Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 149: Together Forever

"Ben, what do I have to do to get one of those hats?" I asked.

"Work here?"

"I could do that."

Alec clamped a hand across my mouth. "No, she can’t."

I gave him a dirty look that I didn’t really mean as I pushed aside his hand. "If I can act as cook and maid to the Heavenlys for three years, I think I can serve a few drinks."

"It is not a matter of ability, Teela, because I think you can do anything you set your mind to. It’s a matter of I’d be arrested the first time some drunk touched your ass."

"You’ve taught me well. I can handle a handsy drunk myself."

"Yeah, but you shouldn’t have to."

Stiff said, "If you need more work, say the word, Teela. We’ve got an entire spreadsheet full of requests for services. CK and I can’t fulfill them all."

"How many do I have to clear to earn help with another love list project? Oh, and a hat?"

Stiff took a swig of an amber liquid on the rocks out of a crystal-cut tumbler. "Ten projects equals one love list project."

"And the hat?"

"That is between you and Ben."

"Ben," I whined.

King turned to the next server who walked by and removed the woman’s bowler from her head. He then smiled and handed it to me.

I took it. Alec immediately took it from me and passed it to Jake, to King’s consternation. Jake put the hat on Mitzy’s head, who smiled prettily at him.

"Hey!" I protested. "Not fair. King gave that to me."

Alec whispered in my ear. "Be a good girl, and I’ll take you to a millinery tomorrow."

I nibbled his earlobe. "But I wanted the hat for tonight. It’s all I planned to wear, but if you’d rather wait until tomorrow..."

Alec looked at Ben. "I’ll give you ten thousand dollars for a hat."

"What the hell did she say to you?" Stiff asked.

"None of your business," Alec said.

"I bet I know." Ben’s lascivious grin betrayed his thoughts. "And I approve." With a side glance at Min, he added, "I’ve had similar ideas myself."

I pointed back and forth between Ben and me. "Great minds think alike."

Ben said, "True, true, but I think it’s about time to make our way to the stage."

"Can I speak to Teela and Alec first?" Kahlil stepped into view.

So much for security protecting us.

Jake stood and came to our side of the table, ready to insert himself between us and Kahlil.

"Have your guard dog stand down. I mean no harm," Kahlil said.

"My friend is not a dog," I said.

"It is just a metaphor. No insult intended," Kahlil said.

"Why are you here?" Alec asked. "Weren’t you deported?"

"I catch a plane when I leave here. Can we speak privately?" Kahlil asked.

Ben said, "We have private rooms. This way."

Ben led us to a private room. The room was a small suite with a dining area, a seating area, and a curtained-off sleeping space. Ben left us there. I saw Jake take a position outside the door prior to it closing.

"Okay, we are here," Alec said.

The tension in his body was enough for the tiger on his back to spring to life and attack at any moment. I’d rather we avoided that scenario. I liked his tiger right where it was. And, so far, Kahlil hadn’t threatened us in any way beyond showing up unexpectedly.

"How is Micah?" I asked.

"Thank you for asking. Micah is well."

"And Amber? How is she? She is expecting, yes?"

"She is on bedrest because of the stress, but she is strong. So is the baby."

"I’m glad." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

And with that, I’d run out of small talk for Alec’s friend that didn’t include terms like murderer, jail, and ashamed, but even this little bit of easy back and forth was enough to have the desired effect. A modicum of tension had dissipated.

Kahlil said, "I won’t keep you from the party. As I said, my next stop is the airport, but before I leave, I need to say something in person."

Kahlil bowed to us. "Thank you. Thank you both for saving my son. You did what I could not, and you did it legally. I owe you both a debt of gratitude that I can never repay, no matter what you ask of me."

He then spoke to Alec. "I’m so sorry for letting you down, my friend. I failed you in so many ways, from my threats against you to my blatant disregard for human life in deference to my selfish needs and desires. For this, I can never redeem myself. I wouldn’t blame you if you sent men to take my life. It is what I deserve."

Alec embraced his friend. "Kahlil, you will always be my brother. While I don’t condone your actions, I’ve tried to understand them. You will pay for your actions, if not at the hands of the authorities, then in your conscience. I know you. What you have done is not a reflection of the man I know you to be.

"Take care of yourself. Take care of your family, and if you face future hardships like the one you’ve faced with Micah, don’t bear the weight alone. Call us. Teela and I will do everything we can to help you."

We saw Kahlil off and returned to the table where Ben awaited us. He escorted us down to the stage, and as the club’s owner, he officially welcomed his patrons.

Ben said, "Now, I’d like to turn over the mic to a couple of good friends. They have supported me through my transition from college student to the owner of Together Forever. They’ve asked for a few minutes of your time to make an announcement.

Alec and I stepped forward. Alec spoke for us. "Thank you, Ben, for letting us share in your celebration today. We want to add to the reason for the celebration by adding an announcement of our own.

"This beautiful woman you see beside me is the love of my life. Although we haven’t known each other long, I can’t see living without her, and good news. Teela has agreed to be my wife."

The crowd of strangers cheered our happiness, but I was busy searching the recesses of the second floor to see how our friends were accepting the news. Even from this distance, I could see Stiff shaking his head and pressing his fingers over his eyes, but it was King who stopped me in my tracks. His gaze turned icy, and he turned and walked away. Of everyone, he should be the least surprised, so why the cold shoulder.

And why did I care? I was over him, right? I love Alec.

But I’d devoted so much of my adult life to King. Mom had given him her trust. Even though we were divorced, and he had betrayed her trust by failing to take care of me, he felt like family, and I had no other family.

I wanted his approval. I wanted his support. I wanted him to look at me and really see me the way I saw him, flaws and all. How sick was that?

What I didn’t want was to lose Alec or return to the rigidity and frigidity of a relationship with King. Here I was announcing my commitment to Alec and worrying about King.

"To celebrate, this evening’s bar tab is one me." Alec toasted the crowd with a glass of champagne."

I smiled and played along. I had no business thinking about another man when I had the perfect man for me next to me. So I blocked King from my mind.

The rest of the evening was spent drinking, laughing, dancing. I never thought much about dancing until I was actually dancing, then it always reminded me how much I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the adrenaline rush, brush of bodies against one another, and the way the rhythm rolled through me as if I were a part of something bigger.

After a marathon amount of time on the dance floor with Alec, he excused himself to go to the restroom, leaving me in the hands of Stiff. The music slowed. He took me in his arms and led me around the dance floor.

"Do you remember the first time we danced, Teela?"

"I do."

"You were amazing. Still are."

"So are you, Stiff. We make a good team."

"We do. Too bad we couldn’t make it work on the romantic front."

"Don’t start, Stiff."

"I’m not. I get it. You look good with Alec, and it is obvious you love it each other. If I can’t have you, I’d pick Alec for you. Anyone but that asshole King, really."

"Thanks, Stiff, that’s big of you."

"When you marry him, will you leave me like you did with King?"

"That isn’t the plan. I want to continue working. I’m good at it, I think."

"You think, Tee, after all these years, you still doubt your abilities?"

"Sometimes."

Stiff kissed my forehead. "Good. You are an important part of my world. I don’t want to lose you again."

A hand tapped his shoulder. "Mind if I cut in?"