Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 85: Park Confessions

It was a long week, as I waited for Saturday while working to replace the income lost from the Heavenly contract. Cometkazee and Stiff worked through the new list but didn’t find any sign of CK’s brother. It was looking like the boy’s disappearance might not have been Heavenly-related.

We weren’t giving up. In fact, we had plans to start over at the beginning to see what we might have missed.

While Alec and I exchanged text messages when we could, I was breathless from anticipation by the time I pulled into the parking lot. Alec was leaning against his Jeep, waiting for me.

Alec looked even taller and leaner than I remembered. His shoulder-length hair was loose and lifted in the breeze. Alec raised his face to the breeze as if listening to music on the current.

I wondered what Alec would think about skipping the workout and going to a park to watch the sunset. If not today, then maybe another day. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

I parked next to him and grabbed my gym bag. Alec opened the door for me.

"Hey, you," Alec said.

"Hey."

"Don’t look now, but I think you were followed."

"Is it a gray SUV containing four men named Abe, Rosco, Bobby Jean, and Gordon?" I smiled at his surprise.

"Well, I’ve not checked IDs, but I’m guessing you’re right."

"Security detail. Ignore them."

"You have a security detail? Are you famous?"

"Maybe notorious is a better description." I shrugged it off. "It’s nothing to worry about, but I can dismiss them if they bother you. I don’t even notice they’re around anymore."

"How long did it take to learn to ignore four grown men?"

"Not nearly as long as you think. It’s not because I don’t value them. Because I do, but if I want to maintain any semblance of normality, I have to forget that I always have eyes on me."

"Teela, you are one surprising lady."

"Is that a good thing?"

Alec smiled. "I don’t know yet, but I’m having a good time finding out."

"Ready to go in then?" I asked.

"I’m afraid our workout is canceled. Angie booked a last-minute birthday party for a bunch of five-year-olds unless you’re jonesing for orange sherbert punch and birthday cake."

"Tempting, but I’d rather keep you to myself. All those toddler moms would rather eat you than the cake."

I heated from my brazen flirtation. This wasn’t like me. I was the mouse in the shadows. But I had to admit, as awkward as it felt, it also felt right.

There was nothing wrong with flirting, particularly when both of us were single.

This would take some getting used to. Just like with taekwondo, it would take practice before it felt natural.

"And what about you, Teela? If you had me all to yourself, what would happen?"

My heart stopped beating for a split second before it tried to burst out of my chest. I beat back thoughts of practicing kissing with my hands buried in Alec’s hair.

"La la la. Don’t start me imagining all the delicious distractions I could enjoy with you."

"Wow. You come across as a sweet girl, modest, unassuming, but wow. Beneath it all, there is a wild child in the making. Aggressive, creative. More surprises."

I covered my face with my hands. "Sorry. Sometimes, I come across like I know what I’m saying, but I’m just making stuff up on the fly. Trying to be cute, I guess.

"If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll be more careful."

Alec stepped closer to me and whispered, "My mom is watching us, or I’d be tempted to show you how good you make me feel." He ran a hand over my arm from my shoulder to my hand, his fingers intertwined with mine.

"It’s a little early for dinner," Alec said. "And I don’t want to get pulled into Mom’s restaurant to answer questions that I don’t have responses to yet. What do you say we go for a walk? There is a park nearby with a nice walking trail. We could talk and ignore your security people."

"I’d like that. Well, in part. Give me a sec."

I walked over to the SUV. "Guys, I’m on a date. You’re cramping my style. How about having dinner and hanging out somewhere nearby, but not that close? I’ve got tracking on my phone, and you can text me once an hour to check on me."

Roscoe said, "I don’t like it, but you’re the boss."

I nodded. I was the boss. Sometimes, I needed a reminder of that fact. But not with Alec.

I think that was one reason I couldn’t accept Stiff or Jake. I was definitely Jake’s boss, and even though Stiff and I were technically partners, he always deferred to me. I felt like his boss.

Bosses shouldn’t date employees. The power dynamic is always unbalanced, and that causes problems. I had enough problems without dating more.

Alec watched me as I crossed the lot back to his side. I liked his eyes on me. I wanted them on me all the time. He made me feel wanted and seen. I didn’t have that for such a long time. It was a precious commodity.

I hoped I could make him feel as good as he made me feel, but I wasn’t confident in my ability. I couldn’t keep a husband. What were the odds I could make Alec a boyfriend? I was never good at statistics, but I could only imagine the odds were not good.

We walked to the park. Alec was right. It was a beautiful park, clean, with a wide walking trail and park benches every few yards. To the left was a lovely lake. Ducks and geese bobbed along in the wake. Smaller birds were on the grass, plucking away at whatever there was to eat. To the right, the leaves rustled in the trees. A rabbit foraged in the tall grass at the forest’s edge. It was the makings of an oil painting.

We walked at a languid pace as we talked about nothing special until Alec changed the tone.

"So, are you ready to tell me why you have a security detail? Do I need to be scanning the horizon for ninjas or something?"

"Aw, I’ve seen you in action. Ninjas don’t have anything on you."

"True, but I’d still like to know, please."

We were approaching a shelter with empty picnic tables. I sat down at one, and Alec sat across from me.

I wasn’t sure where to start. I wanted to be honest with Alec, but not so honest that I scared him off.

I eyed him critically. How much could he handle without flinching?

"Just say it, Teela. I don’t scare easily. Is your father a mafia boss? Did you accidentally run over someone’s puppy, and now the ASPCA has a bounty out on you?"

"Nothing like that. I found out some information about some very bad people and turned it over to the police. Let’s just say those people didn’t take it kindly."

"What happened?"

"The guards are mostly preventative. Until the head of the operation is convicted, I won’t feel completely safe."

Alec held my hands from across the table. "I’m sorry you have to go through this. You don’t deserve to feel threatened."

I shrugged. "It’ll be worth it in the end, but I really don’t want to talk about this right now. Tell me about you."

"What do you want to know? I’m an open book."

"I don’t know. The basics, I guess. Name, age, blood type, tax bracket, shoe size, favorite food. Whatever you feel comfortable sharing?"

"Tit for tat?"

"Sure, I can do that."

"Well, you know my name and my age. Blood type is O. You’ll have to ask my accountant for my tax bracket, but I do okay. I own a loft a few blocks away. My business is solvent, and if I wanted to fly you to Hawaii for the weekend, my black card wouldn’t notice the hit.

"My shoe size, you should wait and find out for yourself. My favorite food is, hmm, I’ll go with whatever you are having.

"You’re turn."

How did I tell the perfect man my last name was Heavenly, and I’m recently divorced. Oh, yeah, and I make a living hacking into places where I’m not wanted.

"Well, I don’t have a black card, but if you want to go to Hawaii, I could make it happen without going into debt."

Call it a hacker discount.

"That sounds like a terrific fifth date plan."

"Fifth date?"

"Yeah, too soon?"

"No, just curious how you came up with date five."

Alec smiled. "Well, couples are on their best behavior the first three dates. Everything is tinged with trying too hard. Date four is terrific for dinner in, so that makes date five the earliest option without leaving the continent with a perfect stranger."

"I can’t argue with that logic. So, how many dinners in have you had in the last six months?"

"None for the last year. Not a lot in the last three years. I was in a five-year relationship before that."

"Married?"

"No, thank goodness. You?"

"I was."

Talk about testing the waters.

"How long?"

"Three years."

"No, I meant how long have you been divorced."

Sixty seconds.

"Not long."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Not really."

"Why not?"