Second in Silence Chapter 06

Second in Silence Chapter 06

Sure, other people’s misfortunes could be funny.

However, my future was what mattered most, and I threw myself into my work heart and soul.

In just a couple of months, the project I was working on showed real promise.

Olivia waved her hand, signaling me to go all in.

She was banking on my project as the next big thing for the upcoming quarter.

“You have that much faith in me?”

Olivia acted like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Do I even have to say it? If I don’t trust you, who else should I trust?”

“Just remember, success is the only option. Failure is not on the table.”

A month later.

We were deep into the experimental phase.

All the data was in, and it was clear: our product was a cut above the rest in the skincare game.

Olivia was over the moon, sure we had a winner on our hands.

Seeing her so pumped made me feel the buzz, too.

I had settled into that new life.

Every day was packed with activities I loved, and it was awesome.

The whole Wallace family drama? That was becoming a distant memory.

The moment our product launched, it was a smash hit.

We did not even need to pay beauty influencers to hype it up.

It spread like wildfire, one rave review after another.

Olivia couldn’t help but beam whenever she read the financial report.

I got my cut, too.

Eyebrow cocked, I looked at the stock transfer contract in my hand. “You’re really giving me this?”

“Absolutely! You’ve earned it. With a powerhouse like you, I’d be nuts not to keep you close. Why would I let someone like you get away?

“Relax, I can part with three percent of the shares.”

I stopped playing coy and took the shares.

I deserved them, and I was sure I would soon be working on even bigger and better projects.

The Jones family head was hitting 79.

Olivia brought me along for the celebration.

Being the Jones family heir, she was a big deal, and sticking close to her, I got to share the spotlight.

I knew what she was doing; she was hooking me up with her contacts.

To think, my college buddy of four years was that genuine with me.

Yet Charles, my long-time love and then husband, did not bat an eye when he lied to me.

Some people were just rotten to the core.

“Alicia.”

At the sound, I spun around to see a face twisted with spite.

Emily, her heels clicking angrily, stormed toward me. When she was close enough to touch, she swung at me.

I stepped back just in time.

Emily’s hand cut through empty air, and she stumbled, nearly falling.

I watched, my face an emotionless mask, as she struggled to regain her balance.

She looked up at me, disbelief etched on her face.

“You…you wouldn’t catch me?”

Her logic was a puzzle I could not solve on the spot.

“You tried to slap me, I dodged, and so, you were the one who ended up falling.

“And now you’re blaming me for not catching you?

“Emily, has living with the Wallaces made your mind go rusty? Can you even hear the nonsense you’re spouting?”

Emily got to her feet, teeth clenched in anger. “You wrecked my wedding, wrecked my life, how dare you show your face to me?”

At her words, my face went blank.

“Who wrecked whose life?

“Remember, it was because of you that Jeffrey rushed home on the first flight. His death… Well, you should bear a big part of the blame.

“And you don’t think it was you who ruined his life?

“Charles and Jeffrey were nothing alike. You were with him for three years. Are you telling me you didn’t pick up on anything?

“Or maybe you were just enjoying the ride?”

Emily screamed, telling me to shut up. “So what if I was? Whether it was Charles or Jeffrey, they loved me, not you. You’ve got nothing!”

The words tumbled out, and with each one, she seemed to grow more thrilled at having found a weak spot to exploit.

“Emily, when you were all lovey-dovey with Charles, did you ever spare a thought for Jeffrey, the guy you wrecked?”

I gave her a sympathetic look. “A nasty mother-in-law with issues, a husband who can’t step up and falls short. Well, if that’s your cup of tea, they’re all yours. Just keep them from messing with anyone else’s life, okay?”

I was about to walk away when I caught sight of Charles leaning against a column.

He looked worn out, and you could tell he had tried to cover it up with makeup.

Things obviously had not been going great for him.

His eyes met mine, filled with something I could not quite read.

“Can we talk?” he asked.