The Second Wife by Melinda Mulera (book club reads .txt) 📗

Chapter 18: Soft sides

The couch wasn't as cozy as it looked. Heck, it didn't even look cozy at all. It was almost exactly designed like a bench just with a thin cushion layering and some pure white patterned leather.

They all sickened me with their sophisticated lives.

Nothing was comfortable.

The room was barely filled with people since the others went out through a door to a private garden and the a few were either sited at the glass tables, talking and having wine, or standing and listening to the soft piano being played by a woman in a pure white dress.

When Avery had mentioned a party, I guess I must have thought too much of it.

Hey, he never mentioned a party.

"Here." A wine glass suddenly appeared in front of me. I glanced up at Avery as I reached for the glass.

"Thanks." I sighed slightly and took a sip.

Oh my.....

"Fvck... This is delicious...." I moaned as I took a deep sip, only to force myself to stop when the sting was unbearable. I glanced up at him and he was staring down at me with his brows pitched at together, as though he was confused. "What?"

"No." He sighed and relaxed his brows back as he took a sip of his drink. "Your moan is just really sexy."

"My what?"

"I really make the best drinks, don't I?" He asked as he glanced down at his wine and stirred it a little. "Really good."

"Yeah, what did you put in it?" I asked as I felt my cheeks suddenly flush as I realised what his words meant. Good thing he didn't repeat what he was saying. Even though it took a while to process his words, I still managed to get a hint.

"It's my drink, I don't just tell people or else everyone will go making it on their own." He said with a smirk on his face, as though he had made a remarkable achievement.

It was still good though....

"What if I want to drink it when I'm home?" I asked and he chuckled slightly as he suddenly leaned down to reach my height.

"Then you'd have to invite me over." He whisper as he leaned into my ear. "Maybe I can get to hear you moan in private."

"H-Hear me what?" I stammered as he chuckled, breathing into my ear. My face entirely warmed itself up as the nasty feeling of an insect crawling into my stomach amplified.

His old secretary wasn't wrong. His flirting was very believable.

"Avery?" That all familiar voice slipped softly into my ears and I shot my eyes towards the woman that stood before me and Avery. Avery leaned back slowly as his lips reduced from his smirk to a straight line.

"Mother." Avery nodded slowly at his mother who was dressed in a white fur coat and a gripping black dress that reached her ankles where beautiful jeweled black heels began.

She was a gorgeous woman, that I can not deny.

"Oh, I was wondering who she was. I thought it was another woman you pulled into your bed." She said and I clenched my jaw tightly as I stood up and forced a smile to her.

"Evening, Mrs Bronze." I bowed slightly and she nodded slowly, looking at me as though she was amused.

"I'm a bit shocked you're still around."

"It has only been three days." Avery frowned at her and she grinned as she stared at her son.

"And in those three days, you can by with some other woman. Who was she again? The girl with the orange hair." She said and I gasped internally and shot Avery a curious glance.

Yes, ask him.

"She's no one-"

"Oh! Yes, your childhood girlfriend. Well, used to be your girlfriend before you turned ten, it was all child's play until you met again ten years later and decided to benefit each other." She chuckled and glanced at me with a look, as though telling to say something.

Well I don't know him on a personal level, so I don't think I'll get offended.

"So who's this one?" She asked as she pointed at me with her eyes. " is she your girlfriend? Did I say something I wasn't supposed to?"

"She's my secretary." He said with a shameless roll of his eyes, at his own mother even as she was looking. "And please do not casually bring up my personal relationships with every woman I am with. It is really childish."

"Avery I don't think it's right to call your mother childish...." I said in a near whisper as I suddenly felt uncomfortable. She might hate me because of him, because the look she was giving me was disgust.

"Oh no, I will stop." She sighed out and smiled slightly at me.

"Good." Avery deadpanned before sighing out heavily. "I'm going to talk to an important investor, don't go anywhere, Iris." he demanded through his voice before leaving me with his mother who was going to bring hell on me.

I watched as Avery crossed the room towards a man in a silver suit sitting alone at a corner with a wine bottle.

"So, Iris." Mrs Brown started and I clenched my jaw as I slowly turned to fave her with a nervous smile. "Do you like Avery?"

"Why ask such a question?" I asked with a nervous chuckle and she pointed her eyes towards the couch. I nodded and sat down with her, feeling nauseated.

I felt like she was about to say something nasty at me.

"I was asking because I wanted to know." She said and I stared at her for a moment. She didn't look like she was about to insult me though.

"Um...." I cleared my throat and smiled awkwardly. "Well, I don't hate him."

"Avery isn't a man to commit to, Iris, he's very incapable to staying committed." She said and I blinked at her in awe.

"Why are you saying negatives about him?" I asked. "If we were in love, wouldn't you want him happy?"

"Avery is many things but loyal." She sighed. "Once he doesn't like someone, he tosses them aside. I wouldn't tell you this if you didn't talk against Avery for calling me childish, even if I was. All the women Avery is with try to attack me and put me under them just because Avery does so." She frowned slightly and I was a bit shocked she was actually this kind of woman under that thick layer of lies and luxury. "I hate to admit it but a woman but acknowledge a diamond amongst glass. Iris, you might be the first local woman I have grown a liking to."

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