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Thetexts glared at me like evidence of my new reality.Somethingtold meAxelwouldn’t be easily dissuaded.Unlikeat my brother’s wedding, there was a touch of madness in how he perused me tonight.Itwas as if he had fixated on me.Theblack eyes—ringed within an even darker shade of black—shone with greed.Axelseemed entirely unhinged.Theperfectly placed mask shredded for a moment, baring his true identity and revealing the monster he hid in public.
Toobad my self-preservation instincts sucked against a deranged sociopath.
Piya:Whothe hell are you to show up out of nowhere and demandIend my marriage?
Axel:Obviously, we’ll have to expedite the paperwork for divorce.
Piya:Obviously.
Atthis point, it was more humorous than outrageous.Theman was a lunatic.
Axel:I’llcome over in a couple of hours.We’llgrab a drink and talk logistics.
Piya:You’recrazy.
Axel:Onlyfor you, baby.
Piya:DONOTCALLMETHAT.
Axel:Careful, baby.Idon’t respond well to capitalized texts.
Piya:Idon’t care what you respond to.
Axel:Youshould.Otherwise, you’ll only make things more difficult for yourself.
Iclosed my eyes, willing this nightmare away.Theyflew open whenIsuddenly remembered a rumor circlingAxelTrimalchioa few years ago.
Thetype of moneyAxelhad accumulated in only a decade was equivalent to generational wealth, and it was unlikely hard work alone got him there.Therewas speculation thatAxel’smassive wealth came from his marriage to an heiress.Inthe end, nothing came of the gossip.Ifthere was a secret rich wife, he had hidden her well since many tried to uncover her identity.
Piya:Tellme,Mr.Trimalchio.Isit true you have a secret wife, and it was her money that helped build your precious empire?
Threelittle dots appeared on our iMessage exchange, indicatingAxelwas typing.Theydisappeared, andIwas suddenly curious about the answer.
Piya:Itis true.YouAREmarried.
Axel:Separated.
Asif that was any better.
Piya:Iwonder how your rich wife would feel about these texts you’re sending me, asking me to leave my husband.
Axel:Angry,Ipresume.
Dumbfounded,Istared at his nonchalant message.Icouldn’t expect to have a normal conversation with a maniac.
Piya:Idon’t have time for this,Mr.Trimalchio.Goodbye.
Thistime,Idid block his number and soothed myself with the knowledge that our trusted security guards didn’t allow anyone past these gates, celebrity or otherwise.Theonly people who could enter were premises were those visiting someone on the property.IfAxeltold them he was visiting me, they’d call me first, andI’drefuse his entrance.
Ideleted the texts and left my phone behind in the chanceAxeltexted me from another phone.Ire-entered the bedroom, gaze skimming overJay’sfully packed carry-on next to the door.
“Feelingbetter?” he asked.
Inodded.Thesemi-convincing smile turned into a real one when my eyes landed on the spread in front of me.
Agiant bottle of my favorite red wine.
Twowine glasses.
