Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 26

Nathan’s insight surprised me. He seemed to know me better than I’d realized.

“Have you been checking up on me?” My smile faded. The collapse of my marriage was painful enough without strangers poking through the remains.

“Sorry, I overstepped,” Nathan blurted out, uncharacteristically flustered. “Just heard some things in passing. No background checks, I promise.”

“Lovely meeting you.” I gave him my best polite dismissal and walked away.

Nathan stayed frozen where he stood.

Back at our table, Melissa was still nervously eyeing the handsome stranger at the other table, clearly working up the courage to talk to him.

“Melissa, ready to go?” I asked, already gathering my things. Nathan’s lingering gaze and that unsettling confession had me suddenly desperate for an exit.

She rose with obvious reluctance, just as Nathan came back inside.

I pulled Melissa forward. “Mr. Hallman, meet Melissa–legal genius and my best friend. Keep her number handy for when you inevitably need a lawyer.”

“Victoria…” Melissa hadn’t expected me to be so forward. She turned bright red, wishing she could vanish on the spot.

I shot her a reassuring look. “Don’t worry. Mr. Hallman and I know each other.”

Nathan handed Melissa a business card. “Ms. Jenkins, my company could use legal counsel. If you’re interested, reach out to my assistant, Zachary Chandler.”

“Hello,” said Zachary, the handsome guy across the table, raising his hand. He slid his card toward her. “Just give me a call.”

Melissa took both cards, her face burning. “Nice to meet you,” she murmured, and then yanked me out of the restaurant at lightning speed.

her tomato–red cheeks

could you just ask for their contacts like that? Now I can never show

grinned and nudged her. “You’ve got their cards now. It’d

picked up on something strange and grabbed my arm. “You know Mr. Hallman?

you two meet?”

caught off guard by her

like you?” Melissa squinted. “Don’t even try denying it. I can see it in his eyes–the way he looks

I didn’t want to hide things from her. So I told her everything–about volunteering at the

donation of yours created a tech mogul?” She’d seen his business card–the same guy I’d helped was now Nathan

was killing it in the

even know who he was. Back then, people talked about this

charity work at the time. When I

investments. Your instincts

“It was Jared’s money, not

his own romantic competitor. Imagine

“Keep your voice down. If anyone hears you, we’re through as

in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “So… you’re really divorcing Jared?

made me laugh. “Alright, draft something up for me to

Jared will give you half?” Melissa

half. Even ten percent

stingy with you. Honestly, he’d probably hand over whatever you needed without you asking.” Melissa studied me, her usual teasing

walked down that aisle, did you ever think it would end in

into marriage thinking about divorce?” I said bitterly. “We were all in,

Melissa interrupted. “Truth is, it’s just a partnership. Pick

losses

nodded with a knowing smile. “Exactly. We’re still young

shook my head. “I’m done with relationships. Men and women are all the same. The magic