She still couldn’t help feeling confused and found herself asking, “I still think you’ve got it all wrong. If Nick wanted Lena then why did he marry me? I really think you should stop trying to stick your nose where it isn’t wanted.”
“Just trying to give you some friendly warning,” Trisha said, ignoring the barb. Lifting her glass to her lips, she sauntered away with a self-satisfied smile.
Keyonna glared after Trisha’s departing back. She wasn’t sure how to process what she’d just heard. Nick had a stepmother he was once in love with? That was messed up, especially since in the whole month since he’d given her the ultimatum to marry him, not once had Keyonna ever heard of Lena. Hell, Nick had taken the time to introduce Keyonna to his family members, friends and close associates and not once had Lena’s name come up. And now Keyonna was finding out that the beautiful, elegantly dressed woman had been married to Nick’s father.
And now she was here.
Keyonna looked around and was just in time to catch Nick disappearing around a corner of the garden with his stepmother. No one else seemed to notice, the music loud and carefree from the speakers tucked in the gardens and the guests busy having so much fun as the afternoon hour wore on.
Frowning in confusion, Keyonna knew she needed to find out the truth. If Trisha was right and there was something going on beneath the surface between Nick and Lena then Keyonna wanted to know about it. She wasn’t about to be played a fool, no matter if the marriage was simply an arranged one. She deserved to know what she was up against, especially when there was so much more at stake.
Keyonna wanted to confront Nick with the whole story even though she knew she would be risking him telling her to mind her own business. So she quickly made up her mind and without thinking twice, went in the direction she’d seen Nick and Lena vanish into, determined to get to the bottom of whatever was happening.
Nick turned to face Lena, a somewhat impatient look on his face as they stood in the shadowy alcove of the scene trees.
“Now we’re alone, what’s the very important thing you couldn’t tell me in front of everyone else?”
Lena looked up into his face with a sultry smile, her dark green eyes teasing while her curvy lips pouted. “Don’t be short with me, Nick, please. I couldn’t bear it if I made you angry.”
Nick let out a deep sigh. “Of course I’m not angry. It’s just that you know you can’t drag me from the wedding like that. I have guests to see to. And Keyonna…”
“Ah yes, Keyonna,” Lena murmured. “I had a glimpse of her earlier. She’s very pretty.”
“Thank you.”
“So, you’re a very rich man now,” purred Lena. “It’s too bad now you’re saddled with a wife to go with all those billions.”
Keyonna made her way carefully through the tree-covered pathway and deeper into the gardens following the low sound of voices, one of which she recognized as Nick’s. She paused in her stride when she heard Nick’s stepmother mention billions, and Keyonna’s curiosity was pricked.
“I must say I’ve got nothing to complain about where she’s concerned,” Keyonna heard Nick respond in an off-hand tone. Keyonna kept out of sight but stayed just close enough to hear what was being said even as she tried to look through the thick brush to find where they both stood. Keyonna felt like such a heel for spying on Nick like this, but she couldn’t help it.
“Why do I find that so hard to believe?” Lena said with a scoffing tone. “I mean, she’s hardly your type. Not what I’d have expected you to end up with considering your lofty tastes.”
“Keyonna will do,” Nick said, his words still studiously nonchalant. “She’s willing to play the given role. She’ll do what she’s told – which means there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Of course not,” Lena returned smugly, and Keyonna was able to catch her smirk as Keyonna managed to push aside the foliage concealing the two figures from her view.
“I mean, she seems like the perfect, pliant wife,” went on Lena with a shrug, even as she looked up at Nick through fluttering eyelashes. “But it won’t be long before you tire of her. I know you, Nick.”
“I’ll cross that bridge when and if I get to it,” Nick drawled and Lena’s smile spread with pleasure, reaching forward to wrap her arms snugly around his neck.
“Till then, my love, it’s just you and me,” Lena breathed and to Keyonna’s disbelief, inched up to join their lips in a kiss.
What the…?