billion book
Chapter 7: Questioned, and Threatened
To Love You Again, My Husband
Chapter 7: Questioned, and Threatened
Past ten in the evening.
As Airina glazed her eyes with her frame, she was reminded of her previous wedding photo with Jackson. She was the only one smiling happily whereas he was hostile and intimidating. A gloomy expression was plastered on her face and remembered the conversation she had with him on the balcony.
Jackson hid his hand in one of his pockets, and asked her with a solemn voice, “Are you in a relationship with Matthew?”
“Perhaps.”
“It doesn’t matter, since I will make you mine.”
Why would he be interested in her affairs when back then he wouldn’t even glance her way? She used to look at his face which removes all of her worries and stress. But now, he was becoming her stress.
She mumbled a question that seemed to be forced out from the deep hatred she had for him. “You smile as if you had done nothing wrong.,” She plopped on her bed, sighing listlessly. “How cruel.”
*
Jackson, on the other hand, looked at the documents towered in front of his face and looked up. It was already past ten in the evening, but he insisted on staying in his office because he couldn’t focus well. As a matter of fact, though he had put effort into forgetting about Airina, he just couldn’t.
When did he start wanting Airina as she had always been his, to begin with? Their marriage was simply to repay her parents’ kindness and nothing else. He had seen and been with other women who shed tears to get his attention. But she was always different.
He slapped his eyes, causing them to close.
“Dang it… what’s wrong with me, seriously?”
However, even if he badly wanted to erase her smiling face, the sound she made when he bit her shoulder, and her teasing yet provocative sentences – it was futile. With each second that passes, it becomes clearer that he wants her. But why? Why would he want her when he disgusts her?
As he was occupied, a call to his phone regained his senses. He peeked at who was calling. Should he not answer it?
He did answer it.
“What’s the matter?”
The caller laughed when she heard his voice. [“You haven’t come here for a while; I missed you so much.”] She pouted, melancholy looking at the lonely pillow beside her.
Jackson felt bitter. “Was it fun?”
“Hm, about what?”
Jackson smirked, “Don’t act innocent.”
The woman giggled in delight. [“Why are you saying such words? I can’t understand you.”] She cutely whined.
“Cheating behind your sister’s back with her husband, I mean.”
Nicole, who was previously in a good mood, suddenly turned bitter. She couldn’t comprehend his sudden mention of Airina. They had been separated for ten months, what’s more when they never consummated their marriage? Did something happen in the Founding Anniversary she doesn’t know.
[“What… what are you saying so suddenly?”] Uneasy, she asked him while biting her nails.
Jackson chuckled in a low manner, feeling powerless all of a sudden.
“If the same thing happened to you, what would you do to your sister?”
[“… Why, why are you saying this?”]
Jackson reclined on his swivel chair. “You told me Airina broke your family. What about you? Are you sure you did nothing wrong to her?”
[“Jackson, we… we loved each other. Don’t we?”]
“Love?,” he mockingly questioned, darkly frowning at the disgusting word, “You’re such a fool for wanting that.”
[“But Jackson-“]
“We never had a relationship, Nicole. Don’t try acting like a good person. It had been more than a year.”
Nicole had something to say but Jackson had already ended their call without even placating the anger that resurfaced at the instance he blurted Airina’s name. Airina had changed her address and number – thus the only situation they would meet each other was the Founding Anniversary. A lot of families had been there and there was speculation that Jackson indeed was charmed by the new Exclusive Shareholder of the Halton Group.
That woman must not be Airina, truly.
She abruptly sat across her computer to know what he was saying and gasped upon learning the truth. She wriggled his brows in confusion and disbelief.
She spoke mockingly, “Ex…. Exclusive shareholder of Halton Company? Airina is?”
She doesn’t believe this. After Airina’s marriage to Jackson, she promised to be a good wife and make time to do her duties as his wife – rather than full-time jobs, she preferred part-time jobs. She literally threw the companies who accepted her away. But how exactly did she become an Exclusive Shareholder?
It had been ten months since they last seen each other. But to be greeted in this way was just unexpectedly annoying. Airina was just a weak, stupid woman who was helplessly in love with Jackson. Hence the only way to climb this up was by using her body to seduce the man from high up.
“Airina… you’re really getting on my nerves. Why don’t you just die!”
She huffed in anger, throwing the pillow on the ground, and yelled.
“How dare you, Airina!”
*
Working in a company, more so to be an exclusive shareholder bears a lot of responsibility. Not only that, but since she is a woman, others doubted her capabilities and despite being proven, they hated her guts for acting almighty. Most of the board directors were against the idea of promoting her in an instant to being an Exclusive Shareholder when she only offered a few solutions to rock up their stocks and gross.
They assumed that Airina seduced Matthew just so she could have this work.
Just like now.
An old man past his 50s looked at Airina in disdain and narrowed his eyes at her.
“Why are you here early in the morning?”
Airina simply smiled, “I have something to tell Sir Halton.”
“Or give your body again?”
Airina clenched her fists and then approached the man.
“I don’t do improper things you claimed.”
The man wasn’t convinced by her words, shaking his head in disappointment.
“Matthew is a handsome fellow and it’s clear you’ve fallen in love with him.”
“I am not in any way in love with the CEO.” She spoke in disgust.
Why would she like her cousin? Although they were not related to anything but due to her mother’s marriage with Matthew’s Uncle, they are basically cousins; not blood-related at that. Furthermore, she had always treated him with respect either as a cousin or as the CEO of Halton Group.
It was a fact that she was fascinated the first time they met but she never harbored any special feelings for him.
“Women always say the same thing-”
“While men claimed something they’re not certain about.”
“Airina, you!”
Airina warned him seriously, “You look down on me because I was a woman as if being a man put you higher than anyone else.”
He snickered, “This is the problem to you women, you all try to act brave but in the face of dangers you cower fearfully.”
“One more word and I’d have your family begging on the streets, Director Kenzo.”
Suddenly, a hostile and intimidating voice sounded behind them. The owner of the voice stood beside Airina while he scrutinized Director Kenzo in detest. As he leaned forward, he arched his lips upwards and threatened.
“You don’t want your wife to know that you’ve been in and out of motels, right?”
Airina looked at Matthew who blurted words she hadn’t heard from him before. Director Kenzo trembled in furious, but he could only glare at Airina and stormed out in a dash while huffing.
Matthew inhaled, “You could have slapped him.”
She looked at him. “So, you could say such words?”
“Of course, worse than that if I had to say.”
“Can you curse?”
“Probably.”
Airina was amazed. The way she knew him was polite and kind. Hence to witness this kind of threat was attractive. She nudged him. “Thank you for that.”
Matthew whispered, “I hate that people try to couple us. The next time, I’ll make sure no one belittles you again or makes advances towards you.”
Airina laughed out loud, covering her mouth. She was glad they shared mutual feelings of not wanting more from each other but as cousins.
Then heard him again, “All right, I have something to tend to. Bye.”
As she waved her hand, she suddenly halted looking at her bare wrist. At the Founding Anniversary, she was sure she was wearing a bracelet and then somehow she didn’t see it after that event.
“… Where did I lose it?”