblivious to her past actions and expected an engagement.

He was married, and she expected him to ask her to marry him. The hair spray seemed to have affected his memory, as he didn’t recall her being this simple.

“Hey Micky! I brought you something to eat. A big, powerful man like you can’t go hungry.” She knew Michael hated the name Micky, or any other nickname. But when she said it in that mock baby voice, it was cringe worthy for him. She’d barely entered his office, and he already felt annoyed with her.

Like most women, she serves some purpose in his life. She was only a source of sexual pleasure, with no other worth. When they broke up, Leon didn’t care about her actions or the people she associated with. Michael knew Leon wouldn’t perceive it as a betrayal. He knew how much Aria catted around on him between dating sprees.

“What do you want Aria? I’m working.” Did he want her to take care of some personal business for him?

Chapter Five—A Possible Replacement For Juliette

“Micky, are you in a mood? Can I help you make it better?” Aria pouted as she leaned on the glass top of his desk, knowing she gave him a full view down the top of her blouse. The woman’s loose blouse revealed everything, since she wasn’t wearing a bra. She clearly offered him whatever he wanted.

He wanted a moment of procrastination. Maybe he could forget it was her lips wrapped around his cock?

He was also uncomfortable with that. Lately, he’d found he wasn’t interested in other women touching him intimately. Michael would usually brush it off as some weird anomaly. He was uneasy about testing a suspicion he had.

Either he had lost interest in sex, or only his current wife could satisfy him. That part currently bothered him. What if he found his desired second wife before the five years were over? He pondered his desires too; what if he found his next wife less enticing than Juliette? Was his desire for her stronger now? Or could Aria make him forget? She used to do it for him before this with other women.

“Are there any offers on the table?”

“You can bet your life there are.”

“Hm… I’m not sure if I’m tempted. How about you try to give me a little encouragement?”

Aria, always seeking adventure, understood Michael’s desires. With a big bright smile on, she excitedly slid to her knees on the plush carpet and crawled under the desk.

Michael felt her hands at his belt and was instantly regretting this decision. He rarely regretted his decisions, but lately he’d done this several times.

She was struggling with his zipper when his phone rang. A glance at it revealed it was Leon.

“Hey Leon. What’s up?” Saying Leon’s name did the trick. Aria’s adore disappeared instantly in a wave of guilt and embarrassment. Michael couldn’t help but smirk at her as she backed away from him and got to her feet. He waved her out of the office.

Aria never learned her lesson and used her father and lovers for everything she owned. The woman was shameless, and Michael, along with Leon, used that to their advantage. Even now, without her father and Leon footing the bill, her influencer style career would be nonexistent.

They talked for a few minutes, or Leon talked mostly for that time. Then he sent a video that he insisted Michael watch. After he started it, Leon claimed Juliette insisted he show it to Michael.

In the video, Michael saw his condo tastefully decorated in blue and green party decorations for a celebration. Party guests crowded into his condo. He recognized all the guests’ faces. Finally, he saw a three-tier cake frosted in white that read, “Happy 3rd Wedding Anniversary Michael and Juliette” in green icing with blue flowers. Finally, Juliette came into view, holding a suspicious envelope. She looked shattered as she opened it. Leon must have taken the video and ensured he captured a perfect shot of the return address on the envelope. It was from the lawyer he spoke to this morning.

Michael’s mind reeled, and he heard nothing she said, or what the guests shouted to her.

He’d never seen her this lifeless. She removed the papers from the envelope. Juliette showed the first page to the guests and the camera. He assumed it was Leon. They read “Separation and Divorce Agreement.”

Those papers should have come to him tomorrow morning. He’d not meant them for her to have.

To his horror, she found a pen and signed every spot she needed to. In front of everyone there, he could barely hear her speak, because her voice had no volume. She sounded hollow, and as dead as she looked.

He remembered trying to explain how wrong this was, that it shouldn’t be happening, and it wasn’t his intention. Leon ignored it all, while Aria wisely left the conversation early. She’d left his office door open a crack so Leon wouldn’t know she’d been there like a coward. Michael’s negative reaction to being blindsided affected his response to everything thereafter. Aria was aware of this. She took advantage of the opportunity.

Michael tried to assure Leon, he’d fix it with her only for Leon to tell him she took a few things and left the condo. Leon added if he needed to contact her, he’d have to do it through her lawyer.

When did Juliette get a lawyer?

He sat there after his call with Leon ended and he kept replaying the video. No matter what new detail he picked up from the video; he learned nothing new. He didn’t know whether she was happy or sad. What did Juliette mean? ‘He always won and got his way.’ He earned what he got, damn it.

With Aria no longer around, Michael’s mind no longer focused on business, and it firmly planted in his personal and possibly his professional life. They both exploded publicly. He lost his hunger for food and threw the food Aria brought into a trash bin as he left the office for home.

His personal driver didn’t take long to return him to his condo building.

The doorman let him into the building. The concierge stopped him to return a key card and inform him Mrs. Barron had left it at the desk with instructions to give it to him.

This wasn’t the first time the condo’s staff encountered this situation with other residence of the building, and they knew exactly what it meant for his marriage. His wife had left him.

The elevator took him straight up to the penthouse floor. He let himself into the condo. The condo was brightly lit, revealing signs of the party throughout. No one, including the caterer and their staff, was present. It appeared as if the catering staff stopped what they were doing and walked out. The three-tier cake lay untouched on the dining table. Half-filled drinks appeared randomly scattered on almost every surface, and the silence. The silence in the condo struck him deeply.

“Juliette, where are you?” Michael yelled from where he stood in the condo’s entrance way. She must be drunk somewhere in a bedroom. Michael moved through the condo into their bedroom, expecting to see her lying on the bed.

She wasn’t there. But the dress she wore in the video lay in a discarded puddle on the floor. Juliette’s shoes were strewn across the room. She’d kicked the shoes off with force if the way they lay were any sign.

The door to their shared walk-in closet lay open. Inside, his side of the closet was perfectly pristine. Her side showed several noticeable empty gaps, but most of her clothes were still there. She would need to return for them. It wasn’t like she had anywhere to stay without him funding it. Which he wouldn’t do.

Upon closer inspection, all the clothes he purchased for her were present. She must have brought whatever she took when she moved in after the wedding.

To convince himself she’d truly left, Michael searched the bathroom. The open door of a small cabinet revealed her limited personal care items were gone. The shelves were bare of the few bottles and pots she used. He allowed her to use only one drawer. It sat open as well and it too lay empty of her personal items. Her nightstand beside the bed was empty as well, but he didn’t notice that until he opened it when he returned to the bedroom.

Michael tore through the condo’s other rooms and those were completely untouched, as if she knew exactly what she’d take. Juliette had taken nothing with her from the condo that he’d given her.

Juliette could have cleaned him out. Instead, she’d cleaned herself from the condo. She’d even taken the food only she ate.

The only evidence of her presence was the things he had bought her. It didn’t amount too much. Even her jewellery lay locked up in the closet safe. Juliette effectively scrubbed herself from his life, just like he’d reminded her he wanted it.

Now it was his turn to sit numbly on the bed, with a sparkly, emerald cocktail dress in his hands.